The final, thoughts prediction

I can't see Novak losing to Mardy fish frankly. Mardy does have weapons and has been playing the best tennis of his life having lost 30 pounds in the last couple of years. In my mind he has always been a bigger talent even than Roddick but his commitment to the cause maybe was lacking in the past as he just wasn't in good enough shape to make it through a tennis season without serious injury. The key for Fish, has to hit a high percentage of first serves in against the best returner on tour. Has to find away to use his variety by coming in and being aggressive on the first ball, avoid long rallies with Novak and look to shorten points. For Novak, attack the second serve, go after fish's foreahand and force mardy to hit a lot of tough of volleys. Novak knows that Mardy is going to come out him with a lot of net rushes and he needs to be ready to try to force Mardy in to making that extra volley with the ball dipping down below the net.

If Djokovic wins he will have accomplished something that no player has in history winning 5 1000/master's level events in a row and in one season. It is a nice record to have but of course he has to becareful not to tire himself before the main event in NY.

Fish to win:

6-0 6-0

Novak to once again become a bridesmaid.

Fish, is playing a brilliant second set. Lets remember that in recent weeks he has been the second hottest guy on tour with just one loss in his last 3 tournaments. Way to fight mardy unlike Tsonga last night.

Fish has turned into one seriously good player these days, amazing transformation from yesteryear. His net skills are great, probably some of the best on tour if not THE best right now (along with Llodra & Stepanek).

Have to agree lydian. His problem was always fitness and movement and it just shows how a big guy losing nearly 30 pounds really improved his movement at an age when he should have been going downhill physically. Fish is an interesting case an incredible all around athlete and more talented than most players who was always injured and too heavy. Now he is having a great run at the end of a career. Fish, has always been my favorite American player for quite some time. He can volley, has a great backhand, good return; a much more polished all around player to roddick who could never stay healthy or consistent.

lol Fish is not good.. his semi final with Tipsarevic was full of mug errors, Novak just seems a bit injured today making it competitive..

I disagree, he is a very talented player who was for years a bit of an underachiever. And he did something that Tsonga and monfils failed, he basically never capitulated out there and kept the match competitive to the very end. A very tough and tense final.

19 winners 29 unforced...and Fish had 10 BP opportunities to Novak's 8... what a bog standard that was he would've lost to the other 4 playin like that!

Novak just had the look on his face that he was very unsure for some reason.

Strange win in the end :s

Don't get me wrong, I don't think Novak played as well as he did in the previous 2 rounds, he was definetly off his game especially with the passing shots that he hits more routinely when he is playing well. But still, fish at least kept fighting to the very last. And he is a player that has a lot of power and good feel at net. He does have weapons to hurt anyone out there as he showed tonight. He has beaten everyone of the big 4 I think except Djokovic. I know he has beaten Fed and Murray I think 2 or 3 times.

I think Fish has only won 6 titles in his whole career - less than Djoko in the last 6 months! It would have been a major upset if Fish had won, but at least Fish didn't tank it (ow, that's a bad pun!)

But regardless of that, history was made with Djoko winning 5 Masters in a year, and I like to see history made.

I agree, julius, 5 masters in a year it has never been done before. It is a very nice record to have. I actually think that the media and fans don't value these 1000 point level events enough. To win 5 masters in a row on clay and hardcourt, and with 4 of those finals being against Nadal, pretty amazing. Novak now has to have three pretty amazing records. Most consecutive masters victories in row (matches), most consecutive Masters level tournaments in a row, a most masters in a season.

Yep hes won all the big hardcourt series this year just 2 more to go...I guess it was probably the fact that he played late last night and had less than 24 hrs for the final...

Personally I thought after Tsonga scratched Djokovic was toast. After all, we all know that he can't play after an opponent scratches.

bogbrush wrote:Personally I thought after Tsonga scratched Djokovic was toast. After all, we all know that he can't play after an opponent scratches.

Are you talking about the only guy to beat Djokovic this year Fabio Fogninni?