ATP
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will be contesting the final in Beijing. We have the dream final we have wanted. I had predicted in my pre-tournament preview that Djokovic and Nadal will vie for the crown. They have lived up to the expectations of all the tennis fans giving us another glorious chapter in their record-setting rivalry. They are playing for the 38th time, a record for ATP. As everyone and their dog knows, Rafael Nadal leads the rivalry 22-15. He is on a serious run of form since he had last lost to Steve Darcis in the 1st round of Wimbledon. He has already beaten Djokovic 2 times during this jaw-dropping streak – In Canadian Open and then repeated the dose in the big tournament in Big Apple, NYC – US Open.
Novak Djokovic has continued what he has been doing the last few years – keep finding a way to get the all important WIN. He had some stiff challenge from Fernando Verdasco, but he is looking every bit as menacing as he has been for the best part of the last 3 years. On sunday, he will need that manacing form to get his 1st title in nearly 6 months. His last title was at the Monaco Masters where he made beating Rafa on Clay look as easy as snatching a candy from a kid.
Rafael Nadal is no kid. He is going to bring every ounce of mental strength that makes him one of the ultimate warriors in all sport, to this battle in Beijing. He thrives on “not-allowing” anyone to snatch a match from him. Since the start of the hard court season, he has also started snatching matches away from others by stepping inside the court and playing an aggressive brand of tennis that always finds rewards on the fast courts – hardcourt or grass. The soon-to-be No.1 on the ATP tour has won his last 3 matches against Djokovic and will do everything he can to make it 4.
Who is going to win? I had predicted Djokovic to win in 2 sets and I really don’t feel the need to change it. As well as Rafa has played last few months, he is looking out of sorts this week. Fabulous Fognini almost got him, but Rafa did his Houdini act and escaped. I have seen Djokovic play this week and he looks like he is in the kind of form where he will hunt Houdini down, should he escape and then pin him down for good. I am second guessing on the number of sets, but Djokovic should win this match.
Prediction: Djokovic to win in 2 sets
WTA
In a cosmos where everything can be uncertain, Serena Williams is a sports analysts’ dream. I can write a story here about my dog or my cat and then safely end it saying Serena will win in two. That is really how easy it is to make a call on her matches. I really WANT to do that. I will not do that as it will be insulting to her opponent, Jelena Jankovic who, in my opinion, has the sweetest double-hand backhand in tennis. It is not looking very good for Jelena, however. She had to really battle her way out of a tough semi-final with Petra Kvitova, while Serena had a relatively less-tiring match against Radwanska. That is the bad news. Jankovic has troubled Serena in the past and has a very healthy H2H record against the younger Williams sister. I hope Jankovic can dig deep and make Serena dig deep – we will then have a wonderful contest.
Prediction: Serena Williams to win in 2 tough sets.
ATP – Tokyo
Delpotro and Raonic bring a rivalry which is already controversy filled and which has the potential to develop into something bigger. Of course, they have only played one match. That one match had controversy enough to last a life time. The firs thing would be for this match to be played in good spirit and if it can be anywhere as exciting as the semi-final match between Delpotro and Almagro, we will have ourselves a wonderful weekend.
Prediction: Delpotro to win in 3 sets.
Enjoy Tennis and Life, folks.
SportzCosmos 
I think I haven’t seen you pick Rafa over Nole ever(granted haven’t known you for long 🙂 ). Having said that I will agree on this occasion. Nole is looking unbeatable in indoors. Rafa will have to bring his absolute best to win. Agree with the other two as well.
LOL! Carlos…. Just what my site and I need…. evidence that I am anti- rafa 😉
Let me explain…. I made 3 predictions….
1) Montreal – 1st hard court match since 2012 AO [ Djokovic was on a 4-0 streak on hardcourts]
2) US Open – Here I could’ve picked Rafa, but I really thought Djokovic will clean up his game! Hindsight, I may have gone with Rafa here. In my final preview, I clearly mentioned Novak CANNOT afford to start slow like he did in FO 2013 semi-final or US Open 2010 final and also Montreal. I really thought Novak’s camp would have noticed this pattern. Well, now we can add US Open 2013 to this list.
3) Beijing: As you said, just cannot go against Nole here. Maybe he will lose this and then I will start picking Rafa from next time. I am rethinking the 2 sets part of the prediction though. Nole better be on his game today 😉
Congrats to us – We got Delpotro right. I really hope he can make a long extended run of good results. He has figured out playing on Grass, so technically he is a threat on all surfaces, now
LOL! No harm meant, Just defending my guy 🙂 . After all I did pick him to win both matches and he won them (although I did also pick Novak to win RG but I was happilly wrong on that one 🙂 ).
As for the Tokyo match, DelPo played really good on the biggest points. I thought Milos was dictating for the most part of the match, yet didn’t have a set to show for it because DelPo just played better on the important points. But I’m impressed with Milos defense. He has really stepped it up big time and I think it has a lot to due with Ivan’s coaching. This is definitely a different guy from the one that lost to Rafa 2 and 2 in Montreal.
Just 30 mins for Rafa vs Nole. Can’t wait!
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
I picked Novak for the French too! Wimbledon Final as well! Nole burn’t me big time. I did NOT pick him in Monte Carlo. So maybe it is me who is burning him with the predictions.
Great summary of the Tokyo match. Raonic really is a transformed player. He has to keep up his defense. Isner has become a much better player by improving his defense.
Nadal is down a set and a break. Can he do another Houdini escape? 🙂
No escape for Rafa today. Nole closes it out the new No.1 in 2 sets. 3 and 4. Commiserations Rafa fans… Rafa is the no.1 however, so I am thinking you are not losing much sleep!
On to Shanghai for the men.
Serena and Jelena to follow in a few hours.
Impressive performance by Nole today. His shot making and defense where unpenetrable. Nadal also made to many easy mistakes, but no credit taken away from Novak. Today, it was all Nole, as expected. I do expect Rafa to play better at Shanghai though. It shall be fun!
Tough Luck brother! As you said it was expected. I agree Nadal is going to be even tougher to beat from here on!
You have to love these guys. The Big 4, maybe even Ferrer – they just never give up, do they?
Yeah, they are great fighters! I cant wait to see Shanghai. SOOO looking forward for a possible QF matchup between Nole and Roger. Call me crazy, but something very deep inside me tells me that Federer is gonna go crazy and win this whole thing. I’m gonna give my predictions soon and expect some more bold prediction out of me!
Shanghai will be interesting. ever write Djoker off! 🙂
I mean “Never write Djoker off” of course!
Very good call. You even got the sets right in 2 of the 3 finals.
Carlos: Like your optimism about our hero. I expect him to continue his winning ways in Shanghai
Done and dusted! Serena wins 2 and 2! So much for two tight sets! LOL!
Nole deserved the win…the court dynamic in Beijing takes me to the carpet court exhibition match in PC game – Virtua Tennis. Ball just skids through and keeps low. Perfect for Nole’s game and this was, as the author says, foreseen given where Rafa and Nole are coming from this tournament. Not-so-hard loss for Nadal as he managed to maneuver Nole on quite a few occasions only to fail at finishing the well constructed point. Nole’s service games have been simply outstanding and this serving form took me back to 2011 and the performance yells out the importance of confidence that serve brings yet again….
Sweet revenge [too big a word??] for Delpo after their ugly incident at Montreal. Nonetheless, it is a treat to watch these giants face-off and hoping for more. Happy for Delpo, love that lethal FH.
Wonderful analysis and great predictions. You would have made a lot of money if you put your money on Nole over Rafa in 2 before the tournament began.
Well, you sure got that right. From a happy Djoker fan who just fishes Djoker plays like this all the time. 🙂
+1 to what Djokerfan said. Minor correction: I would WISH and not Fish!
“Yeah, they are great fighters! I cant wait to see Shanghai. SOOO looking forward for a possible QF matchup between Nole and Roger. ”
Carlos: Not crazy at all considering, how very good Roger is in this part of the season. I will soon have my pre-tournament draw analysis. Feel free to post your predictions.
For Rafa fan, Numero Uno!
http://tinypic.com/r/4hp7b8/5
Vamos Rafa! 🙂
Great picture – the quality and resolution is so good 😉
Seriously though, Congrats to Rafa fans! What a comeback! #Inspirational
Let me say, Mr. Tennis has patent on that finger wagging, though 😀
To ensure fairness in our tennis galaxy 🙂
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Nadal says he’s done with tennis politics
Rafael Nadal said his belief that too many tournaments are played on hard courts hasn’t changed with his success on the surface this year he’s simply given up trying to change the system.
Smart decision from Nadal!
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