I was SO frustrated watching Novak against Marin Cilic.
I don't know where Nole's head was but it was not on that court at that moment for that match!!!
Nole looked tired and fatigued from the beginning.
He finished the way toooooooo long, drawn out match in 3 hours 54 minutes with the score of 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (0).
The Nole of January that was determined to win the Australian Open just was not there at Ashe stadium and Nole needs to find that driven tennis player if he want to win this Open.
For those of you that like a little (very edited) play-by-play:
By the time Djokovic served at 5-4 in the fourth set, the slugfest had been dialed up a few notches. Cilic handled Djokovic’s toughest serves and slapped his groundstrokes back down the middle, each one harder than the previous shot. Djokovic, who had twice served for the second set, was broken again despite having two match points.
Cilic held for 6-5 and led love-15 after again whacking one of Djokovic’s serves back across the net and then hitting an angled winner. But Djokovic held at 5-6 and dominated the tie-breaker by taking command of the net and finally getting his first serve past a lunging Cilic.
The television announcers spoke of the subtext of a Serb (Djokovic) facing a Croat (Cilic). But the match itself centered on two free-swinging skinny kids – one established, the other itching to get there — trying to impress one another rather than make a political statement. Djokovic conceded points here and there, and Cilic was more worried about his knees, which he had taped in the second set. Like the just-turned-20 Ernests Gulbis against Andy Roddick last week, Cilic lost a big opportunity when he could not capture the second set and take a commanding lead.
Djokovic, too, could have had a shorter night, struggling in the three sets he won to put Cilic away. He broke him for a 3-2 in the fourth set but promptly gave the break back. Cilic’s 11th double fault brought the seventh game back to deuce, and two unforced errors from the baseline (which Cilic rarely left) gave Djokovic another break. Djokovic let out a scream after winning a point for a 40-15 lead and held for 5-3. But Cilic warded off his opponent to hold for 4-5, leading Djokovic’s ill-fated attempt to serve for the match.
In the tie-breaker, Cilic opened with his 12th double fault, giving Djokovic a minibreak and a lead that he finally would not relinquish. At the end, Djokovic embraced Cilic at the net, thanked the crowd and his crowded box of supporters, praised his opponent and noted that he thought of rushing the net at the end of the match after seeing John McEnroe in the broadcast booth. No impersonations tonight, and none needed. [nyt]
Cilic held for 6-5 and led love-15 after again whacking one of Djokovic’s serves back across the net and then hitting an angled winner. But Djokovic held at 5-6 and dominated the tie-breaker by taking command of the net and finally getting his first serve past a lunging Cilic.
The television announcers spoke of the subtext of a Serb (Djokovic) facing a Croat (Cilic). But the match itself centered on two free-swinging skinny kids – one established, the other itching to get there — trying to impress one another rather than make a political statement. Djokovic conceded points here and there, and Cilic was more worried about his knees, which he had taped in the second set. Like the just-turned-20 Ernests Gulbis against Andy Roddick last week, Cilic lost a big opportunity when he could not capture the second set and take a commanding lead.
Djokovic, too, could have had a shorter night, struggling in the three sets he won to put Cilic away. He broke him for a 3-2 in the fourth set but promptly gave the break back. Cilic’s 11th double fault brought the seventh game back to deuce, and two unforced errors from the baseline (which Cilic rarely left) gave Djokovic another break. Djokovic let out a scream after winning a point for a 40-15 lead and held for 5-3. But Cilic warded off his opponent to hold for 4-5, leading Djokovic’s ill-fated attempt to serve for the match.
In the tie-breaker, Cilic opened with his 12th double fault, giving Djokovic a minibreak and a lead that he finally would not relinquish. At the end, Djokovic embraced Cilic at the net, thanked the crowd and his crowded box of supporters, praised his opponent and noted that he thought of rushing the net at the end of the match after seeing John McEnroe in the broadcast booth. No impersonations tonight, and none needed. [nyt]
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