Rafa or Djokovic?

[Guest Spanky]

My money's on Rafa to pull the upset.

 

http://www.asportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/novak-djokovic.jpghttp://www.paleoking.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Rafael-Nadal-shirtless.jpg

 

Disclaimer: This post was merely an attempt to appease Deej by posting a picture of Rafa's "magnificent ass."

[+ deej]

Thank you. Now I'm distracted....

[+ Charlie]

I'm hoping Rafa will pull off the upset, because I don't think it's good for the sport when one player is too dominant, as Novak has become over the past year. But the truth is that Novak is a better, smarter player than Rafa, and he will probably win it. And although Rafa is more physically attractive, I'll bet Novak is better in bed, too.

[inheat75]

Djokovic in 5 sets.

[+ WilliamM]

I hope Djokovic wins, but it's not going to be as easy as London and New York, his last two grand slam victories.

 

Gotta say that I have never understood Nadal's appeal; I find Novak Djokovic far more sexy.

[+ deej]

But the truth is that Novak is a better, smarter player than Rafa, and he will probably win it.

 

As I wrote a long time ago, when Nadal started winning majors he was at his peak. He'd never be better. Once you reach your peak as an athlete, it's damned difficult to maintain and there's always a younger, more athletic, or just plain better player coming up behind you.

 

I volunteer to console poor dear Rafa in the locker room after his loss.

[justaguy]

I concur with Charlie and deej. Nadal is the better looking, but Novak IMO has the edge. It won't matter to me who wins because they're both great players. I just want the match to be a long and sweaty one.

[TopGuy4940]

I also have not understood the Nadal attraction as he does nothing for me whereas I find Djokovic sexy as hell..but to each his own.

[leigh.bess.toad]

I concur with Charlie and deej. Nadal is the better looking, but Novak IMO has the edge. It won't matter to me who wins because they're both great players. I just want the match to be a long and sweaty one.

 

Well it looks like you got your wish. 5 hours, 53 minutes -- the longest final on record. In the heat and humidity, it must have been something (I know I wasn't up watching). Congrats to Novak. Great pics after the final:

 

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/206721/slide_206721_647060_large.jpg?1327850934

 

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/206721/slide_206721_647054_large.jpg?1327850934

[+ WilliamM]

It's a shame both men could not have won. Truly one of the best, if not the best, matches I have ever seen.

 

I attended the Australian Open in 1995 (worth it just to see Melbourne & Sydney, let alone the tennis). Back then it wasn't such a big deal...easy to get great seats. I certainly do not remember the very long introductions (by the sponsors and tournament officials) of the two players before the awards were given out. It was clear Jocker and Nadal were in fairly significant pain. Thanks to the person who finally brought out chairs for Noval and Rafa to sit down as the introductions went on and on.

[+ Charlie]

As I wrote a long time ago, when Nadal started winning majors he was at his peak. He'd never be better. Once you reach your peak as an athlete, it's damned difficult to maintain and there's always a younger, more athletic, or just plain better player coming up behind you.

 

I volunteer to console poor dear Rafa in the locker room after his loss.

I disagree. Rafa started to win majors in 2005, when he was in his teens, and he was stuck at #2, behind Federer, longer than any player has ever been at that rank, before he finally figured out how to win on any surface other than clay. He peaked about two years ago, when he won three slams in a row. He and Nole are actually the same age, but Nole developed his skills more slowly. Rafa is playing as well as he did a couple of years ago, but Nole has figured out how to beat him, because although Rafa is still a brilliant reactor, Nole is an even better anticipator, and is now always a split second ahead of Rafa. Rafa still has the physical skill to beat Nole, but he needs to get smarter, and I'm not sure that he can.

[+ Charlie]

It's a shame both men could not have won. Truly one of the best, if not the best, matches I have ever seen.

 

I attended the Australian Open in 1995 (worth it just to see Melbourne & Sydney, let alone the tennis). Back then it wasn't such a big deal...easy to get great seats. I certainly do not remember the very long introductions (by the sponsors and tournament officials) of the two players before the awards were given out. It was clear Jocker and Nadal were in fairly significant pain. Thanks to the person who finally brought out chairs for Noval and Rafa to sit down as the introductions went on and on.

I wasn't going to watch the live broadcast starting at midnight, so I watched the re-broadcast on the Tennis Channel that started at 10am PT. I had to leave after watching for almost three hours to go play tennis myself, and when I got back, they were still pounding away for another hour. Considering how tired I am tonight after playing a match at 8am and another at 1pm, I can't even imagine how exhausted they must have been after six straight hours of such intense exertion.

 

I was a spectator at the previous longest match at the Aussie Open, in 2003, the one between Roddick and El Anaouyi that ended at 21-19 in the fifth set. Instead of the vainglorious posturing of Djokovic, Roddick simply held up El Anaouyi's arm for a joint bow to the audience at the end. He recognized that they deserved equal honor for such a performance.

[justaguy]

That was some of the most spectcular tennis I've ever seen, especially starting at the tie break of the 4th set. Wow. That they managed the long rallies and the amazing gets in the fifth set speaks to how physically in shape both players are. Like William, I think it's too bad that one man had to lose. Unforgettable tennis.

[+ Axiom2001]

I've adored Rafa's talent and looks ever since he appeared on our television screens. I'd truly hoped that he'd won the Australian Open, for he has not been winning the biggies lately.

I adore his looks, think he's sexy as hell, esp. his hot ass, and has him as one of my Facebook amigos! He writes on his page regularly--relating the ups and the downs and other things

of interest to his friends.

[+ WilliamM]

.

I was a spectator at the previous longest match at the Aussie Open, in 2003, the one between Roddick and El Anaouyi that ended at 21-19 in the fifth set. Instead of the vainglorious posturing of Djokovic, Roddick simply held up El Anaouyi's arm for a joint bow to the audience at the end. He recognized that they deserved equal honor for such a performance.

 

I'm glad the top four players (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) have interesting and very different personalities. During Sunday's match Nadal was more boastful than Jocker after winning big points...understandable since Rafa was the underdog for much of the six hours. Djokovic had a different style; he let it all out at the end. I saw Roddick win his only grand slam (so far) at the U.S. Open about a decade ago. I like him a lot. Roddick is a class act. However, I am glad there is a Djokovic out there to mix things up a little with his satire on other players and sense of fun.