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3/20/09 3:18 PM | Ricky Dimon
Novak Djokovic has not dropped a set in winning three matches at the Masters Series Indian Wells. Six more sets in-a-row will allow Djokovic to successfully defend his 2008 title.
Three down...
Second Round: Djokovic d. Martin Vassallo Arguello 7-5, 6-4
Third Round: Djokovic d. Tommy Haas 6-2, 7-6(1)
Fourth Round: Djokovic d. Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6(7), 7-6(6)
...Three to go
Quarterfinals: vs. Novak Djokovic (Djokovic 2-2 with Roddick head-to-head)
Semifinals: vs. Rafael Nadal (4-11) or Juan Martin Del Potro (2-0)
Final: vs. Roger Federer (2-7) or Andy Murray (4-2)
What has to happen for Djokovic to win
Djokovic has been playing well this week in an effort to defend his 2008 Masters Series Indian Wells title, but whether or not that same form is good enough to survive a weekend that could include matches against Roddick, Nadal, and either Federer or Murray remains to be seen. For Djokovic to beat Roddick, the Serb needs to clean up his forehand, because if he can't get the best of Roddick from the baseline, he is not going to win (due to Roddick's superior serve). An off serving day from the American would also be of great help to Djokovic. If the world No. 3 advances to the semifinals, he'll be hoping Del Potro is waiting for him as opposed to Nadal. Djokovic ousted Nadal in last year's Indian Wells semis, but he is 1-5 against the Spaniard since then; albeit 1-1 on hard courts. Still, will Djokovic be able to overcome a potential mental block from getting clobbered by Nadal two weeks ago in Davis Cup? Should Djokovic reach the final, it's hard to say which opponent he would prefer. He has better record against Murray, but the Scot has been in better form than Federer recently (especially in head-to-head meetings). The bottom line is Djokovic just needs to worry about his own game. If he can beat Roddick--one of the hottest players in tennis at the moment--that will give him the momentum he needs to compete with--and perhaps even beat--Nadal, Federer, and/or Murray.
Quotable
"This year hasn't started maybe the way I thought I would, but now I've raised my confidence in a higher level. Winning Dubai meant a lot for my confidence level and for my game overall." -- after his second-round win over Martin Vassallo Arguello.
"Better than the first match. I think I played really well in the opening set, and then could have done the job a bit earlier. So I was lucky, because it could go in the third set, and then who knows? Overall, I'm happy with the way I played, and hopefully I can continue." -- after his third-round win over Tommy Haas.
"I'm going really match by match. I know I've started not that convenient in Dubai. I played quite bad first two matches. Then I started playing better and better. Then I played really well towards the end of the tournament. So I strongly believe that it can happen here." -- after his fourth-round win over Stanislas Wawrinka, when asked if he was playing at a level good enough to win the tournament.
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RickyDimon, you're peace of art, are you trying to provoke all the Novak fans or what, who gives you a chance to say, Novak is number 4, IN YOUR DREAMS, MOST PROBABLY, JUST YOUR WISH, please, don't do such a things, cause, you're not untouchable, aren't you, I don't give a penny for your 'stories', but at least, behave yourself and don't make mistakes by purpose, cause, whole world do know, Novak is number 3 and he'll eather stay at that position or grab for better one, OK...
gordana , 3/20/09 5:31 PM
Djokovic can win this....IF...
There are a number of reasons he CAN'T, but....
This just means that Novak has become unpredictable lately.
He can win a tournament today, and lose in the first round the next day.
No doubt he's a very good tennis player, but attached to him are lots of IF's and BUT's!
agf25agf , 3/20/09 5:50 PM
classic Ricky :)
posmatrac , 3/20/09 5:58 PM
I am unconvinced that Djokovic has the game to beat even Roddick, much less Nadal or Federer. I am open to changing my mind, if someone sees something in his play that says otherwise.
-Arvis
Arvis , 3/20/09 6:12 PM
Oh Ricky, you obviously meant no.3.
zikili , 3/20/09 7:47 PM
Djokovic world no.4?? Have I missed it happening?
sisterofnight12 , 3/20/09 8:19 PM
I also think that his forehand is a problem right now. I watched the match against StanTheMan, and at moment I wondered who is who on the court. Djoko almost doesn't play flat anymore.
There is one other think I have noticed: Nole has improved his play at the net. He looked good. His lack of forehand has forced him to go forward, and he is doing it better and better. Since I am certain that he will find his forehand again, the volleying will be a pure gain.
I remember Steve Tignor comparing Djoko with a "streamlined Federer" - if he start playing more forward and regain his baseline game, that would really be it.
I like ARod too, and with Djoker's ugly habit to play horribly a service game in the middle of the set, he has excellent chances. I have to add that Djoko is playing very well in the tb again.
Merlin , 3/20/09 8:56 PM
roddick took the first set 6-3!
agf25agf , 3/20/09 11:46 PM
damnit djoker is dissapointing me
torres9 , 3/21/09 12:08 AM
wow... he is losing now... guess it will be roddick Vs nadal.
torres9 , 3/21/09 12:16 AM
He'll lose no.3 at this rate. Most disappointing from Novak with flashes of brilliance in between. Well, I guess he has to find it in him again, we can't sit here and do it for him.
samprallica , 3/21/09 12:20 AM
o man..this was supposed to be a good match..so one-sided....once more nole fails miserably to defend his title..whenevr he is askd to defend he fails badly..falling in he qtr finals mainly...that truly reflects the guy need to learn alot... kindly donot compare him wid roger-rafa.....i know the guy is really talented...he will do big things in the future but rite now miles behind!
vamosrafa , 3/21/09 12:22 AM
WTF is this? SO dissapointing. I thought Djoker played well in big points against Wawrinka. Against roddick, he is so dissapointing. Well. Roddick had 81% first serve. that's crazy. Unlikely someone with 81% will lose any match. And he drew a ':)' as his signature LOL.
torres9 , 3/21/09 12:25 AM
Now I can see how on earth he lost to nieminen or gulbis in straight sets. Congrats to andy for a very good performance
orion , 3/21/09 12:35 AM
Well this probably shows even with a great weather at AO he would have still lost against Roddick. Djokovic needs to win something(again) before the clay court season, otherwise its going to be a long drought till Wimby gets over.
nirv02 , 3/21/09 1:26 AM
He needs to defend one of his big titles otherwise he is gonna have to put up with more criticism. So maybe Shanghai or what else did he win? I'd like to know what's going on in that head of his. Now he has that tourney in his country coming up. Is that going to distract him? He said sometime back he want's to be world no. 1, he got to no. 3 and the motivation and will seems to have halted at that!!!
Congrats to Andy - he totally deserves his victory. No funny business between the two which is even sweeter. Well done guys! Novak please go away and do some hard thinking and come back with a vengence!!!
homos , 3/21/09 2:45 AM
i'm guessing again, but maybe novak's focus is elsewhere. although i know we can't expect any player to be feeling well and at his best every time he steps on the court, but i do like watching novak when he fights to win. i didn't see his match against stan but i concluded from the scoreline that he put up a fight. maybe, he will tell us what's going in his postmatch interview! yes indeed, roddick is playing some inspiring tennis!
memi , 3/21/09 4:00 AM
Bad copy of real Novak, feel awful today, he has to do something with his constitution, he has to gain some weight, such an talented player deserves to win in comparison with carpenter who has only killing service, nothing else, Rodick's tennis is not nice for a viewers, anyway, congratulation to him, he knew how to use Novak's mistakes...
gordana , 3/21/09 10:18 AM
Gordana,
I actually REALLY like watching Roddick play.
Anyways, I called this one...
-Arvis
Arvis , 3/23/09 8:41 PM
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I agree it depends a lot on the way he handles tonight's match against Roddick. Btw, two typos - quarterfinals vs. Andy Roddick instead of Novak Djokovic (although this loks pretty accurate, since I think that all depends on Novak's game in the match against Andy), and he is world number 3, not 4. Regards
braca , 3/20/09 5:08 PM