Djokovic defends Australian Open title in longe...

After seeing that match and the grit displayed by both players, Federer will not win another grand slam. Period. I was hoping that he would get one more, but I just don't see it in the cards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAhj_tamlEU

Agreed... Too much talent and heart all around

I dunno, Bluels........I'm gonna say that Roger has one more left in him. He's been getting to the semis still almost every time.

Roger can win another GS but he will not win one if the draw goes the way it did at the Aussie Open. The way for Federer to win another GS would be to have someone else (Andy Murray) upset either Nadal or Djoker and he beat the other one then face Murray in a finals.

Fed won't win another GS if he has to beat Djoker and Rafa in the same tournament. If he has to just beat one of them, I see possibly 1 or 2 GS titles left in his career.

Now Nadal can finally take all of February off like he's been planning so he can rest his bruised ego . . . whoops, I mean, sore shoulder.

I got up at 6AM in hopes I could still see a bit of this. Boy, was I in for a treat. These two men are clearly the best players in the game today. Hope to see Federer get a few more, but like bksballer, I don't see Federer ever again beating the two that played today. Somehow the draw is going to have to involve both getting upset before a grand slam semifinal for Fed to add to his total.

Of course Federer will have to be oportunistic and hope others will eliminate the top guys, Remember Agassi's last Grand Slam title at 33 was won playing against Germany's Rainer Schuettler after all of the game's big guns had been shot down by others. Federer may not see it that way, but everytime he loses to Djokovic is to his advantage. Since Novack clearly has made Nadal his pigeon, every slam tournament Djokovic wins just protects Roger's record that much more. So go Djokovic! And here's wishing Del Potro gets back up to full speed and becomes the hard court demon he was before his wrist surgery and that Murray gets off his rear and finally decides to live up to his hype!

First of all, congrats to Djokovic on another GS title.
Here are my observations and take aways from this tourney:

1. String technology and sheer athleticism make Djokovic, Nadal, and Murray elite players. Federer, though I dislike him as a person, is really hurt by the advancements in technology, as he is the only true throwback left in tennis. Even he is relegated to playing mostly from the baseline, regardless of his various skills, neutralizing his true giftedness and wizardry around the court. His net game has obviously suffered.

2. The lack of variety in the game undermines the palpable tension and suspense built up by the long and tedious rallies. After a while, one becomes numb to the 30 shot rallies from the baseline, and the points become predictable.

3. Nadal proved that he can beat Djokovic today. I think he'll do it at Roland Garros, and perhaps on the grass at Wimbledon if he earns the opportunity. Of course, that will be a challenge of its own.

4. Nadal also proved that his issues against Djokovic are merely mental. No one can make you serve inaccurately, and when Rafa makes his first serve, he controls points. He must also remain aggressive, even when Novak pretends to be fatigued. Up 4-2 in the 5th is no time for tentative play (easier said than done I know). Rafa abandoned the killer instinct and slept through the 2nd and 3rd sets. He has to stay on attack.

5. I don't blame Novak's dad for wanting to ban his girlfriend from matches. She's more obnoxious than the rest of his already super-obnoxious box.

6. Federer can defintely win another Slam. He's got game, and the others are getting closer to knocking off Djokovic. He could see a final with Murray at some point, which would favor Roger for certain.

And, if Sonny_Objective, sees this, I'll gladly use an avatar of your choosing for a month.

Epic... love the new rivalries in men's tennis

That was a final for the ages. The level of intensity and the shot-making by both Nadal and Djoker were incomparable. Djoker is in Rafa's head, just as Rafa is in Federer's head. And this match will only make things worse. Rafa had this one all but sewed up. He had the extra day off, and Djoker had played an almost-5 hour match in the semis. He was up a break in the 5th set, but he couldn't close it out. Novak wouldn't give up, even though he was running on fumes. Rafa's only saving grace is that the next slam is on clay, or we'd likely being seeing a repeat of today. We might still. Djoker is that good.

Huskers, when you say String Technology, I assume that you also mean those super-duper rackets that all players use now, which gives them oodles of power. I really do miss the wood racket era, and seeing the brute strength in both the women's and men's finals, it really puts the finesse players and even the serve-and-volley players (if there are any of those left) at a huge disadvantage.

Huskers, when you say String Technology, I assume that you also mean those super-duper rackets that all players use now, which gives them oodles of power

Definitely. I should've added racket technology to that bit. And with the strings, these guys can swing as hard as they want and still keep the ball in play. The sport is about who runs the fastest now, and I think that is sad. I mean, ESPN telling me how many miles Nadal and Djokovic ran during the tourney really shows how the sport has changed. Who cares? Once again, I do not like Federer, but at least he has great variety in his game. Unfortunately, the racket and string technology neutralize his skills, forcing him to play mostly from the baseline.

Husker, maybe I'm missing something, but when did Federer ever play much at the net? To me, the difference between Fed, Joker and Nadal at this point is age. This is not to say that Joker and Nadal have not improved their games, because they have, but I think Fed's inability to beat them at this point is that he's a step slower than at his peak, and they are both peaking now. Well, at least Joker is.

I'm sorry I didn't see more of this match. I woke up at 6:15 to take the dogs out and decided to check in on the match. I watched Joker win the 3rd set and it looked to me like he was going to steamroll him. So I left Nadal for dead and went back to sleep. I was amazed to see the match still going in the 5th set and at least got to watch the end.

As a Nadal fan, I can't for the life of me understand why people don't respect him and his game more. He's an incredible player. Joker has become better than I ever thought he would, and it's really cool to see him develop. For Nadal, this loss will hopefully be something to build on. If he takes from it the knowledge that he can hang 5 sets on the hardcourt with Joker despite the loss and past losses, and realizes he needs to play more aggressively against Joker by going for more, I think he'll be able to beat Joker in future slams.

On a final note...The trophy award ceremony was practically painful to watch. To see Nadal and Joker, barely able to stand, probably cramping and exhausted while the Kia guy and others just chattered endlessly was unbelievable.Talk about being oblivious! At least somebody had the good sense to get them chairs and water eventually.

Husker, maybe I'm missing something, but when did Federer ever play much at the net? To me, the difference between Fed, Joker and Nadal at this point is age.

I believe Federer utilized the net game much more earlier in his career. I think he's abandoned much of his all-court style to keep up with the times. Several times in the Nadal match he came in and either flat missed a very makeable volley or fed it straight to Rafa's forehand. Just comes from not utilizing those skills much.

As a Nadal fan, I can't for the life of me understand why people don't respect him and his game more. He's an incredible player. Joker has become better than I ever thought he would, and it's really cool to see him develop. For Nadal, this loss will hopefully be something to build on. If he takes from it the knowledge that he can hang 5 sets on the hardcourt with Joker despite the loss and past losses, and realizes he needs to play more aggressively against Joker by going for more, I think he'll be able to beat Joker in future slams.

I pull for Nadal myself. I don't like Fed or Novak. I respect what he does. But (and he opened himself up to this by basically saying that what Sampras did wasn't tennis at all) I think racket technology and physical conditioning make him and many others successful in the game. The shots he makes look impossible because they were until recently, and that goes for Novak, too. It's all about running down every ball and swing away these days, and I think it's boring. Sure, there's drama because of the long delays between points and the suspense of trying to figure out who might make the next unforced error, but the drama is undermined by the predictability of points. At least S and V guys, though predictable, came in and imposed their wills on opponents. Waiting for someone to miss is bad for the knees and becomes boring after a while.

Yeah, I felt sorry for Nadal and Djokovic during the ceremony, since they were clearly uncomfortable having to stand for such a long time while the Kia guy was speaking.  As to Nadal, I use to hate him, but now I kind of admire him, but it is hard for me to get to really like him, especially when they show those slow-motion photos of his face while he is swinging the racket, and it looks like he is commiting mass murder or something very horrible.

Husker, I do think Fed played more net in the past, but never all that much. But I do completely agree with you about racket technology and the overall style of play in Tennis today. The racket technology and size of the rackets allow for the crazy angles these guys hit from the baseline or just inside it. Those shots were not possible from those locations prior to the advances in technology.

I still enjoy tennis, but the whack whack whack from the baseline stuff is much less interesting to me. It alllows for some spectacular plays, but not enough of them. Everything in between these great plays is far less interesting and entertaining in my opinion.

Blue, I hear you! Those slow motion shots should be used sparingly. They're interesting the first time you see them but after that...My wife and I were watching this morning and she noticed from the slow motion shots that Joker always has his non racket hand up near his body and curled up like a claw. So every time they showed him in slow motion, she kept saying "ooh, there's the claw again"!

7-0 vs Nadal in Finals. 3 straight in GS. He owns him! Now Raffi can take 3 months off and whine about the rigors of the tour. Then he'll win the French and lose the other 2 that REALLY matter. Go Djoker! #1 unquestioned.

That Japanese dude needed to be muted. Kudos to the attendants who brought them chairs and water.