French Open 2023 – What to watch for in Novak Djokovic-Stefanos Tsitsipas men’s singles final

Stefanos Tsitsipas is enjoying in his first profession Grand Slam closing. Novak Djokovic is vying for his nineteenth Slam title. There may be lots on the road for each gamers, who will face off in Sunday’s French Open males’s singles closing.

Djokovic is coming off among the finest matches of his storied profession after carrying down the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, in an epic four-set semifinal conflict. Tsitsipas wanted 5 units to get previous Alexander Zverev and lock up his spot.

Which participant has the sting? Our tennis gurus preview the match.

Given the bodily exams Djokovic and Tsitsipas every confronted of their semifinal matches, how a lot will fatigue be an element?

Simon Cambers: It would solely grow to be an element if the ultimate itself goes actually lengthy. Djokovic regarded sturdy on the finish of his match towards Nadal, and I don’t keep in mind him ever shedding a match due to fatigue. Perhaps the 22-year-old Tsitsipas may really feel it if it goes 5.

Invoice Connelly: One would definitely need to excuse each gamers in the event that they had been a little bit bit heavy-legged, however Djokovic’s health ranges stay nearly unimpeachable, and Tsitsipas’ strategy will seemingly be to maintain factors quick total. There may be cause to hope for a clear, crisp match.

D’Arcy Maine: The psychological hurdle could be extra of a problem. Djokovic isn’t any stranger to enjoying in huge matches over his profession, however Friday wasn’t a typical semifinal. To have received such an epic match towards essentially the most storied of rivals makes for the last word emotional excessive. Coming down from that and specializing in one other match could possibly be difficult. Djokovic in contrast beating Nadal on clay to climbing Mount Everest. It could be a good comparability, however no climber then instantly goes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro two days later.

Tsitsipas described his semifinal match towards Zverev as “stuffed with feelings” and “exhausting,” as he dug deep down the stretch after squandering his early two-set lead. He might want to not take into consideration what it means to be enjoying in his first main closing, and that could be a problem.

Tsitsipas’ two profession victories towards Djokovic have come on the arduous courts. What does he need to do to beat Djokovic on clay this time round?

Cambers: Tsitsipas has to play his greatest match ever. He must serve effectively, choose up some free factors to alleviate the stress, and transfer Djokovic round (like Lorenzo Musetti did within the fourth spherical) and pull him out of his consolation zone. If he can get ahead as a lot as potential, it is going to assist.

Connelly: For starters, shut the deal once you get the possibility. In Rome final month, Tsitsipas took the primary set and led by breaks within the second and third however fell. If you happen to’re aiming for a Slam breakthrough, “Shut out Novak Djokovic” is the ultimate job on the ultimate stage of the online game. Tsitsipas doesn’t appear to loosen up till his again is towards the wall, but when he’s prepared for that second, he’s greater than ok to do it.

Maine: Tsitsipas pushed Djokovic to 5 units within the 2023 French Open semifinals after going through match level within the third set. He is aware of he’s able to pushing the world No. 1 to the brink on clay, and he’s solely gotten higher since that conflict in October. Tsitsipas was most profitable within the match when he was aggressive and dictating play and transferring as much as the web. He’ll want to try this once more Sunday, however this time from the beginning. Maybe most significantly, he should keep composed, as he has for many of this match.

What are the gamers’ photographs to look at?

Cambers: The Djokovic return was beautiful towards Nadal and shall be a key issue towards Tsitsipas. The depth he will get, persistently, places the server underneath a lot stress. For Tsitsipas, he must get the ball on his forehand as a lot as potential to cease Djokovic dominating.

Connelly: For Djokovic, it’s the forehand. It was absurdly good towards Nadal, and when he’s dialed in on that facet, it’s nearly unattainable to get on high of him in rallies. He already has one of the vital harmful backhands within the sport and has the most effective return. If he’s nailing the forehand, too, what’s left?

When Tsitsipas’ serve is on, it’s nearly as good as anybody’s outdoors of John Isner and possibly Roger Federer. It has allowed him to see success towards Djokovic — he has certainly received twice towards the world No. 1 on arduous courts, and their final two conferences on clay went the gap. Djokovic compelled him into hassle in key moments, nonetheless. Tsitsipas’ serve has to come back up huge all through.

Maine: Let’s make this easy right here — an ideal serving day could possibly be the distinction for each gamers.

Djokovic mentioned his serve wasn’t “a giant weapon” throughout his match towards Nadal, however it actually was efficient when he wanted it to be. Within the essential fourth set, he misplaced simply eight factors on serve and received 80% of first-serve factors. That could possibly be essential Sunday if he achieves that stage of serve dominance early within the match. Tsitsipas additionally locked down his win over Zverev with an extremely sturdy service efficiency within the fifth set, with three aces and 83% of first-serve factors received.

Little doubt Rafa continues to be the King of Clay, however how a lot does Djokovic’s second win towards Nadal at Roland Garros issue into the GOAT debate?

Cambers: The match alone received’t actually have an effect on that argument, however the truth that it offers Djokovic the possibility to win Slam No. 19 — and declare each main title twice — does. It might additionally put him midway to the calendar-year Grand Slam. If he does that, he may have 21 profession Slams, out on his personal previous Nadal and Roger Federer.

Connelly: He’s the one participant to beat Nadal twice at Roland Garros and now has an opportunity to win what quantities to a profession double-Slam. Given how effectively he has performed on grass and arduous courts up to now, it’s important to determine his odds of retiring with essentially the most profession Slams grow to be very excessive if he can seal the deal. Individuals will ceaselessly argue between Djokovic, Nadal and Federer within the GOAT debate irrespective of how this all finishes, but when he can declare scoreboard, his case is clearly superb.

Maine: Djokovic, who will seemingly be the favourite at Wimbledon and the US Open, now has a official likelihood to win three extra main titles this 12 months. For these maintaining rating at house, if he had been to succeed, he would leapfrog previous Nadal and Roger Federer into the highest spot for many Slam victories. And, at 34, he’ll nonetheless very a lot be in his prime; if he weren’t in a position to attain the mark this 12 months, it feels nearly inevitable he’ll get there ultimately. It will likely be arduous to argue the GOAT declare with these numbers.

Prediction time: Tsitsipas or Djokovic?

Cambers: After his win over Nadal, it’s very arduous to suppose Djokovic will fall flat within the closing. He’s been there earlier than, is aware of what it takes and goes to be nigh unattainable to beat regardless of how effectively Tsitsipas has performed. Djokovic in straight units.

Connelly: I’ve grow to be a Tsitsipas believer and suppose he has a official shot right here. However given how good Djokovic was towards Nadal, I can’t make myself choose towards him. Djokovic in 4.

Maine: Djokovic performed what he referred to as the most effective clay-court match of his profession Friday, however the emotional hangover from such an epic victory shall be an excessive amount of to beat in simply 48 hours, even for somebody as mentally powerful as Djokovic. Tsitsipas meets the second and wins his first Grand Slam title in one other thrilling five-setter. Don’t @ me.