Tennis | Roland Garros 2020 | Men’s final preview as Djokovic aims for 19, and Tsitsipas tries to win his first

  • Novak Djokovic [1] v Stefanos Tsitsipas [5]
  • H2H: Djokovic leads 5-2
PARIS, FRANCE – Novak Djokovic moves tantalisingly close to 19 Slams, but Stefanos Tsitsipas could be the one to deny him in the Roland Garros men’s final.

 

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Novak Djokovic [1] v Stefanos Tsitsipas [5]

History could be made on Sunday for Stefanos Tsitsipas as he wins a maiden Grand Slam, or Novak Djokovic could move a step closer to catching Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as he reaches number 19.

 

H2H & Match Fundamentals

Novak Djokovic [1] v Stefanos Tsitsipas [5] H2H: Djokovic leads 5-2
Roland Garros Paris, France
Clay (O) Prize Money: €1,400,000

 

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The last time this pair met on the clay of Roland Garros, Tsitsipas took Djokovic the distance, and he might have to do so again to get the better of Djokovic.

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2021 – Clay)

H2H: Novak Djokovic (WR 1) Stefanos Tsitsipas (WR 5)
Tournament Previous Best    
1st Serve % 65.3 63.8
Service Games Won % 82 89.9
Break Points Saved % 64.6 73.7
2nd Serve Return Points Won % 56 53.4
Break Points Converted % 45 45.2

The pair are pretty evenly matched with Tsitsipas a lot stronger on holding his service games on the clay and saving break points against him.

 

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Playing Styles & Prediction

For a textbook explanation of how resilient and how much of a wall Djokovic is, you need only watch his semi-final from the second set on. He had to use every ounce of aggression in his baseline play, strain every sinew and bring out his very best tennis to beat Rafael Nadal for the second time at Roland Garros, and only for the third time in the Spaniard’s illustrious time in Paris.

Yet we also need to look at how Tsitsipas dug very deep against a resurgent Alexander Zverev in their semi-final to clinch a spot as Greece’s first Slam finalist. Djokovic is one of the best returned on the tour, and his flexibility and agility needs no introduction or explanation.

Tsitsipas can match Djokovic blow for blow from the baseline, and with a big serve and as solid an all-court game as the World No. 1, then we are going to be in for at least four sets if not the whole distance.

Experience is everything and while many will feel that Djokovic-Nadal was the defacto-final, the tantalisingly close Slam No.19 will mean that Tsitsipas will have to very much earn the right to deny Djokovic a very real chance of catching Federer and Nadal this year, if not overtaking them both if the stars align for the Serb.

Prediction: Djokovic in five sets.

 

 

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