Novak Becomes Nalbandian

Wow. Where has Novak Djokovic been hiding during the Slams this year?

He's playing totally fierce at the moment. I would venture to say he is probably the top player on court at the moment - and I don't like saying anything nice at all about him, so that is saying something big. Sure, Rafa is SO not at his best at the moment, but Novak totally ate him for breakfast today. There are not many people who could snap Rafa in two like that, and Novak did it. Wow.

Coming off the heels of that Basel title as well, that's pretty awesome. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him cream Monfils tomorrow (possibly due to a trademark Monfils retirement) and win two titles on the trot. I guess someone had to take on the vacant mantle of David Nalbandian, and it looks like Djokovic is the one standing up to be counted. I don't like him - which we know - but more power to him. Maybe that mask he's wearing on court is freaking his opponents out.

He'll be facing Gael Monfils, who only ever seems to turn up to work in France. Seriously, you never see him for the rest of the year. When he's playing and he's uninjured, he's totally fierce, and he's awesome to watch. Unfortunately, this period lasts for approximately four seconds every year. Will some of those seconds be tomorrow? I would be guessing no. It would be totally un-Monfils for something like that to happen.


Today's Results

Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal, 6-2 6-3
Gael Monfils def. Radek Stepanek, 6-4 5-7 6-4