The Roar » Alan Nicolea

Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal: Australian Open men’s final live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:40:44 +0000

The 2012 Australian Open should reach an enthralling climax tonight as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal do battle for the right to win the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. Join us for live scores and blog from 7:30pm AEDT.

For the third time in succession, Djokovic and Nadal once again meet in a Grand Slam final, thus consolidating their status as arguably the two best players on the ATP tour at present.

Not even the sublime skills of Roger Federer, or the tenacity displayed by Andy Murray, could stop an inevitable showdown between two players that have become a staple in Grand Slam deciders.

Djokovic had his work cut out by Murray in the semi-finals; trailing two sets to one before fighting back to record an epic five set victory in a match that lasted just under five hours.

Nadal meanwhile also recovered from a slow start against Federer, weathering the Swiss maestro’ s precise shotmaking early on to eventually register a tight four set win against his great rival.

Overall, both Djokovic and Nadal approach their third consecutive Grand Slam final with terrific form on the board, so expect tonight’s Australian Open decider to be a closely fought affair.

Prediction:

Djokovic certainly takes a psychological advantage into tonights final against Nadal.

The Serb is on a six match winning streak against the Spaniard in finals, with his biggest victories coming at the 2011 Wimbledon championships and the US Open.

If Nadal is any chance of stopping the Serb’s winning streak, he will need to take a leaf out of Murray’s book, and look to play long rallies whenever possible.

Even though Djokovic displayed enormous fighting qualities to beat Murray, the fact remains that the world No.1’s continues to struggle with his fitness when he engages in lengthy points.

Nadal on the other hand is a master of maintaining his intense level of play for hours on end, so expect the Spaniard to really turn this match into an endurance contest.

Djokovic on the other hand will look to stick to the formula that proved so successful against Nadal last year.

The world No.1 became a master of nullifying Nadal’s heavy topspin groundstrokes, thanks to his ability to produce deep, angled shots off both the forehand and backhand side that constantly kept the Spaniard on the back foot, even on clay.

If the Serb can once again find his range and rhythm with his groundstrokes, then Nadal will have a torrid time trying to gain any authority against Djokovic’s precise shotmaking.

With both players fairly evenly matched, this final has the potential to go down two paths.

If Nadal can turn tonight’s Australian Open decider into a lengthy affair, then we may just see the Spaniard go on and lift his 11th Grand Slam title.

On the other hand, if Djokovic can replicate last year’s US Open form and dominate Nadal from the baseline with his heavy groundstrokes, expect the Serb to prevail once again against the Spaniard.

Regardless of the result, this should be a fascinating and gruelling contest either way.

Djokovic to win in four tight sets.

Roaring Hot

Yesterday’s most commented articles

The real story of how John O’Neill turned Manchester City down [67 comments]
Australian teams at Super disadvantage [58 comments]
Does the A-League need an injection of humour? [43 comments]

Most read articles last 3 days

Article link: Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal: Australian Open men’s final live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Victoria Azarenka vs Maria Sharapova: Australian Open women’s final live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:22:40 +0000

In what should be an intriguing (and noisy) final, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka clash for the 2012 Australian Open women’s championship. Join us for live scores and blog from 7:30pm AEDT. Besides the lure of playing for a Grand Slam title, Sharapova and Azarenka also possess the opportunity to become the WTA tour’s new [...]

Article link: Victoria Azarenka vs Maria Sharapova: Australian Open women’s final live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer: Australian Open live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:48:37 +0000

The latest chapter in an epic rivalry will be played out tonight as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal clash for a place in the 2012 Australian Open final. Join us for live scores and blog from 7:30pm AEDT. It is only appropriate that a packed Rod Laver Arena should play host to a match that [...]

Article link: Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer: Australian Open live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Kim Clijsters vs Victoria Azarenka: Australian Open live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:26:21 +0000

Reigning Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters takes on No.3 seed Victoria Azarenka for a place in the final of the 2012 Australian Open. Join us for live scores and commentary from 1.30pm AEST. As was the case last year, Clijsters has once again captured the minds of many supporters during her run to the semi-finals [...]

Article link: Kim Clijsters vs Victoria Azarenka: Australian Open live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Andy Murray vs Kei Nishikori: Australian Open live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:11:16 +0000

Andy Murray will aim to make his third consecutive Australian Open semi-final when he takes on Japanese surprise packet Kei Nishikori. Join us for live scores and blog later this afternoon. Bar a tricky first round win against talented American Ryan Harrison, Murray has had a stress free run to the quarter-finals of the Australian [...]

Article link: Andy Murray vs Kei Nishikori: Australian Open live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Rafael Nadal vs Tomas Berdych: Australian Open live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:53:13 +0000

In a rematch of the 2010 Wimbledon final, Rafael Nadal faces Tomas Berdych for a place in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Join us for live scores and blog later this evening. Berdych will have to defy some pretty dark history if is to upset Nadal in the Australian Open quarter-final. The world No.7 [...]

Article link: Rafael Nadal vs Tomas Berdych: Australian Open live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Roger Federer vs Juan Martin del Potro: Australian Open live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:02:35 +0000

Four time Australian Open champion Roger Federer faces 2009 US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro in what is sure to be a competitive quarter-final. Join us for live scores and blog later this afternoon. After a relatively straight forward passage to the quarter-finals, Federer could have his hands full against Del Potro – the [...]

Article link: Roger Federer vs Juan Martin del Potro: Australian Open live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Lleyton Hewitt vs Novak Djokovic: Australian Open live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:14:40 +0000

A rejuvenated Lleyton Hewitt will square off against world No.1 Novak Djokovic for the right to secure an Australian Open quarter-final birth. Join us for live scores and blog later this evening. It has been a long time since Hewitt last played at such a high level at a Grand Slam. One would have to [...]

Article link: Lleyton Hewitt vs Novak Djokovic: Australian Open live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Bernard Tomic vs Roger Federer: Australian Open live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:10:55 +0000

Australian Bernard Tomic will have to play the match of his life if he is to upset Roger Federer in the fourth round of the Australian Open. Join us for live scores and blog from 7:00pm AEST. Although Tomic’s unconventional style of play has gotten the better of his opponents thus far, his game will [...]

Article link: Bernard Tomic vs Roger Federer: Australian Open live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Bernard Tomic vs Alexandr Dolgopolov: Austrailan Open live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:45:00 +0000

Rod Laver Arena plays host to Bernard Tomic vs Alexandr Dolgopolov for a place in the fourth round of the Australian Open. Join us for live scores and blog from 7:00pm AEST. Tomic enters the third round of the Australian Open on the back of morale boosting victories against big names Fernando Verdasco and Sam [...]

Article link: Bernard Tomic vs Alexandr Dolgopolov: Austrailan Open live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Lleyton Hewitt vs Cedrik-Marcel Stebe: Australian Open live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:22:41 +0000

Two time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt will look to ease his way into the Australian Open second round, as he takes on young German qualifier Cedrik-Marcel Stebe on Rod Laver Arena. Join us for live scores and blog tonight from 7pm ADST. Despite being ranked 181 on the ATP tour, Hewitt enters his first [...]

Article link: Lleyton Hewitt vs Cedrik-Marcel Stebe: Australian Open live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Sam Stosur vs Sorana Cirstea: Australian Open live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:15:04 +0000

Reigning US Open champion Samantha Stosur faces a tough battle on Rod Laver Arena as she tackles Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the first round of the Australian Open. Join us for all the action this afternoon. On the back of below par performances at the Brisbane and APIA International, Stosur once again appears to be [...]

Article link: Sam Stosur vs Sorana Cirstea: Australian Open live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Bernard Tomic vs Fernando Verdasco: Australian Open live scores, blog

Alan Nicolea — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:41:27 +0000

Rod Laver Arena played host to a blockbuster as Bernard Tomic and Fernando Verdasco went head to head for four hours and eleven minutes in a five set match, with the Australian finally prevailing 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5. Tomic would have been cursing his luck, having drawn a class player like Verdasco in the [...]

Article link: Bernard Tomic vs Fernando Verdasco: Australian Open live scores, blog. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Presenting the 2012 Australian Open dark horses

Alan Nicolea — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:46:10 +0000

If we are to follow the trend of the past six years, you can expect either Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, or Andy Murray to appear in the 2012 Australian Open final. Since 2006, the Australian Open final has seen at least one of the preceding players emerge victorious in the first Grand Slam [...]

Article link: Presenting the 2012 Australian Open dark horses. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Fired-up Federer will shine at Australian Open

Alan Nicolea — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:20:27 +0000

At the beginning of last year, one could have been forgiven to think that Roger Federer would be winding down the clock on a tennis career unlikely to be emulated by any player in the foreseeable future. As it stands, Federer has attained 16 Grand Slam titles and 18 Masters Series tournaments. He has conquered [...]

Article link: Fired-up Federer will shine at Australian Open. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

GreenEDGE to lead way in Tour Down Under

Alan Nicolea — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:07:36 +0000

The 2012 Tour Down Under promises to be a race that will help certify Australia’s new position as a major force on the UCI World Tour. Since Cadel Evans’ coronation at the 2011 Tour de France last July, professional cycling in Australia has grown significantly. Indeed the 14th Tour Down Under, which is scheduled to [...]

Article link: GreenEDGE to lead way in Tour Down Under. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Inconsistent India remain a sad enigma

Alan Nicolea — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:28:00 +0000

If their heavy defeat to Australia in the first Test is any indication, the Indian Cricket team remains one of the biggest enigmas in Test cricket. Before the beginning of their Test series against England in July, India found themselves ranked as the number one nation in Test Cricket, another feather in the cap for [...]

Article link: Inconsistent India remain a sad enigma. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Sam Stosur set for Australian Open success

Alan Nicolea — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:52:21 +0000

After winning her first US Open title in September, Samantha Stosur now has a wonderful opportunity to go on and establish herself as arguably the best player on the WTA tour come 2012. Having produced below par performances at the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, Stosur bounced back magnificently to upstage Serena Williams [...]

Article link: Sam Stosur set for Australian Open success. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Madrid, Ronaldo fail in El Clasico

Alan Nicolea — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:30:14 +0000

For the first thirty minutes of yesterday’s El Clasico, it seemed Real Madrid had taken their first steps toward ending FC Barcelona’s dominance, not just in La Liga but throughout Europe. A goal inside the opening 30 seconds scored by Karim Benzema was the perfect jump-start to a Madrid engine that would tirelessly pressure the [...]

Article link: Madrid, Ronaldo fail in El Clasico. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Here’s why Messi is superior to Ronaldo

Alan Nicolea — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:55:24 +0000

The Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi debate continues to be one of the hottest topics in world sport. Both are fabulous footballers that are essential to the successes of powerhouse clubs Real Madrid and FC Barcelona respectively. Indeed there have been many opinion pieces written by journalists and fans alike which aim to demonstrate why [...]

Article link: Here’s why Messi is superior to Ronaldo. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

World Cup success on horizon for Uruguay

Alan Nicolea — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:33:05 +0000

Although the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil may be more than two years away, Uruguay has perhaps already stamped themselves as prime candidates to win their third title. While most pundits will have the likes of Spain, Brazil, Germany and Holland on their contenders’ list come 2014, Uruguay’s recent results bode very well for [...]

Article link: World Cup success on horizon for Uruguay. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Write the Pumas off at your own peril

Alan Nicolea — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:04:15 +0000

As a Pumas fan, I am under no illusions how difficult Argentina’s match-up against the All Blacks will be, come Sunday evening. Bar ‘Richie McCow’ (the Rugby World Cup’s equivalent to FIFA’s Paul, the Octopus), many pundits believe that the Pumas will succumb to the mighty New Zealand in the last of the quarter-finals to [...]

Article link: Write the Pumas off at your own peril. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

La Liga fortune cast aside for enlightenment

Alan Nicolea — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:16:55 +0000

Although the name Javi Poves might not strike a chord with many football fans, he has certainly left a lasting impression on me personally. At 24 years of age, Poves has decided to quit his promising career as a professional footballer and will not renovate his contract with La Liga outfit Sporting de Gijon. His [...]

Article link: La Liga fortune cast aside for enlightenment. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Cadel Evans is a true Aussie sporting icon

Alan Nicolea — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:49:01 +0000

Cadel Evans has proved that he is many things at this year’s Tour de France – he is methodical, calculated, persistent and prefers a life away from the media spotlight. All these qualities have helped Evans become the first Australian in history to win the Tour de France – the holy grail of competitive cycling. [...]

Article link: Cadel Evans is a true Aussie sporting icon. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Compared to AFL, are NRL stars underpaid?

Alan Nicolea — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:45:35 +0000

Benji Marshall of the Wests Tigers (centre) in action during their NRL Round 14 match against the Parramatta Eels. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay

It’s official: despite their lavish lifestyles and the fact that they play sport for a living, The Sun Herald has revealed that a huge amount of NRL footballers, including some of the games biggest stars, believe they are underpaid.

NRL preview 2011: St George Illawarra

Alan Nicolea — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:22:18 +0000

Defence wins big matches, and the St George Illawarra Dragons successfully employed that philosophy last season to claim their first premiership victory as a joint venture, beating the Sydney Roosters 32-8 in the NRL grand final. As a result, the Dragons ended a premiership drought which stretched back 32 years. The dreaded chokers tag was [...]

Article link: NRL preview 2011: St George Illawarra. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

NRL preview 2011: Melbourne Storm

Alan Nicolea — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:14:04 +0000

The Storm celebrate Dane Nielsen's try. NRL Rugby League, Round 4 Melbourne Storm v St George Illawarra Dragons at Etihad Stadium, Friday April 2nd 2010. Digital image by Colin Whelan Â© nrlphotos.com

The Melbourne Storm’s reputation as the greatest NRL outfit over the past decade suffered a massive blow last season when it was revealed the club had been rorting the salary cap for the past four years.

NRL Preview 2011: Wests Tigers

Alan Nicolea — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:14:51 +0000

Despite the off-field distractions that have plagued Benji Marshall in the past week, there is little evidence to suggest that this will hinder the Wests Tigers ability to win their second NRL premiership in season 2011. The Tigers returned to finals football last season for the first time since winning their maiden premiership back in [...]

Article link: NRL Preview 2011: Wests Tigers. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

NRL Preview 2011: Penrith Panthers

Alan Nicolea — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:32:48 +0000

After four unsuccessful years at the Penrith Panthers, coach Matthew Elliott finally made the most of a talented roster last season, guiding the Panthers to their first finals appearance since 2004. The Panthers 15-9 game record saw them notch up some notable victories over finals teams such as the Wests Tigers, Dragons, Sydney Roosters and [...]

Article link: NRL Preview 2011: Penrith Panthers. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

NRL Preview 2011: Gold Coast Titans

Alan Nicolea — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:44:48 +0000

The Gold Coast Titans once again broke new ground last season, winning their first ever finals match against the New Zealand Warriors to secure a place in a maiden preliminary final. Hopes of a grand final birth would have been high for the Titans, given they finished the year inside the top four thanks to [...]

Article link: NRL Preview 2011: Gold Coast Titans. Written by Alan Nicolea, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion