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After youngsters Novak Djokovic (20) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (22) each had the biggest wins of their careers, they are competing against each other in the Australian Open Men's final Sunday night in Melbourne. Djokovic defeated World #1 and 12-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in straight sets in the second semifinal while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga demolished World #2 and 3-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the first semifinal. In the final we will see what happens when an unstoppable force faces an unmoveable object.
I'd like to think that although a Grand Slam title means more to Tsonga, there will actually be more pressure on Djokovic, because he is the World #3 (Tsonga is unseeded!) and the heir apparent to Federer. The two have never face each other before, so this is a again a "case of first impression." If Tsonga can play as well as he played against Nadal, he should win the first set easily while Djokovic tries to figure out how to handle his game and Tsonga is still far away enough from the actual win to become nervous.
Once Djokovic does start playing his best it will be interesting to see if Tsonga can maintain his brilliant serving and jaw-dropping volleying. If so, Tsonga can make history as the first Black male Grand Slam champion since Arthur Ashe in1975.
PREDICTION: Tsonga, in 4 sets.
I like your prediction. Sounds about right. These are two very likeable guys. But I root for Tsonga. That might mean I see him as the underdog here...
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