Wimbledon - Mens Semi Final Day 12

Well here we are at the business end. Centre Court will be the gladitorial theatre. Here's hoping for some blockbuster encounters and winners by the bucketloads!

Novak Djokovic v Juan Martin Del Potro

Andy Murray v Jerzy Janowicz

The first one certainly the pick of the matches.

The money is on another Andy v Novak final. Can Delpo and Jerzy cause the top seeds a massive upset to rival the biggest upsets?

Delpo in the name of the planet earth survival, please beat Djoko.

Andy all the way

Jahu, what is with your dislike for Novak? Any particular reason(s), he is a superb player, champion, gutsy, a good sport and can play on all surfaces. Is it because he brought an end to Fedal Dominance?

Slash, he is not a superb player, he is a superb returner, he has no other skills, just a cheap copy with more stamina of Nadal, helped by all sorts of dodgy egg-chamber-wizard doctor sessions. Champion he is, thought he can win another 30 GS and no one will care or like him.

And no nothing to do with Fedal dominance, as Djoko has not dominated any one apart from a injured Nadal in last 2 years, and he's not dominating any one this year.

Otherwise, I don't like his eyelashes and his cheap outfit, is this reason enough to want Delpo to beat him?  

You forgot his hairstyle. The guy has no hope of global sporting icon status with a head looking like a microphone.

Statement of the year.

And Jahu is Serbian... (or have I mistaken you?)

Hoping for a JMDP win.

And Jahu is Serbian... (or have I mistaken you?)

Hoping for a JMDP win.

And Jahu is Serbian... (or have I mistaken you?)

Hoping for a JMDP win.

No I'm british by special order of MoD , (originaly a mix of italian/austrian blood) thought I worked and traveled all 1990's through ex-Yugoslavia and go to Belgrade often.

Sorry mate, just thought I remembered you posting about the Serbian forums, so I assumed you were Srbjan. My apologies

N/p, i speak and read it fluently

Has Andy looked a bit less powerful than last years W? Last year he was much more in the zone and played the first set of Final very well. This year he seems a little hit and miss and taking some time to get to his game during the match?

In the other news, Djoko has called todays SF against Delpo as his revenge time for last years Olympic Games loss to Delpo.

Interesting point from Sue Barker (yes, I actually just said that)... Despite everyone saying that Delpo is experienced and will handle the occasion, this is only his third slam semi final and his first for four years!

Only 2 previous semis... I always assumed he had a better record than that.

Has Del Potro ever hit a backhand down the line?

Chydremion wrote:Has Del Potro ever hit a backhand down the line?

Haha, right on cue!

Lesson 1 to avoid the Delpo forehand torpedos: don't pull him outwide.

Del Potro has the on-court emotional depth of Keanu Reeves character

#icy

I thought Delpo would be more aggressive than this. He's only really unloaded a couple of times, despite plenty of opportunities.

He's hanging in there and competing well, but he surely has no chance if he's playing the long game. Djokovic is sure to win if it becomes a war of attrition.

quality tennis so far, it must be said !

It is very good. Delpo really is sticking with him so far it has to be said. You'd maybe even say he's been slightly the better player.

Wow.... What a shot.... Oh no, it's out.

What defence from Novak. Unbelievable movement.

Dagger through the heart of Delpo. Expect him to run away now.

Djokovic 5-5 Del Potro
Juan Martin del Potro serving to stay in the match. He creaks to 30-30 but Novak Djokovic is not quite at his best and cannot kick his opponent's serve to splinters. A forehand into the net prompts an anguished look up at his box before Del Potro lands one right on the baseline money to put us back all level.

Got to love the BBC!

Jahu wrote:N/p, i speak and read it fluently

Has Andy looked a bit less powerful than last years W? Last year he was much more in the zone and played the first set of Final very well. This year he seems a little hit and miss and taking some time to get to his game during the match?

I'd agree with that. I haven't seen what I would call a really impressive match from him as yet. He's been efficient apart from some second set dips in the last two matches but I was definitely concerned about the way he let Verdasco dominate early on. It was very similar at Queens against Tsonga and Cilic although he eventually got through these matches.. So I'm hoping that he still has something better to come.

Delpo cannot get into the Djokovic serve at all, has he had a break point yet?

Now then... Delpo a break up in the second.

That's how I expected him to play from the start, unleashing.

I trust JMDP so much more than a Berdych in this situation. He's got the power and more importantly the composure to hold onto this lead. Its about time someone put Djokovic to the sword

Problems

Come on Delpo, give us some Argentine aged beef NOW!!

Delpo takes second set 6:4. Go Delpo Go.

Too good Giant from Tandil   

"Ok, you've hurt him, now he's nervous, it hurt!! you see Rocky, he's not a machine! ! he's a man!"

Never a bad time for a Rocky quote.

Djokovic has been really loose today (by his standards), a lot of errors off both wings, gets himself to 15-30 but misses two fairly routine FHs and Del Potro wriggles away again...

Djokovic has missed a lot of BHs down the line, which is very unusual for him. He seems to have a slight technical issue today, he's not committing to the shot and driving through it, more lifting off it and rotating across the ball, which results in a lot of them going wide...

@PseudoRafa
2d
For sure I'm rooting
for Del Potro knee to
win Wimbledon. A
friend in knee is a
friend indeed, no? #
trymybest

So far Djokovic has been really bottling it in this match. He can play much better than he is showing today. Nerves?

Chydremion wrote:So far Djokovic has been really bottling it in this match. He can play much better than he is showing today. Nerves?

Heat. Name me the last time Novak played well in stifling (no wind) heat, at the latter stages of a slam

Someone needs to give Novak some of those "magic pills" Delpo got against Ferrer...

banbrotam wrote:

Chydremion wrote:So far Djokovic has been really bottling it in this match. He can play much better than he is showing today. Nerves?

Heat. Name me the last time Novak played well in stifling (no wind) heat, at the latter stages of a slam

It's England, not Australia. It can't be that hot no?

The biggest surprise is its taken John Lloyd 2 and a half sets to say the word "staggering"

I expect to hear his other favourite "scary tennis" soon.

Chydremion wrote:

banbrotam wrote:

Chydremion wrote:So far Djokovic has been really bottling it in this match. He can play much better than he is showing today. Nerves?

Heat. Name me the last time Novak played well in stifling (no wind) heat, at the latter stages of a slam

It's England, not Australia. It can't be that hot no?

I don't remember the last three Aus Opens having very hot last couple of days.

I'd also have thought due to the roof CC is more prone to being a furnace. Novak also did or does have allergies (hayfever I think) these things never truly go away

It's also fast fast conditions - Novak is best on slow/ meduim fast conditons

Still think he'll win

Not certain that DP's supposed injury isn't unsettling as well

I dunno why Novak has decided to enter a hard hitting contest with DP. Didn't he see the US Open 09' final?

He needs to vary the pace, get DP moving diagonally and laterally - it might take an hour to have an affect, but it will have one

Come on Delpo break him already. Missing so many break points.

Wow.... 2 huge chances for Delpo there.

Think we may be looking back at those 2 points at the end and saying that's where the match turned.

Nobody wins a fire fight with JMDP, doesnt Nole know this

I know every point vs Djokovic is important but those BPs would have been so valuable for Del Potro. Still, I trust him to brush off the disappointment and regroup here as he does look the stronger player at this point...

I fancy Delpo may have had his chances to take control, and missed them. I think Novak will nick this set now.

Amazing from Delpo! What a game.

This is a brilliant match.

Quite agree, Danny. Impressive from DelPo. Hope iC is watching. That FH @15-30 was just amazing.

DelPo's faltered at 5-6 again.......