Wimbledon Day 9 - Anything is Pospisil. Maybe even a Cilic in time saves nine...match points

First topic message reminder :

Order of play
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/22713811

Well this us better. Both look like going through now. I really don't know who to pick. Fed maybe. I think they might beat each other up too much for Novak

and there's the set, more good aggression from Murray and he waltzes through a service hold to 15. Seems to have come out more aggressive after the roof closed.

Will require a monumental effort from Popsicle now. Has been the comeback kid this tournament, but Murray a different proposition to Ward and Troicki.

Freer hitting from Andy on all shots. What's needed

Agree with some that Murray doesn't seem to be hitting the heights so far this tournament, which is a worry with Fed looming. However, these things can be deceptive. Thought he looked great last year until the Dimi disaster. Also, there will probably be added pressure for Fed to deal with, as this could be his last realistic shot at a swan song slam.

Simon not able to stop the slice and attack the bh.  The first 2 are nearly through

That's really quite a result from Federer. I know some predicted a clear win but Simon has been an issue for him in the past and that can't be overlooked.

Pity about the dropped service game but maybe a monkey off the back - but then he probably doesn't think like that.

Tidy win for Federer. His progress has been so effortless that it's difficult to gauge how well he is playing. Not well enough to win it I suspect.

His thinning hair and the camera angle makes him look uncannily like Sampras in the BBC interview.

Even Rogers hair is beginning to go sadly...  No lost hairs on that one. Though he did Pop his cherry so to speak on serve

He did well. The main question is that Simon can't attack that bh as well as Feds likely 2 next guys. How does that hold up

Ominous from Federer.

I didn't think he had a realistic chance of winning the title but I'm beginning to revise my opinion.

Going through Murray and Djokovic/Wawrinka for the title will be very tough but it's not looking insurmountable for him at present.

What a weapon that serve is.

It is.  It's gotta probably go through the best neutralisers of it in the world. Should be good to see

You sense Popsicle is starting to tire here. Murray just needs to go for the jugular.

Posposil is whacked by TVs on big points here. Shame but I guess he is slow

Federer really needs Stan to take out Djokovic, and that's assuming he can handle Murray.

Popsicle docked a serve for continual dawdling. Wonder where he fits in to HE's infamous TV conspiracy theory?

He's done it.  Grat aggression at the end. That gives hope for a real classic of a semi

temporary21 wrote:Posposil is whacked by TVs on big points here. Shame but I guess he is slow

Yes, if there's one thing our TV 'research' has established, you have to be pretty damn slow for extended periods to get whacked. Wonder how many players have lost serves this year. Seems to be very rare indeed.

bogbrush wrote:Federer really needs Stan to take out Djokovic, and that's assuming he can handle Murray.

I agree that I don't think he can beat Djoko in a best of five, particularly since he'll have to struggle past Murray first, but if it comes to it I think I'd have Stan as marginal favourite vs. him too on their recent form, even though it's on grass.

Job done by Andy. Will need to go up a gear or two to beat Roger on Friday which I take it it will be the first match on Centre Court? I hope so as am working late afternoon/early evening.

steady on everyone, Stan has to get past Gasquet first, 3-3 in the first so far

much better from Murray after the roof closed, played with much more freedom, and had he been less profligate with BPs in the third would have got it done even sooner.

so far QFs going easily to seeding and form, was disappointed in Simon who played poorly I thought. Hope the next two give us something more competitive...

CaledonianCraig wrote:Job done by Andy. Will need to go up a gear or two to beat Roger on Friday which I take it it will be the first match on Centre Court? I hope so as am working late afternoon/early evening.

I'm hoping the exact opposite. Out at a client until mid-afternoon. Might have to do a bodge job if scheduling not in my favour.....

Could be second cc.

and on cue Gasquet breaks, would certainly make things interesting if he could nab the first set here...

temporary21 wrote:Could be second cc.

Well if these next two quarters go long into the evening surely logic dictates you give them as long as possible to recover. But there again since when does logic matter a jot in sceduling.

The first set he has nabbed

Stan is looking vulnerable in some matches, I doubt he could beat Federer - may have more chance against Djokovic due to match-up but on grass I think Federer gets to bamboozle him much more than he can on clay.

Novak breaks. Scary returning tbh.

Wawrinka is on it now

Wawrinka throws the break away tio

Gasquet breaks back to 2-3, Wawrinka really hasn't settled so far today, offering up far too many UEs.

Guess I have to accept that Wawrinka isn't pulling off the RG-SW19 double.
On to the USO

Get in!

I'd say it's a 50/50 tossup between Fed and Murray . Problem for Fed if he wins is the recovery for the final though. He's shown continuously the past few years that he can hit peak level in the best of 5's, but it's the recovery for the next match that gets him often. Any long match with Murray will ruin him for the Final IMO.

Murray should be in better shape to handle a long 4 or 5 setter though.

damn aging.

Djokovic is hardly playing next level.

Well it is Cilic.

Richie goes from 0-30 on the Wawrinka serve and then gets broken on his serve!

Wawrinka is giving it the big kaboom.

HM Murdoch wrote:

Aut0Gr4ph wrote:What's the Gasquet-Wawrinka H2H like?

I was amazed to see that they have only played each other twice before!

It's 1-1.

Thanks HMM. For two players who must have been in and around the top twenty for donkeys years, that is staggering. Could just about understand if one of them was a clay court specialist with a clay dominated schedule, but that's not the case. Just a weird quirk, I guess.

Novak breaks.  Fairly serene

Stan throws the 4th away!

Bloody hell Stan.

That's 1 each in giving away sets with a double fault.

Stan on grass gives me horrific ulcers. It is like a rabbit going for a swim with crocs all over the perimeter of the water.

Wawrinka in a bit of trouble here.

Novak done in straights, no problems.  Stan in a hole

Everything I have ever thought, said or wrote about Reechard I now take back.. I cant remember when I have ever seen him play so well.
I gave this match to Stan in three straight.. how wrong could I be

Pulls through 2-2. Only real positive is that I can't imagine that this match has been altogether taxing, so if he pulls it off, Stan should still physically be good to go.

Gasquet is playing the better tennis. Wawrinka has the championship calibre. Tight

Before the match I said Stan in 5. Now I think Gasquet.
He's more comfortable on grass and with him serving first he has a great chance.