Semi Final Day - 10/09 Day 12

by legendkillar Sat 10 Sep - 17:12

First topic message reminder :

Here it is guys.

Straight shootout

Federer v Djokovic

Murray v Nadal

ghost

by kemet Sat 10 Sep - 20:06

luciusmann wrote:Novak could come back but to be honest, we're looking @ Fed reaching his 7th USO Final, what a brilliant achievement but the icing on the cake would be winning the whole thing!

Remember Tsonga came back from two sets down at Wimbledon.

I don't take anything for granted with Roger anymore.

by Tenez Sat 10 Sep - 20:07

It's certainly not over. Those top 2 players are just amazingly fit.

But this is why I always thought the best of Federer is still better than anybody out there.

It's just doing it over the distance and 7 matches nowadays that really takes it toll on the old man.

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:07

Roger serving at 76 percent in the second set, can't beat him when he is playing this way

by legendkillar Sat 10 Sep - 20:08

76% First serves in for Federer in the 2nd set. A big factor in this performance. He is turning it up a notch.

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:09

Roger seems to save his best serving and backhand performances for Novak.

by legendkillar Sat 10 Sep - 20:10

The slice has totally thrown Novak off course. Hasn't known whether to attack it or defend off it.

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:11

Roger seems to have decided smartly to give up some aces for a higher first serve percentage

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:11

Not much Novak can do if roger serves like this in the third set

by legendkillar Sat 10 Sep - 20:12

Federer has to make sure he doesn't give Novak a sniff.

by lydian Sat 10 Sep - 20:13

As always though its a question of whether Fed can sustain this...and we know Nole never gives up!

by lydian Sat 10 Sep - 20:13

What a return from Nole at deuce into the corner....

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:13

there you go novak get the break

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:15

Wow Novak hit a great backhand right there

by legendkillar Sat 10 Sep - 20:15

Great BH play by both men. Break for Nole

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:16

Come on Novak you still got a chance in this

by Tenez Sat 10 Sep - 20:16

Djoko moonballing on Fed's BH to break his rhythm. Worked!

by legendkillar Sat 10 Sep - 20:16

Djokovic needs to hold. Federer trying to hammer some flat shots on the change of pace. Silly if you ask me. Should've gone to the slice.

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:17

Looks like a different Nole this set

by legendkillar Sat 10 Sep - 20:19

Big big hold by Djoko there. The pressure has reversed.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 10 Sep - 20:19

If Novak wins this set he is right back in with a shout as the longer the match goes on the more you'd fancy his youth and fitness telling.

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:20

Crucial hold right there, come on Novak come right back and put pressure on his serve, don't take anything for granted.

by luciusmann Sat 10 Sep - 20:20

I didn't think Fed would win this in str8 sets so I still think Fed will win but in 4 sets. Can't see this going to 5 sets, it's quite a lot of work for Djokovic to come back but if anyone is capable of doing it, Djokovic is, he's proven it all season long.

by lydian Sat 10 Sep - 20:21

Like I said socal, sometimes Nole seems to hit a physical wall and it takes a while for him to break through it but invariably he finds a way through it. He seems alot fresher and clearer thinking now.

This match has a way to go yet - as Kravitz sang, it aint over til its over!

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:21

Roger starting to give up a few more errors here

by Mad for Chelsea Sat 10 Sep - 20:22

Federer gone off the boil slightly, Novak has sensed this and tightened his game accordingly. Federer will feel he's still in the set though, it's only one break.

by Josiah Maiestas Sat 10 Sep - 20:22

Can we all finally agree that this Novak is better off blue clay than on it??

I can see him going on a successful run at Wimby winning 3 or 4 times but on this surface there are guys who can strike better than him...far too inconsistent to ever be taken seriously on HC

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:23

lydian, Roger just served too well in the first two sets. Are you watching this serving display. What a cheeky and sweet dropper by nole that is great feel

by legendkillar Sat 10 Sep - 20:24

Good hold for Feds there.

by Mad for Chelsea Sat 10 Sep - 20:24

beautiful dropper by Djokovic helps him to deuce but then two poor errors off the forehand (which has misfired a bit) keep Roger in the set

by legendkillar Sat 10 Sep - 20:24

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Can we all finally agree that this Novak is better off blue clay than on it??

I can see him going on a successful run at Wimby winning 3 or 4 times but on this surface there are guys who can strike better than him...far too inconsistent to ever be taken seriously on HC

I don't agree.

It is more like blue glue than clay laughing

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:25

What are you talking about JM, the guy has won every big hardcourt tournament on tour and been to the finals of the USO twice

by legendkillar Sat 10 Sep - 20:25

What an exchange that was. Pow!

by Josiah Maiestas Sat 10 Sep - 20:26

He is unbelievably sh** at day times matches vs this fed...this serbian dracula only performs at night

by lydian Sat 10 Sep - 20:28

Yep saw the serving socal but for me that wasnt why he won the 1st two sets, he simply played better across all areas including groundies.

But the tide is turning here you feel...errors starting to creep into Rogers' game, Nole looking fresher and more secure on those groundies. This is going to actually be tough for Roger to close out now...you even start to wonder of Nole is going to win this in 5....

by legendkillar Sat 10 Sep - 20:29

Can't see Feds getting the break back unless Djoko goes back to wondering if he left the gas on before he came out.

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:29

Djokovic just rocketed a forehand on game point, it was so deep and hard that Roger was a little surprised all he could do was block back halfway into the middle of the net

by Mad for Chelsea Sat 10 Sep - 20:30

I think where Djokovic has lacked a little bit today is in variety. There's been some great exchanges with both of them going toe to toe but Roger's extra variety, be it the serve or the sliced backhand (which I have been saying is the key to beating Novak for months now!!!) is what's giving him the slight edge right now, though Nole is not out of this by all means...

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:30

from your lips to god's ears lydian. I like the body language and play of novak right now

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:31

Agree with MFc, too things you need to beat Novak a great serve and a wicked slice backy

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:33

Novak has really dictated with fh, in this set

by Mad for Chelsea Sat 10 Sep - 20:34

socal1976 wrote:Agree with MFc, too things you need to beat Novak a great serve and a wicked slice backy

It's how Murray nearly beat him in Rome, how Murray did beat him in Cincinatti, and how Dolgopolov had him looking a little lost for the best part of a set the other day...

by Mad for Chelsea Sat 10 Sep - 20:34

Federer looks to be tiring, he's just lost a step, so Djokovic has a real chance here...

by luciusmann Sat 10 Sep - 20:36

I still think this match will be Fed in 4.

by lydian Sat 10 Sep - 20:36

What a funny old game tennis is...especially over 5 sets...this match is still hard to call but you feel the balance may be tipping in Nole's direction. But this may be just one of those Fed wobbles and he comes back strong in the 4th...

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:37

Finally it takes him 2 sets to start hitting the forehand without fear

by Simple_Analyst Sat 10 Sep - 20:38

Djokovic playing just a little more smarter now.

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:39

Come on novak lets get this set and put some pressure on rog

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:40

Always huge to get the first point when trying to serve out the set

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:41

Got to get your first serve over in this game novak

by socal1976 Sat 10 Sep - 20:42

damn it don't get sloppy

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