Indian Wells - 16th March - Singles Finals Day

Stadium 1 Start 12:00 noon
[20] Flavia Pennetta (ITA)
v
[2] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
WTA


Not Before 2:00 pm
[7] Roger Federer (SUI)
v
[2] Novak Djokovic (SRB)
ATP

Roger

Well I just googled Indian Wells order of play, clicked on the link, and copy and pasted what was there. While that may sound little effort for an article I also had to remove some extra spaces that came in in the copy and paste and it took me a full minute to produce the article in total, so I hope you are all eternally grateful for such an effort.

I can also google other websites:

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Flavia Pennetta routed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-1 to win the BNP Paribas Open for the biggest tournament title of her career.

Source: USA today.

Federer and Djokovic have been warming up for a while now - they are on the service part - so get to your seats and TVs.

I heard Aggie was physically done by the end and could barely move which is a real shame.

Fedokovic.... I don't know, I only have SS 1 and 2.

High quality first game from both, more of the same please.

I'm not usually an exponent of "downplaying your favourite player's chances" but I haven't been this negative on the chances of a Djokovic win against Federer since 2010!

There are too many parts of Novak's game that are spluttering at the moment. The serve, the forehand and the return have all collapsed at various points in the week.

Federer, by contrast, is looking like a well oiled machine.

The slow surface and Novak's defence may keep the scoreline close but I see Federer as a comfortable favourite on this occasion.

Chile TV recognises the big four in its commentary, in defiance of Federer's 7 ranking and Ferrer having a bunch of weeks in the top 4. "Cuatro grandes" they called it just now.

From 2011 onwards, Djokovic has won most of the matches against Federer, been ranked higher, won far more masters series, and the recent win in Dubai was a tournament that's not important, on a surface suitable to Federer. Djokovic is the favourite.

(Two can play at this game.)

HM Murdoch wrote:I'm not usually an exponent of "downplaying your favourite player's chances" but I haven't been this negative on the chances of a Djokovic win against Federer since 2010!

There are too many parts of Novak's game that are spluttering at the moment. The serve, the forehand and the return have all collapsed at various points in the week.

Federer, by contrast, is looking like a well oiled machine.

The slow surface and Novak's defence may keep the scoreline close but I see Federer as a comfortable favourite on this occasion.

He needs to keep it level early on, otherwise Federer might run away with it. Cheer up though HM, the players will be playing on the treacle court that is Miami soon. Djokovic has to win that.

Is there really much difference between IW and Miami for court speed?

IW has looked a notch faster this year, thoughts? Could just be the weather or something, or maybe I'm imagining it, there seems to be a few more winners flying just out of reach.

There was last year, HB. That Miami final last year was...well, nothing short of excruciating.

Federer breaks, 2-0. Poor game from Novak, at least two doubles that I saw.

Edit: HM, after 2013 I'm amazed that you'd back Federer to win this one!

Novak was playing some excellent tennis en route to the Dubai Final, and I'm still bemused that many people seem to have forgotten this so quickly. He was, by his own admission, derailed by a surprisingly aggressive Federer in sets 2 & 3 there. Djoko will not want to get caught out tonight in the same way.

Federer thinks it's still the 1990s with the old fashioned chip and charge. Worked though, and followed up with a good quality point after that. Weak service game from Djokovic.

Broken immediately and already 2 double faults.

It could be Cincy 12 all over again.

I don't know but Miami last year was painful. I appreciate the weather during the final wasn't helping at all but it was ridiculous all through the tournament. I've not seen this year's IW however isn't it normally slowish but not as slow as Miami?

Personally I've never watched Miami enough to say for sure, but maybe others can chip in.

Correction, I meant to say semi-final of course

Djokovic started the match as the favourite on Betfair but the early break has switched things around and Federer is currently the favourite. Still fairly close to 50/50 though.

serve and volley from Rog, someone should really tell him it's not the 1990s, I appreciate the effort though

Federer up 4-1. Apparently he's 'as fast as he ever was'! Got to love commentators...

A few nice shots in that game, maybe it'll start catching alight soon?

I am more confident in a Federer win than I have been in ages. Truth be told, I've been wanting to see him play the other three of the "big four" to get a few wins. This period will matter more if he does.

Come on Fed, in the name of humanity, deck him for good.

Great serving from Federer. Novak starting to get into the match though, which is good. 5-2.

Jahu, any reason in particular that you despise djokovic so much?? No issue with people being a fan of certain players but you really seem to have it in for Novak. As much as I have gone off federer in recent years, still have huge respect for the guy. Amazing how carried away people get on here with their dislike of certain players

That was interesting hold from Federer and the key to his improved results imo. He hits a double fault, had not started the game well and could have wobbled. Last year he would have. This year, its not even that he has to grind it out. He just has to place his serve. Fantastic to see.

Federer's serving is so much improved lately

Nice set Rog

Pretty routine first set for Federer. He's serving well again.

Novak has struggled with his forehand all week and it's letting him down again today.

It is nauseating hearing commentators say that Federer is as good as he was at his peak but the one aspect that is reminiscent of the Roger of old is return of some potency in his serve and forehand. For three or four years there, they haven't been devastating and against Nole and Rafa, they've been barely even problematic. In both these matches against Nole, Federer is just taking the time away from him

Quick set to Fed, just a tad over 30 mins.

Mind you, Cilic took his opener (6-1) even quicker. But Novak sure woke up after that, as he invariably does.

This will go to three.

Love matches between these two. The all court game of Novak vs the master. There is no better sight in the sport than Roger on top form vs one of the top guys. Some breathtaking play.

Treasure it guys, won't be too many of these days left.

Where does this rivalry rank in the biggest match-ups of all time?

Currently I would make Federer favourite to win set 2, however if there was a set 3, I would make Djokovic favourite.

In my view the lack of devastating Federer forehand is as much due to court speed and better opponents (eg keep it deeper/lower, get close enough to Federer's level to effect him mentally). the other thing is while his forehand has declined, this was compensated by an improvement in the backhand and serve over the years. In my view he hasn't been far off his peak in recent years, with the exception of last year.

Federer has the ability to raise his level against Djokovic, this is so far a better performance than the semi final. Djokovic sometimes looks like he's lost a bit of mojo.

The match is still reasonably finely balanced. We may yet be reflecting on a comfortable straights sets win, on the other hand, Djokovic is definately capable of turning it.

Yeah, so far he's playing pretty well. No clue why Novak keeps playing it to the forehand though, that shot's like a laser at the moment.

TSJ: Pretty highly! Usually very high quality, and they've played many times on the biggest stages. That said, I'm still amazed that they've only contested one slam final, all the way in 2007.

I'm watching this game on an internet stream. A window keeps popping because apparently a girl in a bikini called Ana is trying to call me on "skypo".

Maybe I'll answer and see what she thinks about Novak's forehand.

HM Murdoch wrote:I'm watching this game on an internet stream. A window keeps popping because apparently a girl in a bikini called Ana is trying to call me on "skypo".

Maybe I'll answer and see what she thinks about Novak's forehand.

Ana? I think she could tell you a hell of a lot about his forehand

a chance missed for Djokovic, with the 15-30 point especially. federer needs to watch the first serve % but good to see him win a long rally on an important point despite a poor first serve % in the game.

only one slam final, wow, obviously that has a lot to do with the fact that they have never been the top two at the same time, but also just hte luck of the draw, as I think Murray and Djokovic have had 3-4 slam finals and haven't been in the top 2 at the same time either

Step it up Fed. Dont lose this.

Henman Bill wrote:only one slam final, wow, obviously that has a lot to do with the fact that they have never been the top two at the same time, but also just hte luck of the draw

I think you should call up socal, he will provide you with more detail.

some decent slam semis though, FO and US 2011 better than some semis, US 2009 pretty awesome, AO 11 high quality although it went straight sets. A decent one I think at Wimb in 12. Maybe others too.

HM Murdoch wrote:I'm watching this game on an internet stream. A window keeps popping because apparently a girl in a bikini called Ana is trying to call me on "skypo".

Maybe I'll answer and see what she thinks about Novak's forehand.

Would you mind PM'ing me the link. I also had an interesting email recently from someone that wants me to inherit the sum fo $15,000,000 from the estate of some dead African. That also looks pretty good, perhaps we can swap.

slash, its amazing how you get carried away with people who get on here with their dislike of certain players.

Henman Bill wrote:

HM Murdoch wrote:I'm watching this game on an internet stream. A window keeps popping because apparently a girl in a bikini called Ana is trying to call me on "skypo".

Maybe I'll answer and see what she thinks about Novak's forehand.

Would you mind PM'ing me the link. I also had an interesting email recently from someone that wants me to inherit the sum fo $15,000,000 from the estate of some dead African. That also looks pretty good, perhaps we can swap.

Sadly Ana seems to have gone.

But another girl with equally large cleavage is enquiring as to whether I'm Christian and single. I must admit that the "large cleavage/enquiry about theological position" approach isn't one I've experienced before.

Good news on the $15m though, HB. I saw some news stories at the end of last year about an African man who had died. Maybe it was him?

well played Djoko there

Come on Fed, break him back

Fed melting like an ice cube.