Semi Final Day - 10/09 Day 12

First topic message reminder :

Here it is guys.

Straight shootout

Federer v Djokovic

Murray v Nadal

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

there you go novak get the break

Wow Novak hit a great backhand right there

Great BH play by both men. Break for Nole

Come on Novak you still got a chance in this

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

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.

Looks like a different Nole this set

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

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.

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

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.

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!

Roger starting to give up a few more errors here

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.

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

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

Good hold for Feds there.

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

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

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

What an exchange that was. Pow!

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

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....

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

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

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...

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

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

Novak has really dictated with fh, in this set

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...

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

I still think this match will be Fed in 4.

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...

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

Djokovic playing just a little more smarter now.

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

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

Got to get your first serve over in this game novak

damn it don't get sloppy