Semi Final Day - 10/09 Day 12

First topic message reminder :

Here it is guys.

Straight shootout

Federer v Djokovic

Murray v Nadal

Jahu wrote:Disastrous. Love Fed, but Djoko deserves this. So sorry for Fed, his time is passing slowly.

Not really, he is the only one to beat Djoko this year and again nearly beat him year. Former no. 1 was even struggling to win a set against Novak. I am sure world no. 2 will concede the title before even playing it.

I am not going to say anything because no words will do the effort these 2 put into this match

Simply

Well done to both. Exemplary stuff.

congratulations to Djokovic

Fantastic match and Djokovic comes through in five sets to beat Roger Federer after losing the first two sets. He wins 7-6 6-4 3-6 2-6 7-5 and that is why he is world No.1. A fantastic marathon match and spookily like last year at the same stage Roger had two match points but failed to take them and like last year lost the deciding set 7-5. Incredible.

Well done Novak. Now get some egg time so you can squash Nadal.

It's time for Roger to retire.

He's done.

Such a bad bad way to finish this set/match by Roger....it's gotta be cruel feeling for his hometown supporters and family.

Fantastic match..

Congratulations Novak and his fans.

I love Roger and he is still the best atleast his tennis enthralls the viewers. Well done Djoko. Andy might win his maiden slam now

Come on Andy!

Great result Novak.

You will have keep socal, nitb & lots of others very happy, not to mention your lot

I think Murray's chances against Nadal just went up.

Maybe Federer needs Djokovic and Nadal to lose before the semi finals in order to add a delightful 17th slam... this match looked completely over for Novak at 5-3 when he raised his hands to the crowd in his jesting ways

Djokovic did well but it does say a lot about Federer, he had 2 match points and took none and Djokovic had just the 1 and took it. It's not like Fed didn't have his chance, he did, 2 of them. Djokovic will win this now, well done to him, he deserves it!

emancipator wrote:I think Murray's chances against Nadal just went up.

How so?

Stunning tennis match.

Djokovic is the champion

A very good appetiser. Now c'mon Murray!!! (and in 3 sets please, 'cos I've been working late recently and am dog-tired)

Jahu wrote:Disastrous. Love Fed, but Djoko deserves this. So sorry for Fed, his time is passing slowly.

It's being 2-0 up, and then clawing the match back there in the fifth onto his racquet with the match points on his serve that will hurt - otherwise stand back and it's not that bad for a 30-yr old to play like that against the world No. 1 who is 5 good years younger than him and in the form of his life. It's funny - if Djoko had swept him away in 3 or 4 sets nobody could call him a choker, but he's played good enough tennis to push Djoko nearly all the way.

Frankly, I think that matches like this when he's now 30 merely add to his legend - win lose or draw.

Oh, and very well done Djoko - I have liked him every since I first saw him live.

Nadal's chances of adding another slam are completely over now. Roger showed that he is the only one who can beat Nole.

Well played Roger!

I'm sure Nadal would have been hoping for a Roger victory. Knowing he has to play Djoko in the final may just make him more anxious.

Thing is barrystar, Fed could have won it, he had match points but he didn't keep his composure, Djokovic did.

I must say that the calls of choke or for Roger to retire are simply lack of respect. He just didn't have the confidence on those big points. The guy is the benchmark of the sport. 16 Grand Slams. Mentally weak? Choker? Maybe a bit of respect.

King Novak does it again, what an amazing last 4 games from Novak.

Socal and Nitb...as happy/relieved as you would be; you must get it into your mind now that Djokovic will lose to either player in the final, that was really a poor performance for 60% of the match, just lucky that he got through..

luciusmann wrote:Djokovic did well but it does say a lot about Federer, he had 2 match points and took none and Djokovic had just the 1 and took it. It's not like Fed didn't have his chance, he did, 2 of them. Djokovic will win this now, well done to him, he deserves it!

Yep, as gutted as I am, Novak played well enough to be back in the final.

I wish they would stop calling Slams Majors, it's not Golf for chuffing sake.

Immense performance by your man Socal and Nitb. Coming from two sets down and then a break down in the fifth set and saving two match points to boot against a player long seen as the GOAT. Fantastic performance and credit to Roger Federer who fought so hard but will be kicking himself for letting that slip.

Yeh except this time Djokovic will win the final. I was amazed how partisan the crowd were for Federer just like @ the French.

I agree LK, Fed just lacks a bit of confidence to go for it when he's @ these points against Djokovic. Remember, the same thing also happened to Murray at Madrid or was it Rome? I remember it was one of them.

Truely the best match of the year, an instant classic. Nadal and Murray are going to have a tough time topping that. What an incredible return at 15-40 down 5-3, he just took a 125 mile per hour fed first serve and cranked it for an outright winner. Roger is still a very viable threat and people need to stop counting him out.

novak looked fresh as a daisy after nearly 4 hours

josiah, not a player on tour would have won that 1st from Novak. Roger is still the toughest matchup for Novak out of the top 4 because of his variety and serve. I just hope for a brutal and lengthy match for Rafa and Andy.

A very logical conclusion. There's been talk of Roger's aim to shorten points at this stage of his career, to try to not get caught up in gruelling rallies. The problem is that taking the ball earlier requires perfect timing and anything less than perfect footwork won't do. So, like Murray, he can squeeze a set or two, but ultimately he's worn down. There's no way to get past the slowing down that occurs with age.

legendkillar wrote:I must say that the calls of choke or for Roger to retire are simply lack of respect. He just didn't have the confidence on those big points. The guy is the benchmark of the sport. 16 Grand Slams. Mentally weak? Choker? Maybe a bit of respect.

Well when most of those 16 slams come against Roddick 4, Bagdhatis, Gonzales, Philou, 35 year old Agassi, Injury-me Hewitt, you know most of those were as a result of weak era.

Anyone who calls Fed a choker tells the rest of us far more about them than they do about Fed.

Rather like Sampras, he's continuing to come back and face younger players. He knows that there is no hiding place and he goes out there to win. He's not quite got the edge he used to have but by God he's graced this sport, and he's still one heck of a player.

I mean, it will be interesting to see what people will say if Nadal makes it to the final and then loses in str8 sets to Djokovic, what will everyone say then?!

Simple_Analyst wrote:

legendkillar wrote:I must say that the calls of choke or for Roger to retire are simply lack of respect. He just didn't have the confidence on those big points. The guy is the benchmark of the sport. 16 Grand Slams. Mentally weak? Choker? Maybe a bit of respect.

Well when most of those 16 slams come against Roddick 4, Bagdhatis, Gonzales, Philou, 35 year old Agassi, Injury-me Hewitt, you know most of those were as a result of weak era.

Well whatever era you want to call it, it is 16 more than me and certainly 16 more than you. I am not a Federer fan, but the guy is the benchmark.

legendkillar wrote:

Simple_Analyst wrote:

legendkillar wrote:I must say that the calls of choke or for Roger to retire are simply lack of respect. He just didn't have the confidence on those big points. The guy is the benchmark of the sport. 16 Grand Slams. Mentally weak? Choker? Maybe a bit of respect.

Well when most of those 16 slams come against Roddick 4, Bagdhatis, Gonzales, Philou, 35 year old Agassi, Injury-me Hewitt, you know most of those were as a result of weak era.

Well whatever era you want to call it, it is 16 more than me and certainly 16 more than you. I am not a Federer fan, but the guy is the benchmark.

Of course he is the benchmark....Well on how many match points can be choked that is.

CaledonianCraig wrote:Immense performance by your man Socal and Nitb. Coming from two sets down and then a break down in the fifth set and saving two match points to boot against a player long seen as the GOAT. Fantastic performance and credit to Roger Federer who fought so hard but will be kicking himself for letting that slip.

People can say whatever they want about Roger's fitness he didn't look tired when he was up 5-3 after 3 hours and 30 minutes of play. I think Novak get really nervous playing Roger and it took him getting down two sets before he lost his fear of losing and just loosened up. Great match, great effort by Roger he just lost to the best player in the world who refused to lose.

Simpleton why don't you give Federer a call and ask him for a match...i'm sure your strong mentally solid self would never turn that down....clueless.

Weak era, rightly put by SA. Same goes for Nadal he has won slams by beating Fed, berdych, Sod, Marian Puerta ( has anyone ever heard of him).

SA go get a life and stop ridiculing Federer. So many times he has shut you up but you are a shameless act.

Of course if either Murray or Nadal lose in str8 sets they can't even be called chokers because they came nowhere near as close as Federer just did.

droogle wrote:A very logical conclusion. There's been talk of Roger's aim to shorten points at this stage of his career, to try to not get caught up in gruelling rallies. The problem is that taking the ball earlier requires perfect timing and anything less than perfect footwork won't do. So, like Murray, he can squeeze a set or two, but ultimately he's worn down. There's no way to get past the slowing down that occurs with age.

THIS.

wow wrote:Weak era, rightly put by SA. Same goes for Nadal he has won slams by beating Fed, berdych, Sod, Marian Puerta ( has anyone ever heard of him).

SA go get a life and stop ridiculing Federer. So many times he has shut you up but you are a shameless act.

Yah he shut me up tonight. I was speechless at the choke

Federer remains the GOAT even though he lost today. Yes his better years seem to be behind him but that does not diminish his achievements in the sport. He holds all the records in the book and that makes him the GOAT in my eyes. Djokovic is a different animal and he could go on to rack up the slams but time will tell.

kemet wrote:It's time for Roger to retire.

He's done.

I apologize for this remark. It was made in frustration.

I accept that Novak just stepped up when it really mattered.

It just proves how hard it it is to win high level matches these days.

I dont care for choking on match points. He is a great player and plays great tennis and he has already won a lot.
Pity is that Nadal has even failed to earn a match point against Novak, he has simply been outclassed by Djoko all year round.
I bet you are a djoko supporter now?

Simple_Analyst wrote:

wow wrote:Weak era, rightly put by SA. Same goes for Nadal he has won slams by beating Fed, berdych, Sod, Marian Puerta ( has anyone ever heard of him).

SA go get a life and stop ridiculing Federer. So many times he has shut you up but you are a shameless act.

Yah he shut me up tonight. I was speechless at the choke

To choke at match point a player has to earn a match point. How many match points your fav Nadal has earned against djoker this year. What is h2h between those two this year?
PLease enlighten me.

I got to defend Roger as well SA, at 30 years old he is still the number 3 and still the toughest matchup on tour for Djokovic, who you yourself have stated is one of the most dominant guys we have seen.

Federer's shot-making in the first 2 sets was beautiful. Great to see the GOAT doing his thing. Great to see his backhand as a weapon. Lovely.

Federer lacked confidence on the big points in his service game. Didn't go for the FH like he had all match. Mental block. Didn't hear cries of Djokovic choking in the first 2 sets when he didn't attack anything.

Lol Nadal looks nervous in the interview in the tunnel. Djokovic will be either of them so it's academic but Murray can actually win this.

LK, Djoko played an unbelievable return at 40-15 and then he had nothing to lose, he was done by then anyway, he played the tennis of his life and came out of it.
He is a better player in today's context anyway. Fed has showed to everyone that he is far from finished. Atleast he still plays excited tennis.