The Real Final Is Tomorrow: Who Will Win?

One of the big clashes in sport will take place at Wimbledon tomorrow on centre court. Two of the top three players will meet for the first time on grass. However the winner will not take home a trophy as this match is not a final but a semi. For the winner that may not matter as they will be feeling quite pleased with themselves. Who will it be Djokovic or Federer?


I have to admit I am too scared to vote myself... In fact I'm feeling a little scared about watching.

The real final is on Sunday...

But I agree that whoever wins this semi for me will win the title. I don't see Murray or Tsonga doing it I'm afraid.

As for this semi; I fear it will be a bit of an anticlimax. Federer will have to be at his absolute best to stand a chance, Djokovic is just so consistent. I think Djokovic will win quite easily- in 3 or 4 sets.

It Must Be Love wrote:The real final is on Sunday...

But I agree that whoever wins this semi for me will win the title. I don't see Murray or Tsonga doing it I'm afraid.

As for this semi; I fear it will be a bit of an anticlimax. Federer will have to be at his absolute best to stand a chance, Djokovic is just so consistent. I think Djokovic will win quite easily- in 3 or 4 sets.

I don't think it will be anti-climax, unlike FO where Fed didn't believe in himself and rightly had no chance, this time around Fed will give a fight but not sure he will be able to win it but for sure he will fight and thats a great sight if he plays or tries to play his A-game.

To rule out Murray/Tsonga would be a mistake, it could be Murray's year who knows

Saying all that I am too afraid to vote as well and I decided to stay away from it.

The real final is on Sunday

I'll go with Novak, but I'm not sure at all. I think it could be really tight.

And I think it's foolish for anyone to think the winner of this is certain to win the title. Both players have lost to both the other semi finalists.

Hey guys, what's so scary? Lighten up. It's just a tennis match, like Boris Becker said, nobody's going to die.

I just voted Djoko. Fed is still rather unpredictable of late.

But overall, he's in an enviable win-win situation right now. Even if he loses, he'll still retain #2 ranking he's gained (correct ?), courtesy of nadal's early exit. Also, just by reaching the semi, he's already achieved a better result from the last 2 years. Not too shabby, old GOAT, I want you to prove me wrong.

I'm very nervous about tomorrow's match but I'm sticking with Djokovic. It's strange, I can perfectly well see a scenario where Federer wins in 4 but also Djokovic in 4 or 5.

I'm expecting it to be an anti-climax, the previous two matches were. That was on clay and many have pointed out that the slice is one of Fed's most effective weapons which he'll be able to employ on grass whereas on other surfaces he can't. Djokovic himself highlighted he's going to be vigilant about that shot too.

Will it make a difference? I really can't be sure. A lot depends on how well Fed protects his serve and I'm not sure he will do it effectively enough. If he does, I think he'll win, but I have serious doubts whether he will.

Besides the fact that progressing gives them a shot at the title and keeping or clinching the No.1 spot, I feel there's a lot riding on the match in terms of the rivalry. The H2H is 14-12 in Fed's favour but in the slams, it's 5-5 apiece and regardless of the fact it could easily be 7-3 (the USO semis), it isn't. Whoever wins takes the advantage in the slams H2H and if Djokovic does it, the overall H2H is very even 14-13. Much of the talk after the Aussie Open was when Djokovic would overtake Nadal in their H2H but Djokovic is in fact getting closer to overtaking Fed! Nadal has widened the gap between him and Djokovic whereas the gap between Fed and Djokovic has narrowed. A lot on the line tomorrow.

Also, I think that if Djokovic wins then Murray will probably be the player he will not want to face on Sunday because he could beat him whereas I really don't think Tsonga can.

Hawkeye you trying to reel some pike in pal!

djok will take him apart

Fed will crush this annoying unloved uninteresting Djoko.

unloved awwww. thats harsh..

wanna bet on it jahu

mystoroakey, don't you start with betting again. You said yesterday that you will keep betting off this site you you don't give teens and kids who visit here a nasty life habit

mystiroakey wrote:Hawkeye you trying to reel some pike in pal!

djok will take him apart

I'm sure you thought a similar thing about Ferrer doing the same to Murray? In fact you put a bet on it! Nutty to me...

I hope your predictive talent is as accurate tomorrow as it was for that match.

Jahu wrote:mystoroakey, don't you start with betting again. You said yesterday that you will keep betting off this site you you don't give teens and kids who visit here a nasty life habit

You what! lols.

Better to love and bet than not to love and not bet.

now stop being nasty and breaking poor Djoks

luciusmann wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Hawkeye you trying to reel some pike in pal!

djok will take him apart

I'm sure you thought a similar thing about Ferrer doing the same to Murray? In fact you put a bet on it! Nutty to me...

I hope your predictive talent is as accurate tomorrow as it was for that match.

no i backed ferrer at 75/1 for the tourny - but i also laid him at 15/1 an all- up either way! I also said i would freeroll him

I also have murray at 12/1 midway through the Ferrer game - best odds he has been at any time in the tourny. I dont touch fed and djok - there is no value in that market

mystir: hahaha, you know Djoko is no good, never been, never will. I know you love Fed so have a from me.

Djok no good- your dreaming pal- Fed is a clear legend. but hes an old man these days

Novak hits his forehand cleanly like he has been most of this tournament and if Roger doesn't serve amazing Novak wins in 3. If Novak plays sloppy and Roger serves great Roger or Novak in 5. But overally I think Novak wins this one. He is playing real well and fed I don't think despite the Youz match has shown his best stuff at this tournament.

socal1976

I have to admit where my heart is involved I find it difficult to judge. I know your heart is involved so how can you be so confident?

What time are the matches? Im hoping I will make it home in time!

CAS wrote:What time are the matches? Im hoping I will make it home in time!

Djokovic V Federer (1pm)

Murray V Tsonga (around 4pm)

Thanks Craig

I've given this a lot of thought, and the tough thing is to remove personal wishes and fears; they pull in two directions of course.

I'm not sure if anyone can honestly say they can pull that off, but having tried my best, eliminating bias as much as I cani can't really see Federer winning it. It all comes own to;

* he's had a patchy event, some very low moments.
* it's now some years once he was able to put out his higher standard consistently through a long match.
* Djokovic has very high confidence and will remain convinced of victory even in a tight spot.

Pity, I'd very much like to believe Federer could win this, and perhaps add #17 to the #1, an achievement at his age in this very physically demanding period which would rank amongst his greatest, but the head has to rule.

Bogbrush I sadly agree, I was thinking it at the French open as well. I was telling myself he had a chance, but I knew it was over before it started. Although that match wasn't a nice one for me anyway because he was never going to be Rafa in the final anyway.

As many people have said, Federer serving at his best is almost unbreakable but I have noticed in the last 2 matches Djokovic has really latched on to Rogers serve and that is a worrying thought.

My take on this is this.

Roger Federer is 30 now and for him to beat Novak Djokovic he is going to have to be at the top of his game for at lest three sets turning the clock back a few years to that form of old. However, as we know Fed has failed to find that sort of form for sometime and for all we know that may now be beyond him. In recent times Djokovic has held the Indian sign over Federer and coupled with the fact that Federer's invincibility cloak is starting to fade things look glum for Roger. Still there is always hope and if Fed takes the first set then who knows. I have a feeling Djokovic will come through in three or four sets though.

The only way Fed can win this is like playing ultra aggressive like he did in Cincy 2009 where Djoko had no answers, [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpJE2JzMLLo ] but thats 3 set match and even in that match Djoko came back stronger in 2nd set after withstanding Fed storm.

This is the problem, if Fed plays ultra aggresive like that he will run out of steam by the mid of 2nd set [more like USO 2011] and even if Fed win the 2nd set with some luck its still gonna be difficult to win the 3rd set and it will be downfall from there.

I see it as a 4-1 most likely in favor of Djoko, however would love the upset and see the fairy tale Wimbledon win.

Well CAS the surface favors fed more today than in Paris in the spring but I don't think we will see a different result. If Novak plays a clean match and serves well it will take a monumental effort for fed to win. But I do believe that if Federer gets off to a fast start like RG 2011 and Novak starts a little patchey that if Roger gets a lead he can use his serve and his power game to close out the rest of the match. I don't see fed winning it easy though, either Novak plays off and fed wins in 4 or 5 tough sets (less likely) or Novak plays to form and takes Roger out pretty routinely (more likely). Djoko in 3 or 4 routine sets is my prediction the same thing I predicted before RG.


People underestimate Djokovic on grass because early in his career he had a couple of early round losses. But he is a much better grass court player today than in 09 or 08.

socal1976 wrote:People underestimate Djokovic on grass because early in his career he had a couple of early round losses. But he is a much better grass court player today than in 09 or 08.

I don't think so, he is rather made look stronger coz of pathchy performance from the rest of the field, lets be frank we don't have many grass court specialist left to test Djoko, Djoko in my view won the Wimbledon in an era of no-grass court specialists. Fed is one but no longer the same he was say like 5-6 years back. .

Players like Tommy Haas, Roddick, Hewitt would all take this Djoko down on their prime on grass most times.

It's curious, until the RG match this year, I think many would have thought it's very even with a match between the two going either way but probably favouring Fed that little bit. But since that match and the surprisingly easy straight sets dismissal, I think the mood has changed. Compared to just under a year ago, everyone thought only one player could beat Djokovic at any tournament and that was Federer. So it's remarkable that so many have changed their minds, although understandably.

I don't think Djokovic has the Indian sign over Fed as of late at all, the matches, especially the slam matches have split slightly to Djokovic but with the USO being close (otherwise the split would be dead even, 2-2 from 2011 to now). I agree with most though, it's hard seeing Fed doing it but where I might disagree is that if Fed takes a 2 sets to love lead, I don't think Djokovic will be able to come like he did @ the USO. I think Fed is weary of allowing that to happen again but first he needs to do that and it's far from certain he will. I don't think it will be 3 or 4 routine sets for Djokovic because the two have never played on grass which adds a layer of unpredictably but I still think it will be Djokovic in 4 or 5. I'm surprised the poll is split so evenly.

Good point Lucis .

In USO 2011, Fed knew Rafa is waiting for him in the finals and that would have played in his mind pretty badly during match points, coz he did the great thing to Rafa by beating Nole in FO and Rafa won the trophy, so the funny feeling might have played in Fed's mind should I do the favor for Rafa again? and that mental lapse would have allowed Roger to let Novak back on the game.

This time around with No Rafa in the finals if Roger reach such position he won't let it go even if Novak play miracle in match points.

invisiblecoolers wrote:Good point Lucis .

In USO 2011, Fed knew Rafa is waiting for him in the finals and that would have played in his mind pretty badly during match points, coz he did the great thing to Rafa by beating Nole in FO and Rafa won the trophy, so the funny feeling might have played in Fed's mind should I do the favor for Rafa again? and that mental lapse would have allowed Roger to let Novak back on the game.

This time around with No Rafa in the finals if Roger reach such position he won't let it go even if Novak play miracle in match points.

Thanks Invisiblecoolers. Interesting point. If Fed does make the final, I'm sure many of us will be commenting on that making a difference. Maybe on a subconscious knowing that Rafa isn't in the final might help but we really won't know until see what happens.

invisiblecoolers wrote:

socal1976 wrote:People underestimate Djokovic on grass because early in his career he had a couple of early round losses. But he is a much better grass court player today than in 09 or 08.

I don't think so, he is rather made look stronger coz of pathchy performance from the rest of the field, lets be frank we don't have many grass court specialist left to test Djoko, Djoko in my view won the Wimbledon in an era of no-grass court specialists. Fed is one but no longer the same he was say like 5-6 years back. .

Players like Tommy Haas, Roddick, Hewitt would all take this Djoko down on their prime on grass most times.

Losing to Haas is no shame on grass, Federer has, so has Djoko. The reason Novak is better on the grass is multifold. Did you watch Novak play in 09 IC? His serve was in a tailspin, in 08 and 09 he was at best an average or below average volleyer. He had a very poor slice backhand as well. All of these areas are much better, all I know is that Novak Djokovic has the longest current win streak on grass of any player at 12 in a row. This will be I think his 5th wimbeldon semi. I tell you what Novak is a lot tougher grass court player than David Ferrer who came from one service game in the second set from putting murray on death's door.

luciusmann wrote:

invisiblecoolers wrote:Good point Lucis .

In USO 2011, Fed knew Rafa is waiting for him in the finals and that would have played in his mind pretty badly during match points, coz he did the great thing to Rafa by beating Nole in FO and Rafa won the trophy, so the funny feeling might have played in Fed's mind should I do the favor for Rafa again? and that mental lapse would have allowed Roger to let Novak back on the game.

This time around with No Rafa in the finals if Roger reach such position he won't let it go even if Novak play miracle in match points.

Thanks Invisiblecoolers. Interesting point. If Fed does make the final, I'm sure many of us will be commenting on that making a difference. Maybe on a subconscious knowing that Rafa isn't in the final might help but we really won't know until see what happens.

I actually think that will make a psychological difference lucius. Rafa being out on the other half can't but be a relief to him and give him that belief that this is the final if I can somehow play lights out the trophy is there for the taking and that can be a big extra push. But overrall really he doesn't need more motivation than wimby semi and if that was not enough he also tends to save his best for Novak he really, really doesn't like to lose to Novak. I think he probably is the guy Roger hates to lose to the most Rafa included.

Socal everybody know Djoko is better player than Ferrer in grass, Ferrer played some inspirational tennis this tournament and hence the result, against Murray he always fancies his chances in GS, he does it against Rafa too on HC's however certainly he gives up against Rafa on clay.

Murray don't like to play Ferrer, he like attacking players more than grinders, and no reason he plays better against Fed/Nole than against Rafa/Ferrer.

The good thing for Fed is he got nothing to lose and he will play without pressure, yes NO.1 is on stake but otherwise everybody expect Djoko to win and any win by Fed would be appreciated and loss would be brushed aside, Nole knows very well losing to 31 year old at his prime would raise a lot of questions.

Nole certainly would not want to lose tomorrow and that will put a lot of pressure on him, I still see a Nole win but he will be the one in pressure, the match for sure would be interesting.

For me Novak has comfortably the worst slice of the top 4, which you could say highlights again the change in courts

It isn't that bad CAS not anymore. The other three guys have pretty good slice backhands and Novak's is good now as well.

Dont get me wrong Socal, Novak has a very good slice but in comparison to the other three I think it is an area (maybe the only area) where in my opinion its not close.

Federer is the master of slice, Murray has probably hit more slices than double handers this tournament and Nadals slice really impressed me in Australia, he used it really well to frustrate Novak at times, but Im sure you will remind me who won that much though!

Agree with that CAS of the top 4 he probably has the fourth best slice but it gets the job done for the most part. It serves him better to hit that thing with two hands anyway. If Fed is smart he will utilize it a great deal against Djoko tomorrow. But I think Djoko is much better equipped to deal with it now.

Have voted for Djoko win. However, Fed has NEVER lost a Wimbedon semi final.

The romantic in me has won out and I've voted for Federer. Would be great to see one last hurrah for the oldest gunslinger in town. Either way, really looknig forward to this match (well the first hour before I have to go to a tedious meeting. Might try and slip the ipad between the meeting documents.

All Fed doubters, rejoice!!

Positively 4th Street wrote:The romantic in me has won out and I've voted for Federer. Would be great to see one last hurrah for the oldest gunslinger in town. Either way, really looknig forward to this match (well the first hour before I have to go to a tedious meeting. Might try and slip the ipad between the meeting documents.

fed i admit i doubted ya

but murray looks even better

mystiroakey wrote:Hawkeye you trying to reel some pike in pal!

djok will take him apart

lmao.

yeah lmao.

i admit it i was wrong.. I cant be right all the time can I.