Wimbledon Day 11 - Men's Semi Finals

First topic message reminder :

Well folks here it is. We are down to the nitty gritty. Is it a time for new hero's? Or will the old guard starve off the new breed?

Djokovic in his 5th Wimbledon semi final. Federer in his 8th.

Dimitrov and Raonic in their first Slam semi finals respectively.

If we go by the H2H we should expect another Federer and Djokovic final. However, it's a Slam and anything can happen.

I actually have the day off, so take that work! Can't wait for some stonking tennis action!

Good luck, Grisha!

Let's go Dimi let's go! If he's return game was anything to write home about, I'd fancy him to win today.

bogbrush wrote:

reckoner wrote:
I told my better half "she's quite fit, isn't she?" and she agreed. Or at least didn't disagree.

Ah, the bravery of youth!

Interesting if your better half were to enthusiastically agree. I vote we stop the tennis and consider that idea.

I have no wish to distract from the tennis so all I'll say is the subject has come up, though sadly the lovely Bouchard wasn't around when it did.   

Back to the tennis - come on either Dimi or Djoker!

Ouch, that was bad.

Broken to love? Oh dear...

I think Dimitrov is in for a world of hurt here. Djokovic will not let him get away with anything this time as opposed to Murray who let him get away with everything. I think there are still frailties with Dimitrov's mindset and if Djokovic really gets going it could turn ugly. The other semi should see Federer ease it if he doesn't do anything silly on his own service games. All in all, I predict a pretty ordinary day of tennis.

It's funny, they don't feel like Wimbledon semis today.

There's still time for it to become a good contest. Grigor needs to step up!

Nothing working for Dimitrov on the return.

Dimi has won 29% of first serve returns all year. If Djokovic has an alright serving day, Dimi's best chance is in the lottery of a tie break

29%?! Yeah tie-break is the thing to aim for. Murray must be kicking himself.

Yay Dimi wins his first point on the Djokovic 2nd serve!

How good is Djokovic? Despite me saying for the past 2 weeks he has no chance of winning, he might just do now!!

134mph serve returned with purchase!! Unbelievable

Dear oh dear.

This is going to be quick!

Dimitrov is such a waste of talent.   

This could be a quick match at this rate.

Djokovic doing his best sponge impression - soaking up every inch of pressure then giving it back. But I'm not sitting with a Serbian flag shouting "Crush him, crush him!!" Not at all...

What, did Djoker break again?

reckoner wrote:There's still time for it to become a good contest. Grigor needs to step up!

This is his maximum level, he can step down but not step up.

He has.

Dimitrov just looks out of his depth.

Ah OK, well sound slike his goose is well and truly cooked. They've been playing what 45 mins? Oh dear...

Novak with some sloppy shots!

Dimi with his first BP

Dimitrov just not handling the Djokovic length.

He isn't playing a smart game.

Proof that winning Grand Slams is not a STD.

It is gusty out there apparently - let's hope it stays that way to give Fed an advantage.

Dimitrov fights off a BP.

Djokovic you feel has another level in him.

reckoner wrote:It is gusty out there apparently - let's hope it stays that way to give Fed an advantage.

Thought Fed hated the wind?

Dimitrov using the BH slice and getting some reward. 2 BPs.

And he breaks at the second asking.

It is a junk fest out there!

The Special Juan wrote:

reckoner wrote:It is gusty out there apparently - let's hope it stays that way to give Fed an advantage.

Thought Fed hated the wind?

On the basis that his experience would allow him to adapt better than Raonic, but maybe you're right. Academic as from the way Nole is playing it sounds like he'd lose to Djokovic in any case...

Dimitrov now leads 4-3 in the second.

Wonder if a Djokovic will drop his level.

The Special Juan wrote:

reckoner wrote:It is gusty out there apparently - let's hope it stays that way to give Fed an advantage.

Thought Fed hated the wind?

No, Fed is an excellent wind player.  People often assume that wind would hurt him but in general he does very well in windy conditions.

legendkillarV2 wrote:And he breaks at the second asking.

It is a junk fest out there!

I thought you meant Djokovic broke again ^^

summerblues wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:

reckoner wrote:It is gusty out there apparently - let's hope it stays that way to give Fed an advantage.

Thought Fed hated the wind?

No, Fed is an excellent wind player.  People often assume that wind would hurt him but in general he does very well in windy conditions.

He's just very versatile - remember the blue clay where everyone else was slipping around like Bambi and Fed went on to win?

Dimitrov playing his way back into this match. 2 more BP's.

Bet somewhere HM is silently cursing.

Yes!

Come on! I was hoping for a contest, sounds like he's shaking off the nerves.

Dimitrov takes the second.

Djokovic is looking vulnerable.

Nows the time to strike Dimi.

legendkillarV2 wrote:Dimitrov takes the second.

Djokovic is looking vulnerable.

Nows the time to strike Dimi.

+1

Game on. Go Grigor! Very impressive how he managed to turn things around.

Djokovic is prone to these second set lapses though so he might well come back stronger.

Amazing who easily a player can be written off in a match. Novak did little in the first set except serve well and cope with the wind better

Dimi's slice and dice is immense and it's affecting Novak as much as it did Andy

Nole's mentally tougher so he should come back - but it's great to at last see a top new player with some variety

Murdoch doesn't get surprised by Djokovic having points for 4-1 losing a set 3-6 anymore.

Congrats on KR Jr., Murdoch

I really wish I wasn't stuck at work.

legendkillarV2 wrote:Bet somewhere HM is silently cursing.

HM has been saying for months that he thinks Djokovic's slam-winning days are probably over, so is fully expectant of a defeat either today or Sunday!

Sadly I'm at work at the moment and can only check in on the scores occasionally.

  

kingraf wrote:Murdoch doesn't get surprised by Djokovic having points for 4-1 losing a set 3-6 anymore.

Congrats on KR Jr., Murdoch

HM Murdoch wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:Bet somewhere HM is silently cursing.

HM has been saying for months that he thinks Djokovic's slam-winning days are probably over, so is fully expectant of a defeat either today or Sunday!

Sadly I'm at work at the moment and can only check in on the scores occasionally.

He was in total control of that second set and the momentum just suddenly reversed itself.

kingraf wrote:Murdoch doesn't get surprised by Djokovic having points for 4-1 losing a set 3-6 anymore.

Congrats on KR Jr., Murdoch

Thanks, KR.

You are quite right. I now find a Novak match that doesn't feature him falling into a hole from a strong position quite a discombobulating experience. I wonder who I'm watching!

kingraf wrote:Murdoch doesn't get surprised by Djokovic having points for 4-1 losing a set 3-6 anymore.

Congrats on KR Jr., Murdoch

I'd laugh, but I'm a Murray fan and so cannot be possibly laughing at the pain of other fans. And at least Nole's reaching SF's and F's