US Open Day 13 Saturday The Men's Semis

First topic message reminder :

Well, it's all pointing to a Djoko-Fed final. But can Cilic or Nishikori spring a surprise ? Interesting that, after Fed, Cilic has won the most matches this season. Kei has had two exhausting five-setters but has not had to play since Wednesday, which should be a help.
Some interesting thoughts on another post about the improvement in Cilic's serving. He'll need to do well in that area if he wants to win today.
I think I'm going to plump for a Nole-Rog final. Should Fed win today it would the first season since 2009 he's reached more than one GS final.

biugo wrote:hoping that Kei's performance will inspire the chasing pack "look, it's possible!"

I think that is important.  The second tier guys are finally starting to see that the top guys do have a limit and that they can be taken down - which means that more and more of them will aim to replicate this and it will only become harder for Nole and Co.

I've said it long go, Djoko is done for the year, baby coming, so maybe a good WTF run.

I think Nadal-Djokovic are done. I may be wrong, and I probably am (Djokovic did like just win Wimbledon, and Rafa RG), but I think their rivalry took chunks off their careers. Both mentally and physically. Djok did win Wimbledon, but that was more on heart than ability. Pretty much shanked his way to the fourth set vs Dimi, and against a younger Federer might have thrown it away. it's more than just the matches, you'd think they also practice with the knowledge that they have a rival willing to go six hours to fend off.

biugo wrote:

HM Murdoch wrote:

biugo wrote:HMM, how was Djoko in that 4th set? I'm reading defensive, but he's done so many UE there compared to sets 1-3.  

Wretched start to give up an early break and then Kei just shut the door on him.

I actually didn't think Novak was terrible, it was just a bit uninspired. A bit safe. I got the impression that he thought if he just hung around, Kei would wilt. That didn't happen.

And Djoko will soon be back - maybe that'll tickle him to make another 2011 But I'll be rooting for the new guys, hoping that Kei's performance will inspire the chasing pack "look, it's possible!"

It all depends how motivated he is. He's obviously loving being a family man. Will tennis have enough space in his head to keep pushing himself hard?

He may nab another slam or two. I don't see him getting into the 10+ slams category.

kingraf wrote:I think Nadal-Djokovic are done.

I'd agree with that.

They may still add to their slam totals but I think, when their careers are over, this current period will be viewed as being in their period of decline. Kind of  like Fed of the last three or four years. Still a top player but no longer the force that built his reputation.

Jahu wrote:Rain. If it came earlier, Djoko could of come back...

The rain seemed to come quite soon after the match finished. Makes me wonder how many ball bounces would be needed per serve to prolong the match.

With a 'bit' of a stretch, we could see 4 new guys at the WTF (Nishi, Raoni, Dimi, Cili) however very unlikely. But with a Fed loss, it would put Kei or Marin on 5th ahead of 4 guys battling within 400 points (and 500, 1000 and 1000 in the way)

Kei made $10.5m last year... good lord alone knows how much he's worth now

Arguably the top guys are not as good as they were in say 2011/2012, rather than the others actually improving.

Here we go late suspensions Kei doesn't look tired yet. Fed will need to get going against the player and weather.

Henman Bill wrote:Arguably the top guys are not as good as they were in say 2011/2012, rather than the others actually improving.

A bit of both, I'd say.

Rafa, Novak and Andy are not as good this year but Nishi, Dimi, Cilic and even Raonic have improved.

Interesting times for tennis. I haven't yet decided if it's a good time for tennis... but it's interesting!

Play in 15 min.

Djoko hanging on somehow in the interview.

Becker saying the Sun hit Novak first.

If C-Woz beat Williams I'd be so happy. I like both Wozniacki and McIroy, and while I'm not sure professional success > a stable, happy personal life, it would be good to see both successful after the break up.

+1. Except that Rory is a romantic dumbass

to both Federer and Cilic.

@iC... My bad prediction on Djokovic-Nishikori is terrible in hindsight.

Commiserations to both SoCal and HMM. Wait for #8 goes on a bit longer.

Come on Fecilic...

Wow. Didn't see a Djoko defeat coming. Well, what it means is that, as in 2012, we're going to get four different winners of the men's slams. The points at the top are all coming together and the permutations are endless, especially if Fed goes on to win this now.
Difficult time for Djoko, as he prepares for fatherhood. Must say, I thought he would win this tournament. One stat - if Cilic wins it will be the first time, off the top of my head, that a GS final has NOT featured one of the big four since Hewitt-Safin at the AO in 05 - NEARLY 10 YEARS.​

@SFP... If Federer wins USO...

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/09/36/US-Open-Thursday-Monfils-Federer.aspx

He is looking to win his 18th Grand Slam title this week, and could move to No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Race To London should he triumph and Kei Nishikori beat Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

In 2014, the runner up in Australia won Roland Garros.

The runner up in Roland Garros won Wimbledon.

Will the runner up in Wimbledon continue the sequence?

Good start from both, Cilic hitting nicely, Fes serving good.

Wow! well just wow! I didn't expect that. Just watched Djokovic's press conference and I don't know what to think. He is so classy when he loses but I nearly always cheer against his opponent.

Julius. As a fellow psychologist (I don't think this is the place to academic achievements )  what do you make of that? I like Djokovic but often cheer for his opponent. But when he loses I feel a little sad. Why is he irritating when he wins but so good at losing...

Congrats to nishikori, superb win. To beat raonic, wawrinka and Novak back to back takes some effort.

Hope he goes on to win it now. As a Novak fan, I rather he lose to somebody like nishikori....seems a nice bloke and very talented. Hope cilic wins now too, would make for a very interesting final.

I am sure the organisers and sponsors wanted a federer vs djokovic final though

HMM : And then Kei to win AO!

Fed broken, hihihihi

If Cilic wins this, both finalists will come from outside top 10.  I wonder when that last happened?  Must be long long ago?

Shocked to see Nole is out. It really has aligned so perfectly for Fed in this tourney. Credit that he's playing well enough to take advantage. Last year's Fed would still have struggled even if the other big 4 were out.

Great to see Kei in the final. Always thought he was a big underachiever. The guy has talent.

Fed in need of a 30 minutes rain break.

Wake up daddy.

Cilic would probably cause Fed some problem here, but he's one of those players like Del Potro and Raonic whose movement eventually gets found out by Federer. Plus, he's a bit of a mental midget who would fold when the pressure is on.

Fed getting slapped left and right,

6:3 Cilic first set. Fed sleeping.

28 minutes

That was an incredible set of tennis from Cilic.

He really was unplayable in that set.

Jahu wrote:Play in 15 min.

Djoko hanging on somehow in the interview.

Becker saying the Sun hit Novak first.

Silly Becker.

Go Cilic go !!!

Papi you cannot escape two matches being tight, Cilic waiting to shoot you out.

Uh oh. This looks too easy.

Fed broken again.

Very consistent Cilic, making Fes run crazy left and right.

Wimbledon final had around 40 masters titles... RG had nearly 50... there's a real possibility USO finalists will between them have one masters... final

Papi is playing at half a sleep, may be deep run in a slam is making him fall sleepy in the mid match.

Hahahaha.

Fed loses this set, he goes home, and cry secretly in the pantry.

Federer playing in Air Jordans... they look Freaking awesome! Probably more worthy of a monfils though

Monfils - Cilic Semi would have been fun, this is so boring, Fed spoiled it.

The support Fed gets among these crowds is incredible. The same throughout the tournament. What happened to cheering for the underdog. It can actually be the difference between winning and losing for the likes of Monfils and Cilic.

This looks over.

It's looking good for the first GS final since 2005 with two first-time finalists. Got to be a good thing for the game.

Amazing performance from Cilic. Looks so assured out there.

mthierry wrote:The support Fed gets among these crowds is incredible. The same throughout the tournament. What happened to cheering for the underdog. It can actually be the difference between winning and losing for the likes of Monfils and Cilic.

Well the crowd can cheer whom ever they like, you cannot force somebody to cheer for them, the underdogs should earn it, Nole never had the crowd support early on but he gained it slowly and steadily, Rafa might still not have crowd support on some of matches.

After all paying public is paying to watch their stars in action and the only satisfaction they get is to see them win.
I cannot cheer a Cilic against Del Potro

Yeah, really Fed has no answers for him.

Cilic flying.

Oh my; this is even more one-sided than the other match.

Not only did Fed lose two sets in just over an hour, but he does not look like he is able to do anything to slow down Marin's onslaught.  This has been as thorough domination by Cilic as can be.  The scoreline does not even do it justice.