Wimbledon 2016 - Gentlemans Semifinals

Schedule and Live Scores.


Raonic v Federer - McEnroe feels his protege is ready to get to a Slam Final. On ESPN, he stated that emphatically.  Federer looks hungry, but Cilic feels Federer was missing shots that he did not miss in his heyday.

Berdych v Murray - Murray should find this a bit easier than his QF v Tsonga. Drop shots and good defense should also help. Baseline play may not get him much leverage with Berdych.

Dunno. I feel like Rogers still the heavy favourite in any rally once he bunts the serve back
No clue what his powers of recovery are like right now though

Murray Berdy will be tense, but Berdy has horrid brain farts when it matters

My thoughts are:

Fed v Raonic - Raonic to come (unfortunately) come through in 3, maybe 4. I think he is now full of confidence and has matured since his SF two years ago. McEnroe being there or not makes no difference in this match. He came from a set behind in Brisbane so all that will count.
I see this unfortunately being akin to the USO 14 Semi. Federer faces an inspired Cilic, in this case Raonic,with a pair of dead legs after coming from 2 sets down vs Monfils. Raonic is nearly 10 years younger. Need I say more?

I am hoping I have got it very wrong.

Murray v Berdych - Murray in 3 fairly competitive sets. He has had his wobble for the tournament so he can work on his shortcomings and I cannot see him being in this situation again. Crowd will play a part in this and end of the day, Berdych does not have it in him to cause the upset. Of the 'Fab 4' he has always been a thorn in Fed's side whereas the other 3 own him.

Good luck, Roger!

In spite of the rankings, I see Raonic as less dangerous than Cilic; the main question mark for me is Fed's fitness after the five sets he just played.

One positive sign is fed practiced today and reports are he went a full session. He skipped practice after the Monfils Match to try and recover, so maybe he's feeling okay this time

Normally you would say that a 5-set match (and not an excessively long one) should not be a major problem given the rest of the tournament with some easier matches before.

Certainly if Fed was 28,29 you would say that. But with his age, it's a question mark.

Bookies: Fed favourite vs Raonic, but not by much.

Berdych is a big underdog though. 11/2 odds. A bit longer than I would have thought.

The other point for Fed is that he probably cannot afford another match going to 5 sets or over 4 hours ahead of the final. So if he loses the first set against Raonic he is in big trouble either way.

Recovery time isn't the same at this age.

You don't fancy his chances to win the final if the opponent is Murray and if it goes 5 sets or 4 hours against Raonic.

Doesn't matter so much whether Murray takes 2 hours or 5 hours to beat Berdych. He is a physical machine at his physical peak and will likely be fine either way.

summerblues wrote:Good luck, Roger!

In spite of the rankings, I see Raonic as less dangerous than Cilic; the main question mark for me is Fed's fitness after the five sets he just played.

Agree with that. Although Raonic will be marginally harder for Fed to break, the key difference is he will most likely pose a much lower threat on return. That should allow Fed to relax and will probably result in a better serving performance. It's also an ideal match-up following the marathon Cilic match. Every chance that Fed will be fresh as a daisy for the final. If Murray awaits, he will need to be.

TRuffin wrote:One positive sign is fed practiced today and reports are he went a full session.   He skipped practice after the Monfils Match to try and recover, so maybe he's feeling okay this time

That is hopeful.

Also, I did not see the match live, but then I caught up and watched some of it delayed - I picked somewhat random bits and pieces from throughout the match.  Fed's body language at the end did not look bad to me - if my mind is not playing tricks on me, he looked absolutely exhausted after the Monfils match, but not so much yesterday.

We will know better what shape he is in soon enough...

Although Fed's match with Cilic was 5 competitive sets, it wasn't the most physically demanding match ever - lots of serve winners and short rallies. OK, Fed's probably a bit fatigued (mentally as well as physically), but not to the extent where he should be seriously compromised 2 days later. I see this match being similarly tight, and decided by who plays the big points better. Pretty much a coin toss for me.

As for Federer missing shots, he had 2 horrible UEs on simple put aways and a few errors when stepping back to make room for a forehand, but otherwise his error count was pretty good, and there were still some glances of a genius at work - not as many as in his prime, but he's still the most natural shot maker out there. Overall he's playing reasonably.

Fairly confident Andy should see off Berdych - he's simply a better grass court player. Moves better and has better variety.

Fed beat Raonic fairly comfortably at this stage of Wimbledon two years ago. But Raonic's movement and overall play has improved a lot since then. He was close to winning against Murray in the AO semi earlier this year and appears more confident in his play and, possibly due to Johnny Mac, more confident in himself.
Will he beat Fed? A year ago I would definitely have said no. A week ago I would have said yes, as we had no idea how Fed was playing/feeling. Now? Too close to call.
Murray should beat Berdych. Surprised Tomas has got this far, but then he's had a comparatively easy draw.

Raonic in 4. Don't think Federer has fully recovered from injury yet. Wouldn't be all that surprised if Fed wins though. 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Murray in 3. Berdych isn't playing that well and, as said above, has had a nice draw. I predict the first set might be tight, but Murray will run away with the next two. 7-5, 6-2, 6-1

Fed in 3 7-6 6-4 6-2. It all hinges on that first set

Murray In four very tight sets

Raonic is a totally different player than the last time these two met at Wimbledon. I think many continue to underestimate his much-improved movement, willingness to come forward, and enhanced variety of shot.

A win for the Canadian today would not surprise me at all.

I hope Milos wins. I'm amped for the Age of Raonic!

Oh... Didn't expect that


A very good early litmus test of how Miloses nerve is at

Raonic looked calm & confident coming into this. More so now with the early break.

Federer, by contrast, very edgy. And spraying UE's .....

First test passed. Handled being taken to deuce well

I like Milos' emphasis on volleying, he doesn't move well enough to play a solely baseline game.

So so difficult to break Raonic with this level of consistent serving.

Raonic can now take this set effortlessly : minimum energy - mental or physical - expended by him.

Another good test passed One more big effort on serve and it might be a long day again...

You have to feel fed might be feeling the impact of the Cilic match and lack of match play this season

Maybe Raonic needs to hold first though

Excellent stuff from Milos
Like the cilic match. One bad service from Roger looks to be curtains for the set

Could be in for a real war.
Federer needs this done in 4

If Raonic serves like this in the final, I can't see him losing TBH. Especially if Murray gives him second serves to look at

He's nowhere near the final yet

Fed looks really sluggish and slow

Well I again can't see. So I'm not saying a THING about it. I'll take your words for it

Still expect him to win this because Milos is rubbish. But no chance against Murray

There can be no repeat comeback from 0-2 today for Fed.

If Raonic takes the second - and every chance he can, with this form & confidence - then he makes his first Slam Final.

I agree with Mac (am sure he'll be pleased to know   ) ..... it's been coming ....

Come on emanci ....... Milos is NOT rubbish.

Although he is being made to look better by Fed gifting UE's with growing regularity.

I think this is only the 2nd set Federer has lost in a W semi final in 11 appearances.

The only other one iirc is against Djokovic in 2012.

Fed grunting louder than ever - not a good sign.

On his 2nd serve?

Am beginning to think this could actually be a perfectly straightforward, quick victory for Raonic.

Fed well off the pace ; but Raonic handling everything very comfortably - including the near-absence of any crowd support !

Just tuning in now. What's the balance of play been like so far?

Oh dear! Got to take those opportunities against Raonic.

Serve fest are soooo boring

Oh dear

Raonic the better player. And looking über-confident.

Fed guilty of cheap errors on crucial points, and generally nervy.

Federer missed four BPs on second serve. I'd feign surprise but I'm really not.

People seem to be massively under rating the player that Raonic has become. You may not like his game (I certainly don't), but he must be a bugger to play against, particularly on grass.

He's also hitting some clever angles on the FH, not just bashing it every time. His BH is still relatively weak, but vastly improved I reckon.

If Raonic takes this second, I don't believe even the magician Federer can come back in five again.

Yes .... many many people simply don't want to give Raonic the credit he deserves. He is a very different player these past couple of years or so.

Got to feel that Fed needs to do this in 4. Surely consecutive 5 setters would scupper his chances in the final.

Federer will obviously rue his failure to take any of those 4 BP's when at 5-4. Think he lost this match right there .....

One encouragement for Fed is that Raonic fell away dramatically once Murray got his measure at Queens. If he can turn the tide here or even in set 3, I wouldn't be surprised if Raonic's game starts to unravel.

Brainfart from Milos?