Australian Open - Day Eleven

First topic message reminder :

The schedule on RLA for tomorrow:

CoCo Vandeweghe vs. Venus Williams - this must be one of her last chances, I think VENUS will get the job done in three sets

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni vs. Serena Williams - not sure if Lucic-Baroni has recovered from her injury but I am afraid it wouldn't help much: SERENA to win in two sets

Roger Federer vs. Stan Wawrinka - despite the daunting prospect of facing Rafa in a Slam, I think Federer will use clever tactics against Wawrinka, taking time away from him and not allowing him to play the groundstrokes that have brough him so much success against the other "Big Four" members (and even a few wins against Federer on clay). FEDERER in three sets.

Well, those who thought Stan-Rog was too close to call were probably right, in that it went the distance. This is a remarkable achievement by Rog. But I'm not sure if his beating of three top 10 players, including two in the top five, after a long lay-off, is reflective of his brilliance or the low standard of the players right at the top of the rankings.
  Can't help thinking that the top 10 from three to eight have really missed out here. The top two seeds, who have dominated the AO in recent years, go out early and then along come two ageing members of the old Big Four to sweep to, probably, the final.
  Would still put money on Rafa to win the whole thing. He could be on 16 Slams by the end of the French.

lags72 wrote:

mthierry wrote:Pathetic crowd.  Wildly cheering a double fault like Federer is an 18-year-old local underdog in a Davis Cup match. Swear this is one of the reasons I'd like to see Federer retire. Can't stand how crowds fawn over him despite all he's achieved. I remember how ridiculous it was when he played Raonic at Wimbledon.

And you came on here just to say this

Here's a suggestion : Have you perhaps ever thought about just watching the tennis - rather than worrying about what the crowd may, or may not, be doing.....?

Is your assessment of a sporting contest really determined more by the manner of reaction of a totally random collection of people in the stands than by the performance and ability of some of the greatest athletes on the planet ?

Then again, perhaps you're more a crowd-watcher than a tennis aficionado.

Came on here? Didn't know I needed a NASA space mission to come here.

Never realized either that I couldn't watch a match and comment on other observations. Clearly, in your eyes, that has to be an immensely complicated task. I made a hyperbolic statement (you know, that figure of speech you were taught before your teens) to illustrate my irritation with crowds who cheer obnoxiously. Hardly needs your getting all worked up and foaming in the mouth.

sirfredperry wrote:Well, those who thought Stan-Rog was too close to call were probably right, in that it went the distance. This is a remarkable achievement by Rog. But I'm not sure if his beating of three top 10 players, including two in the top five, after a long lay-off, is reflective of his brilliance or the low standard of the players right at the top of the rankings.
  Can't help thinking that the top 10 from three to eight have really missed out here. The top two seeds, who have dominated the AO in recent years, go out early and then along come two ageing members of the old Big Four to sweep to, probably, the final.
  Would still put money on Rafa to win the whole thing. He could be on 16 Slams by the end of the French.

If you moved this Federer back to any era, he'd give loads of top 10érs nightmares. He's striking the ball beautifully, serving as well as he's ever done, moving sharply, and he seems to be thriving as an underdog without the target on his back. It is a reflection of his own brilliance. He's just that good and it's proof that if many past greats had really wanted to push themselves into their 30's, rather than seeing it as retirement time, they could have done great things. If Sampras could win his last slam appearance, there's no reason he couldn't have won more if he was motivated enough.

Excellent post MT. Let's not forget, Fed was number 3 in the world before his injury. He has come back playing at the same level which is remarkable but, given that he has done so, it's not really a surprise that he's beaten players who were ranked lower at the time.

I suspect either Novak or Andy would probably have beaten him here but they both got knocked out before they even got to face him. Fed, in contrast, has won both his close matches and fully deserves his final spot.

Hey this is like the good old days.!!!!

Haddie-nuff wrote: Hey this is like the good old days.!!!!

And if Rafa meets Fed in the final I guarantee it will be like the bad old days comments-wise.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

Haddie-nuff wrote: Hey this is like the good old days.!!!!

And if Rafa meets Fed in the final I guarantee it will be like the bad old days comments-wise.

Yep I think you are right CC.. out come the knives (that have got a bit rusty) stand by your beds this might turn out to be a blood bath

Haddie-nuff wrote: Hey this is like the good old days.!!!!

You're dead right and there were probably plenty of us prepared to wave the days of Fedal goodbye once and for all. I recall the sinking feeling I had when it was announced Fed would not play again in 2016 after Wimbledon. Then Rafa started suffering as well.
Murray's race to number one created a lot of interest/excitement to make up for the absence of Fedal. But - amazingly, thrillingly - we now stand on the brink of another Rafa-Rog GS final.

Feels like 2009 again...

I made Federer favourite for this tournament since the Nishikori match and I believed he'd beat Wawrinka. On a slower court, where Stan has the time to wind up his shots, he's more dangerous. In these quicker conditions, I expected Fed's offensive all-court game to take the time away.

Federer is favourite in the final for me, but Nadal has a good chance of getting in his head. For sure, Dimitrov against Federer in the final is a virtual walkover for Fed.

Hi temp good to see you... did I leave the door open lol ??

I remember 2009 .. but I'm a war veteran now .. I bear the scars but I am alive

mthierry wrote:I made Federer favourite for this tournament since the Nishikori match and I believed he'd beat Wawrinka. On a slower court, where Stan has the time to wind up his shots, he's more dangerous. In these quicker conditions, I expected Fed's offensive all-court game to take the time away.

Federer is favourite in the final for me, but Nadal has a good chance of getting in his head. For sure, Dimitrov against Federer in the final is a virtual
walkover for Fed.

Being in Fed's head is absolutely true.. but heh lets not forget that Rafa does play tennis and can beat him without playing mind games

I dunno
If Rafa gets there and plays like he did against raonic. That won't be easy to overcome. Even if Rafa gets nervy

Right after Sunday I'm closing the door. This place needs a health hazard to me. It's a. It like Chernobyl, it's ok, but not for long

temporary21 wrote:Right after Sunday I'm closing the door. This place needs a health hazard to me. It's a. It like Chernobyl, it's ok, but not for long

FedAl have more respect for each other than many who espouse either player.

Even Federer admits that his 6-month layoff and desire to come back were inspired by Nadal. There was history made today, and will be made on Sunday.

Underestimating Dimitrov is not a wise move.

temporary21 wrote:Right after Sunday I'm closing the door. This place needs a health hazard to me. It's a. It like Chernobyl, it's ok, but not for long

Do me a favour .. don't close the door until Ive escaped!!!

Feral love each other. Fed was the only person Rafa invited to his academy. It's bizarre how their fans sometimes go at it

In any case Fed jnr has a say yet. He wants to shake off the jnr tag

laverfan wrote:

temporary21 wrote:Right after Sunday I'm closing the door. This place needs a health hazard to me. It's a. It like Chernobyl, it's ok, but not for long

FedAl have more respect for each other than many who espouse either player.

Even Federer admits that his 6-month layoff and desire to come back were inspired by Nadal. There was history made today, and will be made on Sunday.

Underestimating Dimitrov is not a wise move.

.....
Hopefully .. Rafa has the measure of the SHB... hopefully his lefty play can cause the same problems for Dimi  so that if he should beat him he will have had good practice by the time he faces the Maestro

temporary21 wrote:Feral love each other. Fed was the only person Rafa invited to his academy. It's bizarre how their fans sometimes go at it

In any case Fed jnr has a say yet. He wants to shake off the jnr tag

I agree in fact it is actually lovely to see them together.. they are most definitely very good friends.. so folks.. let us join their club

For UK posters the Rog-Stan semi highlights are soon (5pm) to be on on BBC2.

YouTube can get you even better highlights in hd in a couple of hours

yeah, good ol days

Having seen some highlights, I would say the Stan-Rog semi was not a classic. Both looked pretty tired at the end and Stan missed his chance for a break at 2-2 in the 5th. Next minute, it was 5-2 to Fed and match over.
I would say that the pick of Fed's wins so far was over Nishi where he overcame a youngish, fit player not scarred by too many previous defeats at the hands of the Swiss. It was still a good effort to beat Stan, though.

I thought it might be Roger in 4. Just watched the match and I don't think he was as sharp as he has been the last couple of matches. He seemed to be struggling with his service unlike the Berdych match and the Nishikori match.

It will be a Fed/Nadal final and we have watched too many finals between these two in the last 10 years not to know what to expect. By noon on Sunday I expect Nadal to be holding that trophy. Personally I really do not see Dimi being able to live with Nadal. Maybe if the match was played in the day in the heat with faster condition it might aid him but in the evenings as the temp drops the conditions will suit Nadal.

Minute Djokovic lost I predicted Nadal to go all the way. He has peaked at the right time.

It's just bad timing for Federer the year he is able to make the finals his old Rival hits top form as was bad luck Djoko was around when he made the Wimbledon finals in 14 and 15.

Yes, I'd agree sfp, not a classic - although, there was a good deal of quality tennis on show along with a fair bit of drama too. Fed did need to keep calm to see it through, and I guess his vast experience from so many tight Slam matches over so many years was what tipped the balance in the end.

Of far greater significance than the (questionable) quality of the all-Swiss SF contest was the wider achievement of getting through six rounds to actually reach the Final itself.

Since the ATP's creation in 1972, only one player of Federer's age has ever made a Slam Final : Andre Agassi - who, ironically, met Federer in the 2005 USO. Agassi was 35 years 4 months at the time. But though it was obviously an impressive run, the highest player he had defeated en route to that Final was ranked 34. By contrast, Federer has now beaten players ranked 10, 5 and 4. Plus, the conqueror of the World's Number One. And all this after six months absence from the Tour. It really is quite something.

Regardless of how things pan out on Sunday, this has already been a memorable AO in so many ways.

I did not see the match but not too surprised it was close.  From what I saw against Berdych and Nishi, I did not think Fed was as good as people were making him out to be.  I am surprised Fed won in five.  I would have expected that if it had gone to five, Stan would have prevailed.

It will be hard on Sunday but I will wake up early and watch it to the (bitter?) end.

Everyone seems to think it will be a Fedal final now.  I also expect that to be the case, but I am less sure than many others.  I only saw very little from this AO (relatively speaking), but I thought Dimi looked pretty good.  I may be proven wrong but I think he will give Rafa a good fight, and has a reasonable chance to win.

In the end, I still think Rafa has a better than 50/50 chance, but not by all that much.

Good luck Grisha!