Wimbledon Day 12 - Mens Semi Finals

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Good morning tennis fans.

What a day we have in store. Djokovic v Tsonga and Nadal v Murray.

I have the fan on, the phone off, the doors locked and e-mails off.

It is going to be a historic day hopefully. Could we see the first Wimbledon final not to have had Nadal or Federer in it since 2002?

Fingers crossed.

I dont dislike Tsonga SA, I don't like the media hype which has accompanied him, I've said many times before.

Good luck to Tsonga, but just like Berdych last year, hype doesn't mean he's going to win.

Djokovic just switching the intensity off and on, breaks again. I did not like Tsonga winning the 3rd set. Just delaying an inevitable result and keeping Murray and Nadal waiting.

Novak just needs to get a high percentage of 1st serves in this set and he will win, half way home Novak. Now go get the double break.

I'm happy with it being delayed a bit, I might be able to watch some of the Murray/Nadal game now when I get back from work, I was worried I'd see none (unless either of them have a straight sets victory).

hmmm not a great start to the set by Tsonga, that was a tame service break to give away. Credit to Novak for refocusing so quickly, can he close it out this time?

Haddie-nuff wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:I still think Novak will win through in the end. Tsonga is dynamic but lacks consistency over long periods of matches.

Like he did against Federer you mean

Yes that was one match though and again in that he wasn't dynamic for the whole match. Don't get me wrong he is a superb player but ask yourself why he doesn't win that many tournaments and go deep into slam events - lacks consistency. Simple.

much needed hold for Tsonga

I agree but you know tennis is a funny old game and nobody bet on him to beat Federer did they.. frankly he has played some superb tenniis in this tournament and when he IS playing well it takes a good player to beat him... here he is playing the world NO2 soon to No.1. and he has had him in all sorts of trouble.. yes I believe Djoko will win but Im sick and tired of reading the threads on this forum when all we read is Fed Nad Djo and Murray...give him a break.. Im no Tsonga lover but he has earned his dues iin this tournament and deserves everyones respect

Oh I am not disrespecting him all I said was a felt Djokovic would now win in four. Tsonga has competed very well here and deserves great credit for that and was immense against Federer. I always got the impression though that this would be one hill too many for him to climb in one tournament.

If Novak hits his first serve this over, if he keeps playing off his second serve and losing the first couple of points of his service games he could lose this thing still. But I think he will finish him off and clean up his first serve percentage.

Djokovic played a great tactical game today. He exploited the weakness in Tsonga's backhand often giving it slower balls and with some variation.

Come on Novak get into this service game no more silly errors

All I want is a good final and I think that's best provided by Djokovic and Murray/Nadal. Take away the hype and this is exactly how I thought Tsonga would end up being taken out. No disrespect to him or intended to him, he's a good player, but not much of a touch on Djokovic and I'm afraid the score line shows that, he was lucky to win that last tie breaker.

Djokovic struggled with his serve the last games but just a game away then we finally see semi final 2.

Luciusmann the problem is Tsonga made the semi finals so there has to be talks of him. At least he won a set. You never know had it been Federer Djokovic would have made the finals an hour ago.

Luciusmann the problem is Tsonga made the semi finals so there has to be talks of him. At least he won a set. You never know had it been Federer Djokovic would have made the finals an hour ago.

All over! Well done Nole, new world n°1

Djokovic is World No.1 now!

Go Djoko !!!!!!!

Congrats to Novak on being the new number 1 in mens tennis. His 47-1 start to this season makes him a deserving number 1 and Wimbledon finalist. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, along with nerves, almost defeated him.

Tsonga has really had a great tournament and I hope that he can sustain this form for the rest of the season.

That reaction to winning is just lovely to see - Djoko is obviously completely delighted, goodness he wants this one. Very sporting behaviour from both players at the net.

As I've said many times on 606 I first started to like Djoko when I watched him in person at Wimbledon and his behaviour was very sporting and a credit to him. I've seen him twice now and I think that the mantle of No. 1 will rest well on his shoulders. Tennis has been served very well by the past two No. 1's and I think he's worthy of following them.

Tsonga made it interesting, credit to the frenchman, he really should be able to replicate these performances more often. Congrats Nole legend!

Congratulations to Novak. Nobody can argue that he doesn't deserve that No.1 slot.

Andy on next - best of luck Andy.

Perhaps I am too jumpy, but I don't like these early exchanges. When Murray starts the point with a good serve he's on top and stays so, when he has to put a 2nd serve in Nadal's all over him and he looks like he's bunting it about.

Bollox - now Murray's in conversation with a trainer.

This one is settling down nicely. Murry has a pretty clear gameplan and is executing it well enough - real even stevens at the moment.

Deuce, Murray serving at 5-5 - first hint of danger on either serve... And it goes to Murray advantage after a very tense rally when Nadal netted with the point at his mercy...

Murray does something similar at advantage - losing a rally that he had gained the upper hand in.

Like I said - most important game so far and Nadal is putting pressure on the Murray serve

Murray ace to go advantage again -- crucial moments here

GOOD HOLD - now, can he take the Nadal serve that he's not really got anywhere near this set?

Ouch! Nadal does lots of running in that game. His foot must be hurting!

Nadal serving 5-6, 0-30 - can Murray take this chance?

Tenez wrote:Ouch! Nadal does lots of running in that game. His foot must be hurting!

This is the exact opposite of the del potro situtation - Nadal's got to win the next 3 points because after that extraordinary rally he's 0-40 down!

FIRST SET MURRAY - WHAT A SET HE PLAYED, WELL DONE!!

barrystar wrote:FIRST SET MURRAY - WHAT A SET HE PLAYED, WELL DONE!!

Wow, looks like Rafa is going to have to draw on his legendary mental fortitude again.

First time Andy has taken a set off Nada at Wimbledon.

I have a good feeling about this.

I can read Nadal's serve....so does Murray. Murray knew where Nadal was serving in that last game and guessed right every time.

Immense set of tennis there from Andy. Takes the set and looking in the zone. Match definitely on now.

I see Rafa has taken a *comfort break*

yummymummy wrote:I see Rafa has taken a *comfort break*

I'm not a fan of Nadal, but that's fair enough - lots of players do that. I've seen Federer and Tsonga do it. No issues there.

It's not exactly a spectacle, i've seen better matches between these 2
So far so good though ;-)

barrystar wrote:

yummymummy wrote:I see Rafa has taken a *comfort break*

I'm not a fan of Nadal, but that's fair enough - lots of players do that. I've seen Federer and Tsonga do it. No issues there.

I recall Roger doing that against Davydenko at the Australian back in 2010 and it was clearly a case of gamesmanship.

It's fair to say that Nadal has not hit the heights he can yet, but Murray is in such a zone of concentration and control which has not yet been ruffled that this match looks so far like no other I've seen them play.

Well Andy is playing great, this would be a wonderful story for him to have his breakthrough at wimby.

That's twice Murray has out-rallied Nadal this service game - what play

ooooh he may rue missing that chance, damn

This is the problem Nadal faces on a fast surface, against players who can continually pressure him on his service games like Murray and Djoko, he gets put into tough situations.

What a momentum shift, 5 minutes ago Nadal should have been serving at 15-40, now, after Murray blazed an easy forehand long that game and gifted this service game with a double fault and another missed forehand winner it's looking like the match going level.

One small error, given him an itch to scratch, and Nadal's right back in it now.

As a Novak fan I hope this goes 5 sets Isner style and they have to finish it up on saturday. I am not above praying for an unfair advantage.

Now mistakes are pouring off Murray's racquet and his body language is entirely different - Nadal knows he's got to accelerate now.

Thank heavens Murray got that 1st set, because it would be almost all over if Nadal had. Now there's plenty of time to regroup.

How did Murray miss that forehand shot.