2017 Indian Wells SF - [9] Roger Federer vs [17] Jack Sock

[The Green Mile]

Jack into his first ever Masters SF, after defeating Nishikori in the QF (his first ever top 5 win).
Roger with a walkover, due to Nick withdrawing because of illness.

Fed leads the H2H 2-0, both meetings on Hard-court in 2015. Both straight sets.
Good luck to both.

 

[smoledman]

Sock's game is too huge for Roger. Sock in 3.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

Federer W/O again, the Maestro is just that good.

 

[VaporDude95]

Fed in 2, goes forth to win the title, then does another celebratory collaboration with Haas and Dimi

 

[ACE of Hearts]

I got a feeling it will go 3. I think sock can take a set. I am sure fed will be aiming for that backhand.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I'm happy for Jack making the semis, but this is going to be Roger's house on Saturday. An easy straight-sets victory for Fed. Sock has nothing that will trouble Roger. Something like 6-4, 6-3 for Federer.

 

[cc0509]

Federer in two.

 

[mike danny]

With his SF run, what will Sock's ranking be?

 

[Silence]

With his SF run, what will Sock's ranking be?

17.

 

[tennis_pro]

I just can't see Sock beating this Federer in such a big match. The only thing going for Sock is that Fed has 3 days off which could disrupt his rhytm a little bit but other than that Sock got nothing on Fed.

Fed 6-3 7-5

Man, this draw was BRUTAL and now Fed got a W/O in the QF, Sock in the SF and hell why not Carreno Busta in the final ROFLMAO.

 

[mike danny]

17.

Really? No improvement?

 

[underground]

Fed thought he was gonna escape the green giant but the tennis gods have sent another player with the same outfit.

Fed in 2 (potentially scrappy) sets.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Federer in 2 tight sets

 

[Silence]

Really? No improvement?

Not according to this:

http://live-tennis.eu/en/atp-live-ranking

 

[SeeingDusk]

Very hard to say. Socks been lucky throughout the whole tournament. Should've been eliminated by Grigi already. Maybe the luck will carry Sock to his first masters.

 

[Zebrev]

Federer in 2.

 

[smoledman]

What kind of a last name is Sock?

 

[Carsomyr]

17 seed vs 9 seed? Please. We know the result already.

sock in three

 

[Deleted member 740774]

If Federer plays like he did on Wednesday sock would be lucky to snag a couple games.

Roger in less than an hour

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

I'll stop watching tennis for a while if the final will be Carreno Busta - Sock

 

[flyingboris]

Federer in 2 tight sets

As in "that sh_t is tight!"

 

[coloskier]

I got a feeling it will go 3. I think sock can take a set. I am sure fed will be aiming for that backhand.

Every time Sock tries to run around his BH, Fed will hit that down the line BH like he did against Nadal. He is already used to the heavy topspin. This match won't even be close.

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

I wish there was a way I could see Sock winning this... but I cant.

Perhaps Sock will show us how it can happen?

 

[Winners or Errors]

I just don't think Sock's backhand is enough of a threat to Federer. I could be wrong, but I see an easy win coming for Fed. I will be very surprised otherwise.

 

[chjtennis]

Federer gets a rest day and it should help against Sock who played a tough match v Nishikori.

 

[Vanhalen]

Sock's game is too huge for Roger. Sock in 3.

Are you on crack?

 

[PeteD]

I'll stop watching tennis for a while if the final will be Carreno Busta - Sock

I'm waiting for a final, Carreno Busta - Bautista Agut. Say that ten times.

 

[ComeBackKimiko]

I just don't think Sock's backhand is enough of a threat to Federer. I could be wrong, but I see an easy win coming for Fed. I will be very surprised otherwise.

Sock's backhand is really more useful than people think.
Sometimes it lets him down, and he has bad days with it, but heck, Nishikori with one of the best BH in the game sometimes has off days with his.
On average, the Sock BH can keep him in rallies and is also acceptable in the return game.

I keep saying, the difference between win and lose for Sock is actually whether or not the forehand stays under control on key points. If he is nailing inside-in and crosscourt ones in addition to his trademark IO (and let's be serious, anyone saying that the Sock IOFH will not trouble Federer at all is delusional, it's one of the biggest weapons in tennis today).

Obviously if Roger is peaking out he is going to be better than Sock but we can't just assume that. Who knows what Roger's form will be. Sock's form was atrocious coming in to IW and he played himself into fighting trim by hanging tough and being clutch. That may desert him, but so may Federer's vein of good form.

I'm going with Sock in 3 just to be contrarian and because Stan bending over for Roger in the final again would be the dullest possible outcome at this point. Stan-Sock would be absolutely fascinating though.

 

[ComeBackKimiko]

Every time Sock tries to run around his BH, Fed will hit that down the line BH like he did against Nadal. He is already used to the heavy topspin. This match won't even be close.

I mean, we are talking about a lefty CC vs a righty IO.
There is no comparability at all really to the two shots as far as how the Fed backhand will have to deal with them.
Certainly no reason to say that Fed's OHBH, on paper, is more likely to punish down the line than Kei's 2HBH, and look what happened there -- he nailed a few, sure, but he dumped even more under the weight of those RPMs.

 

[CivicLx]

Fed thought he was gonna escape the green giant but the tennis gods have sent another player with the same outfit.

Fed in 2 (potentially scrappy) sets.

Is suresh this green giant that you speak of?

 

[Nick Lynch]

I think Fed will be able to rise above in this one but I think it's mainly because of the insane difference in court time. Sock nearly 9 hours on and Federer under 4 hours. We must not forget, Fed was taken to two tiebreaks by Steve Johnson who is basically a copy of Jack Socks B or B minus game.

 

[shankster]

Can't see anything other than Fed in straights, sadly.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Steve Johnson was playing better than I've seen Sock play when he played Fed. I must not be watching enough Sock matches.

 

[MasturB]

Fed wins in straights. First set probably a tie break.

All Swiss Final.

 

[Nick Lynch]

Steve Johnson was playing better than I've seen Sock play when he played Fed. I must not be watching enough Sock matches.

We'll sock does have the 4-1 head to head advantage over Johnson. 2 of those being straight sets in 2017

 

[BeatlesFan]

I'll stop watching tennis for a while if the final will be Carreno Busta - Sock

If that turns out to be the final, there will be exactly 14 people in the stadium and only 14. I can even name them:

Carreno Busta
Jack Sock
Mohamed Lahyani (chair ump)
Larry Ellison and his 17 year old GF
6 lines people
2 ball boys
Sock's mother

 

[BeatlesFan]

I think Fed will be able to rise above in this one but I think it's mainly because of the insane difference in court time. Sock nearly 9 hours on and Federer under 4 hours.

It wouldn't matter if Roger had spent 29 hours on court and Jack 2 hours, there's almost no chance he loses to Jack Sock. You're speaking as if Sock represents some epic challenge to the GOAT. "Rising above" Jack Sock is child's play for Fed, come on.

 

[Nick Lynch]

It wouldn't matter if Roger had spent 29 hours on court and Jack 2 hours, there's almost no chance he loses to Jack Sock. You're speaking as if Sock represents some epic challenge to the GOAT. "Rising above" Jack Sock is child's play for Fed, come on.

You act as though Federer never loses to anyone. Yes he is the clear favorite. I think it will be two tight sets but please tell me you're not that blinded by your love of Fed. Two weeks ago he lost to a player outside the top 100. Give me a break.

 

[Sentinel]

Are you on crack?

That is his normal self. I mean his usual self, lol.

Looking forward to an all Swiss final.

 

[metsman]

Fed got practice playing a Sock type player with Johnson. I expect him to abuse Sock BH and wrap this one up. Hopefully he isn't too rusty.

 

[6-3 6-0]

Fed in 2 with one tight set either 7-5 or a TB.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Are you on crack?

He's trying to reach 90's Clay streak of terrible predictions in a row but there's no way he's going to achieve it.

 

[ComeBackKimiko]

You could cut the arrogance with a knife in here!

Federtards definitely gonna need to ask Rafatards if there is still room in the safe space if Roger doesn't come through.

 

[Prabhanjan]

17 seed vs 9 seed? Please. We know the result already.

sock in three

When they were ranked higher and Fed was at 17, I am sure none of Berd, Nishikori, Wawrinka, and Nadal liked it at AO

 

[Feather]

It wouldn't matter if Roger had spent 29 hours on court and Jack 2 hours, there's almost no chance he loses to Jack Sock. You're speaking as if Sock represents some epic challenge to the GOAT. "Rising above" Jack Sock is child's play for Fed, come on.

I too think Roger Federer will win!

That said over confidence is NOT good. Matches are played for a reason. It was only days before that Roger lost to Donskoy.

 

[Bukmeikara]

It wouldn't matter if Roger had spent 29 hours on court and Jack 2 hours, there's almost no chance he loses to Jack Sock. You're speaking as if Sock represents some epic challenge to the GOAT. "Rising above" Jack Sock is child's play for Fed, come on.

Sock is priced about the same as Kyrgios vs Djokovic. People were talking the same thing about Raonic vs Federer in Paris and in the end Milos ended outplaying Roger. Respect the game and respect your opponents. With this tempo by RG Sock would be a top 10 guy

 

[KINGROGER]

Should be a comfortable win for Fed. Like 7-5 6-3 or something.

 

[Rafa the King]

Federer in 2. 6-2 7-6

 

[Red Rick]

Really? No improvement?

He improved by making the QF. He doesn't improve more by reaching the SF, though he does close the gap on Kyrgios.

 

[Red Rick]

Sock is priced about the same as Kyrgios vs Djokovic. People were talking the same thing about Raonic vs Federer in Paris and in the end Milos ended outplaying Roger. Respect the game and respect your opponents. With this tempo by RG Sock would be a top 10 guy

Sock is no Kyrgios though. Both are incosistent, but Sock's swings are huge from game to game, so the chances of him playing 3 sets at top 3 level are much more limited than Kyrgios.

I feel that Jack Sock is almost a meme. The 'weak era American mug who does nothing but serve and hit forehands all day'. Add the name, face, fatness and demeanor and you have a stereotype that's too perfect to be true.

On the other hand, Sock is actually a very good doubles player, has good touch and is quite athletic for a player his size and girth.