I did post that I had a sense match between Djokovic and Federer might not happen. Though, I thought it was because Fed was going to lose before semis. Hope he plays though. I don't think he ever withdrew from a match at this stage? Only gave two walkovers in his career, right?
Update: Fed skipped his practice session. Betting odds on the match have Djokovic as a MASSIVE favorite
Your book is full of bsIf Fed wins even a set , it counts as a win in my book . Remember this is an injured , close to 39 year old player
Two days, 10 hours, to be precise...Fed finished his match in the late afternoon and plays the night match Thursday, so he has two nights of sleep before the semis. Almost 2 days of recovery.
I don't think it's a big deal that Federer skips practice, he's had plenty of court time so far so it's probably wiser to try and maximize his recovery as much as possible. Now if he's healthy enough to play or not is a great question. If he has any belief he can win and make it competitive in his current condition, I think he will play, after all this is a SF match and who knows if he will ever make another SF or better, time not on his side anymore.
When you look at both players current run, one would have to favor Djokovic in straight sets, it's the logical choice here. The fan in me though likes to think that Federer will be going into this match as a massive underdog with virtually 0 pressure to perform and that could be dangerous. Fed has struggled for the most part all tournament long, but you never know when he will find his form. With Djokovic on the other side of the net, he could very well play good enough to cause an upset...or get slaughtered. Either way, it will be interesting to see how the situation evolves.
Fed win - he is a hero, he was injured, he never quits even if he's hurt, he bites a bullet with bare teeth
Fed loses - he is a hero, he was injured, he never quits even if he's hurt, he bites a bullet with bare teeth
Win-win situation... Good to be Fed fan...
I think he is skipping practice to be able to play. Fed is not a quitter. What Nadal did in Paris was shameful, pulling our minutes before the match was going to start. That is why I give Fed respect, even though I want Djokovic to win.
wrong, he had a broken leg and broken arm and ...
oh wait ...
That’s why I rarely reads what he writes when it’s more than 2-3 lines.Good god i might put the barrel in my mouth pull the trigger as i jump off a bridge after reading that. Severely depressed right now.
I had a dream of how the match will transpire – it will be 40–15 all over again.
It's dark in the Rod Laver Arena now. The great Laver himself has seemingly fallen asleep in the stands but is abruptly awoken by the elbow of his companion. Can't snooze now, history is about to be made. Federer steps out to serve. This is his chance, it is do or die. The crowd is drunk with that fleeting sense of inevitability.
He sends down a first serve; Djokovic returns it deep, and Federer sends a forehand long. He's feeling the pressure, Rog.
0–15.
Federer misses a first serve. He's nervous now, somebody disrupts him in the crowd, mom's spaghetti. Second serve. A rally ensues, Djokovic is trying to pin down Fed in his backhand corner. But the wily old Swiss eventually manages to run around it and hit a couple of pressuring forehands. Novak sends a scrambling forehand wide of the sideline.
15–15. Mirka folds her hand in front of her slumped head and closed eyes. Her nerves are worn thin from this tiresome drama. Why do I always come to these matches? I could be shopping for garish Gucci garments.
Federer slams an ace down the tee, the Serbian isn't able to even make a reach for it.
30–15. The cute girls with Swiss-flag-painted cheeks are positively beaming now -- they are starting to believe.
A determined Maestro swipes another bullet down the middle, right on the intersection of the service lines, and Novak can only stumble after the ball.
40–15. The arena is buzzing. Some white-clad middle-aged blonde lady is waving her index finger triumphantly. It's really happening. Federer is going to get his chance at rectifying history.
Another big serve. But it just clips the top of the net and bounces barely back inside Fed's service box. Fate is a harsh mistress.
Federer sends a second serve into Novak's forehand corner, trying to catch him by surprise at this crucial juncture. But the yogi guru is in tune with his senses, anticipates it, and sends a deep forehand return toward Fed's feet. Under the weight of the pressure, Roger takes some cramped steps to his left, trying to get there in time to hit the winning inside out forehand into the Serb's empty backhand corner. But he's a step too late, the shot is too difficult, the ball sails just wide.
40–30. It's OK, still ahead.
He finds the first serve now, but it's too far from any line, Nole gets his stringbed on it with ease and safely blocks it back over the net. Ball's in your court now, Rog, whatcha gonna do? The Swiss Baghdatis-conquering genius once more runs around the backhand, fires out a forehand approach shot whose lacking length would make his friend and underling Roddick sentimental, and he storms the net like a bison headed for the water hole. Novak hits a pinpoint-accurate forehand cross that sails past his rival like a ship of broken dreams.
Deuce.
He's annoyed now, the great one. It was supposed to be over by now. I should be making dad jokes with Mac or Courier now. He fires of his trademark wide serve, but it just misses the line. Gotta go safe on the second serve. A rally ensues, but his rival is inspired now, slowly wrestling away the initiative of the rally, finally unleashing a hard inside-in forehand that Federer can only dump low in the net.
Ad. Djokovic.
Ring the alarm bells. Send in the clowns. There's a frown on his face now, something close to a shrug of resignation. This, again? "I really should be skiing in the Swiss Alps, not swimming around in this sticky mud." But he finds a first serve, although once more not the usual surgical accuracy. Novak once more sends a mean forehand cross-court, forcing the old man to run, something he must admit he doesn't much enjoy doing anymore, not that he ever truly did. But it doesn't matter, none of it matters, he's not going to have to run anymore now -- the forehand plunges anticlimactically into the middle of the net. Something like a whimper, except much louder, runs through the crowd in Rod Laver Arena.
6–2, 6–2, 6–1 Djokovic.
The great roger federer reduced to a broken shell of a once glorious past. Sad times lol.That’s why I rarely reads what he writes when it’s more than 2-3 lines.
I’m a Rafa fan and I am not that sad for the loss cause the happiness for Thiem going to SF is bigger!The great roger federer reduced to a broken shell of a once glorious past. Sad times lol.
You better root for nadal still if you are his fan! I have been wanting djokovic to be challenged by the young guns. Fedal have had their day and want djokovic to be the last at the top and battle the younguns.I’m a Rafa fan and I am not that sad for the loss cause the happiness for Thiem going to SF is bigger!
A part of me feel the big 3 are getting a bit boring... It’s been chewed so many times. Been discussed the very micro part of it, they have played record many times against each other... the feeling of having Zverev or Thiem in a final makes me very excited. I’m so ready for this and the wait has been long!!
My husband who is a Novak fan was more sad than me for Rafas lossYeah it
You better root for nadal still if you are his fan! I have been wanting djokovic to be challenged by the young guns. Fedal have had their day and want djokovic to be the last at the top and battle the younguns.
@OTMPut You mean the Corretja USO match where Pete was vomiting on court, but still won?I say Fed pulls a Sampras tomorrow.
People are crazy if they think this match will be a quick demolition. Fed and Djokovic have always matched up well, which is why their matches have always been pretty tight (except a couple of times when Roger was zoning and crushed Nole). Assuming Fed is physically ok to play (not 100% but also not nearly immobile like in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th sets against Sandgren), he's going to create a few opportunities for himself and it will be tense. In all likelihood, Nole will erase every one of those opportunities but not before Roger gives the fans something to hold its collective breath on. I'm looking forward to it.
But I am debating if I should try to wake up at 3am to watch it. Anyone else on the East coast facing this dilemma? I have no interest watching a Federer defeat but a win would be electrifying. It would actually reverse the pain from last year's Wimby loss given the current circumstances with Roger being the huge underdog.
LOL!I had a dream of how the match will transpire – it will be 40–15 all over again.
It's dark in the Rod Laver Arena now. The great Laver himself has seemingly fallen asleep in the stands but is abruptly awoken by the elbow of his companion. Can't snooze now, history is about to be made. Federer steps out to serve. This is his chance, it is do or die. The crowd is drunk with that fleeting sense of inevitability.
He sends down a first serve; Djokovic returns it deep, and Federer sends a forehand long. He's feeling the pressure, Rog.
0–15.
Federer misses a first serve. He's nervous now, somebody disrupts him in the crowd, mom's spaghetti. Second serve. A rally ensues, Djokovic is trying to pin down Fed in his backhand corner. But the wily old Swiss eventually manages to run around it and hit a couple of pressuring forehands. Novak sends a scrambling forehand wide of the sideline.
15–15. Mirka folds her hand in front of her slumped head and closed eyes. Her nerves are worn thin from this tiresome drama. Why do I always come to these matches? I could be shopping for garish Gucci garments.
Federer slams an ace down the tee, the Serbian isn't able to even make a reach for it.
30–15. The cute girls with Swiss-flag-painted cheeks are positively beaming now -- they are starting to believe.
A determined Maestro swipes another bullet down the middle, right on the intersection of the service lines, and Novak can only stumble after the ball.
40–15. The arena is buzzing. Some white-clad middle-aged blonde lady is waving her index finger triumphantly. It's really happening. Federer is going to get his chance at rectifying history.
Another big serve. But it just clips the top of the net and bounces barely back inside Fed's service box. Fate is a harsh mistress.
Federer sends a second serve into Novak's forehand corner, trying to catch him by surprise at this crucial juncture. But the yogi guru is in tune with his senses, anticipates it, and sends a deep forehand return toward Fed's feet. Under the weight of the pressure, Roger takes some cramped steps to his left, trying to get there in time to hit the winning inside out forehand into the Serb's empty backhand corner. But he's a step too late, the shot is too difficult, the ball sails just wide.
40–30. It's OK, still ahead.
He finds the first serve now, but it's too far from any line, Nole gets his stringbed on it with ease and safely blocks it back over the net. Ball's in your court now, Rog, whatcha gonna do? The Swiss Baghdatis-conquering genius once more runs around the backhand, fires out a forehand approach shot whose lacking length would make his friend and underling Roddick sentimental, and he storms the net like a bison headed for the water hole. Novak hits a pinpoint-accurate forehand cross that sails past his rival like a ship of broken dreams.
Deuce.
He's annoyed now, the great one. It was supposed to be over by now. I should be making dad jokes with Mac or Courier now. He fires of his trademark wide serve, but it just misses the line. Gotta go safe on the second serve. A rally ensues, but his rival is inspired now, slowly wrestling away the initiative of the rally, finally unleashing a hard inside-in forehand that Federer can only dump low in the net.
Ad. Djokovic.
Ring the alarm bells. Send in the clowns. There's a frown on his face now, something close to a shrug of resignation. This, again? "I really should be skiing in the Swiss Alps, not swimming around in this sticky mud." But he finds a first serve, although once more not the usual surgical accuracy. Novak once more sends a mean forehand cross-court, forcing the old man to run, something he must admit he doesn't much enjoy doing anymore, not that he ever truly did. But it doesn't matter, none of it matters, he's not going to have to run anymore now -- the forehand plunges anticlimactically into the middle of the net. Something like a whimper, except much louder, runs through the crowd in Rod Laver Arena.
6–2, 6–2, 6–1 Djokovic.
Man, your optimism is undying.FF, Fedr in Four.
On paper yeah but it was like a pity set at least 2011 and 2008 where 3 competitive sets that 2016 was a blowoutFed picked up a set in 2016. In fact, since 2008, 2016 has been the best scoreline from Fed against Djokovic at the AO lol.
Get up and watch!People are crazy if they think this match will be a quick demolition. Fed and Djokovic have always matched up well, which is why their matches have always been pretty tight (except a couple of times when Roger was zoning and crushed Nole). Assuming Fed is physically ok to play (not 100% but also not nearly immobile like in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th sets against Sandgren), he's going to create a few opportunities for himself and it will be tense. In all likelihood, Nole will erase every one of those opportunities but not before Roger gives the fans something to hold its collective breath on. I'm looking forward to it.
But I am debating if I should try to wake up at 3am to watch it. Anyone else on the East coast facing this dilemma? I have no interest watching a Federer defeat but a win would be electrifying. It would actually reverse the pain from last year's Wimby loss given the current circumstances with Roger being the huge underdog.
Ditto on Wawrinka. Djokovic has always been nice to him and he recently threw him under the bus. Stilll do not know why djokovic is still friends with him. Back stabber.My husband who is a Novak fan was more sad than me for Rafas loss
I’ll always support him but I’m not that crazy of a fan I don’t get happy when others win, specially Thiem, Zverev and Tsitsipas. I’ve been wanting someone new to really step up.
I don’t like Wawrinka at all, so Zverevs win over him was super sweet! More positives for me than negatives this AO. If it was like Cilic and Wawrinka, Federer and Novak left... Id probably not even watch the SF and the final now. I zone out, gets too boring.
How could any woman not love Stan the Man???My husband who is a Novak fan was more sad than me for Rafas loss
I’ll always support him but I’m not that crazy of a fan I don’t get happy when others win, specially Thiem, Zverev and Tsitsipas. I’ve been wanting someone new to really step up.
I don’t like Wawrinka at all, so Zverevs win over him was super sweet! More positives for me than negatives this AO. If it was like Cilic and Wawrinka, Federer and Novak left... Id probably not even watch the SF and the final now. I zone out, gets too boring.
Insane that this is played in the middle of the night in America. Another example of the war against freedom.
This forum is a strange thing. In here Stan is considered hot, not Rafa, Zverev and Tsitsipas. It’s the opposite in the real world out there.How could any woman not love Stan the Man???
War for freedumb = war against freedom.Last time I checked, Australia also has freedom. Sorry to tell you that, mate.
I don't know if it's looks or something else about Stan that people on here find appealing. Could be that monster backhand.This forum is a strange thing. In here Stan is considered hot, not Rafa, Zverev and Tsitsipas. It’s the opposite in the real world out there.
Wawrinkas serve is the most unsexy serve known to man.
It also can be that Fed fans love that Wawrinka has taken out Novak in slams and preserved Feds record which makes them like him so much it’s often like that in here it seems.I don't know if it's looks or something else about Stan that people on here find appealing. Could be that monster backhand.
But I think he has some sort of presence about him when he takes the court which sparks fear in the Djokovic fans on this forum.... All 2 of them.
But if Stan and Djokovic had been slated to play in a Slam, Nadal fans would jump on the Stan-wagon as well for that 1 night. So that Nadal could avoid Djokovic.It also can be that Fed fans love that Wawrinka has taken out Novak in slams and preserved Feds record which makes them like him so much it’s often like that in here it seems.
I haven’t liked him long time mainly cause of off court things.
wrong, he had a broken leg and broken arm and ...
oh wait ...
I wouldn’t do that, I like Novak.But if Stan and Djokovic had been slated to play in a Slam, Nadal fans would jump on the Stan-wagon as well for that 1 night. So that Nadal could avoid Djokovic.