Wimbledon 2014 SF : Dimitrov [11] vs Djokovic [1]

[swordtennis]

based on the last pages I've read here, I think most have not even kicked a ball around a field.

LOL! Or even played catch with a ball.

 

[jm1980]

Chico, emerge from behind the sofa, your man is through!!!!

Tell us why it will be walk in the park for Djoko in the Final?

If Djoko looses this Wimby Final, he might never recover

I'm sure he'll recover... Only to lose the USO Final :-?

I wrote him off after the RG loss, but I think losing finals might be his lot.

 

[dudeski]

LOL.

Strong era!

 

[Deleted member 716271]

I truly do not think the majority here have even picked up a racket let alone stepped out on a court.

Dimitrov was weak in tight moments. I played college tennis and currently play in a 5.5 league. He choked.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

It will be a walk in the the park if raonic is his opponent

 

[kishnabe]

I believe Dimitrov will have his day here in the final one day.

Djokovic very relieved to get through...Dimitrov was getting more BP chances as the match went along. Had he won the 4th....I would bank on Dimi.

 

[Down_the_line]

It will be a walk in the the park if raonic is his opponent

No it won't. Book it.

 

[Emiliano55]

One thing is true, Djokovic will not show this poor version in the final. So don't assume either Fed/Raonic will win.

It will be a really contested final, whoever wins the other semis.

 

[andrewski]

. Dimi is the real thing, a solid top 10 for the Kyrgios era.

Please cucio, come to your senses.

What Kyrgios era?

I doubt it will happen (making top 10, if that), but we do not want it to happen, anyway

Watch Kyrgios-Raonic match and tell me you like it.

Sampras-Ivanisevic were mega entertaining in comparison...

 

[Vrad]

Good post. These men are getting faster and more athletic the court has to evolve with them.
.

The courts "evolving" is just another word for homogenization.

The players need to be able to adjust their play to suit grass. That's the whole point of having different surfaces. Nadal did a magnificent job of this in the late 2000s which is why he has a couple of Wimbledons despite clay being his favorite surface.

 

[veroniquem]

.




As I go by recent history I am picking Novaks opponent. I just do not trust him in a final anymore. He does survive and I do see some positives Becker is teaching him in the clutch. I do think he will not give up tho in the final win or lose.

I sure hope so, man.
The tide has to turn. Vs Fed at W though, super tall order, oh man. Still, for right now blown away he continues making all those finals. At worst, he won't lose any points.

 

[db379]

I am really amazed at how poor the conditions of play are at Wimbledon! Not only players had to play many night matches in conditions where it was becoming difficult to see the balls and the lines, but they also had to play several matches on consecutive days. On top of that, they now have to play on something that looks like a dried out soccer pitch and risk falling and hurting themselves on every second point.... The best tournament in the world? I do not think so! :shock:

 

[swordtennis]

This. I think playing Federer will be good in that there will be less pressure on Novak.

OTOH, the crowd will be crazy pro-Fed which will most likely frustrate the crap out of Djokovic.

Huge fan favorite. I see Becker is helping him deal with the crowd. One positive at least. Sunday will be more clouds that might help Novak.

 

[moonballs]

Some posters on this forum apparently never played any grass sport in their lifes. They are playing on grass with a tennis shoe with minimal rubber protuberances on the bottom of that shoe.

Also the grass is cut really short on Wimbledon.

You can slip playing football with these things:

under your shoes, let alone a tennis shoe...

Wimbledon was not build for long rallies and baseline play only. They need to improve that grass because as time passes players get more fast, agile and they'll maintain even longer rallies on grass.

Either they improve the grass or use faster balls, so S&V can return to Wimbledon.

Sounds like faster balls is the way to go. Is synthetic grass even an option ?

 

[Warmaster]

People are being too hard on Dimitrov here. Yes, he wasn't the strongest mentally but Djokovic did play well in the tiebreaks.

Just look at the progress he's made this year. He's become a legit top 10 player now and still has potential to improve.

If anything, this Wimbledon proved he'll be a future slam winner.


What annoys me the most is Djokovic reaching the Wimbledon with passive tennis. We all know he's got the tools to take the ball early and play agressive tennis. Why doesn't he use them?

 

[swordtennis]

The courts "evolving" is just another word for homogenization.

The players need to be able to adjust their play to suit grass. That's the whole point of having different surfaces. Nadal did a magnificent job of this in the late 2000s which is why he has a couple of Wimbledons despite clay being his favorite surface.

Well I was not talking about that. We have enought of that "evolution" They need to make them so you have to use more net game. More traffic up in the court.

And I think is also might be a ball issue as well.

 

[maxrenn]

LOL.

Lol! This is excellent

 

[Chico]

Chico, emerge from behind the sofa, your man is through!!!!

Tell us why it will be walk in the park for Djoko in the Final?

If Djoko looses this Wimby Final, he might never recover

Hi Novak won as expected. It was not pretty, but he did what he needed to do. Still too many brainfarts. Will be good in the final.

Didn't watch most of the match actually, only conclusion of second and third set. Than had to leave. Busy day for me today. It was probably funny looking at me in the lineup cursing at the phone during the 4th set

 

[veroniquem]

Is Raonic that different from Ivanisevic in 1993?

Sorry mate but Raonic is nowhere near Ivani's level on grass so far. I wouldn't mind it changing... about right now :twisted:

 

[Deleted member 512391]

Fed played better than now in 2012. He is even slower and weaker and more inconsistent and with more mental lapses now. I don't have a good feeling for the final if Fed even gets there. On the plus side Novak will finally get his number 1 back when he wins so that's awesome!

I am not denying that it would be a great achievement for Djokovic to get to No. 1, but watching his movement this year on grass, he should be happy with even reaching the final.
On the other hand, Federer is moving much better on grass than Djokovic and has that slice/forehand combination that kills Djokovic on such a surfaces. Anyway, Fed is my favorite for the final, if he reaches it.

 

[Chico]

Fed played better than now in 2012. He is even slower and weaker and more inconsistent and with more mental lapses now. I don't have a good feeling for the final if Fed even gets there. On the plus side Novak will finally get his number 1 back when he wins so that's awesome!

I agree. I think this is Novak's final to lose. Regardless of the opponent.

 

[veroniquem]

I am not denying that it would be a great achievement for Djokovic to get to No. 1, but watching his movement this year on grass, he should be happy with even reaching the final.
.

3rd time happy. Not bad for a guy who used to lose to Safin on grass!

 

[cucio]

LOL! Or even played catch with a ball.

I'll see that and raise you a "or held any cylindrical object in their hands".

 

[TMF]

I agree. I think this is Novak's final to lose. Regardless of the opponent.

They would be playing in the 5th set now had dimitrov not choked in the 4 set tie-breaker.

 

[borg number one]

Dimitrov has clearly improved, having now challenged Nadal at the Australian Open and now Djokovic on Centre Court. He'll be even more dangerous at the U.S. Open. It's nice that he's realizing his potential. It typically takes a few big matches before a young star wins that big match at a major. Meanwhile, Djokovic will need to play better in the final no matter who he plays if he is to end his drought at the majors. Winning Wimbledon would be a splendid way to do that! The match was really sloppy though, with flashes of brilliance. In the case of these two players, they're both very fast, yet both are not great movers on this surface. Great grass court footwork requires all those small steps and also getting down low for shots quickly. When a player is sliding on grass courts excessively, it indicates bad footwork. Dimitrov was lunging, sliding and falling way too much. Even Djokovic slides too much out there, unlike Federer, Murray, or even Nadal in his best years at Wimbledon.

 

[Chico]

They would be playing in the 5th set now had dimitrov not choked in the 4 set tie-breaker.

It would be Wawrinka playing in the SF now vs Raonic had he not been sick in the QF.
The same logic as yours.

 

[reaper]

Why on Earth would Raonic not have nailed Federer to the back fence on that simple forehand on the last point of the 4th game? Fed just stood there...he was perfectly entitled to absolutely drill him

 

[andrewski]

Wimbledon was not build for long rallies and baseline play only. They need to improve that grass because as time passes players get more fast, agile and they'll maintain even longer rallies on grass.

Either they improve the grass or use faster balls, so S&V can return to Wimbledon.

I never played tennis on real grass, but:

Does Federer lose footing on grass, even in this condition?

If not than it is an issue of having correct movement for the surface, like sliding for clay.

Can anything be done about it?

I mean, is there "artificial grass" out there which would maintain the quality but played like real grass?

 

[reaper]

Why on Earth would Raonic not have nailed Federer to the back fence on that simple forehand on the last point of the 4th game? Fed just stood there...he was perfectly entitled to absolutely drill him

Wrong thread!

 

[newpball]

Great match, Djokovic ready for the title.

:grin:

 

[andrewski]

I'll see that and raise you a "or held any cylindrical object in their hands".

I am not sure about this.

All blokes and most women definitely held cylindrical object in their hands

I mean water bottles, of course

 

[andrewski]

I don't know what to think, if Dimitrov cannot beat this version of Djokovic, who is as comfortable on grass as Bamby on ice, then I doubt he has enough in himself to be a champion.
Yeah, his first Major SF, he just dismantled defending champion in previous round, but man...he wasn't playing Federer today. Not to mention the choking. I'm very disappointed.

Novak stayed calm in the end and won the match, but with this game he is going to be destroyed if Fed reaches the final. He played much better against Fed in 2012 SF and still lost.

Well, maybe, but:

Federer is older than in 2012, so it is not given.

Dimi is 23 and old guard is close to retiring (or declining further) in 2-3 years time.

If Murray won at 27, why not Dimi?

There are not that many good players coming up and Dimi looks the best apart from Raonic (unfortunately)

 

[Deleted member 512391]

Well, maybe, but:

Federer is older than in 2012, so it is not given.

Dimi is 23 and old guard is close to retiring (or declining further) in 2-3 years time.

If Murray won at 27, why not Dimi?

There are not that many good players coming up and Dimi looks the best apart from Raonic (unfortunately)

You are probably right, I was very disappointed with the way he lost some crucial points, so maybe I overreacted. But, the way he lost that 4th set against Djokovic and third set against Nadal at the AO...I don't know how many matches does he need to play against those guys in order to mature mentally.

 

[veroniquem]

You are probably right, I was very disappointed with the way he lost some crucial points, so maybe I overreacted. But, the way he lost that 4th set against Djokovic and third set against Nadal at the AO...I don't know how many matches does he need to play against those guys in order to mature mentally.

Rome wasn't built in 1 day. Djoko took years to improve vs Fedal. It takes time and patience and multiple crow eating before eventually getting there. The important thing is to keep those clashes at the top happening.

 

[Deleted member 512391]

Rome wasn't built in 1 day. Djoko took years to improve vs Fedal. It takes time and patience and multiple crow eating before eventually getting there. The important thing is to keep those clashes at the top happening.

I can see your point, but neither Djokovic nor Nadal played good in those matches. Yet, they both pulled them off.

And this is not his first time to choke. He did it last year against Djokovic and Murray (at Indian Wells and Miami, I believe) in the same manner.

I hope I am wrong.

 

[Midaso240]

I can see your point, but neither Djokovic nor Nadal played good in those matches. Yet, they both pulled them off.

And this is not his first time to choke. He did it last year against Djokovic and Murray (at Indian Wells and Miami, I believe) in the same manner.

I hope I am wrong.

This is to be expected,they are getting older,and it is a sure bet that they will not be at their best all the time like a few years ago...

 

[Gonzo_style]

positive thing is that Novak saved 3 SP

 

[Gonzo_style]

Not surprised with the end result (and Djoko is clearly lifting the trophy on Sunday, no matter who the opponent is), but feeling sorry for Dimi right now.

oh now that Nadal is out and Federear is in the final you're jinxing Djokovic :roll:

How pathetic.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

2014 Wimbledon 1/2 Novak Djokovic vs Grigor Dimitrov [FULL]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5cxiKokuBc
3 hrs

In Ukrainian