Wimbledon 2019 QF : Roger Federer (3) -SUI vs Kei Nishikori(8) -JAP

[mike danny]

I'm looking forward to Federer-Nadal (likely) on its own. I still think Novak wins the whole thing and basically nullifies the result of a Fedal SF though, so it will be one of those things better looked at in hindsight.

I already know Novak is winning. But at least Fed can get a consolation prize with a victory over Nadal.

 

[King No1e]

What you meant to say was:
“Nishikori win is better for @Sport ”

Nah @Sport will get a lot more satisfaction from having a new "25-15" bragging point

 

[mike danny]

Haha, Fed is taking Rafa to the woodshed on Friday. Just wait.

This is a slam, not Shanghai....

 

[ChaelAZ]

Couldn't catch the match , how did Fraud play ?

Good and did his job. Couldn't convert a lot of break points, but no pressure on his serve. Nish was decent so a good challenge for Fed.

 

[zagor]

This is a must win match for Fed. Like the AO 2017 final was.

Not really comparable scenarios, AO was actually a medium fast court and their forms/levels were similar. Fed's a much bigger underdog on Friday.

Fed would need an amazing serving day to have a shot.

Not to mention it was the final, this is not the match for the title unless RBA shocks the world and upsets Novak.

 

[Djokovic2011]

I'm looking forward to Federer-Nadal (likely) on its own. I still think Novak wins the whole thing and basically nullifies the result of a Fedal SF though, so it will be one of those things better looked at in hindsight.

I hope you're right Steve.

 

[stringertom]

Nishikori updates his record against the top guys to 2-5001

I miss 60’s Weed most at times like this.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

This place will be a beacon of respect and morality on friday that's for sure.

 

[mike danny]

Need? He is playing because he feels good doing so. I feel good watching him. No one is under any obligation to take into consideration the sick isotopes of the GOAT debate.

Well, there's a limit to how long people can claim Fed is better than Nadal. This match will be very important.

 

[Nadal_Django]

Haha, Fed is taking Rafa to the woodshed on Friday. Just wait.

No chance. Rafa in fairly comfortable 4 sets.

 

[Third Serve]

I miss 60’s Weed most at times like this.

That's another name for 90's Clay, correct?

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

I'm not nervous for Friday at all. Even if he wins he has Eggvak to deal with.

 

[mike danny]

Not really comparable scenarios, AO was actually a medium fast court and their forms/levels were similar. Fed's a much bigger underdog on Friday.

Fed would need an amazing serving day to have a shot.

Not to mention it was the final, this is not the match for the title unless RBA shocks the world and upsets Novak.

Fed can't afford 2 losses to his greatest rival on his best surface.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

I already know Novak is winning. But at least Fed can get a consolation prize with a victory over Nadal.

I wouldn’t give novak the trophy just yet.

 

[mike danny]

I'm not nervous for Friday at all. Even if he wins he has Eggvak to deal with.

Honestly, I care more about a win over Nadal than the title, because the latter is not happening.

 

[Steve0904]

I disagree profusely with the sentiment, and see it as a false equivalence.

It is a false equivalence. Nadal is a more dominant RG champion than Federer is at Wimbledon. And that's a positive for Nadal, no taking that away from him, but Fed's also the significantly older player. If this was a final I'd probably agree that he "needed" to beat Nadal ala AO 2017, but it's not, and Djokovic is still the favourite to win it all.

 

[Sarzy]

Congrats to Roger on 100 wins!

 

[RF-18]

I disagree profusely with the sentiment, and see it as a false equivalence.

What is there to disagree with? Federer has put himself in this spot to play Nadal, so obviously he wants to win. Why should he be excused and find reasons if he loses? Makes no sense. And as it especially is against Nadal, it's a big moment in their rivalry. It's Federers moment now to prove everyone.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Fed can't afford 2 losses to his greatest rival on his best surface.

Fedr is worth millions I think he can afford it

 

[George Turner]

That scoreline flattered Kei, he was struggling almost every service game.

Normally a player who wins 57% of the overall points will win in three easy sets.

 

[Keystoner]

Querrey is not done yet

How about now?

 

[mike danny]

I wouldn’t give novak the trophy just yet.

I would. This has been a tournament decided by the draw in its entirety.

 

[stringertom]

That's another name for 90's Clay, correct?

Yes, 60’s Weed was cheap, abundant and made you say lots of stupid things you regretted the next day.

 

[zagor]

Fed can't afford 2 losses to his greatest rival on his best surface.

Ehm, why not? Especially considering that this "surface" is not the one Fed won most of his Wimbledons on.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

I would. This has been a tournament decided by the draw in its entirety.

He has played nobody. You think the fed vs nadal match will go 5 sets? I don’t .

 

[mike danny]

It is a false equivalence. Nadal is a more dominant RG champion than Federer is at Wimbledon. And that's a positive for Nadal, no taking that away from him, but Fed's also the significantly older player. If this was a final I'd probably agree that he "needed" to beat Nadal ala AO 2017, but it's not, and Djokovic is still the favourite to win it all.

I'm not a H2H guy, but 11-3 would be too tough to swallow. Way too tough. There comes a time when you really can't argue Fed is the better player.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

Ehm, why not? Especially considering that this "surface" is not the one Fed won most of his Wimbledons on.

I don’t know. They haven’t met in 11 years on grass which is rare. All i know is that he can’t look bad on Friday.

 

[mike danny]

Ehm, why not? Especially considering that this "surface" is not the one Fed won most of his Wimbledons on.

Grass has always been slower, it's not news.

Fast court slams are gone and they are not coming back. Fed has to beat Nadal in a slam somewhere and grass really is the best place to do it.

And don't forget that Fed won Wimb on this slow grass in 2017, so he is more than capable of doing it.

 

[abmk]

Not really comparable scenarios, AO was actually a medium fast court and their forms/levels were similar. Fed's a much bigger underdog on Friday.

Fed would need an amazing serving day to have a shot.

Not to mention it was the final, this is not the match for the title unless RBA shocks the world and upsets Novak.

nah.
nadal was clearly better in his AO SF than fed was.
here, fed started off slowly in the 1st set (below par in 1st half of 1st set), but played well after that.

 

[stringertom]

Need? He is playing because he feels good doing so. I feel good watching him. No one is under any obligation to take into consideration the sick isotopes of the GOAT debate.

The grass this year is nowhere near “his favorite surface.” They are using a sundial instead of a radar gun to measure groundstrokes. AO is faster than this “grass.”

 

[BorisRogerFan]

How about now?

Pathetic slow green clay. Pretty much no aces by Querrey. This is a travesty of lawn tennis

 

[Big_Dangerous]

This is a slam, not Shanghai....

AO2017 was also a slam and look at how that turned out.

 

[zagor]

I'm not a H2H guy, but 11-3 would be too tough to swallow. Way too tough. There comes a time when you really can't argue Fed is the better player.

So Fed is somehow a worse player potentially because he didn't lose to Nishikori today?

 

[mike danny]

He has played nobody. You think the fed vs nadal match will go 5 sets? I don’t .

It won't be an easy match for either player. And if Fed wins, it will leave him battered 2012 Olympics final style.

 

[Tennisgods]

Fed can't afford 2 losses to his greatest rival on his best surface.

Oh come on Mike. Ignoring the elephant in the room that Fed should be retired by now. Fed can lose this match and only an idiot would think it affects his legacy.

Winning his 100th match at Wimbledon has already enhanced it.

 

[mike danny]

AO2017 was also a slam and look at how that turned out.

It still took him 5 sets.

No slam victories over Nadal are easy.

 

[Steve0904]

Trust me. That claim will only get thinner and thinner if Fed loses on Friday.

You're talking with your emotions again. I agree the match is important in a lot of ways, but the knee jerking is incredible. Just imagine a scenario where Federer keeps his slam lead, and his weeks at #1 lead etc etc.... now tell me which knowledgeable tennis fans are going to put unbelievable stock and overhype into "Nadal beating Federer twice on grass."



*Crickets*

 

[True Fanerer]

55/32 Winners/UE

43% return points won (5% higher than grass career)

Serve stats are down because of 1st set mostly.

Played great at the net. Just bad BP conversion.

Good match overall

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Honestly, I care more about a win over Nadal than the title, because the latter is not happening.

I'd much rather have the title than a win over Ned.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

It won't be an easy match for either player. And if Fed wins, it will leave him battered 2012 Olympics final style.

I don’t think I would give fed a chance. Nadal maybe a little more.

 

[-NN-]

It still took him 5 sets.

No slam victories over Nadal are easy.

When did you start watching tennis? February 2019?

 

[mike danny]

So Fed is somehow a worse player potentially because he didn't lose to Nishikori today?

No, but Fed has to beat Nadal in a slam at some point. He can't finish his career with a losing slam H2H literally everywhere, not just clay.

 

[BorisRogerFan]

Well, there's a limit to how long people can claim Fed is better than Nadal. This match will be very important.

Federer is and always will be miles better than that roughneck, the Rafaelito Humbalito.

Fed is the Everest of tennis players

 

[mike danny]

When did you start watching tennis? February 2019?

For Fed I mean. 2 of his wins were 5 setters.

 

[Rago]

I'd much rather have the title than a win over Ned.

Two men and a half capy...two and a half...oh wait..wrong forum.

 

[mike danny]

Oh come on Mike. Ignoring the elephant in the room that Fed should be retired by now. Fed can lose this match and only an idiot would think it affects his legacy.

Winning his 100th match at Wimbledon has already enhanced it.

Well, in my book, his legacy will suffer a dent. 3-11 slam H2H is just too much for someone who is labeled the GOAT.

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

It is a false equivalence. Nadal is a more dominant RG champion than Federer is at Wimbledon. And that's a positive for Nadal, no taking that away from him, but Fed's also the significantly older player. If this was a final I'd probably agree that he "needed" to beat Nadal ala AO 2017, but it's not, and Djokovic is still the favourite to win it all.

Agree, but to top it off, I find it hard to see a loss taking much if anything away from what a player has achieved. Tennis is a game of matchups, ultimately, and we have to dive into the muddy waters of weak eras to advocate much in the way of 'tarnishings' and you know what a can of worms that is.

 

[zagor]

Grass has always been slower, it's not news.

To this degree? Where big serves are getting returned left and right and when the pros and comentaros are nearly universally claiming the grass is ridiculously slow? I doubt it.

Fast court slams are gone and they are not coming back. Fed has to beat Nadal in a slam somewhere and grass really is the best place to do it.

And don't forget that Fed won Wimb on this slow grass in 2017, so he is more than capable of doing it.

Fed was in much better form in 2017 Wimbledon (and Nadal of course didn't make the date) and he was mostly facing guys who were disadvantaged by slow surface against him.

 

[King No1e]

Oh come on Mike. Ignoring the elephant in the room that Fed should be retired by now. Fed can lose this match and only an idiot would think it affects his legacy.

Winning his 100th match at Wimbledon has already enhanced it.

Imagine dissing Connors and downplaying his ATG status because he lost to Courier at USO91? That's the equivalent of using a Nadal victory to downplay Federer's legacy.

 

[mike danny]

You're talking with your emotions again. I agree the match is important in a lot of ways, but the knee jerking is incredible. Just imagine a scenario where Federer keeps his slam lead, and his weeks at #1 lead etc etc.... now tell me which knowledgeable tennis fans are going to put unbelievable stock and overhype into "Nadal beating Federer twice on grass."



*Crickets*

Well, Federer, IMO, is not going to keep his slam record. Djokodal aren't going anywhere for a few more years.