Wimbledon 2019 SF: Roger Federer [2] vs Rafael Nadal [3]

Who makes it to the Final?

  • Total voters
    279
Enga said:
Nadal used to attack those slices by circling around them a lot and hitting a inside out forehand. But Nadal's style changed to where he will often respond with a neutral shot or a slice. Nadal is still playing well but I don't think his knees really like those low slices.
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Definitely. Nadal also no longer has the movement necessary to be able to constantly hit that inside-out/inside-in forehand off of a slice. I mean, let's be real, he's probably the only guy in the Open Era who has been able to do it consistently... and actually create winners off of it. But eventually age and body wear-and-tear gets to you. For Federer, his forehand is a mere shadow of what it used to be. He hits it so loopy now. Again, hitting a stinging flatter-trajectory forehand over and over again requires superior movement so you can be in position to do it.

It was a great match, but both guys definitely showed their age and declining bodies/minds to each other. It certainly wasn't the epic level of 2008 (which will probably never be seen again, ever).
 
Martin J said:
Yep, totally agree. I think he recognized the bounce is pretty low this year and even a guy like Nadal, who probably handles these low backspin balls better than anyone (ever), would struggle. And he was right. Though I prefer the strategy he employed in AO, those TS BH winners were absolutely beautiful. :D
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funnily though, fed is arguably the 2nd best ever at handling/punishing slices with his FH. it rarely worked/works vs him either.
 
Sorry I missed an epic match thread Fed/Ned fans. Was able to catch the last game where Federer thought it'd be a grand idea to Djokosmash and also hit it to the side of RAFA on every point with the entire other side of the court open (Aka a passing shot winner for Eggvak 100/100 times).

Not too keen on his finals chances but eh, wasn't too keen on his chances today either.

RAFA still finished the job vanquishing Federer at RG. Federer has not finished the job. Only going to get harder from here.

Will give the full match a watch when I get home.

Also kudos to @abmk who has been resolute in Fred's level/capability all tournament.
 
abmk said:
funnily though, fed is arguably the 2nd best ever at handling/punishing slices with his FH. it rarely worked/works vs him either.
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Yeah, his incredible racquet head-speed helps him to impart enough topspin on the ball to counter even the best slices. I think he did that well against Nadal today, too.
 
seraphim7 said:
Yea fed has well and truly exorcised bis nadal ghosts. This is despite him having his age related inconsistencies during a match. I mean he shat the bed against Kevin ****ing anderson for crying out loud at match point and 2 sets up. Apart from the last game he wasn't tight at all the entire match. This fed could certainly give ultron a game imo. Novak himself isn't at his 2015 level.
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I followed this entire match on the Wimbledon app and this thread. (At work.) Fed wasn't tight in the second? I fully expected a Fed beat down after the second set.
 
mightyrick said:
But eventually age and body wear-and-tear gets to you. For Federer, his forehand is a mere shadow of what it used to be. He hits it so loopy now.
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Excellent points. This was actually the first match in a major where I think Nadal looked a bit old. His fans now will enter a new territory and one which Fed fans know so well: the decline in quality, stamina and shotmaking in their guy. Fed's FH is indeed a pale whisper of what it once was, but Nadal's decline in speed is very evident now. The older players also choke more (Fed 2014-15 Wimbledon, USO 2015). Nadal fans better get used to this because it's inevitable for them all.

Fed's BH absolutely held up today, his average speed on his one-handed BH was 3 MPH more than Nadal's two-handed BH. That alone is amazing.
 
Dolgopolov85 said:
I guess he needed the margin the new racquet gives him. Have my doubts it will work against Nole tho. Nole already hits flatter than Nadal, so the bigger racquet head simply slows down Fed's reactions. It works against Nadal because he is spinning it and ends up hitting it a little short vis a vis Nole. Fed was mentally in a great space today though, even more so than AO. Even when Nadal drew deep loopers at him, he tackled them patiently and turned the tables in the long rallies.
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Maybe for the final & Djoker, Fed should make a quick switch back to the st. vincent PS85 with the gut tension ramped up at Sampras levels also mixing in some Edberg kickserve/volleys. :D
 
joekapa said:
Well done to Fed. Showing the newer gen(Nadal etc) how it's done.

Nadal proving he is clay courter
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Yeah, too bad he could only make it to the semis, eh? Poor showing. FFS.
Even Fed knows he isn't, and mentions it in the last press conference.
 
This is the first time I've actually shed tears over a tennis match. It was partly sheer joy, but also knowing that this may possibly have been the last Fedal match-up we'll ever witness (aside from possible exhibitions in the future.) Theirs is the rare sort of rivalry that makes pro tennis more compelling. Even if Djoko ends up with more Slams or other accolades, I just don't see any rivalry with him ever having the same impact. I hope we see Fed vs Nadal again, but even if we don't, we've been damn lucky. The two of them are simply umbelleeble!!!
 
junior74 said:
Federer's game was really versatile today compared to Nadal's.
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I complained repeatedly during the match that Roger wasn't coming to net. But he won most of the long rallies and the big majority of rallies between 4-8 shots. Fed beat Nadal from the back of the court, pure and simple. Nadal must be frustrated as hell since you know he came in confident and fully expecting to win. Every other time these two play in slams, Nadal raises his level. Today he just didn't bring it when he needed to. Again, I say this is age and the pressure that comes with dwindling chances to win majors.
 
BeatlesFan said:
I complained repeatedly during the match that Roger wasn't coming to net. But he won most of the long rallies and the big majority of rallies between 4-8 shots. Fed beat Nadal from the back of the court, pure and simple. Nadal must be frustrated as hell since you know he came in confident and fully expecting to win. Every other time these two play in slams, Nadal raises his level. Today he just didn't bring it when he needed to. Again, I say this is age and the pressure that comes with dwindling chances to win majors.
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But he was. Only he didn't rush the net and it seemed wise.

I was talking about the variation of spin, variation in depth, angles, height etc. Such an advanced player.
 
BeatlesFan said:
I complained repeatedly during the match that Roger wasn't coming to net. But he won most of the long rallies and the big majority of rallies between 4-8 shots. Fed beat Nadal from the back of the court, pure and simple. Nadal must be frustrated as hell since you know he came in confident and fully expecting to win. Every other time these two play in slams, Nadal raises his level. Today he just didn't bring it when he needed to. Again, I say this is age and the pressure that comes with dwindling chances to win majors.
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I did think Rafa looked a bit slow today but no complaints....
 
DragonBlaze said:
Holy moly those last two games.

Anyone else think Federer was surprisingly reserved throughout the whole match. It almost feels like he didn't yell any come ons etc, on any of the big points he won.

Or did he and I just missed them because I was too busy fist pumping/yelling at my TV???
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No he was very calm and looked confident throughout all of the match. I noticed already early on, he didn't look intimidated at all. It wasn't always like this in the past. Those 5 victories in 2017 really helped his confidence.
 
Terry Tibbs said:
This reminds me of Wimby 2015 SF. Federer played one of the best matches if not the best match I have ever seen him play against Murray but sadly couldn't take the same level into the final. Really hope this doesn't happen again.
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That is the big question mark, if Roger could repeat today's performance he has a really good chance to win, if his service or backhand level drops then he will be in trouble
 
Gazelle said:
No he was very calm and looked confident throughout all of the match. I noticed already early on, he didn't look intimidated at all. It wasn't always like this in the past. Those 5 victories in 2017 really helped his confidence.
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There was a definite strategy. He never allowed Nadal to dictate with his forehand.
Nadal was always pinned to his backhand.

If only Nadal's serve wasn't that good today, fed would have run away with the whole thing much earlier
 
Federer and Del Potro said:
Sorry I missed an epic match thread Fed/Ned fans. Was able to catch the last game where Federer thought it'd be a grand idea to Djokosmash and also hit it to the side of RAFA on every point with the entire other side of the court open (Aka a passing shot winner for Eggvak 100/100 times).

Not too keen on his finals chances but eh, wasn't too keen on his chances today either.

RAFA still finished the job vanquishing Federer at RG. Federer has not finished the job. Only going to get harder from here.

Will give the full match a watch when I get home.

Also kudos to @abmk who has been resolute in Fred's level/capability all tournament.
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If only Fed could get Thiem/Anderson instead of Djokovic in the final. A bit unfair how he has to beat both Djokodal at nearly 38 to win this slam while Djokodal have had easy slam wins since USO last year.
 
BeatlesFan said:
Really? I thought he'd lose today but he played at his best level since Shanghai 2017. RBA won a set against Djoker, but you think Novak will "kill" him on Sunday?
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I mean going by Novak's serve stats at times and how well Federer is playing on return on this grass, I think Federer has a pretty good shot.

I have it 60:40 for Novak. A bit closer than the bookies have it.
 
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