Would Federer have beaten Djokovic today?
- Thread starter r2473
- Start date
zverev2018
Semi-Pro
I don’t think so. Djokovic didn’t do anything special today, but he was very fast and returning everything so he would have been a wall for Federer.
Service Ace
Hall of Fame
2017 Fed yes, 2018 Fed no.
Rafa's OCD
Semi-Pro
hard to say since Federer's been parked on his couch for the last 4 days
D
Deleted member 733170
Guest
What does Sureshs, our resident oracle, have to say about this?
jm1980
Talk Tennis Guru
However it won't stop some Fed fans from claiming he would have won easily
In this forum Fed wins all hypothetical matches
vex
Legend
No one returns serve from the couch like a Fed. Coucherer GOAT
Rafa's OCD
Semi-Pro
when Anderson was hitting faults late in the 3rd set and in the tiebreak, it made me miss those ultra classy Roger Federer fans who'd have been clapping in between serve attempts.
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
We would have seen a 5 setter. Anderson played spoilsport
BVSlam
Professional
His first with the bigger racquet? He played Djokovic in three slam finals with his bigger racquet, including two at Wimbledon. Fed lost all three.
duaneeo
Legend
Meant to say the first with the bigger racquet and post-slamidous.
Tennisanity
Legend
Prob not.
wangs78
Legend
The problem with Fed this year has been his movement. He is clearly slower than in year's past and I think he's more focused than ever on keeping points short so he just doesn't move as much as in the past. This is fine against most top players who are either (1) big servers but are slow or (2) defenders who have few offensive weapons. If he runs into a player who can defend relentlessly and attack as well he gets into trouble. Pretty simple. Without Djokovic and an in-form Nadal there is really no one who can take him down unless he suffers a dip in form, like he did against Anderson and Coric at Halle.
ibbi
G.O.A.T.
Well... Not on the evidence of everything we've seen since Halle. Roger looked truly old, it may have just been an off month, but for it to happen on his beloved grass is something. He hasn't fared well against Djokovic their last few meetings here, some people will say he's better now than he was then, some people might say Djokovic is surely not what he was then, but... I mean it'd have been closer than this and last years final 
duaneeo
Legend
Because of his QF Wimbledon loss, many seem to have forgotten that Federer played like gangbusters in his first 4 matches...winning in straight sets and facing a total of 4 break points.
jm1980
Talk Tennis Guru
We haven't forgotten he played Lajovic, Lacko, Struff, and Mannarino
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
Until the 3rd set of the Quarters at least, I thought Roger was playing closer to his 2015 Wimbledon form than Novak was. Novak won that day, but it was still rather close. Would've given 2018 Fed the very slight edge.Well... Not on the evidence of everything we've seen since Halle. Roger looked truly old, it may have just been an off month, but for it to happen on his beloved grass is something. He hasn't fared well against Djokovic their last few meetings here, some people will say he's better now than he was then, some people might say Djokovic is surely not what he was then, but... I mean it'd have been closer than this and last years final
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
Drubbing is harsh, though he probably would've lost. Debates like these are missing the point entirely, though. Federer has been much better than Djokovic on balance over the last 2 years and he's done better at every tournament both have played in since AO 2017 (with the obvious exception of this Wimbledon), resulting in 3 majors.
That's the important bit. It doesn't matter whether Federer would've hypothetically won or lost today.
ibbi
G.O.A.T.
It's true, he didn't even get taken to deuce the first few rounds, right? But he also wasn't playing anyone of note until he got to the quarters. He also didn't look good at all in Halle compared to his usual level, and the calibre of guys he was playing.
Mike Sams
G.O.A.T.
I think Djokovic would've pulled it out in possibly 5 sets. Federer seems to have periods of mental lapses in almost every big match in a Slam. The AO 2017 match against Nadal where 2 of those sets just went completely awol. And the 5 sets against Cilic where again, big drop in his game in several parts. Obviously he's gotten older so it's more difficult to keep sharp. Djokovic seems to be able to maintain his focus better over the long haul and doesn't have too many mental lapses.
Although at the US Open, I still think Federer can handle Djokovic if they meet in the SF. He really should be 5-0 against Djokovic in all 5 SF meetings at USO. And Federer's performance in the 2015 final against Djokovic was awful. He went I believe 4/23 in BPs in that match. And he was 1 point away from going up 5-3 in the third set at 1 set all. Even despite having brain farts in that match. Djokovic was very beatable that day. Federer couldn't pull the trigger.
Although at the US Open, I still think Federer can handle Djokovic if they meet in the SF. He really should be 5-0 against Djokovic in all 5 SF meetings at USO. And Federer's performance in the 2015 final against Djokovic was awful. He went I believe 4/23 in BPs in that match. And he was 1 point away from going up 5-3 in the third set at 1 set all. Even despite having brain farts in that match. Djokovic was very beatable that day. Federer couldn't pull the trigger.
Raining hopes
Hall of Fame
Any Fraud post 2012 can not handle baseline pressure,except early 2017 one.2017 WB Fraud wasn't tested that way but I don't think he still had the AO form.And no one who can not withstand the baseline pressure can beat Novak playing beat his best.
2009,2012 are at least the versions required to stop this Novak
2005-07 would be required for 100% win
2009,2012 are at least the versions required to stop this Novak
2005-07 would be required for 100% win
Raining hopes
Hall of Fame
Novak would have straight setted Ralph if he had taken the b.ps in second.
newpball
Legend
O
OhYes
Guest
Tired ailing Anderson somehow got his strength back in 3rd set and performed better than at the beginning of the match when he was "most tired" ? WTF ?
wangs78
Legend
In hindsight, I'm glad Fed did not make the final. Given his form, had he struggled to a 5-set win against Anderson and then played the same way in the final, he would almost surely lose against Novak. It's quite possible he would raise his game for the occasion, but more than likely lose again in a heartbreaking 5th set.
But who knows, maybe we will see this match up at the USO. I think this is the first time we have Roger, Rafa and Nole each holding 1 Slam apiece before the final Slam of the year, right? Who is going end the year ahead of the other two? Pretty neat storyline. Would have expected it to be Nole with AO, Rafa with RG and Fed with Wimby though.
duaneeo
Legend
Tired ailing Anderson somehow got his strength back in 3rd set and performed better than at the beginning of the match when he was "most tired" ?
Oh, that never happens.
And in that 3rd set, Djokovic got very antsy once he found himself in an actual battle. Imagine him facing Federer and an overly enthusiastic biased crowd. 2015 Nole could handle it, but 2018 Nole? I think not.
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
2018 Fed? No way. 2017 Fed? Yes
O
OhYes
Guest
Lets not speculate please what would happen if.Oh, that never happens.
And in that 3rd set, Djokovic got very antsy once he found himself in an actual battle. Imagine him facing Federer and an overly enthusiastic biased crowd. 2015 Nole could handle it, but 2018 Nole? I think not.
Anderson got into match and gained confidence that he didn't have in the beginning. That was all, tiredness was never issue.
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
Exactly what most here were doing once you left forum since Novak losses started piling and Fedal winning 6 consecutive majors
What were you doing during the dark period with all your GIF ?
Tennisgods
Hall of Fame
Absolutely. No point discussing, he didn’t make it and that’s that.
duaneeo
Legend
90% of the posts on this board are speculation. Why stop now?
newpball
Legend
O
OhYes
Guest
Because it is your word against mine. If Novak's behaviour from US Open final of 2015 doesn't show how calm he can be against everybody and everything, why would 2018 be so different ? He would have same opponent and same biased crowd.
Hard to say. After watching the third set today i was actually glad, because maybe Feds level isnt that bad after all? If Anderson could get one of those 4 (??) SP/BP, who knows what would happen in the 4. set? Anderson pushed Novak to 5 at W in Novaks prime, so he can be a threat on grass when the serve is on.
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