Will It Be Federer v Djokovic Monday In The US Open Finals? Saturday SF Picks And Pans

exciting – looking forward to the semis…

wanted to share ben rothberg’s piece on lines people. i think we often overlook them except when they are being berated or even threatened, but they do good work!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/25/sports/tennis/at-the-us-open-they-know-the-ins-and-outs.html?_r=1

September 5th, 2014 at 9:29 pm

“Berdych would have folded up and been content to collect up his quarterfinal prize money check and kiss his supermodel girlfriend. ”
Loved tha Sean. ;). And he did!
—-
Well based on Seans prediction, this is Novaks title. Don’t see Fed going through another grueling 5 setter and then muster up enough mettle to give Nole a fight.

September 5th, 2014 at 9:36 pm

Nishikori in 5. Federer in 4

September 5th, 2014 at 9:57 pm

I think that both matches can go either way, the margins are very, very small. Nishikori plays the way that troubles Nole, Nole doesn’t have problems with big hitters who hits the ball flat and take their time to hit it (Berdych, Delpo, Anderson …), but Nishikori takes the ball very early and hits flats which takes time from Nole since he usually plays from baseline.
As for Stan and Nishikori match, Nishikori well deserved to win but Stan didn’t play his best, if he was playing the way he played last year at USO or this year at AO he would win for sure.

Federer and Cilic, Cilic has the game to beat Federer, it is whether his head is ready for the win or not, that is where Goran Ivanisevic steps in, it is time for him to earn his money or Cilic is going to do Monfils and fold up at the end.

September 5th, 2014 at 10:08 pm

Both matches will be close.

Novak-Kei first:

Novak has a better serve, especially his second serve. Against Murray, being under pressure by Andy’s exceptional returns, he started to hit that second serve at 105 mph. Novak is also more aggressive when returning the second serve, and I think he will put a lot of pressure on Kei. Djokovic, also, changes the direction of his shots, the spin, the height, more often, and generally is a more versatile player.

Kei chances could lie in the heat and humidity. Novak doesn’t always play his best in those conditions, and the match is scheduled at noon. He will also be more relaxed in the long run, having almost nothing to lose.

I don’t see him hitting through Novak’s defence the way Andy did (that match, btw, was played at an excellent level), although his flat FH could be dangerous. Anyway, I think that Murray is a better player, and while playing under the radar for month, he was in great shape in NY and stretched Novak to the limits. I don’t think that Kei can do the same if Novak plays well, the way he played until now.

All in all, I think that Novak will win in three.

Roger-Marin:

This match, for me, is a big enigma. I watched both QF, and while Cilic seemed to be in great form, Roger looked very vulnerable against Gael, and probably would have lost that match had Monfils not been spent before the end of the third set already.

Then, the “intangibles” are unknown too — has Marin improved his mindset and mental resilience with his serve? Judging by his Wimbledon QF, no, he didn’t. Will Roger be nervous? Certainly. So, we’ll see.

The match-up, on the other side, is favourable for Federer: Marin is very vulnerable to pace changes, he hits mostly flat and needs predictable balls. He also struggles a bit with low bouncing balls, and he is much better in attack than in defence.

For Roger, the key will be to serve well, mix his shots in defence, and to be aggressive. For Marin, to be steady enough and not make too many UE (it is a common place: to quote Jattin, I should write that they have to win their serves).

I give a small edge to Roger, but this match is very open. I don’t see it go the distance: if Roger plays well, Marin will probably melt down. And if Roger doesn’t play well… he could lose in three. So the possible results here, for me, are Roger in three or four, or Marin in three.

September 5th, 2014 at 10:30 pm

WB:

Nishikori plays a lot like Ferrer. He has a better FH, but Ferrer has a simpler game of play. I think that he has better nerves, too.

Anyway, when you look at the stats in his match against Wawa, you see that Stan won 4 points more, having serve 10 times less. Wawa was too stressed, and made to many UE, although it is understandable, since he plays a very aggressive brand of tennis.

If Novak is in form, I don’t really see what Nishikori can do against him. But are all under the impression he left in his previous tournaments, when he played poorly, although we now see that Jo won Toronto, Monfils made the QF on the USO and pushed Federer to five (having pushed him to three in Cincy), Robredo lost against Wawrinka by the slightest of margins (he served for the first set, had two set points in the third on serve).

But I feel that Novak plays much better now.

September 5th, 2014 at 10:38 pm

If the Asian guy beats the Egg Lover, tennis is screwed.

September 5th, 2014 at 10:42 pm

mat4,

I don’t know how Nishikori handles hot and humid but I know that Nole doesn’t like it, even now. If you watched Kohlschreiber match, Nole’s eyes were glassy and he was very wobbly and it was only third set. From what I saw, saturday in NY will be stinking hot and humid and I don’t like it.

September 5th, 2014 at 10:45 pm

WB:

Some stats here:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/09/36/US-Open-SF-Djokovic-Nishikori-Preview.aspx

The problem is humidity, and I guess that Nishikori handles it a bit better. But Novak is an experienced player, and he will have to find a solution.

September 5th, 2014 at 10:52 pm

@Wogboy

I agree with you regarding Novak, I thought he was looking a little green around the gills as the match wore on. The humidity has been a killer the last few days….but I am sure they are prepared for it. The seasoned players know what they’re up against, well I’m sure they all do. Kei starts flexing his legs as the match gets longer. We will see!! . Should be very interesting, but picking da Joker!!

September 5th, 2014 at 10:58 pm

mat4,

Thanks for stats, they look good, just depends how they are going to look on saturday, that is what matters now:)

Interesting is that Nole has four Miami titles and overthere is hot and humid, I still remember when he beat Rafa in 2011. Rafa could hardly stand at the end of the match and Nole could still play, maybe the slow Miami court suits him better than fast NY court.

September 5th, 2014 at 11:08 pm

@Oki,

You are right, we have to wait and see.

September 5th, 2014 at 11:10 pm

“For Roger, the key will be to serve well, mix his shots in defence, and to be aggressive.”
This is the key. If this happens, there is no key fo Cilic. It won’t matter.
—
Nole should take this….but imo…..it does matter what “kei” shows up. Fresh and aggresive? Willing to play that way the whole match? If so, you’ll have Kei in the finals.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:12 am

I called it right when I put Novak over Andy in four and again I got spot on when I picked Cilic over Berdych. So, I am just turning out lucky with my predictions and just make my conjecture for the semis as well.

I think Novak should sail through Nishikori in three straight sets considering that Nishikori has exceeded his own expectations and has battled out in two consecutive five setters. I am sure that should taken a lot out of him and that stiffiness is not likely to give away irrespective of the amount of rest he managed.

As regards Roger Vs Cilic, I think Cilic is playing exceptional tennis in this tournament and to beat Berdych in straight sets is no mean feat especially when the later was playing well up till that point. I also thought Roger didn’t play a good match against Monfils and was making far too many UEs and to make it worse for him, it was a five setter. On the other hand, you have a fresh Cilic eager and raring to go to possibly achieve his first final in a major. Therefore, just let me go against conviction and stick my neck out and predict that Cilic would win this one in four tough sets. If he does make it, it would be a tremendous breakthrough for him and also lead to a psychological make over.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:18 am

This is the tournament for Novak to lose ? For a player who made 8 consecutive semi finals at flushing meadows, just one Champion hardware under his kitty is plain injustice. With no Rafa or may be Roger too (if my prediction comes out right), he should feel it easy and comfortable to pick his second hardware and that will make it 8 for him in total which would the pave the way for joining the list of legends like Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Rosewall etc. Let us hope Novak takes advantage of the tremendous opportunity that he is gifted with and rise to the occasion by repeating his 2011 feat of winning the Wimbledon and US Open back to back.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:23 am

@Michael, Skeez:

Cilic deficiency is that he needs rhythm in the rallies. In IW, after the first set when the rolled over Novak, Novak started to mix more: he went for the corners, and used a variety of spin — a slice, then a very high ball with lot of topspin, and he mixed pace too. I was shocked — because the set ended 6/2 while I didn’t notice that Marin was doing anything wrong.

Compare this with the way Berdych plays against him: Berdych tends to play with the same pace the whole match. He throws a slice from time to time, but he is a bit too predictable.

And there is that serve: Roger usually makes enough returns against big servers. I didn’t watch the match in Cincy (a close affair, it seems), but I am certain that Roger has a good idea how to play against Marin.

I think that Fed is the one in charge (and luck, of course). If he serves well and is steady enough, I am sure that Marin will start missing a bit more, especially from the third set.

About Novak: I rewatched highlights from the Wawrinka/Nishikori and Murray/Djokovic matches. First, Kei won the match because he played the key points better. Overall, Stan won more points, despite serving less. Then, Stan is less able to counter on the run, something that often let Nishikori build his points, moving Stan from left to right.

He just won’t be able to do that against Novak, if Novak plays the way he played so far. I guess this match will have the physiognomy of the Djokovic-Ferrer matches. Perhaps four, probably three.

Just to say that, nevertheless, Nishikori and Cilic are excellent players, and surprises are quite possible.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:50 am

Nole has more and more a sense of entitlement lately and had a horrible mental game vs. Murray.

Men’s tennis has been weak lately with Nole at #1 and you are about to see why discipline wins out with champions. K is in better shape, has a way better mental game, has a better coach and is more hungry. The big backswing Nole has on his forehand at times is not ideal vs someone like K who can generate huge power with a small backswing.

As a Fed fan, I can tell you I would rather play a weak Nole than a strong K.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:05 am

I’m really hoping Federer wins tomorrow- but maybe the fatigue will get to him. I doubt heat will be an issue since he trains often in Dubai and has no trouble accustoming to the AO. And Cilic is a dangerous player (just as Monfils was in his USO form).

It’d be awesome if he got #18 here. Although I’m pulling more for him to clinch the Davis Cup and WTF!

September 6th, 2014 at 2:15 am

Mat4,

I am well aware that Roger is a completely different player compared to the likes of Berdych and Cilic will certainly have his hands full. Roger has the variety, slice, spin, coherent strategy and the right tactics to put Cilic in a tight corner. You also pertinently recalled that match against Novak in which Cilic struggled due to the change of tactics adopted by Novak in the third set which put him in a spot. But, despite all these, I am picking Cilic to win due to the form he has shown so far in this tournament playing some impeccable Tennis. His shot making has been truly a class act and I had the opportunity to witness some of his matches and was awestruck with the superior quality he showed in them. May be, he is blossoming at the right time and is fulfilling his potential. It is on this premise, I pick Cilic over Roger considering that the later was not at his best in the last match against Monfils and the match too went to five sets surely taking something out of him and at his age that might prove crucial to swing the fortunes in Cilic’s favour.

That said, still nothing is certain and only naive and foolish can discount Roger who has always stumped his critics and detractors with his superlative performance leaving them dumbstruck. Needless to say, I am his fan and not a detractor. For me, Roger has already fulfilled his destiny and etched his name in the Tennis manual of legends. He is already a shining diamond, which would only get polished with more victories to make it more glittering. Obviously the sheen in a diamond would never fade.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:31 am

Anyway, in 2014, it looks more and more like a shift at the top: while the top three are still battling with teeth and nails, they are not dominant the way they used to be: Rafa lost matches on clay, Novak on hard, Roger, while playing at a very reasonable level, lost also a few matches unexpectedly.

The strange thing is that player from different generations finally matured, perhaps under the “Wawrinka” effect: Stan, of course, but also Tsonga, Monfils (the oldest), then Cilic, Nishikori, Gulbis (a middle aged generation — they are 26 and 25 respectively), then a few younger — Dimitrov at 23, Raonic, and finally Kyrgios, Zverev.

While I believe that Rafa will be able to remain dominant on clay, I see a real shift next year already. Of course, I would like Novak to continue dominating the tour, but it looks more and more like an era is closing to his end.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:07 am

I want a new champion just like Australian open

September 6th, 2014 at 3:25 am

BTW, Roger is already second at the Race, behind Novak and in front of Rafa. He has excellent chances to finish at least second, just like Sean, here, predicted a few months ago.

Here are the stats for both semifinals:

http://asmarterplanet.com/gamechangers/blog/2014/09/2014-us-open-mens-semi-final-previews-by-the-numbers.html

September 6th, 2014 at 3:26 am

If there is an upset today there can be only one
I wma cheering for neishikori I have started liking him since he almost had beaten Nadal on clay

September 6th, 2014 at 3:28 am

I don’t understand “Nole, a weak champion”, nor “horrible mental game against Murray”.

Quite the contrary: I think that Novak is a greater champion that the number of won slams shows, and the Andy just played outstanding against him. I have rewatched most of the match, and it was better that I thought at first.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:30 am

Nole was hitting the balls hard at the ballboys and hitting his racket on the ground – what a big baby. He is lucky Del Potro got hurt twice and Janowicz never lived up to potential..yet

He is great, but come on now – compare him at #1 with his serve compared to other # 1’s – Sampras, Agassi, Lendl, Fed in his prime, Nadal – not even close.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:51 am

Think about it, Nole had hit twice as many winners as Rafa (who isn’t a hard court player unless juiced up) after 3 sets and still managed to lose the US Open finals vs Rafa lol.

He had the French Open won until he touched other side of net then gave in mentally. Nole is looking for a reason to find an excuse and he will find one in the semis or finals.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:56 am

Agassi wasn’t a big server, Nadal neither, and Lendl, while he had a good first serve, wasn’t at the level of Becker, Sampras, even Edberg.

On the other side, Novak’s results, especially if he manages to win one more slam at least, rank him among the top 5 players of the open era: 7 slams already (8th), slam finals 14 (8th), semifinals 24 (5th), match wins in slams 7th, WTF 3, masters 19 (4th)…

And he managed to win that much in the era of Federer and Nadal. In fact, his average opponent in slam final has won 10 slams.

The guy is already a legend, just like Federer and Nadal.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:03 am

I think it will be Federer in straights.

If someone out there can let me know how much time Federer has spent on court with the Monfils match and then the same for the Novak match against Murray, has to be around 3 hours and a little more than that – so I don’t think that the 5 setter against Monfils will be as drastic as some think.

I might be wrong, but Fed will go for a lot of variety in his strokes against cilic.

He is used to playing the tall guys and can return the serve well. Cilic serves similar to Karlovic. He has always been able to handle the big, powerful servers.

Good luck for the match.

Oki. Will you be watching? :)

September 6th, 2014 at 5:56 am

One thing really baffles me is the way Roger seems to be struggling with the wind so far in this tournament. He is one of the best wind player. There were so many matches where he came out better during Wind serving impeccable. One I could remember is the match against Soderling where he had one of the best serving days under extreme windy conditions.

Is it the change of racket where is not feeling the ball like he used to before is a question to ponder. Even his slice had very little bite and was one of the very rare days where he hit the slice to the net and also few ones away.

But looking through his results, Roger seems to have got his confidence back and could turn the match back anytime. This he has shown from the Dubai open where he came back from a set down against both Novak and Berdych. This had continued so far, so we cannot count Roger out no matter how much he is down in the scoreline.

Can his physique hold good is the only question. If it is, i would easily pick Roger against Cilic.

He could have easily closed Cilic out in 2 sets when he was up a break in Cincy (or Toronto). Roger played a poor game and lost control of the 2nd set.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:32 am

Problem with Fed is his ROS game has been erratic. Therefore, when he gets broken by good players, he is finding it difficult to get back in the set. He is very good with windy conditions, but there were two issues yesterday in NY. The wind was changing directions making it unpredictable. And Monfils has a big wing span and reach and was reading the Fed slower serves well forcing him to go big or go home. And he almost went home.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:51 am

Michael & Mat4: Nice to read your analysis.

September 6th, 2014 at 8:14 am

Why do you guys always play the age card with fed.getting very boring…

September 6th, 2014 at 9:42 am

@Madmax

Yes, I will be watching until I have to go to my Aunt’s 99th birthday party! I will make a brief appearance and hustle back home……can’t miss my tennis matches……Hope to see 5 setter TBs!

September 6th, 2014 at 10:20 am

Hi All,
As i commented earlier also. This US open is very important for Djokvic to be a part of GOAT debate. He almost there to win it. At Australian open he will be favourite and if Nadal genuinely injured then he will 70 percent chance of winning it.
(By the way, I think Nadal will return stronger and win WTF as he is practicing on indoor courts)
As the situation now, Djokovic is on his way to win US open. I think federer is doing fine in cincinnati and us open by showing that he is again becoming mentally stronger. He wins against monfills because he believe he can beat him even he was down two sets. Same belief he will have against cilic also but damn sure not against Nadal and Djokovic.
On the contrary Nadal and Djokovic always beleive they can beat federer, even if things are not going in their way.
For Djokovic to be part of GOAT debate, he needs to win all four slam at one go which he has great chance and then if he wins cincinnati, he will have a great resume to be part of debate.

September 6th, 2014 at 11:07 am

Novak and Fed are destined to meet in this finals.

Kei and Cilic will have to overcome Fate. It can be done, but requires exceptional focus, third-eye chakra, and cross-court slice.

Speaking of slice, that is Fed’s traditional game plan against giants, now with his net-attack game plan I expect a lot of slice approach shots.

September 6th, 2014 at 11:07 am

@madmax: good points. People are forgetting what Monfils said after the match: Federer is a great player because he can do everything. As you say, he’ll use all his variety to counter Cilic.

Cilic has limited mobility. Federer will keep the ball low and use his block returns, putting the ball in awkward spots that are hard for Cilic to get to. Federer can hit spots with his serve that Cilic can’t reach, and/or use the body serve, too.

Berdych is such a linear player that when his Plan A failed, he had no plan B. Federer has got Plan B, C, and D. He can S&V, slice, drop shot, change the pace of the rallies, everything.

A straight-sets victory is perfectly possible for Federer if he’s at his best, no matter how well Cilic is playing. If he’s not, then of course Cilic could win.

September 6th, 2014 at 11:08 am

The above was a fun thread to read; a lot of well thought out predictions and hopes with very little negative chirping about players. Also – it was nice to see no one say that Sean’s predictions in his article have “cursed” anyone.

All in all a fun morning read. Maybe there is hope for this site yet. 😊

September 6th, 2014 at 11:40 am

It is already hot, humid and horrible in NY. Lousy conditions for tennis. Only good point: not much wind

September 6th, 2014 at 11:42 am

gordon, perhaps you skimmed over t-dawg’s posts? ;)

September 6th, 2014 at 11:58 am

Fed has to absolutely win in 3. His best case scenario for a win here was for him to be fresh as a daisy for the final and for Novak to be bruised, battered and under par (let’s face it: we all knew it was going to be this final considering the inept field at the moment for a whole bunch of reasons) . Novak is playing average at best (he was way better in 2012 USO than this one for me) but he can raise his level. Crucially though: he’s only dropped one set in comparison to Fed who has dropped 3. And the more alarming thing for Fed is: he will not have faced a top 10 opponent Pre final and he’s had his struggles. Not surprising to be honest: Grand Slam events on HC and Clay are not a easy thing at all for a 33 year old and his body. It’s tough and demanding. My biggest fear? Fed gets past Cilic (he really ought with that h2h and matchup) but has little in the tank and gets pasted by Novak in the final. I fear a straight sets loss for him there since Novak could have done that to him at Wimby had he been mentally stable. And that was Fed’s turf. On a HC though I don’t see him cracking up like that at all. I’ll root for Fed but this Slam is firmly and certainly resting on the racquet and mental state (more than his game really) as we all know by now that Fed can play as well as he can but up against Novak or Nadal in a best of 5 @ 33 years old is as tough as it can be for him.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:00 pm

Predictions: it’s all in 3 from here on till the end: Novak over Kei in 3, Fed over Cilic in 3 and finally Novak over fed in 3. I actually think the women’s final will be more competitive. Going with gut feeling on these calls, lets see how the cookie actually crumbles in this one. Go Kei, Fed and Woz!

September 6th, 2014 at 12:04 pm

guys, put the age factor to rest now. If roger would have been that old, then he would have been out of the top 10 and would play micky mouse tournaments and wouldnt beat top 10 players.

he is an immense talent and lets appreciate it.

and to nole. a player who has lost 3 of the last four finals at the US open shows that he is
beatable.

it is a 50-50 match and not who is younger will win.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:05 pm

@Fedexpress: Fed’s talent needs no debating, but the field? It’s abysmal. Lets look at it Novak, Fed aside: Nadal- absent, Murray- a complete shadow of his former self, Wawrinka- with each passing event looking like a one slam wonder. Berdych, ferrer- another year and the same old tale with them. Raonic- this generations serve machine as one that seems to exist in every generation. Dimitrov- he could end up a Tsonga type: slam winning talent but a shaky mentality. He’s no longer a spring chicken and exactly how many MS finals has he played let alone GS finals? None. And that finally leaves Kei- love to bits, he’s the gutsiest of the young ones but his limitations are apparent for all to see. The reality is the field is actually quite abysmal. Why else was Novak called the Pre tourney favourite when the man himself openly blasted his performance Pre USO? And Fed: I root for him here but he’s essentially about to reach the final without facing a single top 10 player. His fault??of course not. But it does say something about the quality, flaky nature of the field. For me this Slam is telling: as good as the big boys are the rest of the field and the talent coming through are just quite poor and underwhelming.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:18 pm

some are debating like they play pro tennis themselves and sound like that becoming a top player is very easy.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:24 pm

we should all the players in the top 20 who can beaat any1 on a given day

and dont tell me nole is playing bad right now and nishikori didnt do nothing in this game

kei is up a break because he deserves it. nothing more and nothing less

September 6th, 2014 at 12:42 pm

Kei already broke Djoko twice. He is going for his returns as he knows he has to fonish points as fast as possible.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:42 pm

did nole had a nose operation in order to help to breath better?

September 6th, 2014 at 12:45 pm

5-3 nishikori

September 6th, 2014 at 12:45 pm

Wow, if he keeps this level he can go all the way. 2 points from first set but Djoko is resilient in this situations and usually raises his game.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:47 pm

Djoko did this part after an ace and an excelent serve, forcing Kei to serve for the set, which is always tense.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:48 pm

And he takes the first set. Didn’t saw that coming.

Curious for second set if Kei will continue attacking second serve and if Djoko will be more agressive.

September 6th, 2014 at 12:53 pm

I am one third of the way on my prediction. Go Nish

September 6th, 2014 at 12:54 pm

Nishikori not really playing well. Nole should win this and the next 1000 matches easily.. why trying to beat him..why showing up in the finals anyway..go nole soon to be 123 gs winner

September 6th, 2014 at 1:15 pm

hear on twitter that heavy rain is expected

nishi and nole will finish their many though

fed and cilic wont. what a farce.

if rain is expected then play also on lance armstrong

sometimes i wanna slap each of the organzation team

September 6th, 2014 at 1:17 pm

Storms after 5 pm expected. Fed hates Lance Armstrong stadium

September 6th, 2014 at 1:19 pm

but he would hate to have no rest day before the final

September 6th, 2014 at 1:22 pm

Kei fading out in heat

September 6th, 2014 at 1:22 pm

Djokovic two breaks up in the second. Normal service has been resumed.

September 6th, 2014 at 1:22 pm

Gusty southwest wind ahead of cold front creating havoc.

September 6th, 2014 at 1:27 pm

@FedExpress 12:24

I posed a question once asking how many posters on TX had ever played at the pro level…never got an answer so I assume none…..and you are right, there are some on here who have all the answers and act as if it’s a simple matter being at the top of the
the rankings……NOT!

September 6th, 2014 at 1:29 pm

Love the Lance Armstrong stadium comment! C’mon Kei!

September 6th, 2014 at 1:38 pm

The interesting thing about the match up with Federe and Cilic is that Cilic is definitely the in form player. Twice in the last 3 rounds Federe has started the match very poorly but figured out a way as the match wore on. The irony is that Cilic’s “A” game is the strongest of all of Federer’s opponents so far, but he by far the most one-dimensional. So he’s more likely to win in 3 straight sets, but less likely to adjust to Federe’s adjustments if he starts out strong. So in my view it’s either Cilic in 3 or Federe in 4 or 5. They played in 2011 and Cilic won the first, but as the match wore on Federer started to attack his flanks (so to speak) and stopped trying to out bit his bigger and stronger opponent. I have a feeling the same will happen here.

With Djokovic and Nishikori the match could be a real dog fight. Of all the young guns Dimitrov and Nishikori have the best hand eye coordination. But Nishikori has the added benefit of a beefed up serve and the ability to grind and defend. Unfortunately for Nishikori everything he does well Djokovic has an answer, so unless he’s playing poorly, Nishikori could do everything right technically and tactically and still lose. He can’t out hit him, he can’t out grind him, and he won’t get much help from his serve. To beat the Djoker on hard courts you have to win free points on serve and keep the points short – Nishikori can do neither.

I see Djokovic winning in straight sets.

September 6th, 2014 at 1:42 pm

@Jane…….I skimmed over those posts too……I had to bite my fingers (instead of my lips) LOL to keep from retaliating……Good luck to Novak, he’s got this…..just a slow start, I suppose?? Had to miss the first set. I just don’t Kei winning this one!

September 6th, 2014 at 1:44 pm

^^^^^don’t see…..should say….

September 6th, 2014 at 1:45 pm

@MMT

watch the match first. kei already won the first set.so straight for nole wont work.

and why not fed in three???

and cilic won the second set against fed at us open

man. the so called experts

September 6th, 2014 at 1:53 pm

What a match so far. Love mens tennis.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:05 pm

come on nishi

show the the predictars how worth they are

September 6th, 2014 at 2:07 pm

Don’t see Fed in 3. Wish but…. no way. Not at 33.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:09 pm

Nishikori double-faults to drop serve at 5-3. Gonna be tough for him if he can’t break Djokovic right here.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:10 pm

Well . With no first serves it is going to be very difficult to close a set vs djoko…very dissapointing display there by Nishi. 3 unforced errors in that last game…nole is due!!! But he will survive as always

September 6th, 2014 at 2:10 pm

chin up kei,

make ur next chance

September 6th, 2014 at 2:10 pm

Wow, Novak is tough when he’s up against the ropes…He will usually break right back……

September 6th, 2014 at 2:10 pm

U are all id*ots with your constant age bullshit…pls shut the f…up 33 is not old.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:12 pm

@van orten

just ignore them.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:14 pm

Hahahha nole definitely the crowd favorite today …not

September 6th, 2014 at 2:15 pm

hahaha
that screaming

September 6th, 2014 at 2:16 pm

COME ON KEEEEEI !!

September 6th, 2014 at 2:17 pm

what a response from kei

September 6th, 2014 at 2:18 pm

Age is only a number. If Agassi could make Grand Slam finals at 35, Federer can win Grand Slam finals at 35.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:19 pm

@steve-o

preach that to others

they find it embarassing that a 33 year player can beat players in their prime. its against nature they think

September 6th, 2014 at 2:21 pm

Anyone understanding this bh errors by Nishi leading 4:0 in the breaker..could cost him

September 6th, 2014 at 2:25 pm

Nole far from his best though..df and now 2:5

September 6th, 2014 at 2:26 pm

Oh god nishikori..what a choke …impressive stuff

September 6th, 2014 at 2:28 pm

And Nishikori returns Djokovic’s double fault with one of his own. They’re on serve in tiebreak.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:28 pm

Guys, if age was not a factor players would be winning Grand Slams at will after 30. They don’t you can vount in two hands who did it. So if tou can acept the Fed at 33 os nt te same playee even tough good enought o beat most players you are in denial. This is not opinion, is fact.

Fed can even win this Slam, anything can happen but that 33 in tennis is senior years it is for anybody, Fed included.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:28 pm

7:6 Nishi…tense tense both players. Nishi with hear. Expecting nole to come back and win his next 1000 matches though
:)

September 6th, 2014 at 2:30 pm

Damm Nishikori won tiebreaker and leads 2-1. If Djoko wins ir will be in 5 and this can still go to five. If Nishi doesn’t win in 4 can he do a third straight top 6 victory?!

September 6th, 2014 at 2:31 pm

come on kei

to all the +++++++ haters who predict the sport

three straight sets for nole????????? in ur face

@daniel

nope it isnt. others player got better year by year. and fed is a force to be reckon with.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:31 pm

Put away that chest joker!
COME ON KEEEEEI !!!

September 6th, 2014 at 2:31 pm

As often, a microcosm of the match; Djokovic can’t handle the combination of pace, angles, and consistency that Nishikori is able to deliver. But then Nishikori chokes. Then Djokovic tightens up too. At least Nishikori pulled out the set, though it should have been at 6-4.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:33 pm

Novak in a funk now.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:38 pm

break for kei

come on hold ur serve

September 6th, 2014 at 2:39 pm

He’s going to break back next game or two though. Angry Djokovic always comes out to play after Depressed Djokovic.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:39 pm

another 5 setter if novak wants to win this…..

September 6th, 2014 at 2:40 pm

he had the chance kei but ….

September 6th, 2014 at 2:41 pm

Holy crap. Triple BP saved. Nishikori is amazing.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:42 pm

Just one more set for Nishikori to make it. Ca he pull it off? You can never count out Djokovic until the last ball is struck.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:43 pm

@Daniel:

‘anything can happen but that 33 in tennis is senior years it is for anybody, Fed included.’:

Thank you.

I had you down as an idol worshiping fan who was incapable of seeing it as it really is but clearly I was wrong.

My bad.

There is no point in my pointing out the blatantly obvious about Fed and how his age causes a hinderance to what he can do on a Tennis Court.

All i’ll do is ask a simple, straight forward to the ‘age is just a number’ brigade yapping away so mightly here:

If Fed was due to face Nadal not Cilic, how many of you would be here truthfully yapping away that BS?

I’d wage close to none- despite the fact that Fed’s age and age difference would be lesser.

Heck:

Many ex and current pros even picked Novak ahead of Fed despite his poor form pre tourney. I won’t explain why since it’s clearly beyond the comprehension capacity for some of you. But again, i’ll ask you another question:

How many of you are right now rooting for Nishikori and why?

Is it because you love Kei (all of a sudden) or have a real FEAR for Fed facing Novak?

LOL, what a phony bunch!

September 6th, 2014 at 2:43 pm

@Brando – no matter how this match ends, perhaps you could enlighten us with Nishikori’s limitations; he being the gutsiest of this “abysmal field”.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:44 pm

what a plaayyyaaa

what a hold

September 6th, 2014 at 2:44 pm

Come on Kei just hold your serve and take the match!

September 6th, 2014 at 2:44 pm

@brando 2.0

kei plays amazing today. regardless of being a fed fan, he deserves the GS after so many nailbaiters

September 6th, 2014 at 2:45 pm

I may be proven right in prediction

September 6th, 2014 at 2:46 pm

Jane – I have taught myself to ignore the comments from the full throttle trolls. But you are right – those two comments were moronic inaccurate rants.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:46 pm

I’m rooting for Nishikori because this is an amazing display of tennis. Frankly I think Roger would have a better chance of beating Novak at this rate, so, no, that’s not my (our?) motivation.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:47 pm

By the by:

Is ANYONE not surprised at how so clearly pro Nishikori the crowd is in this match?

I am gobsmacked at how popular he seems to be and how anti- Novak the crowd is!

One guy even yelled yes when Novak lost a point in the TB- i think when he double faulted!

Vey surprising and revealing regarding Nova’s popularity!

September 6th, 2014 at 2:47 pm

Djokovic in real trouble

September 6th, 2014 at 2:48 pm

@brando 2.0

forgot the roddick-nole incident

September 6th, 2014 at 2:48 pm

@Fedexpress:

What incident?

September 6th, 2014 at 2:50 pm

Djokovic is waiting Nishi to miss as he did with Murray for first two sets. He will have to be more agressive if he wants to revert this score.

If course he will always have a chance if Kei is to serve for the match abd the most importanti point in his career. He can feel the pressure.

But right now, 3 games away from finals!

September 6th, 2014 at 2:50 pm

Of course the crowd is for Nishikori, because (a) Djokovic is unpopular (especially in New York), and (b) everyone likes new blood — another Djokovic GS final? Yawn. NISHIKORI in the final? Awesome.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:51 pm

Brando I ink you got me wrong. I do have the “qualitys” of a Fed idol worship. Ut I like tennis the most. Watched and cheer pre Fed (Guga, Sampras, Agassi and Safin), cheer Fed now, together with Djoko and will cheer others in the future. This doesn’t change how I few regarding Fed’s game and achievements.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:53 pm

@Eric:

Maybe. But:

A. Why is he so unpopular? I don’t get that sorry.

B. Another Djokovic final? I get that. But:

Would the crowd disrespect/ root against Federer or Nadal like this?

IMHO:

No. And both those guys have been in way more Slam finals than Novak has.

I think it could be a popularity thing but I do not know why he’s disliked as he seems to be.

It’s only my opinion but:

I got the feeling in the Murray v Novak match that most New Yorkers actually like Muzza more.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:57 pm

2 more games. Can he do it?!

September 6th, 2014 at 2:57 pm

it seems we might have a new US open finalist

September 6th, 2014 at 2:59 pm

Djokovic start serving better and is holding at ease. Basically now it is on Nishi head and racquet. But few he has to do it in 4. Can’t see him winning if it goes to five.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:59 pm

As someone else mentioned, obviously, you don’t remember what Djokovic was like as a player earlier in his career, when he took a thousand medical time outs every match and got in snotty fights with Roddick at the US Open. Obviously New Yorkers are prone to disliking him.

September 6th, 2014 at 2:59 pm

I’ve liked Nishikori since he won his first tournament a few years ago against James Blake in the final. I think of the young up-and-comers like Raonic, Dmitrov, etc. he’s got the most potential (though Dmitrov is probably more talented) and has the best mental game. The downside is that his body doesn’t always cooperate with him. But considering how many injuries he’s had this year alone, he has accomplished a heck of a lot in the last few months and it would be great to see him in a Grand Slam final. Also, there have been so few Asian male players so it’s nice to see that Nishikori’s success is groundbreaking in many ways.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:01 pm

Nishi wins this fed or cilic will have their hands full of work to do to beat this guy. It needs a very good performance to beat Nish when he is on

September 6th, 2014 at 3:01 pm

1 game away. Novak has to do his part and hold his serve to test Nishi’s nerves

September 6th, 2014 at 3:02 pm

ITs SIMPLE
Djoker is playing Federersque Today.

And Federer played Djokovic Yesterday.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:03 pm

Djokovic looks depressed again. He has a very small margin of error now for getting back into this match, if he even wants to– which, to judge from his body language, he might not.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:03 pm

2 points away. Djoko under pressure, 15-30.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:04 pm

0-15

come on nishi

September 6th, 2014 at 3:04 pm

Wow, think he will do this ga,e alone!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:04 pm

Saved one MP woth a greta T serve

September 6th, 2014 at 3:05 pm

Don’t feel too sad or disappointed nole fans..you cannot have them all.. and he won Wimby vs the master of grass in 5 ..so all fine

September 6th, 2014 at 3:06 pm

Wow!!

Jamie was right, Djoko nor Nadal would win US Open. Kkkkkkk

September 6th, 2014 at 3:06 pm

HAHA WOW. What a point, too! OH MAN. Now… let’s hope Cilic does not mount an equally successful insurrection.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:06 pm

For all the nay Sayers and Novak worship peers here; I got it right on the winner but even I do
ID not imagine in 4

September 6th, 2014 at 3:07 pm

slap urself who said this owuld be easy for nole

so deserved

kei, u can have the GS

September 6th, 2014 at 3:08 pm

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:08 pm

27 years are really old now

September 6th, 2014 at 3:09 pm

What a performance by Kei. Well done young man. You just need to win one more match. You can do it.
Come on Keeeeeei !!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:09 pm

And if the astrology is write Fed would be the winner on Monday. And Jamie said Fed or Wawa for the Open. Finding this amusing.

Now Fed most be pumped up for this. It’s finally his break: possibility to win a Slam without beating Nadal, Djoko or Murray and no top 10 in his way. He got take this chance. Cilic jhas 0 wins and Kei only one and has to feel the pressure eventually.

Also a huge let down for Djokovic, third staright year with inly 1 Slam, baby to come a lot of question marks for the future.

As for Fed, go for it with all you have!!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:09 pm

KEI YOU CRAZY *********************************** AND THEN WHEN ***************** AND THE NOVAK GOT *****************!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:09 pm

Guys, Federer needs to actually beat Cilic first. And the way he played against Monfils, that’s not a given.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:11 pm

Come on Cilic!

Go whup up a fury!

Fed will feel the pressure since it’s now or never:

Use that to your advantage and fight with the ninja spirit of Kei!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:12 pm

Stunning performance from Kei! So out of all the “young guns”, he is the first one to fight his way into a Grand Slam final – he is the real deal. Not good enough from Novak unfortunately.
Nishikori-Cilic final could even be on the cards (but I give Federer a better shot at reaching the final)

September 6th, 2014 at 3:12 pm

wow. nice win for kei. after seeing how he was so strong at the end of the match with wawrinka, i knew he had a chance.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:12 pm

@Jane……so sorry, I did not see this coming….I’m in shock and awe…… Kei is a nice young man. Novak just has not be the same since Wimby…..He acts like his hearts not in it when matches get more difficult.

@All Kei fans…..CONGRATULATIONS….He deserved it….played very well. I thought he went awAy in the second, but he hung in there for the “W”…..guess I will have to eat humble pie on the up and comers……at least where Kei is concerned!

Sorry to all Novak fans, a crushing loss….

September 6th, 2014 at 3:14 pm

great win for kei! he beat #5, 3, and 1. i hope he wins the title now. he played so well, so level-headed. he was the aggressor.

gutted for nole, but he just wasn’t the better player today. too passive on his shots. he needs to work on the forehand. for now, go be with jelena, and wait for the baby. maybe kiss the wimbledon trophy too. :) still love nole!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:15 pm

Kei woll move to number 8 garantee and can go to #5 above Ferrer if he wins the whole thing.

Indeed this years the young guns made their move: Gulbis RG, Dimi and Raonic in Wimby and Now Kei here, nbut he went a step further and now is in the finals with a real shot at winning. He is playing suberb HC tennis and this courts is buld for him.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:15 pm

Re Novak Djokovic:

– 2014 USO: Nishikori
– 2014 AO: Wawrinka

– 2013 Wimby: Murray
– 2012 USO: Murray

– 2010: Wimby: Berdych
– 2010 FO: Kohlschreiber

I’ll stop there.

It’s a complete LIE IF his fans say Fed and Rafa stopped him from winning more slams.

Fact is:

He’s had plenty chances and he’s flushed down the toilet a whole lot of them due to HIS own self!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:16 pm

Big congrats to Nishikori. Well deserved win, he wasn’t afraid to go for his shots, to be agressive and at the end he was rewarded. Big victory and well deserved victory. Good luck in the final.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:17 pm

I read somewhere that SUN is just rising in JAPAN

September 6th, 2014 at 3:18 pm

Now hoping my second prediction of Fed holds up

September 6th, 2014 at 3:18 pm

Tennis enter an umpredictable stage this year. Hope it continues next year. Even if they are inconsistant as was Wawa, Tso ga amd a few pher at least ot creates more oportunities. Feels like the end of the Big 4 era. Doubt we will ever see those 4 at the top of their ranking as and game simultaneously again. Change is good!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:18 pm

– 2007 USO Fed
– 2010 USO Rafa
– 2011 FO Fed
– 2012 FO Rafa
– 2013 FO Rafa
– 2013 USO Rafa
– 2014 FO Rafa

September 6th, 2014 at 3:19 pm

Đoko took med timeouts when he suffered from alergia to gluten. Not many mad timeouts since, at least not more than other players. I’m confident he never used medical TO just in order to distract opponent’s momentum. That being said, the crowd’s opinion of a player is not always fair. That and traditional rooting for the “underdog” on paper can lead to what is percepted as an inherited dislike for Novak.
Nishikori plays well, he beat Novak before, I feared it could happen again and it did.
Novak again proves that he cannot take advantage of opportunities that present him, ie. absence of Nadal etc. He had the tough draw, Murray and Nishikori, not really the same as Monfils and Čilić.
Now Federer has a chance of winning another GS, but it will be extremely tough for him to overcome Čilić and Nishikori back to back, considering their form at the moment.
The final match may very well be Čilić – Nishikori.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:19 pm

And that is the crucial difference between serial slam winners (Federer, Nadal, Sampras, Borg) and the rest:

When they have a chance- you bet your dollar that they will snatch it!

Novak just has not done that enough.

Just saying it like how I honestly see it:

He’s got the talent but he’s NEVER really been a ruthless, serial winner at Slams barring 2011.

His calm, mature fans will see some truth in what I say.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:19 pm

I think a lot of you might have forgot 6 years ago, when Nole defeated Roddick, who had been in the middle of an off court war of words. An ungracious winner in his interview after beating Roddick in the quarters, here was his on-court interview. Everyone loves a winner and Nole has really let this side of him show again, but New Yorkers have LNG memories.

http://youtu.be/jLkZ4GMBOHM

September 6th, 2014 at 3:20 pm

S$&@t rain arrive exactly when they were about to enter court.

Hope to be a quick storm.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:20 pm

this is not good for andy’s ranking or chances of reaching wtf though.

okie, sweet post. thanks. it’s okay. i kind of had a hunch kei would win.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:21 pm

‘Novak again proves that he cannot take advantage of opportunities that present him, ie. absence of Nadal etc.’:

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I am glad for a Novak fan to say it rather than I.

I’ll stop here:

Since clearly his apologists, idol worshiping, blinkers wearing fans will make more excuses for him.

Ultimately:

Deep, deep down they KNOW Novak has let ANOTHER GRAND SLAM slip by so easily!

Sayonara in the spirit of Kei! :-)

September 6th, 2014 at 3:22 pm

It’s raining. Federer and Cilic may have to play tomorrow.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:24 pm

I am dissapointed with this result because i as a tennis fan really wanted, Djokovic should get his due as a great champion and entertainer which many of you will say he is getting but it is not the case as we can see the ny crowd reaction towards him.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:25 pm

Pheeeeeww….the way kei is playing, I won’t be surprised if he lifts the silverware come Monday….no matter, who the guy he’s playing.

Congrats to Japan and fans…already nervous for fed..

September 6th, 2014 at 3:25 pm

@Jane

So sorry, Jane, did not see that coming….I’m very shocked. Hasn’t seemed the same since Wimby. Lots of excitement in his life right now. Maybe he is having trouble staying focused in the tougher matches.

Congratulations to Kei, a very deserving young man. He showed a lot of poise against the #1 player in the world…..kudos to him!

PS…..I guess Me I is the real deal!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:25 pm

Just wow Kei! Comgrats to him and Chang.
Great win.
Nole? All there is to say is 4/13 BP. I am sure is lookin at that stat when he reviews this match.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:26 pm

^^^^Should say KEI…..

September 6th, 2014 at 3:27 pm

geez, why all this hate for Djokovic? The guy’s already a legend. He’s reached like three quarters of the slam finals for the past 4+ seasons. Basically only Federer has ever been that consistent over a long period of time on every surface.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:27 pm

@Gordon:

Thanks for that. Actually forgot about that one!

Heck:

In the link you posted there is another video entitled:

Djokovic answers question as to why New Yorkers hate him!

Ouch!

He’s talented, is a all time legend (that was sealed in Feb 2012 for sure) but I think he’s not and probably never will be adored universally to the extent of Federer or Nadal.

Him getting disrespected like this was a bit of an eye opener considering the Roddick thing was many years ago now.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:27 pm

I am happy also, at last get a player from the current generation who can win grand slams. Otherwise people say 2003-2007 was the weakest era. But when 33 year old is reaching the final and only can be beaten by two players, we can understand the competitiveness of this era.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:29 pm

Today’s match was decided by Nishikori’s brilliant all court display. If he plays at this level for one more match he will win USO. To say Novak let slip a slam is a. Belittling the other three guys and b. Giving no credit to Kei. If Fed makes it through to finals, his chances are at best 55-45. If he plays like he did with Monfils, Kei will send him home

September 6th, 2014 at 3:29 pm

‘but it is not the case as we can see the ny crowd reaction towards him.’:

Like I said after seeing that today:

I agree.

It’s kinda rough on him but it seems to be the case.

He’s not a crowd draw like Fedal for sure though.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:29 pm

thank you eric. THANK YOU!

22 slam quarters in a row.
7 slams
7th all time for weeks at number 1 (just surpassed borg)

i think he’s done alright. :)

September 6th, 2014 at 3:30 pm

WOW! KEI! How brilliant was that! Am thrilled for him. He’s such a gr8 little player, and so dignified on court.
Huge sympathetic to jane and Wog Boy.
@Fed Express
Yep, it was kind of amusing looking back at the predictions that gave him no chance. But that’s the wonderful unpredictability of the sport sometimes.
Hey Hippy! Wherever you are! Hope you’re celebrating you’re such a big fan of Kei!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:30 pm

Damn I hate spell check – I meant Nole has not let this show again; for 6 years he has been a class act and a gentleman.

And to all who use the tired argument of – “If (choose one of Djokovic, Rafa or Fed) was not around then (choose one of Djokovic, Rafa or Fed) (would not have anywhere near OR would have way more) grand slam titles. – PLEASE give it a rest. Trying to enlighten or state facts using the word “if” really is a non-starter.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:32 pm

@vicky

whats ur problem if a 33 year old player reaches a GS? Is it forbidden? Is it embarrasing?

Respect and appreciate his immense talent and will to work harder. it has nothing to do with age.

he was born to be a tennis player and accidently to be a great one

there now weak era or strong era

only blablabla from so called experts

September 6th, 2014 at 3:33 pm

@Gordon:

Spot on actually.

I withdraw my earlier comment:

Novak clearly did not win more since he was obviously not good enough.

As he was not so today.

Period.

I’ll end the discussion there.

Well done Kei, ajde for the final you little ninja!

:-)

September 6th, 2014 at 3:34 pm

” for 6 years he has been a class act and a gentleman.”

huge hugs gordan, thanks. <3

September 6th, 2014 at 3:34 pm

* there is no weak era ….

September 6th, 2014 at 3:34 pm

Commiserations Jane, wog boy & Nole fans. Today wasn’t his greatest moment but credit to Kei – they were both wilting but he somehow managed to raise his level enough to get through. Nole had a glorious July and has a loving wife and new baby awaiting him. He’ll be fine.

Kei all the way now.

Also, *if* Federer beats Cilic and then Kei, I will expect tennis-x writers to give a prominent acknowledgement of the fact that Roger didn’t face a top 10 player along the way. I bet they’ll try to shut down talk of asterisks where he’s concered ;)

September 6th, 2014 at 3:34 pm

I told you all that Nole would NOT win the USO.

It was between Federer and Wawrinka.

updated 2015 predictions

AO Nole
RG Rafa wins his last slam
Wimbledon Murray
USO Murray

This was taken from Tennis Talk and some guy or gal called Janis.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:34 pm

Djokovic is not a serial winner, disliked by crowd, etc etc

so?? What’s the problem in that?

September 6th, 2014 at 3:35 pm

@jane
Sympathetic HUGS that was.
Not bothered about WTF tbh. Andy has never done well there and I’d rather he took some more time to get fully recovered.
And now I might see Kei :)

September 6th, 2014 at 3:35 pm

Novak has won seven slams including three in one year. He did not choke. His form post Wimby was subpar and he ran into the player of the tournament. Kind of like 2009 Fed and Delpo. No shame at all.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:36 pm

I’ve become a believer, wow. What a shot in the arm for tennis if Kei were to win this tournament. Absolutely amazing stuff.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:37 pm

cheers margot. i like kei a lot and today he just played better.

i guess the second semi will be in the evening?

September 6th, 2014 at 3:38 pm

@the DA

but i wont care. not his fault if the top 10 players cant beat the player who fed faced. they deserved their places and case closed

and monfils, cilic and nishi have top 10 potential btw

September 6th, 2014 at 3:38 pm

@Sirius:

Nothing.

BUT:

Recently Novak said- I am paraphrasing here- that:

‘I want to show that I belong with the absolute all time greats and win as many as them’.

He obviously was referring to Fedal and co in the elite tier.

He wants to be rated as highly as them and as loved as them.

That’s his ambition and a good one.

Hence:

NOT being a serial winner like them, getting dissed by the crowd etc maybe a problem no?

I kinda feel sorry for him since you can tell that he openly wants to be adored and loved like Fedal but he just isn’t.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:38 pm

@FedExpress

I am appreciating federer only. Its not the playing field, its the person who is make them look like weak. If Nadal was not great on clay from day one, don’t have the confidence that he owns the greatest player of all time, he will never able to do good thing on other surfaces.
Its all about the confidence. Today i feel bad by seeing djokovic play in fourth set, it was like surrendering. Other players do that but did not expect from djokovic

September 6th, 2014 at 3:41 pm

thanks the da. i agree with you and pitchaboy. kei was just on song. as i say, he beat #1, 3, and 5 already.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:41 pm

“I’ll end the discussion there.”

It wasn’t any discussion, you were talking to yourself. Showing the true colour of Nolehater as you are.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:43 pm

Historically winning Wimby and USO double is tough. Makes you appreciate Fed doing it for five consecutive years. One reason he is considered GOAT by some

September 6th, 2014 at 3:43 pm

Hands up those who want a Kei v Cilic final

September 6th, 2014 at 3:45 pm

That’s a great point, Jane. Nishikori should be the toast of the tournament regardless of what happens next!

If Federer does win (which I dare not begin to look for) we will definitely look at this as his lucky last gasp of GS success, I suspect. But he has also gotten quite unlucky several times in the past five seasons.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:46 pm

@Gordon, thanks for correction of your earlier post, I thought it wasn’t quite like you to post something like that.

@the DA, thanks. I sort of expected this result and for the first time in a long time I wasn’t nervous watching Nole’s match.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:48 pm

Unfortunate, I should say, perhaps.

Pitchaboy, since when is there such a thing as the “Wimby-USO double” — we talk about the FO/Wimby double because they are only a couple of weeks apart and occur on the most dissimilar pair of surfaces in tennis. In fact, recent history shows that the dominant player is often most successful at this “Wimby-USO double” (Fed, Sampras)…

September 6th, 2014 at 3:49 pm

“not his fault if the top 10 players cant beat the player who fed faced.”

Of course. I agree. We never heard the end of it at Wimbledon about ANdy not facing a top 20 player until the final. Just want to make certain fans aware of the potential for hypocrisy.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:50 pm

WB. Karma!

September 6th, 2014 at 3:52 pm

@SeanRandall, who is the most recent year-ending #1 that did not win one of the slams? Just thinking if Federer reaches US final & loses, has a red-hot indoor season, wins the World Tour Final.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:52 pm

Chang’s gamemanship has paid out against naive Balkan soul. Nishikori looked like Peng 2.0 or perhaps even more embarassing in third set, third game and then… he miraculously pulls out a Chang!

Roger, don’t fall for this in the final! Asia’s greatest hope can wait for a year or two, finish him off in 3 quick, 2007esque sets.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:55 pm

@eric

“lucky grasp”?!?!?

give the players fed faced some kind of respect.

a player who beat nole and is in the final was better than him and deserved to be in the final.period.

September 6th, 2014 at 3:56 pm

Um…yes, obviously, FedEx, but people are usually happy to agree that on paper it seems harder to beat (say), the world nos. 5, 3, 2, and 1 on the way to a title than to beat the world nos. 30, 15, and 11, or whatever. No disrespected implied at all.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:00 pm

The draw is what dictates who plays who. Perhaps some of you want it as in was in 1890 in England, where the winner of Wimbledon received a bye to the following years final.

You wanna win a Grand Slam event? Win 7 matches. If you don’t, you are not good enough. Period. The arguments covering time between matches, moving from night to day, the wind, the heat, the crowd, how the draw went, who wasn’t available to play due to injury, suspension, etc. are irrelevant.

In short – You win 7 matches, you da man! Nothing else matters.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:04 pm

Djokovic is a champion among champions. I don’t understand the motivation to attack him. It is certainly possible to create a list of players who have achieved things that he has not achieved, but among the examples given in that respect thus far, I don’t believe there’s one who doesn’t have the utmost respect for him as an athlete and a competitor.

So, I just spent awhile looking at various lists of top players of the open era, and I was only able to find one without Djokovic in the top 10 (and that was a list of 25 that did not include him at all but did include Andy Roddick). If, for example, Rod Laver calling Djokovic the 6th greatest of all time doesn’t suggest ‘elite tier’, I dunno…

September 6th, 2014 at 4:04 pm

Sampras won 7 Wimbys and 5 USO. Only in two years did he win them both. Fed did it for five consecutive years.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:05 pm

Stand corrected. Fed did it four times.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:06 pm

Kei is showing his potential whole of this year starting from a great match again nadal in fourth round of Australian open and here we all agree also he has great talent but worry about his injuries. Lets hope he will be healthy for final.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:06 pm

Winning any of the “doubles” is very tough. Federer’s winning Wimby and US consecutively four times is at least on par with Borg’s French and Wimby triple.

And if people feel like picking on champions draws, let’s scrutinize some of the ones Sampras got at Wimby.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:06 pm

@pitcha boy he did it for five years consecutively and reach the final on sixth time but lost to del potro.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:07 pm

Brando @3:38. I agree with your assessment of Djokovic about his desire to be loved and adored like Federer and Nadal. The more he tries, the more he fails and it even affects his game.

Maybe he should hire Lendl as coach. He could learn from him. Lendl was never favored by the media and the public but he didn’t care or managed to be stoic about it and just went ahead and played as well as he could. Now that he is retired, he seems to be getting the respect he so rightfully deserved. Novak seems destined to be like that, always in the shadow of Federer and Nadal but in the long run, he will get the love he so wanted. He has already achieved so much not to.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:08 pm

Eric,

There was always an Wimby USO double. It is prestige to win both of them in a row. RG- Wimby is different because they are close and distincotve surfaces.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:09 pm

autofilter “Djokovic is a champion among champions. I don’t understand the motivation to attack him.”

loved your post. i don’t get it either. just because he lost to a player who was playing great now it’s time to jump in and denigrate him and his achievements. weird.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:13 pm

and if Fed loses the final

stop the nonesense that it was his last real chance to win th GS

we heard it before WIM 2012 final. we heard it before WIM 2014 final anf after that.

as long as he plays there is no last real chance

September 6th, 2014 at 4:13 pm

Is it any wonder that Nadal/Djoko at 27/28 are being pushed around by young attacking players.. same thing happened to Roger, except it was young defensive players.. lets just see how well they cope up in the next few years with Roger still around playing his best tennis.. the discussion of other G.O.A.T contenders is utter rubbish that too by claiming a stupid head to head stat with someone 5yrs older..

September 6th, 2014 at 4:16 pm

Players are warming up now?

September 6th, 2014 at 4:19 pm

YES

September 6th, 2014 at 4:21 pm

A day of rest between semi and final would be the most beneficial thing for Federer. Crossing my fingers that he wins today.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:23 pm

H2H is not stupid, it is real, it is 23-10!!!

September 6th, 2014 at 4:27 pm

Weather is not looking good.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:31 pm

@Polo:

Thank you very much.

I am glad reasoned posters like you and some others can see what I am getting at.

It’s obvious, but hey:

If his sensitive fans want to call me hater about it then so be it.

I agree with you:

He’ll be Lendl- as I always considered him to be the modern equivalent of- in the sense that:

Yeah he was successful, yeah he had some respect but he never was really adored like others and actually existed in the shadow of other greater names.

Novak-unlike Lendl- is blatantly a guy who craves that affection, that standing. Yet as you said so though:

He pretty much exists in the shadow of Federer and Nadal.

And that’s not even a pot shot or hatred remark like his most ridiculously sensitive will accuse in a kneejerk fashion whenever someone dare point out a negative in their idol.

It’s just the naked reality of his existence on tour since 2007.

And it’s absolutely 100% spot on that it’s that way since ultimately:

17 (possibly 18?) and 14 always trump 7.

It’s that simple.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:33 pm

@Wog Boy:

True colours? Ah yes:

Like you as the abject troll BAD KNEES RULES. What goes around comes back around eh old sport?

LMFAO!

September 6th, 2014 at 4:36 pm

Cilic is in terrific striking mode. Hitting the ball really clean.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:36 pm

Damm, Fed was 40-0 and lost 5 points

September 6th, 2014 at 4:36 pm

Vintage fed 40:0 up only to get broken..ah why always the hard way with him

September 6th, 2014 at 4:37 pm

Oh no, Roger. oh no.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:37 pm

I never used to worry watching Federer play. Now, I’m just a bundle of nerves each time he plays. I need a Valium.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:39 pm

Cilic is reminding me of Del Potro a lot with his FH. Looks terrific so far.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:42 pm

Not really necessary to get broken when 40:0 was the score before. How many times did that happen in feds career? 1000 times for sure

September 6th, 2014 at 4:42 pm

Re the overly Djoker fans:

No one’s denigrating him due to his loss. Certainly not me. After all:

I called him a choker post his Wimbledon final win. Last I checked he actually won a Slam for the first time in a long time, and I called him that when he was on a high.

Presently I have refrained from such a remark even though it would have added credence after result don’t you think?

LOL:

I say what I think about him regardless whatever the result.

I called him a choker in Slam finals when he won at Wimby (stated why so) at that time when he was on a high. I stand by it.

I call him a player who has blown his chances at Slam wins beyond fedal encounters post this one and again I stand by it.

No denigration just a case of it is what it is:

A poster speaking his mind bluntly as he is entitled to do so.

Save the tears and cry foul for a more worthy cause as since the New York crowd showed:

Not everyone say’s ‘how high’ when Nole cries ‘jump’!

September 6th, 2014 at 4:42 pm

Polo, or a Xanax.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:42 pm

Cilic’s return are impecable. This was the way he recover the game he broke, with agressive returns. Same tatics Kei was using since Raonic matcn.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:45 pm

cilic often starts hot like this and then cools off. but he has been playing pretty well this year generally.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:47 pm

@4:36pm

You are still talking to yourself, that’s not good, you should seek help.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:48 pm

Fed will need another Houdini act, Colic is playing peRFect HC offensive tennis. And serving great as well.

Ag least Fed seems calm, he is the experienced one and knows how to wait fir his chance and oponent level to drop.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:48 pm

but weather is not good, it may rain and don’t think wearing tactics will work.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:49 pm

Nice, 2 straight aces by Fed.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:50 pm

Voki, they are playing fast. This set will end last than 30 min.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:51 pm

Is this Feds first day match?
—
Who woulda thought we may very well could see a Cilic vs. Kei final, and….that 2/4 Slams this year were won by players not in the top 5?

September 6th, 2014 at 4:52 pm

Will not be done in straights for fed…that break was crucial in that set. First sets vs cilic are usually tie breaks…

September 6th, 2014 at 4:52 pm

Amazing first set by Cilic. Don’t think he can sustain this level for long. Flawless.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:53 pm

Hahahahha fed playing excactly like vs Mongols the first set. Jesusssssssss

September 6th, 2014 at 4:53 pm

Fed in 3, of course losing

September 6th, 2014 at 4:57 pm

@Daniel, i was comparing this match with monfils match where it was a great chance of a win if match goes long but here it is not looking like the case.

September 6th, 2014 at 4:59 pm

@Jane – I think Cilic will keep it up. The question is whether Fed can problem-solve and come up with something to challenge Cilic.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:00 pm

A slam final without any of the Big Four? What is the world coming to?

September 6th, 2014 at 5:01 pm

Fed could very well go down in straights if he doesn’t change things up somehow. Cilic is hitting the ball very clean, and serving impeccable.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:02 pm

Nothing wrong with Roger’s game. His best shots have been coming back with amazing interest. He is not playing badly at all. Just that Cilic is playing at unbelievably high level.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:03 pm

Marin doing a Tomas against Roger here. As Roger said before the match, it is quite a bit on Marin’s racket and Marin is confirming Roger’s worst fears.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:03 pm

And there goes Federer. Against the wishes of the utterly fair and unbiased NY crowd.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:05 pm

possibly rz. i am not sure. he may expend too much energy too early. i’ve seen that before with him.

cilic pushed nole at the FO and wimbledon too. (indeed, he’s played well on all surfaces this year.) however he faded in their wimbledon semi and nole won the last 2 sets fairly handily.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:05 pm

What terrific tennis played by Kei to beat Novak. I thought the kind of shots he hit in the first set was unreal and Novak did not even do anything bad in the match, just like Roger is going down so far in the match.

These guys come out knowing that they cannot stay with the Top players and they need to take huge swing to get the job done. But to see them doing over 3-4 sets is amazing. Guys used to do it for a set or two max, then go down against steady Top players.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:07 pm

Roger was a bit casual on one or two points and that sealed his fate in the first set. The margin for error is absolutely miniscule against such powerful giants when they are on fire.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:08 pm

I’m summoning up all the defense mechanisms that my psyche can use to be able handle a Federer loss which seems forthcoming.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:10 pm

Fed needs to attack Cilic’s second serve. It’s far less potent than his first serve.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:10 pm

Fed being blown off court

September 6th, 2014 at 5:11 pm

One thing I know, Cilic is better than Monfils.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:12 pm

Marin is zoning like it’s 2010 (the AO especially). Roger’s serve is off.

Can you imagine the panic in the CBS offices right now? hehe

September 6th, 2014 at 5:12 pm

Longer rallies are slowing coming Roger’s way now. He needs to get the ball back and keep steady for 4-5 shots. He could get into advantage as the rallies go longer.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:13 pm

Fed oh Fed. C’mon. …looking grim though..

September 6th, 2014 at 5:13 pm

rogerafa: Roger hit a shot wide when he was at 40-0 in the first set to be broken for the first time. I thought he hit that lackadaisically. It has been rough sailing for him since then.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:14 pm

@ the DA: and the finals will be on Monday! I predict the lowest US Open rating ever.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:16 pm

Roger is playing horribly. Cilic is playing very well. Predictable so far. Roger needs to get back into it; and that includes knowing when to come to the net, and when not to, and what to do when he gets there…

September 6th, 2014 at 5:17 pm

Thank god he’s still serving well.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:18 pm

cilic is playing sublime tennis

how long can he sustain it? so far he isnt showing any kind of pressure

September 6th, 2014 at 5:18 pm

On the other hand, how cool will a Nishikori-Cilic final be?? I won’t who to support!

September 6th, 2014 at 5:18 pm

100 million people in japan will be watching no matter what happens.

the da, cilic was zoning like this in the other 2 slams this year; i was watching from behind the couch but i am pretty sure. ;)

September 6th, 2014 at 5:19 pm

This type of play from the goat disappoints the goat owner. I expect good things from my goat at all times (well not all times, but get the point).

September 6th, 2014 at 5:19 pm

@ Polo
I thought that S&V attempt in the same game was not needed either.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:20 pm

@the da ha ha I think you are right. CBS sports execs’s sweat glands are beginning to overcome their underarm deodorant.what is needed is a branding name amalgamation of the names of the two likely uso finalists. How about Cilikori? Is that as catchy as Fedal?

September 6th, 2014 at 5:20 pm

I’ll tell you how cool Eric. I feel cold about it already.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:21 pm

@ Eric

That will be very cool. Nothing against Marin but I’d love Kei to win the final.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:24 pm

Roger should ask for a drug test right now! :-)

September 6th, 2014 at 5:24 pm

this is hard to watch…

September 6th, 2014 at 5:25 pm

@Jane – True. But let’s not forget that Cilic once led an opponent 6-3 5-1 and ended up losing that match ;) Of course much depends on who the opponent was.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:26 pm

happens

cilic playing well, deserved the lead

another 0-2 comeback, maybe

September 6th, 2014 at 5:28 pm

It appears it will get over in a jiffy. Roger needs the rain gods to give him some respite.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:29 pm

The deterioration in Fed’s all court game is evident in last two matches. He is not able to hit from baseline with Monfils and Cilic. Not a chance he can do it with Kei

September 6th, 2014 at 5:30 pm

Roger…the idea is to get the ball OVER the net.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:30 pm

cilic thinks when kei can do then me too

cilic never lost from 2-0 up

September 6th, 2014 at 5:32 pm

Another great escape required, but lightning doesn’t strike twice.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:32 pm

The deconstruction of Federer.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:32 pm

lol eric. cilic’s hitting hard.

the da, yeah, with marin it’s not over until it’s over. too early still. could end up being like last match.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:33 pm

You can tell the part of Marin’s game which Goran has really improved. He served that out clinically. Hard to see Roger making a comeback again. At some point the 33 years has to catch up with you.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:33 pm

Game set and match colic…sometimes sloppy performances and lack of focus mist be punished. I am totally at ease with colic winning that way. It is not his fault . Simple as that

September 6th, 2014 at 5:33 pm

What a pasting this is turning out to be. Kei surprised me with that win against Novak and Marin has surprised me with his level although I thought he was the slight favorite going into the match based on current form.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:34 pm

Wow, cah he recovers again? Monfils we all know there is always a chance and Cilic used not to be the mental giant but he is surecompose today.

The fan in me wants Roger to win but I won’t mind a ball bashing striking final betwenn tow excelent HC players with Kei and Cilic going for it. Hope it goes fifth set tiebreak.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:34 pm

If I told you guys that in the first two sets Fed will serve at 67 pct. v Cilic 53pct., you would expect Fed up 2 sets to 0. Unbelievable thrashing with groundstrokes

September 6th, 2014 at 5:34 pm

Don’t see it happening. Frankly, I couldn’t believe Roger won last round after going down 0-2. Roger isn’t much better at winning from up 2-0 than down 0-2, I guess, so there is still some hope!

September 6th, 2014 at 5:34 pm

Fed needs a great start in the third, hopelly an early break so he can go more for his shots. Eventually Cilic has to have a mini slip, everybody does it.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:35 pm

A bit of a tangent but Gavin Rossdale looks terrible! And he usually looks pretty good. (Ok, now back to the regular tennis programming)

September 6th, 2014 at 5:38 pm

yikes. just checked in and saw the score. doubtful that fed can houdini twice in a row!

September 6th, 2014 at 5:39 pm

Yeah

September 6th, 2014 at 5:40 pm

Finally, a spark of life! But Cilic only needs to win one more set. I predict this will be too little, too late, as they say.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:40 pm

Lets be honest guys now if federer win also then he will not have enough gas in tank to win championship. Lets hope cilic win and we have a great final.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:41 pm

Game of inches…

September 6th, 2014 at 5:43 pm

hmmmm

fed fed fed

September 6th, 2014 at 5:43 pm

I don’t get why so passive at times when he loses the point anyway…hard to watch folks..but he is not playing well enough. Way too much ue and that vs cilic??? A guy he beat easily 5 times. Last time he had 6 no to end in two ok?!!!

September 6th, 2014 at 5:46 pm

Damm it he broke right back.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:46 pm

Matchpoints^

September 6th, 2014 at 5:47 pm

Again passiv when havin 15:30..man man man

September 6th, 2014 at 5:49 pm

Cilic is a ROBOT OF DESTRUCTION

September 6th, 2014 at 5:49 pm

I don’t understand how Cilic is playing this well. What is even happening? This is crazy.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:50 pm

at least he is serving well

rog had chances in both of cilic service to break, once he did

so good signs

September 6th, 2014 at 5:52 pm

Don’t write Roger off.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:54 pm

Yeah, this set, Roger has been playing marginally better than Cilic, I feel. But everything seems very fragile. Cilic is HAMMERING the ball. And getting to everything. There was a point in his service game there, where Roger nearly broke back again, that was just unreal! Back to watching now though.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:55 pm

again half chance

big serve

30-30

September 6th, 2014 at 5:55 pm

We don’t write him off..but imagine the pressure upon him . It d be fine if he lost now. Too much errors

September 6th, 2014 at 5:57 pm

This is it.

September 6th, 2014 at 5:59 pm

this is like David and Goliath, except Federer is David and Goliath is just going to stomp on him

September 6th, 2014 at 6:00 pm

Over. Damm never thought Cilic could play this well for so long he will finish Federer in 3 and with his serve I think he is slight favorite against Nishikori as well. He will win more free points and is smackimg returns. But of course, final of a Grand Slam who ever feels the pressure more will win it.

Can you imagine in 2 days a new player will win his first Major final?!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:03 pm

Fed is getting crushed today. This is making Simon and berdych look good in retrospect.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:03 pm

Federer has out served a Cilic and is losing in straight sets.unbelievable

September 6th, 2014 at 6:03 pm

This game is do pr dir for Fed.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:04 pm

Cilic has simply been awesome. What a great match by him.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:04 pm

Goran has to be a very happy camper ATM…..wow, Cilic looking very good……

September 6th, 2014 at 6:04 pm

Cilic is going to stomp all over Kei, I’m sorry to say, if he plays like this.

But yeah– it is also really nice to see the “younger” guys finally breaking on through.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:04 pm

Guys, this is actually happening. I’ve never seen Cilic so solid. A stone cold fox. Goran deserves plaudits.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:04 pm

@Eric – I don’t think so. Kei tends to zone and does really well in finals. I’d put my money on him in the final.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:05 pm

Impeccable serving by the big guy…..awesome!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:05 pm

You know CBS is thrilled that their very final US Open coverage looks like it will be Nishikori vs. Cilic.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:05 pm

Glad that Federer is losing contrary to NYC crowds wishes

September 6th, 2014 at 6:05 pm

I think if I hadn’t just watched this match I would have put my money on Nishikori too. They’re both insanely good baseliners, so, who knows.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:05 pm

Over. Never in my deepst thpughts could imagine that wewould be witnessing what we saw today. Two players on their best and peak beating two giants of the sport.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:06 pm

cilic will serve for it

and i think he will do it. deserved it

September 6th, 2014 at 6:06 pm

Moment of the truth for Cilic. Hope he feels the pressure.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:07 pm

Can the big guy deliver comfortably this next service game……with no nerves?? We will see….pressure can be a real bummer!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:08 pm

He got broken when again being 30:15 up…god so many chances today..he didnot take any

September 6th, 2014 at 6:08 pm

He opens with 2 aces.

Maybe Fed relaxed when knew he wouldn’t have to face Novak. LOL

September 6th, 2014 at 6:09 pm

3 straight aces.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:09 pm

@Daniel, it had to happen sooner or later. It will be an exciting final, a first time winner.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:09 pm

Marin showed glimpses of this level earlier in the year – at Indian Welles. Very happy for him and for Kei!!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:10 pm

WOW!!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:10 pm

Wow. Still want to bet on Kei? :)

September 6th, 2014 at 6:11 pm

Congrats to Cilic. Well played match by him for sure.

As a longtime Federer fan, I’m a little sad. I think that he will continue to play well over the next year but I don’t think #18 will come. I will keep hoping though.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:11 pm

I am amazed. Well deserved for this guys. Too bad for Fed. This was looking like a Slam made for him, not meant to be.

Onto new generation and a new Slams winner.

Who would have thought at the beggining of the year we would have 2 new Slam winners. Imagine what is in store for next year?!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:11 pm

@Eric – yes, I will still take Kei in the final.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:11 pm

Summary dismissal. No more slams for Fed. Door shut.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:11 pm

@Eric – but it will be fun to see which young gun comes out firing bigger.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:12 pm

Well, at least it’s a good story — the old guard upset, mighty young warriors, blah blah. Parallelism is nice. But still.. tough to watch Roger be so thoroughly bullied around the court like that. Back to the drawing board?

September 6th, 2014 at 6:12 pm

The day of the so called underdogs at the US Open.

Hope you’re happy NYC crowd. You wanted Novak out, now you got Federer out as well.

Great tennis, looking forward to Nishikori-Čilić final. My money is on Čilić, although Nishikori is by no means a lesser player in that match. It’s just that I think Čilić is on fire.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:12 pm

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a day!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:12 pm

Who saw that last service game coming? 3 aces? Something has changed in Cilic. Now it’s gotta be Kei all the way.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:12 pm

Most pathetic performance in a slam by fed in years. Wow do not have an explanation except the stars were not aligned today for fed. Should have done better though.completely failed on big points. But cilic took it to him ..feds winning days in slams are pretty much over when he can’t even beat nole on grass after winning first set and cilic on a fast hard court…but it is ok. No hard feelings at all.. pls no wars now. All is good ..bye for now..

September 6th, 2014 at 6:13 pm

Wow… Kei and Marin….the real deal :D

September 6th, 2014 at 6:13 pm

Also think Novak wraps the Year End #1 with this result. Can’t see Nadal winning more points than him and Fed even if he wins a title or two can’t see him recoverimg ground as well.

Now the batle for London is huge with a bunch of guys contending.

Hipe for a cracker of a final and by the way this two are playing I doubt they will feel the nerves.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:15 pm

never say never! there you go. and two youngish dudes make their breakthroughs. chang vs ivanisevic in the final. ;) goran’s expression was adorable when marin stepped up on those break points and then to serve for it. he looked more nervous than his protege.

part of me wonders if marin had a bit of a chip on his shoulder after the ban. he’s been playing like a tiger all year. could’ve been novak 3 times i can think of.

and i don’t think this says fed or nole are mentally weak or whatever. it says the field is even deepening as the other guys step up to their potentials and young guys break through. same as nick the kid beating nadal.

well marin vs kei! WOW! who knew! :)

September 6th, 2014 at 6:16 pm

Commiserations to the REAL and nice Fed fans:

Skeezer, Eric, Michael and a few others I am forgetting.

He lost today- so what?

He’s won plenty before!

He might not get 18? So what again? As if he has to prove anything right?

Nothing at all!

Be like Fed: still smiling at this result as he’s 33 and kicking it:

That’s a win in my books!

Chill and don’t be downbeat for too long:

The guy is all time sporting giant- he’s long been made good!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:16 pm

Happy that Cilic and Kei made through by beating the veterans. With the absence of Rafa, I should say that both Cilic and Kei made the best of their chances. Roger missed it. Yes he did. Like 2012, we are going to witness 4 different grandslam in a season!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:16 pm

@van orton – do you really believe that? It was in a semi against a red-hot opponent who has been in the top 10 and had some (if not a lot of) success and a bright future. If I had to pick out Fed’s worst performance in a slam, I could think of much worse matches, like last year’s second round match against Stakhovsky.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:17 pm

Well Fed fans I think we saw the beginning of the end. Straight sets? He was clearly tired from Thursday. I’m excited to see Kei and Cilic play on Monday. Finally, these young guys are breaking through!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:17 pm

The site is experiencing technical difficulties after the unexpected semifinals outcome :)

September 6th, 2014 at 6:17 pm

Federer got completely overpowered, manhandled. Didn’t put any much resistance. Not too often does he lose in this manner.

Cilic will be fresher and has the power edge, but he won’t be getting the same errors in the rallies from Nishi.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:18 pm

Cilic played one of the best offensive tennis played in recent times. last time i remember was the thrashing Nadal took against Del Po in the USO 2009 semis. Cilic was too good on the BH and his FH was solid too.

Great tennis to beat the champion. No shame.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:19 pm

@Brando 2.0 – I will agree with you in about an hour. I need to mourn for about 15 more minutes. :-)

September 6th, 2014 at 6:19 pm

Will it Federer or Djokovic to win the USO??
Neither…..what a turnaround. My prediction just shows our little I even know about tennis! These two semi finals were incredible, imo!!

Sorry for the faithful Fed fans…..He set another record I am sure…..How many semis has he been in?
The guy has an amazing resume.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:20 pm

@Brando sure think positive. Whatever helps you sleep at night. You think Fed can finish his career with a GS win? Go out with a story book ending? The crowd was totally deflated at the end. It’s sad to see him get manhandled like this.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:20 pm

@Brando 2.0 – also, this loss by Fed apparently has affected my ability to count time, as I equated one hour with 15 minutes.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:22 pm

Federer ground game was atrocious and unbecoming of a 17 slam winner in a SF. Quite frankly, he stunk up the joint. He made Cilic look like Delpo on steroids.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:22 pm

Worst loss of Arrogant One’s career. He had no chance from the get go.

CiliKori should be a cracker!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:23 pm

Can’t wait for the “Fed is old” excuse. It’ll surely come sooner than later.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:24 pm

@RZ:

LOL, it’s cool.

Despite being a hardcore fan I actually thought Fed was going to make a Djokovic final repeat and I was fully prepared to root hard for him like I did at Wimby.

Alas it was not to be. But hey:

Fed went down fighting in this event and that to at age 33.

He’s a guy who has absoultely maximized his potential.

I check the record books and I stil see 17 GS meaning:

Numero Uno.

So don’t be downbeat too much it’s all cool.

What i’ll say is:

Fed losing at 33 to a big server, hitter and powerful player was a plausible outcome (Berdych was the likely guy for many).

So it’s not a big deal.

Nishikori though thumping Novak after back to back 5 setters:

THAT is a big deal.

So out of the 2 big surprise RU’s today:

Fed and his fans walk away the most content.

Be happy with that!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:25 pm

A bigger question to ask: is this the end of the era of Big 4 dominance, or just an aberration?

September 6th, 2014 at 6:25 pm

jane – i did not see that one coming, meaning Nole’s loss to Kei. Not that is wasn’t a possibility. but Kei had been injured and I didn’t pick him for making it deep, let alone getting to the final.

Really don’t care which one wins the final – hopefully we get a great match – nobody injured, ect.

Cheering for Caroline to get her 1st GS but I doubt she can get past Serena!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:25 pm

Sean! Your jinx is working fine now! Go ahead :P

September 6th, 2014 at 6:26 pm

Fed-Cilic semi match reminded me of Sampras-Safin final in 2000. Bigger guy blasting the ball all over the place and the great champion unable to find any solutions.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:27 pm

@Josh:

Do I envisage another Fed Slam win? No.

Not especially after this golden chance went. But at the same time:

Who envisaged a Cilic v Nishikori final? No one!

So really NO ONE knows what lies ahead.

What I do know:

Fed has ZERO to prove and he has ZERO Slams that he needs to win to prove anything.

So him losing today does not really mean much, if anything:

He should be applauded for being 33 and creating these chances for himself!

Bravo Fed is all I say!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:28 pm

Federer was actually quite lucky to beat Monfils, too. That took a lot out of him. He can’t afford to use up so much of the reserve energy. Oh well, that’s life and sport.

Let’s hope for a great final.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:28 pm

It’s all my fault, folks. When Federer was trailing 2 sets down to Monfils, I prayed for just one glorious comeback and I would not ask for more. So there, he won that and lost this.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:29 pm

Fed has ZERO to prove and he has ZERO Slams that he needs to win to prove anything.
—
Is he playing to raise money for Mother Teresa’s charity?

He is playing for a reason.

If he loves the game and that is the reason for playing, he can get a tennis racqket and ball, move into a private room and make love to tennis equipment. And sell tickets on this forum.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:30 pm

Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you an outstanding statistic (if correct):

This coming final on Monday will be the FIRST final between 2 first time finalists in AT LEAST over 10 years!

Over 10 years!

The last one- I think- was between:

Gaudio v Coria at the French Open in 2004.

Could we be entering into a new age?…….

September 6th, 2014 at 6:31 pm

On paper…it should be a Cilic win. But, Nishikori has the better of the H2H and I like his mentality. He’s playing with house money. Wonder if Cilic will be able to follow up the match of his life with a good performance. This can sometimes be tough.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:32 pm

Like I suspected earlier..This us open belongs to cilic now..not sure if kei can handle that serve..moreover I think cilic is walking on his coach steps..he is going to win this year us open..like goran did with wimby.. awesome power shot making from both ends..

September 6th, 2014 at 6:32 pm

Wow! Two weeks ago if someone on here had predicted a Kei v Marin final, how we all would’ve laughed!
@the DA
Remember that quote u found on twitter about the “new” generation becoming the “lost” generation? I thought it was rather apt at the time but now two of them have decided it’s time to be “found.”
Good for them :)

September 6th, 2014 at 6:33 pm

This website has been malfunctioning for the last 30 minus. Very suspicious.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:34 pm

All good.. I was just hoping for another shot. He was so cllose at Wimby…I am disappointed but it is fed we are talking..and there are people not liking his tennis…

September 6th, 2014 at 6:35 pm

Not sure how good a Kei-Marin final will be for TV ratings but hey…c’est la vie!

September 6th, 2014 at 6:35 pm

Shame on you, Polo. :)

This will probably start an obnoxious flamewar, but I can’t resist sharing this interesting stat:
Djokovic’s GS SF record: 14 wins, 10 losses
Roger’s: 25-11
Rafa: 20-3

That’s INSANE.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:37 pm

Not sure how good a Kei-Marin final will be for TV ratings but hey…c’est la vie!
—
Please don’t make racist comments.

Japanese are small but they also count as people. So do Croations, I think.

Some people, especially ones with small brains, tend to think that only US tennis viewers matter.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:38 pm

Brando, did we enter a new age after the Coria – Gaudio match? Well, actually we did, but neither one of them was part of it.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:38 pm

Nishikori’s will take out Cilic in four further exposing the massive deterioration in federer ground game. Never thought I would see the day Federer served over 60 pct and gets thrashed in straights.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:38 pm

i thought the crowd could’ve been a little more sporting; some of the tennis cilic produced was quite jaw-dropping but they barely cheered: very clean powerful shots.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:38 pm

Djokovic’s GS SF record: 14 wins, 10 losses
Roger’s: 25-11
Rafa: 20-3

That’s INSANE.
—
Those numbers also prove why I am goat and goat owner.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:39 pm

@Brando, “Fed has ZERO to prove and he has ZERO Slams that he needs to win to prove anything.”

That’s probably not the best place to be, particularly if an athlete wants to be victorious at the highest of levels. Needing something to prove, finding that motivation, having that pressure – these elements are very important. Federer is still driven, but swinging freely and playing without pressure hasn’t helped him win slams, unfortunately.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:39 pm

It’s not really malfunctioning, Brando just posted (as usual) a stupid comment with a giant, 1000-character “YES” in it that the board isn’t well-programmed enough to wrap around, so the column width has been expanded accordingly. Very annoying.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:39 pm

Whether you win 7 majors or 17 majors, there isn’t much you have to prove to anyone other than yourself. Federer is an elite athlete. I’m sure he’s very disappointed in today’s outcome. This being said, he played far better this year than last which I’m sure he also knows (and his team will remind him of). He’s still the best 33 year old tennis player who ever lived. At 33 he’s better than Pete was at 31. I still think there’s a chance for another major.

If I was going to make one comment regarding Federer today, it would be that his serve seemed ineffective and a little slow which allowed Cilic into a lot of his service games. I think he needs a little more punch with that shot. Anyone feel the same way?

September 6th, 2014 at 6:44 pm

@Polo – next time let us know, so another one of us can pick up the prayer slack for the following match. :-)

September 6th, 2014 at 6:44 pm

One of the best days I have had in a while.

I feel energized. Trust me, it’s all because of my recovering body.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:45 pm

“Whether you win 7 majors or 17 majors, there isn’t much you have to prove to anyone other than yourself. ”

indeed sg-1.

no player has to win a specific number of slams or be “goat” or whatever.

as his fan i am proud of nole’s 7 slams. no other player has come close to winning that many in the fedal era, so what nole’s achieved is awesome. even better because for all those slams except one he beat rafa, fed or both on the way to the title, and in the other slam he beat andy, the only other multislam winner in the fedal era.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:48 pm

congrats to marin for such a huge win! too nervous to watch the start of the match but if he was serving and hitting like he was in the third, i can see why fed struggled. also, there wasn’t the belief vibe coming out of fed during the third. i think he knew he was being overpowered.

@Eric – i thought that Brando had fallen on his sword a couple of months ago with some overwrought, lengthy goodbye email and would never be posting on this site anymore? i guess our brief reprieve is over…..

September 6th, 2014 at 6:49 pm

I feel so guilty. That’s probably why Brando 2.0 did not include in his list of commiserations. Fine, Brando 2.0. I’ll grieve alone. No amount of company can me feel better anyway.

I need to relax myself by counting…1..2..3…and then I will stop at 17 and begin all over again.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:54 pm

So Rafa has made fewer SF than Fed or Novak. 9/23 was FO. Take that out and it is 14/30 in the last 10 years. Not that impressive for a GOAT owner

September 6th, 2014 at 6:56 pm

If I remember correctly, Rafa was smoked badly by DelPotro in the 2009 semi-final. He bounced back pretty well…No? Federer is as dangerous as just about anyone in the draw. I have a feeling he’ll be right back in the mix next year. Can’t speak for the year after that but his new commitment to shortening points and the bigger racket will continue to help him stay in contention next year. I don’t know if he’ll win another slam but with his skill set, you’d have to be foolish to completely dismiss his chances.

September 6th, 2014 at 6:58 pm

This special Big Three era of domination is gradually coming to an end. Will we be seeing different finalists more often, or will another dominant #1 eventually rise to the top?

September 6th, 2014 at 6:58 pm

Congrats to Cilic. He hit so cleanly today. Returns, serve, and Bird like power groundies. Impeccable Tennis.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:01 pm

Fed, I believe will make it to QF and SF and beat lesser players. But no amount of racquet or coaching changes will get him over the line. Two years ago, Cilic would not dare to duel purely from the baseline with Fed. His ground game is mediocre and error prone and his ROS game barely existent. The slow courts of AO are too slow and the ball gets up too high for him. The fast courts off USO were too fast for his legs today. And, truthfully, in Wimby, he could have been dispatched in 3 or 4. A great career is fading out.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:05 pm

pitchaboy, maybe it’s because nole and fed have not missed any slams? nole has actually played more quarters and semis at slams than rafa already. and he’s only 7 match wins behind him in total. of course rafa’s been in more finals with more wins. but nole has been very consistent without injury. not sure if that will last as he’s getting older now. we may see some big changes next year? cilic was impressive today as was kei. both were so stable.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:06 pm

Jane,

The crowd was clearly pro-Federer. They were ready to cheer him all the way to the title. He is beloved by New York tennis fans. He’s had so many magical moments at this tournament and he has not only won the tournament 5 times but done so flamboyantly. How can you blame the crowd? I think they were in shock at the way Federer was dismissed (as we all are). Cilic played the best match he could. Federer didn’t play his best. This happens once in a while. Given the extent of Cilic’s talent and the way he’s playing, Federer couldn’t afford to bring anything less than his ‘A’ game which didn’t happen so he lost. The fans were too stunned to react.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:06 pm

@SG1: Federer still in the mix. When he plays his best tennis, it’s still the most awe-inspiring on tour. But winning seven best of five matches has become out of reach. He cannot sustain the energy level. He’ll keep trying his best, but fans need to keep expectations realistic.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:06 pm

The reason Rafa misses slams is the same reason he wins them when he gets into the second week. Physical street fight tennis. His record in the business end of tournaments is awesome, however, an important part of legacy is consistency.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:10 pm

sg-1, i do understand all that sentiment. i was just hoping that SOME of cilic’s jaw-droppers would receive more cheers. but i guess to a large number of casual tennis fans – or “just slam” tennis fans – cilic wouldn’t be very well known. and they wouldn’t really care about those cleanly struck thunderbolts.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:11 pm

May I be the first one call the Arrogant One to retire. Goatness need to be preserved, not embarassed.

Goat owner expects his goats to play with some dignity, not get blown out like that.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:18 pm

For the first time I find myself in agreement with Humble.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:22 pm

Kei will be the 2014 Champ! Nole will only get beaten by the champ in the majors!!!

September 6th, 2014 at 7:34 pm

And don’t ever expect Federina to win another major if he has tough matches in early rounds. He would had won today if he wasn’t tired. Monfis choked but he wore down Fed for Cilic. Easy draw for Fed, playing all the guys that he played well against. But he is aged, long matches do him harm!.

September 6th, 2014 at 7:50 pm

Nothing to prove, then this loss should be expected.

Duh!

September 6th, 2014 at 8:05 pm

Cilic and Nishikori will be top 10 next week placing Murray and Tsonga out. Murray out of top 10 for the first time since I don’t know when.
Change is already happening. It will be a dog fight for the last 3 spots in london because I think all grand Slam winners are in: Wawa, Nadal, Djoko and Cilic or Kei, plus Fed who qualified, 5 places taken. That leaves us with Ferrer, Berdych, Raonic, Dimitrov, the loser of USO finals (Cilic or Kei), Murray and Tsonga contending. Out of this 7, only three will join the other Djoko, Fed, Nadal, Wawa and USO winner. And right now don’t know who, hoping Ferrer and Berdych out. New blood are welcome indeed.

September 7th, 2014 at 1:31 am

The way things are going we can have all new winners next year, who knows. Or we can get order restored in AO.

If neither Djoko, Nadal, Fed or Murray win AO than things will get really interesting. RG is between Nadal and Novak (at least for next year) but the ither, will see.

One thing almost every body was right in here, this was the most open Open!

September 7th, 2014 at 1:38 am

Pitchaboy Says:

“The reason Rafa misses slams is the same reason he wins them when he gets into the second week. Physical street fight tennis. His record in the business end of tournaments is awesome, however, an important part of legacy is consistency.”

14 slams in 20 finals not consistent enough for you?

Only one man in history has a better record than that. And he’s had many more attempts at them.

September 7th, 2014 at 2:05 pm

^^^

I think what Pitchaboy means to say is that Rafa’s record would not have been as awesome had he been entering all the tournaments he was supposed to enter. The grind of the tour takes a heavy toll but Roger and Novak have rarely missed tournaments over several years. Rafa simply does not enter when he is not confident of doing well.

September 7th, 2014 at 4:32 pm

I just saw a pic of Stan practicing for Davis Cup. I forgot it was this weekend. Hopefully Fed will be ready for it. I’d love to see Switzerland win the cup this year.

September 8th, 2014 at 11:16 am