Djokovic keeps his game and now Federer has to keep his service and to force a tiebreak or else bye-bye second set.
Federer's single backhand was never his forte.
Federer's single backhand was never his forte.
French Open 2012
- Thread starter wr8_utd
- Start date
It's a good tactic and makes complete sense but you can't make so many errors. Also at his age, he needs to get free points off his own serve. His serve has been rubbish today.
I can see Djokovic winning this in 3. Must demoralizing for Federer to keep breaking and being broken right back.
He will get broken now.
I mean this is just ridiculous.It's frustrating really, that many unforced errors. Again, Federer starts with a double fault and then reacts too slow to a return ball, now Djokovic has a set point.
Amazing. To break three times and still lose a set is something else. Feel like I'm watching women's tennis.
Federer is bottling it. 2nd set to Djokovic and Djokovic didn't do anything special. Mostly unforced errors by Federer.
Unbelievable bottle job from Federer in this half. He's not even making Djokovic work for the breaks. He's just handing them out like Christmas gifts.
I think Djokovic will step up a notch and will win it in three sets now.
No shit.
Wouldn't call it bottling to be honest. It's a chronic habit that's become part of his game. It's happened consistently in pretty much every of the last 5 GS's or so. Even against Tsonga at Wimbledon his game just fell apart completely. More a consistency issue. He's a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde these days.
feck off Fed, started the game really well and then making all those unforced errors. Federer is really frustrating to watch nowadays.
I dont care about the result, just wanted a 5 setter. Is it too much to ask? 
Fed is on the wane. He's 30, its to be expected.
He probably has 1 more "for old times sake" iconic GS win in him though. Like his hero Sampras.
He probably has 1 more "for old times sake" iconic GS win in him though. Like his hero Sampras.
Testament to Federers ridiculous talent that however he loses, ever, at 30+ to a player far younger and in their peak, that on this forum, it's always a bottle job, guaranteed.
Djokovic just a far better player, and it's on clay...so breaks are usually common.
Djokovic just a far better player, and it's on clay...so breaks are usually common.
At least Federer kept his service game in the 3rd set.
He's actually hitting the ball really well from the back of the court which has been impressive. But you can't have these phases of handing over points every set. And as I said, the serve is key for him these days. As you get older you need to rely more ans more on your serve and it's been a weakness today rather than a strength.
I agree that it's silly to brand all defeats and failings bottle jobs. It makes no sense whatsoever. One of the greatest players to have played the game isn't going around bottling tennis matches on a consistent basis every grandslam. He just hasn't got that consistency he once had during his prime and is playing fine players who are at their prime.
It's so easy to claim anything is a bottle job. Nadal not able to serve out the final set of the Australian Open this year could as easily be called one. But I don't buy it. We're talking about champions of their sport.
And I agree with the earlier post, he's probably got, at most 1 more GS left, like Sampras' US Open. Very hard to see him suddenly hit the consistency of play he had when he was 25 as the likes of Djokovic do have.
But as I said, for me, the key thing for him to work on is his serve. At his best his serve is one of the best around and he needs that to give him the edge. His legs certainly aren't going to, neither the overall consistency of his play. But Federer given his overall ability (even lessened as it is today) coupled with his serve at it's best can beat anyone.
Federer's legs are gone and his service game today is not helping.
Fed has moments in matches where his game disappears but even then he doesn't normally just throw away THREE breaks of serve in a set.
I really think Federer can win this game if he stops producing those unforced errors. Djokovic isn't playing that well either.
Not surprising, he been average all tourney and should/would have been dumped out in 3/4 sets in the last round but for Del Potro's knees.
Moment of magic just now by Federer.
Well good thing is that we will have a dream final on sunday. This will be the 4th consecutive final in which both nadal and djoker will play, thats incredible.
Possibilty of 4 consecutive slam winner vs most number of french open winner. Can't wait already
Possibilty of 4 consecutive slam winner vs most number of french open winner. Can't wait already
Match point Djokovic.
Djokovic vs Nadal.
No worries, Nadal will crush Djoko.
No worries, Nadal will crush Djoko.
Nadal vs Djokovic yet again . I'm delighted.
I think he will win in straight sets. He wouldn't like to go through aussie open once again.
I agree that was an horrible experience in the end. Sitting on the couch for 6 straight hours only to see rafa lose after having the break in the final set.He better not pull off a Aussie Open again!
If you don't want another Aussie Open game, you ain't a Tennis fan.
Nole will wear him out and win in five sets.
Same finalists for 4 GS in a row. Is this some sort of record? Can't think of it happening recently.
Djokovic fecked Federer up.
Some of his level of tennis was scary. Constantly pressuring Federer into mistakes.
That 36 shot rally was immense too.
Some of his level of tennis was scary. Constantly pressuring Federer into mistakes.
That 36 shot rally was immense too.
I didn't think Djokovic was anywhere near his best.
If you don't want another Aussie Open game, you ain't a Tennis fan.
For once I'd love a boring final between these two with Nadal winning. We've had enough high quality finals off late.
This. Fed had loads of chances.
Vs Nadal? I doubt it. If Djokovic is winning this, I don't think it'll be by grinding Nadal down.
Nadal has this one in the bag unfortunately as Djokovic is far from his best and if Roger had played half-decently he could have won today. Nadal is just a robot on clay and I see a straight set win for him. Bring on Wimbledon where we will see much more exciting tennis and variety. I think it's Roger's best chance for another title too.
Man all these 'if's' that are being thrown around are funny.
IF Federer played 'half-decent' he would have won? How the feck can you know that?
Nadal is favourite because he is the undisputed King of clay, but Djokovic is the best tennis player in the world and has owned Nadal as of late.
Djokovic is going for the 4 Grand Slams in a row, so that alone is going to give him such momentum. Can't wait for this match, I think it will be a total classic.
And everyone downplaying his performance against Federer, how can you say that he wasn't at his best when he made such few unforced errors? The way he pressured Federer was impressive, sure he may have played better (as Federer should have) but it's not like he was just average.
3-0 down in the second set, and he pulls it back and wins the set. That doesn't happen if you're just playing average.
IF Federer played 'half-decent' he would have won? How the feck can you know that?
Nadal is favourite because he is the undisputed King of clay, but Djokovic is the best tennis player in the world and has owned Nadal as of late.
Djokovic is going for the 4 Grand Slams in a row, so that alone is going to give him such momentum. Can't wait for this match, I think it will be a total classic.
And everyone downplaying his performance against Federer, how can you say that he wasn't at his best when he made such few unforced errors? The way he pressured Federer was impressive, sure he may have played better (as Federer should have) but it's not like he was just average.
3-0 down in the second set, and he pulls it back and wins the set. That doesn't happen if you're just playing average.