2015 U.S. Open Final: Djokovic v. Federer

[Backhand_DTL]

In terms of who could use this more Djokovic. This win will put him in double digits. Realistically, he could have it in him to win 2-3 slams next year and then after that it gets maybe dicier depending on what happens. I think surpassing Roger will be hard, but Nadal's number certainly looks more passable if he gets this win.

In terms of career- and especially US Open resume Novak certainly "needs" it more. If you think more in the moment it's probably of bigger importance for Roger. Novak had a great season anyway whereas for Roger it would be bittersweet if the only thing he really has to show for his resurgence of the last 14 months apart from a rising title count is newfound respect for his longetivity and a lot of experts proclaiming he's playing better than ever.

For the players the moment is probably the prevalent focus instead of the career perspective, so I think Federer subjectively has more on the line in this match than Novak.

I don't even think it'd be bittersweet for Roger. Old man or not he isn't playing just to get a few deep runs in majors. He came out of 2014 with nothing aside from Davis Cup for those who go crazy over it. And as of right now it's the same in 2015. One match decides if this is a great year or another lost one for him. Sounds cruel...but that's sport.

And anyone saying he's playing better than ever is nuts, you don't make that based off of 6 or even 20 great matches in a row. It's a long season and as great as Roger has played for much of it he still had losses to Seppi at AO, a straight set beatdown by Stan at RG, and a very subpar performance in the Wimbledon final.

Of course day in day out, on the return and on surfaces where he can't consistently dictate with first strike tennis he's clearly not as good as in his mid 20s anymore, but Roger being better than ever is a popular narrative in the media coverage. That he has his best hold percentage ever this year and is certainly able to play at an extremely high level for matches or even tournaments on surfaces that suit him on the contrary shows that he is not as far from his best as some fans like to claim.

A consequence of that media narrative is that many experts who already saw Nadal at the same level or even better than Roger based on the head to head and what they expected Nadal to achieve in the future recently backpedalled on that stance. But that's probably more satisfying for fans than relevant to Roger himself.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

In terms of who could use this more Djokovic. This win will put him in double digits. Realistically, he could have it in him to win 2-3 slams next year and then after that it gets maybe dicier depending on what happens. I think surpassing Roger will be hard, but Nadal's number certainly looks more passable if he gets this win.

In terms of career- and especially US Open resume Novak certainly "needs" it more. If you think more in the moment it's probably of bigger importance for Roger. Novak had a great season anyway whereas for Roger it would be bittersweet if the only thing he really has to show for his resurgence of the last 14 months apart from a rising title count is newfound respect for his longetivity and a lot of experts proclaiming he's playing better than ever.

For the players the moment is probably the prevalent focus instead of the career perspective, so I think Federer subjectively has more on the line in this match than Novak.

I don't even think it'd be bittersweet for Roger. Old man or not he isn't playing just to get a few deep runs in majors. He came out of 2014 with nothing aside from Davis Cup for those who go crazy over it. And as of right now it's the same in 2015. One match decides if this is a great year or another lost one for him. Sounds cruel...but that's sport.

And anyone saying he's playing better than ever is nuts, you don't make that based off of 6 or even 20 great matches in a row. It's a long season and as great as Roger has played for much of it he still had losses to Seppi at AO, a straight set beatdown by Stan at RG, and a very subpar performance in the Wimbledon final.

i dunno. it seems a bit over the top. then again, it reminds me of how Fed, when asked about instantly reclaiming #2 from murray, he explained that he doesn't really care about it unless it's #1. then again, he said that in the context of the Cincy win - explaining that THIS is what he cares about. winning tournaments. so yes, cincy is a far cry from a slam. but he got it by beating novak (and andy). i think these wins - titles and beating the top dogs - do matter after all. they might not make a year a great one; but it's not like looking back, he'd rather have retired earlier or something.

 

[DarthFed]

In terms of career- and especially US Open resume Novak certainly "needs" it more. If you think more in the moment it's probably of bigger importance for Roger. Novak had a great season anyway whereas for Roger it would be bittersweet if the only thing he really has to show for his resurgence of the last 14 months apart from a rising title count is newfound respect for his longetivity and a lot of experts proclaiming he's playing better than ever.

For the players the moment is probably the prevalent focus instead of the career perspective, so I think Federer subjectively has more on the line in this match than Novak.

I don't even think it'd be bittersweet for Roger. Old man or not he isn't playing just to get a few deep runs in majors. He came out of 2014 with nothing aside from Davis Cup for those who go crazy over it. And as of right now it's the same in 2015. One match decides if this is a great year or another lost one for him. Sounds cruel...but that's sport.

And anyone saying he's playing better than ever is nuts, you don't make that based off of 6 or even 20 great matches in a row. It's a long season and as great as Roger has played for much of it he still had losses to Seppi at AO, a straight set beatdown by Stan at RG, and a very subpar performance in the Wimbledon final.

i dunno. it seems a bit over the top. then again, it reminds me of how Fed, when asked about instantly reclaiming #2 from murray, he explained that he doesn't really care about it unless it's #1. then again, he said that in the context of the Cincy win - explaining that THIS is what he cares about. winning tournaments. so yes, cincy is a far cry from a slam. but he got it by beating novak (and andy). i think these wins - titles and beating the top dogs - do matter after all. they might not make a year a great one; but it's not like looking back, he'd rather have retired earlier or something.

Wins like Cincy do matter, they just aren't going to significantly enhance his already excellent resume. And of course Roger isn't going to look at years like 2014 and 2015 and wish he wasn't playing. No one wins a tournament in retirement and Roger has now made it to the end of 3 majors in that span. He has been close and has mostly played great tennis these past couple years, just hasn't sealed the deal on one that really counts. His record last year was something like 73-12 and this year it is 51-7 I believe. That shows he is playing at a high level and when you look at it you'd think he definitely won a slam or two. He just hasn't brought his best on the big stage these past couple years.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I come out of my self imposed non-voting position and click Fed in 4.

 

[Tennisman12345]

Djokovic in 3

 

[Frode789]

Federer in 4.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I don't even think it'd be bittersweet for Roger. Old man or not he isn't playing just to get a few deep runs in majors. He came out of 2014 with nothing aside from Davis Cup for those who go crazy over it. And as of right now it's the same in 2015. One match decides if this is a great year or another lost one for him. Sounds cruel...but that's sport.

And anyone saying he's playing better than ever is nuts, you don't make that based off of 6 or even 20 great matches in a row. It's a long season and as great as Roger has played for much of it he still had losses to Seppi at AO, a straight set beatdown by Stan at RG, and a very subpar performance in the Wimbledon final.

i dunno. it seems a bit over the top. then again, it reminds me of how Fed, when asked about instantly reclaiming #2 from murray, he explained that he doesn't really care about it unless it's #1. then again, he said that in the context of the Cincy win - explaining that THIS is what he cares about. winning tournaments. so yes, cincy is a far cry from a slam. but he got it by beating novak (and andy). i think these wins - titles and beating the top dogs - do matter after all. they might not make a year a great one; but it's not like looking back, he'd rather have retired earlier or something.

Wins like Cincy do matter, they just aren't going to significantly enhance his already excellent resume. And of course Roger isn't going to look at years like 2014 and 2015 and wish he wasn't playing. No one wins a tournament in retirement and Roger has now made it to the end of 3 majors in that span. He has been close and has mostly played great tennis these past couple years, just hasn't sealed the deal on one that really counts. His record last year was something like 73-12 and this year it is 51-7 I believe. That shows he is playing at a high level and when you look at it you'd think he definitely won a slam or two. He just hasn't brought his best on the big stage these past couple years.

Wins like Cincy matter because it will give him belief when he plays today. It is a huge difference going in to a game with belief and without belief.

 

[Kirijax]

If Federer is going to win, he has to do it quickly. If it goes past 4 sets, the odds for Djokovic go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy up.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Finally, Tignor has spoken in favor of Novak.

 

[Denis]

If Federer is going to win, he has to do it quickly. If it goes past 4 sets, the odds for Djokovic go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy up.

Makes the first set even more crucial for both players I think.

 

[tented]

How soon will Roger pull out the SABR? First set? Novak's first service game? First point of that game?

 

[Denis]

How soon will Roger pull out the SABR? First set? Novak's first service game? First point of that game?

Lol, it would be pretty funny to do that at the first point.

I wonder if Boris' comments were aimed at generating such an effect. And then Novak being prepared and hitting some passing winners.

More likely that Boris wasn't thinking.

SABR will result in some anxious points for sure. I hope Novak is ready for that stuff.

 

[tented]

If Federer is going to win, he has to do it quickly. If it goes past 4 sets, the odds for Djokovic go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy up.

Makes the first set even more crucial for both players I think.

First sets are always important, of course, but I think it's more key for Roger. If he loses the first set, his chances decrease quite a bit; if Novak loses the first set -- even the first two sets -- I would still think he could win. If Roger goes down two sets to love, it's all over.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

How soon will Roger pull out the SABR? First set? Novak's first service game? First point of that game?

I think Fed will pull off SABR right in the first set, but not in the first game. But, he won't wait until he gets ahead to pull it off.

Having said that Roger won't go crazy with SABR. He will indulge in it very less and with caution.
But, he will definitely do so in order to mix it up and create doubts in Nole's little mind. I expect the number of SABR points tried in the whole match to be less than a dozen. I also expect the success rate to be less than 50%. Rumors are that Novak plans to hit Roger on the body if Roger tries SABR.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

No matter who wins the first set, I think they will split the first two sets. Most probably whoever wins the third set will go on to win the match (and in four sets).

 

[GameSetAndMath]

OK. folks, I will be very tense today as I want to Fed to win at least this time. So, I won't be chirping in too much.

Nobody beats Roger three times consecutively in a hard court slam, not even Novak.

Go Fed!

 

[tennisville]

I really want Fed to win this, I really feel he has 1 more in him and this probably is his best shot

 

[tennisville]

OK. folks, I will be very tense today as I want to Fed to win at least this time. So, I won't be chirping in too much.

Nobody beats Roger three times consecutively in a hard court slam, not even Novak.

Go Fed!

Same feel really nervous right now even though I feel the match really is Novaks to lose

 

[Front242]

Won't be using the chat much here. Just gonna watch the match mostly. Hopefully it'll be a great one!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

They are waiting for a few remaining NFL matches to be over. :cover

Match will not start before 4.30.

They should publish in the schedule.

After Colts vs. Bills (Not before 4.30) Roger vs. Novak.