2015 Wimbledon Semifinal: Djokovic v. Gasquet

[Riotbeard]

And Federer, and Andy Murray, and Stan Wawrinka, and JMDP (USO SF), and David Ferrer (AO & USO), and Berdych (AO), and Darcis, and Tsonga, and Gonzalez, etc. In other words, Rafa has lost to a lot of people at slams.

So, no, it's not about Novak standing in the way of Rafa winning more. You're gonna have to dig deeper than that.

I don't need to dig any deeper at all. Once Rafa loses, his fans keep switching to other players, but NEVER Nole. They root for anyone BUT Nole, for obvious reasons (he's the one player on tour who can most consistently beat RAFA these days and is a bad match-up for him). Yes the others have beaten Rafa in slams, but other than Roger and Andy (and recently Stan off and on), the others aren't serious slam contenders.

This would be true -- if we had the memory of a goldfish. How do you account for the Nadal (and, yes, Federer) fans who have never liked Novak? The people who wouldn't have rooted for him pre-2011? Again, you need to dig deeper.

Finally, this gets into an old issue with these polls: whether people are voting for whom they think WILL WIN, vs. whom they WANT to win. Personally, I think the latter approach is silly, because then it's just a popularity contest vs. who has the skill, match-up advantage, motivation, etc. But of course since this is an open discussion board, to each his/her own

I never vote for the person I want to win. Never. Hence my votes for Novak -- even when facing Nadal. I, too, think voting for the player you want to win is silly.

Tented makes a good point. I never liked Rafa. Respect? Sure. But I would never root for the guy. I do dislike him more because he is novak's rival (and I think this is true for most rafa fans on the vice versa), but ultimately I dislike because I just don't like him. So his rival status adds fuel to the flames, but I was never going to like him in the first place.

One thing I will say in general is (not a response to you T.) root for or against whoever you want. It's just tennis. Me disliking rafa isn't an attack on tented or vice versa. It's just tennis! Enjoy watching however you want to. As a djokovic fan, who cares if a lot of Rafa fans don't like Novak!

 

[Carol]

Well, back to my point, I would love if Gasquet wins, I like a lot how he is playing this tourney and against more difficult opponents than Roger and Novak have played. Last match was a little too long but hope he has had enough time to rest well. Unfortunately I won't be able to watch the whole match but I hope it will be competitive

 

[Moxie]

I don't need to dig any deeper at all. Once Rafa loses, his fans keep switching to other players, but NEVER Nole. They root for anyone BUT Nole, for obvious reasons (he's the one player on tour who can most consistently beat RAFA these days and is a bad match-up for him). Yes the others have beaten Rafa in slams, but other than Roger and Andy (and recently Stan off and on), the others aren't serious slam contenders.

This would be true -- if we had the memory of a goldfish. How do you account for the Nadal (and, yes, Federer) fans who have never liked Novak? The people who wouldn't have rooted for him pre-2011? Again, you need to dig deeper.

Finally, this gets into an old issue with these polls: whether people are voting for whom they think WILL WIN, vs. whom they WANT to win. Personally, I think the latter approach is silly, because then it's just a popularity contest vs. who has the skill, match-up advantage, motivation, etc. But of course since this is an open discussion board, to each his/her own

I never vote for the person I want to win. Never. Hence my votes for Novak -- even when facing Nadal. I, too, think voting for the player you want to win is silly.

Tented makes a good point. I never liked Rafa. Respect? Sure. But I would never root for the guy. I do dislike him more because he is novak's rival (and I think this is true for most rafa fans on the vice versa), but ultimately I dislike because I just don't like him. So his rival status adds fuel to the flames, but I was never going to like him in the first place.

One thing I will say in general is (not a response to you T.) root for or against whoever you want. It's just tennis. Me disliking rafa isn't an attack on tented or vice versa. It's just tennis! Enjoy watching however you want to. As a djokovic fan, who cares if a lot of Rafa fans don't like Novak!

A point here, which I think is fair to make: some posters come after those who have stated loyalties, when they make an opinion about a match. And they discount what those posters have to say, declaring it prejudiced, based on "fannishness." I would ask for a moratorium on that. This is still a serious tennis-based forum, and I would hope that opinions on tennis could be taken on face-value. It would certainly elevate the conversation.

 

[crystalfire]

Well, back to my point, I would love if Gasquet wins, I like a lot how he is playing this tourney and against more difficult opponents than Roger and Novak have played. Last match was a little too long but hope he has had enough time to rest well. Unfortunately I won't be able to watch the whole match but I hope it will be competitive

gasquet winning would make for a terrible final ughhh.

 

[Moxie]

Well, back to my point, I would love if Gasquet wins, I like a lot how he is playing this tourney and against more difficult opponents than Roger and Novak have played. Last match was a little too long but hope he has had enough time to rest well. Unfortunately I won't be able to watch the whole match but I hope it will be competitive

gasquet winning would make for a terrible final ughhh.

If Gasquet beat Djokovic it would mean he was on some kind of song with his grass tennis, so why would that be a terrible final? You're probably already convinced this will be a terrible SF, like so many others. But the better guy prevailed on the day in the QF. Why not give him a chance? Stranger things have happened. And it is grass tennis, after all.

 

[Carol]

Well, back to my point, I would love if Gasquet wins, I like a lot how he is playing this tourney and against more difficult opponents than Roger and Novak have played. Last match was a little too long but hope he has had enough time to rest well. Unfortunately I won't be able to watch the whole match but I hope it will be competitive

gasquet winning would make for a terrible final ughhh.

Why? if he would win (probably not) it means that he would have played well and would deserve to play the final and then he would play against Roger or Muzz and we will have to wait who will play better, isn't? I wouldn't think it would be a terrible final :huh:

 

[DarthFed]

Well, back to my point, I would love if Gasquet wins, I like a lot how he is playing this tourney and against more difficult opponents than Roger and Novak have played. Last match was a little too long but hope he has had enough time to rest well. Unfortunately I won't be able to watch the whole match but I hope it will be competitive

gasquet winning would make for a terrible final ughhh.

I'm all for Dicky winning if Roger wins. If not then hopefully Djoker is there to beat up the British Scot

 

[Carol]

Well, back to my point, I would love if Gasquet wins, I like a lot how he is playing this tourney and against more difficult opponents than Roger and Novak have played. Last match was a little too long but hope he has had enough time to rest well. Unfortunately I won't be able to watch the whole match but I hope it will be competitive

gasquet winning would make for a terrible final ughhh.

I'm all for Dicky winning if Roger wins. If not then hopefully Djoker is there to beat up the British Scot

The British Scot will survive

 

[DarthFed]

^ I hope you'll be as disappointed as the day when Dustin Brown declared this a Rafa-free tourney

 

[Carol]

^ I hope you'll be as disappointed as the day when Dustin Brown declared this a Rafa-free tourney

My goodness, you are really bad...:s

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

lovely day for tennis..

likely unbroken sunshine and temp around 27c 81f.

 

[tented]

Hello! Welcome to the Live Chat for the first mens semifinal: Djokovic v Gasquet.

 

[tented]

Please join us in the Live Chat during the match. Click on the green plus sign in the bottom left of your browser, and a separate window will pop up.

 

[tented]

Novak wins the coin toss, and will serve first.

 

[Kirijax]

evening morning guys

 

[Kirijax]

or is it just tented so far?

 

[tented]

Hi Kirijax.

 

[Kirijax]

lets see if i can find a good stream ...

 

[tented]

Novak holds easily for 1-0, and wins the first point on Richards serve.

 

[nehmeth]

Good morning.