2016 AO SF: Djokovic - Federer

[britbox]

H2H is 22 wins each.

2015 ATP World Tour Finals F Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-3 6-4
2015 ATP World Tour Finals 10 Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 7-5 6-2
2015 US Open F Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4
2015 Cincinnati Masters F Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 7-6(1) 6-3
2015 Wimbledon F Grass Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 7-6(1) 6-7(10) 6-4 6-3
2015 Rome Masters F Clay Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-4 6-3
2015 Indian Wells Masters F Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-3 6-7(5) 6-2
2015 Dubai F Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-5
2014 ATP World Tour Finals F Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer WO
2014 Shanghai Masters SF Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-4
2014 Wimbledon F Grass Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-7(7) 6-4 7-6(4) 5-7 6-4
2014 Monte Carlo Masters SF Clay Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 7-5 6-2
2014 Indian Wells Masters F Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 3-6 6-3 7-6(3)
2014 Dubai SF Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 3-6 6-3 6-2
2013 ATP World Tour Finals 10 Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-4 6-7(2) 6-2
2013 Paris Masters SF Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 4-6 6-3 6-2
2012 ATP World Tour Finals F Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 7-6(6) 7-5
2012 Cincinnati Masters F Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-0 7-6(7)
2012 Wimbledon SF Grass Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3
2012 French Open - Roland Garros SF Clay Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-4 7-5 6-3
2012 Rome Masters SF Clay Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-2 7-6(4)
2011 US Open SF Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-7(7) 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5
2011 French Open - Roland Garros SF Clay Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 7-6(5) 6-3 3-6 7-6(5)
2011 Indian Wells Masters SF Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-3 3-6 6-2
2011 Dubai F Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-3 6-3
2011 Australian Open SF Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 7-6(3) 7-5 6-4
2010 ATP World Tour Finals SF Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-1 6-4
2010 Basel F Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-4 3-6 6-1
2010 Shanghai Masters SF Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 7-5 6-4
2010 US Open SF Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 5-7 6-1 5-7 6-2 7-5
2010 Canadian Masters SF Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-1 3-6 7-5
2009 Basel F Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 6-4 4-6 6-2
2009 US Open SF Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 7-6(3) 7-5 7-5
2009 Cincinnati Masters F Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-1 7-5
2009 Rome Masters SF Clay Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 4-6 6-3 6-3
2009 Miami Masters SF Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 3-6 6-2 6-3
2008 US Open SF Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-2
2008 Monte Carlo Masters SF Clay Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-3 3-2 Retired
2008 Australian Open SF Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 7-5 6-3 7-6(5)
2007 US Open F Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 7-6(4) 7-6(2) 6-4
2007 Canada F Hard Novak Djokovic Roger Federer 7-6(2) 2-6 7-6(2)
2007 Dubai QF Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-7(6) 6-3
2007 Australian Open R16 Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-2 7-5 6-3
2006 Switzerland v Serbia & Montenegro - DC WG - PO 0 Hard Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-2 6-3
2006 Monte Carlo Masters R64 Clay Roger Federer Novak Djokovic 6-3 2-6 6-3

 

[Federberg]

I think I'm going to have to put a chunk of cash for Novak as an emotional hedge!

 

[EdbergsGhost]

They've played three times here: 2007 R-16, 2008 Semis, 2011 Semis. None of them went more than three sets, with Roger last winning in 2007.

 

[britbox]

Just posted this on the QF thread:

Does anybody think that the fact it's a semi rather than a final may work slightly in Federer's favour?

Just a bit of psychology perhaps.... I think Roger might be a little less tight than he's been in the recent final encounters.

Having said that, Melbourne is Novak's back yard in a manner of speaking... and as strongly as I will be rooting for the old campaigner when the match is on... as a prediction I will go with the head and say Novak in 4.

 

[britbox]

... but something is nagging at me... and I keep thinking Fed might just pull this off.

 

[EdbergsGhost]

... but something is nagging at me... and I keep thinking Fed might just pull this off.

Roger and Novak have played 9 times in the semifinals of a slam. Novak leads that h2h by 5-4. Here in Australia, they've met twice in the semifinals with Novak winning in three sets each time.

 

[Federberg]

No one's talking about it yet, but if Novak wins in Australia he'll only need RG to hold all the slams at the same time. That might be the only thing that helps Roger snag this one. You can be sure that Novak will be thinking about it.. and the old man has a way of tripping him up at important moments

 

[britbox]

Roger and Novak have played 9 times in the semifinals of a slam. Novak leads that h2h by 5-4. Here in Australia, they've met twice in the semifinals with Novak winning in three sets each time.

Yes, I know mate. I'm just thinking Roger may be a little less tight because it's a semi and not a final... and it's more to do with his current age rather than any historical significance. We will see... (I've actually predicted Novak in 4, but not ruling Roger out)

 

[DarthFed]

Can't see Roger pulling it off. It will be at night and apparently it is supposed to rain the next couple days. Conditions will be slow and heavy.

Roger played tremendous yesterday, quite frankly it was one of his best matches in years with the forehand looking like it did in his prime. It's amazing that Roger still seems to be improving from an attacking standpoint these past couple years. The problem is Novak is the best there's ever been on these slow/medium pace hardcourts, even better than Roger was at his peak. The trick for Roger is to bring this level on the final Sunday of the tourneys he has more control at (Wimbledon, USO, and even the Olympics this year). If he does that he could win any or all of them. A match with Novak on this court is not on his racquet at all.

 

[Carol]

Excellent played by Roger yesterday, maybe his opponent helped him but sincerely I haven't seen him playing so well for long time
I've read that Novak didn't play so well but Nishi played horrible. I always thought he could go far but I don't see any improvement and I don't think I will, not enough game to win a MS and less a GS
Who will reach the final? hmmm if Roger plays well he could make it unless Novak try to make him to run miles and miles prolonging the match as much as possible and then Roger would get tired which is possible

 

[britbox]

Ha Ha... I like it, a man who is coming up with the same Semi Final thoughts as me (The Semi rather than the Final will slightly help Roger's mindset)

Good podcast... http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/d/3/a/d3a...53818675&hwt=10e285c51f7f1f35255cb78dc0c8767f

 

[ClayDeath]

roger played well yesterday but his opponent is a damn joke who has lost 22-23 times against Djokovic and another 10,000 times against rafa before rafa walked away from the sport.
berdych does not have the sufficient consistency and the testicular fortitude to challenge guys like Federer and djokovic .

it will take one hell of a match for roger to grab this but I did say several months back that roger could be a factor at the Australian Open.
well here is his chance to be factor. he has to put the demons behind him: he lost no less than 5 finals to djokovic in 2015. all were important finals. nothing rinky dink like basel, rio, or hamburg for example.

here is roger's chance to gain some measure of revenge but he is going to have to serve big and show some massive testicular fortitude.

mix it up with the backhand if the topspin backhand is misfiring. hit low slices to vary the spin and the pace.

he will also have to return well. no way to stay in the rally with djokovic. roger would have to efficient and try to employ the attack first mentality. the forehand has to fire big time like the old days.

djokovic has redefined the sport: win the long rally and you win the game, the set, and the match. it is really just that simple for him as it used to be for rafa a few years ago.

djokovic lives by the same principle rafa did a few years ago but djokovic took it to another level. he is not afraid to go forward for example. he actually can volley. he has a very good and a very effective slice. he decided he did not need a club level slice so he hired people to teach him the slice.
he hired experts to teach him the volley also.

now he is doing the same thing with his serve. on the average, he cannot be broken. everybody has an off day or two but he does not have many of them. the man lost just 6 matches last year. his serve is not only great but he has the ground game to back it up if he has to.

djokovic decided that supreme fitness was not good enough if you want to dominate the sport. he hired the right people to take his fitness into the orbit. he is also spending time in the gym on his physical work. he uses the off season to work even harder on his fitness.

and he is working on every single aspect of his game to strive for continuous improvement.


his only goal: win the long rally and you win the game, the set, and the match.

win enough long rallies and you can destroy their spirit. that, in effect, destroys them.


roger simply has to win fast. he wont be able to last 4-5 sets against djokovic.

 

[Denis]

This match is huge in terms of legacy in he sport. With 2015 Djokovic has managed to start brining himself into a position where he could potentially enter into the GOAT conversation. Whoever wins this match will put himself in a very good position to win another slam. More crucially, he will also eliminate the other from winning one here. If fed wins he is almost guaranteed number 18, which IMO would be a bridge too far for Djokovic. If Djokovic wins, the gap is 'only' 6 slams. A Herculean task, but not completely unthinkable.

I think this is an advantage for Fed. That being said, I think Novak should be able to prevail on this surface. Going Simon is not an option for Fed, so plenty of opportunities for Novak to turn defence into offense. Fed will need an exceptional day, and Novak needs to be off.

Novak in five.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak in 4 sets,this is his back yard.

 

[Denis]

Edit: nevermind: posted something based on the podcast bb posted but the info was incorrect.

 

[Carol]

I understand that the AO is the Novak's 'territory' but two years ego everybody thought the same and look what happened. Novak is not playing his best and If Roger would be able to keep the same level than yesterday I wouldn't be surprised if he wins. I don't say that he could win the finals too and less if the semis match would be too long though he has enough time to rest.
Federer in fourth

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I understand that the AO is the Novak's 'territory' but two years ego everybody thought the same and look what happened. Novak is not playing his best and If Roger would be able to keep the same level than yesterday I wouldn't be surprised if he wins. I don't say that he could win the finals too and less if the semis match would be too long though he has enough time to rest.
Federer in fourth

Champion players,even when they are not playing their best,find a way to win,we have seen over the history of the men's game.Roger needs to have his serve on song,Novak is the best returner in men's tennis.I feel if Roger does have a chance to defeat Novak he has to win in 3 sets.

 

[Duck]

... but something is nagging at me... and I keep thinking Fed might just pull this off.

Hi all. BB's feelings reflect mine. Nothing against Nole, he has been amazing, but would love to see Fed play a whole match at his best one more time. Wishful thinking I guess. It has been frustrating to see him mow through his matches with ease, then at the final, start with the net serves and missing the corners. Painful to watch. Maybe this will be the time. A semi, I like that reasoning.

 

[Carol]

Champion players,even when they are not playing their best,find a way to win,we have seen over the history of the men's game.Roger needs to have his serve on song,Novak is the best returner in men's tennis.I feel if Roger does have a chance to defeat Novak he has to win in 3 sets.

But not always, it depends how they are playing. I don't say that Novak couldn't win and I also wouldn't be surprised if he does! I think it's dificult to figure who is going to win but whoever will do I'd like another different player winning the finals

 

[Duck]

I agree in theory. It has become very predictable the last few years, and with Rafa out, worse. The game really need new blood to get back the excitement of 20 years ago, when lots of talent was playing. Do you see anyone on the horizon? I don't, but been busy with other things.