Wow, I was way off predicting a Pouille upset. Berdych really came through against the young Frenchman, overcoming his previous 2 day effort. I didn't see the match so I'm not sure if being in the Wimbledon QF on centre might have overwhelmed the youngster, or if Berdych just played great.
The other matches were about as expected. Raonic is clearly at another level since losing those previous matches to Querrey, who did extremely well to make it to the QF.
It was an incredible comeback from the somewhat undercooked Federer. I thought he was done after two sets with Marin Cilic playing close to that 2014 US Open level, and Roger clearly struggling. But Federer managed to turn it around in the 3rd set with that key hold at 3-3 in the 3rd set and began playing better and better, while Cilic finally dropped his level a bit. Strong and gutsy second serving were a big part of winning that match for Federer. 27 aces, and no double faults, and the unforced errors early in the match faded. A couple of DF from Cilic at the wrong moments didn't help him, and he couldn't play as freely as he was once Federer started adapting return better. Sure CIlic had match points, break points, but I don't see that as a "choke", they were all on Federer's serve and Federer came through. There wasn't a lot Marin did wrong on those, except for some tentative play in a point or two that 3-3 third set game. But Cilic couldn't be expected to keep up his very high level the whole match. Matches like he had at the 2014 US Open to blitz through his last 3 matches are rare for a player of his level. He played very well yesterday, and one had to feel a bit sad for him that he got so close and couldn't get over the line. The 4th set tiebreaker was drama personified and both players were obviously nervous as each faltered here and there as it went on. But there were also many wonderful shots from both players. From Federer - 67 winners 24 UE's. From Cilic - 59 winners, 36 UE's. It was a match worth watching again.
The Murray - Tsonga match went about as I thought it might. Murray eked out a very tight first set. Tsonga was obviously down from losing it, and wasn't up to it in the second set after going down early. But he is a wonderful grass court player, and when he is on, can be difficult to deal with and came back to even the match to force the decider. I thought Murray showed a lot of resolve to win it. He could have been down on himself after letting his 2 set lead get away, but he played very tough early with a gritty 1st hold of serve down a break point, and then broke Tsonga right away, broke him once more, and Jo-Willy was done.
I wonder what drama we will have in the semis? Or will it be straight forwards?
How will the favorites recover from their emotional 5 set battles?
Will Federer's near invincibility in Wimbledon semifinals be shot down by McEnroe's Missile Raonic?
Raonic with Moya and McEnroe seems more and more confident.
Will the Andy Murray - Ivan Lendl meld see off a determined Berdych to reach his first Wimbledon Final since his momentous win 3 years ago?
Recall that Berdych tried to get Lendl on his team awhile after he left Murray, but Lendl said he was still busy with other things and then he eventually returned to Murray anyway. Word has it that Tomas is determined to prove that his native born countryman Ivan made the wrong choice.
“I approached Ivan and he said he doesn’t want to be involved in tennis. Then he comes back to Andy. So that’s how it is,†was Berdych’s take on the matter through somewhat gritted teeth.
Respectfully,
masterclass
The other matches were about as expected. Raonic is clearly at another level since losing those previous matches to Querrey, who did extremely well to make it to the QF.
It was an incredible comeback from the somewhat undercooked Federer. I thought he was done after two sets with Marin Cilic playing close to that 2014 US Open level, and Roger clearly struggling. But Federer managed to turn it around in the 3rd set with that key hold at 3-3 in the 3rd set and began playing better and better, while Cilic finally dropped his level a bit. Strong and gutsy second serving were a big part of winning that match for Federer. 27 aces, and no double faults, and the unforced errors early in the match faded. A couple of DF from Cilic at the wrong moments didn't help him, and he couldn't play as freely as he was once Federer started adapting return better. Sure CIlic had match points, break points, but I don't see that as a "choke", they were all on Federer's serve and Federer came through. There wasn't a lot Marin did wrong on those, except for some tentative play in a point or two that 3-3 third set game. But Cilic couldn't be expected to keep up his very high level the whole match. Matches like he had at the 2014 US Open to blitz through his last 3 matches are rare for a player of his level. He played very well yesterday, and one had to feel a bit sad for him that he got so close and couldn't get over the line. The 4th set tiebreaker was drama personified and both players were obviously nervous as each faltered here and there as it went on. But there were also many wonderful shots from both players. From Federer - 67 winners 24 UE's. From Cilic - 59 winners, 36 UE's. It was a match worth watching again.
The Murray - Tsonga match went about as I thought it might. Murray eked out a very tight first set. Tsonga was obviously down from losing it, and wasn't up to it in the second set after going down early. But he is a wonderful grass court player, and when he is on, can be difficult to deal with and came back to even the match to force the decider. I thought Murray showed a lot of resolve to win it. He could have been down on himself after letting his 2 set lead get away, but he played very tough early with a gritty 1st hold of serve down a break point, and then broke Tsonga right away, broke him once more, and Jo-Willy was done.
I wonder what drama we will have in the semis? Or will it be straight forwards?
How will the favorites recover from their emotional 5 set battles?
Will Federer's near invincibility in Wimbledon semifinals be shot down by McEnroe's Missile Raonic?
Raonic with Moya and McEnroe seems more and more confident.
Will the Andy Murray - Ivan Lendl meld see off a determined Berdych to reach his first Wimbledon Final since his momentous win 3 years ago?
Recall that Berdych tried to get Lendl on his team awhile after he left Murray, but Lendl said he was still busy with other things and then he eventually returned to Murray anyway. Word has it that Tomas is determined to prove that his native born countryman Ivan made the wrong choice.
“I approached Ivan and he said he doesn’t want to be involved in tennis. Then he comes back to Andy. So that’s how it is,†was Berdych’s take on the matter through somewhat gritted teeth.
Respectfully,
masterclass
