2016 Wimbledon SF: Federer vs. Raonic

[Kieran]

Raonic has a very good chance mostly due to Roger coming off a draining 5 setter. Grass or not it's going to be tough for the old guy to recover for Friday. Unfortunately this might play out like the 2014 USO where Roger came back in dramatic fashion vs. Monfils but was decked in the semis. Hopefully he serves great and keeps the points very short.

I was thinking the same. A powerful younger man with a giant serve can sweep him out of there.

Hopefully...

We shall see. Under normal circumstances he probably would've swept his way to this title fairly easily. He still has the capability to do it if he recovers decent and remembers who he is. It's about time to make up for all the underachieving the past few years and cause some more tears from certain haters :devil

Oh brother, I'd be more concerned about the embarrassment for the sport if Mr Wodger was to win this title...

 

[isabelle]

Milos in 4 with the little help of John

 

[DarthFed]

I was thinking the same. A powerful younger man with a giant serve can sweep him out of there.

Hopefully...

We shall see. Under normal circumstances he probably would've swept his way to this title fairly easily. He still has the capability to do it if he recovers decent and remembers who he is. It's about time to make up for all the underachieving the past few years and cause some more tears from certain haters :devil

Oh brother, I'd be more concerned about the embarrassment for the sport if Mr Wodger was to win this title...

You underestimate talent brotha. 60-70% of the old Roger would still get the job done at this tournament. Age isn't everything.

 

[Carol]

Because the age is not everything and knowing that Roger is taking care with his body more than anyone else and of course after to have such easy draw I don´t think the last match has affected him too much and more having one day off. But my question is if he will take the risk with the second serve and he will have the same good luck again looking his opponent how is getting melted little by little...:cover

 

[DarthFed]

I'd be shocked if the last match doesn't affect him at all, that's why I'm leaning towards Milos. A few somewhat recent examples of really grueling matches Roger has played near the end of a tournament:

2012 Olympics: He had an absolute war with DP in the semis and then got blasted in the final by Murray on the same court he beat him on a month before at Wimbledon

2013 AO: he beat Tsonga in 5 in the QF's and then lost to Murray in 5 in the semifinals. Roger was fairly flat and was outplayed badly most of the match though he did hang tough and managed to steal the 4th set. But you could tell the tank was running empty in the 5th.

2014 USO: He rallied from 2 sets down vs. Monfils in the QF's and saved match points in the 4th similar to yesterday. He then was lethargic against a red hot Cilic and was routed in the semis.

So you can see that history is kind of against him here and those matches came 2-4 years ago when he hadn't just come back from injury. The only thing working in his favor is that this is grass and with Milos the points figure to be short. The Murray Olympics match was also on grass but that's a totally different matchup as Murray is a great returner and could force Roger into more extended rallies.

 

[Obsi]

Another reason why Milos is more likely to win is because Murray is OVERDUE to play someone outside the Big Four in a Grand Slam final

2008 US Open Federer
2010 Australian Open Federer
2011 Australian Open Djokovic
2012 Wimbledon Federer
2012 US Open Djokovic
2013 Australian Open Djokovic
2013 Wimbledon Djokovic
2015 Australian Open Djokovic
2016 Australian Open Djokovic
2016 French Open Djokovic

 

[DarthFed]

^ That has nothing to do with it. Going by that logic I'd say Roger is overdue to show that he can still play great when it matters most. He hasn't gotten it done at slams since 2012. He needs 18 more than these lesser talents need a slam.

 

[Obsi]

Going by that logic I'd say Roger is overdue to show that he can still play great when it matters most. He hasn't gotten it done at slams since 2012.

Federer is almost 35 years old.

 

[mrzz]

I see your point Darth, but let´s see:

Olympics 2012 semi: 4 hours 26 minutes

AO 2013 quarters: 3 hours 34 minutes

USO 2014 quartes: 3 hours 28 minutes

Wimbledon 2016 quarters: 3 hours 17 minutes

I agree with you that this is surely not a good thing, but yesterday´s match was the shorter of the bunch, and I feel the less taxing of them (personal opinion, obviously).

He might lose anyway, given the inconsistency he has been showing in one form or another these last years, but frankly if it happens I do not think it would be because of it.

 

[DarthFed]

Going by that logic I'd say Roger is overdue to show that he can still play great when it matters most. He hasn't gotten it done at slams since 2012.

Federer is almost 35 years old.

I'm aware. And if he's normally half as good as he used to be and he used to be 3 times better than the remaining guys that means he should win...

 

[Front242]

Because the age is not everything and knowing that Roger is taking care with his body more than anyone else and of course after to have such easy draw I don´t think the last match has affected him too much and more having one day off. But my question is if he will take the risk with the second serve and he will have the same good luck again looking his opponent how is getting melted little by little...:cover

Here's Milos melting :snicker

 

[DarthFed]

I see your point Darth, but let´s see:

Olympics 2012 semi: 4 hours 26 minutes

AO 2013 quarters: 3 hours 34 minutes

USO 2014 quartes: 3 hours 28 minutes

Wimbledon 2016 quarters: 3 hours 17 minutes

I agree with you that this is surely not a good thing, but yesterday´s match was the shorter of the bunch, and I feel the less taxing of them (personal opinion, obviously).

He might lose anyway, given the inconsistency he has been showing in one form or another these last years, but frankly if it happens I do not think it would be because of it.

I agree that this match was less taxing as it was on grass and it wasn't quite as crazy as the DP semi. But there were still lots of rallies and Cilic made him run quite a bit. It's also not just the physical energy but the mental energy as well. Being tired after a long match isn't an excuse, Raonic earned the advantage by getting through a lot easier than Roger.

 

[Obsi]

I'm aware. And if he's normally half as good as he used to be and he used to be 3 times better than the remaining guys that means he should win...

Federer is arguably due to seriously decline because he is almost 35 years old.

 

[DarthFed]

He already has seriously declined. He is ranked below Murray and hasn't won a slam in 4 years. I'd call that a large decline from where he was.

 

[Carol]

This happened in RG too but just because the Rafa's absent :snicker

https://mobile.twitter.com/SwissMinipeople/status/750389456008544256

 

[Obsi]

He already has seriously declined. He is ranked below Murray and hasn't won a slam in 4 years. I'd call that a large decline from where he was.

For me, "serious decline" would be droping out of the Top 10.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I expect more physical fatigue from Fed than mental fatigue in his match against Milos.

Milos may be mentally stronger than Cilic, but his TIQ (tennis IQ) is not good.

 

[Kieran]

This happened in RG but just becouse the Rafa's absent :snicker

https://mobile.twitter.com/SwissMinipeople/status/750389456008544256

:laydownlaughing :lolz: :clap

 

[Front242]

He already has seriously declined. He is ranked below Murray and hasn't won a slam in 4 years. I'd call that a large decline from where he was.

For me, "serious decline" would be droping out of the Top 10.

That isn't happening anytime soon unless his back or knee pop again. Stepanek is 37 and gave Murray hell in his first round match at RG. Age isn't that important when the mobility is there. If Roger's movement gets back to 2015 level there's no way he's falling out of the top 10.

 

[DarthFed]

He already has seriously declined. He is ranked below Murray and hasn't won a slam in 4 years. I'd call that a large decline from where he was.

For me, "serious decline" would be droping out of the Top 10.

Everyone's definition is different. He will likely retire well before that happens. Dropping out of the top 10 means he is either injured for most of a year or 40 years old. Comparing someone who used to win 95% of their matches and get to every single GS semi and nearly every final to the Roger of today is serious decline. The guy is that talented that even as a fraction of himself he is still one of the best as he approaches 35. Respect the talent or let the hate consume you