2018 AO Men's QF: Federer-Berdych

[crystalfire]

I would favor Cilic over Berdych, if it came down to it. Man, I hope that's not the case. If Roger can't win it, my hope is for Edmund-Chung!

agree would rather have young guys fight it out than cilic or berdych

 

[El Dude]

This is what sucks: the match doesn't start until 10:30pm my time, and i have to wake up at 6am, including getting my 9 and 12 year old daughters off to school, then working. So I can't watch the match beyond maybe the first set without being miserable tomorrow.

Last night I went to bed after Rafa broke Cilic for the first time in the second set. I thought, "No way Marin comes back from two sets down." So Rafa was up 6-3, 3-1. I was shocked when I woke up.

 

[El Dude]

Roger broken right away, down 0-2. He looks terrible - no first serve.

 

[I.Haychew]

If Federer doesn't make some first serves, he could very well get blasted off the court.

 

[britbox]

Early days... but Berdych is in full flow at the moment.

 

[DarthFed]

More worried about the backhand than the serve. He won't have another service game that bad but if the backhand isn't a lot better he will not win this.

 

[El Dude]

That was a bit more Fed-like: 1-3.

 

[El Dude]

You can tell he's not confident in his backhand if he's running all the way around the ball to hit a forehand like that...he just couldn't get back to hit the return.

 

[El Dude]

Berdych really needs to hold here. If he can't hold while Fed is still wobbly, he doesn't stand a chance...because Fed should find his footing eventually.

 

[El Dude]

Ugh...what a waste on that net rush.

 

[I.Haychew]

Berdych really needs to hold here. If he can't hold while Fed is still wobbly, he doesn't stand a chance...because Fed should find his footing eventually.

Better find his footing soon.

 

[DarthFed]

Terrible miss on the volley, his net play last match was really bad too.

 

[El Dude]

Is that his second DF already?

 

[El Dude]

We're slowly seeing signs of him putting it together - two pretty easy holds in a row, and he put up some challenge in that last service game for Berdych. Hopefully he really brings the pressure now.

 

[El Dude]

Two UFEs with his backhand in a row. Ugh.

 

[Denis]

Berdych is keeping the balls deep. Good.

 

[DarthFed]

Roger not confident off either wing yet. Even when he gets ahead in points he is afraid to try to put away forehands in particular

 

[El Dude]

Very, very important breakpoints.

 

[DarthFed]

WTF? Challenge system broke?

 

[Denis]

What is Fed whining about?