Shanghai Masters ATP 1000

[DarthFed]

Still a fairly fast surface. Nole has pretty much never and should never win vs. Roger routinely if it's quick. When it's slow hard or clay that's a different story. Roger shows up strong as he should and it will be close to 50-50

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Still a fairly fast surface. Nole has pretty much never and should never win vs. Roger routinely if it's quick. When it's slow hard or clay that's a different story. Roger shows up strong as he should and it will be close to 50-50

Roger needs a great volleying day to win. He needs to come in on great shots and not hesitate one bit. And has to do it often. I would like to add he needs to serve great too but he did at Wimby and still...

 

[Mile]

Djoker vs Fed will be their 36th match, if Djoker wins they can tie at 18 each.

 

[Federberg]

I'm not holding out too much hope. Novak looks soooo comfortable. But I suppose this is different. As he's often said, Roger presents him with a mental challenge no one else does. It's one thing beating on the kids, is he going to be as comfortable against someone he views as a genuine threat?

 

[DarthFed]

Still a fairly fast surface. Nole has pretty much never and should never win vs. Roger routinely if it's quick. When it's slow hard or clay that's a different story. Roger shows up strong as he should and it will be close to 50-50

Roger needs a great volleying day to win. He needs to come in on great shots and not hesitate one bit. And has to do it often. I would like to add he needs to serve great too but he did at Wimby and still...

Well Djokovic played amazing at Wimbledon. If he plays like that then yes Roger is almost always going to lose. The one thing Roger didn't do well is hit the forehand that day. I think in general he needs to dictate a lot with the forehand to have any hope against Nole and Rafa at this point. And losing to Nole on grass despite a ridiculous day serving shows that.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

^Agree with the forehand. I was so frustrated by it I remember...

 

[DarthFed]

Same here, I thought aside from that he really turned back the clocks that day. It was the best he has moved in awhile, great defense, backhand held up pretty nice, etc. but he couldn't dictate with what was mostly a harmless forehand. And the ROS was bad too which he really stressed after the match. Nole did serve great as well but Roger should have gotten more back in play.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I think the most under-discussed aspect of the Djokovic-Federer match-up these days is how poorly Roger returns Novak's serve. He really struggles to do much, even (especially?) on the second serve. Often the return is weak and immediately allows Novak to take control of the point. On this surface in particular, this plays into Novak's hands, who's someone you never want to give the upper hand in the rallies given how easily he can dictate off of both sides.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Should be good. Slight edge to Djokovic I say but Roger recovered well after the tough first match and should have plenty of energy and motivation.

Slight edge? Nole is on a roll and Federer is in his first tourney back, playing every day.

I'd expect Nole to take this one fairly routinely, although Federer helped his cause by winning the second set so handily. What happened to Benny there, by the way? Gallic flair?

I think Fed wins this match, especially considering Tignor picked Novak to win the tourney.

 

[DarthFed]

I think the most under-discussed aspect of the Djokovic-Federer match-up these days is how poorly Roger returns Novak's serve. He really struggles to do much, even (especially?) on the second serve. Often the return is weak and immediately allows Novak to take control of the point. On this surface in particular, this plays into Novak's hands, who's someone you never want to give the upper hand in the rallies given how easily he can dictate off of both sides.

Good point. Honestly Roger's return has been a weakness (as in absolute, not relative) for awhile now. And that's why it isn't often mentioned against Novak because it is kind of a constant against most players. That said Roger has returned very well at times this year and perhaps is also an under-discussed reason for the improvement from last year.

 

[Front242]

Yeah, his ROS is leagues ahead of what it was last year as is his movement.

 

[tented]

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Stadium Start — 1:00 P.M.

[1] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA) v Rohan Bopanna (IND) / Florin Mergea (ROU)

Not Before 4:30 P.M.

Gilles Simon (FRA) v Feliciano Lopez (ESP)

Not Before 8:00 P.M.

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) v [3] Roger Federer (SUI)

---

Union Pay — Start 3:30 P.M.

[5] Julien Benneteau (FRA) / Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) v [6] Marcel Granollers (ESP) / Marc Lopez (ESP)

 

[shawnbm]

Federer-Djokovic should be a helluva fight tomorrow! I am looking forward to seeing it. Will it only be on Tennis Channel or is it to be on ESPN as well?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I think we can assume that the semifinal between Roger and Novak is the de facto final.
If Roger defeats Novak and goes on to lift the trophy, Novak's lead over Roger in the
race will be less than 1000 points (it will be 990 to be precise, with Novak having 8010
and Roger having 7020).

With the points difference cut to less than 1000, assuming Novak is forced to
miss Bercy, there is a decent chance for Roger to finish YE #1. So, the dream of
finishing YE #1 for the sixth time and tyng Pete in that is still alive. :idea:

 

[tented]

So, the dream of finishing YE #1 for the sixth time and tyng Pete in that is still alive. :idea:

Technically, yes, but keep in mind Sampras did it six consecutive years.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

So, the dream of finishing YE #1 for the sixth time and tyng Pete in that is still alive. :idea:

Technically, yes, but keep in mind Sampras did it six consecutive years.

How can anyone forget that? That is one record of Pete that is safe from attack not
only by Roger, but by any member of big four of current generation.

 

[Front242]

Yeah that's a pretty safe record for quite some time I'd imagine. Weak competition

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It is good that THE semifinal is the de facto final. This is because the finals is at 4:30 a.m. EDT on Sunday whereas THE semifinal is at 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday.

Unfortunately, it is shown only on Tennis Channel in USA and espn/espn2 will not have it.
So, I request someone to post a link to a live stream, that is free and is of reasonable quality.
I would appreciate it. I have had issues with Dracula stream with it asking for credit card
number (of course, I did not give it) or asking me to download some stupid software etc.
Hopefully, someone can provide me with some decent live stream link. Thanks.

 

[tented]

It is good that THE semifinal is the de facto final. This is because the finals is at 4:30 a.m. EDT on Sunday whereas THE semifinal is at 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday.

Unfortunately, it is shown only on Tennis Channel in USA and espn/espn2 will not have it.
So, I request someone to post a link to a live stream, that is free and is of reasonable quality.
I would appreciate it. I have had issues with Dracula stream with it asking for credit card
number (of course, I did not give it) or asking me to download some stupid software etc.
Hopefully, someone can provide me with some decent live stream link. Thanks.

Even though no ESPN channel will be broadcasting them live, you can still watch them online through ESPN3:

http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index#type/upcoming/sport/tennis/startDate/20141011/

The quality is usually great.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

It is good that THE semifinal is the de facto final. This is because the finals is at 4:30 a.m. EDT on Sunday whereas THE semifinal is at 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday.

Unfortunately, it is shown only on Tennis Channel in USA and espn/espn2 will not have it.
So, I request someone to post a link to a live stream, that is free and is of reasonable quality.
I would appreciate it. I have had issues with Dracula stream with it asking for credit card
number (of course, I did not give it) or asking me to download some stupid software etc.
Hopefully, someone can provide me with some decent live stream link. Thanks.

Even though no ESPN channel will be broadcasting them live, you can still watch them online through ESPN3:

http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index#type/upcoming/sport/tennis/startDate/20141011/

The quality is usually great.

I have watched through ESPN3 before and the quality is great. However, I was under
the impression that if a match is being shown live by Tennis Channel, it won't be on
ESPN3.

Are you sure that it is available on ESPN3 tomorrow?