Wimbledon 2014 final: Federer vs Djokovic

[crystalfire]

Well I like him almost as much as Fed and I feel bad for his slam losses of late but he still needs to earn it to deserve it

same. either way im gonna be sad for the loser and happy for the winner. if fed wins ill probably be more happy than sad lol

Well, Novak has years left on tour yet playing a high level. The reverse is not true, Roger's time is running out.

true but a confident novak is good for us. he might stop rafa from winning more slams and thus catching feds number.

 

[Moxie]

Well I like him almost as much as Fed and I feel bad for his slam losses of late but he still needs to earn it to deserve it

same. either way im gonna be sad for the loser and happy for the winner. if fed wins ill probably be more happy than sad lol

Well, Novak has years left on tour yet playing a high level. The reverse is not true, Roger's time is running out.

true but a confident novak is good for us. he might stop rafa from winning more slams and thus catching feds number.

If that's your calculation, I'd go for Fed, and setting the bar higher. Djokovic isn't single-handedly going to prevent Rafa from catching Roger's slam number, whether he wins on Sunday or not. :angel:

 

[crystalfire]

Well I like him almost as much as Fed and I feel bad for his slam losses of late but he still needs to earn it to deserve it

same. either way im gonna be sad for the loser and happy for the winner. if fed wins ill probably be more happy than sad lol

Well, Novak has years left on tour yet playing a high level. The reverse is not true, Roger's time is running out.

true but a confident novak is good for us. he might stop rafa from winning more slams and thus catching feds number.

If that's your calculation, I'd go for Fed, and setting the bar higher. Djokovic isn't single-handedly going to prevent Rafa from catching Roger's slam number, whether he wins on Sunday or not. :angel:

Of course I hope fed wins. But yea a healthy confident Novak means trouble for Rafa. True he might not stop him every time but he's our best hope

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Factoid: The last GS final meeting between Fed and Novak was in 2007 USO final.
I believe most know that as it was repeated often in media. More
interestingly, that was the FIRST GS final of Novak. Suday, it will
be the 14th final for Novak.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

On Roger's side, isn't this the very very really really final chance to win a major? He's not gonna get a better one, is he? On grass, against Nole, who's never beaten him on grass.

May be so, if Roger loses.

However, if he wins this one, there will be a spring in his step and one more major
down the horizon may be at USO or at Wimby again.

That's what I think - but with the usual caveat, as ever, in place...

Don't worry, Rafa will probably still be crap on grass next year :snigger Is that what you meant ?

Well, starting from 2015 there will be three weeks gap between FO and Wimby.
This will certainly help Rafa and he will become less crappy on grass.

It is amazing as to how every single calendar modification move helps Rafa.

1. He wanted clay court schedule modified so that he can play Barcelona,
MC, Rome and Madrid without having to play 3 times in a row and he got it.
2. He wanted Rome to be the last masters before RG (as it is similar to RG)
and he got it.
3. He wanted South American 500 on clay and he got it. He now can account
for all four required 500s on clay (MC (which counts as 500 for commitment
purposes), Rio, Barcelona and DC (which will be on clay half the time)).
4. More gap between RG and W to give him time to find his feet on grass.

The only thing he has not achieved is to have the WTF on different surfaces
in different years.

 

[Kieran]

Well, instead of saying Rafa will be "less crappy," which is of course wrong, aren't you really saying that the historically difficult channel slam will soon become more accessible? Every year Rafa challenges for Wimbo, he's just won Paris. I think having 2 successes and 3 other finals isn't too crappy. But next year, I think it will be nice for him to have a couple of days to celebrate his Tenth properly, instead of hopping on a plane straight after picking up some bling...

 

[Kieran]

Factoid: The last GS final meeting between Fed and Novak was in 2007 USO final.
I believe most know that as it was repeated often in media. More
interestingly, that was the FIRST GS final of Novak. Suday, it will
be the 14th final for Novak.

I was at that match. Luckily for Roger, Novak was a wet eared greenhorn, who chucked up leads in every set. Now they're at opposite ends of the careers, Nole chucks up leads for different reasons...

 

[Kieran]

Going back to the match, this one is really more gravy for Roger, having a great career, but imagine the pressure on Nole? I mean, he's facing a 32 year old Roger, never a better chance, right? Except that Roger is playing better than he is. And if he loses this one, I just can't help but wonder what effect it'll have on him...

 

[isabelle]

Future daddy Nole in 4 (maybe 5?)

 

[markus1]

Federer will win.
I'd want it to be as easy as against Raonic but I guess Djokovic is going to meet the game head-on
so I say it will be 5 sets

 

[TsarMatt]

I'm looking forward to this. I love the Djokovic/Federer match-up, and it should be 10x better on the grass. Honestly, I'm happy if either wins. I'd love to see Federer win his 18th GS, especially after his rather substandard 2013 season where many, including myself, never predicted he'd win a GS or even make a GS final again. I'd also love to see Djokovic win. He's been in so many GS finals these last 2-3 years, and it's kind of sad to see him always getting so close but not walking away with the gold. You have to admire his consistency, too. He's always performing well at the GSs but seems to constantly drop off in that last match. You can tell he really wants it.

So yeah, I am happy on whoever wins this match. My prediction is Djokovic in 4 sets. There's no denying how well Federer is playing, but I think Nole is going to seize the moment here. This is one of his best chances to win a major, and I think he deserves it. I think he thinks he deserves it, too, so I can see him really up the ante. Then again, this will probably Federer's last huge chance to win a major, so he'll throw everything but the kitchen sink here, as well. Djokovic usually plays rather passive in finals, but I think it'll be a completely different story here.

Something like 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6 is my prediction. Should be a good match!

The winner deserves it and no one else! You don't deserve to win unless you play well enough to hoist the trophy.

Very true, but I still think he deserves it.

Nole's a better representative of #1 and I can't wait for him to knock Nadal back down! He's unassuming, but confident, and respects his opposition more! Nadal's an arse in so many ways; and that's without watching his "ugly style" of tennis! :nono

Sorry mate, I disagree. I love them both in different ways. I wouldn't say Nadal is an arse - for somebody who has had so much stardom and fame, he's still a very down-to-earth, humble guy off the court. The amount of effort and dedication he puts into his overall game is staggering, too. I remember him going into the stands after just winning this year's FO and whispering to Uncle Toni about how tired he felt - he was clearly already planning ahead and he just won a major. I have nothing but admiration for his drive, focus, and desire to win. It's actually quite inspiring.

And I think his style of tennis is appealing when he's in form. Nothing better than seeing him get to every ball and hitting winners off both wings and then screaming "vamos!". I admit, there are more entertaining players to watch on the court, but I wouldn't say Djokovic is one of them.

I like Nole, Nadal and Federer all for different reasons. I've never had the desire to choose one over the other. Tennis, to me, isn't a sport where you merely 'support' one team or player. I'm pretty neutral in that regard. Also, it makes the sport so much more fun to watch because I never feel anxious or get all worked up when these guys lose. It's just... enjoyable, win or lose. That's just me, though - I mean, I know a ton of people who have favourites, and that's okay, but I think they're great in different ways. In fact, we're so lucky to have these gentlemen represent the sport of tennis - they're terrific ambassadors and, despite all the fame and money they've got in their live, they always remain civil, charitable and genuine. That's a rarity in any form of celebrity life.

 

[Front242]

Well, instead of saying Rafa will be "less crappy," which is of course wrong, aren't you really saying that the historically difficult channel slam will soon become more accessible? Every year Rafa challenges for Wimbo, he's just won Paris. I think having 2 successes and 3 other finals isn't too crappy. But next year, I think it will be nice for him to have a couple of days to celebrate his Tenth properly, instead of hopping on a plane straight after picking up some bling...

Yeah, he may get even worse with age as the younger guys also get better but that's actually the norm in sports Rafa himself btw has been quoted as saying winning the French Open and Wimbledon back to back is no longer that hard.

 

[Kieran]

Well, instead of saying Rafa will be "less crappy," which is of course wrong, aren't you really saying that the historically difficult channel slam will soon become more accessible? Every year Rafa challenges for Wimbo, he's just won Paris. I think having 2 successes and 3 other finals isn't too crappy. But next year, I think it will be nice for him to have a couple of days to celebrate his Tenth properly, instead of hopping on a plane straight after picking up some bling...

Yeah, he may get even worse with age as the younger guys also get better but that's actually the norm in sports Rafa himself btw has been quoted as saying winning the French Open and Wimbledon back to back is no longer that hard.

Well, evidently it is.

Everybody gets worse with age, brother. You shoulda seen me in my prime. I coulda bin a contenda, I coulda bin somebody...

 

[Backhand_DTL]

Federer definitely looked less vulnerable during the tournament, but it's hard to tell how much of that was because he had no opponent who returns particularly well and could trouble him on serve. Djokovic, although it's far from a given as he didn't return too well against Cilic and Dimitrov and usually has a hard time reading Federer's serve, might be able to get into his service games regularly and present him with a totally different challenge than anybody before. So I think the quality of Djokovic's returns/Federer's serving could be the key to this match.

If Roger gets through most of his service games easily, I think he will win rather comfortably as it would allow him to play freely in the return games and often Novak's whole game is affected negatively when he can't do much on the return. But if Novak returns well and has a first serve percentage in the high 60s I like his chances as Roger might feel a significantly higher pressure on his serve than he is used to and won't get too many opportunities to get breaks himself.

 

[Kieran]

Good post, -FG-.

Nole has more to prove, more pressure and more evidence of inexplicable lapses in the tournament. Roger has stuck to the task exquisitely, especially when Stanley Wow! briefly flirted with glory. Novak's return of serve will need to be at its best, particularly at the start. Can't give Fed a quick start, he's a great front runner...

 

[the AntiPusher]

^ I think their matches have got better the past 4-5 years, they used to be sloppy. It is hard to believe this is only their 2nd GS final meeting and it comes 7 years after the first one. It's one of those matches where I think Nole will have to play at top level consistency to win and even then Roger should have a good chance. Even when Nole had become the better player and Roger declined it was still tough for Nole on fast courts vs. Roger. I think Roger will dig in and win this one, could look similar to the 2012 final in a way.

This is one time, I hope that your prediction is wrong. I think Novak is hungry but currently Fed is playing better grasscourt tennis. This has their first grasscourt appearance SW19 2012 written all over it. I am gonna say that Djoker will eventually wear Roger's backhand down and find a way to regain his championship mentality. Djoker in 4 because I really dont want to see Fed pass Pete's total of 7 Wimbledon titles..However.. I wouldnt be surprise if Fed wins in 4 sets.

 

[the AntiPusher]

who wins yall?

Picking Djokovic in three.

Saturday will be spent surgically removing his head from his arse. A quick shampoo and he will be ready to go Sunday. Roger looked great today against a fella severely lacking mobility and unable to stand up in the "moment".

I liked a fair bit of what I saw from Novak... the best that he was able to wrestle his way through his own distractions and get it done when he needed to. He could have been through in a routine three if he had stayed focused. I trust that he will remain focused Sunday.

I hope that you are correct my friend. :clap

 

[GameSetAndMath]

who wins yall?

Picking Djokovic in three.

Saturday will be spent surgically removing his head from his arse. A quick shampoo and he will be ready to go Sunday.

Hope, he would not need toilet breaks in that case, at least.

 

[Riotbeard]

Repeat of 2011 winners. Novak will win.

 

[DarthFed]

^ I think their matches have got better the past 4-5 years, they used to be sloppy. It is hard to believe this is only their 2nd GS final meeting and it comes 7 years after the first one. It's one of those matches where I think Nole will have to play at top level consistency to win and even then Roger should have a good chance. Even when Nole had become the better player and Roger declined it was still tough for Nole on fast courts vs. Roger. I think Roger will dig in and win this one, could look similar to the 2012 final in a way.

This is one time, I hope that your prediction is wrong. I think Novak is hungry but currently Fed is playing better grasscourt tennis. This has their first grasscourt appearance SW19 2012 written all over it. I am gonna say that Djoker will eventually wear Roger's backhand down and find a way to regain his championship mentality. Djoker in 4 because I really dont want to see Fed pass Pete's total of 7 Wimbledon titles..However.. I wouldnt be surprise if Fed wins in 4 sets.

Roger needs this more than Nole, as long as he doesn't make a mess of the final I think he wins. Not sure fitness will be a factor since it's grass and play is a lot quicker. If Roger is tired by the 4th or even 5th set on grass then his prospects going forward are really bad. Rog just needs to serve well and play clean (something he didn't come close to doing in the one final he mucked up) and he will be good to go.