Semifinal day: Review.
Posted by tennisplanet on July 3, 2009
Roddick storms into the finals – again.
How sweet it would be for Roddick to win this title now with the potential to wipe away all those heartaches over the years with one stroke while holding Federer from moving up to No. 15 as payback!!!
But Federer is not even letting the draft from under the door slip in forget about an opening.
Hope the encounter turns into lot more than what the match up has produced in the past. Roddick’s confidence has to be shooting through the roof considering he beat Murray despite losing the battle on paper: Unforced errors (24-20), winning percentage on first serves (77-83) and aces (21-25).
Now an American can potentially win everything at Wimbledon: Singles – womens and mens. Doubles – mens and womens. Boys. Mixed?
While Roddick’s jubilation after this win can be justified given the conditions it may hurt him in his quest to win the final considering who he will face.
The only last favor Roddick needs now is for Federer to falter like he did against Djokovic right after beating Roddick @ Miami.
Because if Federer continues on the rampage he has been 0n, Roddick may even get bageled considering the energy he has already expended against Hewitt (five setter) and Murray.
The biggest knock on Roddick at most of his matches against Federer has been the loss of steam at the latter sets. Roddick’s initial energy and motivation used to win a set off Federer in most cases is enough to drain him completely resulting in a fold up in the end.
Statistically this match up looks the worst one in that respect with Federer having lost just one set – in a tie break – with time on court at 11:29 to 15:45, not to mention the emotional drain the past two matches have been for Roddick.
But circumstances were not too different for the two clowns who got their monkey off at the other two Slams of this year. So is this Roddick’s turn to go through fire and celebrate?
Although it appears Federer should be able to wrap it up in straight sets, Roddick’s underdog status and absence of both Djokovic and Murray in the line up may allow complacency to sneak in to make Federer falter.
After all, Federer is still to beat a 100% Nadal, Murray and Djokovic this year. These were the clowns denying Federer the title before Madrid.
While it’s not Federer’s concern who does or doesn’t make it to face him in the semis and finals, the encounter against Djokovic and Murray on this surface would have given him a pretty accurate read of how optimistic he can feel going forward.
From the looks of it, fans may have already had the thrillers of Wimbledon this year (Hewitt vs Roddick, Murray vs Wawrinka and Murray vs Roddick). Anything beyond that should be gravy. Or is it?
banti said
6-4,7-6,6-4 Federer
boxingary said
“After all, Federer is still to beat a 100% Nadal, Murray and Djokovic this year.”
———————–
And maybe vice-versa?
Leachim said
Well said! H2H doesn’t say so much!
For me 21 straight semis say more …
Ch said
definitely!
Anonymous said
Well said! Nobody seems to talk about how Federer wasn’t a 100% either from last years USO til march/april this Year!!!
MIKE__ said
- Tommy, you did the best you could and served lights out, but going to Fed’s forehand is ALWAYS a losing proposition. And please, never get chummy with your pal ON-COURT. Behind Roger’s warm, friendly facade is a ruthless killer that views that as submission and weakness. Do you ever see Nadal, Murray, or Djoko-pussy acting friendly with Fed on court? No, and neither should you!
- Fed, job well done and we’ll see you tomorrow holding the champions trophy! Hopefully The Pistol will be there along with The Rocket and Borg to witness history … 15 and counting! Seeing all you LEGENDS on the new Centre Court willl be AMAZING!!
- Murray, your play today was pretty much laughable and you succumbed to the pressure and folded on the big points (shocker!). You think dishing the “cheese”, as Gilbert would say, is the way to win Wimbledon? Chipping short, slicing, dicing, and other weak off-speed stuff in addition to your weak 2nd serve will get you nowhere on grass! You cannot passively counterpunch your way to a Wimbledon title because the grass favors the bold and the aggressive, not the weak and the timid. Hopefully your future efforts here won’t devolve into a Henman redux.
- Andy Roddick, I’ll refrain from calling you A-Who? for a few weeks in honor of your play today. Stefanki is truly the GOAT of tennis coaches and if let that man go, you’re f*cked … again. You positively MANHANDLED Murray out there today and showed great mental fortitude, great serving, nice variety, and good patience. Unfortunately, Fed’s on-deck and your prospects look grim at best. Forget about all those agonizing losses to The Machine (Fed) and just go out there and do your best! You, the sisters, and the twins have made America proud during this fortnight.
FINALS PREDICTION: Fed in straights, 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Jenny said
You said it all for me, Mike.
Leachim said
Andy Roddick, you were great yesterday and deserved to win! Your style was attractive (not at all onesided)!
ricke said
Mike, Mike who are You? Calling out Andy by name and giving him praise! Thank-you so much! I will enjoy these weeks of Andy love, well probably Andy tolerance on your part. Your post was very accurate and fair. Roddick while not the choice of many in the final, deserves it for his play. He earned this, it was not given to him. Nadal is not here folks and noone else stepped up to take the challenger’s spot. So give Andy his due.
Ch said
good post. I hope your prediction comes true.
Tony said
Roddick is simply icing on the cake; nothing as essential as gravy for a bland thanksgiving turkey!!!
Nadal, where are you?
djb said
I still can’t stand Roddick. How come it took him this long to finally start playing some sort of decent tennis?? He’s still a joke in my opinion, and he’s gonna get whipped in the final.
I can’t believe I’m rooting for Federer!!! Where’s Nadal when you need him??
bunnee said
“After all, Federer is still to beat a 100% Nadal, Murray and Djokovic this year.”
but a 100% federer could topple any of those jokers, whether or not they are at their peak!
Milla said
Nice win for Roddick
Would love to see him upset Fed in the finals but that won’t happen. Can’t wait to see Rafa in Canada!
aey said
I thing Andy come to this wimbledon ‘09 with a bit different mind set. He seem not too “enjoy playing” , but feel more eager to win.
I still would love to see roger win this tournament and get back his NO. 1, but will be glad if andy win as well. It will be very enjoyable sunday.
Zorana said
A Fed Roddick final is soooooo boring.We’ve seen it all before, so you might as well give Fed the trophy now. Christ……I think that without Nadal Fed would have won it this year anyway, but Roddick in the final? Fed must be doing cartwheels accross the floor…..
Tennis Freak said
We have had 3 finals already: Hewitt vs Roddick, Murray vs Wawrinka, and Murray vs Roddick.
Yes, we deserve a 4th final.
There are a lot of experts, players, and partisan fans who have basis for writing off A-Rod.
For those who are depressed to see A-Rod in the final, here is a way to look at him optimistically:
This is not the same A-Rod we have seen in the last couple of years. From yesterday’s match, I’d say he is a much improved, serene, tactical Roddick. The damage that his new weapon did yesterday and has potential to hurt others, including Fed, is summed up in this excerpt: “You know, I think more so than the coming in, the thing that Larry was stressing was, you know, against Andy [Murray], if you do come in, you have to hit a good approach shot, otherwise the ball’s gonna be passing you all day.
That’s probably the thing that I did best today, was come in, but behind really good approach shots.”
A few other things I noticed in him yesterday: His smoother movement inside the court, more stinging low-curvy slices, more powerful and faster cross-court shots, quicker return of the ball on the rise, more reliable backhand, less prone to UEs. If it is not a 1-match wonder and if he can pull out this Stefanki-packaged Roddick tomorrow, it should help A-Rod wage a good campaign for the title. He is as prepared as he was in 2005, with a few more weapons in his arsenal, and that could make him a good competitor.
A good omen on his side: This is his 3rd final, and as Rafa did it in his 3rd attempt, A-Rod might be able to pull it off, if 3 is his lucky number, too. A-Rod enters this year’s final with a better grass court resume than Rafa did in 2008: both are 2 time finalists; Rafa had 1 Queens title, but Roddick has 4.
There is only one thing that goes against Roddick: it is 2-18 H2H lopsided stat in Fed’s favor, and Fed has lost only once on grass since 2003 (47-1 in SW19 alone; 72-1, including Halle).
Before yesterday’s defeat, Murray had 6-2 against A-Rod. How would Murray’s 6-2 against Fed produce a different result, if the same stat did not against A-Rod, or produce a match that could rival ‘08 Fed-Rafa final? Unless you are delusional to think Fed is weaker than Roddick on grass, it is not right to think Murray could/ would have given a better final. In Murray’s loss to Roddick, we just witnessed the past match ups and H2H stat did not turn out to be good predictor. Would the same or different pattern follow in the final? We don’t know. And it is better for the final’s excitement to discount the rigidity of the past and enhance the uncertainty of the future. The mighty Fed himself chose to undermine the significance of H2H stat in his yesterday’s interview: “I don’t know how much…a record…would come into play…It [the match] starts from zero.” And nobody has won a point for the final yet.
Hope for a brutal battle of the best two remaining !
boxingary said
“There is only one thing that goes against Roddick”
———————————
Awww, come on…….use your imagination a little:
(2) Unlike Nadal, Roddick isn’t LEFT-HANDED…
(3) Unlike Murray, Federer doesn’t have a candy-ass 2nd serve…
(4) Murray returned serve well enough to take it to a 4th-set
tie-breaker. Federer returns serve even better…
(5) Unlike last year, Fed doesn’t have the pressure of
setting a new record with 6 consecutive wins…
(6) Unlike last year, Fed has already completed the career
Slam AND tied Sampras at 14 total…
(7) Unlike last year, Fed has the motivation to REGAIN the
#1 ranking, instead of the pressure of defending it…
(8) Andy may have more Queens titles than Rafa, but Rafa
came a lot closer to beating Roger at Wimby in 2007 than
Andy did in either 2004 or 2005…
Anything CAN happen, sure….and I’d be tickled pink for Andy
if he won, but it sure looks like the usual long-shot to me.
Tennis Freak said
That’s safe and conservative way to look at.
Ch said
always sensible, Boxingary.
Sergeant said
I like Boxingary’s long list of things not in favor of Roddick. However, there is one thing that goes against Federer:
(1) A bald nuts clown jumping from the stands. Only that this time he could be pretty heavy, and might wear a LA Dodgers cap. Suddenly Roddick could win 4-6, 6-7(5), 0-2.
Ok, that was a little lame, but seriously, I do fear for Roger’s safety.
grendel said
Roddick ran Federer pretty close in their last three encounters. And Roddick has improved out of sight since then. Who would have thought Roddick could outplay Murray from the baseline, consistently showing more flair and imagination? Not to mention total dominance at the net. Also, Roddick’s serve has improved – 75 to 80% strike rate for first serve is bordering on sick. Nor does it seem to be the case any longer that Fed has automatic read on the Roddick serve. Was true, became untrue, for recently Fed has been floundering like everyone else, sticking out a racket and hoping for the best. What, holy Fed? Oh, yes, indeed. Makes me cross.
Before conclusions can be drawn from this scenario, we have to factor in Federer’s recent form and state of mind. These, too, have improved markedly. So then it becomes a question of whose improvement will have the greater impact upon the forthcoming tussle. And, as to this, information is unavailable. To find out, it will be necessary to watch the match. The resulting research should be very interesting and maybe even entertaining.
I am expecting an extremely tight match. If I prove wrong, I won’t cry.
Deep South Girl said
Grendel–Why such an abbreviated reply???
Tennis Freak said
Grendal,
We miss your insightful posts. Don’t be so rare, please.