Three top dogs after five matches. 74 freaking aces to 18 and 34? Geeeezzzz!!!!!

Player	Aces	Ist serve pct.	Sets lost	Unforced errors / Winners	Bk pt conv %	Time on court.	Matches played
Nadal	34	63	0	116 / 140 = +24	37	12:10	5
Federer	74	60	0	133 / 183 = +50	53	8:52	5
Djokovic	18	70	2	160 / 150 = -10	48	12:01	5

Photos.

US reality television star Kim Kardashian (2nd L) watches Rafael Nadal of Spain and Fernando Verdasco of Spain at the US Open 2010 tennis tournament September 9, 2010 in New York. (Photo by Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

Former model Christie Brinkley (R) and former tennis player Chris Evert watch a match between number 25 seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland reacts to a point during his match against number 12 seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 9, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)

Joining the other team?

Djokovic on reaching semis @ US Open.

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Soderling interview after losing to Federer.

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Federer interview after beating Soderling.

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Nadal has two sacrifices to make back to back now.

Both are coming off the same altar called the five-set stone.

Verdasco played a five setter against Ferrer and Youzhny has just completed his version of it against Wawrinka to make Nadal’s road to the finals strewn with rose petals. It that good or bad?

Bad because facing a red-hot Federer in the finals may be too much of a bump for Nadal after these easy pickings. Good because it will protect the most defining factor in determining whether Nadal wins or loses – on ANY surface: Fuel.

Besides, past history between the two points to total and complete irrelevance to what trail they leave before meeting each other. Both have produced questionable performances in the previous rounds at almost every tournament they have faced each other at – so many freaking times – that their unique match up idiosyncracies dictate everything moving forward.

But just as Federer finds himself in a must-win situation after this Soderling thrashing, Nadal is not too far from it, if not with an even acute case of affliction, emanating from the draw that appears to be getting better with every round. If this keeps up a walkover or a retirement in the finals shouldn’t shock anyone.

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The most unbelievable tale: “Someone once ran a steak through a dishwasher after the diner sent it back twice. Ironically, the customer was happy with it then.”

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Soderling gets threaded in a lawn mower called Federer @ US Open.

Soderling was reduced to a peculiar dance at the baseline. Did you notice? No, you didn’t. He would bump up a little as if receiving a minor electric shock and then start his walk to the other side of the court – endlessfreakingly. Know what I am talking about?

It’s about the spectator status he was clothed with when receiving serve from Federer. Federer had 18 freaking aces to two from Soderling. Not enough? Not only did Soderling hit no aces, his first serves that found the mark won him just 67% of the points compared to 86 for Federer. I am talking about the shock response the player goes through when receiving an ace and then starts his trot to the other side. And why do I have to freaking explain everyfreakingthing here. Geeeeeeeeeeezzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!! Toddlers.

Federer produced a masterful performance which may have triggered from fear of messing things up given the opponent and the conditions. His senses were heightened similar to a blind person possessing far keener and sharper senses of hearing etc. than the rest of us. It didn’t matter how much pace Soderling was able to generate. In fact, the harder he hit the response was proportionately upgraded time and time again leaving no place for Soderling to hide and hoping for just unforced errors to win points.

In Federer’s mind, this win may have reversed not just his Roland Garros loss to Soderling earlier this year but also last year’s loss to Delpo in the finals here – given the similarity in trajectory and pace the two players live off of.

At one stage of the match, Federer was actually using the windy conditions to his advantage by allowing the wind to make the ball go where he wanted. Case in very particular point: Drop shots. Not only did the drop shot attempt never fail and land far away from Soderling but the wind ensured the bounce moved away to make it even tougher for Soderling.

This could quite possibly be one of the greatest showing from Federer given everything that was on the table. If you missed this symphony, please step in your kitchen – carefully – AND DROWN YOURSELF IN THE KITCHEN SINK. Geeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Downside? You know it was coming, didn’t you? After this devastating form, winning the title becomes an ABSOLUTE MUST. It’s like having the most delicious and sumptuous dinner and leaving the table without the dessert. Losing now – against anybody – will dampen a lot of sparkle this win has produced.

But if after this, Federer manages to lose to Nadal in the final – given everything on the line for both players (Hard court H2H, career Slam, No. 17, each denying other another milestone, record-breaking 6th US Open…….) Federer’s claim to being a GOAT WILL take a major hit. Not only will Nadal beat Federer at another hard court Slam final, he will have done it at the peak of Federer’s game with Anaconda and the works. Nadal will also even up the hard court H2H releasing hot air from the argument of his clay dominance over Federer to skew the overall stat.

Federer HAS to now win it. Winning it after beating Nadal will be a cherry on the cake – far cry from the accolades Nadal will earn if he beats Federer – but that’s the price you have to sometimes pay if you aim higher than anyone else. In other words, Federer is back to where he has languished forever – lot to lose and not much to gain. Nadal knows the dynamic all too well by now and is bound to play on it through the media to muster intangible advantage.

However, if current pattern of improvement is any indication of Federer’s form starting as far back as Toronto, it’s hard to imagine Federer faltering now. He may actually get even better as tougher challenges ahead force his talent to release even greater tennis vs the likelihood of throwing water on all good already achieved so far.

But Nadal is the ONLY one now, if the progression stays true to script, to not only handle Federer’s improved game but actually supersede it with his own strong antidote – physically and mentally.

Top 10 Tennis Rivalries.

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Photos.

Federer mysteriously has audio dumped by ESPN.

Roger Federer Quick Fire questions. From M. Thanks.

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