Can you believe what both players showed today?
Both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic played this match like it was their first and last Wimbledon final. Urgency. Desperation. Amazing shotmaking for over four hours. Changes in momentum. Frustration. Joy. Countless shots off lines.
Both players cried tears at the end. I can’t remember ever seeing both winner and loser crying at the end of a major final.
Rafa vs. Federer in 2008 at Wimbledon was of course a great match, but this one was a little better.
Djokovic survives Federer in classic
Scoop Malinowski · July 6, 2014 at 2:51 pm
Djokovic could have mentally threw in the towel after blowing the first set. He could have thrown in the towel after blowing the match point. After blowing the fourth set. Djokovic’s determination today through all the failures and adversities and suffering, is one of the greatest examples you will ever see of a tennis player battling on. Federer couldn’t have played any better. There were so many memorable stages of this match. Fed’s aces. Djokovic’s passes in the 45 game in the third set. The tiebreakers. So many hard fought baseline rallies under pressure. The fifth set. I literally did not miss one single point of this match.
Jack · July 6, 2014 at 3:27 pm
Great match, and a swansong for Roger. Roger may be the last of the great skilled tennis players that we will ever see, as Tennis becomes more and more “physical”.
CS3 · July 6, 2014 at 3:29 pm
This match was Great but NOT on the same level as Rafa-Roger in 2008 or even some of the EPICS between Rafa & Novak even classics between Roger & Novak in Grand Slam semifinals… On a similar level I will give you that… Credit to Novak for a MUCH NEEDED Grand Slam triumph & credit to Federer for showing the kind of form that resembled his All Time Grand Slam King self… Beating Roger in 2008 at Wimbledon is a whole other level of accomplishment than beating him in 2014 & I mean that will all due respect to the Djoker… Another CLASSIC Grand Slam Final featuring the Big 3 of the Men’s game… Was a true joy to watch as it was SKILLFUL, THRILLING & SUSPENSFUL Tennis at the highest level with ever changing shifts of momentum & emotion… These 3 All Time Great Grand Slam Champions just seem to bring that out of each other!
CS3 · July 6, 2014 at 4:39 pm
When it comes to the EPIC Grand Slam Finals involving Rafa, Roger & Novak, there really isn’t a definitive choice for which of their matches against each other is THE BEST EVER… Roger-Rafa, Rafa-Roger, Rafa-Novak, Novak-Rafa & Roger-Novak, Novak-Roger have all produced at least a handful of matches on the Biggest Stage(s)in the sport where a strong case can be made for that particular match being in the conversation of being the GOAT… Just another reason why we as TENNIS FANS/LOVERS are so privileged to be able to witness such an amazing era that will likely never be duplicated again… Even if the game isn’t as “pure” & doesn’t involve as much variation/technique as it once did, I truly think the physicality, athleticism & incredible competitive spirit of these Legendary Champions makes this the best Tennis that has ever or will ever be played! CS-III 🙂
Andrew Miller · July 6, 2014 at 5:57 pm
No way. Nadal federer 08 about twice as good and federer roddick also better. Fine match though and comparison flattering
Scoop Malinowski · July 6, 2014 at 9:14 pm
No disrespect to Rafa but I didn’t miss his brute tennis for one second today while watching this epic. I think Roger would have beaten Rafa today, he played that well.
CS3 · July 6, 2014 at 9:41 pm
Federer was his Maestro self today & may have had a real shot to down Rafa… I still think he would have blinked & shanked enough ill-timed errors for Rafa to seize the opening & prevail… Any dip in play during a best 3-out-of 5 set GS match especially Final is a death sentence against The Bull… Djokovic is built for 15 round World Title bouts just like Rafa… Fed has always been prone to cracking against a player of equal level who puts him under physical & mental pressure… Novak & Rafa are a different breed of player(s)… 21st Century Tennis Gladiator Ironmen!
Scoop Malinowski · July 6, 2014 at 11:09 pm
True CS3 Fed has a stronger self belief vs. Djokovic than vs. Rafa.
Andrew Miller · July 6, 2014 at 11:09 pm
agree with CS3 – the knock on the big three (sorry Murray but you put in a duck of a performance!) is always that the outcome could be in doubt if a player can stick with them until the end depending on the surface and rarely can any player beat more than one of them in a row (and that’s the way slams are these days). Nadal’s a proven champ – I think he would have beat Federer but lost to Djokovic.
CS3 · July 7, 2014 at 12:23 am
Novak, if he were steady & without his almost habitual clear drops in focus & level during a Slam Final likely would have prevailed over Rafa today… I doubt however he survives blowing the 4th set like he did today had Rafa been on the other side of the net… When things are running smoothly for Novak in his matches against Rafa, he is control & prevails… However, when something happens that turns momentum & causes Novak to drop in level & subsequently become rattled, it goes south for him in a hurry… Even Novak’s supreme technical game & precision shot making can’t hold up to the full steam ahead ONSLAUGHT of the “Rafa Express” once it gets going as Rafa is the 1 player who literally removes the usually endless fight & steel like determination the Djoker has within him … Federer will present more openings via errors to make finishing the deal far less strenuous on both the body & more importantly on the shaky at times psyche!
Dan markowitz · July 7, 2014 at 3:00 am
What does it say about the current state of hard court tennis when the greatest matches ever played you’re stating we’re all at Wimbledon. Watching the endless bacc court rallies is a bit mind numbing. I think it was better in the old days when courts were faster and racquets smaller and Mac and Jimbo played gems at US Open.
Patrick · July 7, 2014 at 3:17 am
I have to disagree that this match was better than the ’08 final. And the ’08 final isn’t even my favorite match, and it might be second behind Agassi/Ivanisevic in ’92 Wimby for fav Wimby final.
So I certainly can’t agree that this was the, or even one of the, greatest matches ever played. Here are my reasons:
For sheer drama and tension, this match was tough to beat. I was on the edge of my chair the entire match, and that fifth set was just brilliant. Who knew who was going to pull out the match at that point. Federer won the fourth set despite not being able to hit a groundstroke inside the great London metropolitan area, much less the lines of the tennis court they were playing on, and yet Djokovic gifted him the set anyway on account of a weird mini-mental-breakdown that caused him to lose the ability to get a decent serve in play.
And that last part is the reason I can’t rank this match that high. The quality of play in sets 1, 2, and 5 was tremendous — and Novak’s service returns in the fifth set were just breathtaking — but that 4th set was a borderline insult to the game of tennis. I mean, it was just an exceedingly poorly played set. I didn’t know whether i was watching Wozniacki and Sharapova or Djokovic and Federer.
In the start of that fourth set, Federer had already resigned himself to defeat. And as we’ve seen countless times over the last few years, Federer just isn’t much of a fighter. When the going gets rough, Federer morphs into his alter ego Shankerer and starts hitting every third ball into the bottom of the net or somewhere near where Pippa Middleton was sitting. And this was definitely happening in the 4th set. Shankerer had entered the building. But then, inexplicably, Novak starts gifting him service games, and Federer regains some confidence, gets some spring back in his legs — which helps Shankerer morph back into Federer — seals the 4th set, and — BOOM! — we’ve now got a ballgame on our hands.
And that fifth set was great. And the match as a whole was a joy to watch. But when we’re ranking greatest matches it has to be a combination of (a) how compelling is the viewing product, and (b) how good is the actual tennis being played. And I think this one scores only above average in category b because the quality of play in that fourth set was just strikingly bad.
Patrick · July 7, 2014 at 3:25 am
Roger would not have beaten Rafa today. No way.
Maybe one set.
gustarhymes · July 7, 2014 at 12:33 pm
congrats to Djoker for the victory. But he played 5 sets vs an old Federer. Not that impressed. He slipped and fell and worked his way to the win in spite of it. I can clearly see that without his illegal spikes he falls, but still pushed through the tournament and won; so I’ll give him some credit. The reason these guys made the final was also the seeding committe screwing Rafa IMO. Rafa had a worse draw then Fed or Djoker. He played a krygios with 2 days rest which allowed quite a serving barrage.
IMO Djoker still is not catching Rafa or Roger in the historical context. Roger will not win another major it looks like. Rafa still has a chance at Wimbledon and Oz next year. Novak has fulfilled his wimbledon requirement for GOAT consideration, but will not fulfill 2 RG; in retrospect I should have thrown in a second US open! I’m still going to win my bet with Scoop!
The young up and comers made some noise in this tournament but are looking like failures. Raonic and Dmitrov are yet to make a major final at age 23; even Murray who was being criticized by many of us on this website including me even got to a USO final in 2008.
I think Rafa and Djoker will have another 2-3 seasons of playing top tennis before someone arrives. Dmitrov and Raonic are looking like 1 slam wonder material to me. Krygios has only 1-2 slams in him at best; I’m not sold on any player 6’4″ or more winning more than 1 major. Interstingly only Safin won 2 and Del Potro and Krajicek are one slam wonders. Not sure if Stich was 6’4″?
Looking forward to the US open
gustarhymes · July 7, 2014 at 12:41 pm
The match was not as good as Fed-Nadal 2008. If Fed won after being down match point we could say it. If Fed was up match point and djoker won I might even consider it. Also both players won wimbledon before. Less at stake for either player imo. on the other hand, Rafa had to win to become an all time great and he was playing a prime age Federer. I think the rain delays of 2008 also made it more compelling too. If Fed was in his prime yesterday, he would have beaten Djoker.
Russeljones · July 7, 2014 at 2:31 pm
I think Scoop is talking about a different intangible. Courage. This match had tonnes of it, the way no Nadal match can ever have. His play is about percentages and clearance. These guys played their hearts out. I am not going to say it’s the greatest because, although Rog is my favourite player of all time, I love the game more than any one single player. Tennis has been around for much longer than the Big 4. I think the Borg-Jmac and Borg-Villas matches are right up there. Also, Connors, young Pete Sampras, Edberg, have all been involved in scintilating matches.
Andrew Miller · July 7, 2014 at 3:39 pm
Thought djokovic did great and federer too until shanking started. Thought federer came unglued and didnt raise his level at end like 08 or 09 where he pretty much played up until final seconds. Nonetheless he played a great match just less able or less brave or both in the final games – in federer case his level of play lets up or he plays safe but in djoko case he starts giving up . Murray mopes. Generally nadal doesnt ever give up ever unless match isnt that impprtant to him .
Andrew Miller · July 7, 2014 at 4:01 pm
Hey i think kyrgios is real deal. I put him as top guy even above dimitrov and leagues better than other players of his peer group. Once he gets in gear i think he will even brush aside the triumverate . I was that convinced but you never know. See nalbandian baghdatis etc.
Russeljones · July 8, 2014 at 4:50 am
Kyrgios will do well to match Mark Philippoussis’s career. Not a bad career to have.
BoDu · July 8, 2014 at 10:45 am
This match was of higher quality that the 2008 final. Look at the winners and the unforced errors
2014 Final
Winners – 143
Errors – 56
2008 Final
Winners – 149
Errors – 79
Scoop Malinowski · July 8, 2014 at 9:22 pm
Cool stat BoDu, thanks for sharing it.
Scoop Malinowski · July 8, 2014 at 9:23 pm
Russelljones, I don’t see Kyrgios becoming the type of guy to be a party animal and ladies man like Flipper was. I don’t see Kyrgios as being a guy to waste his awesome talents.
Jack · July 16, 2014 at 2:17 pm
Interesting youtube clip :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr9tYI9D8jc