Roger Federer dominated world #1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic like only he could. It was a masterful four set wipeout. Federer was perfect or near perfect, with his sublime arsenal dictating Djokovic around the court like his personal servant.
Federer was a machine, perfectly composed from the first point to the last, this was one of his finest performances ever at Wimbledon.
Federer’s backhand, which often crumbles against Djokovic’s two hander, was unflinching today. In every way, he was the superior player to the strangely subdued Serbian powerhouse.
With one more win on Sunday, Federer will set a new Wimbledon record for singles titles and also regain the #1 ranking, defying all the experts and know-it-alls.
The one and only Roger Federer is about to regain his throne as the King of Tennis.
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Scoop Malinowski · July 6, 2012 at 4:50 pm
You can never count out the great champions, and Roger Federer has proven it this fortnight and again today. Djokovic was an apprentice to the master today.
Steve · July 6, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Scoop, I just noticed, you’re an excellent writer. 🙂
Martin G · July 6, 2012 at 5:31 pm
From Dan’s blog post
“Now, I know some people don’t want to hear Roger, Rog, The Almighty Federer, RF is fizzling, so I’m going to make it easy on you, Fed Fanatics. He’s not fizzling…don’t give it a second thought, he’s faltering.
The Djoker in straight sets tomorrow.”
Way off Dan, way off.
We’ve had bad Djoko and nearly perfect Fed. Fed won in 4 sets.
Now Fed must be praying that Tsonga beat Murray to have easy final.
Fed’s game doesn’t match well against Murray’s.
Andrew Miller · July 6, 2012 at 5:44 pm
I’m way off myself, my predictions have been 80 to 90 percent off, and 100 percent off for Federer.
I don’t think the final on the men’s side will be a cakewalk whatsoever. I think it will an all out war.
On the WTA side, Serena’s the favorite. I love Radwanska’s game with Hingis-like work. But it’s hard to believe Serena will be denied.
All of that said, you see my predictions above. That means the men’s final, as it’s been opposite day all tournament for me, will be a blowout and Radwanska will hold the trophy!
Andrew Miller · July 6, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Murray vs. Federer
Radwanska vs. Williams
Will there be a surprise champ?
Martin G · July 6, 2012 at 6:15 pm
It’s hard to pick Radwanska over Williams.
If I remember correctly it’s first final for Radwanska and her game is a bad match up to Williams game.
10% – Radwanska wins, 90% – Williams wins.
Men’s final is tough to call too.
Fed going for Wim slam again, getting number one ranking again – lot’s of on the line for him.
Murray – weight of the British on his shoulders. His fourth or fifth final but first in Wimby. If he holds hist nerves he can do it this time.
His game matches well against Fed’s game.
Martin G · July 6, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Talk about long wait
Andy Murray has become the first British player to reach the men’s singles final since 1938 after he beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
Dan Markowitz · July 6, 2012 at 6:29 pm
Tsonga can never play well in a really big match. Who said Fed doesn’t have a good record against Murray? He does in big slam matches and he beat Murray on a fast court in Doha, was it?, earlier in the year in a finals. I like Andy, though, and as well as Fed played today, I still pick Andy to win it all in the finals.
And you know, I’m never wrong twice in a row.
Andrew Miller · July 6, 2012 at 6:57 pm
I’m wrong when I predict. But I will hold to my pattern – you could do worse (meaning you are even money) in Vegas or Atlantic City by electing the opposite of my predictions.
So here goes:
I think the men’s final will be a war with two nervous but then confidant players, with lots of momentum shifts and some tiebreaks. No champ predicted from me if the roof is open, just that the war will go the distance. If the roof closes, I think Federer wins by a small margin in five sets.
WTA final, Serena wins.
loreley · July 6, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Tsonga is useless when it comes to big matches.
You just have to read what he told in his presser about the match-up against Murray. No confidence at all.
Mitch · July 6, 2012 at 7:29 pm
One more thing Radwanksa has going for her is that she is apparently sick.
As much as I want Fed to win, I think that Murray will pull through if he can continue to play as well as he has. Pretty big if though, considering the pressure of the occasion. He needs to not dump serve early and stay positive. It will be very interesting to see if Lendl can prepare him mentally.
Thomas Tung · July 6, 2012 at 8:45 pm
My hopes are for Murray/Radwanska, but my gut tells me Federer/Serena … I’d just like to see Murray win and give the Brits a nice, much-needed morale boost, while for Radwanska, I just like her Hingis-like play (even if her serve is softer than Martina’s).
Michael · July 6, 2012 at 9:08 pm
Alba gu brath !!!
TC · July 6, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Murray holds an 8-7 winning record vs. The Rog.
I think this is significant but I take Rog in 5.
Scoop Malinowski · July 7, 2012 at 1:36 am
I like Murray to shock the world on Sunday. No one expected Delpo to win the US Open. No one expected Novotna to finally shed her choke label. But when you least expect it sometimes, it happens. I think Murray is finally ready to do it. And he will. For the womens, Radwanska should hope not to get whooped like Zvereva vs. Graf. When Serena is serving like she is, it’s almost easy for her. Azarenka was a far tougher test for Serena than Radwanska will be. Willie Pep Featherweights like Aga are no match for a heavyweight Tyson like Serena. Though I’m not going to go out on a limb like Dan and say I’ll crawl around like a dog around the USTA national tennis center with a hot dog in my mouth, if Aga upsets Serena. )
Scoop Malinowski · July 7, 2012 at 2:21 am
Hey Dan you want to go double down on the women’s final? Pick who you want to pick and if you win, you are clear of the crepe and crawling on hands and knees singing Federer is better than Johnny Mac. If you lose though, you also have to break dance by the fountain and do the robot man for ten straight minutes. Just kidding, I don’t think the Fed nation readers are gonna let you off the hook that easy.
Andrew Miller · July 7, 2012 at 2:46 am
From Bruce Jenkins at SI about the Nadal-Djokovic-Federer triumverate:
“Over the next year or so, people should be advised to back off the “greatest of all time” argument. These guys are still active, and their fortunes change by the minute. As soon as you’ve reached a hard-and-fast conclusion, flawless and unassailable, they’ll tear it right down. That’s why we’re in a men’s tennis era for the ages. It’s a book you cannot put down.”
Michael · July 7, 2012 at 3:51 am
“I like Murray to shock the world on Sunday.”
A very mild shock.
“No one expected Delpo to win the US Open.”
That is not true.
DelPo was among the hotter players that Summer. He was cruising at the USO. When he made the semis people thought that was the end of the ride. Instead he blew Nadal of the court. It was clear this was not the same guy that Fed took apart 6 months before Australia. In fact, the match at the French already showed Delpo was a new man. By final Sunday plenty of people were picking DelPo just like plenty of people are picking Murray.
Fedfan · July 7, 2012 at 5:08 am
Federer played amazing today but I am concerned that he could play a mediocre final due to his body not co-operating with his mind – tired legs, bad back, who knows? Remember those 2 straight sets losses for Sampras in the USO in 2001 and 2001?
Steve · July 7, 2012 at 11:13 am
I’m happy either way. I’d be happy for Lendl if Murray wins and happy for Fed to win another slam. I notice that most former, well known pro players believe Fed will win one or two more.
If Fed wins Pete loses two records so that’s a bit sad. He’d have to share the 7 trophy record and lose the weeks at #1 record.
One thing we can say is that this won’t be mindless baseline bashing.
Dan Markowitz · July 7, 2012 at 11:57 am
Ok, Scoop, I like your idea. I pick Serena and Murray, mostly because I can’t stand Federer. That’s right, I’ve had a night to sleep on it and I’ve decided I can’t stand Federer. How dare him not give the Djoker a hug at the net when the Djoker leaned his body over for a nice little huggie!!!? Who the hell does he think he is? What is he not the huggie-kissie type? The Djoker basically gave him that match by not being able to hit a first serve of consequence after the second set. Fed’s forehand was ready to self-destruct and the Djoker couldn’t even keep his footing.
What is it with the Djoker? Once he slips once on either blue clay or grass, it’s all over. The guy plays slipsie the rest of the match. Forget about changing clothing, change your dang shoes from Adidas to Asics, I’m wearing them now and they’re dang fine shoe and I didn’t even get a free pair to say that.
Also, I hate Fed’s box. His wife always on the smart phone, Mary Joe’s hubby in his best suit, what’s the guy need to be in a suit for at a tennis match. Paul “Sourpuss” Annacone, who makes Lendl look like a feel-good guy, and the other Swiss coach, whatever his name is, who never says a word, he’s probably just there b/c the Fed gives him free shoelaces or something. The only person I kinda like in the Fed box is his Dad, who looks like he’s actually enjoying himself, probably stuffed himself at the buffet before coming in to watch his great athlete son, bemused by the fact that he probably was a mediocre athlete while his son is RF. How the hell did that happen?
Anyway, Scoop, Serena and Murray and let’s hope they win b/c you know my knees aren’t that good to be walking all around the Billie Jean King Center with a crepe hanging out of my mouth, saying, “Fed is great.”
Scoop Malinowski · July 7, 2012 at 12:04 pm
That’s well said by Jenkins. Each has plenty of time to establish his superiority. Right now it’s Rafa and Fed noses apart coming down the stretch but Djok can still come flying down the outside and take them at the wire when all is said and done.
Scoop Malinowski · July 7, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Very good point Fedfan, Fed had to use up a lot of his mojo to get to this final. Murray is not going to make it easy for him, you have to think Lendl sees expolitable areas in Federer that mere mortal eyes like ours can’t detect. Welcome to the site Fedfan.
Andrew Miller · July 7, 2012 at 12:42 pm
I like what Murray said in his interview before the final about Lendl.
“You know, I spoke to Ivan after the match. It was, Good job. You did really well. What time do you want to practice tomorrow? That’s it. There’s no time for anything else.”
Seems like a different tack for Murray. Should make for a good final.
Tom Michael · July 7, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Dan, you said before the Fed/Djoker semi, that if Fed wins, you would crawl with a crepe in your mouth, saying that Fed is Great, He is greater than McEnroe. Now you are trying some revisionist history by saying that if Murray wins, you get out of it. You have to hold up your end of the original wager, whether Murray wins or loses.
Crawl, Baby! Crawl! Your days of walking are behind you.
Andrew Miller · July 7, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Pretty slick “fly on the wall” intros (both to the Serena-Radwanska match and after the first set). Got to say that watching the players go through the entire Wimbledon “cathedral” (almost an office setting and hallways of champions) and then the clips of Serena in the crowds of people at Wimbledon with the accents and culture and british accents and stuff, makes me realize DANG – Wimbledon and the tennis world is actually a whole world. The cameras take you through the cathedral, out from the locker room to the moment they give the players the flowers and then the moment that the “chaperone” leaves them, joins their colleagues at the opening of the court, and starts clapping for the finalists as they make their way towards their chairs.
Finals is totally different atmosphere. That was some awesome camerawork! They do the same in boxing and it’s very enjoyable stuff.
Sends chills up the spine. No wonder Roddick says, and pretty consistently, that he’d be an idiot to believe that his life is anything but interesting. He knows that the tennis is not just about him but the whole thing – the places, people, forums, history and more. I will have to check Agassi’s book again and see if he mentioned it. But it’s never only that two players show up at a court. It’s also what they pass through to get there – all of the people and places and sights and so on. Makes it even cooler.
Steve · July 7, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Lendl also taught him this:
http://youtu.be/sE4qgC-wwqo
http://youtu.be/5xAPwx3z950