Roger Federer and John Isner revealed their emotions after their quarterfinal matches today at Wimbledon, in somewhat surprising detail. See if you agree…
After losing in five sets to Kevin Anderson, despite match points and a two set lead, Federer said he wasn’t sure how long he would need to get over this setback: “It could take a while. It could take 30 minutes. I don’t know.”
Fed also added what for him is the “worst feeling” as a tennis player. “I don’t want to sit here and explain my losses. That’s the worst feeling as a tennis player…now I feel horribly fatigued and just awful. It’s just terrible. That’s how it goes, you know. Credit to him.”
Isner on the other had was savoring emotions on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal at age 33, against a man he’s beaten eight times in eleven matches. “Pure elation right now. Very happy to be in the semifinal. With how I’m feeling right now mentally and physically, I’m in a good spot. I think I can keep doing damage here. This is amazing. I’m super happy.”
The agony and the ecstasy were on display today on the court and verbalized inside the inteview room.
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Dan Markowitz · July 12, 2018 at 1:53 am
Love that line by Fed, “I feel horribly fatigued and just awful.” Sounds like it could’ve been uttered in an F. Scott Fitzgerald shot story by one of his characters. Is Fed arrogant for stating once more after a loss that he didn’t play well? Maybe, in this way, Serena and he are very much alike.
But what about Izzie? The way he started the year, it looked like he was on his last legs. He couldn’t beat Abot. Now he’s won Miami and is in the Wimby semis, his first slam semis after only one showing in a slam quarters before. And against KevAnd, he has a real chance fo make it to the finals. Unbelievable.
And if Nadal can beat Djoker, even against one of the giants in the finals, you like his chances. I often go to Newport and my son, a big Nadal fan, often asks me, If Nadal played Newport, would he definitely win the tournamet? And I tell him, No, against Izzie on the Newport grass or another big server, even a Mahut or Muller or Dr. Ivo, it’s not a given that Nadal would win. The Wimby grass is a lot more stalwart than Newport’s, but we might just see if Nadal can slay a giant on grass in the finals, giving him no. 18 and peeping him just two slams back of Fed.
Scoop Malinowski · July 12, 2018 at 9:21 am
Da, Fed gave credit but he just can’t accept that it may have been Anderson’s superiority and power play yesterday that caused him to feel beneath his best yesterday. Of course Roger will never say I was playing my best but Kevin matched me and then upped the ante and I couldn’t play any better because his game disallowed me to. Roger will never say this. No top player ever will.
Joe Blow · July 12, 2018 at 10:15 am
He lost 13-11 in the fifth. Give the guy a break. Don’t parcel his words 15 minutes after the match. Not like he lost 3,3,and 3..Had a match point, couldn’t get the break at 0-40, and a bad service game way late in the 5th..
You talk about Newport grass, what if they kept Wimby grass the same as it was pre-09? Fed would probably have 3 more Wimby’s.
Dan Markowitz · July 12, 2018 at 2:19 pm
The point is, Joe, Federer never says his opponent basically deserved to win. He also has a different take on his old tired, I didn’t play well. Well, sometimes even Fed lose and its the other guy who beats you.
Also, I think Fed might not have won so many Wimby’s if the courts were 1980’s fast as this has benefitted the all-court player that he is. More of the Goran’s and Kraijcek’s and Roddick’s would’ve bested him with their bigger serves.
Joe Blow · July 12, 2018 at 7:45 pm
I read this site for years before I ever posted. You tried burying Fed when he turned 30. 7 years later, you still nitpick about Fed
Scoop Malinowski · July 12, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Joe, we have nothing but enormous respect for Roger Federer and his career but this article is an honest examination of the match yesterday and the consequences. Maybe it was the court one crowd was not a normal Fed crowd because of the surprise court designation of the match and the pre-bought tickets situation. maybe Anderson has a growing fan base now and he is turning into a ticket seller.
Joe Blow · July 13, 2018 at 9:24 am
Should have specified that it was Dan that had Feds downfall at 30
Hartt · July 13, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Am surprised there haven’t been any comments on the Isner vs Anderson match. I watched it, more than 6 hours, 30 minutes of it. It was a marathon to watch, I don’t know how the players got through it. Poor Kevin was too wiped out to smile when he won, much less celebrate. In his post match interview he was very aware of how tough the loss would be for Isner.
He brought up the idea of a TB for the 5th set, because this is simply brutal for the players. I wonder if they could have a compromise, play a certain number of games in the fifth set and if the match is tied, go to a TB then.
Scoop Malinowski · July 13, 2018 at 6:33 pm
Anderson looked fitter and had more energy at the end, and his service games were more decisively won. Isner fell into love-30 holes I think four times and escaped but you could sense it was a matter of time. Isner couldn’t do much damage on Anderson’s service games. I think it’s safe to say now that Kevin Anderson is an elite super power now in the ATP. He can take down anyone, his game is a nightmare to play. No shame to Isner, he could have easily been in the final.
Scoop Malinowski · July 13, 2018 at 6:53 pm
Not surprising that Isner pulled out of WTT and will replaced by Steve Johnson. Isner has proven he can be a major title winner, there is no doubt about it, he will need to get some luck at the end he can go all the way. If Anderson somehow pulls off this Wimbledon win, Isner will get even more confidence but Nadal and Djokovic are playing their absolute best tennis right now and the way I see it, should trounce Anderson. Djokovic is up 2-1 on Nadal in what has been one of the highest quality matches I’ve ever seen at Wimbledon. Unreal tennis by these two. Remember, Djokovic called Nadal his “greatest rival.” Not Federer. It was a surprise to see and hear Nadal grunting in the very first game of the match. It’s a sign he felt threatened by Djokovic. Djokovic is back to his old self, he’s in the that super intense trance beast mode. While the Rafa storm is attacking him like a human tornado, Djokovic stays calm and keeps his wits and gets the job done. It’s like the vampire begging for mercy but Van Helsing Djokovic ignores it all and drives the stake home.
Scoop Malinowski · July 13, 2018 at 6:54 pm
This Rafa Fed GOAT debate just got a whole lot more confusing now that prime peak Djokovic has returned to his top form.