What if Roger Federer summoned his inner beast… The Rogimal?

Slam Querrey.

Berdych? Djoker retires? So it’s Federer vs Berydch and Cilic vs Querrey?

I’ll go with ABF anyone but Federer wins, with Berdych playing spoiler and a toss up, Cilic or Querrey.

Had meant to add that I think Berdych will be yet another opponent destroyed by Fed.

Dimitrov, Raonic – that age group has truly fallen flat. I don’t think they have the “if it were any other era” excuse of, say, Roddick.
At some point have to start asking the tough questions. Because either these guys don’t have enough heart or drive m, or madness, or Federer etc and big four are superhuman or superdopers.

Andrew,

Interesting that Ginepri was the last U.S. male player to be a first-time Slam semifinalist that year. Ginepri’s path to the semis was cleared when potential second-round opponent Andy Roddick was beaten by … Gilles Muller! Ginepri retired four years ago I believe and he’s still 10 months younger than Federer! Ginepri went 0-5 against Fed in his career. He now coaches Tiafoe.

Querrey and Ginepri are Slam semifinalists, a distinction James Blake never reached. In that ’05 Open, Blake lost to Agassi in the quarters and Agassi then beat Ginepri before losing to Fed.

This is a defining moment in Berdych’s career. He has beaten Fed but more notable are times he has come up short – blowing a two-set lead in Australia years ago, getting blasted down under this year. Of course, he should have beaten Fed in Miami but this is the real deal. Of course, he has beaten Fed at SW19 before but this is the real deal. I want to believe he can do it but I believe Fed will have enough tricks up his sleeve. Then again, this tourney has gotten crazy in recent days. But make no doubt about it, this is the Bird-man’s greatest shot at winning a Slam now and he has to stare down Fed to do it.

Duke, my bad. Roddick last us man to make a semifinal or better with his 2009 Wimbledon finals run. But it’s like so,
2017 Querrey, Wimbledon semis or better
2016 Querrey, Wimbledon quarters
2011 Isner and Fish make slam quarters.
2009 Roddick, slam final (Roddick made several deep runs from 2004 to his retirement)
2005, Ginepri last non Roddick, non Agassi player to make a slam semifinal.

Yes, I like Berdych’s chances. He has nothing to lose, he’s a very good grass player. He knows Federer’s game well. It’s as if someone has to remind him of this. He can stay with Federer because of his footwork, how he can hit through the court. He’s going to need to stick with it like you said, stare down a few break points, up his courage on a few he gets on Federer’s serve. Keep the pressure on Federer.
It’s a good moment for Berdych. He should forget he’s playing Federer, just play standard hit the stuffing out if the ball like Del Potro did in 2009. It’s the same guy out there.

Scoop I heard something to that effect about that night though Djoker knew he was pissing off the NY crowd and did it anyway and clearly used Roddick’s words to pump himself up. Djoker back then was a bit of a wuss, always retiring from matches and whatnot and then he became a tennis machine. I miss that guy.

Bad loss for Taylor Fritz in straight sets to Tommy Paul. Fritz looked bad. Seems like Tiafoe has passed him now. He’s only 18 but he has a long way to go mentally and physically.

how about that Fed down the line forehand pass against a charging Raonic in the third set today? What a shot, it clipped the sideline. Raonic hit an unbelievable Fed-like shot too off a beautiful low volley be Fed where he slapped a forehand pass by Fed.

Sam I Am has belief and do you think it has something to do with his pretty blonde girlfriend who’s been in his box all throughout Europe? It’s amazing how players play well when they have a pretty, enthusiastic girlfriend in their box or in Fed’s case, the constant presence of Mirka.

I wonder if Murray will become the new Becker after he retires and have to get his hips replaced. Startling to see a 30 year old with so many injuries, back, hip, etc. Now Djoko wiith the elbow.

Berry doesn’t have a chance against Fed the way Fed is playing. This is truly amazing. Fed is going to come into New York aiming for slam no. 20.

Yes, it’s interesting Catherine, because my son is now training a lot for tennis and he plays against a boy who at 12 runs five miles a day and does two training blocks with his coach from 7-9 am and 1-3. And the boy’s father has had him work with a trainer every day since he’s been like 8.

The coach who was just brought in, thinks it’s too much. That you shouldn’t do such hard work at that young age. Murray’s training blocks I know were legendary and I wonder in addition tom making him stronger, fitter, they’ve also worn down his body. It’s amazing how well he moves because when he walks inbetween points, he often looks like an old man with the limp and the posterior tilt ((sorry to go into yoga jargon here) of his hips and torso.

I didn’t see the Federer quote, but that’s quite touching, but also very graphic in the degree of importance Federer and I’m sure other players attribute to the girlfriends and wives who populate their player boxes. We see it with Djoko where once his girlfriend now wife looked like Djoko was the epitome of brilliance out on the court and she lived and breathed with him on every point and he soaked up her earnestness and heart-felt ardor. Then she disappeared from his box, we heard about the marital strife and now even when she’s back, its not the same. Sometimes she even looks slightly bored to be there. Could this have any factor in Djoko’s problems. We all know we are psycho-physio beings and what effects our mind will take its toll on our body, good and bad.

Kontinen so far MVP. He’s dominating all doubles!

Muguruza 6-1 1st set.

Wow, Muguruza wants this slam. I’ve not been in Muguruza’s corner as a fan, but obviously she’s playing aggressive and believes the tournament belongs to her this time.

(Makes Kerber’s loss look even better.)

Conchita should have the job full time with Garbine.

Garbine 6- 6-1. How on earth did Rybarikova beat Pliskova ?
Andrew you’re right – Muguruza wants this one.

Maybe Pliskova chokes. She’s now been in big matches several times – us open, Australia, French, here. All losses. Journalists had felt she was more comfortable playing smaller tournaments and racking up wins on lower ranked opponents with her complete game. And that description of a player happier at less prominent tournaments has held up.

Muguruza, whose game to me is more diluted and less caries and less complete than Pliskova, is more aggressive.

Maybe since Ostapenko’s French Open triumph we should applaud what makes players tick. That Muguruza’s more confined game doesn’t speak for her take no prisoners aggression here at Wimbledon, or Ostapenko’s less polished game doesn’t matter when she’s going all out, hating losing more than wanting to win, so begins pummeling shots just to survive, and triumphs.

Agassi once said the heart of a champion makes things possible that didn’t seem likely. Muguruza, Ostapenko, prove that. They’ve been playing with the aggressive attitude of Serena Williams!

‘A player happier at less prominent tournaments’ is now WTA No 1 ?
Mice are performing an eightsome reel 🙂

Chazz, hard to know what to make of the age versus rankings. Nadal, Federer, Roddick etc didn’t seem to care about this before.

Venus?!!!

Andrew, the fact of the matter is and we lived through Pete and Andre is that neither are great ambassadors for the sport and certainly not for the sport in this country. Heck, Johnny Mac with his nuttiness was a worse player than them results-wise but a much better ambassador for the sport. Todd Martin, Fish, Blake none of these guys seem to want to do it. Courier may be a bad DC captain but at least he helps U.S. players.

I know that ‘Iron’ Mike Russell has helped DY and some others. Iron Mike is a great tennis mind and he could definitely help a guy like Fritz mature. Just like Gilbert was a grinder who taught Agassi work ethic.