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Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic…2016 Australian Open semi-finals
I've been making the point that the only difference between Djokovic and Federer is six years of wear and tear on the legs. Djokovic's legs are six years younger. Other than that Federer has it all over Djokovic…now that the racquets are the same size. Even in two out of three sets I have Roger at even money. Djokovic also has the advantage that all of the engineering that has taken place in the last thirty some years is to his advantage as well. He is the prototype modern day tennis player.
It may all well be a mute point anyways…in all likelihood Djokovic is going to prevail. But if somehow the conditions are suitable it is possible that Federer could take him out in four or even three. Five is highly unlikely. But if it did go five sets your point is probably on the money and certainly valid. It might be tough for Federer to bounce back in 36 hours for another prime time match.
But if he were to get to the finals I wouldn't count him out. He can still summon the dragon. The old adrenaline and victory over either Murray or Raonic would not be an impossibility.
Roger has to serve extremely well here against Djokovic. If there is one thing to key on this is it. He has been dominating his service game so far. An extraordinary performance really. Against Thomas Berdych he was really approaching the zenith. Now he must peak at just the right moments and have enough pressure on the Djokovic service game to rattle him just a bit. Djokovic is extremely tough to rattle at this point. He must be feeling nearly invincible. Federer is smart though and he is conceding nothing as indicated in some comments he made to the press during the tournament. Should Djokovic stumble just a bit Federer must be ready to seize control of any given opportunities and not waste any.
Milos Raonic is starting to talk like this too. As boring of an oaf he may appear to be he is realzing that he is dawning on the precipice of the big time tennis players. He has gotten himself into position to take down one of the big names in tennis and he has referred to this as an opportunity on a number of occasions. He got the monkey off of his back against Monfils as he had never defeated Monfils before. By the way…I personally like Monfils more than many of the modern players. What an all court player he would have made if he had been trained in that mold.
Besides the serve of Federer he is going to have to press the issue at some point and go down the line with his backhand into the Djokovic Forehand. It looks to me that he has been trying to key into this during the course of the tournament. It's tough as this is not his natural inclination. He has to get Djokovic to respect that part of the court so that he cannot just camp out on the backhand side. Federer must at least move Djokovic effectively on to that side of the court to try and get at the backhand. When Djokovic is camped out on the backhand he is like an impenetrable wall…maybe if he has to move and struggle a bit to get into position he is slightly more vulnerable. Also is extremely important that Roger be patient and stick with the slice backhand when it is working…hitting the mid depth topspin crosscourt into Djokovic's backhand is tantamount to hitting into the teeth of Rafael Nadal's forehand.
Roger has a lot on his plate. Doubts about his endurance are foremost. He knows that to go five sets with Djokovic is suicide. He has to serve like a demon and press the issue at every opportunity. At this point in his career it is now or never and he knows it. This helps him to play without reservation and it helps him to process the possibility of losing.
Originally posted by licensedcoach
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If it were a long five setter, it would be taxing for Federer if he got through, plus it's an evening match so recovery is shorter if the match finished in the early hours.
Greg Rusedski made an interesting point today. He said he thought Federer is playing as well if not better than ever, and that he is still moving really well. The problem is, Greg says, is that once you are well into your 30s, no matter who you are, you are going to physically drop off towards the latter stages of set 4 onwards. I think Greg might be right. It could be one of the reasons why Roger has been unable to beat Djokovic in a five set match.
It can happen. Roger has to be sublime and Djokovic slightly off. There is hope. As they say in Italy....'hope is the last thing to die'.
Greg Rusedski made an interesting point today. He said he thought Federer is playing as well if not better than ever, and that he is still moving really well. The problem is, Greg says, is that once you are well into your 30s, no matter who you are, you are going to physically drop off towards the latter stages of set 4 onwards. I think Greg might be right. It could be one of the reasons why Roger has been unable to beat Djokovic in a five set match.
It can happen. Roger has to be sublime and Djokovic slightly off. There is hope. As they say in Italy....'hope is the last thing to die'.
It may all well be a mute point anyways…in all likelihood Djokovic is going to prevail. But if somehow the conditions are suitable it is possible that Federer could take him out in four or even three. Five is highly unlikely. But if it did go five sets your point is probably on the money and certainly valid. It might be tough for Federer to bounce back in 36 hours for another prime time match.
But if he were to get to the finals I wouldn't count him out. He can still summon the dragon. The old adrenaline and victory over either Murray or Raonic would not be an impossibility.
Roger has to serve extremely well here against Djokovic. If there is one thing to key on this is it. He has been dominating his service game so far. An extraordinary performance really. Against Thomas Berdych he was really approaching the zenith. Now he must peak at just the right moments and have enough pressure on the Djokovic service game to rattle him just a bit. Djokovic is extremely tough to rattle at this point. He must be feeling nearly invincible. Federer is smart though and he is conceding nothing as indicated in some comments he made to the press during the tournament. Should Djokovic stumble just a bit Federer must be ready to seize control of any given opportunities and not waste any.
Milos Raonic is starting to talk like this too. As boring of an oaf he may appear to be he is realzing that he is dawning on the precipice of the big time tennis players. He has gotten himself into position to take down one of the big names in tennis and he has referred to this as an opportunity on a number of occasions. He got the monkey off of his back against Monfils as he had never defeated Monfils before. By the way…I personally like Monfils more than many of the modern players. What an all court player he would have made if he had been trained in that mold.
Besides the serve of Federer he is going to have to press the issue at some point and go down the line with his backhand into the Djokovic Forehand. It looks to me that he has been trying to key into this during the course of the tournament. It's tough as this is not his natural inclination. He has to get Djokovic to respect that part of the court so that he cannot just camp out on the backhand side. Federer must at least move Djokovic effectively on to that side of the court to try and get at the backhand. When Djokovic is camped out on the backhand he is like an impenetrable wall…maybe if he has to move and struggle a bit to get into position he is slightly more vulnerable. Also is extremely important that Roger be patient and stick with the slice backhand when it is working…hitting the mid depth topspin crosscourt into Djokovic's backhand is tantamount to hitting into the teeth of Rafael Nadal's forehand.
Roger has a lot on his plate. Doubts about his endurance are foremost. He knows that to go five sets with Djokovic is suicide. He has to serve like a demon and press the issue at every opportunity. At this point in his career it is now or never and he knows it. This helps him to play without reservation and it helps him to process the possibility of losing.
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