For the second year in a row, I incorrectly predicted the result of the Wimbledon men's final. Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer 7-6(1) 6-7(10) 6-4 6-3 to win his 9th major title and 3rd Wimbledon title. He is now 9-8 in major finals and has pulled even 20-20 in his head-to-head with the Swiss Great by winning Federer-Djokovic XL. He now leads the greatest Grass court player of all time 2-1 on grass!
The match was a nailbiter with Federer playing slightly better in the first set but failing to hold on to na early break and Djokovic saving breakpoints with well-placed serves and then playing a near flawless first tiebreak to steal the first set. The second set was even better with excellent tennis from both players. Djokovic had an amazing seven set points (6 in the tiebreak) but Federer served and volleyed on important point (including his second set point) and grabbed the second. By this pointit was clear that Federer was not going to have an equally transcendent day on serve that he had had against Murray, especially when he got broken despite being up 40-15 in the third game of the third set. Djokovic had sniffs at a second break but was denied. Regardless, he was able to nurse his lead to a 6-4 win of the third set. In the fourth set Djokovic was again able to break early and consolidate the break before a rain delay. After the rain delay it was Djokovic, not Federer who seemed to be playing with more energy and the excitement of the match cooled substantially as the likelihood of a repeat of last year's dramatic run by Federer to force a 5th set seemed unlikely. Djokovic confirmed this by starting to return even better and forced breakpoints that were championship points, winning the second one.
Djokovic is now 8th on the all-time majors won list, pulling ahead of Ivan Lendl, Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors (who have 8 each) but yet still behind greats like Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver (who have 11) and Rafael Nadal and Pete Sampras (14 each), and of course Federer at 17.
2 comments:
Losing that break when up 4-2 in the first set I felt to be key to Roger's ultimate defeat. I thought a sense of demoralization set in, from which he only periodically recovered.
Good match though, but Novak was lethal after that rain delay.
The highlight of the tournament was the deep run by Vasek Pospisil to the quarters and the lack of a deep run by Nadal.
But I do agree with John McEnroe - Uncle Tony has to go and have felt that way for quite a while.
I agree. If Roger had not realizes that he HAD to hold at 4-2 up. (I think he was somewhat surprised that it came so easily and then got a little bit unlucky on the first few points. In hindsight he should have tried to raise his level there and really concentrate on his serve at that point.
That being said, Novak deserved to win the 2nd set and didn't.
I doubt that Nadal will EVER completely disassociate himself from Uncle Toni, just like Venus and Serena still list their mom and dad as coach. (Patrick is listed as Serena's "consulting coach." I do think it is very possible that Rafa could get a new consulting coach---Moya perhaps?
Post a Comment