CAMELOT FANTASIES

Federer has been playing well.

the courts are playing fast there. I think Federer gets this one if he can serve big.


berdych is going to the final. he has the hot hand right now.

Yes, Federer has been playing well, but he hasn't really played anyone of note yet. I didn't watch the match, per se, but I did fast forward through the match for scoring purposes.

What makes me waver is that Djokovic has already announced his intention to win Rafa Garros (again), so it wouldn't be very bright to come out here and go out to Federer.

So, we'll see.

But Berdych should go through to the final. At least I hope he does. Wouldn't that be awesome if he grabs two titles this early in the year after going on a two year title drought!

Go Berdy!

Blockbuster match today folks! 
Djokovic vs. Federer in Dubai scheduled to start somewhere around 7 pm local Dubai Time -  4 pm CET, 3 pm. GT,  10 am  EST.

These matches between them have usually been quite good. 
They usually involve more than the minimum amount of sets with momentum switches.
That may change soon as Federer ages more, but at 32 and 1/2, he still looks in pretty good shape.

Recent play between the two:

Djokovic won both of their late 2013 matches, but they both went the distance, even though Federer had an off year for himself and was just starting to get back some form after his back problems earlier in the year.

Federer's last win against  Djokovic was in the 2012 Western & Southern Open in Cincinatti where he thrashed Novak in the first set with a bagel and hung on to win the second set in a tiebreaker and the match.  But that was when Roger was full of confidence as the #1 player in the world after winning Wimbledon beating Djokovic in the SF and Murray in the final, and a silver in the Olympics, whereas Djokovic had lost to Federer in the Wimbledon semi and lost to both Murray and Del Potro  in straight sets to miss an Olympic medal.

I think this will come down to who has the most confidence in their game and themselves right now.  I'm not sure Novak has entirely recovered from his Australian Open QF loss to Wawrinka.  I think that stung him a bit.  But Roger was also stung there in the SF by Rafa.  So they are both looking for a confidence boost in Dubai prior to heading off to the big masters tourneys in the USA.

Sometimes Novak comes out a little flat in big matches between the two, whereas Roger starts well.  I'm not so sure this 500 match qualifies as a big match though, except in terms of the match-up, so I expect Novak to be a bit sharper, and Roger perhaps not so keen.  But that's just a guess.

I'll project it as Nole in 3 sets, but anything could happen. It always depends on how they are feeling on the day.  Federer has to serve better early than he has in his last couple of matches.  His backhand has held up pretty well this tournament, but his forehand and serve have been a bit inconsistent.   Nole has looked sharp against his weaker opponents, but he missed a match courtesy of Mikhail Youzhny's illness and withdrawal.  But it only gave him an extra day rest, unlike his previous reception of a Fognini withdrawal at Roland Garros 2011 where he got 3 days rest and then lost to Federer to end his torrid 43 match streak.  So being the relatively fresher player of the two, I expect Novak to come out raring to go, and Roger with the late performance last night might not have as much edge early. 

So my call is Djokovic  6-3, 3-6, 7-5.   But who knows...

Thursday Federer's interview comments about the match (Djokovic unavailable because he was given a walkover by Youzhny)


Respectfully,
masterclass

Tomas in the meantime gets the win over Phillipp 7-5, 7-5. Good stuff Birdman.

Oh, well. Got my prediction wrong.  Federer raised his level and Djokovic simply couldn't stay with him in the 3rd set and Federer ran away with it and for the first time, beat Djokovic when not winning the first set.  3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Federer played some unbelievable points off of both wings.  One handed backhand at close to 100 mph for a winner.
He was aggressive at the right times and played some good volleys.  It was a vintage performance by him.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Blockbuster match today folks! 
Djokovic vs. Federer in Dubai scheduled to start somewhere around 7 pm local Dubai Time -  4 pm CET, 3 pm. GT,  10 am  EST.

These matches between them have usually been quite good. 
They usually involve more than the minimum amount of sets with momentum switches.
That may change soon as Federer ages more, but at 32 and 1/2, he still looks in pretty good shape.

Recent play between the two:

Djokovic won both of their late 2013 matches, but they both went the distance, even though Federer had an off year for himself and was just starting to get back some form after his back problems earlier in the year.

Federer's last win against  Djokovic was in the 2012 Western & Southern Open in Cincinatti where he thrashed Novak in the first set with a bagel and hung on to win the second set in a tiebreaker and the match.  But that was when Roger was full of confidence as the #1 player in the world after winning Wimbledon beating Djokovic in the SF and Murray in the final, and a silver in the Olympics, whereas Djokovic had lost to Federer in the Wimbledon semi and lost to both Murray and Del Potro  in straight sets to miss an Olympic medal.

I think this will come down to who has the most confidence in their game and themselves right now.  I'm not sure Novak has entirely recovered from his Australian Open QF loss to Wawrinka.  I think that stung him a bit.  But Roger was also stung there in the SF by Rafa.  So they are both looking for a confidence boost in Dubai prior to heading off to the big masters tourneys in the USA.

Sometimes Novak comes out a little flat in big matches between the two, whereas Roger starts well.  I'm not so sure this 500 match qualifies as a big match though, except in terms of the match-up, so I expect Novak to be a bit sharper, and Roger perhaps not so keen.  But that's just a guess.

I'll project it as Nole in 3 sets, but anything could happen. It always depends on how they are feeling on the day.  Federer has to serve better early than he has in his last couple of matches.  His backhand has held up pretty well this tournament, but his forehand and serve have been a bit inconsistent.   Nole has looked sharp against his weaker opponents, but he missed a match courtesy of Mikhail Youzhny's illness and withdrawal.  But it only gave him an extra day rest, unlike his previous reception of a Fognini withdrawal at Roland Garros 2011 where he got 3 days rest and then lost to Federer to end his torrid 43 match streak.  So being the relatively fresher player of the two, I expect Novak to come out raring to go, and Roger with the late performance last night might not have as much edge early. 

So my call is Djokovic  6-3, 3-6, 7-5.   But who knows...

Thursday Federer's interview comments about the match (Djokovic unavailable because he was given a walkover by Youzhny)


Respectfully,
masterclass

This is what I thought as well.

this is why Camelot has become required reading for the world.


there are opposing but very objective views here.


I think federer still has a massive game. I have been saying that for months now.

That's what discussion is supposed to be about; opposing views. Each side presenting their case without trying to convince the other.

If Person A makes valid points, Person B may learn something from them that eventually leads to a softening of their opinion.

That's the only way that it can work.

Many times at TW I was able to understand another person's perspective based on how they presented it.

Good question Lady TT.  I think he mustn't panic or get down on himself for sure.

Nole has to regroup and refocus just a bit. But it's no shame to lose to a Federer playing vintage stuff. Boris Becker has to get Nole to realize that when the Federer genius comes out, that he shouldn't panic, ride the tide, and then look for opportunities to turn the match around. Easier said then done, but Nole has to have a bit more calm. He retrieves and returns as well as anyone. It will help him when he gets back on slower courts. These medium-fast courts in Dubai are probably just a bit too fast for him against someone with the ability and aggression of Federer when he is executing well. There is only so much one can defend, even for the best defenders in the world.   

And it's not only Federer.  Nole has to maintain his calm against whomever his beating him, whether it be Rafa, Andy, or ?
He also has to try to avoid these irritating lulls in a match, but then, that is tough for any player, especially in a five set match. One just to find ways to limit those lulls as much as possible. I don't know if Nole hired Becker to help him on his net and overhead play, but it might be a mistake to try and change his previously winning formula now.  I think Becker needs to emphasize that Nole should try to stay calm and steady throughout the match and maintain his level as much as possible.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Agreed. Nole seemed to be shaken. I didn't watch from the second set on because I fell asleep. I woke up at 5-1 Federer, and Nole looked out of sorts. He definitely needs to regroup, and fast!

Oh, and congrats to Federer fans. The scoreline was shocking. Federer was so happy. A great win for him.

Yes, Lady TT, and that match made it difficult for him today.

It was a struggle following yesterday's big match with Djokovic only 22 hours before.  Federer clearly looked drained, and struggled with his serve throughout the first 1/2 of the match.  Forturnately for him, Berdych, while somewhat fresher, also looked nervous in the key points.  Federer gutted it out and won it, and at the end had more winners than errors. 

Berdych couldn't deal with it at the end.  He was up a set and a break in the second, but Federer broke back, and then broke again to take the second set, and Berdych lost some confidence and was quickly down 4-1 and 5-2 in the decider.

Not a pretty match by any standards, but Federer got it done and won a record 6th Dubai title.

Congratulations to him and his supporters.
Condolences to Tomas Berdych and his fans.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Thanks for the condolences. I was hoping that Tomas would finally put himself in a position to compete for majors, but with an effort like that, he gets what he gets.

I did not know he was up a set and a break. Still not enough fighting spirit.

Federer took advantage and rightly so.