US Open 2014: MOTD Day 11 Thu 04/09/2014 Men's Quarter finals

by raiders_of_the_lost_ark Thu Sep 04, 2014 1:04 pm

Matches for today:

1. Tomas Berdych (CZE) [25]
vs.
Marin Cilic (CRO) [33]

2. Gael Monfils (FRA) [33]
vs.
Roger Federer (SUI) [15]

My picks:

1. Berdych JOKER
2. Federer

by raiders_of_the_lost_ark Thu Sep 04, 2014 1:06 pm

SB wrote:I will not be able to login later so here are my picks:

Fed (joker)
Cilic

For any other match, let's say I always pick the higher seed.

For matches between two unseesed players or teams I pick alphabetically.

Cheers.

by sphairistike Thu Sep 04, 2014 2:09 pm

Picks for today:

1. Marin Cilic (CRO) [33] (Joker)

2. Roger Federer (SUI) [15]

by Polly 81 Thu Sep 04, 2014 2:35 pm

Cilic
Federer (joker)

by Autumnleaf Thu Sep 04, 2014 3:43 pm

Good luck to my picks today.

1. Marin Cilic (CRO) [33] - just because I don't want Berdych anywhere near the final and will be rooting for Cilic all the way. To exclude some confusion of feelings here, I chose Cilic. Big Grin

2. Roger Federer (SUI) [15] - joker - Fed is not Dimitrov and should be able to beat a Monfils who was playing way behind the BL, especially if he returns him like he did in Cincinnati.

by gallery play Thu Sep 04, 2014 3:47 pm

berd
fed joker

by Autumnleaf Thu Sep 04, 2014 4:02 pm

Pretty annoyed by the scheduling btw. As if the American times aren't tough enough already for European based folks (commiserations to the Americans when it's the other way around), do they really have to put an exhibition doubles of all things before the Fed - Monfils match?

At least we can probably expect that the exhibition match won't take more than an hour, right?

by Daniel Thu Sep 04, 2014 4:55 pm

Berdych Fed. Although I hope Cilic wins to make it easier for Fed.

by Daniel Thu Sep 04, 2014 5:18 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/29064526

BBC really are scraping the barrel, aren't they? Now, Murray's year has been "Exceptional", and he "will be challenging for Slams again in 2015 and back in top 5"

And this is scraped from the opinion of one player. They will do ANYTHING to put a spin on things. Don't they realize that this shit is the reason Murray hasn't won more? This ridiculous hype.

by gallery play Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:40 pm

FedererKing wrote:Berdych Fed. Although I hope Cilic wins to make it easier for Fed.

That's what you might think but in this form Cilic can trouble any player. He's outplaying Berdych at the moment.
Berd's high ball toss doesn't help in this windy condition but it's not only the serve that makes Cilic the much better player today.

by gallery play Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:48 pm

In the first 2 sets Cilic is winning 51% of receiving points.

by gallery play Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:22 pm

Thomas' big mouth strikes again.
He goes bezerk after a right desicion of the ref. The replay clearly showed the ball bounced twice. I remember this also happened when he played against Federer. The ref didn't noticed it back then.

by gallery play Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:23 pm

Anyway, Cilic fights his way back in the set after that incident: 4-4

by gallery play Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:29 pm

Cilic is less mobile now it seems, will the previous match takes it's toll?
He'd better win in three

by Daniel Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:37 pm

gallery play wrote:
FedererKing wrote:Berdych Fed. Although I hope Cilic wins to make it easier for Fed.

That's what you might think but in this form Cilic can trouble any player. He's outplaying Berdych at the moment.
Berd's high ball toss doesn't help in this windy condition but it's not only the serve that makes Cilic the much better player today.

Perhaps, but Fed is 5-0 on Cilic... it's matchups again. Berdych can beat Fed and has done a few times.

by Daniel Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:42 pm

Mind you... Cilic is only 25... He has a few years left to hit a top mark. And this is as good as I've seen him.

by gallery play Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:46 pm

And Cilic did it. Really impressive.

by gallery play Thu Sep 04, 2014 9:52 pm

winners Cilic 46
winners Berd 21

by Daniel Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:28 pm

Cilic has come from nowhere.

by noleisthebest Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:57 pm

Didn't see the match, but not surprised by the score.
Cilic has piled on plenty of muscle and is hitting the ball quite hard, his serve has improved significantly with Goran, and his game generally now has a bit more sting.
The trade-off is the loss of his light, elastic forward movement he used to have.

I actually liked his game more before, just that he was such a choker...I'll never forget how he managed to squander a set and 5:1 lead against Murray at 2012 USO.

I doubt he'll trouble Fed beyond some physical rallies which I'm sure Federer knows how to deal with.

I've had a long and tough day so am pretty tired, but hope to stay awake till 1AM when I hope Fed-Monf will start.
If not, I hope I at least wake up before the match ends...

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 1:43 am

These days whenever I see Federer in a rally longer than 5 I have no confidene he is going to win it,. He makes so many errors now... esp on backhand. And he is back to playing really bad again...

Needs to improve.

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 2:33 am

Very interesting and close match with two clashing styles: classic school vs street tennis.
COME ON ROGER!!!!! diva

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 2:37 am

OK Nole and Tenez.... you telling me Fed of 2006 plays this bad and goes 2-0 down at US Open to Monfils in QF?

No chance.

It hasn't been remotely close... Federer has turned into Federror. He needs to summon all his strength now to win this in 5. This is his worst match this year so far... it's been abysmal.

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 2:44 am

Two sets down and Fed finally breaks Monfils...in style! Bubbly

GO ROGER!!!! tennisball

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 2:56 am

Monf playing really well, but Fed wants it badly.

All guns blazing tennis!

by summerblues Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:13 am

I missed the second set but I saw most of the first and third. Federer very mediocre so far. Even if he somehow gets out of this and then somehow makes the final, he will have zero chance against Nole if he plays like this.

It is annoying as he looked better earlier in the tournament.

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:13 am

2:1!

Impressive fightback from Federer. It took him all his knife-edge tennis to do it.
Superb match.

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:16 am

Federer is far from mediocre.
Can't you see/acknowledge the quality of Monfils's lights-out performance tonight?

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:26 am

What a volley from Fed for the BP!!!!!! cracker

by summerblues Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:28 am

noleisthebest wrote:Federer is far from mediocre.
Can't you see/acknowledge the quality of Monfils's lights-out performance tonight?

Or maybe it is you who is sticking your head in the sand?

Fed was entirely mediocre the first set, and not much better in the third.

Monfils is playing well, but not lights-out as you so hopefully call it.

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:32 am

SB, sorry but you couldn't be further from the truth.

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:41 am

Both beginning to tire. Nerves of steel needed in the next few games.

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:43 am

summerblues wrote:I missed the second set but I saw most of the first and third. Federer very mediocre so far. Even if he somehow gets out of this and then somehow makes the final, he will have zero chance against Nole if he plays like this.

It is annoying as he looked better earlier in the tournament.

You know why that is though. Most of us do. He's 33... and it's only gonna get worse. It's sad because for Fed to win another slam he needs a kind draw + his best play (his best at 33) + a purple patch of true consistency. Having all 3 is very rare.

He's been very very poor overall... Monfils has played well, but Fed didn't even turn up in first 2 sets, and has been hanging on with his service games far too often. The first thing I noticed with Federer after 2007 was how poor his 1st serves were going compared to 2004-7... and now it's in terminal decline. He doesn't hit ANYWHERE NEAR the amount of aces he used to, and more often than not his 1st serve % is below 60. Sometimes at 50. In his prime, he tortured opponents.

Some people watch Federer playing like this and actually con themselves into believing this is his best level. It's not even close.

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:48 am

Another easy backhand error.

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:51 am

4:4 in the 4th set
Federer 120
Monfils 119 points

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:51 am

I love Monfils though... what a character... He's like a loose cannon aboard a ship in a sea storm.

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:53 am

COME ON FEDERER SORT THAT FUCKING BACKHAND OUT! TIME TO TAKE THE BREAK!

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:54 am

When chips are down, Monfils pounds Fed's BH.
Serve keeping him in this set. Big time.

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:56 am

Not really... he's not been hitting many 1st serves at all. Monfils simply isn't capitalizing. How many aces has fed had this set 1? 0?

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:58 am

another unforced forehand error.

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:00 am

THAT'S BETTER! A GOOD gutsy down the line forehand. But man this is not Federer....

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:01 am

Maybe that's put a spoke in Monfils wheel?

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:02 am

MOMENTUM SHIFT!!!!

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:02 am

Fed saves 2MP with some ridiculous gutsy play.
My heart has stopped about a hundred times...I don't know how his is still beating...

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:05 am

Too many of these forehand errors.

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:07 am

Federer, SERVE IT OUT!!!!

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:09 am

BREAK!!!!

Come on ROGEEEEEEEEERRRRR!!!!! diva

by Daniel Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:11 am

GET IN!!!!!

now bed time sadly.... ive got work Sad

by summerblues Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:16 am

Wow, that was tense. Monfils could have had him on the 1st MP but Fed survived. Let's see who wins from here.

by noleisthebest Fri Sep 05, 2014 4:16 am

Wow....what a comeback!

Fed turned the match and started playing on his terms in the third, first two sets Monfils was in the unmissable zone.

I am in awe of how he kept the nerve and executed that high risk tennis.
So incredibly tough. One of a kind he truly is.

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