Australian Open 2016 - Day 11 (and predictions)

One joker and number of sets to guess for Roger?Doko would double up.

Mannarino (FRA)/Pouille (FRA) 25 v Murray (GBR)/Soares (BRA) [15]
Williams (USA) [20 v Radwanska (POL) [40]
Angelique Kerber (GER) [25] v Johanna Konta (25)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [30] v Roger Federer (SUI) [60] (it's the final hence number of points. Guess right number of sets x2..plus djoker posible x4!!
Nestor (CAN)/Stepanek (CZE) 25v Cuevas (URU) [16]/Granollers (ESP) [15]

Mannarino (FRA)/Pouille (FRA) 25
Williams (USA) [20
Johanna Konta (25)
Roger Federer (SUI) [60] in 4 sets.joker
Cuevas (URU) [16]/Granollers (ESP) [15]

Mannarino (FRA)/Pouille (FRA) 25 (so happy for the pair! Saw them on court 14 last Wimbledon play terribly against Kubot/Mirnyi, even joked with Planque that he needed to teach his boy to volley...ALLEZ!!! )
Williams (USA) [20]
Angelique Kerber (GER) [25]
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [30] in 4 sets
Nestor (CAN)/Stepanek (CZE) 25

This AO maybe fed's best opportunity with 2 days between the semi and final.

He just has to give 120% tomorrow.

Yes, I agree, he's got a great chance tomorrow being fresh.

If the match was played in day conditions I'd've picked Fed in 4.

But only because it's in the evening I chose Nole in 4.

I have a feeling Nole wants this one badly in order to turn H2H. Fed's always been able to fend him off so far.
If he wins tomorrow, he'll be very hard to stop the whole year as he will have got rid of his last demon, with the exception of maybe winning RG trophy.

He'll leave sweat, blood and tears on court tomorrow.

Will be a great battle.

Yes....After being stopped many times only by Nadal, now fed is being stopped only by Djoko.


Very unlucky in a way.

He was stopped by Nadal due to bad match up - and it was mainly on clay during his prime.  Nadal could do virtually nothing to stop his dominance at all other slams.  His problem with Djok is entirely due to decline and age.  The worst thing is Djok is like Nadal except without the bad match up. Not sometjing you want to play against at 34.

Murray
Williams
Kerber
Djokovic (Joker) 3 sets
Stepanek


Silly goose:
Murray
williams
kerber
djoko (joker) in 4
Nestor

Mannarino/Pouille
Williams
Kerber
Federer, 3sets, joker
Nestor/Stepanek

FedererKing wrote:He was stopped by Nadal due to bad match up - and it was mainly on clay during his prime.  Nadal could do virtually nothing to stop his dominance at all other slams.  His problem with Djok is entirely due to decline and age.  The worst thing is Djok is like Nadal except without the bad match up. Not sometjing you want to play against at 34.

yeah...right!

Don't you think Djoko makes everybody look older too?

So Bizarre a Soon 29 yo Djoko past his prime makes everybody else look even older.

You don;t want to learn do you?

Anyone watching doubles?

I am imoressed with Pouille!!!!!!

Just watched a bit.....trying to sleep now. Actually Pouille messed up a couple of BPs.

Good night.

Yes he did...as soon as I made that comment.
Good night.

Jamie Murray looks pathetic copying Brian Brothers style of in your face physical presence.

He didn't us to be like that...

Manna and Pouille should not lose to this pair.

Pouille likes the net. This should be a good experience for him.
Mannarino's shots are so good...but neither are used to doubles playing...which is why they are losing...

Hugh Jass: 
Williams
Murray
Kerber
Djoko (joker) 4 sets
cuevas

3-0 already

Fed produces his worst tennis in slams against Djoko every time.
Nothing to do with Djoko's shots, more so the hurdle as a whole he is for Fed. Fed misses bread and butter shots right from the start.

And now Djoko start to play very well too, he knows he has nothing to fear when Fed is this tight

That missed volley....he's been making those with his eyes closed 99 out of 100 times, but not against Djoko

Rod Laver Arena at night for Nole is what Chatrier used to be for Nadal.
It's his den.

I have missed first two games, but from the rest it looks like Nole actually wants to thrash Federer like he thrashed Nadal in Doha.
He wants to make a statement.
That is coming straight from Becker.

I don't know why Fed is so shellshocked - his serve is off, his FH timing is off, and it can' be the hard-hit balls from Nole.

Let's see how the match progresses....

Fed tryng to change things: moving back on returns, mixing uo balls changing pace & lenght with chips and slices but this court does not reward his subtle variety.

This court at night favours fitness and raw power.

6-1 2-1

noleisthebest wrote:
I don't know why Fed is so shellshocked - his serve is off, his FH timing is off, and it can' be the hard-hit balls from Nole.

like their last 4 slam meetings... Fed is in the same self-destuct mode like he was against Nadal most of the time
Djoko is fully taking advantage from it, he is completely comfortable now and playing very well.

Nevertheless, I will never buy it's about Djoko's shots, unless someone can convince me Simon is a better player than FEdeder

gallery play wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:
I don't know why Fed is so shellshocked - his serve is off, his FH timing is off, and it can' be the hard-hit balls from Nole.

like their last 4 slam meetings... Fed is in the same self-destuct mode like he was against Nadal most of the time
Djoko is fully taking advantage from it, he is completely comfortable now and playing very well.

Nevertheless, I will never buy it's about Djoko's shots, unless someone can convince me Simon is a better player than FEdeder

I haven't seen Nole-Simon, but it was played in daytime wasn't it?

I think it's a combination of tight Fed and evening conditions.
Nole is absolutely pummeling Fed's serve, returning it hard and fast at his shoe-laces.
Frd is defending most of time even on his own serve, he's got nothing to help him.

Fed also hitting into Nole's striking zone, really not even asking him any questions.

Fed can't evn get his serve in now...not a nice viewing...I've never seen him so dejected.

I wouldn't read too much into this match.

RG 2008 anyone?

noleisthebest wrote:

gallery play wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:
I don't know why Fed is so shellshocked - his serve is off, his FH timing is off, and it can' be the hard-hit balls from Nole.

like their last 4 slam meetings... Fed is in the same self-destuct mode like he was against Nadal most of the time
Djoko is fully taking advantage from it, he is completely comfortable now and playing very well.

Nevertheless, I will never buy it's about Djoko's shots, unless someone can convince me Simon is a better player than FEdeder

I haven't seen Nole-Simon, but it was played in daytime wasn't it?

I think it's a combination of tight Fed and evening conditions.
Nole is absolutely pummeling Fed's serve, returning it hard and fast at his shoe-laces.
Frd is defending most of time even on his own serve, he's got nothing to help him.

Fed also hitting into Nole's striking zone, really not even asking him any questions.

Fed can't evn get his serve in now...not a nice viewing...I've never seen him so dejected.

I wouldn't read too much into this match.

The thing is Nitb: Fed was playing poor before Djoko was playing this well (or let's say before any questions were asked). That's no incident, it happens every time the last 4 years on big occasions. It's very much alike Fedal.
Djoko must be feeling high, toying with the GOAT like this. We've seen that too in Fedal matches, the more depressed Fed got, the more cocky Nadal got.

Fed needs to have a toilet break after the second set amd reset that service button in his head if he can.

Strong serve was his only chance tonight.

gallery play wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:
I don't know why Fed is so shellshocked - his serve is off, his FH
I wouldn't read too much into this match.

The thing is Nitb: Fed was playing poor before Djoko was playing this well (or let's say before any questions were asked). That's no incident, it happens every time the last 4 years on big occasions. It's very much alike Fedal.
Djoko must be feeling high, toying with the GOAT like this. We've seen that too in Fedal matches, the more depressed Fed got, the more cocky Nadal got.

There is an element of that, some dodgy shot selection...but I really think it's to do with conditions. In Cinci or Dubai it's a different story...there is no pressure in his head there.
The score is exhaggerated.

Nole is making the most of Federer being completely neutralised by them. I am convinced it would not have been like this with fast flying balls of day session.

Tennis looks totally different then.

This one is to forget for Fed. As fast as possible.

He won 5 games and did now better than RG 2008. That's a relief

I haven't seen any long rallies today.

Tennis has moved on. The way Nole is winning is just with returning deep and hard he gets himself into an instant dictating position...no pressure.

noleisthebest wrote:

gallery play wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:
I don't know why Fed is so shellshocked - his serve is off, his FH
I wouldn't read too much into this match.

The thing is Nitb: Fed was playing poor before Djoko was playing this well (or let's say before any questions were asked). That's no incident, it happens every time the last 4 years on big occasions. It's very much alike Fedal.
Djoko must be feeling high, toying with the GOAT like this. We've seen that too in Fedal matches, the more depressed Fed got, the more cocky Nadal got.

There is an element of that, some dodgy shot selection...but I really think it's to do with conditions. In Cinci or Dubai it's a different story...there is no pressure in his head there.
The score is exhaggerated.

Nole is making the most of Federer being completely neutralised by them. I am convinced it would not have been like this with fast flying balls of day session.

Tennis looks totally different then.

This one is to forget for Fed. As fast as possible.

Regardless the conditions, the thought of the task to take 3 sets of Djoko has a paralyzing effect on Federer. Fed knows he nowadays can only play well for 90 minutes so needs to play perfect throughout. After a few ball exchanges it doesn't feel perfect and that's where he loses faith and transforms in a C version of himself.
Even in dubai or Cincy he can't beat Djoko if he has to play a third set. He's simply too old that that!

The effort he still puts in this match is purely out of respect for the audience.

What a point for the BP!
And the first long-ish rally.

The bigger frame has been pure gold for Fed's BH.

This will be the point he can build on after this match.
It started with the short chipped return on Nole's 2nd serve, and that shot worked so well to disturb his rhythm and footwork in their first 15WTF match.

Basically on a slow court Nole is mission impossble atm.
Unless you can blow him off court which I don't think Raonic can.

He even didn't have to resort to any long rally grinding tonight, and that's his big safety net.

Who is this "woman" sitting next to Laver, looks like a travestite!

Fed  takes the fourth bp this game and takes a 4-2 lead. Now watch Djoko break back

Break!

All those missed FH's from neutral balls...

gallery play wrote:Fed  takes the fourth bp this game and takes a 4-2 lead. Now watch Djoko break back

Yep!
He is riled, note how hard he is striking the ball!

gallery play wrote:All those missed FH's from neutral balls...

He needs to rework his FH somehow with Ivan.
Take it a bit earlier more often...but it's hard with his serve being so shaky tonight.

And he holds serve!

Federer really is a gallery player  
He knows he can't win this match but does all he can to satisfy the audience

gallery play wrote:Federer really is a gallery player  
He knows he can't win this match but does all he can to satisfy the audience

Are you tryng to say something here?

2:1!

Nobody thrashes the GOAT!

Only 1 first serve that last game but somehow Fed manages to win it.
The funny thing is, Fed started to rally more this set and.. wins it

gallery play wrote:Only 1 first serve that last game but somehow Fed manages to win it.
The funny thing is, Fed started to rally more this set and.. wins it

Yes, because in those rallies he messes Nole's footowrk.
That's how he beats him every time.

Roof closing (break).
Who will benefit from it?

Federer not only serves poor, his returning is even worse. It's amazing he took a set

This can only be an easy set for Djoko

From 00:30, Nole holds first service game in the 4th set.
This fir the time fir Fed to pounce butnhis FH lets him down. Steps in in the 2nd serve and nets the return...

That is the one that worries me.

Fed is just playng by the ear now...