Aus Open: sf 2

Double points if you guess correct number of sets. 

Chung (100) vs Federer (25)

Chung in 4

Fed in three.

I fear a jinx, but I think it’s Fed in three; at least one of them very tight.

This all feels like Wimbledon 2017 when I kept expecting something terrible to happen but happily it didn’t.

All evidence - and I’m talking about Chung’s last three months of results - says it must be Federer in three. I look at the list of people Chung’s been losing to and wonder if that crew could find what they needed to defeat him then there must be plenty for Federer to work on.

Can’t rule out some peculiarity or wrinkle but still......

Chung is certainly capable of an upset, but he'll need help from Federer.  He hasn't ever played anyone with Federer's variety and talent and I think that's why he's in for an almighty shock when he sees what playing a non baseline one trick pony is like.

Fed in 3, not even a TB to be played.

Good luck Roger.  This should be easy three sets (unless Fed is feeling the pressure in which case he could maybe drop a set).  I am not getting up to watch, so please make sure you guys guide Fed to a smooth victory.  I do not want to wake up to find out he lost.

fed in 4.

Fed in 3.

Fed in 3. 

Most delusional article ever:

http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/22204810

How clueless is the author of this article? This isn't just about experience; it's about Federer having a versatile and rounded game. Variety. chung so far has faced no-one willing to play serve and volley to name just one thing Federer will do. He's faced baseline dwellers who don't have a fraction of Federer's talent. Chung can win, but it will take a Federer off-day.

I think the experience will certainly be very important, though Ching sounds like a cool customer in that article.

I didn’t know he was 6dt 2, same as Nole.

Very strong legs and probably the rest of him.

He os definitely more robust than Nishi, let’s see about the mind.

As always this will come down to Feds execution, but like I say above, Chung has lost to all sorts in the last three months. I accept he beat Djokovic, but a Djokovic who announces straight after that he might have surgery. He beat Zverev too but Zverev was appallingly docile in that match and ran himself out, almost channeling Monfils.

Surely logic dictates Federer has more that all those others who beat him recently.

It doesn't matter what Chung's previous matches were. he has been injured and very much on and off the last 2 years and playing challenger tour when fit. But before his injuries he was running Cilic close 2 and 3 years ago already.

He is learning very fast.

Nadal was also losing to nobodies when he beat Federer for the first time.

This is true, but still he was in good enough shape the last three months and all sorts have beaten him. Losing 2 & 3 to Daveed is what it is.

Anyway, we’ll all know in three hours.

Not serving well but 2-0 up!

He will serve better...but what I don;t like is that he is forced to rally! Not good news.

The more you see of Chung, the less you like?

As expected, chung doesn't know what's hit him.  He probably came into this thinking that all top players are great but similar.  And he's being taught a harsh lesson about the difference when a top player is near his best and has this level of variety.  He's probably never played someone who has a complete game before (Nadal and Djok don't).

Tenez, put a sock in it.  Fed is playing well and is fit as a fiddle considering his age.  Of course he's being made to run - chung is a defender and younger. It isn't changing a thing.  You must be the only person I know that whinges about fitness even when their man is kicking arse.

Just tuned in!p at 3:1.

Very nervous Chung.

Daniel wrote:Tenez, put a sock in it.  Fed is playing well and is fit as a fiddle considering his age.  Of course he's being made to run - chung is a defender and younger. It isn't changing a thing.  You must be the only person I know that whinges about fitness even when their man is kicking arse.

You a fan of Chung?

Whats going on, Fed kicking ass yahooo

All those years of playing RRunners has really helped Federer made him a better player. He is not trying to go for broke like he used to v Nadal, Murray and Djoko. he waits 3 or 4 shots before hurting.

Jahu wrote:Whats going on, Fed kicking ass yahooo

You're just saying your name at the end

Nope. From what I have seen he is just more of what we've all seen.  Good backhand.  Good speed.  Road runner. Good returner.  He'll win slams, I'd say, but he's got no variety at all.  And I don't like the arrogant gestures he made when he played Djokovic.

He's being made to look stupid here, because Fed's variety and tennis brain is something he simply has no answers for. Oh, and his serve is average.

Like a fish out of water with his net approaches too....  Federer just blowing him away.

Federer certainly makes it look easy and sends Chung back to his #50 ranking!

luvsports! wrote:

Jahu wrote:Whats going on, Fed kicking ass yahooo

You're just saying your name at the end

Stop making sense always man 

Tenez wrote:All those years of playing RRunners has really helped Federer made him a better player. He is not trying to go for broke like he used to v Nadal, Murray and Djoko. he waits 3 or 4 shots before hurting.

Surely the 97” stick heavy frame helps, too.

Tenez wrote:Federer certainly makes it look easy and sends Chung back to his #50 ranking!

More to the challenger level...if that.

This puts match vs Nole into perspective.

Daniel wrote:Like a fish out of water with his net approaches too....  Federer just blowing him away.

That is inky because Chung is nervous, so nervous he is venturing the net.
And when passed like a rookie there retreats to the baseline where he is outpaced.

He is totally frozen now.

We can see here the difference between the RRunners of Nadal, Djoko and Murray (and now Zverev) is that though Fed struggled versus those guys, a slightly weaker version of them is being bullied on the court, whereas Nadal, Djoko woudl have made a meal of Chung and it would have been a long struggling battle.

Poor fools who've emulated Djok and Nadal are going to suffer... because to reach their level with defence is rare.  And if you don't reach that level in defence, as you say, you get bullied.

Daniel wrote:Poor fools who've emulated Djok and Nadal are going to suffer... because to reach their level with defence is rare.  And if you don't reach that level in defence, as you say, you get bullied.

Yes, but it’s so much easier on the mind as it requires no guts.

The “downside” - body is paying the price.

I like th ecolours of the AO...from the court to the ball boys shirts...It's exotic.

I am colour blind so maybe that helps.

Not watching but reading this comment from Mark Woodford:
"Federer had a closed practice earlier and most of it was taking the pace off the ball and making it fall short."

So is Fed pulling off that anti-bollettieri tactic?

Stupid umpire. 

Meanwhile, chung can't do a thing to fed's serve.

gallery play wrote:Not watching but reading this comment from Mark Woodford:
"Federer had a closed practice earlier and most of it was taking the pace off the ball and making it fall short."

So is Fed pulling off that anti-bollettieri tactic?

Hehe, surely the right medicine.

Tenez wrote:I like th ecolours of the AO...from the court to the ball boys shirts...It's exotic.

I am colour blind so maybe that helps.

I don’t even kniw what colour blind is (in practice)

You can’t distinguish all colours?

Here we go... another who can't play without having a time out.

gallery play wrote:Not watching but reading this comment from Mark Woodford:
"Federer had a closed practice earlier and most of it was taking the pace off the ball and making it fall short."

So is Fed pulling off that anti-bollettieri tactic?

That's smart! I was wondering why Fed's shots looked soft today.

In 1992 Sampras got schooled by Edberg in the US Open final.  He said that was a salutary experience, it taught him a lot more about what was needed.  

OK - Sampras in 1992 was already a slam winner and firmly established in the top 5.

As others have said, this is an opportunity for Chung to enjoy a similar brutal lesson.  He'll never have seen anything like this before.  It will be fascinating to see what he makes of it.

On another note - if Federer can stay around at the very top for the next 18 months and throw in a few more performances like this his true legacy may be to ram it home to coaches and up-and-coming players that they need to strive for variety.

I don't care what's wrong with you.  If your arm falls off.  I don't care.  End the match if that's the case.  You;re on the court and if you need help - get off it and forfeit.

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:I like th ecolours of the AO...from the court to the ball boys shirts...It's exotic.

I am colour blind so maybe that helps.

I don’t even kniw what colour blind is (in practice)

You can’t distinguish all colours?

Different levels but mine is the typical Green/brown/red...though it can be pink/grey Green/yellow.

I see all those colours distinctively at times depending on shades.

barrystar wrote:In 1992 Sampras got schooled by Edberg in the US Open final.  He said that was a salutary experience, it taught him a lot more about what was needed.  

OK - Sampras in 1992 was already a slam winner and firmly established in the top 5.

As others have said, this is an opportunity for Chung to enjoy a similar brutal lesson.  He'll never have seen anything like this before.  It will be fascinating to see what he makes of it.

On another note - if Federer can stay around at the very top for the next 18 months and throw in a few more performances like this his true legacy may be to ram it home to coaches and up-and-coming players that they need to strive for variety.

Fair enough, but Chung isn't Sampras.  Or even close.  He will never be that good with his serve for one thing.

It’s done.

Daniel wrote:

barrystar wrote:In 1992 Sampras got schooled by Edberg in the US Open final.  He said that was a salutary experience, it taught him a lot more about what was needed.  

OK - Sampras in 1992 was already a slam winner and firmly established in the top 5.

As others have said, this is an opportunity for Chung to enjoy a similar brutal lesson.  He'll never have seen anything like this before.  It will be fascinating to see what he makes of it.

On another note - if Federer can stay around at the very top for the next 18 months and throw in a few more performances like this his true legacy may be to ram it home to coaches and up-and-coming players that they need to strive for variety.

Fair enough, but Chung isn't Sampras.  Or even close.  He will never be that good with his serve for one thing.

Don't disagree with that - hence my final sentence.

Bad habit to get into.

Woke up in the middle of the night and having a quick look at the match. So far so good.

So we can put Chung in the Nadal gutless bracket.  When his ego is being damaged, he's out of there.  Get fucked.