Coffin Publish time 22-11-2019 04:53:14

It doesn't seem right seeing a great like Federer mope off the court having lost 3 sets to love to a player that has zero slam final appearances

He should retire

Digsy Publish time 22-11-2019 04:53:14

Tsonga reached the 2008 Australian Open final but lost to Djokovic.

Federer isn't really a factor at RG. He'll do reasonably well at the next two Slams unless he comes across big hitters like Tsonga/Berdych before the SF stages.

Coffin Publish time 22-11-2019 04:53:14

Clay is his worst but hoped for more

Forgot to Wiki check my Tsonga claim! data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7

I suppose RF has another final or 2 in him yet..I hope anyway!

Digsy Publish time 22-11-2019 04:53:15

So either Ferrer or Tsonga will be in the final. Ferrer is awful against Nadal/Djokovic whereas Tsonga has more to trouble them. Could be the first potential upset in a Slam final since JMDP beat Federer at the 2009 US Open.

Soundburst Publish time 22-11-2019 04:53:15

Oh god remember the JMDP win. What a travesty. Nothing but power whacking the ball as hard as he could. It still gives me nightmares. Thankfully it's all gone a bit wrong for del potro.

Apsilon Publish time 22-11-2019 04:53:15

No real shocks from yesterday really. Federer has been on the wane for the last couple of years now and whilst his waning abilities are still too much for most, he doesn't have enough now to beat those in or around the top 6 when the going gets tough. Also as mentioned, RG is not his best surface. In the past his ability has usually gotten him through against better clay players only coming up short against Nadal. If I were him with the legacy he has, I would consider quitting at the end of this season because whilst he can still beat most comfortably, he cannot beat the very best anymore.

Ferrer is a mystery to me. He's a cracking player and every tournament he plays, he looks a potential winner but, you just know the minute it gets to the business end of the championship, he will crumble. Especially if he meets one of the big hitters. Once that first set goes against him in a game against a decent player - he's gone.

That said, I think Tsonga will have his work cut out against the energy sapping Ferrer. He scampers around the court very quickly and hits shots with real venom but, it will all come down to his belief on the day and how he reacts if he goes behind.

Either way, neither one of them will beat Nadal or Djokovic assuming they both breeze through their quarters. I fancy Djokovic for the title as he was very unlucky last year when he was well on top of Nadal in the 4th who looked utterly beaten before the rain delay saved him. Nadal managed to get it together, came out and started quicker and managed to scramble home.

Digsy Publish time 22-11-2019 04:53:15

Ferrer took Rafa to 3 sets twice in the last month or so at Madrid and Rome. Usually he gets beaten quite easily by Nadal (Rafa's first tournament back he beat Ferrer to love and 2 or something).

Tsonga took Novak to 5 sets last year here with match points but ultimately Djokovic on match point down is...

So going by recent form, Ferrer v Nadal and Djokovic v Tsonga wound be close finals. Ferrer is poor against Novak (AO SF this year he won a total of 5 games or so). Tsonga absolutely destroyed Nadal at the AO in 2008 but that was a long time ago on a different surface.

Haas v Djokovic today and that's not a given especially with Novak struggling with a shoulder injury and Nadal v Wawrinka, though that looks straightforward with Stan not having ever won a set vs Nadal.

Nice to see another face in a GS Slam final though.

Apsilon Publish time 22-11-2019 04:53:16

We've said this before though -3 set matches are a world away from a 5 set matches. There is no comparison. Even if a player takes a 2 set lead against Nadal or Djokovic, they still have it all to do and a Slam QF, SF or Final is a lonely place if all starts slipping away.

Haas has been a very underrated player but, for me is too old to trouble Djokovic over 5 sets. Warinka has the same problem with Nadal. Could blaze away for 3 sets playing supreme tennis (which he will have to), and then run out of steam and lose in 4 or 5. I would imagine it will be straight sets wins for both though.

Digsy Publish time 22-11-2019 04:53:16

Nole v Rafa on Friday. Hope it's a straight sets win for Nole though a 5-set marathon win will be fine too data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7

Digsy Publish time 22-11-2019 04:53:17

12pm our time Nadal v Djokovic and after that Tsonga v Ferrer. Enjoy your tennis data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
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