I'm getting a bit depressed watching Federer lose these big matches. 2009 US Open final against del Potro, 2010 US Open semi-final against Djokovic, 2011 French Open Final against Nadal (where he blew a 5-2 first set lead!) and now this. He still has the game to win majors but mentally he seems much more fragile.

At his age time is rapidly running out.

rialb said:

I'm getting a bit depressed watching Federer lose these big matches. 2009 US Open final against del Potro, 2010 US Open semi-final against Djokovic, 2011 French Open Final against Nadal (where he blew a 5-2 first set lead!) and now this. He still has the game to win majors but mentally he seems much more fragile.

Ugh, he did a silly drop shot on set point that just missed, right? It totally broke his momentum and was all Rafa needed. He seems to be making little brain farts at crucial moments more often, something he hardly ever used to do.

At his age time is rapidly running out.

That awesome crosscourt forehand Djokovic hammered on the first match point was like the nail in Federers Grand Slam Championship coffin. In the fourth set I was thinking, damn Nole is making Fed look old. For someone generally regarded as the GOAT, boy has he taken some tough losses. Credit to Djokovic though, he's playing out of this world.

So Rafa beats Andy Murray in four sets to set up a repeat final from last year. Andy played great in the third but couldn't sustain it. He really needs to put a lid on vocalising his frustrations constantly because it just shows a mental weakness. That's the difference between him and the big three. He started missing a few and if your level drops just a tiny bit, you're toast.

So Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic for the title, which should be another incredible match-up. As Nadal mentioned on court he's lost 5 finals against Djokovic so far this year so I don't know how he's going to change it up. Djokovic to take his first title.

So Samantha Stosur beats Angelique Kerber in 3 sets. Kerber played great in the second but Stosur came through.

Serena takes Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets. Serena too strong and solid. I hope the final is a competitive match rather than a Serena demolition but I expect Serena to take her fourth US Open title on 9/11. I hope she remains committed next year and keeps working on her fitness because she could take the golden slam next year. No female is close to her when she's healthy and focused.

Sigh, I am pretty gutted by that "performance" from Caroline. Realistically I knew going into the match that a win was probably not going to happen but I was hoping for a competitive match with her maybe taking a set. Ugh, that serve! It's so weak! I'm actually surprised that the score wasn't worse. It took Serena a while to work her way into the match but she still took the first set 6-2. That gift of a break to even the match at 4-5 gave me the briefest glimmer of hope but Caroline gave it right back and that was the end. She really needs to up her game at the slams. A number one without even a slam final on her ranking is embarrassing.

why on earth don't women play best of five matches?

NDRU said:

why on earth don't women play best of five matches?

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not but they used to have best of five in the final of the year end championships but that finished in 1998. I think it'd be great in the finals of the majors but coming from a fan, I think a best of 5 set match between lower ranked players in the early rounds would be borderline torture - to watch anyway.

I think an argument for keeping 3 sets is because the pace of the game is slower, womens tennis tends to have more consistent, longer rallying. It's one of the reasons I generally prefer watching women's.

mynameisnotsusan said:

NDRU said:

why on earth don't women play best of five matches?

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not but they used to have best of five in the final of the year end championships but that finished in 1998. I think it'd be great in the finals of the majors but coming from a fan, I think a best of 5 set match between lower ranked players in the early rounds would be borderline torture - to watch anyway.

I think an argument for keeping 3 sets is because the pace of the game is slower, womens tennis tends to have more consistent, longer rallying. It's one of the reasons I generally prefer watching women's.

you can certainly make an argument for it, but some of these womens' matches are over in the blink of an eye. If you prefer womens' wouldn't you like to see more of it? Well... you actually said you did want that in the finals

rialb said:

Sigh, I am pretty gutted by that "performance" from Caroline. Realistically I knew going into the match that a win was probably not going to happen but I was hoping for a competitive match with her maybe taking a set. Ugh, that serve! It's so weak! I'm actually surprised that the score wasn't worse. It took Serena a while to work her way into the match but she still took the first set 6-2. That gift of a break to even the match at 4-5 gave me the briefest glimmer of hope but Caroline gave it right back and that was the end. She really needs to up her game at the slams. A number one without even a slam final on her ranking is embarrassing.

I tend to cut these number ones without a slam a break. It's not their fault they've grinded at lower level events and collected points week in and week out over the last 52 weeks. Considering the last two slam winners (Kvitova and Li) went out in the first round just means no one wants to step up.

You can't win a slam anymore without a penetrating serve, especially second serve because the returner will just punish it. Maybe Caroline should take a break now and rededicate to adding crucial pace to her serve. Henin had to add pace to hers to create a weapon, so size is not an impediment. She's only 21 so she has lots of time but if she wants slams she has to do it. Also she should consider cutting back on her heavy schedule because her body will betray her if she continues to play so much.

NDRU said:

mynameisnotsusan said:

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not but they used to have best of five in the final of the year end championships but that finished in 1998. I think it'd be great in the finals of the majors but coming from a fan, I think a best of 5 set match between lower ranked players in the early rounds would be borderline torture - to watch anyway.

I think an argument for keeping 3 sets is because the pace of the game is slower, womens tennis tends to have more consistent, longer rallying. It's one of the reasons I generally prefer watching women's.

you can certainly make an argument for it, but some of these womens' matches are over in the blink of an eye. If you prefer womens' wouldn't you like to see more of it? Well... you actually said you did want that in the finals

Maybe the men should play best of three. If they did, Federer would be in the final instead of Djokovic

Tiger Woods has an unproportionally fat arse. Honestly the size of his ass is that of a fat man. Now i know where he generates his swing power.

^^ From a re-user who joined on Aug 15th. Whaaatever.

Yesterday's tennis tried to be exciting, but ended up (for me) being kind of sad. I don't understand why such a big deal was made of the Federer/Djokovic match. The third and fourth sets were some pretty awful tennis on Federer's part. If it had been four hard fought sets and Djokovic took the fifth, maybe, but that didn't happen. Its pretty clear that Federer needs to win in three or four sets at this point.

That Williams/Wosniaki match was a joke. Serena doesn't even look like she was fully 100% yet and she's killing it.

Djoko is certainly the favourite for tomorrow's match. But Nadal has been playing better and better since the beginning of last week and gaining a lot of confidence. He almost arrives at the last match without losing a set.

I'm sad to say that I'd be very surprised if Nadal won, but I can't help dreaming about it.

I've watched nearly the entire tournament and I'm not sure how Djokovic should be considered the favorite. I'm not saying he won't be, just that it doesn't really make sense. He's played worse and Nadal has played better as the tournament has gone along. Even saw some of the old pouting douche faced Djokovic yesterday.

mynameisnotsusan said:

rialb said:

I'm getting a bit depressed watching Federer lose these big matches. 2009 US Open final against del Potro, 2010 US Open semi-final against Djokovic, 2011 French Open Final against Nadal (where he blew a 5-2 first set lead!) and now this. He still has the game to win majors but mentally he seems much more fragile.

Ugh, he did a silly drop shot on set point that just missed, right? It totally broke his momentum and was all Rafa needed. He seems to be making little brain farts at crucial moments more often, something he hardly ever used to do.

At his age time is rapidly running out.

That awesome crosscourt forehand Djokovic hammered on the first match point was like the nail in Federers Grand Slam Championship coffin. In the fourth set I was thinking, damn Nole is making Fed look old. For someone generally regarded as the GOAT, boy has he taken some tough losses. Credit to Djokovic though, he's playing out of this world.

That "silly" drop shot would've been a cold winner and I'm still not convinced it was out. Federer still has the game to win more slams, but he can no longer rely on playing defense like before. All of the top players are more consistent and there are now plenty who can hit him off the court (Del Potro, Tsonga, Soderling, Berdych) with raw power. He has to attack almost relentlessly without missing. Tall order, but I think he'll get it done a few more times.

Cerebus said:

I've watched nearly the entire tournament and I'm not sure how Djokovic should be considered the favorite. I'm not saying he won't be, just that it doesn't really make sense. He's played worse and Nadal has played better as the tournament has gone along. Even saw some of the old pouting douche faced Djokovic yesterday.

Wait, you're serious? I think that 5-0 head-to-head record in finals over Nadal this season is enough to make Djokovic the favorite. The last time they played, Nadal was as visibly shaken and bewildered as I've ever seen him on the court.

Interesting almost unbelievable note: If Nadal pulls off the upset, I believe this would be the first title he has ever defended not on clay.

AlexdeParis said:

Cerebus said:

I've watched nearly the entire tournament and I'm not sure how Djokovic should be considered the favorite. I'm not saying he won't be, just that it doesn't really make sense. He's played worse and Nadal has played better as the tournament has gone along. Even saw some of the old pouting douche faced Djokovic yesterday.

Wait, you're serious? I think that 5-0 head-to-head record in finals over Nadal this season is enough to make Djokovic the favorite. The last time they played, Nadal was as visibly shaken and bewildered as I've ever seen him on the court.

Interesting almost unbelievable note: If Nadal pulls off the upset, I believe this would be the first title he has ever defended not on clay.

I notice a tendency to devalue Nadal as a player only brilliant on clay. I see it quite the opposite. He is a clay player who has fighted hard to improve in all surfaces, and he has managed to win all Majors. Considering his style, I think one has to admire that he has improved that much on grass and hard court, and not keep going about his flaws on these surfaces. How many current "hard court" players have done the same as Nadal (that is, having success on his least favourite surface)? NONE. Even Djokovic hasn't still won Roland Garros. Federer only won because Nadal was injured. Murray? Soderling? Tsonga? WTF?

See, I'm a bit nervous about tomorrow.

AlexdeParis said:

Cerebus said:

I've watched nearly the entire tournament and I'm not sure how Djokovic should be considered the favorite. I'm not saying he won't be, just that it doesn't really make sense. He's played worse and Nadal has played better as the tournament has gone along. Even saw some of the old pouting douche faced Djokovic yesterday.

Wait, you're serious? I think that 5-0 head-to-head record in finals over Nadal this season is enough to make Djokovic the favorite. The last time they played, Nadal was as visibly shaken and bewildered as I've ever seen him on the court.

Interesting almost unbelievable note: If Nadal pulls off the upset, I believe this would be the first title he has ever defended not on clay.

Totally serious. This is now, not the last five times they've played. Nadal has looked better to me than Djokovic. He'll probably get completely destroyed. But he's definitely looked better his last couple matches than Djoko.

mynameisnotsusan said:

NDRU said:

you can certainly make an argument for it, but some of these womens' matches are over in the blink of an eye. If you prefer womens' wouldn't you like to see more of it? Well... you actually said you did want that in the finals

Maybe the men should play best of three. If they did, Federer would be in the final instead of Djokovic

nah, but i think maybe limiting the 5 set matches to quarterfinals and above is not a bad idea, for both men & women

Stosur takes the first set 6-2 Sams playing great.

Oh god. Drama is starting in Ashe.

mynameisnotsusan said:

Oh god. Drama is starting in Ashe.

Damn. I decided to watch football instead. What happened?

Serena screamed c'mon while point still in play. Umpire took the point away from her and gave the game to Sam. Trying to throw Sam off her game and it looks like it's working because she broke Sam. Serena going off at the chair.

Hopefully settles down because Serena could default again. Go watch!

Javi said:

Serena Williams is a despicable human being. I hope she loses; if not, it will be a sad day for tennis.

God, she makes it SO hard to be a fan. She's straight being ouplayed and is acting like brat. Sam is still playing well, I hope she keeps a cool head and keeps hitting winners.

mynameisnotsusan said:

Javi said:

Serena Williams is a despicable human being. I hope she loses; if not, it will be a sad day for tennis.

God, she makes it SO hard to be a fan. She's straight being ouplayed and is acting like brat. Sam is still playing well, I hope she keeps a cool head and keeps hitting winners.

She seemed so genuinely happy when she won the semi-final, too. Made me excited for today. Now I'll just FFWD to the end of the recording to see if she loses or not.

Congratulations to Samantha Stosur!

She played awesome.