What an effort from Federer, but that was his last best chance at another slam.
Fed can't beat Djoker at any slam, and Nadal owns everyone on clay. Therefore, Wimbledon is his best chance, but someone would have to take out Novak.I've heard that it was, "the beginning of the end" for Federer for like half a decade at this point.
Hey, I'm one of the people who's been pushing back against that narrative for years. But I can't help but feel it after today.I've heard that it was, "the beginning of the end" for Federer for like half a decade at this point.
Hey, I'm one of the people who's been pushing back against that narrative for years. But I can't help but feel it after today.
I would, of course, love to be wrong here.
Can't really defend a feeling, so not much to say.Dude came within a point of beating a 15 slam champion and number 1 player in the world. No idea where that is coming from.
Is this accurate? Stan still the only guy to take out both nadal and djoker in a slam?
Crowds reaction when Djokovic won was really embarrassing
I kinda want him to go full heel and just piss crowds off as much as possible
I guess he will retire after Tokyo 2020.
Relax he will win USO. The slower HC at the USO will suit him much better.Nadal is really pissing me off. He had a few chances the last few years to cement GOAT status (with Joker on his heels) but he has blown it against Federer a couple times now. How are you better against Prime federer than Old Federererer.
Imo prime Nadal is still the best to watch and no one could beat him.
Man I am so gutted. 2 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS.
Can't imagine how Fed is feeling. His form was good for the majority of the match though. Hope he does well at the US Open.
Dude came within a point of beating a 15 slam champion and number 1 player in the world. No idea where that is coming from.
He played mixed doubles with Serena this Wimbledon, and he's trying to return to singles late this year or next year.I stopped following tennis for a bit around '16. Pretty amazing to still see those three at the top. Really sad to find out Murray retired though...his shotmaking was bliss to watch when he was firing on all cylinders. It's always a bummer to see athletes' careers ended in their primes due to injury.
Also, what the hell happened to Djokovic in 2017?
LOL, French hated murray too. Roland Garros is probably thr worst fucking barometer you could have picked, haha 😂
If the next 5 slams go like this:
USO 2019:Djokovic
AO 2020: Djokovic
FO 2020: Nadal
Wimb 2020: Djokovic
USO 2020: Djokovic
then the slam total count would look like this
1. Federer 20
1. Djokovic 20
3. Nadal 19
Federer was better than Djokovic in all statistical areas EXCEPT unforced errors. That turned out to be the difference. Those shanks.
I wouldn't even say Djokovic was better with unforced errors. I factor winners and unforced errors together and the ratio is what matters (in the same way the NBA does assist to turnover ratio). Fed with 94 winners and 61 errors, basically a 3 to 2 ratio. Djokovic with 54 winners and 52 errors, pretty much 1 to 1.
Fed was better in every way, and the dumb tennis scoring system rewarded the worse player on the day.
Better in every way except mentally.Fed was better in every way, and the dumb tennis scoring system rewarded the worse player on the day.
Fed is always going to be my personal GOAT, but who else is in the conversation?
Clearly Nadal and Djokovic are in the conversation and points can be made for them. I would also put Rod Laver in the discussion as well. Is there anyone else who belongs in the discussion?
I personally feel Sampras is clearly a step below these guys and I can't think of anyone else who belongs. Some people might argue on talent McEnroe and Becker are up there, but they didn't sustain it nearly as long as the guys I put at the top.
I love Fed but that's being pretty generous to him.Here is my take.
Federer did not choke. Saying that diminishes his accomplishments and Djokovic's. In order to even get to championship point, Federer had to come back down 2-1 in sets and break Djokovic twice in the final set. And I'm sure we can find matches where Federer had trouble breaking an opponent but won the tiebreaks when it mattered most. In this case, it was Djokovic who turned up the intensity in the tiebreaks and won because of that.
You can also point to Federer's unforced errors but you could argue that when playing at his age against arguably the best defensive player of all time, Federer would want to end a point quickly, so he goes for it rather than rally and hope for a Djokovic mistake. I didn't watch the whole match but there were shots that would put away 99% of players yet Djokovic returned them.
Can't deny that it was disappointing as a Federer fan, though. To beat Nadal and Djokovic in a GS at 37 would've been one of his greatest achievements. Full credit to Djokovic: I don't think he was at his best but he won the points he needed to.
Also the crowd was trash but what else is new.
Also he just doesn't seem to be as good as these guys. For his generation he was heads and shoulders above everyone else but he never even came close to contending at the French.Sampras could have been been up there but he retired too early. His retirement took everyone by surprise. I think if he played a few more years he would have added a couple more slams but who knows.
Neither really had their game yesterday either.I think in their own ways, both choked. Djokovic choked first after going up a break in the 5th and then meekly giving it right back. Fed choked by not being able to close out the match after having TWO MATCH POINTS (LOL!). Djokovic still had to make the passing shot, but Federer seemingly was rushing to finish him off.
Can't wait to see what the slam race looks like by the end of next year's U.S. Open ^_^