Arena Federer/Nadal/Djokovic Era - Essentially Over

Congrats Halep. Steamrolled it.

 

That didn't take long. I can still catch some of the Tour de France stage...

 

a bit of a replay of the 2018 Wimbledon final. Serena can still beat anyone, but maybe doesn't have the level of conditioning and tournament play needed to beat the top players consistently or more often than not.

 

i thought this could be a problem for djokovic this year as well. but for whatever reason bautista agut matches up with him well and gave him a pretty good test in the semis. should be ready for fed tomorrow, can't wait.

 

pretty much same. basically if rafa isn't involved it's stress-free. i slightly favor fed, but greatly admire both players.

 

i doubt anyone else is watching the men's doubles final, i'm only watching because i left it on after the ladies singles, but omg what a match!

 

I watched it. I was rooting for the French guys. Great tennis. Mahut is going to have some bruises tomorrow.

 

missed the first few games, but i'm here.

 

Worth it I think

 

yeah, both players look great. love it.

 

Third time not the charm with that drop shot

 

have to feel like this tiebreak is bigger for fed.

 

Me this whole set:

 

Hopefully Roger plays a better second set than he did on Friday.

 

damn. couple bad errors for roger at the end of that breaker. maybe feeling the pressure a bit. if he can come back from a set down against novak, it would be among his greatest wins.

edit: and a little letdown from novak perhaps.

 

whoa, this is looking very similar to what happened to roger after winning the first set tiebreak against rafa.

 

4-0: unexpected

 

Instead of the tiebreaker taking the wind out of Federer’s sails, it seems to have taken them out of Djokovic’s.

I wonder if he’s hurting from that slip.

 

i think i agree with johnny mac that it's more more mental, though that could be a factor as well. he put so much into winning the first set, i think he just let up a little when it was over, and even the smallest slip in concentration can be lethal against federer, especially when fed is desperate to get back in the match.

but i expect novak to get his a-game back. i've seen it many times before.

 

Minimum of 4 sets guaranteed, but I hope not another one like that.

 

true, but that's a bit of an old complaint about djokovic. i'd say in recent years he's had some of the best mental fortitude in the game. that change is a huge reason for his dominance.

i'm starting to think this is more physical actually. but i don't think it's something specific from his fall. he just seems kind of spent? still won't be surprised if he turns it around.