Just the two men's matches today. Roddick vs Federer and Davydenko vs Haas.

Roddick will put up much more of a fight than he did in Australia, but the best it can get for him is probably to take a set. However, he's been written off very quickly, which is perhaps unfair given that he gave Fed something to think about in their last two matches on a fast hardcourt.

Davydenko vs Haas is much tougher to predict. Davydenko should win unless Haas is in the zone for the entire match. Given that he's yet to drop a set this tournament and Haas has dropped a few, including a 5 set epic in his last round, I'd say the most likely outcome will be a very competitive first couple of sets before Davydenko eases to victory. But no score here would surprise me greatly.

This is perhaps Federers most dangerous match against Roddick, as I have never, ever seen Roddick written off so categorically. It's like a foregone conclusions, and that's when things could be dodgy. That said, I'd be highly surprised if Fed lost...but I imagine A-Rod will take a set.

In terms of Davydenko - unless William Hill have just received a highly irregular and large amount of payment from a suspect Russian bank account ;) - this should go according to form; that being a Davydenko victory. Furthermore, Haas is consistently showing signs of choking in the latter stages of big tournaments, and although Davydenko has never dominated a slam before, he usually gets beaten by an eventual winner or one of the favourites...

As for Nadal! I think he was injured, but I'm still puzzled at how ineffectual the Mighty Mallorcan can be on the fast, hard courts of America. Tennis fans have been deprived of a mouth watering semi between Djoko and Nadal, and if their semi final dual in Montreal was anything to go by...we're in for a treat in future tournaments...

Roddick is certainly playing well, so he'll be no pushover this time, if he keeps that level up. He's always one of the hardest servers, but he's also had one of the highest first-serve percentages so far this Open. Should be a good match.

Having faced two opponents who had to retire maybe the A-Rod has luck on his side?

does anyone know what time (GMT) Rog and Rod are hitting the court?

Wise, why are you so pesimisstic about Roddick 's chances? C'mon mate, give that man some encouragement!!! :giggle: Do you really change,mate? :blush:

did I misread? I thought Wise said it was practically an open and shut case for Fed... maybe you have him mixed up with someone else when you ask if he never changes? :unsure:

Pebs, he just said at the beginning of this thread that "the best Roddick can get is to take a set..." Would you consider it a little bit pesimisstic in Wise 's case?

nah, I have Fed down as taking this in straight sets...

my :unsure: was because the Wise I thought you meant would surely have Roddick down to whip some Fed shaped butt ;)

Really Peps??? I just saw he posted on the above...Was it him the guy with the lion avatar?

I am quite confused now...Does he change his mind everyday?:P

:blink: I lost the thread of this now.. but am happy to let it go as I really only wanted to make sure you werent having a pot shot at another poster :)

I happen to agree with Wise re the Roddick comments - however well Roddick seems to play, he just never seems to have enough to win the match... which is fine by me, I want Fed through not Roddick :D

Can I take it you feel Roddicks chances are better than this then?

I happen to support the underdog...Although Roddick has 1%, he still can win, can't he? Fed probably has a lot of fans on this forum; so, just wanting to support A-Rod a little bit...

Haas had so many BPs on Kyolay but missed it...Should have converted them ASAP!!!

No probs with that :) I wouldnt be surprised if Roddick had some fans on here too - Ark is certainly one :) but the Fed fans probably outweigh the Roddick fans on this occasion ;)

He certainly is in with a chance - my favourite motto is 'if you're in it, you can win it' - but I am a Henman fan so I kinda have to live life like that!

Well, I did :(

Evening haibt. :ok:

The reason I don't see Roddick winning is because he's not very good. But have no fear, I still want him to win.

Who do you see winning out of Haas and No Weapons?

Evening old Wise...Haas will win if he can utilize his chances over Davydenko 's serves...Also, he needs to serve well because "No Weapons" is a strong returner in the game nowadays, needless to say the best!

Davydenkos serve has improved vastly , coupled with impressive groundstrokes- I really don't see him losing this match.

Pebs: I am not a fan of A-Rod in any means. Actually, his playing style look quite unpretty to watch...Nevertheless, if Roddick can hold the percentage of his first serve over 75%, he is in the match with Federer...

Wise: The best chance A-Rod could take is to serve towards Fed 's backhand and try to utilize his strong forehand. Net play should be used after 4 strokes not before that...The reason is because A-Rod just can't serve and volley due to the nature of his serve (Power but without Precision) and his slow foot movement comparing with other top players...

A-Rod can't serve and volley period - and he's also playing the master of passing shots off either wing, from any angle. :blink:

I honestly think the best Roddick can hope for is 5 sets - he can't maintain the momentum he requires to blow Federer off the court, he hasn't got the guile to defeat Fed using tactics, so he has to try and blow him off the court...and that is virtually impossible to maintain after 1 or 2 sets.

:shrug:

If Roddick can play like he did in the US Open final, then he can at least give himself a chance. However, he'll have to maintain his energy for at least 3 sets - his best plan is just all out attack, aim at the backhand, and try and get it over in 3. There's a slim possibility.

No Weapons won 3 straight games at the end of the first set, including two breaks, to take it 6-3. He leads 2-1 on serve in the second.

Wise, "No weapons" does have a key weapon that is underrated: return of serve, which makes him quite formidable against some guys in top 20...

Is your view on Davydenko changing at all, Wise? I have to say, I've eaten some of my words on some of my previous negative judgements. He's raising his game more and more, and his serve has become quite impressive.

Ok ladies and gents, not sure who is watching this..... but Roddick Federer is up and running and Feds holds the first game to go 1-0 up.

I predict a swift victory for Federer. A very swift one. No more than 3 sets. No more. I expect a comprehensive victory for the Fed, with comfortable breaks of serve.

You are probably right, but it would be nice to see him tested. I want Feds to win this and be beaten by Djoko in the final...

Lets see Novak make the finals first :P

Go Roger!!!!!!

Fed takes the first set tie break. Roddick has served really well so far, but this has hardly been an exciting match. No rallies, no break points at all in the first set.


I hope the 2nd set is better!

im so glad i decided to stay up and watch this match :bow: GO A-ROD :wub:

I wonder if Andy can get a set of Fed here...

5 ALL.

I wonder if this will be another tiebreak here.

6 ALL

TIEBREAK AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!

FEDSTER wins 7-6 agaiN!!!!!!!!!!

Poor Andy is playing great- but is 2 sets down

And Fed takes the win as expected :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

BBC says the truth for once....

Didn't catch the match, but from I've read it sounds like it was a high quality match with excellent tennis from both A-Rod and the Fedster!

Sounds like Andy deserved at least a set.. but Roger was just immoveable, and was simply too good when it really mattered...

It can't be very often that a player who loses in straight sets gets a standing ovation from the crowd. So much credit must go to Andy for raising his own game and forcing Roger to do the same. Takes 2 to make a cracker of a match!

The Fedster.. :bow:

A-Rod :bow:

Great result for Kolya too, beating Tommy Haas in straight sets.

Kolya apparently the only player not to drop a set in the men's tourney so far.. Not bad for a 'no weapons' player, no? ;)

So a Fed v Kolya semi, a repeat of RG...

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

Federer: "There was nothing I could do on his serve for two and a half sets. I didn't see a break point. That shows you how good a returner he is. I definitely played well on my service games. I'm happy he couldn't convert the one break point he had. I played great in the tie-break. Obviously he had more pressure in the second tie-break than in the first one, and once he's down two sets to love in two tie-breaks, that's a hard thing to go against. I thought it was a very high standard match. I was very pleased with my performance. I thought Andy played very well."

Roddick: "I felt pretty good from the first ball. I had a game plan. I felt I executed it pretty well most of the time. I just tried to keep going. The first set and a half I wasn't getting a lot of looks. The end of the second set, even the beginning of the third, I was getting there. I didn't return badly. But I was having a lot of fun out there. I'd have to be completely out of touch not to realize what the atmosphere was like out there tonight. If I don't have fun doing that, then I'm not going to have fun playing tennis. It was a treat to play out there in that atmosphere."

;) This should actually be in the September 5, day 10 thread.... wonder what happened.....

:) but anyway.. it was a swift 3 setter for the FED man... and indeed it was a high quality tennis match.... I dont know if :hug: Andy is jinxed ..but it happens alot with him and tie breaks with Fed.... he always gets edged out.... but he did play well... though a 14-1 head to head now for Roger
will be painful for Andy to see all the time.... Andy played a very tactful game, he should feel good ...even in defeat....

Davydenko played well too against Hass... would be nice to see if he can grind something out of Mr. Federer...... :)

Anyone know where the ranking points will place Federer vis-a-vis Nadal now that he has made the Semis ?!!!!