So the Djoker has seen of Ferrer in very convincing fashion. Now it's up to Roger to make the dream semi complete.

He will have to be at his best against Blake, who despite his bad record has been able to push Roger at times. However, this is a best-of-five match, a GS quarter, and in that setting I suspect Blake's showing at the USO was the best that's ever going to happen.

We will have to wait and see - but since I'm on bl**dy dial-up, I won't be able to follow it here. Thankfully we have freeview, so I can go and watch it there when it comes on in an hour.

Well Novak wins. Not sure if I'm happy or sad about this.

Good match between Rog and James so far.
I feel sorry for Blake being in the same quarter again.

Really great point just now where Blake produced a really amazing lob running back through his legs.

A set and a break up in the second for Fed. Blake was playing pretty well until then but stupid mistakes there and then void his otherwise brilliance. So typical!

2 break back points! ....and the first one converted!

Blake wins the first set 7-5, goes a break down in the second but has just managed to break back. :ok:

Here we go - come on Federer, finish this one off quickly!! :clap:

Effing Ferrer - doing what he does best which is NOT handle big matches. :doh: Disappointing from him - I believed Djoko would win, but thought it would be a bit more of a contest than appears.

Wise needs to change that avatar asap

oh yeah, i forgot about that.......

tbh, much as I want Fed to win I'd prefer that it was a decent match. :shrug: It's just all been a bit predictable the last couple of days IMHO :unsure:

Yes - but I don't think Blake is the one to disturb that pattern?

The match that I think will be pretty tense - and is starting to concern me - is the potential Fed vs Djoko match...I think all the semis will see some good tennis played. :ok:

no, it's unlikely I admit. But you know, seeing him get a set off Fed or something would be nice....... :whistle:

Even more worrying - got this from the Beeb:

And this was not from any form of Lion, Doctor, Mouse or Twin...!

Am going to speculate wildly here, as I'm relying solely on the scoreboard - but he could either he doing the 'just play what I need to play to win' thing, because he feels he can against Blake. Or, more worryingly, something is afoot...

Rog isn't playing his best. Blake needs to hang in there and at least take a set please. I don't want him to go out so easily.

Match being played really quickly though.

TIEBREAK!Incredible Point!

Are you watching? Is it that he's just not giving it his all...or is he misfiring?

:yikes:

WOW . This is unbelievable tennis.

Two amazing points in a row.

Yea I'm watching.

Blake is playing well and really pushing Federer now. Good match.

They're both giving it their all.
Blake's problem is that he goes for too much and seems to hit the ball long alot .

Roger has really stepped up his game in the tiebreak. :bow: :bow:

They're both playing well, but it's all over now.

Does Blake really think he can beat Federer, as opposed to push him hard, even very hard?

Or is it that Fed just does not accept that he can be beaten by Blake?

yep, this will be a straight sets victory for Fed. God i hope the match against Djoko is interesting or i might cry :wacko:

Tipsarevic said in his interview after his match with Fed that you have to go out believing that you can beat Fed, not just that you can push him hard, or maybe get a set off him, but that you can actually win the match.

"Djokovic must be really fancying his chances watching this match"

Thats what the commentator said. :unsure:

I'm more thinking it will be a straight sets win for Rog when they meet. :pray:

Yeah - I'd like to see Fed give Djokovic a good hammering and then see off Nadal in 4 sets in the Final.

Anyway - Fed has just been broken serving for it, so it ain't over yet...

In relation to bp's - Fed's record has been poor this Championship. His opponents don't get many chances, but have very high conversion rates against him - Blake is 3/3 for example - Fed is getting many chances but his conversion rate is lousy.

That's what undid him against Nadal at RG last year. I hope he can step up in the next round.

Nice to see Blake break back. Miracle Comeback maybe?

Oooof - great pass there by Blake. Fed is not playing well at the moment. If he wants to close this out he'll need Blake's help or to step it up a bit.

A bit of both - an ace followed by a limp return. 7-5, 7-6, and 6-4. I guess that straight sets is convincing enough, but not a gubbing.

i was a little annoyed by Tip claiming all the credits after the match against Federer, he acted like he was the one to have found the key to beat Federer; "listen to me boys, you really have to believe you can beat him" bla bla bla
He was quite lucky to hang in there for so long while going for broke all the time. Next time they'll meet he'll probably going down 6-3 6-4..

Anyway, how can the match against Djoko become unintresting DJ?
You don't really think Fed will walk over Djoko, do you?

The match today showed Fed's too much in the grinding-zone to win here. Unless he raises his game i don't think he'll grab the title again.

The no.1 spot is secured for at least another few weeks though :phew:

I reall think Federer is not 100%. His foot injury might still be around as he is not as quick on his feet as at last year Shanghai.

I give him 40% chance versus Djoko. If he makes it though, I think he will win the title.

I think that's a good point - when Fed wins a GS he normally produces a bit of magic on the way.

Since he battered Santoro the magic has been in pretty short supply - but we all know not to underrate him.

He did not exactly sweep Robredo or Djokovic aside last year before his masterclass against a resurgent Roddick (I accept that the match-up with Roddick tends to bring out the best in Fed).

I do agree that if he is going to win he needs to find something extra because otherwise one or other of Djokovic or (I expect) Nadal will find a way in.

Tipsy does sound like an American self-help book.

What does worry me is that I feel Fed is trying not to lose matches in stead of trying to win them. Of course he still kills most of the short balls he gets, but I do feel he doesn't seem to take the initiative enough.

I understand his dilemma: he's very good at defending and switching from defence to offence and this, combined with good serving, should be enough against almost everyone. However, if he's not agressive from the baseline there's always going to be the risk of being overpowered, especially by someone like Djokovic.

What foot injury? What have I missed?

He had a break injury v Tip and according to his interview, his nail was hurting. It might sound like a feable excuse but it s probably affecting his footwork.

What's a "break injury"?

What did he break?

I meant injury break! Excuse my "french" Barry.

Indeed Scvangils, that's his GS strategy since RG last year. At the master series he's playing much more agressive, ironically this isn't necessarily always more effective..
What also is becoming more and more significant;
he has always been een typical front-runner but nowadays it seems he absolutely needs a (big) lead to play his best (semi Shanghai 2007!).
That's why the first set wil be crucial against Djoko and possibly against Nadal, if he loses the first, it's over i'm afraid

Hopefully its something that a decent chiropedist can deal with.

I would say not necessarily GP. I think one of his strength versus Djoko and Nadal is actually his stamina. On the other hand if his footwork is not swift enough (even the Eurosport commentators thought he was significantly slower today) , then he will have to do more running and will tire quicker. But if he could also make the opponent run to exhaustion as he did versus Nadal on a few occasion and can certainly test the young and fragile lungs of Djoko.

It shoudl certainly be a battle but I will not write him off till the last point (as I did versus Tipsarevic, I must admit :( )

Not a brilliant match by Fed's standards - but he did produce the goods in that tiebreak at least. :clap:

Also, he is now guaranteed to keep his number 1 ranking after the tournament, which has got to be worth something. :clap:

I hope he will step it up against Djokovic. In the current form, Roger doesn't really look like he deserves to win the championship - but of course I'm not losing faith, and am hoping for a spirited performance in the semis! :ok:

I hope not tbh - i hope it's a hard-fought 5 setter. however, i hoped that about the US Open final too, so...... :shrug:

I hope not. If it does go to 5 sets, whoever wins will probably be an easy meal for a well-rested Nadal in the final.

I'm sorry guys but I do wonder if we are watching the same game.The standard we are all expecting it's totally ludicrous.
Ask yourselves honestly,do you reallly think a new player of 20 to the top3 can topple the No1 player and winner of 12 slams?It's like if Roger isn't winning in three sets with two bagels and breadstick,then he is in decline.

Get realistic,it doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile.One player will win.For me,that person is the scrape me of this stupid blue plexicushion court before you can have my title world No1 multiple slam winner Roger Federer.

Yes Djokovic is dangerous,but he hasn't suddenly grown the cajones to take Federer out in his PRIME.As someone mentioned earlier,this is the stage where champions find extra gears,which Federer does with alarming regularity.

Come on game on :tennis:

Good reading, comforting reading should I say but it would not be the first time our multiple slam champion gets beaten by a 20 yo in a slam semi, would he?

My husband has just echoed those statements - watching the highlights now, I was voicing my concerns about the potential Fed vs Djoko match up - and he correctly pointed out that he's through to the semis in straight sets - and because I didn't see baked goods doesn't mean anything!!

Optimistic thinking from now on - and the highlights are showing some good forehands from Fed :ok:

Excellent defending in the tie break, some points that are just too much for Blake - who didn't play badly (and gave a very amusing shout of DARN IT!!!! in the first set)

Sorry guys,but you know if you have dominated your sport for 4 years and are at the peak of your powers,then the odds are stacked in your favour.

Federer might have an off day,but he's been here before and it's up to Djoker to find it in himself to mentally handle the occasion.I'm not worried about Federer he will.

Over 5 sets Federer also knows that he won't have the play all his own way as we have seen him on the back foot in a number of his finals.

Roddick at wimbledon
Agassi at the USopen
Baghdatis at the AUS
Nadal at wimbledon

The only slam finals where he has failed are the 2 French.Then again everyone knows how hard it is to put away a big dirtballer like Nadal on his best surface.

If this semi was to be played when Djoker was 22 and Federer 28 then it might be different,but it isn't and I'm guessing that this is the start of Roger's last great year.He can still head the pack this year,and having watched everybody,he still has all the shots and more importantly the mental toughness.

May the tennis gods listen to you Brakkus!

:cheers: