First of all, I’m sorry to the balanced Fedfans for another slam loss to Djokovic for Federer but you have an awful lot to be proud of Federer for.
By making the semis in Melbourne again this year and losing to Djokovic in four sets, he proved once again that he is still playing peak level tennis.
Not even in 2008 or 2011 could he win a set off Djokovic on Plexicushion.
Djokovic Rips Through First Two Sets with God-Like Tennis
That said, Djokovic’s level in the first two sets was so high that a drop in level was almost inevitable. Djokovic’s level already showed signs at the end of the second set of dropping.
He had two set points to breadstick Federer in the second set as well after doing so in the first set. On the first set point, Federer played the perfect attacking point and there was nothing Djokovic could do.
But on the second set point, Djokovic had a look at a second serve which came straight into his forehand but he drilled it into the net. Had he made that and won the second set 6-1 as well it would have been truly astonishing.
But Federer held serve and Djokovic proceeded to hold serve to love himself to take a 6-1, 6-2 lead. The level of Djokovic in the first two sets was beyond belief. It was the same level he showed in the Doha final against Nadal and it resulted in the same scoreline.
One of the points of the match came at 3-1 in the second set and 15-0 on Federer serve. There was an extended baseline rally before Federer ripped a big inside out forehand. Djokovic somehow reached it and threw up an unbelievable defensive lob which sent Federer back to the baseline.
Another extended baseline rally ensued after which Djokovic hit an inside-out backhand winner. A soul-crushing point for Federer which allowed Djokovic to break again and go up 4-1.
Federer was simply a spectator. He had no say in the match whatsoever while he watched Djokovic picking him apart.
At the start of the third set Federer, at least, avoided another bakery product as he held serve to go up 2-1.
Then at 2-2 and 30-30 on Federer’s serve Djokovic hit one of the shots of the match when he chased down a very good pickup from Federer at the net and hit an angled crosscourt winner.
Breakpoint. He then had another look at a second serve, made a good return, but Federer hit a good stretch volley and Djokovic failed to pass him. It was only a half chance but still a chance for Djokovic and Federer went on to hold serve.
Having failed to take his half chance in that game, Djokovic proceeded to drop serve in the next game as Federer took a 4-2 lead. That sixth game was a monster game which went to several deuces and included one of the many points of the match where Federer chased down a drop volley from Djokovic that seemed out of reach and hit it for a crosscourt angled winner.
roadrunner Federer http://pic.twitter.com/bLzB75hKaY
— The Grandstand (@TennGrand) January 28, 2016
That shot right there was proof of Federer’s speed and how much his loss of footspeed has been exaggerated. That point and the one in the fourth set where he chased down the lob over his head and the volley from Djokovic to hit a backhand winner up the line tells me that Federer’s footwork and fitness have hardly declined at all.
Still don’t believe me? How about a quote from the man himself? His fans can keep on exaggerating his decline but I haven’t bought it for some time now and both the evidence and Federer’s own words contradict it repeatedly.
Back to the match, and Djokovic’s level had dropped and all of a sudden Federer was making a match of it. He started missing some returns and first serves which allowed Federer to breathe.
Not that he made it easy for Federer. With Federer serving for the third set at 5-3, there was still a marathon game which Federer did very well to win in the end. By now the crowd was losing their minds as you’d expect and the pressure was mounting on Djokovic.
At the beginning of the fourth set and Djokovic serving Federer hit a lucky net cord which put him up 15-0. He then won the next point as well which put Djokovic under even more pressure at 0-30. This was a big chance for Federer to get the early break in the fourth set and really unleash the crowd.
But he failed to take advantage of his luck as Djokovic secured serve. Fast forward to 4-3 in favor of Djokovic after both players continued to hold serve. On the opening point of Federer’s service game, Djokovic hit anther one of the shots of the match when he hit a pass off balance with a continental grip on the forehand side.
Ominous signs for Federer. At 0-15, there was another great point which ended in Djokovic hitting a terrific backhand crosscourt pass. Now he had a real chance at 30-0. Federer won the next point at 15-30 after which there was another extraordinary point.
Not sure what’s crazier: this spine-tingling point, or that Djokovic won the final six points of the match after it. https://t.co/7aWfizLmmC
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) January 28, 2016
Djokovic missed two opportunities to finish the point at the net after which Federer made a brilliant backhand pass up the line. The crowd went nuts. I thought that might be a turning point in the match because Djokovic had no business losing that point.
But on the next point luck evened out as it was Djokovic’s turn to get a lucky net cord on a passing shot which set up break point. And when Djokovic gets lucky he makes it work for him as he crushed a second serve return to the feet of Federer which he couldn’t handle.
He had gotten the big break and went on to hold serve to love and turn the head-to-head in his favor 23-22 for the first time. After what I thought could be the turning point in the match Djokovic goes on to reel off the next six points to clinch the victory.
Like clockwork.
I’m not gonna lie. As a Djokovic fan, this is another very satisfying victory over the establishment. But again I just want to give credit to Federer and to the balanced Fedfans. You have stuck with your man and he has made you proud once again.
I thought after the all the tough losses to Djokovic last year he could slump this year but he shook it off and came back strong and made the semis in Melbourne for an amazing 12th time. He has also made two finals and one semi in his last three slams.
Like I said, he has declined very little if at all and it is only Djokovic who prevents him from winning slams. Just extraordinary. Of course, the fact that Nadal is struggling is not hurting Federer but at age 34 what he is doing is unbelievable.
As for Djokovic, what more can you say? I had a feeling he may bring his level in the Doha final to the court today after two not-so-perfect matches, but I am superstitious and didn’t want to jinx.
The way he came out and took control in the first two sets was together with the Doha final the highest level of tennis I have ever seen. Simply unplayable. Djokovic also matches up well against Federer.
The pace of Federer shots and offensive brand of tennis is certainly much more conducive to his game than the tennis disease that is Giles Simon. Djokovic’s movement, returns, backhand, and mental strength are the keys to his game.
Those are the areas in which he makes life very difficult for Federer. He neutralizes Federer biggest weapon, his serve, with his returns and he exploits Federer’s one-handed backhand with his own masterful backhand.
With his unbelievable movement and defense, he also makes Federer play the extra ball and neutralizes the best offensive game in the history of tennis. And last, but most importantly he is a mental monster who thrives under pressure.
One wonders what the future of this great rivalry has in store. With this victory, Djokovic not only took the lead for the first time in the head-to-head but he leads the head-to-head in slams 9-6 and 3-1 in slam finals.
Since the beginning of 2015, he leads the head-to-head 6-3, having won all three slam meetings, the World Tour Finals final, the Rome final, and the Indian Wells Final.
Federer has won the Dubai final, the Cincinnati final, and the round-robin match at the World Tour Finals. It’s getting one-sided. Will Federer defeat Djokovic again and who can pose a serious threat to Djokovic in the coming years?
He looks utterly unstoppable but this is tennis and things change fast. He still has to win the final and although I said the winner of today’s match is 99% sure to win the title you just never know.
This post has gotten too long so I won’t say much here other than the fact that Raonic and Murray are tied up 3-3 in the head-to-head and that I actually look forward quite a bit to this match. It’s a good matchup and Raonic will be looking to make his first slam final.
I actually think he can do it. He already has that one Wimbledon semi-final in the bag so he won’t be overawed by the occasion. He has looked great since the start of the year and looks more driven and determined than ever.
Should be another cracker!
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