Ricky Dimon of The Grandstand and Pete Ziebron of Tennis Acumen preview and pick the four men’s singles matches on Sunday at the Australian Open. Roger Federer is back in action against David Goffin.
(3) Roger Federer vs. (15) David Goffin
Ricky: Goffin had some near-disastrous mental walkabouts in the first two rounds but survived both in four. He also needed four sets to beat Dominic Thiem on Friday but that featured a much better performance in a very high-quality match. Federer won in four in the third round, as well, in a mediocre showing against Grigor Dimitrov. Facing his idol for the fourth time, Goffin should be less psyched out than he was in the previous meetings. But he is 0-3 lifetime against Federer and that will be 0-4 after this one–but not before flashes of outstanding play from both guys. Federer 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Pete: Has it really been nearly four years since a relatively unknown Goffin stole the first set in his fourth-round match against his idol Federer at Roland Garros? It has been that long and after a rough patch a few years ago, the trajectory of Goffin’s world ranking has climbed steadily. Both Federer and Goffin played four-set matches in the third round. For Federer, dropping a set was most likely a slight wakeup call and he responded mightily, dropping just five games the rest of the way against Dimitrov. Goffin meanwhile, had to scratch and claw his way to victory against Thiem in one of the more entertaining matches this fortnight. Following the match, Goffin even playfully boasted that he could play his next match that same day. Getting back to reality, expect a near carbon-copy of Federer’s performance against Dimitrov in this match. Federer 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
[polldaddy poll=9282156]
(9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (7) Kei Nishikori
Ricky: These are two of the most talented, most injury-plagued stars on tour. Tsonga (knee) was the one who dealt with physical problems during the offseason, but now it is Nishikori (wrist) who is question mark. All things being equal, this should be a good one. They faced each other at the same stage of this same tournament in 2012 and it went to five sets, with Nishikori prevailing. Aside from Nishikori’s minor injury scare against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, both men have been in stellar form through three rounds. Tsonga, who loves it Down Under, is just barely a safer pick. Tsonga 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2.
Pete: Tsonga and Nishikori have met twice before in majors and both have gone the distance, with Nishikori coming back from a two set to one deficit to win four years ago in Melbourne and Tsonga winning last year at Roland Garros. The last round featured familiar scenes involving the players: the trainer was once again called by Nishikori, while Tsonga hit yet another inexplicable one-handed backhand for a winner at a crucial point. Tsonga blasted 23 aces two days ago, while Nishikori managed just a single ace through the first three sets before finishing with five. In short, Tsonga is playing well and too many questions currently cloud the physical ability and reliability of Nishikori’s game, especially as the tournament progresses and he must face better talent. The former Australian Open finalist will prevail. Tsonga 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
[polldaddy poll=9282161]
(24) Roberto Bautista Agut vs. (6) Tomas Berdych
Ricky: A lot of people–me included–thought this would be Marin Cilic vs. Nick Kyrgios. Not so much. Bautista Agut has been on fire of late and Berdych was too good for Kyrgios. At what point is the Spaniard’s run going to end? He won the Auckland title, survived consecutive five-setters on Melbourne, then upset Cilic on Friday. With a 2-3 record against Berdych, Bautista Agut will certainly have belief. But the Czech positively thrives at this tournament and his power may be too much. Berdych 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(5).
Pete: So far this January, Bautista Agut has recorded wins over heavy-hitters such as Tsonga, Cilic, John Isner, and Daniel Brands. He also claimed the Auckland title a few weeks ago. Next up is yet another blaster from the baseline in Berdych, who ousted Kyrgios in the second round. Berdych has fared well at the Australian Open, reaching the semis each of the last two years. He also reached the quarters for three consecutive years before finally advancing to the semis in ’14. More recently, Berdych played a highly competitive match against Djokovic in the Doha semis earlier this month. The favorite’s experience, particularly in Melbourne, provides him with a significant advantage in this fourth-round encounter. Berdych 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
[polldaddy poll=9282164]
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (14) Gilles Simon
Ricky: Djokovic leads the head-to-head series 9-1 and it is arguably even more lopsided than that score suggests. That’s because the top-ranked Serb has won eight in a row at Simon’s expense after losing their first showdown back in 2008. Djokovic has done just enough so far in Melbourne to advance without dropping a set. When necessary, he will raise his level–and it may be necessary against Simon. Expect plenty of entertaining rallies, but Djokovic will obviously be way too good for this familiar foe. Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.
Pete: Since dropping their first meeting way back in 2008, Djokovic has won nine consecutive matches against Simon. After going 27-1 in majors last year, Djokovic is determined to keep his stranglehold on the ATP field and will relish the fact that the competition will continue to get stronger as he continues to advance in the draw. Simon is fortunate to still be playing in Melbourne, as Donskoy wasted golden opportunities to eliminate the Frenchman in the second round. That said, Simon is indeed alive in the draw and will play like the 14th seed that he is in this match. Unfortunately for the underdod, he is facing Djokovi–who currently has all of the answers against any and all opponents. Djokovic 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
[polldaddy poll=9282158]
David.
Go.
Fin.
funny…the way he played that last game was how he was supposed to play! He could have at least tried after losing the first two sets. The only game where he loosened up and dictated. He is hitting the ball harder now but too late now.
After this match, hope David Goffin changes his mindset v Fed.
Play your tennis, damm it!
don’t hold your breath!
He doesnt have the heart to beat Fed, not saying he has the game though.
Not just fed.
Very poor record vs Top 10
Goffin needs more confidence v top ten, indeed. Hope he can figure out how to pick that lock and be more like Kolya.
More Goffin Swag!
https://twitter.com/Dimonator/status/690375827301736448
Federer did watch large parts of Djoko Simon. He said it in his presser.
He said Simon makes you go for the lines and makes you miss and he is very quick on the court. He said 50 or 100 UE does not matter as long as you win 🙂
Just read Federer’s presser – the part about Gilles Simon is spot on, imo. ‘Course I’m a Simon fan for a long time. Also a Nole fan, so I can see how Nole fans hated that match. And some don’t want to credit Simon for those “unforced errors.”
Agree with Fed when he said it was entertaining! Fed also said he missed the fifth set. He definitely watched the other sets and got fired up, no matter what fedfan says.
Fed is not some rookie to get fired up over a match he didn’t play. He always plays last matches like this, not wanting to stay on court for long. So juvenile some of the reasoning here is. If he saw the match he was probably done with pre-match practice. End of.
Sure, you are right again, Fedfan.
Roger Federer, 4R, 24 January 2016 .
Q. You obviously came for a quick match considering the late start.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, what do you want to hear?
Q. Thoughts on the match.
ROGER FEDERER: “Yeah, it was good. Surprised it went as fast as it did. You know, to win the first two sets within 50 minutes is the best thing that can happen out there, especially with a late start and against a quality player. So I was very happy.
It was important to keep the momentum going, keep staying aggressive and, you know, trying to get the match done in three. I was able to do that. I was very pleased.
There were some great moments in the match which I can take a lot away from. I was happy to, which after the Dimitrov match, which wasn’t so straightforward, wasn’t so easy, I was able to find an extra gear, I guess.
Q. Did you watch any of the Novak and Simon match? What were your thoughts on it?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I thought it was interesting, you know, just in the sense that there’s a lot of ups and downs, a lot of breakpoints missed, a lot of, I don’t know, shifts of momentum. But they both had their chances in the first four sets. I didn’t see the fifth set. Could have sort of gone either way all the way.
I thought it was a good match to watch in terms of entertainment value, for sure.”
So much for “end of” lol.
Sooo???? How is that tantamount to him getting fired up? Like I said, end of.
So did I! Sometimes it’s not about high quality tennis. It’s about the drama. Simon taking Novak to five sets is something that no one predicted.
I was into it enough to stay up into the wee hours. Now I am back here trying to catch up on everything!
Sorry i did predict Simon giving Novak problem because after the Seppi match, Novak mentioned that Seppi hitting flat from both wings were giving him problems. Simon is very special as he hit very flat shots, more so than Seppi, which is why Simon always give Fed problems.
Simon could hit his shots which barely go over the net, making it very difficult to defend against, not to mention his sudden injection of pace.
I do remember Murray played with variation of pace in the past which could trouble Novak but too bad for Murray, he no longer plays that way and as can be seen, is now losing almost all their encounters.
Novak is not afraid of hard hitters except those unwavering ones like Stan and Delpo. To beat Novak you got to play with varieties the way Fed does, or play with variation of pace the way Murray did in the past; or stay with him for the whole duration of the match the way Stan does/did, or Delpo(eg IW2013) or Rafa (in the past).
The thought of Federer getting fired up watching tennis is juvenile?
Did you see the video clip of Federer watching Davis v Sharapova?
He sounds like a dork. A regular fan. Or like me watching tennis. That is one of the things I like most about Roger Federer: he’s a BIG tennis fan. If there’s a tv anywhere around and tennis is on – I’d bet he’s going to watch, if he can. He isn’t above it.
Yeah but he won’t get fired up for his match based on what he sees of other matches. I agree with you, he is one of the noisiest dorks in the locker room and loves watching tennis generally. I just don’t think the Djokovic match had anything to do with how he played.
Anyway, just hoping he doesn’t leave his head/FH in the locker room against Berdych. :p
Well then. We agree on a part and perhaps a wee bit differ on another part.
Fair enough.
My comment about him getting fired up watching Simon like I was, watching Simon, I still believe true. Fed knows what it’s like to be pushed to the limit by the Great Gilou. We’ve both seen it, Fedfan. Can’t help but think Fed might have enjoyed seeing Nole get frustrated. (& a bit fired up?) Let’s not argue it, either way it’s speculation but his presser words made me laugh and smile.
As for Berdych next round? Berd will fancy his chances in a GS 5 set. Why not. Fed is planning his side. It’s fun to see what happens. Either way, each will have to play Nole or Kei the next round…for me, this just gets better!
You don’t think how other matches go affects his own game?
I don’t think it affects any of the big guys. They’re so focused on the ‘present’. It’s almost like an art form, how they steer their mental focus into their matches. I think Roger might’ve felt pressure if Simon had beaten Djokovic. Because then the next guy also comes out believing he can beat a top guy.
lucky,
Did you predict the match to go five sets? It’s one thing to say Simon would give Novak trouble. It’s another thing to see him push Novak that hard for five sets.
While I didnt predict it, I wasnt surprised it went five sets. People should watch their previous matches and see how Simon often could stay with Novak in their matches.
Simon fear no one but he admitted that Rafa was his toughest opponent and one he wished to beat almost badly ( think their match at Rome in 2014 where Simon turned aggressive the whole match but still lost despite going the distance), and he would always remember Madrid 2008.
The one guy that Simon couldnt trouble is Murray, who used to play the same way that Simon does but only better.
He almost choked away his next match based on how another player played in a very important tournament.
End of.
fedfan boys are blinded by their own fandom.
end of.
FO 2009? Yeah, could be. He didn’t choke though. Haas played a brilliant first two sets. Roger hadn’t lost a single point on his serve in the first set. Not much else you can do when the other guy is firing all cylinders and is also a big talent (Haas certainly was).
Riiiiight.
So you admit another result affected his play.
End of.
#YoureWelcomeMyFan
preach Fed
The next question:
Q. We haven’t seen Novak play like this in a very long time.
ROGER FEDERER: In like what sense?
Q. Hitting a hundred unforced errors.
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. How much did you see Gilles Simon play? I’m just wondering, because I think people miss the point of him. He plays every match, like, that. He makes you miss. He makes you go for the lines and he runs down a lot of balls. A lot of points end in errors, if you like.
This was five sets. So, of course, there’s going to be a lot of unforced errors piling up. The question is if you have 50, 100, at the end of the day it doesn’t matter as long as you win.
People just kind of talk maybe — it’s my assumption, I’m not surprised you’re asking me. I just feel people talking like he had a horrible day. Of course he can play better, but on the other side, you have somebody who has the fastest legs and he knows exactly what he’s doing out there, and it worked almost to the very end. So it was very close for Novak, and he knows that.
http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2016-01-24/roger_federer_240116.html
Fed is right. It doesn’t matter how many UE’s you have as long as you win! I really like reading Fed’s comments on the match. He knows what it’s all about.
Winning when you aren’t playing well is what champions do. We saw Rafa do it all the time. I also think that people underestimate Simon. At one time he was in the top ten, earlier in his career. He can be dangerous when he’s on.
Am I wrong in saying that if Novak plays like that again he will lose before the final? Not saying he will because Simon threw him off as he’s a tricky opponent and Novak plays better in later rounds of course. Still that performance from Roger gives me confidence that he can score an upset.
Roger’s put himself in the position to score an upset in a slam vs Nole since 2014.
Regardless if he’s better or worse than 10 years ago, the margin of difference is small.
Don’t doubt it for a second.
Benny, imagine if Nole knew Rafa or Fed were his opponent and not Gilles who is someone tricky, sure, but not Fedal level quite. Nole wouldn’t have been low energy or a shade complacent. The A-game right from the first point is what he’d bring. That’s what I expect to see from here on out from Novak Djokovic – nothing less, unless Kei doesn’t pressure him. There’s a chance that Tsonga truly was having back issues, which made Kei appear even better than he will be v Nole.
The ESPN commies did say that Tsonga hurt his back. That would explain why the match wasn’t that competitive. So we will have to wait and see if Kei looking better than he is or if he’s really back to good form again. He can be a tricky opponent because he takes the ball so early. He can rob his opponent of time.
However, I think that Novak had his big scare and will be ready for Kei. He beat him at the USO, so Novak knows what to expect.
I think you are right that if it was Rafa or Fed playing, then Novak would have brought his best. I have been saying this for a while, that Novak plays just enough to get the win in the early rounds. I don’t think he expected Simon to play that well. Novak won it on sheer mental strength.
I couldn’t get over those drop shots! I don’t think I’ve ever seen Novak play them so poorly. At times it looked like he just wanted to end the long rallies, so it’s kind of like punting. But he was not in the right position to hit them. You don’t usually see him have a brain cramp like that. I also think he was luck that Simon seemed to tire in the fifth set.
If Roger wins AO, he will be GOAT.
end of.
no.
rc,
I am with you. Winning here does not make Fed GOAT. Of course, I am one who does not believe in the whole GOAT argument. I agree with Rod Laver, who said that a player can only be the best in his era. I think that makes so much more sense.
yes, he can become the only player to lose GOAT status and regain it a second time.
Not a belieber in that stuff. You can’t drag me down there.
Don’t want to. 🙂
Just for me. My opinion.
I respect anyone’s opinions otherwise.
We are cool then. Carry on.
I’ve lost my poster soul – my Avatar capacity. That’s bugging me more than anything else atm.
rc,
I did check out your message on the bracket comments. I told you that picking Rafa would do me in. I won’t make that mistake again. Heart over head.
I am not getting involved in the GOAT thing. I try to stay out of it, since I don’t believe that there can ever be a GOAT. That means no one. I think that players can only be the greatest in their era. That’s just how I see it. That way players in every era can be acknowledged and given all due credit.
I do think that Simon was a good part of the reason for all those UE’s from Novak. The other part was that, for whatever reason, Novak seemed off and not at his best. But Simon stayed in this to the end. I give him all due credit for playing like he wanted to win, like he thought he could win.
But I am not giving the title to anyone yet. I don’t think it’s a lock for anyone. Winning a match like this can give Novak a huge lift. Not that he needs it! But when you survive a match that you should have lost, it gives you great confidence. Novak didn’t play well and was pushed by a guy who came out determined to make a match of it. But in the end he won.
It’s what Rafa used to do. He made his career winning matches that he should have lost. So I am not about to say that Novak won’t win here again. But I do think he will need to play better against Kei. That’s not going to be an easy match.
Yep, many of Novak’s UEs were caused by Simon’s willingness to extend rallies. The average number of rallies per point in 1st set was 6.4 or something like that. It was pretty surprising to see that Novak was the one who was reluctant on keeping the rally going, often resorting to drop shots. Also interesting to see Simon somewhat gassed near the end of the 5th, don’t think I ever saw that before.
You’re right, title’s definitely not a lock. In my opinion, Novak has never been the best player in any of the recent grand slams UNTIL the finals. Wins don’t look as dominant as Fed’s, but he gets the job done.
Don’t know if it is coincidence/luck or actual strategy, but Novak peaks when it matters the most.
This is what I have been saying for a while, that Novak does what he has to in order to get through the early rounds and then peaks when it matters the most in finals.
However, you made a good point about not knowing if it’s coincidence, luck or strategy. I can’t answer that either. All I know is that it’s working. I think it’s one way to avoid getting burnout.
I think the next match should give us an idea about where Novak is really at. He will have to play better. This would be the time where he should start raising his level of play, now that we are in the second week at the business end of this slam.
Goffin is a sad 1-24 vs Top 10 opponents and 0-10 last 52 weeks.
Goffin will be a Top 20 player for many years. Top 10 is no guarantee for him.
I wonder if Thiem would have fared any better against Fed.
I do think Thiem would fare better. At Brisbane he lost the first set against Fed easily but made a match in set two. Thiem would do better than Goffin as he has no fear or love for Fed (Fed not his idol).
Well here we go with Fed and Berdy.
Berdy comes out aggressive and gets the early break against Fed.
Berdy promptly is broken right back.