Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are one round away from a potential blockbuster title match in Cincinnati, but they have tough semifinal tests on their hands. Federer is facing David Goffin, while Djokovic is going up against Marin Cilic.
(11) David Goffin vs. (2) Roger Federer
Federer and Goffin will be squaring off for the eighth time in their careers when they battle for a place in the Western & Southern Open final on Saturday. Goffin stunned Federer 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the semis of the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals, finally getting on the scoreboard against his idol after losing their first six encounters. The 37-year-old Swiss is 4-1 lifetime against Goffin on hard courts, including 1-0 outdoors following a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 beatdown at the 2016 Australian Open.
This marks Federer’s lone tuneup for the U.S. Open, as he skipped Toronto thinking that he would probably get plenty of match practice under his belt in Cincinnati. After all, he was 42-8 lifetime at this event heading into this week and he is searching for his eighth title. It’s so far, so good for Federer, who has advanced with wins over Peter Gojowyczk, Leonardo Mayer, and Stan Wawrinka. Goffin has emerged from a relative slump by taking out Stefanos Tsitsipas, Benoit Paire, Kevin Anderson, and Juan Martin Del Potro. The 11th-ranked Belgian enjoyed an incredible Friday with straight-set upsets of both Anderson and Del Potro, but duplicating that effort against Federer will be tough to do–especially in Cincinnati.
Pick: Federer in 2
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(10) Novak Djokovic vs. (7) Marin Cilic
Djokovic and Cilic will be squaring off for the 17th time in their careers on Saturday. The head-to-head series stands at a dominant 14-2 in favor of Djokovic, but he had been a perfect 14-0 before Cilic suddenly reeled off a current two-match winning streak. The Croat prevailed 6-4, 7-6(2) at the 2016 Paris Masters and 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3 after saving a championship point in this summer’s Queen’s Club final.
Djokovic made a nice escape of his own on Friday night in Cincinnati, recovering from a break down in the third set to beat Milos Raonic 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. The 10th-ranked Serb preceded that victory with defeats of Steve Johnson, Adrian Mannarino, and Grigor Dimitrov–winning the latter two of those matches in three sets. Cilic punched his ticket to the semifinals with victories over Marius Copil, Karen Khachanov, and Pablo Carreno Busta, earning his first two wins in three-setters. The seventh-ranked Croat has bounced back nicely from a disappointing Wimbledon with a 5-1 record so far on hard courts. Still, Djokovic looks inspired for a first-ever Cincinnati title and the sample size of his success against Cilic is large despite having lost their last two contests.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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Also, Fed still needs to get by Goffin for that to happen, and we all saw what happened last time Fed-Goffin played…
Does lightning strike twice? Not watching the Cilic-Djoker match but I see that the mental midget has struck again!
Grats to all who wanted a Djoker final! (Me, I haven’t managed to work up more than an academic interest.)
Real deal vs one hit wonder.
Ricky can now agree with my pre-tourney final pick in his final match prediction.
Zverev over Federer???? You cannot be serious.
Congrats to me.
#Humb1e
Novak is playing well enough to win uso. He is grinding but his bh dtl his key shot is back n he made quiet a few of them today
It will all depend on whose side Novak lands…hope it’s Feds side but likely will be Rafa’s (:-
Cilic loses. NID. I honestly hope that Fed beats Goffin, and then absolutely destroys Novak in the final. It would feel shitty for Novak to win this title having played at such a poor level for his standard. The one classic Novak trait that has kept him in this tournament is his competitiveness. All-time greats find a way to win. Fed did it last night, and Novak today.
First Djokerer match in 2 1/2 years? Yes, please! Please take care of business tonight, Fed- we want to see you and Djoko play!
Djoko is a fighter no doubt but that doesn’t mean he’s not a grinder! It’s just like Rafa during his younger days, when Rafa was also a grinder, making use of his speed and his anticipation skills to get the job done.
No one can out grind Djoko now, only a Rafa during his younger days could do a better job. To beat this Djoko, one has to be aggressive, like Fed who beat Djoko always at Cincy or on quicker surfaces; or like Stan who beats Djoko at slam finals; or like Rafa when he’s playing his aggressive tennis; or a gutsy Tsitsipas who never gives up!
Those players like Dimi, Cilic, Raonic, Delpo would be glad to get a set, they just dont have the tennis acumen to win the big points against Djoko, even when Djoko isn’t playing well. Djoko is so dominant during his heydays not for no reasons. Even the fellow grinder Murray couldn’t beat him!
Right on all fronts, Lucky.
I thought Novak did it play well at all. But I was sure that Cilic would end up losing. He does not have the mental strength when the matches are close.
I was glad to see Stan give Fed a match. I expect Fed to beat Goffin. I don’t see Novak winning against Fed. He did well to get to the final.
I meant to say that I thought Novak did not play well in this match.*
I didn’t get to watch the last set but happy and relieved that the Nole won 😀
Now go on and win the title Nole! Idemo Nole!
Thanks, Hawksley for the support. I know you’ll be cheering for Fed – it’s okay – It definitely is advantage Fed in Cincy, you are right.
I’m so ready for a Cincy Fedole!
rc, you serious? 😉
Let’s go Goffin and Federer! One of you, get ready to lose to Nole in the final 😉
I’m just kidding of course. (honestly, not at all confident. Novak has not dominated like I’d prefer to see him dominate — if I’m hoping for him to win this Cincy title)
Fed really does have an effortless and beautiful serve – when his back is healthy.
I think people are underestimating Goffin here… He may very well have shaken off any fear he may have had of Fed at the WTF. As long as Goffin continues to hold serve this easily, he has just as good of a shot as Fed in the tiebreaks. It almost seems like Fed tactically doesn’t go all out in return games these days. It could also just be that everyone is holding serve easily due to the speed of the court?
Fed missing the backhand 14 ue’s already. His serve saves him. And Goffin DF’ing helps.
Phew! Nice passing shot Wee Wizard. oh nice bh dtl, too to hold serve.
Federer’s serve…sheesh. With serving like that he doesn’t need to do much else. Goffin can’t touch it.
Sh!t…Fed will break here. Right on cue.
Wow, gutsy serving from Goffin to save set points!
Damn. Goffin saves 3 set points to send it to tiebreak. Fed has been god awful on break points lately. See, I told you guys not to underestimate Goffin! You can never underestimate a guy who won their previous match, not even a year ago, also on hardcourt!
The Fed of this first set reminds me of the Fed of the 2nd and 3rd sets of that WTF match…
Just like last time, Fed takes the first set. Hopefully he doesn’t make the same mistakes he did after winning the first set last time!
Oh no, Goffin getting massaged on his shoulder.
Yep, He had to retire. Poor Goffin did.
Welp. It’sa Fedole final!
I had the feeling Federer was just getting warmed up going into the tie break and the beginning of set 2. Novak was somewhere watching and getting ready 😀
Goffin spot on serving the slowest ace ever. The force is strong with the wee wizard. That was a lot of brilliance from Goffin to hold serve and make it to a tie break.
Fed nailing the footwork and his backhand in the tie break. And his serve is so solid — Wins the first set. Ho hum.
Kevin, I don’t think Goffin has any fear of Federer. It’s just a matter of having nothing on most days to trouble Fed. And I’m a huge Goffin fan – but he does well to make it this far and beat the players he beat getting to this SF.
We are still on course for the Fedole 😀
Fed caught an ideal break there! Sad for Goffin. Well, now we get a Fedole/Djokerer Final!
What a shame for Goffin. His serve coming in at 78 mph was a sign. Even then, Fed was chipping it back; he had no confidence on the ROS today. I actually think Goffin is now at least as good as Fed from the baseline; in fact, today he was better. It’s really Fed’s serve that is keeping him going these days.
Djokovic is jealous of 78
I actually think Fed may have an easier time tomorrow with Novak than he did with Goffin today -at least until Goffin had to retire.