The U.S. Open title is coming down to the top two players in the world–Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Sunday’s championship match pits the game’s best against each other at this stage of a second major in succession.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will be meeting for the 42nd time in their careers when they battle for the U.S. Open title on Sunday afternoon.
The head-to-head series could not be any closer, to the extent that it may be all tied up again by the time this one ends. Federer holds a 21-20 edge after beating Djokovic 7-6(1), 6-3 in this summer’s Cincinnati final. Djokovic, however, has won three of their five 2015 encounters–including a 7-6(1), 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-3 victory in the Wimbledon championship match. The Serb is 7-6 at his rival’s expense in Grand Slams despite losing four of their first five such showdowns.
Since toppling Djokovic in Cincinnati, an on-fire Federer has not looked back. Playing without question the best tennis in the world right now, Federer has not lost a set so far this fortnight. The 34-year-old Swiss punched his ticket to the title match by disposing of Leonardo Mayer, Steve Darcis, Philipp Kohlschreiber, John Isner, Richard Gasquet, and Stan Wawrinka. Only Isner pushed him to a pair of tiebreakers and nobody else even came within 7-5 in any set.
An aggressive Federer is striking winners from all over the court and he has continued to execute the Sneak Attack By Roger (SABR) tactic–although to what extent depends on the opponent. The world No. 2 never did it against Isner for obvious reasons, but he fared well with it on occasion versus Djokovic in Cincinnati.
“For me, if it makes sense–which I think it does–I’ll use it in the finals,” Federer commented. “I used it to great effect against [Djokovic] in the tough situation at 4-1 in the ‘breaker in Cincy. We will see if the occasion presents itself. It’s got to be the right point, right frame of mind, the right place to do it. I hope I’ll have the opportunity to do it.”
Djokovic has an opportunity to win his third major title of the year and effectively come within one match–besting Serena Williams, who was two matches away–of capturing the calendar-year Grand Slam. The top seed previously triumphed at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon to go along with his runner-up showing at Roland Garros. So far in New York he has defeated Joao Souza, Andreas Haider-Maurer, Andreas Seppi, Roberto Bautista Agut, Feliciano Lopez, and Marin Cilic–dropping sets to Bautista Agut and Lopez in the process.
“I came here with a wish and a mission: to reach the finals and fight for the trophy,” Djokovic assured. “So I got myself in that position. It’s already a great result. But I want to get that final step on Sunday and get my hands on that trophy. Obviously I’m not the only one who wants that. [A] Swiss player will be on (the) opposite side of the net. We will definitely want to have the same kind of mission.”
When the world’s two best players with the same goal collide, the result should be another instant classic. Federer is showcasing the better form, but can he sustain his incredible level from start to finish in a best-of-five situation? He has not been able to do that against Djokovic in recent times–and he will once again come painfully close.
Pick: Djokovic in 5
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There were moments when the match was gripping but on balance neither man were at their very best and it was a final that failed to deliver the anticipated drama and excitement.
Congratulations to Djokovic and to all those who believed in him – particularly Ricky who insisted all along the winner was NID.
I thought Fed winning was NID. I guess it depends who you listen to or believe. That’s how it seemed from reading some comments here. That’s all well and good if people thought that Fed would win. They have a right to their opinion. But trashing anyone just because they don’t agree is just not cool.
The match wasn’t a classic by any means.
Apparently I had an opinion on GOAT that someone took offence to. Maybe you slept on it and discovered that “they have a right to their opinion.”
Thanks nny!!!
You’re right ed, far from a classic but some great drama at times through out and the best man won!!!!
ADJE!!!!!!!
#NoleFam
#LetsDoThis
#Idemooooooo
When you hear a crowd cheering when a player double faults or misses a serve or a shot, that’s bad. But Novak showed that he could handle it. Not an easy thing to do.
The best thing when that happens is to win! 🙂
Thankfully the SABR rattling will cease.
Yes please! No more SABR!
Roger plays unbelievably awesome against opponents not at his level. His movement, shots and variety are the most beautiful when he is playing great.
But against tough opponents, he hits low first serve percentage, double fault, make easy mistakes on breakpoint though in winning position, forehand not working, even when hitting winners his head is facing down, a sign of low confidence compared to Novak/Rafa.
He is Roger, in all his strength there is his weakness which makes him human.
IF not, nobody would want to watch tennis if someone is winning 25 grandslams 😀
As expected Novak wins. Congrats to him. In a way its a victory for the Novak/Rafa generation; just imagine the smugness by many of the Fed supporters if Fed were to win this, beating the domineering no.1 ranking player whos from the Rafa generation. Imo that’ll be unbearable and we’ll have the endless talk of Fed is the confirmed Goat.
Exactly Lucky, the outcome of that match leaves the debate wide open.
But the Nole monster is quite scary. Finals of all the major tournaments in the last year, save Shanghai. And Federer @34 years the closest competitor. IF he keeps this up, he can sweep next year. But the beauty of ATP has been that just when a player seems destined for multi year dominance, someone puts him back in place.
Cant say who is going to do that for Djokovic, but if someone does not, we could be in for another 2004 – 2007
It takes another monster to beat this monster that is Novak. I think Fed’s dominance during 2004-2007 looked more scary than this one. Novak needs to grind out wins from jaws of defeats, Fed made his looked less daunting.
Rafa was also a monster in 2008 right up to Rome 2009 and then 2010 clay season till the end of the season. If not for his injuries he would also be a scary monster who could dominate at least from 2008 to beginning of 2011. I’m hopeful Rafa wull revamp his game (according to Spanish DC captain Rafa is in the process of changing his game) and come back strong to continue his rivalry with Novak, and getting the upper hand!
more daunting you mean?
I hope that’s not the case. I want Rafa to come back strong next year. But now we see just how tough it is to take out Novak at a slam. Not bad for a guy who was called a three set specialist. It was Fed who beat him in a best of three match at Cincy, but couldn’t get it done at the USO.
Fed is not really a competitor. He did well to reach two slams this year at his age. But with Novak waiting there for him, he wasn’t able to win either one. Rafa was the only one who could stay with Novak. He has to come back to make things interesting.
I have to say that I have not liked much about Novak and the way he has handled himself at times. But I have been really impressed watching him this year. He is able to elevate his game in the crucial moments, especially at slams. I don’t know how he got his racket
on some of Fed’s serves. The way he fights so hard to save break points is pretty awesome.
I respect what he’s done this year. I also think he showed some toughness and maturity in dealing with a raucous pro-Fed crowd. He stayed strong and didn’t crumble. So I have to say that this was a well deserved win. Maybe not the best match in terms of pure tennis, but still entertaining and filled with drama and ups and downs. In the end, the best man won.
No, he can’t keep this up more than a year or two most. He’s fried. I think he wanted to put Fed in his place and his fans with this massive win.
I don’t see fed winning another GS and rafole will stop fed in MC and Rome from ever winning those.
I would like to humbly point out that Rafa has also held 3/4 slams twice. It may not be in same year but FO 2008 – AO 2009 and FO 2010 – AO 2011 – Rafa won 3/4.
Today’s match again proves only a good Rafa can stop Novak. I am sorry Murray and Federer just cannot outlast him.
I feel sorry for Fed too. 4th chance gone away. Wimby 2014, Wimby 2015, USO 2014(after Novak lost Fed was confirmed for the win but caught an on song Cilic) , 2015. It must hurt .
You know I forgot about how last year played out. Once Nishi beat Novak, then the path did seem clear for Fed to get to the final and win. But Cilic came out and played an outstanding match to thwart Fed’s dreams of another USO. It’s always something in the way. But Fed had his time. I think this is Rafa, Novak and Murray’s time.
I have said that I did not think Fed would win another slam until this one. I got caught up in all the talk about Fed being supposedly invincible. Now I am back to thinking it’s not going to happen.
I am not sure that Novak can keep this up for a few years. He has had so much success this year, but there have been signs of the mental strain. He had a tough time closing out this match. At times he has seemed out of sorts and a bit fried. So we will have to see what happens next year.
I always feel that as long as Novak or Rafa is still in the draw, Fed has no chance of winning a slam. He needs someone to stop Novak and Rafa and then he may win one.
As for who’s going to stop Novak, I would say first and foremost a fit and healthy Rafa playing his best tennis, followed by an on fire Stan at AO and FO. Murray may do it at Wimbledon provided hes not stopped by Fed. Hmm…it takes a group effort to beat a montrous Novak at the slams!
^This.
Ahaa..Roger in presser kinda saying he lost it rather than Novak winning 😉
Q. He seemed to find another gear. When you had those break opportunities, it was like he just elevated. Is that sort of the key to his…
ROGER FEDERER: I didn’t feel that way, to be quite honest. I had too many break chances. Of course some of them I could have done better, should have done better, you know, all these things.
Surely he didn’t give me much, you know, and all that, that’s for sure, but still I should have done better
I should have never been down in the first place two sets to one and 5-2. That was a bummer there.
ROGER FEDERER: I’m feeling confident doing it, you know. I think it was the right game plan. Just execution sometimes was missing in some crucial moments. But other than that, I think I played a good match.
Maybe I haven’t played this offensive for a very long time, and that’s maybe the reasons, as well, why maybe I was slightly shaky when it came to the crunch on the break points. Who knows?
Q. I didn’t hear the first question, but 19 break points out of 23 you missed; many with the forehand. Normally when we look at your stats your forehand is always the winning point. Tonight you were probably playing better on the backhand. Am I right? Am I wrong? How do you feel? How was it in your opinion?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. A lot of opportunities miss the. If it’s backhand, forehand, volleys, it doesn’t really matter at the end of the day.
I know why I lost the match very clearly the moment I sat down at 5-2 down in the fourth or after the match was over.
So something I will work on, and keep moving forward, you know. It’s no problem for me.
Q. When you say you know why you lost the match, is it just because of those mistakes or the reason why you made those mistakes?
ROGER FEDERER: Because of the mistakes I made. I have to get better at that. It’s just pretty simple.
Lets forget about Novak and roger. They are anyway doing great. Rafa, please regroup and focus and come back fast.
Very unlikely for Roger to come back winning slam with Novak around. He is mentally not ready for this sort of challenge.
Neither it is likely for Rafa to come back winning slam like back in 2010/2013 except at RG.
It is no surprise by end 2016, Novak has 13 slams.
Rafa had never had worse achievement than this year in slam. Even when he was injured, he did better than 2015. He had never lost to so many low ranked players in the long stretch of time except 2015. He owned those names who beat him in 2015 until mid 2014.
Two currently best players in the world either one of them winning is not a big surprise. I admire Fed’s efforts, but last night he was not mentally ready to fight for the 18. Not converting 23 break points says a lot. Hmmm, facing 23 break points speaks of the quality of the match. Roger lost this match but also Novak won it on those crucial points.
Fed was broken twice in the first set and that was essential for the match. On many occasions Fed reminded me of Rafa 2015 last night ? Novak was fighting like a lion and deserves every praise.
Watching these two made me realize how much will Rafa need to improve to get to their level…
Congrats to Novak and his fans! This was a well fought and deserved win.
Congrats to Fed for being in two finals at the age of 34 something both Novak and Rafa can only dream of…
Fed lost the match as much as Novak won it. The FH errors at crucial moments were shocking from Fed. Some were sitters. Fed could have actually won this match. Novak won Wimby 2015 fair and square, USO 2015 was lost by Fed as much as was won by Nole. Feds presser says the same thing.
I do not agree nats. Rafa played at a higher level than both Fed & Novak today in USO 2013, USO 2010, AO2012 , even AO 2014 till the back injury. The level today was not high, it was a sloppy match with 90 plus UE and many costly mistakes. It was very evenly matched though as neither played well to the best of their abilities.
No, you misunderstood. I was talking about Rafa of 2015. He would have been easily dealt with by either of these two if he was facing them. I don’t observe Rafa’s past records and his brilliance in the past. I am talking about 2015 onwards…Fed had similar slump and improved and modified his game to have results. Unless Rafa does similar thing he will be easy target for many…
Call me crazy, but that was not such a high level of tennis that Rafa with his game today and a level head could not overcome.
Have to agree with Sanju here. I dont think its really a high quality match with so many errors and so many missed BP opportunities! Its just that its a fast paced match for the most part of it making it seemed like its a great match. The Rafa of 2010 and 2013 would have no problem finishing off Fed or Novak here with fewer errors.
Watching this USO and in particular this final match made me appreciate Rafa even more, for Rafa rarely played a slam match thats full of errors esp in a final. Rafa is known for playing at a consistently high level in a BO5 match, something I notice Novak finds it hard to do, Fed too .
Rafa had a brilliant 2008 March – 2009 May and we all thought he would dominate, he went off the boil .
Rafa won 3 slams in 2010 and we all thought he would dominate in 11, Novak 2.0 happened.
Rafa had a stellar 2-13 and we thought he will continue in 2014, he again went off the boil.
Novak had a stellar 2011 and we all thought he will keep dominating, he won only 3 slams/12 for the next 3 years.
Novak again has dominated 2015, what will happen 2016?
Rafa is going to dominate in 2016, goes without saying…..(right?)
we certainly hope so… 🙂
Shireling,
No, it doesn’t go without saying and it’s not impossible either.
I still believe but wish he would put his head out of the ground and look for some external help, I think he’s in denial of his situation.
that…