What can be said about Roger Federer?
To me, he's the greatest tennis player of all time.
And one of the world's most respected gentleman and sportsman.
I have always applauded Nadal's skill and yet been concerned about his purported habitual PED use.
Drug testing in professional tennis is very lax.
Vamos Roger!
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Roger and Mirka. Dynamic duo
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The fact that a 38 and 32 year old played such astonishingly intense tennis, with amazing movement, touch and precision is the story. Never a Nadal fan, his game is like Frankenstein's monster, but the rivalry and competitive desire arising from the contrasting styles is remarkable. All three players, fed, Nadal and djokovic, have actually gotten better and are, at their advanced age, actually gotten better.
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Sunday... a day for prayer.....
And hope....
Roger Federer, not since Rod Laver...
Two incredible gentlemen...
Good for sport, good for kids...
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Class act! These two guys are real champions and do not need tv cameras, politics and activism to boost their image. Humble, well mannered and respectful. Nothing more, nothing less...
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So why wasn’t the number 3 seed in the top half of the draw?
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Federer has the most efficient tennis game ever even if he loses to Djokovic on Sunday.
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Tennis is the BEST! These matches are so hard to watch we love them all. Roger Rafa joker!! Come back Andy Murray. Yay! Tennis !
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As awed as I am by Fed’s brilliant shotmaking and improvisational ability, it is his movement at this stage of his career that truly blows my mind. Although he certainly has lost a bit of speed, his court coverage is that of a player ten years younger. I’ll be rooting for his 21st major on Sunday, even though I also like Novak’s game.
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@Pde. You can actually detect a reduction in “speed”?
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Roger Federer reminds me so much of tennis' greats like Gonzales, Laver, Ashe, Rosewall, Smith. Somehow I can't imagine Nadal and Djokovich the same way.
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It was needless to say an outstanding match by two of tennis' true greats. I have to say that at nearly age 38, Federer's performance was breathtaking. He nearly looked like he was in his prime.
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This should have been the final, terrific amount of variety and creative shot making. This was a real treat considering the amount of just blasting the ball from the baseline in near jai alai fashion in some earlier rounds.
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Refreshing to see superstars with class.
Class, deserved and humble are non-existent in the pro sports world these days.
Big 3 have been great, but tennis world has been waiting for new rising stars to come for too long.
Hope they will emerge soon while Big 3 are still holding the torch.
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A great match between two great players. This was a match well worth watching. Hopefully, they will meet again at the US Open
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Yes, two superb athletes playing it to the end with real style and no trash talking. Federer and Nadal may not hang around much between matches but they clearly respect each other, which is a refreshing change from certain other spheres of life I can think of at the moment.
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Wow. Just wow. I'm speechless.
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Finally a sports match without any political nonsense before or after....
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A class act, all of them. Great match. I will be rooting for the "old man" in the finals.
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Rogers backhand was a weapon today. If it holds up against Djokovic he has a good chance at winning.
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@HL
Roger’s improved backhand is a key element in his recent success against Nadal. Rafa used to exploit the backhand. No more.
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@Chris Sheahen
I really think Federer stuck to the smaller racket head to long. It put him at a severe disadvantage against Nadel. With equal equitment Federer is no longer handicapped and its showing up in the results.
It probably cost him 2 grand slams.
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I always root for Roger, but he along with Nadal and Djokovic are collectively the greatest. Such competitors, such good sports.
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One of these days, the unbelievable streak of these three amazing players will come to an end and a new generation will take over.
But not today!
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Unbelievable.
Most of the “seeds” this year - have had an
easy draw the dismissing lesser players - both Novak and Roger have had very difficult opponents - Novak had Goffin - Roger had Nishikori -
These two men are the greatest tennis players of our time.
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@Dry Socket I think you have to include Djoko
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@Long Island Dave
Novak is Djoko's first name. Did you mean Rafa?
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@Butterfield8 Oops, yes. Thanks ;)
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Roger That!
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Hopp Roger!
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I always root for Nadal but have to tip my hat to Federer. That man is a true warrior.
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Oh what a match! My heart is still racing. Wonderful to see these two play against each other - they raise each other's games to extraordinary heights. In my book, the best rivalry and camaraderie between these two - ever!
Now onto Federer's 21st Grand Slam!!!
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Strawberries and cream; champagne and scones. The table will be set at my place Sunday morning. This was a wonderful semi-final and I hope Roger Federer claims his ninth (one beyond his magic number 8). As the great man himself sometimes says: Allez!!!
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Amazing redemption for Federer after 2008. Hoping he can get to 21 on Sunday! Allez, Roger!
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What a rivalry! They elevate the game of tennis and sports in general!
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Roger vs Novak for all the men’s marbles on Sunday morning.
Three cheers for championship tennis!
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This is the golden age of men's tennis. Federer, Nadal, Djokovic . . . . If you're a real fan, you're lucky to be witnessing this!
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@Jeff
Absolutely! Mind and power and grace.
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Need to stop with the GOAT references. Let's see these guys play with the older rackets from 1970s/1980s, then you got something to measure. No use measuring generation vs generation.
These guys are mostly standing 6 feet beyond the baseline and blasting away is boring to watch, like the modern incarnation of baseball - home run or strikeout..
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@HistoryRhymes, comparisons across time are somewhat absurd but we can also wonder what a Laver would do vs today’s big three. Today’s athletes are stronger and more agile, thanks to modern training science and the enticement of huge paydays. I’d not be sure that the Lavers could manage against our current champions. (Baseball is different: the old timers would eliminate the value of the shifts in about a week. More doubtful if they could face a new 90+ arm every inning or two.)
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@HistoryRhymes
No bored!
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@HistoryRhymes No way to know, of course, but if the older greats played with modern rackets or vice versa, then we'd have a better sense. But important to recognize that each generation played against great players using the same equipment within their generation -- and none of them wone as many Grand Slams as Roger has, playing against great players using the same level rackets he is.
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The Tom Brady of tennis.
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With all due respect, you cannot compare Roger with Brady. Roger’s impact, global recognition and support are clearly in a different league. American football is still very much a domestic affair.
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Tennis supreme and sublime. Thank you Roger & Rafa. We who love the sport are blessed today.
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Imagine a nearly 38 year old Nadal playing a 33 year-old Federer. We know where Federer was at 33. We don't know if Nadal will be playing another 5 years and if he is it's hard to imagine he'd be at the same level. Federer- The GOAT, plain and simple.
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Roger that!
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GO FEDERER!
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"... with Federer digging out a hold after 12 points."
Can someone please explain what a "hold" means? Thanks.
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Winning your service game.
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You win your service game or “hold your serve” instead of losing it which is also getting “broken”
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@polymath It means that RF held his serve, i.e., not broken.
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