My dear, Best of luck against Soderling..

You can finish up this quarter in straight sets, I have a faith in you..

FEDERER all the way~

wohoooooooooooooooo!!

yeah roger. now you gotta stay focused and concentrate on getting read to meeting rafa in the final - no more excuses rafa fans!

roger - you re the best.do it for the twins.go:roger:go

yes.yes.yes!

Calm down a little,maxi. You are climaxing just a little too early :P

Its been wonderful till today...... n it will be amazing next. :D

Keep playing awesome tennis my boy.

Love u Roger .....

Go Roger Go.......

I think Bobby Sod might potentially take a set off the Fed. Bearing in mind there were TWO tiebreakers at Wimbly...I think Sod has sort of has an idea what he needs to do when facing Fed.

Honestly? I am not 100% comfortable nor confident. You would think SOMETHING'S gotta give sometimes. Roger's streaks scares the beejebus out of me sometimes. I'm not gonna discount Bobby Sod. He did the impossible in RG, I'll be biting my nails and hope Fed doesn't do his walkabout/mental implosion thing and start firing UEs galore.

Good point jyannis. Federer's streak is amazing but the longer it goes, the chances are higher that it will be broken. What are the odds of him finishing his career with the semi-final streak still unbroken. Almost zero I would think, even though he is enjoying his 2nd renaissance, unless he pulls the plug after this USO (assuming he will reach that round which is almost a dead given). His mid match lapses are more frequent than during his younger days and I'm afraid to say matches like the one against Tsonga in Montreal will most likely creep into his win-loss record.

But RF is a different beast in the slams. You can't use Monty as an example. He ups his level in the majors. In 08, he was struggling to win matches after AO but still, in his supposed 'bad' year, he made one SF and three F (winning 1 of them) in the majors.
You guys should have more faith in your fav.
Of course anything can happen but I don't see BS (how appropriate! :) taking this match from fed. I don't think he will even take a set off Fed.

Rafael Nadal..... against.... Gasquet .. 7-0 (6-0 b4 USO)

Against Almagro -- 3-0 4(-0 now)

Against Monfils (5-1 Now)

Against Kiefer (5-0)

OMG..... wt a quality opponent he is played aginst...... how hard da draw was...... almost deadly.... or dead given. crapppppppppp........... conspiracy...... omg..... poor Rafa baby..... dunno playing these giants of tennis. huh !!!!

Go Roger Go........

well ..soderling is an attacking player ....and these kind of players are always dangerous especially on an "on" day ....i reckon no one would want to under estimate him as we are aware of the magnitude of the upsets he can cause ..nevertheless fed controls each and every one of his match ....UE down ...and fed will prevail ..

this is the fastest surface they will meet on .....this has be a little worried . but i think fed will pull through

C'MON !!
USO09...where we celebrate our sweet 16th !!

RE: jean , 9/9/09 8:52 AM

Yes RF is a different beast in GS but all tennis streaks do come to an end. It's just a matter of when, unless of course he retires after making his 22 semi appearance and never plays tennis again. He's getting older and some young gun may just rise out of nowhere to take his place. We don't know what the future holds but rest assured his streak will end somewhere the longer he plays... it's almost a certainty like the wrinkles we get as we get older (some ppl will no doubt be in denial and have plastic surgery, which is really like putting on a permanent face mask)

cable, I agree. No doubt RF won't be playing tennis forever or be at the top forever. My point was that at no. 1 and still looking strong I'm not under the impression his streak will end this season or be dented in this tourney. But we are all making predictions, we'll know soon enough. I really can't see BS winning this one, but we know he's going to put a fight. I'm predicting straight sets for RF. What about you?

jean, I don't doubt RF will continue his streak here and make it 22. But as we at the FO this year, nothing is a given. Still I think RF will go through in 4 "easy" sets.

cable,

Calm down a little,maxi. You are climaxing just a little too early :P
cable , 9/9/09 7:45 AM

I'll do my very best - you made me giggle this morning - haha!

plzzzz people. the roger is "on fire" he is "stoked" he knows what he has to do. and I AM excited - "oh yes" - so i cannot help myself. i love watching roger federer play. so bear with me while i jump. yeah streaks have gotta end some time soon, but why do you talk about it now - shouldnt you just be enjoying what you are seeing and not thinking about "other thoughts?" - federer has upped his game plan - i dont care/hear what johnny mac says/said before the tourny (what does he know?! haha! go away johnny mac - he was wrong about murray! federer will retire one day people - but why you talking about it now? but NOT until he is 40 years old! Federer is here to stay! go:roger:go!

I see Federer is going to have to do a late night shift after all, and playing second. I guess they have run out of people to take the load off him. They couldn't ask Djokovic to do it again.

Unlike Fedfans, Rafans don't jump the gun, you'll never ever see us counting our chickens before they are hatched. What we are concentrating on now is the match against Gonzo, not assuming that Rafa will get to the final, he still has two matches to win before that.

unlike rafa fans we fedfans take it one match at a time and acknowledge that any player can be beaten on any day . we dont take up insurance policies and make excuses prior to the match just in case there is an upset ..in fact if fed looses ..its simply cos he lost to a player who played better and could hold it together on that day ....no injury rubbish ...no scheduling bulshit ...i cant dont think any fed fan really cares if fed plays during the day or they night ....and now he is playing at night its perfectly fine . we dont make a big deal about it and whine like imbeciles . its part of the game ....

geezzz you guys make me sick with the excuses you make ....injury ..ok ...i cant accept....schedulling ...!!! and now since fed plays at night like rafa fans wanted you still are not happy ....

C'MON !!
USO09...where we celebrate our sweet 16th !

carrie, you are really changing your tune now and i dont like it. why are you like this? why do you have a problem being objective and complimentary/supportive? I 100% agree with fedex. why do you have to come across as being so bitter carrie? Its horrible. And dont deny it.

You say:
'I see Federer is going to have to do a late night shift after all, and playing second. I guess they have run out of people to take the load off him. They couldn't ask Djokovic to do it again.
carrie , 9/9/09 11:10 AM

so what if federer is playing his second or third night match? (its the "after all" that i dont like - just a flippant two words that speak volumes. who the flip bloody cares. MY favourite player, the great roger federer is playing and I am so happy. why do you want to spoil our "happiness" carrie - i havent done it towards you and you know how much i love roger and have passion for his game - so you know how i, (along with many federer fans will feel).

secondly,

'
Unlike Fedfans, Rafans don't jump the gun, you'll never ever see us counting our chickens before they are hatched. What we are concentrating on now is the match against Gonzo, not assuming that Rafa will get to the final, he still has two matches to win before that.
carrie , 9/9/09 11:16 AM

Whose jumped the bleedin' gun? who? how many times have i said to you carrie, that federer plays his match "on the day" against an opponent across the net whom he has to beat - at that moment and have referred to his interviews many times where he says "he never underestimates his opponent" and dont ask me to post it, cos just go to USO official website and read his interviews -

and I am sorry carrie, but it is you who has been jumping the gun all the way through our conversations - by "assuming" federer is going to reach the final, saying its a "done deal", and you know that. it is only now, that rafa is having some great matches that you are now becoming less nice to have a discussion with. Not fair carrie Not fair.

i am not going to fall out with you carrie - but it is you that has been jumping the gun throughout - NOT the federer fans - very unfair posts from you today. I'm disappointed.

Could you guys not generalise please - Rafa fans, Fed fans, Rafa fans, Fed fans, etc etc etc.... I'm a Rafa fan. What excuse did I give about Rafa in this tourney???

I am sure Fed will win this except Soderling is gonna create history by ending 2 long and famous streaks in GS history in 1 year.

I think Fed is sharp especially against Robredo. He only raises his level when he needs too.

Federer is in the head of every player not called Nadal, Murray or Djokovic, and Soderling is no exception. The Swede just called Federer the greatest of all time in his book, and he would have to play his absolute best just to have a small chance - is that the mental attitude you want to have right before you play a guy who has made you his whipping boy?!! Give me a break!! Soderling has all the weapons to beat Federer but he's a mentally weak retard like the majority of players who "oooh and aaah" before and during their match with Roger. Djokovic, on the other hand, could give a damn about Federer's abilities, and has a very good chance of beating him in the semis if he gets by Verdasco and displays the same form he did against Stepanek.

Torr ...believeeeeee ....FedExpress will check in to his 22nd straight semi final .
We deal with it a match at a time and we have to be positive and confident that Fed will know the danger or soderling in this court . I know it has to come to an end someday ....but we have to trust that today is NOT that day ...Fed will prevail ...i dont expect magic , i dont expect it to be preety ...but i expect him to fight and come up with the "w" ..

C'MON !!
USO09...where we celebrate our sweet 16th !

" Djokovic, on the other hand, could give a damn about Federer's abilities'...

you know what samdaman ...i actually agree that Djoker is the most dangerous in the us open . He plays his best tennis here . Which is why Fed's best matches always seem to be with him in the USO. but we are not there yet ...so lets postpone this .

C'MON !!
USO09...where we celebrate our sweet 16th !!

I'm sorry fedexfan, you do take things for granted, and you do make excuses. Do Mono and his brother Bad back ring a bell. Your moto alone speaks for itself, you've already got Roger kissing the trophy.

USO09...where we celebrate our sweet 16th !

fedexfan , 9/9/09 11:51 AM

If this is not taking things for granted, then I don't know what is.

I agree with jean that this whole "FedFan RafaFan" thing is getting to be more than just slightly annoying. Please do not lump people into categories and make generalised assumptions. God forbid that anyone should like them BOTH (YES OMG such fans EXIST I am one of them!!)!

And I'm not having little faith in Federer. I am sure he will play to his best capabilities and fight to the end. I am saying that Bobby Sod cannot be discounted simply because he has proven that he is capable of pulling off amazing matches and upsets. So Fed is in the head of all players except Nole, Rafa and Mandy. But I should think Rafa would be in the head of EVERYONE when he was on CLAY and guess what? Bobby Sod beat him anyway.

Sod has the belief. That's all I am saying. I would love Roger to lift his 6th USO title but he is three matches away and all who is left in the draw can be dangerous and rightfully so.

the FED is BACK!!! Are we going to have FUN tonight?! LOL Let's watch Roger (the MASTER!) play! Will he shine tonight?! LOL Come "ON" people! You "KNOW" he WILL! This is not the Roger of 2008 or early 9 This Roger is solid like a DIAMOND! He "WILL" be Scintillating throughout Ash Statium with the brilliance of all facets of his plays... He will do what he has to do... For the LOVE of the game of tennis, YES the DIAMOND will SHINE tonight!! Roger! Roger! Go Man go! C'MON! Do it for the TWINS Roger! C'MON! :)

carrie ...thats my hope ...for the end result ...read my post ...all my post in fact ...i dont look past his next match ....never did ...never will ...But i hope ....

are you blind or did you not see me write above .."We deal with it a match at a time" and "but we are not there yet ...so lets postpone this"


C'MON !!
USO09...where we celebrate our sweet 16th !

No I'm not blind, just because you say you don't look further than his next match doesn't mean that's the case, when the evidence is to the contrary.

USO09...where we celebrate our sweet 16th ! Sounds to me like a done deal.

thank god for Jean on this thread. A woman(?) (frenchman?) after my own heart! Jean. i know. i know. its not nice sometimes when we are all "lumped/generalised/categorised "together". its rubbish actually. but we know who we are and what we believe in, and not to "stoop" to other levels. so jean I agree with you here. (no bickering intended!).

torres- what are you like?

'I am sure Fed will win this except Soderling is gonna create history by ending 2 long and famous streaks in GS history in 1 year'.

-a complete contradiction in the SAME sentence. stop!stop!stop! clearly you are NOT SURE that fed is going to win, otherwise you would NOT have said about soderling "ending...bla bla". you are mixed up and confused. take a breath, torres. take a breath.
it will all be fine. just think about this match between federer and soderling - nothing less. Do you honestly think that roger is not going to "fight" for his place to move from QF to SF? seriously? it's going to be a great match torres. but you need to have one of those "power force" energy bars - something hot and spicy even, to lift your spirits and eradicate the stress filling your mind.

carrie ...you are arguing with me about something i wrote ...and when i explain it to you , you say that im wrong ( when i wrote it ...i mean ..duhhhhh )

maxi , torr ...i think its all gone be up to the serving ...we need the FedExpress to have an 'on' day in the serve dept . butterflies in the stomach already ...:)

C'MON !!
USO09....where we celebrate our sweet 16th !!

Yes fedexfan, because to me it sounds like a statement of fact not a hope. What you meant is not what you said. I would have no problem with it if you said 'where we hope we celebrate our sweet 16th.'

fedex - its up to the federer express - he will come through. he has played soderling many times before - he may even mix it up a little more than he did at the FO, with those "exciting dropshots", i love 'em - and i havent seen him play a lot of those - is it because it is a hard court rather than clay? or grass? cos i thought with drop shots on hard courts, they stop dead, take the spin off the ball? or is that just with clay?
in any case, fed gonna serve to the best of his ability - and when he is "on" (he will be!), he is "on", placement perfect, picture perfect, go:roger:go. excitement is building.

maxi, LOL I am no frenchman though I'm tickled by the thought :)

I'm with you, confused by that statement from torres. Where is he, needs to come back here and explain.

C'MON ROGER ! ... :)

Federer gets the first break! :)

3-0 for the FED! Great start! :)

LOL at Bobby Sod ruefully just laughing and shaking his head. Oh come on, Sod, you gotta fight, okay?!

FIRST SET TO ROGER!!! WOW! :) Go Roger! GO! LOL

A bagel! Any cream cheese lying about?

I love Roger, but watching an almost clinical dissection of the Sod is not the most interesting tennis match, honestly.

Facing break point again on your opening serve, Feds? All too familiar!

Roger served a bagel with 44% of his first serves in. I find that extremely bizarre.

Roger pocketed first two sets....... yeahhhhhh 6-0 6-3 ........

Go Roger Go..........

Not doing well with the drop shots tonight... First two sets "nice"!

20 ACES! WOW! :)

Tiebreak! :) Go FED!

zero points with drop attempt...

Soderling wakes up! Set #4 begins...

Ricky, we might get your nighttime instant classic after all.

what is this guy made of, really?

SenorPlaid - Federer is going to win this in 4

Feels like another tie-breaker coming down the pike.

Ironically, the only classic night-session match of this year was actually a day session match!

(Roddick-Isner, ended at 9:18 PM)

C'MON Roger! Good time for a break! LOL I'll take a "win" though, however you can do it! LOL :) Go ROG GO! :)

roger is not losing another breaker. which means sod has to break NOW if he has any chance..

Ricky, after Soderling stole the third set, I thought one of two things was going to happen, that Fed would be ticked he couldn't close it out and take it out on Soderling by serving up another bagel or that it would go 5 and anything would happen. Well, there are no fourth-set bagels to be had, so we'll see ...

Wow! Go Roger! GO! :)

And The Streak lives on! 23 now? Amazing!

RIGHT ON ROGER!!! Whoppeeeeee!!!!!! Right ON!!!!!

wow. is there a way to beat this guy?

So, looking at SlamTracker, I see Fed with 28 aces to 3 doubles and 64 winners to only 26 errors. How the heck did this match go 4 sets?

i think im gonna bet on Nole this saturday. i will be _SO_ rich if he pulls it off :)

There's always a first time. I feel that that time is NOW!!!

Go Soderling!!! :-)

stu I'm sure it will be a GREAT match between Djokovic and the FED, but i would not bet my house on Djokovic! LOL One game at a time Roger! One game at a time! Whooppeeee !!!! Yeah! Right ON! Your the MAN! Do it for the TWINS Rog! :)

Yay, my prediction was right on spot, Federer in 4 sets. Although after the first two sets I didn't think it was going to extend to 4. Kudos to the Sod for not giving up and being totally inspired to fight to the last point (wish I could say the same for Murray), the last two sets displayed some great tennis.

SenorPlaid, you're not the only befuddled one. Not to mention Rog served a bagel with 44% first serves in. I'm still quite puzzled over that one especially when the Sod's first serve was 71%.

im in awe. what separates rafa from the others is his fight and his heart. what separates roger is that he is gifted. brilliant.

very well put stu! Rafa is "all" heart! :) the FED gifted beyond belief... brilliant...

stu - yes, there is. Either take it right to him with huge groundstrokes (Soderling), or just feed heavy topspin hight to his backhand (Nadal).

RickyDimon , do you realize that some how Fed has managed to find answer to both .....the huge groundstrokes ( Sod) are prevented simply cos he attacks like crazy these days and he neutralizes days the heavy topspin (nadal) by going down the line to his backhand ..in madrid both were exchanging strokes in the backhand side ( down the line) A LOT ...

C'MON !
USO09..where we celebrate our sweet 16th !

fedexfan, i become more and more in love with the game of tennis - every time i see roger federer play.

Stu - you took the words right out of my mouth this morning (tho, i was drinking coffee at the time - could have been messy!).

Im in awe. what separates rafa from the others is his fight and his heart. what separates roger is that he is gifted. brilliant.
stu , 9/10/09 6:21 AM

a zillion,billion,million,trillion times true stu.