So the gods are in the camp of Djokovic as well as his guru etc !!
How lucky can he get with an easy draw and 4 days rest before semi finals

sals3: fortune favours the bold!

I do not consider this luck, Djokovic would have easily won this match even with Fognini well rested and without injury. It is a bummer as this is not helping his winning streak.

right, and leaving him without match practice for 4 days before he meets Federer.

Exactly Stu, I was about to say the same thing. Streak is not that important in lieu of a potentially biggest challenge he'll face in semis. 4 days rest means disruption and I do not consider it a blessing.

stu, danica: plenty of player who would hit with nole, no worries.

... players ...

it seems quite unfair to me when someone wins a close match, and then just pulls out of the next one. if fognini was having such an issue, he shouldve forfeited; at least montanes could play the next round.

Agree, although Novak could use some rest, 4 days without match is bit long and hopefully will not affect his game in semis.

Regarding the winning streak, although everybody is playing it down as not important, including Novak, I disagree as having such success in such strong tennis era is impressive and will be always remembered as very unique and special achievement.

Its Karma!! When you retired so many times against players, it is bound to be given back at some time.

Eh what nonsense... The streak is important but what's more important is this tournament itself. Maybe 4 days off will give Nole a chance to work more on his tactics against Fed - always have to look to take the positive route when something unexpected happens.

And this walkover isn't luck. Nole had two potentially dangerous matches that he took care of well; there was also a great chance that he would have entered Sunday's match fatigued but he's done everything just about right to ensure nothing of the sort happened. And Fognini? How can you call that luck - Nole would have rolled over him easily.

@ mriiidula, well if he forfeited he would let go of a few thousand dollars. I think a walkover is fair by Fognini given his state - might not help Nole with his streak, but tennis isn't about Nole's streak alone.

We can all learn a bit from Deuce article by Justin Gimelstob on link http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE-Tennis/DEUCE-Roland-Garros-Wimb ledon-2011/Novak-Djokovic.aspx

samprallica - im not just saying that because of the streak. i just generally feel that since they have the concept of 'lucky losers' for the first round of a slam, they can have it for other rounds too..not for retirements of course but for plain walkovers..

mriiidula - there should not be lucky losers except for the first round (and second when there are byes)

you cant LOSE and then get back into the tournament! That's be terrible!!!!

Ricky-
So another words if you make it into the final and your opponent fails to show up because of an injury that incurred in the semi, then you get handed the championship by default. The same applies for any other round in a grand slam.
You should have to win your way through!

so you're saying Montanes should be back in the tournament even if he lost?

I would stop following tennis if that was the rule, to be honest.

Yes,
People pay a lot of money for tickets....it would be like the lucky loser.
What is so bad about. If you want to be the best you need to earn your wins.
So far Djokovic has had one player retire and another not show up all togethe, in a quarterfinal! Djokovic now has 4 days before his semi, it could affect him.
Besides, you would be playing the loser. If Djokovic for example cant beat Montanes, then he wouldnt have beat Fognini, in theory.

Im saying that in a Grandslam it should be the case, these tournaments are not meant to be cake walks!

Especially if the previous match was close, like it was with Montanes and Fogini, it would be nice if the loser got to play when the winner withdrew. Better for everybody - the organizers, crowds, the lucky loser himself. Maybe not for the opponent, except in this case...

I've always thought tennis is pretty brutal to have knockout matches at every round. Except of course the WTF and Davis cup...

Ridiculous! Nole had to play 3 days in a row. Call it poetic justice.

numero-
Djokovic also plays three days in a row in masters tournaments. On that extra day he had to play, he played 2 sets and lets not forget he also had a player retire against him.
So its not ridiculous!

Rafa, after all his tough matches, would be so battle-sharp that Nole would be slaughtered in three straight sets. Call it poetic justice.

numero-
Oh and before I forget.
The minimum amount of sets one has to play up to this point is 15. Djokovic will have only played!
Soooooooo extra day or not...he has played less tennis than anybody, add the fact that he has a walk over in the quarters than no its not ridiculous!

I meant Djokovic will only have played 12.

isabeaueaueau: on top of everything you said, novak used gamesmanship in order to keep his streak alive; he purposely skipped MC and those victories in madrid and rome don't count.

rfzr, what makes you think not to count victories in madrid and rome?
Are you trying to say that strategy to maintain the fitness for best result is unsportmanship?

Well, it is a pity if an opponent gets injured but having lucky loser who ends up winning his next match in a GS QF is just not right. Maybe have an obligatory exhibition to keep the crowd entertained and not mess up with the draw.

A person who becomes champion by default because his opponent doesn't show up in the finals is not necessarily champion by default since he's already played all the other matches to get there. Luck and injuries are part of tennis - not that I would say Nole was lucky to get this walkover; he would have won anyway.

bryanindo: it was just sarcasm intended for 2% club, please ignore my post.

rfzr-
Your point is...thank god you are being sarcastic because I would have thought you were nuts. Those wins in Madrid and Rome are legit, no one is taking them away from Djokovic.

What I have stated are facts regarding his draw, that's all. Dont blame me. It is what it is!

isabeau, some people cannot distinguish between facts and opinion. They belong to the -2% club.

isa,

Would you be using the lucky loser argument had Rafa received a walkover? I think not. In case you didn't notice this is not a one week Masters event ; it's a two week Grand Slam. There's a difference.

This will probably be the only time that the rafa fans cheer for roger IF he gets through monfils today. Because they know that Novak is, currently, unstoppable. Resting for a few days could..i say could...disrupt his rhythm; should roger reach the SF, then it is further than any of the rafa fans and the reporters thought he would go. They had marked him to go in the first round. So now, the QF's is a great achievement. The SF's would be even more pow/wow; it's difficult not to run away with the thoughts of a 'It's roger time!, but should he beat Novak in the SF, if he gets there, rafa fans will be cheering roger over novak; because right now, Novak is the only one this year who has beaten rafa!

Rafa got his walkover with delpo extra days rest; novak got it this time, fed will get it, due to karma/what's in the stars/fate/opportunity; however you want to read it.

Isabeau, I think you just have to wish the players well and let's hope as avid tennis fans for matches that leave us breathless.