The world’s top four are in the last-four at Roland Garros and they face-off today; a day I’d like to call ‘Fantastic Friday’.
In some kind of role reversal, Roger Federer finds himself in a Grand Slam semi-final with less to lose than his opponent Novak Djokovic.
At the same time last year, it was the Swiss who had his incredible 23 Major semi-finals streak snapped in Paris, but now he’s the one with the spoiling opportunity.
The 29-year-old is not the clear favourite and, if anything, his one true motivation for winning this match would be to get everyone off his back and shut down speculation over his current Grand Slam potential.
Other than that, there’s really not much on the line for the man with 16 Majors in today’s semi-final, unlike his undefeated opponent who is on the brink of some history-making, record-breaking, life-changing action.
As I’ve said before, in theory, Djokovic should be under a lot of pressure with the No.1 ranking, a record-equaling winning streak, and a first French Open final appearance all at stake.
The Serb, however, has been playing like the word ‘pressure’ doesn’t exist in his dictionary and he’s well-rested after a four-day-break, and with the kind of sky-high confidence he could only get from winning every single match he’s played this year, three times against Federer.
This is arguably the match of the tournament and not just because Djokovic is acting like some tennis-playing superman, but because Federer is in top form himself and is having an almost flawless French Open thus far.
The one thing I’m concerned about is that Federer might fold early if things are not going his way.
The world No3 is playing great but let’s not forget he’s had a tendency of giving up as of late.
This is Federer’s chance to put up a good fight, even if Mr Invincible is on the opposite end.
Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are the other two semi-finalists and it’s quite odd to see this match taking a backseat.
Murray is trying to become the first Brit to make the Roland Garros finals since 1937. He has found his form on his least favourite surface, perhaps where he feels the least pressure of expectation.
The Scot had a breezy draw but is also playing with a bad ankle. Bad enough to mention in press conferences but not too bad that he can’t run around for five sets!
As for Nadal, the clay-court legend has rediscovered his magic with a straight-sets drubbing of two-time runner-up Robin Soderling.
The shots were deeper, the topspin was higher, the serve was stronger, and the movement was immaculate.
Those two defensive backhands Nadal hit against two of Soderling’s biggest forehands, followed by that 12-metre sprint to the Swede’s drop shot are still resonating in my mind.
If Nadal believed he wasn’t playing well enough to equal Bjorn Borg’s record of six French Open titles before, I’m sure he’s changed his mind because we all have.
Today is Nadal’s sixth semi-final in Paris, something he said is “easy to say but very difficult to do”.
The world No1 has won 43 of his 44 French Open matches and 35 out of 36 clay semi-finals.
Numbers like these make it impossible to pick anyone over Nadal.
In some kind of role reversal, Roger Federer finds himself in a Grand Slam semi-final with less to lose than his opponent Novak Djokovic.
At the same time last year, it was the Swiss who had his incredible 23 Major semi-finals streak snapped in Paris, but now he’s the one with the spoiling opportunity.
The 29-year-old is not the clear favourite and, if anything, his one true motivation for winning this match would be to get everyone off his back and shut down speculation over his current Grand Slam potential.
Other than that, there’s really not much on the line for the man with 16 Majors in today’s semi-final, unlike his undefeated opponent who is on the brink of some history-making, record-breaking, life-changing action.
As I’ve said before, in theory, Djokovic should be under a lot of pressure with the No.1 ranking, a record-equaling winning streak, and a first French Open final appearance all at stake.
The Serb, however, has been playing like the word ‘pressure’ doesn’t exist in his dictionary and he’s well-rested after a four-day-break, and with the kind of sky-high confidence he could only get from winning every single match he’s played this year, three times against Federer.
This is arguably the match of the tournament and not just because Djokovic is acting like some tennis-playing superman, but because Federer is in top form himself and is having an almost flawless French Open thus far.
The one thing I’m concerned about is that Federer might fold early if things are not going his way.
The world No3 is playing great but let’s not forget he’s had a tendency of giving up as of late.
This is Federer’s chance to put up a good fight, even if Mr Invincible is on the opposite end.
Murray is trying to become the first Brit to make the Roland Garros finals since 1937. He has found his form on his least favourite surface, perhaps where he feels the least pressure of expectation.
The Scot had a breezy draw but is also playing with a bad ankle. Bad enough to mention in press conferences but not too bad that he can’t run around for five sets!
As for Nadal, the clay-court legend has rediscovered his magic with a straight-sets drubbing of two-time runner-up Robin Soderling.
The shots were deeper, the topspin was higher, the serve was stronger, and the movement was immaculate.
Those two defensive backhands Nadal hit against two of Soderling’s biggest forehands, followed by that 12-metre sprint to the Swede’s drop shot are still resonating in my mind.
If Nadal believed he wasn’t playing well enough to equal Bjorn Borg’s record of six French Open titles before, I’m sure he’s changed his mind because we all have.
Today is Nadal’s sixth semi-final in Paris, something he said is “easy to say but very difficult to do”.
The world No1 has won 43 of his 44 French Open matches and 35 out of 36 clay semi-finals.
Numbers like these make it impossible to pick anyone over Nadal.
