The only way the Djoker will ever be #1 is if Federer, Nadal and Murray all get hurt the same time. He doesn't have it.

it 'was' an unfortunatesy to not be able to view this match tonite as we all awaited ando and juan. they did view the moodie's doubles team which was unbelievable!! but i could see at the time mr hasto was playing which was infuriating but it is good to see them glowing away a good match;

I saw the first 3 sets and it was intense. Djokovic didn't carry through as well as he could have, but that's the way these things go. At least Haas has a chance at it. A small one, but a chance nonetheless.

I mentioned it in my blog and also the Roddick-Hewitt match which was great! Check it out if you want!
http://kevinrutan.blogspot.com/

It was seriously hot on court today and I wonder if that had something to do with Djoko's performance. Whenever it gets hot- Djokovic goes bad. I still think he has health problems.

Tennisguy-Gonna check out your blog. Best match of semis: Roddick v Hewitt and imo....best match of the entire tourney so far! Coulda gone to Hewitt i think if Hewitt was not fending off some kind of groin thing. tough customer, Hewitt....really proud of Roddick

Nole just did not seem to have the fire and focus...Haas completely surprised me on one hand but Haas is well-tuned: his game on grass has been thro the Halle test and Cilic was a major battle.

Haas goes into Semi a new man and with nothin to lose...

Congrats to Haas and Roddy

Good effort Ley ley and Nole-a

Nole did not appear to be suffering physically. He looks fit.

Seemed to lack Fire tho and Haas was fighting.

Nice, tennisguy. and love the Federer picture

Actually, i was happy to see Haas going to semis, he deserved it and frankly, Djoker was not playing competitive enough. If Djoker were in semis instead of Haas it wouldn't be fair imo.

Hewitt vs Roddick was damn intense! Love the match and the way veterans fight each other. 43 Aces for Roddick! I would like him to beat his actual record, more than 50 Aces, omg, that would be awesome. Way to go A. Rod.

Also, It was easily predicted. Straight sets for Federer, nonetheless. C'mon Federer!

I picked Haas as the dark horse at the start of the tourney and it has come through. He nearly knocked out Fed in straight at the French. He has another chance here. Wimby is like Fed's backyard, so I think Haas has little hope, but still his form and confidence is high and he could be competitive. My pick would be Federer still in their semis clash, and the match to go no longer than 4 sets.

Haas can do it cable! He has nothing to lose and is familiar with Roger's play (and vice versa). The thing with a guy playing lights out with nothing to lose tho, is that some shots and moves come unexpected from them and can put the opponent off guard. The ones you least expect.........................

I feel bad for Nole and hope that he can rebound from these past few tourneys! He has alot to offer and is a great tennis player!! Please take a rest Nole and clear your mind and heart and come back healthy and happy!!

Djokovic has some issues. If I'm not wrong, he has a hole in his resume, ie. he has yet to defend a title he had won. He's not handling the pressure of defending his points very well and has faded somewhat since his AO 2008 win. Sadly, it looks like the Big 4 is short lived and has turned to the Big 3 again (minus Djokovic) for the time being. Hopefully he sorts himself out because he was proving to be a good challerger to Federer and Nadal and made the tennis landscape more interesting to watch.

not that big of a deal. Djokovic has always been bad on grass. He was easily the No. 2 player in the world during the clay-court swing.

He'll be in the "Big 4" discussion without any trouble once the hard-court season starts later this month. Anything more than a QF performance at Wimbledon would have been a surprise. Haas was the favorite going into this match. Let's not overreact.

is he really so bad on grass Ricky? I know he was in the semis of Wimby in 07, and played a tight final against Rafa at Queens last year. Sure he lost early to Safin at Wimby 08, but Safin was in brutal form then....Until this year, those were bigger achievements on grass than any of Murrays...

Thanks Ricky! Your words made me feel a little better about Nole. I do hope he comes back for the HC season raring to go!

Ricky, he hasn't showed any improvements in the grand slams. If he doesn't consistently get to the semis and finals, then it is a step backwards for him since 2007. Is he a true GS contender or just a dangerous floater? Judging on his performance lately, he is more the latter.

People are dismissing Djokovic too easily. He went out in the 2nd round of Wimby last year, and then proceeded to win a US hardcourt tournament over Nadal a month or so later. Not only that, but did you see how he's dealt with his last two losses (both to Haas)? Smiles, graciousness, full credit to the opponent. He's getting his head on straight and his classiness has increased quite a bit from this time last year. The Big Four is still here.

And actually, considering Andy Roddick's consistent performance, I'd say we have a Fab Five. Maybe even a Sweet Six if JMDP keeps playing well. His loss in the 2nd round to Hewitt seems reasonable, considering the way Lleyton played throughout this tournament.

-Arvis

I think u r right Arvis ....Djoker is a genuine threat on any day . I think against Haas in this match he could have done better but the Halle defeat was probably bugging him. On the other hand Haas is no normal player ...he can mix it up and when he brings it ...HE BRINGS IT !! :)

C'MON !

Yes US hardcourts is where Murray, Nole will be better even surpassing Nadal. Nole needs to regroup.

I agree with Ricky, there is nothing to worry about with Djokovic. He won the master cup last year, and thats a tittle not even Rafa has gotten. We tend to judge the players comparing them to others. The fact that Roger and Rafa had been so consistent and dominant in the last 5 years doesnt mean that every other good player has to be as consistent as they are. Beside learning and polishing a few details of his game, i believe the only thing Nole is lacking is maturity to undarstand that to get to the top, you need to work really hard, and keep pushing untill you get there, and not just rely on talent to do so. Is very good news that Haas got to semis, It shows the tennis world, the fans, and the players themselves that age is not a handicap in playing tennis, if you use it to your advantage. My prediction is Fed against Roddick on sunday, what is yours?...

welll said mdmch - I always seem to find myself agreeing with you.
torres keeps looking at that crystal ball of his that predicts the future. If it doesn't work I guess we'll have to say something like 'new balls please' , :)

Thank for saying Shireling, i am actually a little tired of the Federer-Nadal never ending discussion, i want to discus tennis, tactics etc, not idolizing a guy, even thought I admire them

mdmch,

While I'd LOVE to see Roddick in the finals, I only give him about a 35% chance of beating Murray. I give Haas about a 4% chance of upsetting The Mighty Fed.

So, my Heart Prediction: Federer beats Roddick in the finals.

My Head Prediction: Federer beats Murray in the finals.

-Arvis

mdmch: "My prediction is Fed against Roddick on sunday, what is yours?..."

IF fed makes the finals, then I want him to face Murray. If you compare Murray's and Roddick's game against fed's, then you will see that Murray KNOWS how to beat fed and therefore, the final will be exciting and not boring. If Haas makes the final, then it will be exciting either way, no matter who he faces!

Unfortunate for Roddick he is same age as Fed and has had Fed in his face, in his tennis and in his head for the past 6 years. Andy being younger does not have these feelings, I would think therefore that he has more chance against Fed, he actually believes he could beat him, self deluded or whatever, you've got to start with this or you are lost b4 u begin.
Meantime: Come On Haas!

Roddick's chances to progress to the finals are quite slim (maybe if they close the roof, but even than chances are slim).

F4T I agree that a Murray vs Federer final would be more exciting, and as a Federer fan i would like to see him beat the next best seeded player, so yes I would like a Federer vs Murray match, even thought he is far more dangerous for him, but now that he has nothing to prove he must face bigger challenges, Roddick might be a peace of cake, but I also like Roddick and I would like him to be on the final, not because of federer but because of him, and i dont know why but I believe he will upset Murray, chances are low, but is a possibility. If haas makes it to the final then i will be a little disapointed but I will be happy that a 32 year old guy showed the world that age is in your mind, and the youth is in your heart.
If Haas gets to the final, then i think he will win the trophy, so in my (humble) opinion, Federer`s half of the draw will get the trophy... cheers

Never realized that if my wish (Murray) or your wish (fed) won, that it is a win for an entire half of the draw.

If Haas wins, then according to mdmch's logic, it would be better to say that HAAS'S half of the draw will get the trophy.

Didn't Djokovic grow another inch. I think he used to be 6'2", now he is listed at 6'3".
Awww ... he is still growing. Maybe once the growth spurt slows he'll be back on form. He did have a decent clay court run, apart from the FO.

He's over 22. The only way he'd still be growing was if he had gigantism then only his head would be getting bigger.

chr18...cheers.

mdmch, if you are awake, please could you clarify what ( you ) mean about an entire half of draw getting trophy?

thanks

mdmch-also left a comment and thanks to your, "The New Federer" piece on that PK v Federer match thread.

Your offerings do not go unappreciated tho its taken some time to get back to you.

My own rookie prediction (ricky's approach shots ) of Fed v Haas in semi-final does not seem so ridiculous now. But poor Delpo...was wrong on that side of draw. Did not think Roddick coulda made it to semi...he's not gonna want to lose to Murray.

Sorry about Nole getting knocked out. He is growing up. He has huge talent, more than Murray, imo. Just have been wondering if Nole would get his head on straight again cos if he does, he could be a great future no. 1.