OK, so onto the men's semi finals which were altogether a tougher, lengthier more demanding affair, as the top four players in the world fought it out against each other.
The first match was certainly the more superior of the two as Djokovic and Federer promised to deliver an epic encounter and they didn't disappoint, as the two of them produce an amazing encounter, which stretched over 5 sets. At the start Federer definitely took the advantage after winning the first set tiebeaker, he broke early in the 2nd set, despite being broken back, Federer broke again to take the second set. However Djokovic inevitably fought back to even match to make it 2 sets all in the decider, despite Federer being a break up at 5-3 and being in a position to win the match, double faulted to hand the break back to Djokovic, and before we know it was 5-5 all and Djokovic secured a break of his own, which after nearly four hours, the World No.1 defeated Federer in 6(7)-7(9), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5. This was quite a match without a doubt and it marked the first time this year that Djokovic was taken the distance in a grand slam match. It really does say something about Djokovic's perseverance, talent and ability to pull a win out of the most seemingly impossibly tasks, but I have to say he really deserved the win, he certainly earnt it. Djokovic certainly isn't playing to the same invincible level he was earlier this year, fatigue and tiredness has gripped him over the past month or so after having played over 60 matches. But his ability to win a match under such pressure really is quite remarkable, and it has secured his 3rd US Open final.
So onto the next semi final encounter between Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal, Rafa naturally leads their head to head which was 12-4 to the Raf coming into this match. And while it was a match of mixed quality, it certainly had some excellent moments in it as well, especially in the latter half where a lacklustre Andy Murray suddenly decided to get involved in the match. Rafa looked to be in utterly formidable form coming into this match after he demolished Andy Roddick, and right enough he kept up that form in the match (I don't think there is a player who uses the passing shot more than Rafa!). After Rafa secured a break in the first set he took it, and in the 2nd set Andy's mindset when walkies as it does when he serves poorly and let Rafa take it with more ease. However in the 3rd set Andy fought back and broke Rafa's serve early on, only to have Rafa break back, but Andy battled to break again at 5-3 to take the set. In the 4th set despite a promising start especially a terrific game at 1-1 all on Rafa's serve, with Andy trying to convert another break point, which didn't come off. By then the toll of playing back to back matches in two days started to prove to be a bit too much as Andy struggled to hold his serve at 5-2 down, his back troubles emerged which started toward the end of his Isner match, as Rafa broke Muzza's service game to love to secure his place in his 2nd US Open final and the final scoreline reading 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
But overall the match belied its scoreline as it was quite an interesting and occassionally thrilling encounter especially in the 3rd and 4th sets, where Andy stopped playing naff tennis and started to produce some great rallies, vollies, passing shots and backhand winners to counteract Rafa's frequent brilliance. But I actualy thought it was a much better match than the Wimbledon semi-final which became more painful to watch as it went on, at least Andy mounted a fightback this time rather than start strong then go downhill as it went on. However it has to be said Andy intermittently produced some absolutely brilliant tennis as well as awful, its just that lack of consistency that plagues him that is the problem, as well as his insistance at whinging every time he hits a bad point or is broken. Andy has tried a bit more this year to hold his composure, but he sure struggled to do that in this match, as he kept yelling and muttering to himself, it certainly doesn't help him, although I do find his talking to himself quite amusing sometimes. But someone needs to give him a good talking to methinks! ;-)
Regardless of all that, Andy actually put up a good fight and for the most part played a good match against Rafa, especially considering he had previously played such a gruelling match the day before. And looking back I think while the main reason he lost the match was simply due to Rafa being the better player, but I also think it had a little in part to do with Andy having to play two gruelling matches back to back. I don't think Rafa would have envied playing John Isner the day before either as he found out at the French Open, and just maybe things might have been different if the tables were turned, but then again maybe not. But I think the poor scheduling of the US Open definitely didn't help matters, they couldn't have helped with the rain delays, but the way the draw works with Djokovic and Federer getting a day off between matches while the bottom half didn't in the second week, just wasn't fair. And to ask a player to play two tough matches back to back in a slam over two days is quite a lot. Inevitably Rafa had the easier match against Roddick and that gave him quite an advantage in expending less energy and time on court. But on the day I guess Andy struggled with his serve, himself and his back, its a great shame but to be expected.
Regardless Andy has finished his grand slam season having reached a final and three semi finals which is in itself quite an achievement. And there are plenty more tournaments coming up this season, particularly the Masters in Shanghai, which is Andy is defending champion of, and Paris, as well as the big finale the ATP World Finals in London, so Andy will have his chances there, in fact it would signal the best end to his year if he won in London, buttttttt that's a while and wayyy off yet, and he will still have to go through the top 3 to do it. Slam or no slam, Andy's efforts are always considerable and he is a great fighter no doubt, and 2011 ain't over yet, so we will see what else is up for him next.
So that sets us up another tasty final between the world's two best tennis players, Rafa and Djoko, who's going to win?????? My money is definitely on Djokovic, because if for no better reasons, he is the World No.1, he is currently the best player in the world, and he has beaten Rafa five times in a row, 4 in Masters and 1 at slam level, so that's good enough for me. However Rafa is back on form just now, and I think it will be a tighter match than the one at Wimbledon, but I do think Djokovic will prevail, as he has shown time and time again how to deal with adversity this year. So I'm guessing it will be Djokovic in 5, maybe a very tight 4.
Soooooooooooooooooooo that's the end........ more soon when the silveware lifters are revealed.
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