Roger Federer walked onto the court today to break the spell that had been casted on him for the last two years at Wimbledon forcing him to bow out of Wimbledon at the QF stage (2010: Berdych, 2011: Tsonga) and break he did, marching into his 8th Wimbledon Semi-Final and keeping his hopes of regaining the top spot alive.
Djokovic, walked onto the court today in a bid to take move one step further ahead in his bid to defend the Wimbledon crown he won last year and the top spot he gained as a result of that win and move he did, making it to 4th Wimbledon Semi-Final and in the process setting a block - buster semi-final against world no.3 Roger Federer.
The Fedjo rivalry dates back to 2006 when the pair first met at Monte Carlo, a meeting won by Federer in 3 sets. They have played each other 25 times since then, making it a total of 26 times the pair has faced each other, with Federer leading 14-12, though Djokovic has won 6 of the pair's last 7 meetings. Interestingly, the pair has met on every surface and at every grand slam, other than Grass and Wimbledon respectively. This will be the pair's first meeting on grass.
Federer coming into this match has lost 3 sets, 2 in his comeback win over Benneteau in the 3rd round and one against Malisse in the 4th round. Djokvic on the other hand has lost only one set, in his 3rd round win over Stepanek. Djokovic has been broken 4 times so far in the tournament, while Federer has been broken 6 times.
Let us have a look at what do the stats (numbers) tell us about their performance so far at Wimbledon 2012.
* I have used the average aces, double faults, winners and Unforced errors per match
There is literally not much that separates them from each other in terms of stats, though Fed will have to have an excellent serve day, if he wants to have a chance against world no.1. They are equal in the points won on 1st serve and second serve. Djokovic has not been good at net, where Federer has been quite good, though not excellent. Djokvic leads Fed in the break points won, and with Djokovic as one of the best returners on the tour, Federer will have to raise his level. Interestingly, Federer has won more return points as compared to Djokovic.
It will all come down to Federer's serve, his concentration lapses, and of-course big points. Lately Federer has been struggling against Djokovic. Djokovic will need to relax and play his game like he has been doing over the year and a half. The interesting thing to note in their previous matches has been that the player having an aggressive ratio (points won on return/points lost on serve) of more than one has gone onto win the match.
Federer in his previous 7 semi-final showings has never lost here at Wimbledon. Djokovic on the other hand is 2-1 in his previous 3 semi-final showings here at Wimbledon. There is a lot at stake in this match, the coveted top spot and a chance to make a final run for this year's Wimbledon. For Federer, he will have a chance to equal Samprass's record of 7 Wimbledon crowns, should he get through the semi-finals and a chance to equal Samprass's record of most weeks spent at the top spot.
Federer is due for another Grand-Slam title, having failed to win one since Australian Open 2010, and though my heart tells me to pick Federer, I will go with Djokovic.
Pick: Djokovic in 5 sets.
Who do you think will win the match????
Please find the preview of the other semi-final here.
Djokovic, walked onto the court today in a bid to take move one step further ahead in his bid to defend the Wimbledon crown he won last year and the top spot he gained as a result of that win and move he did, making it to 4th Wimbledon Semi-Final and in the process setting a block - buster semi-final against world no.3 Roger Federer.
The Fedjo rivalry dates back to 2006 when the pair first met at Monte Carlo, a meeting won by Federer in 3 sets. They have played each other 25 times since then, making it a total of 26 times the pair has faced each other, with Federer leading 14-12, though Djokovic has won 6 of the pair's last 7 meetings. Interestingly, the pair has met on every surface and at every grand slam, other than Grass and Wimbledon respectively. This will be the pair's first meeting on grass.
| Description | Djokovic | Federer |
| YTD Match Record | 41-6 | 44-6 |
| H2H | 12 | 14 |
| Wimbledon Best Result | Winner | Winner |
| Year of best Result | 2011 | 2003-07 & 2009 |
Federer coming into this match has lost 3 sets, 2 in his comeback win over Benneteau in the 3rd round and one against Malisse in the 4th round. Djokvic on the other hand has lost only one set, in his 3rd round win over Stepanek. Djokovic has been broken 4 times so far in the tournament, while Federer has been broken 6 times.
Let us have a look at what do the stats (numbers) tell us about their performance so far at Wimbledon 2012.
| Description | Djokovic | Federer |
| Aces* | 9 | 9 |
| Double faults* | 2 | 2 |
| 1st serves in | 68% | 67% |
| 1st serve points won | 79% | 79% |
| 2nd serve points won | 58% | 58% |
| Net points won | 65% | 75% |
| Break points won | 51% | 47% |
| Receiving points won | 45% | 46% |
| Winners* | 40 | 38 |
| Unforced errors* | 16 | 16 |
* I have used the average aces, double faults, winners and Unforced errors per match
There is literally not much that separates them from each other in terms of stats, though Fed will have to have an excellent serve day, if he wants to have a chance against world no.1. They are equal in the points won on 1st serve and second serve. Djokovic has not been good at net, where Federer has been quite good, though not excellent. Djokvic leads Fed in the break points won, and with Djokovic as one of the best returners on the tour, Federer will have to raise his level. Interestingly, Federer has won more return points as compared to Djokovic.
It will all come down to Federer's serve, his concentration lapses, and of-course big points. Lately Federer has been struggling against Djokovic. Djokovic will need to relax and play his game like he has been doing over the year and a half. The interesting thing to note in their previous matches has been that the player having an aggressive ratio (points won on return/points lost on serve) of more than one has gone onto win the match.
Federer in his previous 7 semi-final showings has never lost here at Wimbledon. Djokovic on the other hand is 2-1 in his previous 3 semi-final showings here at Wimbledon. There is a lot at stake in this match, the coveted top spot and a chance to make a final run for this year's Wimbledon. For Federer, he will have a chance to equal Samprass's record of 7 Wimbledon crowns, should he get through the semi-finals and a chance to equal Samprass's record of most weeks spent at the top spot.
Federer is due for another Grand-Slam title, having failed to win one since Australian Open 2010, and though my heart tells me to pick Federer, I will go with Djokovic.
Pick: Djokovic in 5 sets.
Who do you think will win the match????
Please find the preview of the other semi-final here.
