Ah, yes, it sounds like a broken record by now.
Indeed, once again, the "Big Three" of men's tennis: current number one Novak Djokovic, current number two in the world Rafael Nadal, and current number three in the world Roger Federer, have all survived and qualified for the semifinal round at Wimbledon.
The three men won fairly easily. Djokovic struggled a bit in the first set, but he ultimately won that, 6-4, and then went on to cast David Goffin aside quickly and thoroughly after that, losing only two games for the rest of the match. Nadal was able to whether the storm of the tall and imposing Sam Querrey very efficiently. Querrey had come in serving incredibly well throughout the entire tournament going into this match, but he had not faced Nadal. Nadal was able to handle his serve extremely well, and after taking the first set with a vital break, he essentially cruised to a fairly easy, straight set victory to qualify for the semifinal. Querrey looked completely dispirited towards the end of the second set and through the third set.
Out of the big three, the one guy who had the toughest time was Federer. He also was playing the highest ranked, and most experienced, opponent that any of the “Big Three” faced yesterday. Federer faced Kei Nishikori, who is no stranger himself to the later rounds of Grand Slam tournaments, and entered as the eighth ranked man in the world. He managed to take the first set against Federer, 6-4. After that, however, the Fed found his composure and his game, and was able to quickly and efficiently take the second set, 6-1, before winning 6-4, 6-4 in the final two sets to secure his place in the semifinal.
What that means is that Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will face each other again in the late stages of another Grand Slam event. This one will be at Wimbledon, and it will be the first time that the two of them meet here since that epic battle between the two of them in the 2008 Men’s Final, the match that many tennis experts agree was the greatest match ever played. Indeed, it was a memorable battle, with both players bringing out the best in one another. It ultimately resulted in Nadal defeating Federer as the light was beginning to really grow thin. That was the victory that catapulted Nadal to the top-ranking among men, finally surpassing Federer in that regard, something that he had never done. That was also the first Grand Slam tournament outside of the terre batue of Roland Garros that Nadal had managed to win, and it seemed to signify a changing of the guard.
Since then, however, both men have gone on to both win and lose the number one ranking again, and each man has won each of the four different Grand Slams at least once each since that epic battle. It should be interesting to see what will happen in this match, which will renew this truly legendary rivalry.
Djokovic, meanwhile, will face Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain. He comes in as the 23rd ranked man in the world, although that ranking will likely spike up after his impressive run here at Wimbledon. Agut defeated the 26th ranked Argentinian, Guido Pelia, 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, to advance to the semifinal round.
This is the first time that Agut has qualified for the semifinal round of any Grand Slam event, although he will be a long shot to pull off what would be a major upset against Djokovic, who looks primed and ready to qualify for yet another Grand Slam final. It should be said that Djokovic has probably become the most dominant player on the grass courts of Wimbledon since he first managed to win here in 2011. Since then, he has qualified for the Wimbledon final five times, and won four times. He won the tournament last year, which means he will be trying to defend his title this year again.
He has to be seen as the odds on favorite to win it all again this year.
The three men won fairly easily. Djokovic struggled a bit in the first set, but he ultimately won that, 6-4, and then went on to cast David Goffin aside quickly and thoroughly after that, losing only two games for the rest of the match. Nadal was able to whether the storm of the tall and imposing Sam Querrey very efficiently. Querrey had come in serving incredibly well throughout the entire tournament going into this match, but he had not faced Nadal. Nadal was able to handle his serve extremely well, and after taking the first set with a vital break, he essentially cruised to a fairly easy, straight set victory to qualify for the semifinal. Querrey looked completely dispirited towards the end of the second set and through the third set.
Out of the big three, the one guy who had the toughest time was Federer. He also was playing the highest ranked, and most experienced, opponent that any of the “Big Three” faced yesterday. Federer faced Kei Nishikori, who is no stranger himself to the later rounds of Grand Slam tournaments, and entered as the eighth ranked man in the world. He managed to take the first set against Federer, 6-4. After that, however, the Fed found his composure and his game, and was able to quickly and efficiently take the second set, 6-1, before winning 6-4, 6-4 in the final two sets to secure his place in the semifinal.
What that means is that Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will face each other again in the late stages of another Grand Slam event. This one will be at Wimbledon, and it will be the first time that the two of them meet here since that epic battle between the two of them in the 2008 Men’s Final, the match that many tennis experts agree was the greatest match ever played. Indeed, it was a memorable battle, with both players bringing out the best in one another. It ultimately resulted in Nadal defeating Federer as the light was beginning to really grow thin. That was the victory that catapulted Nadal to the top-ranking among men, finally surpassing Federer in that regard, something that he had never done. That was also the first Grand Slam tournament outside of the terre batue of Roland Garros that Nadal had managed to win, and it seemed to signify a changing of the guard.
Since then, however, both men have gone on to both win and lose the number one ranking again, and each man has won each of the four different Grand Slams at least once each since that epic battle. It should be interesting to see what will happen in this match, which will renew this truly legendary rivalry.
Djokovic, meanwhile, will face Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain. He comes in as the 23rd ranked man in the world, although that ranking will likely spike up after his impressive run here at Wimbledon. Agut defeated the 26th ranked Argentinian, Guido Pelia, 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, to advance to the semifinal round.
This is the first time that Agut has qualified for the semifinal round of any Grand Slam event, although he will be a long shot to pull off what would be a major upset against Djokovic, who looks primed and ready to qualify for yet another Grand Slam final. It should be said that Djokovic has probably become the most dominant player on the grass courts of Wimbledon since he first managed to win here in 2011. Since then, he has qualified for the Wimbledon final five times, and won four times. He won the tournament last year, which means he will be trying to defend his title this year again.
He has to be seen as the odds on favorite to win it all again this year.
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