[Chris Childers]

Fed would only get Murray, or Djokovic Nadal, in the final. The semis are the other way around. The only semifinalist I would claim is definitely not going to win the tournament is Andy Murray. If the crowd is against Novak--and having just read the article it's pretty clear they will be--then that's great for Roger, who is almost impossible to cheer against.

Djokovic strikes me as a deeply conflicted person. On the one hand, he wants everyone to love him, so he can be the joker, the class clown, the funny, free-wheeling guy who just likes to enjoy life. On the other hand, he has burning ambition and a thinly veiled me-against-the-world attitude. Popularity and arrogance are hard to reconcile once you're out of high school, since it's hard to like someone who obviously considers himself superior. Nole is a great player but he definitely still has some growing up to do.

I do think he's the best hard courter in the world right now; the big question mark is how his body's holding up.

Chris

[Diane Dees]

Oops, yes--I was getting ahead of myself and skipping the next round. Fed vs. Djokovic--too close for me to call. I just hope it's Roger. Djokovic is lucky it isn't Murray he has to play.

[Chris Childers]

Well, that's the most like Federer Federer's looked in a long time. & Murray's looking pretty damn good as well. Go Roger!

Further thought: Fed's going to be fresher because he gets Sunday off, especially if Nadal can keep Murray on the court awhile tomorrow. Of course, if Nadal's going to win, he'll have to play three sets.



[This message has been edited by Chris Childers (edited September 06, 2008).]

[Diane Dees]

The general feeling is that "order was restored." Perhaps, but I would have liked chaos installed with a Jankovic win. Great match, though, even if it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to.

Certainly order was restored on the men's side. I was so happy for him.

I called all four semifinalists on both sides before the tournament. That will probably never happen again.

[Chris Childers]

Jankovic did play great. She did a much better job in her first grand slam final than did Murray in the same position. If only she could have won one of those set points! A third set would have been very interesting.

Federer had some genuine Federer-like moments in the last two matches. Let's hope he can build some confidence out of that and pass Pete next year!

[Duncan Gillies MacLaurin]

Wimbledon purist offended: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle4718591.ece

[This message has been edited by Duncan Gillies MacLaurin (edited September 10, 2008).]