Funny moment in the fourth set, on serve at 3-3. Federer is serving lights out but Djokovic gets into a rally and is just absolutely punishing Federer with body blows. Federer is hanging by a thread with some of stabbing gets. Then Federer, storming across the red clay once more, hits a flicking backhand pass to win the point. Itās an amazing shot and a well earned point, but the announcer exclaims in disbelief āThatās grandpa!?ā Of course Federer is still around eight years later. Maybe heās great grandpa now.
Little need be said about set four. It resembles more of a grass court march through routine service holds than a clay court bloodbath. That is until Federer serves at 4-4. Federer is in for a fight as heās not landing any first serves, and Djokovic is right there to make him suffer for it. When Djokovic breaks with a thermonuclear forehand, Federer slumps and the camera pans to Djokovic who appears fresh and fit. And oh my, Djokovic has CRAZY EYES. He literally looks like a man under the influence of crack cocaine but with the focus of a helping of adderall. But then another crazy thing happens.
Federer, playing tight for two sets now, is somehow liberated to swing freely in an effort to stay in the set. Federer is now the one taking his backhand up the line and hitting a vicious forehand to break back. This has turned into something quite powerful and passionate. Iām also getting my first sense that this match is personal between these two, and that they truly donāt like each other. Itās something I already knew before the match was ever played, but this is starting to feel like it means more than just winning a match. Itās quite intense between these two greats. Djokovic wipes his brow and again stares into the hostile crowd with those crazy eyes.
At 5-5, Djokovic is a man possessed. His swings have a new thunderous thump to them, as he is swinging from his shoe tops. Most noticeably in the auditory department, is djokovics grunt. It is now a two-part, a large inhale with sounds like āvoooā and then an even more massive exhale through the swing, which just sounds like pure rage. Indeed Federer is a fight at 5-5, as Djokovic is throwing everything at Federer to break him. Federer manages to hold, saving one break point with one of the loudest āCOME ONāsā you will ever hear. This match feels like two bitter enemies.
At 6-5 it is Federer pressing to break. Djokovic bends but there is no break. Djokovicās grunts again take on a new form. Winning a point at deuce with his own backhand down the line (shot of the year in 2011) Djokovic hangs onto the grunt in an almost celebratory tone. This match is nuts. Did I mention it is intense?
In the tiebreak Federer manages to hit a dropper that appears to nestle into the court and not even bounce. Federer tried another dropper later which manages to nestle into the net. The crowd gasps in horror. Itās 3-3 in the tiebreak. Djokovic manages to take a massive cut that lands into and rocks the net, 4-3 Fed. The crowd roars in delight. Federer with an ace and an unreturnable, itās 6-3, match points. The crowd is orgasmic. Djokovic manages a let cord on the next rally which elicits loud screams of terror from a few women in the crowd. It is an auditory experience. Djokovic ace. 6-5. Last match point for Federer. And itās a big ace down the middle. Federer wins.
The crowd erupts, with literally every fan I see throwing their arms into the air. And they keep going for quite a while. Federer, for his part, wags his finger saying he is #1. Then more improbably screams as loud as he can āYESSSS!ā All of this before meeting Djokovic at the net. Iām not sure it would be too far off to say this semifinal win was maybe the most satisfying of his career. The win did not lead to a championship (Federer would lose again to Nadal that Sunday) but its hard to look at Federerās demeanor and say this was not his favorite victory.
This was a hell of a match and a good bit of forgotten history. Djokovicās 41 match win streak is still one of the greatest feats in tennis and his 2011 would continue on afterward to be great. Federer showed that he wasnāt dead yet, and is still reinventing himself. Djokovic of course, is still around too, and back dominating. Grandpas, you got to love them.
