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Federer vs Coric



Djokovic vs Cilic QUEENS & HALLE - FINALS RESULTS 🎾 QUEENS: Featured Match:

Cilic d Djokovic 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3



Cilic was (somehow) dominant on serve until the 11th game of the 1st set, despite only getting 36% of 1st serves in. Conversely Marin created 6 break points on Novak's serve, but failed to convert with 4/6 BP's chances being bad misses, forehand and backhand. Their H2H history was telling in some of those missed opportunities, which would have been routine in earlier matches this week. After weathering that storm with some peak Novak-esque defence, Djokovic dialled in some returns at 5-6, and pounced to break & wrapped up the set.



The 2nd set was a bit like a reverse of the 1st, with Novak very secure on serve (facing no break points) and Cilic, this time, having to fight off the breaks. With Cilic saving 3/3 BP's the tiebreak was inevitable. Up until 4-4 in the breaker Novak had lost only 4 points on serve in the entire set 😳, yet Cilic somehow managed to wrangle a mini-break back, and take advantage of hasn't-won-a-title-in-a-while-nerves from Novak to close out the set.



The 3rd set was a case of Cilic remaining mentally strong and Novak running out of, mental and maybe physical, gas after a nearly 3 hour final. Both players were solid until 3-4 when Cilic hit an absurdly good forehand pass (GIF below) to set up a break on Novak's serve, which proved decisive. Hugely positive match for both players, Cilic for the way he overcame a frustrating 1st set to win, and Novak for looking as good as he has since 2016.



Going forward: Cilic and Novak should be joint 2nd favourite for Wimbledon IMO. Cilic's 1-2 punch of serve and forehand is the most devastating in the game on current grass court form. As for Novak, he moved as well as I have ever seen him move on grass, and his serving has been exceptional all week. Wouldn't be that surprising to see either guy lift the trophy in 3 weeks time. Only concern for Novak will be fitness over 5 sets if he struggles in the 1st week.



HALLE:



Featured Match:

Coric d Federer 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2



Federer raised his level on-serve significantly for the 1st set of this final vs his previous few matches. His 1st serve in %, which has been hit-and-miss this week, was at 79% and his 1st serve points won was at an impenetrable 25/27 (93%). Coric had no chance to break and had to save the only break point of the set on his own serve at 5-5. Into the tiebreaker and it looked like Federer would run away with it after going up a mini-break with set point on his serve. But a brilliant return from Coric got him back in it, and some solid serving gave him his own set point, which he took off a Fed shank.



Coric kept playing the big points well in the 2nd set, saving multiple break points, while Fed was still dominating in his own service games (44/49 first-serve points won through 2 sets). Finally, facing another break point at 3*-4, with the point all but won, Coric dumped an easy volley into the net to hand the break to Federer. Set over, all tied up.



Both players started the 3rd set flawlessly on serve, with Coric not missing a 1st serve until the 6th game of the set 😳. Out of nowhere Roger played a loose game at 2*3 and Coric took advantage. Federer looked like he was ready for a rest in his next service game, with a few poor points to hand Borna his 2nd ATP title. Coric won 89 points to Federer's 97.



Going forward: Best not to judge Federer's Wimbledon prospects based on this week. He's looked tired and a bit shaky in the majority of his matches and the conditions are so different vs Wimbledon. I'm still surprised he played both Stuttgart and Halle tbqh, and hopefully back-to-back tournaments doesn't compromise his fitness for Wimbledon, which starts in less than 7 days. As for Coric, huge breakthrough for him, especially on a surface he has struggled on. These are the kind of wins that can be a significant catalyst for a still-young career. Very impressive maturity & focus shown today. INTERVIEW/PRESS TL;DR 🗣 Federer post-final presser:



- "I think the key maybe in hindsight was trying to [win] that first-set tie-break. I had more chances throughout the set, I had chances at 6/4."

- "I’m definitely going to leave with my head high, thinking it’s been a good run in Stuttgart and Halle."

- "Credit to Borna to really come out and play a tough match today."

Source



- “There is no need to worry regarding my fitness, I just need to rest next week."

- "I'll probably practice in the second half of the week again specific tennis training."

- "Happy with the tournaments I played, gained a lot of valuable information."

Source



Coric post-final presser:



- "I felt confident that I could hold serve and then automatically I can play with less stress."

- "It is the most unbelievable feeling, [to beat Federer]."

- "I looked up to him when I was younger, watching his matches back at home with my mum, my dad and my sister. Just playing him here today was a very special moment and beating him just makes it even bigger for me."

Source

Tomas Berdych has pulled out of Wimbledon with a back injury:



"I have been struggling with back pain for a couple of months now."

Source

A. Zverev when asked by Mischa (his doubles partner and brother) about his volleying skills:



- "I only go to the net to shake their hand or argue with the umpire" 😂

Source SHOTS OF THE DAY 😮 50% skill: great reflexes.

50% luck: two-handed, frame + string, hook.

100% LOLS for Coric asking the umpire if this was even legal.

So hard to redirect a bh smash like this, with this much power. 🔥 Solid Boris Becker impression from Novak, but the pass was too good from Cilic.

No one better than Novak at this cross-court touch. Cilic's brilliant, knifed, cross court slice after some superhuman Djokovic defence. 🔪 The forehand that won Cilic the title 🚀 TOMORROW'S OOP ⏰ 🔥 = match to watch



Eastbourne (250) (11am Start):



Centre

Seppi vs Istomin (H2H 7-3)



Murray vs Wawrinka (4:00pm) (H2H 10-8) 🔥 EXTRAS...🔍 With Federer's loss to Coric in the Halle final, Nadal will return to No.1 next week. 50 points separate him and Federer going into Wimbledon. Roger is defending 2000 points, Rafa 180.

Rafa returning to No.1 will be the sixth change this season, the most on tour since 1999 (8 changes). Ombellibable no?

Source

After pulling out of Wimbledon, Berdych will almost definitely drop out of the top 50. Last time Berdych was ranked that low? October 2005...

Prior to losing the 1st set to Coric today, Federer had won 16 out of his last 17 tiebreaks in Halle.

Source

Coric is now No.9 in the ATP Race.

True to form Federer used and lost all 3 of his challenges in 3 consecutive points in the 3rd set today.

Kyrgios fined £13,190 by the ATP for "unsportsmanlike conduct" at Queen's.

Source



Stupid fine IMO.

Going into the Queens final today, Cilic had won 45 of 46 service games, Djokovic: 36 of 37.

Coric joins an exclusive club of players to beat Federer in a grass court final (members should really get a T-shirt or something):



Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Haas, Hewitt, Coric.

Source

Croatia, for the first time ever, has 2 mens, grass court champions on the same day (Cilic, Coric).

His defeat today was only Djokovic's 3rd match ever that he's lost from match point up.

Source

All 7 ATP 500 titles so far in 2018 have been won by different players this year. Andy Murray practicing with the British No.1... 🤔 Source



Possible 2nd rd meeting next week in Eastbourne. Possible 2nd rd meeting next week in Eastbourne. 🏆 🏆 LOL 😂 Roger Federer as a religious experience. Ah the ol' 'balancing a very unstable drink on a tray' volley technique. Rarely seen (thankfully) 🤦‍♂️ This GIF sums up Federer's 1st set tiebreaker and 3rd set 😧 Big Lube did not approve. Novak putting his feet up. GAME, SET & MATCH 👋 Thanks for reading! You early subscribers (Beta testers) get access to 'The Racquet' Discord. Tap/click the Discord button below so you can give some feedback (or just spam Dolgopolov emojis 🤷‍♂️) You can also follow me on Twitter here: If you know anyone who would like 'The Racquet' here is the link to send them so they can sign up: https://theracquet.carrd.co See you next week for the Wimbledon Draw Preview 🙌