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View this email in your browser. WIMBLEDON SEM-FINALS - RESULTS 🎾 Anderson d Isner 7-6(6), 6-7(5), 6-7(9), 6-4, 26-24



Combined, 102 aces were struck in this 6 hour, 36 minute ultra-marathon of a match. On just about every metric, Anderson comes out ahead. He won more 1st serve points, 84% to Isner's 78%, won more 2nd serve points, 59% to Isner's 48%, won more return points, 29% to Isner's 23% and even created far more break points chances, 11 to Isner's 5. That the stats were so heavily skewed to Kando's favour, shows jus how much heart John Isner has. His continuous ability to dig himself out of 0-30 holes on serve, in especially crucial parts of the match, was something to applaud. John consistently played the big points magnificently, going up 2 sets to one, against an Anderson who was playing brilliant and nearly impenetrable tennis, off the ground and on serve.



In the end, it was a case of fatigue which seemed to overwhelm Isner. Anderson had been holding serve more comfortably for nearly an hour when John finally caved. Isner's more difficult and tightly contested service games had taken their toll and Kando took advantage to win the decisive break.



Not quite an epic quality-wise, but as far as both these players mental strength goes, it should be remembered as an extraordinary feat of endurance and competitive fortitude.

Djokovic d Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(9), 6-3, 10-8



Absolutely brilliant match and a much-needed reminder of how amazing 'Rafole' tennis is at its best. Novak started much better than Rafa, taking a well deserved one set lead. Sets 2 & 3 were tight with Nadal taking set 2 and then missing 3 set points in the 3rd set breaker to finish day one 2 sets to 1 down at 11pm (curfew cutoff). As day two got underway Rafa looked the stronger, taking another tight set after both trading early breaks. The 5th set produced some of the most clutch tennis you will ever see when players face pressure situations. Time and time again these guys came up big with serves or groundstrokes to dig themselves out of holes. Nadal, once again, held multiple (4) break point chances, late in the set, but just couldn't convert when it mattered. Novak, finally converted a break point of his own and dug out a hugely deserved win (even if neither player really deserved to lose today).



The keys to the match were Novak's serve, hitting an impressive 23 aces to Nadal's 9, as well as winning a higher % if 1st serve return points than Rafa (33% to 24%) which put Nadal under more pressure as we approached the 5+ hour mark of matchplay. Almost every other stat was dead even, both had 71% first serve in, 73 winners each, 42 unforced errors each (INCREDIBLE RATIOS), Novak won 86% of service games to Rafa's 87%%, 13% return games to Rafa's 14%... These two were so evenly matched and the difference really came down to who would falter first physically. Rafa, perhaps after that crazy 5 setter vs Del Potro, was that player.



Incredible effort from both players. We are lucky to have these two giants playing at the same time. INTERVIEW/PRESS TL;DR 🗣 Anderson after winning his 6 hour match vs Isner:



- "I hope this is a sign for slams to change this format out of 5 sets... I really hope we can look at it and address this because at the end you don't even feel that good out there."

Source



(Matt): 10 point tiebreak at 12-12 in the 5th would be ideal IMO.

Djokovic after beating Nadal:



- "Hard to pick the words. I have flashbacks of last 15 months, I don't know, I'm overwhelmed. It could have gone either way, very few things separated us, I believed I could win, he was so close. Yeah, I slept tonight, If you can call that a sleep."

Source



- "Against probably my biggest rival ever, it's intense, the stakes are high and you feel it. You have to mantain control, the calm mind always wins, but it's hard to keep emotions inside."

Source



"I wish I had a day off, but it is what it is, I will try to recover. In the end, I think it will be even between me and Kevin."

Source



"I was for the roof, because we started indoors, and I think it was better to finish indoors. But they had already decided anyway, I just gave my opinion."

Source



- "At first match point, I played a very solid shot, I saw him change grip and I ran for the drop shot, but it was too good."

Source



- "It was a big internal fight, what I had to go through in my head, I could write a book about it. It's unbelievable, going mentally through what a man has to go through during a match like this."

Source Rafa after his loss:



"Being honest, I didn't have the time to analize. I wasn't a spectator, but I think it was a great show for the fans, I'm happy to have been part of this."

Source



- "Normally I am very critic with myself, but today I hit many great shots, of course I missed some, but I gave my best, he beat me, he was better, well done. I won't talk about the closed roof, I don't want you to focus on this (smiling)."

Source



On what he did waiting for Isner Anderson to finish:



- "While I was waiting yesterday, well, I thought, I warmed up like ten times, and watched the match."

Source



- "The first set was difficult, adapting to the environment, didn't see the ball that well. Today was better, more light coming through, we were able to see the ball better."

Source



On the conditions:



- "It's the umpire who decides about the roof, and if you start indoor, you have to end in the same conditions. You decide if that's fair or it's not. To gain time we started indoor, and that's it. I don't think it's right, but it's just my opinion."

Source SHOTS OF THE DAY 😮 SKYHOOK

(BBC) Huge return from Anderson.

(BBC) Isner punched backhand pass.

(BBC) 🚀 Rafa

(BBC) LEFT HANDED from Anderson. He won the point.

(BBC) Forehand on the run from Novak.

(BBC) Forehand on the run from Rafa.

(BBC) Down 0-30 Novak hit a half-volley right onto the line.

(BBC) Big forehand down the line and then the touch with the volley from Rafa.

(BBC) Skyhook. Angle 2.

(BBC) Ridiculous half-volley from Rafa, off a powerful and deep Djokovic backhand.

(BBC) Rafa's half-volley forehand down the line, still firing on day two of this match.

(BBC) ANOTHER ONE.

(BBC) Cat and mouse from Rafa/Novak.

(BBC) Brilliant angled pass from Novak to get the break back in 2nd set.

(BBC). SUNDAY OOP ⏰ Centre Court

2pm Start



Anderson vs Djokovic

H2H : 1-5

H2H Grass : 0-2 (Djokovic)

Last Meeting : Wimbledon 2015, Djokovic won in 5 sets.



Prediction: Djokovic in 4 EXTRAS...🔍🎤📊 Boris Becker (former coach of Novak) on the Serb's smash:



"If you take the Top-100 in the world, Djokovic's overhead is the worst of them all. We tried everything, nothing worked."

(BBC commentary) (Matt): Funny, if anyone was going to be good at teaching people how to smash, you'd think it'd be Boris.

This is he Wimbledon of long matches:



Anderson vs Federer = 4 hours +

Nadal vs Del Potro = just under 5 hours

Nadal vs Djokovic = 5 hours +

Anderson vs Isner = 6 and a half hours

Grand slam finals:



Federer: 30

Nadal: 24

Djokovic: 22

This is the first time since the 2016 US Open than one of Nadal or Federer will not win a slam.

The 1st set...



The winner of the first set, in Nadal vs. Djokovic matches, has now won 45 of their 51 matches (88%).

Nadal and 5 set matches:



2004 - 2013: 16 wins, 5 defeats

2014 - present: 4 wins, 6 defeats



Getting old is a terrible thing ☹️ LOL 😂 Novak Rage. Also the guy behind him in the crowd egging him on is amazing.

(BBC) Class. (BBC) Share Tweet Forward GAME, SET & MATCH 👋 The Racquet is created, and written, by Matt. You can find me on twitter by tapping/clicking this. You early subscribers (Beta testers) get access to 'The Racquet' Discord. Tap/click the Discord button below to join (we even have Jerzy Janowicz emojis). If you know anyone who would like 'The Racquet' here is the link to send them so they can sign up: https://theracquet.co See you tomorrow for the FINAL!