Semi-final Preview: Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer – French Open 2011
Clash of the titans is making its way to the French Open, as the world number two, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, takes on the former world number one, Roger Federer of Switzerland, in the semi-final on Thursday. The ultimate battle
of this year’s Roland Garros will take place at the Court Philippe Chatrier in Paris, France, with the winner of the clash getting a title shot at the prestigious Grand Slam trophy in the final.
Every tennis fans is anxiously waiting for the highly anticipated contest featuring the top two players of the world. Djokovic’s extraordinary winning streak has been the hot topic in the tennis world, as the Serb is heading to
break the record 42-match winning streak of the legendary John McEnroe. Djokovic has won 40 matches this year without suffering a single defeat and requires just three more wins to surpass the all-time winning streak of McEnroe.
The mighty Serb wind has prevailed throughout Roland Garros this year, blowing away every competitor who got in its way. Djokovic won all of his initial round matches with complete authority, reaching the quarter-final after crushing
the local hope, Richard Gasquet, and then got a walkover to the semis as Fabio Fognini pulled out of the contest due to injury. Unbeaten this year, Djokovic has already bagged seven ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) championship titles, including the
all-prestigious Grand Slam event, the Australian Open, at the start of this year.
The Swiss Maestro, Federer has finally got his vintage form back in the French Open and has been absolutely destructive throughout the tournament. He is the only player in the tournament who has not dropped a single set en route
to the semi-finals and has annihilated all his competitors in straight sets victories. Federer took down the ninth seed Gael Monfils of France 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(3), in the quarter-final to register his fifth straight sets victory of the tournament.
Although Federer has sunk to the number three spot in world rankings, the Swiss is determined to climb back to the top of the tennis ratings. His current form at Roland Garros hints that he is well on his way to bag the Grand Slam
title and then go on to reclaim his top slot.
Surely the Serb competitor came to Paris as the hot favourite for winning the French Open but the Swiss Maestro is still considered to be the most lethal opponent to compete with on any surface. Both men have faced each other on
plenty of occasions, with Federer being successful on more occurrences and lead the head-to-head series by 13-9.
Federer’s debilitating form in the past few months allowed the Serb to sting three consecutive victories over him in the running ATP season. The last time these two met in the semi-final at Indian Wells this year, Djokovic outsmarted
the Swiss and then went on to bag the title. Certainly Federer won’t desire to repeat that performance in the semi-final this time round but he will have to come up with his true class to break the unbelievable 40-matches winning streak of Djokovic.
With both sides stacked so strongly it is difficult to predict a clear-cut winner. However, given Djokovic’s recent form, the Serb may have the odds tipping in his favour slightly.
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