NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS ROGER
FEDERER
When Djokovic and Federer were asked about playing with each other on Sunday, there was a clear theme for their answers:
We have been here before.
"I've played with Roger in a number of epic finals here a number of years in a row, so I know what to expect," Djokovic said.
"I think when you play someone there may have been more than 15 times, especially in the past few years too, there is nothing left there," Federer said.
Indeed, Djokovic and Federer have faced 47 times since 2006, twice in the Wimbledon final, and twice since Djokovic started his comeback in 2018. Seeing the results of that match, and assuming there are no new wrinkles in their competition, Djokovic has a favorite in that this one. He led Federer 25-22 overall; he won the last four meetings since 2015; he won their Wimbledon final in 2014 and 2015; and he has won their last four games at the Grand Slams. The last time Federer beat Djokovic in the major was at Wimbledon in 2012.
Djokovic is younger, he won three of the last four Slams, and he presents the problem of fighting for everyone, including Federer. Djokovic can fend off Federer's service, which is his core weapon on grass, with the return of his best tour. He is better than the baseline. And unlike the majority of Federer's opponents, Djokovic believes he must beat him. Even though he wasn't spectacular in his first six games, that was important for Djokovic. He doesn't need to be like that.
Of course, this doesn't mean we have to hand the trophy to Djokovic. Their Wimbledon final from the beginning of the decade was decided by a thin margin, like their last meeting, at Bercy last November, which Djokovic won in the third set tiebreaker in one of the best contests of the year. One unknown factor this time is Federer's reaction to his three-hour victory over Nadal in the semifinals. Will this fulfill him with the conviction that he is the most important? Or will it make it mature for emotional and physical disappointment? Either way, to defeat Djokovic, Federer is likely to have to play better than he did to defeat Nadal. That's a lot to ask, even for him.