One of the other things that I took from last night is just how much things can change from night and day, different balls, etc. When Gilbert said if the men used the women's balls they could get an extra 5-7 mph on their serve. That floored me. And Federer was talking like there is a substantial difference between night and day matches. I had no idea there was that substantial a difference.

I think gilbert was mentioning the US Open balls were different and the men would have had a 5-7mph difference if they used the women's balls.

But yes, overall it was shocking. I had no idea they were using different tennis balls in some events, and that night/day was a major difference. I can understand dry/humid air making a difference, but interesting that day and night have a major effect as well.

Actually Bunk I think they said the Australian was the only major that uses different balls for men and women whereas the other majors they all use the same balls. I may be wrong because it was midnight our time when they were talking about it. Normally I can take Brad Gilbert with a grain of salt but I enjoyed him last night. Sometimes I think he is trying to be a stoner. But he does give good insight. I forgot what a good player he was.

Chris Fowler is a guy I really hate. Why does he have the life I should have? The top college game of the week, all the major tennis tournaments. Dang I am so jealous of that guy. 8 weeks out of the year he is at Melbourne, Paris, London and New York (more that that with ESPN being in Bristol) and then something like 12 Saturdays he is at the premier college game outside the SEC. I might start stalking him.

No matter what I am staying up for the semifinal on Thursday morning. This is Federer's last shot at the Australian. I know he is the GOAT time but at 35 come on man. No way he is doing this next year. Even though one can be amazed that he is doing this at 34. Only one man in the world can touch him right now and that may be the man that supplants him as GOAT.

Which frankly I do not think Joker will reach 17. I remember people talking about Tiger Woods passing Nicholson and what they were saying was from that point forward he would have to have the career Phil Mickelson has had in order to pass him. So basically Joker has to have Connor's career from this point forward to pass Federer.

99% sure it was the US Open. They were all talking over each other but the 5-7mph comment he was making was that the US Open used different balls.

Ihttp://www.thestar.com/sports/tennis/2012/09/10/us_open_why_not_all_tennis_balls_are_alike.html

I stand corrected. It is the US Open.

I'm neither a huge Djokovic fan or Federer fan (although I'd go Federer if given the choice), but I'd like to see Fed's 17 stand up.

I know it's easy to fall into the trap of looking at current results and projecting them forward indefinitely, and perhaps that's exactly what I'm doing here, but it just seems increasingly likely that Djokovic is going to catch him.

He just has a lot going for him. Two of the four majors are played on his best surface. Nadal isn't putting up much resistance anymore outside of the French (and he's fading there as well). There aren't any current dirt ballers who look poised to poach French Open titles in the same way that a Sergi Bruguera, Guga Kuerten, Carlos Moya, or Gaston Gaudio have in the past. Although he's doing his darnedest to prove otherwise, you also have to figure that Fed isn't going to be at it very much longer.

Above all else, it's just tough to see who is going to emerge to challenge him on a regular basis. Murray is the first name that comes to mind, and I think he still has some majors in him, but Djokovic has largely dominated their H2H. Stan has two majors now, but he still flames out relatively early in draws to feel all that comfortable that he's going to become a guy anywhere close to on par with what we've seen from Fed, Nadal, and Djokovic over the last half-decade.

Also, let it be known that the biggest negative if Djokovic were to match or best Fed's 17 is that it would set off a never-ending debate about the GOAT. I know the tennis internet loves to debate the topic, but I just have so little interest in it or patience for it. And if we live in a world where most people's minds tell them that Fed is the GOAT, but Djokovic owns the record for major wins with 18 or more and Nadal ran away with the H2H against Fed, we'll never hear the end of it. I say that partially in jest, but I do feel like there's some truth there.

Well just like all things it has to be put in perspective. When you look at Nadal's numbers on clay compared to the rest of his career, it makes him king of clay but hurts his overall standing. It also hurts Nadal vs Federer when he has wins on that surface which he no doubt owned, but his consistency overall just wasn't there. Which is why something like a QF streak is just so damn impressive

Djokovic will make the better case against fed, and they are 22-22 h2h, yet Roger has what, 6 or 7 years on him in age?

Always a worthy debate, but djoker needs to put the full career up first, which I expect he will. Then we can discuss. He seems to match the Federer beat of being incredibly healthy and fluid

Roof open; Djoker cruised.

This happened one other time to Federer. Nadal murdered him in a French Open final. Those first two sets Joker just killed Federer.

yeah the first 2 sets were just no contest.

Joker is just at another level now. He is going to cut through Murray like he is not even there. No one can touch him.

Joker broke Federer on his first service game and then consolidated it. Broke him again later on. That set the tone for the entire night. Federer is making shot after shot that would put anyone else in trouble yet Joker just sends it right back.

Congrats to Djoker. He dominated.

Now on to the French.

Just relentless. That's what, 34-1 over the last 5 slams?