214 replies to this topic

[fletcherpost]

Yea i agree. Some guy - a sportsman or announcer was saying that when Sharapova is on he mutes the sound on the TV...and he can still hear her.

[SoxScout]

The other night during one of Tomic's matches they were talking about how he got a waiver to be able to drive a fast car and has had some traffic stops.......
Bernard Tomic in stand-off with police

[Apisith]

I'm too nervous for this.

[BigMike]

Ugh Roger starts out great, Then at 4-2 thorws in that all to common in recent years complete branfart of a game. Missing an easy forehand that lookd like it should have been an easy winner, and then of course dumping a simple velley intop the net. So now all his good work to start is lost

Thank Goodness, Roger wins the tiebreak. Had he lost that after showing so much dominance in the first set I think it would have been a quick 3 set loss. I think Roger is the bestter player, but can he keep mentally at this level?

[Apisith]

This match is so tight. Far too tight for my heart.

[Matthew M.]

Federer takes the first set, 7-6. Nadal does not look great (though looks better than at the start), but Federer seems to let him back in with some brainfarts.

Edited by Matthew M., 26 January 2012 - 04:44 AM.

[fletcherpost]

Federer winning most of the longer rallies. Nadal needs to hang in there or fed's gonna run away with it.

[Apisith]

These two play some incredible shots.

[fletcherpost]

Tell you what, I don't like that the winner of this match gets an extra day to recuperate...and if anything the number one seed should always have his matches first, that being the advantage of being number one. Wimbledon does it this way, but i also think Wimbledon plays its Semi Finals on the same day. Not sure about the US or the French. I think when you get to the end of the tourney it's an indisputable advantage...needs to be sorted.

[jon abbey]

Tell you what, I don't like that the winner of this match gets an extra day to recuperate...and if anything the number one seed should always have his matches first, that being the advantage of being number one. Wimbledon does it this way, but i also think Wimbledon plays its Semi Finals on the same day. Not sure about the US or the French. I think when you get to the end of the tourney it's an indisputable advantage...needs to be sorted.

Yep, it's not fair, but the way dumber thing (I complain about this four times a year, every Grand Slam, like clockwork) is that the 5-8 seeds are seeded randomly, so that Djokovic can draw #5 in the quarters instead of #8 like he should.

[Apisith]

I sort of agree, but a one day rest should be enough, anyway. Wimbledon does it well because both finalists get a day break. The US has a crazy schedule where they play the semis on Saturday then the final on Sunday. I don't remember the French's schedule but I think it's very similar to the Aussie.

[BigMike]

Yep, it's not fair, but the way dumber thing (I complain about this four times a year, every Grand Slam, like clockwork) is that the 5-8 seeds are seeded randomly, so that Djokovic can draw #5 in the quarters instead of #8 like he should.

But in some ways makes sense as the way seeding works you simply don't know, and #5 can be n easier match than #8 is.

Roger had a lot of opportunities in that last game and failed to break, and now he is in trouble in this game

[jon abbey]

Whoa, that pass was insane.

Why didn't the fireworks start before Fed's service game?

[jon abbey]

But in some ways makes sense as the way seeding works you simply don't know, and #5 can be n easier match than #8 is.

Sorry, I don't buy that. If you're going to seed past #4, do it right. #1 plays #32, then #16, then #8, etc.

Some incredible points by Nadal to break there, wow.

[BigMike]

Roger is just getting absolutely killed at the net. I don't know the numbers, but it seems like he is losing about 75% of his points at the net

Well I guess it is 50% and 42% this set, but it feels much worse than that.

I would have to think Roger is miserably frustrated at this set. He had had numerous opportunities on Nadal serves, I know only 1 break point since the opening break, but there had just been a lot of situations where he was really ready to take the game over, and then does nothing on a serve which he is clearly prepared for, getting great looks, but just not doing anything with

[ThePrideofShiner]

Sorry, I don't buy that. If you're going to seed past #4, do it right. #1 plays #32, then #16, then #8, etc.

Some incredible points by Nadal to break there, wow.

Those two wide shots by Nadal were ridiculous. Just tremendous tennis being played.

[Apisith]

He needs to pound Rafa's BH, man. And stop approaching the net this often.

Rafa's level will drop. He won't keep serving this well.

[BigMike]

Good lord Roger looks like a qualifier now. He is just humiliating himself out there at the moment, Hopefully he can figure something out, but this is just painful to watch

[Apisith]

It looks like Federer's on the ropes mentally. He needs to stay in it then find some form, but firstly find some first serves.

[fletcherpost]

And Fed seems to have found something, a nice clean service game.

[fletcherpost]

I love how it ebbs and flows with these guys. I mean it's kinda impossible to play your A game all the time, the drop off from immortal to mortal seems like night and day.

[Apisith]

Yeah, me too, although it's much more enjoyable when you're a neutral.

[fletcherpost]

Tell me about it, i get nausea watching Andy Murray, i love not rooting for either of these two...I just want a long long long match with some great tennis.

[Apisith]

Fckkkkk, he gave that game away.

[jon abbey]

That was a really strange set.

[fletcherpost]

So roger just needs to get more first serves in and cut out some of the unforced errors and we take this to a fifth set.

[Apisith]

Same old story. How many fucking times, man.

[Apisith]

Are you fucking kiddin me

[MentalDisabldLst]

Just landed at JFK, how has Fed-Rafa been? If this goes to a 5th I may have to stop at a sports bar and be late for my meeting.

[fletcherpost]

That fuckin lob how does that hit the line. Too many unforced errors by Fed. Far too many.

[Apisith]

I'm devastated. He had been playing so well all tournament. This mental block against Rafa is infuriating.

[Apisith]

I honestly don't know how he makes so many unforced errors.

[jon abbey]

Yeah, Nadal is in his head, he had some fantastic stretches but also some terrible ones. That lob was ridiculous, that was on break point too.

[BGrif21125]

I sort of agree, but a one day rest should be enough, anyway. Wimbledon does it well because both finalists get a day break. The US has a crazy schedule where they play the semis on Saturday then the final on Sunday. I don't remember the French's schedule but I think it's very similar to the Aussie.

The French operates on the same schedule as Wimbledon. Both men's semis on Friday, Final on Sunday.I don't know why the Australian breaks up the schedule, but sometimes the day of rest doesn't matter. A few years ago, Federer won the Thursday semi in straight sets against Roddick, then Nadal had to play for over 5 hours to beat Verdasco on Friday. And Nadal was still able to beat Federer on Sunday. So who knows.

[BigMike]

Great, another tournament where I have to root for Djokovic in the end.

Wish I believed Murray had what it takes to beat Nadal, but i don't.

[fletcherpost]

Great, another tournament where I have to root for Djokovic in the end.

Wish I believed Murray had what it takes to beat Nadal, but i don't.

Murray has what it takes to beat Nadal in terms of tennis ability, but with Tennis being so much about the mental side his downfall has been between the ears. Nadal knows he can beat Murray on the big occasion. History shows this, and Murray knows this too. The last few Slams Murray hasn't brought his A game to the table for long enough spells v Nadal.

I really hope that this is when Lendl earns his crust. Semis of a Slam...anyone can win...i think the mental aspect is magnified at the business end of a slam when the margins get smaller and the pressure (key) points are worth so much more. We saw that today Federer crumbled a few times. Made more errors than i can remember - over 60 unforced errors, far outweighing his winners. That's not Fed like at all. We all know he's better than that.

So once again i pray unto Bejeesus - Murray has to win a Slam this year i feel.

[MentalDisabldLst]

Murray looked a lot sharper to me in the QF match vs Noshikori than in previous matches where I'd seen him. His topspin balls had great bounce, his forehand accuracy was better, and he was controlling points by directing shots to the sides while Kei could only really return his balls to the middle. Perhaps the biggest change has been his endurance late in matches - he seemed to really still be in 5th gear at the end of the match (perhaps helped by the fact he was winning easily). I think he's got a shot at Djokovic's B+ or A- game.

[jon abbey]

To be fair, Nishikori presented absolutely no challenge or opposition, not only coming off an exhausting five set win against Tsonga, but also playing a mixed doubles match on his off day.

[Apisith]

Yeah, Nishikori looked drain. I saw that match and he stopped running for gettable balls after three games because he was too exhausted.

Murray's actually had a pretty easy draw so far so if he makes it to the final, then he should be able to match up with Rafa physically, but I just don't trust the guy mentally.

I'm with BigMike here; another match and tournament where my hope now lies with Djokovic.

A seventh straight victory over Nadal would be pretty sweet.

I just woke up and I'll be honest: the first thing that went through my head was 'How the fuck did Roger give that match away?'

I'm not over it. I got over the French lost easily because it was on clay and the match played out exactly the way everyone expected, but this was different. He had been hitting so well all tournament, and had just beaten Nadal on hard court so easily two months ago. God damnit.

Wimbledon is his next chance. I just hope he doesn't face Nadal in the French. That H2H is getting uglier by the match.

[Apisith]

Just not good enough from Murray.

[jon abbey]

He turned it around in the second set, and seemed to have Djokovic on the ropes briefly.

First game, third set, just ended, 18 minutes long, 5 break points saved, somehow Djokovic held.

[Apisith]

What is up with all these Murray winners? Some fantastic tennis he's playing.

[jon abbey]

Wow, what a set. They're well over three hours going to the 4th, Murray up 2-1.

[fletcherpost]

Win or lose there's a lot of positives for Murray here and plenty to work on mentally. He has too many lapses. But he's matched Novak for the most part which is encouraging.

[Apisith]

This must be torture for you to watch.

[fletcherpost]

I'm used to it. Murray still has time to win a slam and improvements to make. He's no winning this match but he's done well and he could have done better.

[fletcherpost]

Wow Murray has some fuckin heart.

[BGrif21125]

Another great win for Djokovic. Murray played his heart out, but he just can't get over the hump against the Top 3.

Regardless of the length of this match and the one fewer day of rest, you have to like Djokovic over Nadal on Sunday.

[bosox4283]

Amazing comeback my Murray to extend the match. He looked gassed but somehow find the extra energy to win three straight games. Great display of heart and fight.

[MentalDisabldLst]

Someone want to explain to me why several people here want Nadal to be "stopped"? Why Djokovic, who's clearly a huge jerk, is now your rooting interest and "only remaining hope"? I don't get it. Rafa is pretty easy to root for, the guy works his ass off on the court.