214 replies to this topic

[MentalDisabldLst]

Also:

[Apisith]

Because Federer is my man and his nemesis is Rafa. Kind of a an enemy's enemy is my friend thing going on. But for what it's worth, I find Djokovic's attitude very refreshing. He's a bit cocky and confident, but he's also quite honest, whereas Rafa's humbleness I feel is quite disingenuous.

[Apisith]

Nadal also plays - or historically has played - very defensive tennis. It's physically impressive but aesthetically boring to watch. His style is the complete opposite of Federer's. Djokovic at least stands on the baseline and goes for it for the most part.

[SumnerH]

Nadal also plays - or historically has played - very defensive tennis. It's physically impressive but aesthetically boring to watch. His style is the complete opposite of Federer's. Djokovic at least stands on the baseline and goes for it for the most part.

Wow, I could not disagree more. The death of long rallies and the switch to an almost 100% serve-and-groundies game has been aesthetically brutal in men's tennis. There's nothing uglier and more boring than than watching two guys stand back at the baseline all day and work on perfecting the Mark Philippoussis game plan. Nadal's scrambling defense, incredible ability to run down shots, the extended rallies he gets into--they all make for a much prettier and more exciting game.

[jon abbey]

I'd say the men's game at the top is less serve-reliant than any time that I can remember actually, on hardcourts and clay anyway (grass will always favor the huge servers). Actually the return of serve is what's seemed to have a renaissance recently, 18 combined breaks in that Murray/Djokovic match, 50 total break points in 49 service games.

[Apisith]

I like variety in tennis; always have, always will. Even Djokovic commented on the fact that tennis has changed, that serve and volleyers are quickly becoming extinct.

It's boring to watch two players stand on the baseline smashing topspin shots at it each other, waiting for the other guy to make a mistake - and that is precisely what these top guys do a lot of. The rallies are longer, which is why we see 4+ hours match in Grand Slams more often, but it gets boring after a point.

I mean, Federer in the first set yesterday was a joy to watch. I was as giddy as a ten year old when he approached the net with a BH top spin and picked-up a superb Nadal passing shot with the most subtle of half-volleys that saved a BP.

Throw in a slice every now and then, approach the net. Variety is good.

I watch Rafa and it's him just standing on the baseline bashing the ball, and trying his hardest to stay away from the net, even when it's the most technically sound thing he could do. He has actually improved a lot, but it's astounding how far the world #2 has to go to come near the greats of old in terms of his style of play - in my opinion of course.

Djokovic and Rafa have taken the game to new heights physically, which is impressive to watch; 6-4 sets that last an hour+ never happened before but it's becoming quite regular with these two. There was a game yesterday that lasted 18 minutes! Amazing physically, sure, but on a tennis level, not as much.

The courts are all just too similar nowadays. It's not the players' fault that they can't S&V. S&V doesn't work anymore because the courts are too slow, and they'll get passed too often.

I just long for more variety from the top guys.

Edited by Apisith, 27 January 2012 - 08:01 PM.

[Apisith]

That applies to all the top guys in general, but what applies to Rafa specifically is how defensive he is. He stands two or three meters behind the baseline far too often, waiting for an unforced error. I don't know why but it's just something that I don't prefer to see.

[SoxScout]

This woman's final is... loud

[Apisith]

And poor.

[SoxScout]

Azarenka was real good, but holy shit Sharapova sucked.

[SoxFanInCali]

Yeah, losing the final set of a tournament 6-0 makes it rather anticlimactic.

The best part of that whole match was Martina Hingis showing up to present the trophy.

Edited by SoxFanInCali, 28 January 2012 - 10:52 AM.

[Apisith]

Here we go.

[Apisith]

Djokovic is looking like the better player by far, but Nadal is hanging in there.

[Apisith]

Djokovic leads 5-4. We're already an hour into the match, although half of that has been spent waiting for both players to serve.

Djokovic is getting into a nice rhythm now as Rafa has dropped deeper and deeper.

[jon abbey]

Djokovic is looking like the better player by far, but Nadal is hanging in there.

Heh, I would say the exact opposite. Djokovic got super lucky right there on Nadal's pass hitting the tape and popping up at 4-4, 0-30.

[Apisith]

And just like that Rafa breaks and holds on tight to win the first set 7-5.

It looks to me like Djokovic has this match on his racquet, which is why I say he's looking better.

It's not like Rafa is moving Djokovic around the court. It's the opposite, really. But Rafa has won a lot of the big points.

[jon abbey]

I think we all knew coming in that Djokovic would be in charge of the match, he's beaten Nadal seven straight times. But Nadal looks more 'on' for him so far, that's what I meant. Djokovic could have easily lost that set 6-2, but he was never close to winning it.

[Apisith]

Yeah, Nadal looks better today than he did at Wimbledon and the US.

Djokovic breaks, up 3-1 in the second set. What a volley to win the point.

[SoxFanInCali]

Wow, Djokovic is broken when serving for the second set. Nadal trying to hold to tie it at 5.

[jon abbey]

Djokovic is playing insanely well now, it's amazing that anyone can make Nadal consistently look so helpless.

[Apisith]

Djokovic just bludgeoning Rafa into submission. This is very enjoyable to watch as a Federer fan, but as a neutral this match has been pretty average. Rafa's just scared of Novak. Djokovic is like a wall that Rafa can't run through.

[Apisith]

Djokovic's groundies are too good to stand that far behind the baseline and fight. It's too consistent, too powerful.

Novak is to Rafa what Rafa is to Roger.

[SoxFanInCali]

Djokovic is such a horrible matchup for Nadal at this point. Even if Rafa plays as well as he possibly can, he still needs help.

The French should be fun. Clay is the only surface where Rafa has a shot.

[johnmd20]

Awesome tie break by Nadal. Djokovic made a huge miss to give Nadal a big point to make it 5-5. An ace by Nadal and another unforced error by Novak and we're headed to the 5th set.

[Apisith]

What an amazing set of tennis.

[Mugthis]

Nadal can only beat Djokovic if Djokovic is off. He might be...

[Apisith]

Djokovic made too many unforced errors in the tie-break; three FHs in a row, I think.

[jon abbey]

This is an incredible match, close to five hours in now and both players still playing incredible.

God, the linespeople have been dreadful all tournament.

[SoxFanInCali]

Djokovic's marathon semifinal plus Nadal's extra day of rest may be huge.

[Mugthis]

Djokovic looks exhausted. I'm worried.

[Apisith]

He looks spent.

[Mugthis]

Nadal hasn't had an unforced error in a long time.

[jon abbey]

By the way, this is why it's not fair for #5 to play #1 in the quarters. If Djokovic draws someone lower like he should have and Murray drew Ferrer, Djokovic likely gets through that match much more quickly and is better rested coming into this one.

[SoxFanInCali]

By the way, this is why it's not fair for #5 to play #1 in the quarters. If Djokovic draws someone lower like he should have and Murray drew Ferrer, Djokovic likely gets through that match much more quickly and is better rested coming into this one.

Not to mention that somehow the #2 gets 2 days rest before the final, while the #1 gets 1.

[Mugthis]

Wow.

[jon abbey]

Back on serve, wow.

[Apisith]

Amazing.

[johnmd20]

Not to mention that somehow the #2 gets 2 days rest before the final, while the #1 gets 1.

That's probably the biggest issue.

[Mugthis]

Of course the longest final ever happens to be during the middle of the night.

[Mugthis]

How do they play that point at this stage of the match and tournament???

[Apisith]

Djokovic is class.

The last time Rafa tried to hit a winner must have been almost an hour ago.

[Mugthis]

This is one of the most impressive athletic displays I have ever seen.

[Apisith]

What a point.

[jon abbey]

32 shots on that point, these two just refuse to lose.

[Sportsbstn]

Thats a brilliant server to fend off break point

[Mugthis]

Only the USO has a 5th set tiebreak, right?

[Sportsbstn]

Novak hitting the shit out of it in the 10th game. Moving Nadal at will.

[Sportsbstn]

Yeah no tiebreaker here

[Sportsbstn]

Crazy angle on that forehand winner

[Mugthis]

This might be the greatest match ever.