Nadal up 3-0 in the 4th absolutely blowing Ferrer off the court. He does not want this match suspended.
2014 French Open
- Thread starter jon abbey
- Start date
jsinger121 said:
Yeah, that was right out of the Captain James T. Kirk "I... have had enough... of YOU!" playbook.
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MentalDisabldLst
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The difference between Murray, Rafa and Djokovic, vs the rest of the top-20 players, is most of all about their endurance and mental focus. Their advantages multiply in lengthy, 4- and 5-set affairs.
Rafa did very little attacking in those last two sets - it looked to me like he pretty much made decent but not bold shots, and waited (successfully) for Ferrer to screw up. Not a lot of drop shots, net approaches and winners down the line for him - was mostly baselining while keeping Ferrer running, and it was more than enough.
Rafa did very little attacking in those last two sets - it looked to me like he pretty much made decent but not bold shots, and waited (successfully) for Ferrer to screw up. Not a lot of drop shots, net approaches and winners down the line for him - was mostly baselining while keeping Ferrer running, and it was more than enough.
Nice to see Murray make the semis. He needs the points to help climb back into the top four. He's been too inconsistent to have a realistic chance of beating Nadal on clay. He seems to take sets off, where his level drops to Challenger Status. But it's nice to see Murray hitting form with the Grass Court and Hard Court seasons to come. After Wimbledon he has relative few points to defend. I really wish he'd work on his second serve. Of the top players his second serve points won % is the lowest. Physically i think Murray is getting back to where he was, mentally i thiink he's missing Lendl and i hope he chooses the right coach, (when he finally reveals the name) after Roland Garros.
Novak has a realistic chance of beating Nadal, he's so much more consistent that Murray. He'll beat Gulbis in three or four.
Novak has a realistic chance of beating Nadal, he's so much more consistent that Murray. He'll beat Gulbis in three or four.
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MentalDisabldLst
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And Sharapova breaks in the 12th game to take the 2nd, 7-5.
Bouchard not really getting into Sharapova's service games right now.
Bouchard not really getting into Sharapova's service games right now.
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MentalDisabldLst
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Yeah, I meant in the 3rd, sorry I wasn't clear. Goes down 6-2, with Bouchard only winning 6 of 22 receiving points. Sharapova now into the final, where she'll face a rested Halep. Sharapova has run really well at the French the last few years: semis in 2011, beat Errani to win it in 2012, and lost the Final 6-4, 6-4 to Serena last year. That might be the most impressive run of success at the French on the ladies' side - no other major has that kind of year-to-year unpredictability.
Are you saying recently, or ever? Evert won a bunch (7) of Frenches and Sanchez Vicario went to 6 finals and won 3 in a 9 year span. Seles and Henin also won three straight (Henin 4 out of 5. She's an underrated all-time great)
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MentalDisabldLst
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I meant in the last 15 years or so, yeah. I'll admit to not knowing much at all about tennis in the 90s or earlier - besides the short shorts.
Meanwhile, Djokovic is crushing Gulbis as predicted. Murray-Nadal later should be awesome though.
Meanwhile, Djokovic is crushing Gulbis as predicted. Murray-Nadal later should be awesome though.
I expected Gulbis to challenge Djokovic more than Murray would challenge Nadal, I think Murray will be lucky to take this to four sets like Gulbis did. Nadal is just a steamroller at the French and in better form (for him) coming in than Murray is for him IMO.
Nadal has pretty much ruined the French Open. There's absolutely no point in watching the men's draw until the final to see if maybe Djokovic can beat him. It's extremely impressive but it totally saps my interest in the tournament.
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MentalDisabldLst
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The announcers are right - Murray looks like absolute dogshit out there. He might be tired, he might not believe in himself against Rafa here, his game might not translate well on clay... but he's just hitting easy shots 4, even 6 feet wide. Missing nets even when his feet are set and he has the time to wind up. There's just nothing he can do.
cromulence said:
I will never understand why people prefer to see close, lesser competition as opposed to historic greatness (in any sport).
I don't know what the actual betting odds are but Djokovic has beaten Nadal the last four times they played, one of those on clay. Their semi here last year was an epic (9-7 in the 5th to Nadal), Sunday should be a good one.
MentalDisabldLst said:
Justine Henin's 4 out of 5 were in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 (she had some kind of crazy viral infection in 2004; she played the French, but no other tournaments in the surrounding months and she got knocked out in the first round). She retired before the 2008 French.
When Henin came back to play in 2010, Sharapova did manage to take one set off of her, ending her streak at 40 straight sets won at Roland Garros (that tied Henin for the most consecutive sets ever won at the French). She'd go on to beat Sharapova for the match before losing to Stosur in the 4th round.
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MentalDisabldLst
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Wow, thanks for that, I have no idea how I wasn't paying better attention.
I'm going to do some research to see if my general impression is garbage or is actually supported. Back later with a spreadsheet.
But meanwhile, with respect to today's matches, I think Greg Garber's writeup had some parts worth quoting:
I do like that the winner of Nadal-Djokovic on Sunday will be ranked #1 on Monday. Seems appropriate going into Wimbledon.
I'm going to do some research to see if my general impression is garbage or is actually supported. Back later with a spreadsheet.
But meanwhile, with respect to today's matches, I think Greg Garber's writeup had some parts worth quoting:
I do like that the winner of Nadal-Djokovic on Sunday will be ranked #1 on Monday. Seems appropriate going into Wimbledon.
As great as Nadal is playing, there is every reason to expect Djokovic to at least push him very hard, likely into a 5th set like last year's epic match at Roland Garros. Djokovic has won half of their clay court matches since 2011, including their only one to date this year. The odds on the match are close to a tossup. Djokovic can handle Nadal's spins and his service returns will put pressure on Nadal as well. Two great players in their prime, going to be a tremendous final.
The quality of tennis in this Women's final is pretty outstanding, and Im saying this as someone who typically avoids watching the WTA. That being said, it would be great if this ump had the guts to call Sharapova out on taking 20 seconds between 1st and 2nd serves sometimes!
edit: Sharapova has taken complete control...if she doesnt double fault a game or two away this match looks like it will be done soon.
edit: Sharapova has taken complete control...if she doesnt double fault a game or two away this match looks like it will be done soon.
On a double fault no less
Almost 3 hours. Sharapova thinking too much and taking way too much time between 1st and 2nd serves
Almost 3 hours. Sharapova thinking too much and taking way too much time between 1st and 2nd serves
I'm not sure if Sharapova found another gear or Halep ran out of gas, but Sharapova just took over the match in the last two games. Something like nine or ten straight points, I think? She broke Halep at love and then served out the set at love.
Big service game for Djoker here...if he can consolidate the break and take the first set he has at least a 50/50 shot of winning this match.
Wow, what a break, 1 set all.
Novak really falls in love with the inside-out forehand, and Rafa sees it coming from a mile away. Or it goes wide.
Novak really falls in love with the inside-out forehand, and Rafa sees it coming from a mile away. Or it goes wide.
My god Nadal serving at 4-2 in the third, five or six deuces, 11 minute game. Novak had a couple breaks, but Nadal holds.
That game was just a killer for Djokovic. He hit some incredible returns that Nadal didn't just get back, but placed incredibly well. Novak had a bit of the "there's not much else I can do" look going, which is not a good sign.
Wow, when it was 40-15 in the next game I was about to applaud Novak for holding serve in the next game, and the Nadal blows through four points in a row to take the set. He looks unbeatable out there