What a great day of tennis. Djokovic and Federer through, but not easily.
Has to make Nadal feel more confident seeing them barely squeak through.
Nadal has to be feeling extremely confident based on the way he is playing. The fact that Federer and Djokovic had trouble with a couple of the best players in the world probably doesn’t enter into it. Just this year, Djokovic had to play an extremely long match against Murray in Australia and then he bounced back and beat Nadal in an even longer match.
Nadal pretty much got a cake walk to the final. I’m not sure why they even bothered to make him play the early rounds. They should just have him start in the semis.
I respect his accomplishments, but he just bores me to tears when he plays.
I didn’t see this part of the match, but here is a sight you don’t see often.
“I believe that was English.”
Haha! Good call there commentator guy.
Before 1911, the winner of the prior year’s tournament just had to show up and compete in the final, to “defend” his title. As you can imagine, that was quite an advantage.
I doubt anyone would really want to return to that.
Simply not true. Monaco is no slouch on clay – even if Rafa made him look like one – Almagro has the most wins on clay this year (Nico up 5-4 as we speak) and hasn’t lost a set yet. Then he’ll likely face Ferrer, again, second most wins on clay this year and again, hasn’t given up a set yet at RG. Sure, if you look at Rafa’s record against either one you’d think he’s going to steam-roll them*. But they are as tough an opponent on clay as anyone’s likely to find. Even if it’s Murray instead of Ferrer, surely you don’t think he’ll be “cake,” right?
*Then again, what’s Rafa’s record on clay vs anyone not named Gaudio? Who beat him three times just as Rafa was becoming the unstoppable force he currently is.
Don’t forget that Rafa’s already won two RG’s without giving up a set. That he makes it look easy is a testament to his clay-prowess, not the lack of skill of his opponents. I mean, I’d be willing to bet Ferrer and/or Almagro, the way they are playing this year would have taken out Fed or Novak had they been on the other side of the draw the way they are playing thus far. Sure, it’s an untestable hypothetical, but hardly a far-fetched one: read what I said about them here. These guys are TOP clay courters. Or you could look-up their Davis Cup accomplishments on the surface.
Darn! It’s amazing how so many people refuse to acknowledge Nadal’s mastery of the surface and choose to “blame” extraneous factors for his amazing feats on it.
Next time I see him I’ll let him know what you think. Surely he’ll then adjust his game to your liking.
Amalgro is looking really good. Can he stay with Nadal for a whole match?
That’s the key – he hasn’t been able to do so in the past. Combination of recklessness, mental fortitude and lack of endurance. But does he have the game to beat Rafa? You betcha. Huge tie-breaker coming up. Though even if Nico wins it, I expect Rafa to prevail in a grueling affair. This is what I was talking about when I said I hated playing these two (Nico & Ferrer (potentially)) as a Rafa fan. As tough as they come on clay and both in incredible form…
Yeah, Nadal is looking likely in my opinion to easily win the rest of this match, even if he loses the tie breaker. Amalgro looks tired, or at least very strained to keep up.
Well, there was literally nothing to separate the two in a great display of clay-court tennis in that first set. Except for one thing: Nico’s lack of mental fortitude as mentioned before. That’s why he (Nico) is now 0 for 5 in tie-breakers vs Rafa.
That’s where Rafa excels. Imagine how Nico feels after giving it his all, playing awesome tennis & still giving away the set? Tall mountain to climb.
I suspect the going might get easier for Rafa now. Not ready to give up a set just yet.
Meanwhile, Ferru is up 4-1 vs Muzza in the other match.
Murray down a set to Ferrer (4-6) & Rafa up two (7-6 (7-4), 6-2). Play suspended due to rain.
Play resumes. Fortunately, that was quick.
Rafa moves on in what was, by far, his toughest match thus far. In fact, much harder than the scoreline would indicate: 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-3. His mental toughness & clutch play was the difference in the end. Into the semis again w/out giving up a set.
Biggest surprise there is finding out Rafa out-aced Nico 10 to 4, when Nico is one of the Tour’s biggest servers & Rafa is not exactly known for his own. UEs & Winners on both sides as expected.
Meanwhile, Murray wins the second set tie-breaker vs Ferrer, 7-3. Muzza going for his first win in four tries on clay vs Ferrer. I don’t see either player running away in this match. Quite the grind ahead…
PS-Interesting factoid: Rafa yet to give up a set in this season’s red clay tour. 48 straight sets and counting…
[QUOTE=RedFury;
Next time I see him I’ll let him know what you think. Surely he’ll then adjust his game to your liking.[/QUOTE]
Would you? That would be great, thanks.
Ferrer wins the third, 6-3. Leads 2-1. Don’t see Murray taking the next two.
Gosh, I don’t like Federer’s “bird crap” shirt. Can you ask him to change it while you’re there?
And on cue, Ferrer gets a break and leads 4-1 in the fourth set. It looks like it’s curtains for Murray this time.
Ferrer is through to the semifnals. Murray loses again.