Well, let’s see…Djokovic just beat him in Rome, and in the last 12 months holds a winning record against Nadal. Nole can hold his own on the baseline, plus he can do those incredible down-the-line shots that even Rafa cannot defend. Rafa is afraid of no one except Nole, and that’s because Nole is the only who who doesn’t fear Rafa.
Unless the occasion gets to him, if Djokovic is on, he will beat Rafa this year. (I’d hate to see it, but there it is.)
Honestly can Sharapova be any more annoying? I think she should get called for interference with the shrieking.
Djoko Gulbis…should be a good one.
Acc to Martina Navratilova, one of the main reasons that players are getting away with these annoying shrieks and grunts is because the other players haven’t formally registered a complaint. Reporters complain, audience members complain, and coaches complain. But during a match, the players remain mute, possibly because they don’t want the shrieking player to know that they are getting under their skin.
I heard Martina say this too, but…remember the Stosur /Serena USOpen final? There is inconsistency in the rules. All I’m sayin’
Monfils! WTF tanked it!
I don’t remember that. Did Stosur complain?
Nope the umpire called interference on Serena for saying Come on after she hit the ball.
Murry has had some difficult matches thus year. I think he might be the one person who can upset the apple cart.
I watched the last two sets of that match, and what an incredible two sets they were. I don’t think I have ever seen such a dramatic turnaround in men’s tennis. And that was following a major turnaround in itself, with Murray winning the first two sets pretty easily before Monfils really found his form and won the second two equally easily. One particular point that Monfils retrieved early in the fourth was amazing, and what really set up his charge through that set.
After that, Murray looked like he decided he had to power it into the corners at all times, and it just wasn’t working for him. The commentators (ex-players Mark Petchey and Jim Courier) pointed out that perhaps Murray should try being a bit more conservative for a bit, to draw errors from Monfils.
Anyway, after going down 2 breaks Murray basically gave up on the set on the expectation he would be going to bed at 2-2 with the decider in the morning, only to find that because Monfils wanted to play on (of course he did, all the momentum was with him and the home crowd were raucously cheering everything that went his way, Murray looked totally out of it and it appeared there would only be one winner), the match continued.
I can only assume that Monfils relaxed slightly at that point, even if only subconsciously, and Murray found an extra gear from somewhere because after a slightly shaky hold from Murray, he broke Monfils in the second game. Even then it looked like Monfils was still in it, but he just fell away dramatically as Murray pumped himself up with winner after winner - and it was all over.
Fantastic from Murray, but I don’t rate his chances against Nadal - his clay game just isn’t good enough, unless he has an amazing day and Nadal has a slightly off day. Which could happen, of course - that’s why we don’t just give Rafa the trophy at the start of the tournament. Hopefully it will be an interesting semi-final and final either way.
I don’t think Monfils played to his abilities in the final set. Isn’t there some kind of rule about that?
Are you saying you think he lost on purpose? I think it’s more likely that he lost because he’s Gael Monfils and nobody knows what he’s going to do from moment to moment.
You are right!
Halep and Sharapova are early in the third set in the final.
I wish I had seen the whole game. Sharapova was really quite wonderful at the end. The only time I’m thankful for my hearing loss is during her games!
Are we ready to talk fashion? Disappointing this year. The normally elegant Fed leads the way. I just don’t think that get up should be worn by anyone over 17.
Berdych’s troppo mess shouldn’t be worn by anyone at all!
Best dressed guy for me is Monfils.
Most of the womens outfits weren’t memorable. I quite liked Venus & Radmanska’s floral outfits & Kristina Mladenovic & Ivanovic both looked good in blue ,Sloane Stephens in yellow. I liked the style of Halep’s dress - just not purple & orange together.
Serena’s was pretty bad, but Jankovic was definitely the worst. :eek:
Nadal wins on Djokovic’s double fault.
Lol losing on a double fault how embarrassing
Love you, Rafa
Nadal did not even have to try that hard.
Anyone see the women’s final? Looks like the number 1 seeds gave the number 2 an absolute hiding.
Double fault…jeeze…