Semi Final Day - 10/09 Day 12

First topic message reminder :

Here it is guys.

Straight shootout

Federer v Djokovic

Murray v Nadal

Agreed Droogle & LK. I feel very sad for Fed, but if Nadal had got to the final (we'll find out soon) then perhaps it's not so bad. It does show Fed is still a great player and even though he's slamless this year, I still think he's got it in him to win one more slam, who knows, if he's very lucky 2. This was a very close loss. No one has been able to beat Djokovic while he's been fit, only Fed has and that speaks volumes about how great Fed still is (when he plays brilliantly).

That return on match point 40-15 was a thing of beauty for all you people who think that Djokovic lacks tennis talent what you think about that return? Is there another player on tour that would have hit that shot right now on Roger federer in that situation. Tremendous ball striking, not to mention the clinical display he put on in sets 3 and 4 just blasting his groundies for winner after winner.

Great, great match...shame Roger let those MPs slip given the effect it may have on him, and perhaps we lost our last chance to see him and Nadal contest all slam finals. But what an effort from Nole...the bravery on that 1st MP was amazing. Bravo...

Yep, great stuff from Novak.

As a Federer fan, thank heavens he's got his 16 in the bank - I'm not writing him off completely for a 17th, but I don't expect it. I find it much less nerve-wracking following him now, easier to appreciate his play and what he's done for tennis.

He needs a fairly tidy indoor season now to keep his top 4 ranking - fingers crossed.

Nadal is moving like a computer game character.

Murray's been on the Rogaine, his hair looks more solid. I wonder how that'll affect his play.

Who's calling Murray to win this one? (not me).

Great play by Murray there at 30-0 down.

Murray fantastic at the net there. Good to see him pressure the Nadal 2nd serve. Got to do that at every opportunity. Nadal looking good in the early exchanges. Murray will need to keep Nadal off his FH for sure today.

Murray gets out of jail on that weak volley. Wrong choice by Nadal there. Superb BH there at 30-30. Murray doesn't need to put himself on a position in serve when he is hanging on. Dangerous play. Deuce. Murray there forcing Nadal to go long on the FH. Murray may just need to take the speed of the 1st serve slightly. Murray putting himself in trouble. Facing a BP. Goes defensive and gets fortunate. Great first serve there. Good FH there to hold serve.

Murray needs to realise that Nadal is not in a error prone mood and that he needs to protect his service game better.

Nadal playing a brute of a service game. Murray needs to find a inroad into it.

Where are all the chuffing Murray fans????

After my previous God-like powers of prediction, that hasn't gone to my head in any way, shape or form, can I now be the first to say - Murray to win after saving 2 match points.

Great backhand from Murray.

Brilliant rally there. Both players covering ridiculous ground. Nadal going long on a Murray 2nd serve. An ace for Murray. This is the type of service game he needed. Love hold.

I'm here. Busy watching it lk.

The commenter on my link just had an email from a lady named Rose. - "Tennis is a gentleman's sport and Novak is not a gentleman"

Federer fan Rose, no! He is

Nadal keeps running around to his forehand, giving murray easy backhand winners crosscourt.

Still on serve but get the feeling Andy MUST win this first set to stay in with a chance.

Nadal breaks to lead 4-3.

My call was 6-4 6-2 6-3 Nadal.

Murray broken already though looking pretty solid and putting Nadal's serve under pressure.

I concur CC, the stat for Nadal winning matches when he wins the first set is virtually a lock down. Maybe if Murray's lucky, he could push it to 4 sets but Nadal will win if he takes this set.

Crucial game for Murray coming up.

I give credit to Nadal, he doesn't gift his opponent a single point and whenever he does, man does he look angry.

Crucially the first set goes to Nadal 6-4. Amountain for Andy to climb now me thinks.

Why is it said that Murray has the best returns in the game?

For me the best returners are those who do it in the latter end of tournaments against the biggest names in the game, not against the likes of Feliciano and Donny Young... an expected win coming for the Spaniard..

Nole nole, why did you do that at 40-15? Try it again and it will go wide, long or in the net 9 out of 10 times..It was a reckless shot and he got away with it to (to his own surprise)
His reaction after that was also crucial, he took away some of the tension and from that moment that match was only going one direction.
Nevertheless, credits to the serb

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Why is it said that Murray has the best returns in the game?

For me the best returners are those who do it in the latter end of tournaments against the biggest names in the game, not against the likes of Feliciano and Donny Young... an expected win coming for the Spaniard..

It is said because it is by the official stats which aren't biased by bitterness. Hope that explains it.

Murray covered the net well. Unlike the other Andy. Murray has to up his energy levels. Cracking last point there. That was just to hold serve mind you.

WOw what a point from Murray.

Please i'm not bitter about him...i'd much rather seeing him succeed in these types of matches than fail and getting disappointed in himself, trust me this is already over right now; Rafa never loses a slam match after winning first set..

Allright Andy, finally a point that Nadal characteristically seems to steal, but Andy takes it back.
Andy needs to stay calm and he will get a few chances

I wish he would shut up in between points. Think about what you want to do and do it.

So not the right shot to come in behind Andy. The BH needs to be a bit closer to the wing to pull it off. The best advice I can offer Andy is my right hand across his face. That way he might focus. Superb net play to save a BP. Right now he has had to work too hard on his service games and that is what is costing him this match.

Again you cannot come into the net with such a central shot. FFS!!

JM you are such a WUM.

Go back throughout this thread and it is clear. When socal was here (a staunch Djokovic fan) you were here trying to wind him up with posts about how poor Novak was and now he has gone you are doing the same here to a Murray fan. Pretty sad eh. Well I am off to put you on ignore.

Murray is tanking this match; he knows that he cannot handle the pressure should the final gate be unlocked against a more mentally strong opponent... his negativity is childlike and he looks completely like he isn't in the game..

My prediction is still on. . . if he loses the remaining games of this set. Which he will if he keeps the nutcase panto routine going.

Commentators making reference to the body language. Right now that is not concerning me. What is concerning me is the tactics. Right now he is not sure what one is the right one and stick with it.

Well; in my opinion Novak was poor and out of ideas after the first set, it's a match that was all about Federer losing rather than Novak finishing a great comeback... that's how I saw it..and Murray is still playing like he has no tactic or confidence.

legendkillar wrote:Commentators making reference to the body language. Right now that is not concerning me. What is concerning me is the tactics. Right now he is not sure what one is the right one and stick with it.

To be honest, Rafa simply does not miss. No wonder players like Federer go for too much sometimes. That is enough to frustrate anyone (not name Novak Djokovic anyway).

Murray has played poorly though.

After all these years i still can't believe how friggin ugly Nadal's game is. It's unwatchable for me.
Goodnight

Craig if you haven't yet put me on the ignore, I was hoping for a Murray victory this night but he yet again fails to do what Novak and Nadal does; i.e not get mad at losing a few points..

gallery play wrote:After all these years i still can't believe how friggin ugly Nadal's game is. It's unwatchable for me.
Goodnight

Sleep well. Hold tight to the Feddy Teddy!

Well I wasn't hopeful going into this match as Andy hasn't been at his best in this tournament. Take nothing away from Rafa though as he has rediscovered some great form at Flushing Meadows.

Credit to Nadal for upping his game and getting to what looks likely to be another grand slam final, 3 str8 grand slam finals. We look like we're going to get a re-match of Djokovic & Nadal, the first since Wimbledon. I quite fancy that it will be a more of a battle of attrition than Wimbledon which quite frankly was so flat that Nadal looked like he was a gear slow compared to Djokovic.

I'm impressed with Nadal's record, if he makes this final, it will be 6 out of 7 of the recent grand slam finals. It's another matter whether he can retain the USO but I'll be the first one to congratulate Nadal if he finally does what I've complained about the most, successfully defend a grand slam title away from the French, something many of the greats have done, i.e successfully more than one title.

Nadal has read the 2nd serve all match. Murray not changing direction. No point going to the BH side as Nadal will move on to his FH. Gift from Nadal there. Again another struggle on serve. Murray at last punishing the Nadal slice. More of that please. Great shot by Nadal. Felt Andy should've gone to the FH side after the inition FH that forced Nadal out of position. One way traffic.

This could be a real annihilation for Murray now...no doubt if Nadal has a dinner date with Xisca he could sprint past this Murray and leave the fans feeling like they've wasted money for tickets..

Just do the talking in the head and play!

Ahem. I should have put money on this.