AUS open day 9

First topic message reminder :

Hello



It is almost time people.

Today (or tomorrow) is the start of the heavyweight contests.

First up: Fed vs Del-Po. Expected start time around 04:30

followed by The Nadull vs Big Bird around 08:30

So who's gonna stay up and who's gonna set their alarm(s)?

My children I shall be here, faithfully casting a critical eye over proceedings.



emancipator - tennis historian and intergalactic ambassador for UNICEF

Berdy will probably lose in straight sets to Federer if he gets past Nadal. Federer has a little too much variety for Berdy to handle (in general).

CaledonianCraig wrote:I tell you though Roger Federer will be loving this as at this rate the match is heading towards being around four hours long.

But then I think of the Verdasco-Nadal match in 2009. Long matches tend to not affect Nadal that much.

Simple_Analyst wrote:Yes, certainly Del Potro's match fitness post injury still poor. Federer just out lasting him here.

can you ever give him any credit??? Also when do you ever say he outlasted someone in a 3 set match?!?!? jeesh

Nadal breaks straight back to love.

Berdych has been serving lights out and then attacking Nadal's serve but Nadal can break back here.

But there haven't been many gruelling rallies, most of the time is taken between points.

ESPN showed that Rafa is averaging 31 secs between points and Berdy 29

Berdych needed to hold to that serve badly. He needs to be ahead to feel more relaxed. Now he still has Nadal on his toes.

LuvSports! wrote:

Simple_Analyst wrote:Yes, certainly Del Potro's match fitness post injury still poor. Federer just out lasting him here.

can you ever give him any credit??? Also when do you ever say he outlasted someone in a 3 set match?!?!? jeesh

Outlasted him in three short sets. Wow, you're such a clown!

35 unforced errors from Berdych compared to just 18 from Nadal. But Berdych leads in the winners count by 43-27.

The injury excuses for Del-Po are getting ridiculous. The guy played a full season last year. Maybe it's time to realise that Del-Po may never reach the standard he showed that autumn, ie it was a one off.

Berdy really doesn't like the ball bouncing on him. He almost freaked out when the ball bounced back onto his neck.

Berdy is playing the serve volley really well.

Was surprised to see del potro go down in straights but fed looked to be very sharp. Wish I was watching nadal match! Would still have to think he might beat fed in semis with the bad match up that nadal is for him. Hope djokovic gets to final but I reckon ferrer will be a very tough match in quarters

Bit of coaching there from Uncle Toni - told him to move in on the second serve.

rafa breaks

this is soooooooo boring

haha listen to mats talking about animated horses!

Berdy losing intensity. The commentators reckon that Uncle Toni's on court coaching won Nadal the last break.

Berdych stopped the rot....hopefully. losing 4 straight games in a row. I new it was vital to hold on to that break!

I think he thought he had crossed the line. A school boy error v Nadal.

On court coaching?

this is becoming very similar to the game when rafa broke in this set for the 2nd time

Of course Federer out lasted Del Potro. He is still not match fit. But have heard worse like Nadal out lasting Federer at the FO 08 finals although Federer was been entertained free of charge by Nadal.

Berdych must hold serve here.

Simple_Analyst wrote:Of course Federer out lasted Del Potro. He is still not match fit. But have heard worse like Nadal out lasting Federer at the FO 08 finals although Federer was been entertained free of charge by Nadal.

Berdych must hold serve here.

How long does it take someone to get match fit?

If he's not fit enough to last three sets after a full season last year... he may never be match fit again.

Simple_Analyst wrote:Of course Federer out lasted Del Potro. He is still not match fit. But have heard worse like Nadal out lasting Federer at the FO 08 finals although Federer was been entertained free of charge by Nadal.

Berdych must hold serve here.

how many matches does it take to be match fit? He has played 6 or 7 in 2 weeks or so how is that not match fit? I could understand if it was a gruelling five setter, but a fairly routine 3 sets win please explain this to me and try to keep the patronizing words to a minimum.

haha emancipator ya beat me to it! good to see we agree

Simple_Analyst wrote:Of course Federer out lasted Del Potro. He is still not match fit.

Those 66 matches DelPo played last year weren't enough to reach match fitness?!!

LuvSports! wrote:haha emancipator ya beat me to it! good to see we agree

It's like we're reading from the same script

Well played Nadal. He is clearly on top now. It's his match to lose, which he won't. A Federer v Nadal semi-final to look forward to.

It was always Nadal's to lose. Why is he still so far behind the baseline?

A possible Federer v Nadal semi-final - haven't had one of those in a Slam for over 6 and a half years (French Open 2005 the last one i think?).

CaledonianCraig wrote:I tell you though Roger Federer will be loving this as at this rate the match is heading towards being around four hours long.

When are the semis played by the way?! One on Thu and one on Fri, or both on Friday?
If Nadal-Federer is on Friday, I don't think fatigue will play a role.

If Federer can maintain his high level, he should win it. But as mentioned earlier on this thread, Nadal is very good at bringing Federer's level down.

wooowwww what a way to break!

Not looking good for Fed, Nadal can retrieve everything.

Just shows on that last point how much teh ball slows down towards the end. Nadal coudl pull a FH that woudl not have been possible with faster conds....especially on Berdych's FH.

Berdych must go back to attacking Nadal's serve. That was what was making him dominate earlier.

So what are the chances that the top four again will fill all the semi-final spots ...

Wish I was watching. You have to hand it to nadal, such a tremendous competitor!

Nadal needs to stand closer to the baseline.

slashermcguirk wrote:Wish I was watching. You have to hand it to nadal, such a tremendous competitor!

why cant you watch it??
need a livestream?

JuliusHMarx wrote:

Simple_Analyst wrote:Of course Federer out lasted Del Potro. He is still not match fit.

Those 66 matches DelPo played last year weren't enough to reach match fitness?!!

If he's not yet match fit, how come he caused so much problems for Djokovic and Rafa at the French and Wimbledon last year?!

Willander says one of the main issues with Berdych is his inability to keep the fire going to the end. He recommends he should break a tennis racquet over Nadal's head, well maybe not - but against the floor to prove that he still cares and outwardly shows he is not satisfied with his play and wants to get better.

In the past I didnt think mats was that good a commentator, along with the whole eurosport team, but he is talking a lot of sense here and its very interesting to hear what he is saying. Dunno what has come over me :P

Flipping heck, is this game ever gonna finish?

Oh it did

Is it still going? I assumed Nadal would have won by now.

Nadal should be careful, Berdych can break back here.

Been very impressed with Berdych's fighting spirit so far.

I have to say that Berdych has played his part here. Federer will be looking to gun for the short stuff that Nadal will throw him.

Shows the difference when you're match fit.

Feds going to have to know what to do when his on the line shots come back. Berdych generates more pace than Fed and his came back even from 5m behind the baseline. I hope Fed has more ideas.