AUS open semi-final 1 - match comment thread

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

OK people there have been a plethora of Fedal articles but I decided to make this one just so we can all post on the same thread during the match itself.



emancipator - may the serve be with you

[break_in_the_fifth]

Where are these double faults coming from?

[mthierry]

Shouldn't you be enjoying the intelligent tennis yourself instead of handing out the labels?

I just think you could give more credit to whoever is playing better rather playing up every excuse under the sun about slow courts and fitness and the whole hackneyed stuff.

I didn't see that from most of you when Rafa was spraying balls everywhere in the 1st set.

[Tenez]

Yeah agree with Nore Staat. I think Federer only played freely until 4-1 or so in the first set. Since then it's a case of a mental battle and Nadal winning it.

I am afraid you cannot be more wrong HB. It's a physical battle, nothing else. It's the fact that despite a great BH smash Nadal had enough energy and power to bring teh ball back that is killing Federer. Mentally Fed is much better. Almost always starts better than Nadal and and on faster, lower bounce surfaces it's not close.

fed sees he is not physically up to the challenge and that gets to his mind....not the other way around.

[legendkillar]

Nadal gets the most net calls of any player I have known!

[break_in_the_fifth]

Shouldn't you be enjoying the intelligent tennis yourself instead of handing out the labels?

I just think you could give more credit to whoever is playing better rather playing up every excuse under the sun about slow courts and fitness and the whole hackneyed stuff.

I didn't see that from most of you when Rafa was spraying balls everywhere in the 1st set.

Never said anything about fitness and the slow court comment was in response to the backhand smash coming back. The rest has been dismay with Feds forehand.

[break_in_the_fifth]

I think Nadal has hit some good returns and some winners I appreciated. I guess I should have mentioned them.

[break_in_the_fifth]

Good serve from Nadal to save the break.

[break_in_the_fifth]

Hopefully Fed can take this one.

[Tenez]

Is Nadal tiring now? His FH loses some precision....

[Simple_Analyst]

Poor from Nadal very poor.
Mthierry don't waste valuable time on Federer fans. They think tennis should be played in a way which will make Federer win.

[Henman Bill]

game on!

can he hold 2 service games though?

[LuvSports!]

another double

[Simple_Analyst]

Nadal is breaking Federer's serve at will.

[break_in_the_fifth]

And Nadal fans like to make sweeping generalisations?

[break_in_the_fifth]

Yeah Fed's double faults are the result of Nadal's will. Keep it up S_A.

[break_in_the_fifth]

3rd set tiebreak?

[Jahu]

Sadly Fed out of his zone, not that Nadal is playing his best either. A grind.

[break_in_the_fifth]

Nice serving from Nadal.

[Guest]

This isn't a great match. Nadal playing average, federer below average

[LuvSports!]

how many times has rafaaaa got a net cord

[break_in_the_fifth]

Nadal's level dropped there giving Fed a chance he couldn't take. A lot of second serves.

[break_in_the_fifth]

Nadal let Fed off again

[break_in_the_fifth]

It's going to take something special from Fed now.

[LuvSports!]

:'(

[LuvSports!]

[break_in_the_fifth]

He shouldn't have let himself get that far behind. Nice point by Rafa to get the first minibreak.

[Simple_Analyst]

Poor set from Nadal, has to improve. Federer did well from 1-6 but a little too late.

[Guest]

Djokovic must be loving this.

[Tenez]

Nadal's tiring a bit. It might not be over. If Federer keeps moving Nadal...he may get him.



Long shot I agree...but Nadal needs all his power....Expect an MTO...if Fed comes back. You read it here first.

[Henman Bill]

Hm. Long way back now. Still a chance for Federer, but a small one.

Needs to take it one set at a time and try and play freely in the 4th set.

Lose on your own terms.

[Jeremy_Kyle]

Shame for Fed's wasting his chances once again.....I think Nole will do the job, Nadal is not even playing incredibly well......

[LuvSports!]

Poor set from Nadal, has to improve. Federer did well from 1-6 but a little too late.

A COMPLIMENT ABOUT FEDERER?!?!?!?!/ WOWWW THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT! not a good one but one nonetheless

[kemet]

It's going to take something special from Fed now.

I am not going to invest any more energy into this match and am glad that I got a good night's sleep. This match is over.

[Henman Bill]

Whoever wins get 2 days rest before Djokovic (Murray). As long as it's not 14-12 in the 5th they'll be OK.

[kemet]

Shame for Fed's wasting his chances once again.....I think Nole will do the job, Nadal is not even playing incredibly well......

On the evidence of what I am seeing Nole will slaughter Nadal in the final of the two of them were to meet.

[Guest]

If Rafa plays like this against Novak it's gonna be stra8 sets for the Serb

[break_in_the_fifth]

It's going to take something special from Fed now.

I am not going to invest any more energy into this match and am glad that I got a good night's sleep. This match is over.

Fair enough. Fed hasn't played well at all since the first set so if he loses I won't be feeling he deserved the win in any way.

[Simple_Analyst]

Nadal is serving bravely on the 2nd serve. He is going for it.

[Simple_Analyst]

It's a miracle, Federer wins two serve and volley points.

[Tenez]

Federer has no choice but to serve and volley. He will need perfect execution.

[Guest]

It's going to take something special from Fed now.

I am not going to invest any more energy into this match and am glad that I got a good night's sleep. This match is over.

Fair enough. Fed hasn't played well at all since the first set so if he loses I won't be feeling he deserved the win in any way.

Yep so far Rafa has been the better player even without being at his best. Roger just can't deal with his Nadal demons

[prostaff85]

Nadal's tiring a bit. It might not be over. If Federer keeps moving Nadal...he may get him.

I'm afraid that if Fed is counting on Nadal getting tired that's a very risky strategy...

[break_in_the_fifth]

Nadal running Fed around that last point. Awful forehands from Fed earlier in the game.

[LuvSports!]

15-40

[break_in_the_fifth]

Nice volleys from Fed, could easily have been passed there.

[break_in_the_fifth]

Great defence from Fed, unlucky miss by Rafa.

[Guest]

Haha the lollipop comment was hilarious from Wilander!

[Tenez]

Federer has a lion's heart. Physically he is a featherweight but he is not scared going in the ring v heavyweights.

[Simple_Analyst]

Nadal not taking his chances and seems to be playing casually. This match should have been over by now.

[reckoner]

Pretend it's a really NICE lollipop Roger!

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