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

[Guest]

Agreed it was an absorbing contest but that was a given under the circumstances.

However, the standard, particularly from Fed was low, and pretty abysmal in some stretches of the match. He could barely string together two or three good points. It was a case of one good point followed by 3 or 4 bad ones. It was only close because rafa wasn't too great either, particularly offensively, which is why i thibk he's in big trouble against Novak (really don't expect Murray to come through).

[bogbrush]

Right, so at the low end of what I expected/feared. Yes, glad I was stuck with the customers then (though I did keep glancing at the clock wondering.......) watching it live sounds like it would have been annoying.

Very disappointing really but there you go. I doubt he'll get too flat over it but it does look hard now for more Slams - 31 very soon, there aren't many who have big time Indian Summers.

Big match tomorrow. I think Djokovic will be happy - I wonder who Rafa will be supporting tomorrow????

[laverfan]

Very well done Nadal.

Federer played a UE filled-match.

[JuliusHMarx]

Didn't see it - just found out the score. Well done Rafa. I will be hoping he beats Djokovic, but hoping he loses to Murray.

[Jahu]

Same here, anyone who beats Djoko is my friend thought I fancy Murray to take this AO.

[Henman Bill]

Bogbrush, you would have enjoyed the first 5 games. After that, I think you might have been mostly frustrated.

[Henman Bill]

Too many forehand errors from Federer. The evidence of that match supports the argument that Djokovic could be #1 for a while.

[Henman Bill]

Federer's not doing too bad for a 30 year old against a 25 year old nemesis. Throughout the history of tennis most top haven't done any better, and some did much worse.

[Henman Bill]

I'm supporting Murray now FEderer's out.

[bogbrush]

I'm supporting Murray now FEderer's out.

Hmm, Given my preference order is now 1. Murray, 2. Nole, 3. Nadal I am stuck and will probably hedge by hoping for Nole tomorrow as I don't believe Murray can beat Nadal.

[Henman Bill]

I'm not a huge fan of Nadal by any means but Djoko beating him 6 times in a row is getting boring, so I prefer to see a Nadal win if they play Djokovic. So I don't have to hedge.

1. Murray 2. Nadal 3. Djokovic for my preference.

Nothing against Djokovic either. He's won enough though. Change up please.

[Henman Bill]

Fed maybe 1 more slam left in him?

You can still see him winning 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 against Nadal and Djokovic and even therefore maybe 1 in 10 when he has to play them both.

A bit better odds at Wimbledon and the US Open.

[bogbrush]

The USO is by far his best chance now, but even there they seem to be slowing down. It's madness.

[socal1976]

Interestingly Fed's forehand cost him the match and his backhand held up pretty well. I wonder what BB and Tenez would make of the statistic that Nadal hit more winners and had way less errors than fed on the forehand side. Kind of damages the theory that Nadal just moonballs and waits for his opponent to make errors.

[Guest]

Interestingly Fed's forehand cost him the match and his backhand held up pretty well. I wonder what BB and Tenez would make of the statistic that Nadal hit more winners and had way less errors than fed on the forehand side. Kind of damages the theory that Nadal just moonballs and waits for his opponent to make errors.

Nothing to explain really. One match (against an opponent were you are completely in your element) does not make a trend. Fed was in UE mode.

As for Fed's chances at Wimbledon - you can forget that! Nadal would eat him for breakfast on grass now. Wimby has been his worst slam (performance wise) since 2008.

He has a realistic shot at the USO but probably needs Nadal to lose early.

[socal1976]

Yes emancipator but Nadal always hits alot of winners on his forehand side and he hit more winners off that wing than Fed again today. So those that claim its just moonballs till the other guy hits an error are making a drastic overgeneralization.

[Guest]

Yes emancipator but Nadal always hits alot of winners on his forehand side and he hit more winners off that wing than Fed again today. So those that claim its just moonballs till the other guy hits an error are making a drastic overgeneralization.

Yes.. of course, but likewise, Fed clearly has the more offensive and potent forehand (although it has evened up more recently). Only against Nadal does he routinely start making inexplicable errors. Even on the BH, I can only recall one BH dtl winner from Fed. He was hitting them for fun against Del Po. Of course a lot of that has to do with Nadal's defense but Roger can penetrate Novak's defense and he is at least as quick and durable as Nadal, so it is clearly a case of lack of confidence and uncertainty.

[Tenez]

The difference with 2009 or even FO 11 is that Nadal's BH played a big role in keeping Federer on his toes. Nadal was playing ferocious BH which forced Fwederer to do lots of running. That destroyed Fed's edge and teh rest is history.

It's tough but unless they speed the courts Federer has no chance tio win a slam, all his talent is uselss on those.

[socal1976]

The difference with 2009 or even FO 11 is that Nadal's BH played a big role in keeping Federer on his toes. Nadal was playing ferocious BH which forced Fwederer to do lots of running. That destroyed Fed's edge and teh rest is history.

It's tough but unless they speed the courts Federer has no chance tio win a slam, all his talent is uselss on those.

Agree with Tenez a good observation Nadal has been hitting much more aggressively off the backhand lately. Still haven't seen him show a true up the line backhand but the cross court looks fierce.

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