Roland Garros - Day 11

First topic message reminder :

Here we are. Getting ever near to the end. Today should be treat. Will have to go somewhere to eclipse yesterday's play.

Rafael Nadal v Nicolas Almgaro

Andy Murray v David Ferrer

Maria Sharapova v Kaia Kanepi

Yaroslava Shvedova v Petra Kvitova

Where's your money on?

Nadal in 3
Murray in 4
Sharapova in 3
Kvitova in 2

kemet wrote:Here comes the break for Rafa at 5-5

I am pleasantly surprised. I thought Almagro was going to blink, but he hasn't so far. Rafa is very tough. He's only made between 4-5 unforced errors to Almagro's 14.

Big tie breaker coming up.

Maggy and Nadal in a TB.

Hold on to your sacks Maggy!!!

Have to say well done to Nadal there for winning the tie break and getting ahead early.

Very similar to 2010 QF in similar conditions where two tie breaks were won by Nadal.

Great to see Almagro making a match of it so far.

Good try by Almagro, but Rafa is simply too consistent in his ground strokes and his forehand is too strong. I can't see Almagro taking a set here.

Ferrer breaks. Great match so far, Murray being very aggressive and has hit some beauties but coughing up too many errors.

Ferrer being Ferrer. Controlled aggression, patrolling the baseline and moving great.

Game over 1st set Nadal 7-6. Don't think Almagro can break Nadal serve, going by that 1st set.

Almagro folds, he spent all his energy on first few games.

Nadal takes the TB.

Ackkk Murray down a break. Sounds like by the commentary that he is not producing enough first serves.

Murray down 4;1, flat as a pancake. Go Andy Go.

Time for the magic back rub me thinks

He is feeling his back a bit. Double BP Murray. Ferrer saves first one...

3 BP's saved now. Murray lacking a bit of variety here... Lots of depth and power, but no slices or drops really... 4th BP .... Missed again!

Loving Courier's 'subtle' points about Murray's timely back rubs

Taxi 4 Almagro, Rafa breaks 2nd set.

How can Murray serve that fast and it has no affect on his back.. it only seems to hurt when he makes an error or am I imagining it !!!!!!

Murray is a drama queen.

Murray breaks back. 50% great play, 50% Ferrer choke I'd say.

Vamos Daveed :yahoo:

El Mugro living up to his name, shockingly passive on openings. That bp was a case in point.

BB
HIS NAME IS ALMAGRO... dont be so bliddy disrespectful.

Murray has to keep believing and keep fighting like he showed in round two against Niemanen and like he showed at the Australian Open. However I wonder whether there has been any improvement in his serving technique.

Or his back come to that

Haddie-nuff wrote:BB
HIS NAME IS ALMAGRO... dont be so bliddy disrespectful.

He's a mug, and he's Spanish.

The name says it all.

Both Federer and Djokovic had to fight for five sets to get through to the semi-finals, and I think Murray will have to too if he is to beat Ferrer.

BB Typical BOGGO ... doesn´t that say something about you .??? racist too I see

Oh you think "Spanish" is a race lol

Try thinking.

Almagro is very consistent: best showings at slams
Australian Open: 4R (2010, 2011, 2012)
French Open: QF (2008, 2010, 2012)
Wimbledon: 3R (2009, 2011)
US Open: 3R (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)

When a player stares at a 2-0 set deficit on clay to Nadal in Bo5 format they must start wondering what they'll be having for dinner that night...is there any bigger challenge in sport than coming back at Nadal on clay from that position?

Nore Staat wrote:Both Federer and Djokovic had to fight for five sets to get through to the semi-finals, and I think Murray will have to too if he is to beat Ferrer.

Probably right, but I don't think it will go that far. Ferrer is looking much more assured to me. The way Murray is playing is allowing Ferrer to stay in a rhythm. I wish he'd mix things up a bit.

I know what I think about your bigotted opinions BOGGO and you wouldn´want to know :censored:

The Spanish don't like Free Speech do they Haddie.

Almugstero does have a better backhand than Gasquet though imo.

Haddie-nuff wrote:I know what I think about your bigotted opinions BOGGO and you wouldn´want to know

Let rip, I couldn't care less.

By the way, is "Portuguese" a race? Or "Leichtensteinian"? Or are you just confused about races and nationalities and have been programmed how to think by others? If so, I offer help or sympathy, take your pick.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:The Spanish don't like Free Speech do they Haddie. ;)

Almugstero does have a better backhand than Gasquet though imo.

I think you are barking up the wrong tree so you are not rattling my cage... if you think Im Spanish sunshine you are sadly mistaken. And quite the contrary the Spanish have more freedom of speech here than they do in the UK.. we are not governed my political correctness here.

lydian wrote:When a player stares at a 2-0 set deficit on clay to Nadal in Bo5 format they must start wondering what they'll be having for dinner that night...is there any bigger challenge in sport than coming back at Nadal on clay from that position?

You could start with whether it's ever been done, I suspect not.

I guess you've just got to persuade yourself that there's nothing to lose and take each point as it comes.

It's all looking so inevitable, he'd beat Fed handsomely in any final, and I've seen nothing to suggest that the gap between him and Djoko as appeared at Rome has been narrowed.

Danny_1982 wrote:

Nore Staat wrote:Both Federer and Djokovic had to fight for five sets to get through to the semi-finals, and I think Murray will have to too if he is to beat Ferrer.

Probably right, but I don't think it will go that far. Ferrer is looking much more assured to me. The way Murray is playing is allowing Ferrer to stay in a rhythm. I wish he'd mix things up a bit.

Good call, Murray breaks (not sure whether he has started to mix things up like you asked for).

So in this vein and not to jinx David Ferrer: there is no way Murray will be able to hold serve absolutely no way, David Ferrer will break him back and go on to win this set. FACT!

With these heavy balls he's secure, he's just playing very safe and making El Mugro attack and miss.

Ferrer breaks to love.

Tip to Murray:-

Winning a slam of such prestige requires you to serve well under the utmost pressure. There is no help you can get from Lendl in this area of the game. So what you gonna do about that?

Come on JM, there's no need for that sort of insulting on here.

Murray/Ferrer matches taking ages...6-4 first set was 66 mins! Ferrer will be loving this physical battle...he can run all day. Dont see Murray coming through this at all.

It's all about El Mugro errors. Tough, Nadal is just doing the wall thing. Him and Djokovic might take quite some time...... zzzzzzzzzzz

You feel Nadal is doing all he needs to do to get through today, nothing more...

Meanwhile Murray and Ferrer will be there at midnight tonight slugging it out.

One boring match is over. Ferrer needs to finish this in 3 to be prepared for the Nadalathon.

Hope Ferrer doesn't win.

You just know that he has 0 chance of beating Nadal.

Murray, otoh, has a slightly better chance

Ferrer wont be finishing this in 3....they're up to 2hrs 10mins each already...not quite finished the 2nd set yet. Who will fatigue first...

Looks like Murray's wrapped up this set on the tie-break, interesting match. Murray's been able to break Ferrer but has to mix his game up more, he's just rallying with Ferrer who will beat him every day when he does that. Ferrer coming back into it. Murray could do with an ace on his next service.

Nadal had a pretty comfortable QF though didnt he Lydian.

Tsonga/Ferrer/Delpo/ >>>> Almugro

Ferrer is rubbish on the big points.

Ferrer needs a good kicking in the crotch area after that catastrophe.

Murray needs to win this in four if he wants to keep anything left for Rafa