Day 13- French Open Men's semifinals

Friends, v2ans, countrymen lend me your ears.
I have come to preview this semifinal fixture not to curse it;
The memory of the matches that these men play often live after them;
The unforced errors are often interred with their bones;
So let it be with Roger. The noble Novak
Hath told you Roger is ambitious;
If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously Roger might answer it;
Roger was my friend, faithful and just to me;
But Novak says he was ambitious;
And Novak is an honourable man;
He had brought many Grand Slams home to Switzerland;
Whose gleam did fill the trophy cabinets;
Did this in Roger seem ambitious?
When his twins have cried, Roger has stayed up;
Ambition should be made out of sterner stuff;
You did see in Paris many times now;
Thrice the 'Grand Slam' was presented;
Which he did thrice refuse; was this ambition?
Yet Novak says he was ambitious;
And Novak is an honourable man
You did all love him once, not without cause;
What reason withholds you to cheer for him?
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts;
Bear with me, for now I must pause to do this preview

http://www.presentationmagazine.com/famous-speeches-friends-romans-countrymen-11673.htm


Mens semifinals:

Nadal(2) vs Ferrer (6)
Head to Head Record: Nadal 15-4 Ferrer
Last meeting: Rome Semis Nadal 7-6 6-0 Ferrer
Head to Head in Grand Slams: Ferrer 2-1 Nadal
Clay Head to Head: Nadal 12-1 Ferrer

Djokovic (1) vs Federer (3)
Head to Head Record: Federer 14-11 Djokovic
Last meeting: Rome Semis Djokovic 6-2 7-6 Federer
Head to Head in Grand Slams: Federer 5-4 Djokovic
Clay Head to Head: Federer 3-2 Djokovic

Predictions so far:
Ferrer- Invisible Coolers
Nadal- Lydian, Jahu, Haddie Nuff, Bogbrush, Social, Barrystar, Legendkiller, Mangamuri, Tom, Summer, SFP

Federer- Jahu, Lydian, Invisible Coolers, Haddie Nuff, Legendkiller, Tom
Djokovic- Barrystar, Bogbrush, Social, Mangamuri, Summer, SFP

What's your thoughts guys?
Predictions?

Surely Nadal and Djoko are favourites but in tennis anything can happen.

Fed-Ferrer final. Let world change for once!!!

Interesting sentiments Jahu

Did you recognise the opening passage?

Wow I forgot Nole leads Fed 3-2 in clay, thats interesting.

Good article anyways .

As usual I go for the upsets.

1]No.5 Ferrer in tough 4 sets [Indeed I expect the first set for Rafa ]
2]No.3 Federer in tough 4 sets .

But yes better player on the day will win, and the they deserve it.

Thank-you Invisible

@ IMBL

R U born with poetic skills? coz the poem was neat and good, did u do it by yourself or did you take some extracts?

No, no I didn't write this lol
It's an adaptation of an extract...

I won't say from where as I want to see who can guess first

Is it 3-2 to Novak on clay?

I though it was 2-2.

Where did Novak get his three wins?



emancipator

Well thats an interesting challange , may be LF will come up with an answer ,

Between whats your prediction for the semi-final, just give it a go.

Alas Eman! i have erred in my ways
It is actually 3-2 to Federer including a W/O. The walkover confused me as I thought it was Federer who had quit, but now I see it was Djokovic.
My sincerest apologies,
It Must Be Love

Shakespeare

Julius Caesar

Emancipator
I see your great knowledge extends past tennis and also to great literature!

Hello



Has anyone seen BOO?

BOOOOOOO000000000OO000ooooooooooooo.................

where for art thou oh BOOOOoooo.......?

It is all darkness and despair.

Woe is meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee



emancipator

Is it Mark Anthony's oration?

I thought it was Shakespeare , but then thought modern day people dont remember his works , my bad .

Emanci, its the duty of the Universal Soldier in u to find and bring back Booooo.

barrystar wrote:Is it Mark Anthony's oration?

That's it.

Do you like the adaptation? I used future tense as the match is still to be played.

Nadal-Federer final.

Nadal in 3.
Federer in 4.

Nice preview IMBL - cant say I knew that one

Thanks lydian

This is the real thing:
http://www.presentationmagazine.com/famous-speeches-friends-romans-countrymen-11673.htm

barrystar wrote:Is it Mark Anthony's oration?

Yes, it is.

lydian wrote:Nadal-Federer final.

Nadal in 3.
Federer in 4.

Nice preview IMBL - cant say I knew that one

Are you sure about Federer? (Lot of this going now! ) Is Djokovic going to four-peat his climb back from MPs? He is done it once here in RG 2012.

Are we sure that is the schedule, Nadal v. Ferrer first then Fed v. Djoko?

I think it will be Nadal v. Djoko in the final unless BB's knee icepack story indicates that the former is unfit, whereupon he probably can't hope to beat Ferrer.

Nadal, nor any other journalists, have mentioned any injury.

This sort of stuff probably happens at every tournament, without us realising it.
Nadal was moving well against Almagro but Almagro played a really good attacking match.

Just my opinion LF...and no I'm not sure.
I just think Federer has the game, mental resolve and form to do it.
Ok the surface may be slower due to conditions but it also means Novak cant hit through him either. Federer has been generally serving even better than 2011 and I think Novak isnt on the same form as 2011 either. Federer will pounce on any lapses, which Novak has shown in most matches. If he can win the 1st set then the pressure really does mount on Novak...that first set is so crucial for Federer you feel though.

It Must Be Love wrote:

barrystar wrote:Is it Mark Anthony's oration?

That's it.

Do you like the adaptation? I used future tense as the match is still to be played.

I thought it was mel brooks from history of the world. No just kidding it was julius caesar. I come to bury Caesar not praise him. "cry havoc! and let slip the dogs of war" I think is a more apt portion of this great Shakespeare play. I actually think Anthony's private speech after the funeral oration more eloquently sums up this blood rivalry, when he draws up his real plans for Caesar's murderers. As we say in public schools its on like Donkey Kong.

socal1976 wrote: "cry havoc! and let slip the dogs of war!

Aye, indeed

Nadal in 4

Federer in 5

Ok haddie I will hold u to that you owe me some serious smileys if Novak wins.

Absolutely... but they both have made a practice in this tournament of coming back from the dead.. I believe that Roger has a better record on clay.
They both want it bad enough... lets face it Socal they cant wait to meet Rafa and then you can serve me some smiley´s also. So its a deal.

barrystar wrote:Are we sure that is the schedule, Nadal v. Ferrer first then Fed v. Djoko?

I think it will be Nadal v. Djoko in the final unless BB's knee icepack story indicates that the former is unfit, whereupon he probably can't hope to beat Ferrer.

It was a fact, I saw it with my own eyes. The commentators made note of how he still had his playing shorts and socks on.

There was no sign of pain or panic. I got the impression it might be what he does after every match, but that's complete speculation on my behalf.

Regretfully, you must add me to predicting Djokovic, though I hope I'm wrong and merely pessimistic of the great mans form. Perhaps it's time for years to be rolled back once again, but the head says otherwise.

Oh, and put me on the Nadal list too. That didn't take too much thought.

Sure

Haddie-nuff wrote:Absolutely... but they both have made a practice in this tournament of coming back from the dead.. I believe that Roger has a better record on clay.
They both want it bad enough... lets face it Socal they cant wait to meet Rafa and then you can serve me some smiley´s also. So its a deal.

Thats a deal.

My picks

nadal-4

Djoko-4

Looks like first SF is Nadal-Ferrer, second is Djokovic-Federer (based on Broadcasters schedule).

I think Nadal in 3, and Djoko in 4 or possibly 5.

I don't think Nadal will lose a set

He has conceded 13 sets in 52 matches at RG since 2005:

2005 one each to Fed, Grosjean, and Puerta
2006 one each to PHM, Fed, and Hewitt
2007 one to Fed
2008, 2010 none
2009 three to the Sod
2011 two to Isner and one to Fed

Ferrer has played Nadal on clay 13 times and has taken 4 sets off him across three matches, 2004 when Ferrer won, and one set each in 2005 and 2008 after which he's not won a set off Nadal on clay, including two matches this year.

It would be a real turnaround for Ferrer to take a set off Rafa tomorrow; I expect a tight first set to Rafa with the next two becoming increasingly less pressurised for him as Ferrer's resistence is dismantled. I'd like to see Ferrer run him ragged, but I don't expect it.

Right,

Where to begin.

Nadal v Ferrer. Not really a lot can be said that hasn't already. All the good play that Ferrer has put in this tournament is going to get wiped out in 3 sets. Nadal is just playing too good to drop a set at this moment in time. The level of play required to even take a set off Nadal is something that Ferrer cannot sustain over 5 sets. Nadal in 3.

Federer v Djokovic. Both stuttered somewhat in the last couple of rounds. Djokovic hasn't been at the races this year. Federer for me is playing well. Consistent too. If Federer serves well, Djokovic is in trouble. If Djokovic returns well, Federer is in trouble. Djokovic for me is looking too vulnerable out of the 2 at the moment. I don't think what has happened in past US Open meetings will affect him neither. Federer in 4.

My pics.

Nadal in 3
Djokovic in 4 or 5

I agree LK. Let's look at Barcelona vs. Ferrer, tight first set then ran away in 2nd set more. After the Barcelona title I think his mojo really started to come back.
Then Rome...tight first set, bagelled him in 2nd. Beats Djokovic in final and mojo is even more inflated.

Come RG he's wiping the floors with guys each round...61 out of 62 service games held. Even in form, big serving, heavy hitting Almagro got dismantled. Point being that this isn't even the Nadal that Ferrer faced 2 weeks ago...and he knows it. This is Nadal in his clay pomp at the business end of a slam...Ferrer hasn't seen anything yet because he's not played Rafa in a clay slam before...and on this form. Yep, still a tight first set no doubt, partly as Nadal is always slow out of the blocks, but thereafter Ferrer will get ran ragged.

I'm going for Fed in 4...just think he'll have too much guile and variety for Novak in tricky conditions as Novak needs consistent play and conditions for his metronomic game to click fully.

Withstanding injuries for any player.

Nadal in 3/4

Fed in 4 for me. Djoko's 2x 5 setters i think may take their toll on this surface.

Nadal in 3 - Ferrer has the game but not enough selfconfidence to take a set

Novak in 3 also - I have the incling that Federer is just not playing well here and will not be able to raise his game while I believe Djoko will be super motivated at this stage. Could even be an ugly demolition. Hopefully I am very wrong.

SB Good to see you

Here we are today.

Nadal and Djokovic aiming for their place in the most historic showdown since Wimbledon 2009.

Let's not forget that Federer and Ferrer will be aiming for their own shot at glory come this Sunday.

Let's hope the weather does not play a starring role in today's matches.

Rafa in three. For Andy M fans it will be galling to see just how badly Ferrer plays against Rafa.

Going for Djoko in four or five, althugh Fed beat him last year when Djoko was playing way better than this year, so I'm not that confident about my prediction.

I do think it will be good for the game generally to see Rafa up against some one who MIGHT JUST beat him in an RG final. Would gladly have swapped Fed's semi final results against Djoko last year to have seen a rampant Nole take on Rafa at the French and then have Rog meeting Rafa in New York.
Interestingly, Nole said this year that he thought Rafa would still have been favourite at RG last year, despite Djoko's stellar form and his wins on clay earlier against the Spaniard.

Come on Novak! Destiny awaits you

or Rafa at any rate !!!!!!

I wish they would just get on with it while the weather holds.

Intriguing stuff on ATP on Facebook.

Most of the fans have voted on the semi's and the most popular outcomes of today's matches:

Nadal in 3

Federer in 4 or 5

I wouldn't make anything of that LK,

Fed always comes out on top in these polls.

It's just his fans voting with their hearts and not their heads.

The crowd is rather sparse for semifnals today. McEnroe has labeled the turnout "embarrassing." Perhaphs the French organisers should try "Super Saturday" .