French Open, Men's Semis match thread

[lydian]

First topic message reminder :

So...1 hour to go, thought I'd create a specific match thread.

Its clear blue skies over Paris, not a cloud in sight and temp is already 26.5c and rising. Latest pic and temperature:


So the heat is literally on!

12pm GMT we have Nadal vs Djokovic, followed by David vs Goliath.

We've seen the predictions, heard the impersonations and listened to the musical quips, just need the action to start now!

[The Special Juan]

Ah the world number 1 has turned up.

[CAS]

says a lot about the hard court these days that this match on clay is going much quicker than their encounters at the Aus Open and the US Open

[Josiah Maiestas]

VAMOS!!!

Nole finally silenced all of his doubters, must keep the attack on in next set

[_homogenised_]

says a lot about the hard court these days that this match on clay is going much quicker than their encounters at the Aus Open and the US Open

Exactly. They've ruined tennis with the homogenising. They shouldn't call it clay grass and hard, they should call it red green and blue haha

[HM Murdock]

Good for the match.

Bad for my health.

Because now I have hope again.

Oh, the agony!

[ChequeredJersey]

Standard Novak clutch gear change

[summerblues]

Yes, Novak upped his game maybe two gears. He is looking reasonably good now. Will be interesting to see how Rafa responds. He did not have to do much to get to a set and a break up, but will most likely need to play better now.

[_homogenised_]

Dear lord these commentators re ridiculous. They really think that point was amazing... it was just more of the same that we see time and again.

[ChequeredJersey]

Most of Nadal's play relies on the opponent's play, he counterattacks like that

[spuranik]

Only one comments and that too about the muppets who are commentating or Eurosports...

At 2-1 in 2nd set they are saying that "It's only a matter of time before Nadal gets the break and the set is in the bag just like the first"... really, that's what they pay you for??

[_homogenised_]

Most of Nadal's play relies on the opponent's play, he counterattacks like that

I have no problem with that on clay, but on grass and hard court he should not prosper from it.

[kingraf]

Borg sure did

[ChequeredJersey]

Most of Nadal's play relies on the opponent's play, he counterattacks like that

I have no problem with that on clay, but on grass and hard court he should not prosper from it.

I agree courts need more variety but that's not Rafa's fault

[ChequeredJersey]

Had to send that away

[_homogenised_]

Borg sure did

Borg changed his game completely for both, in an era of wooden racquets and totally different conditions. That's why I put his 11 slams way up the list even though it isn't 17. It's also why even if Nadal won 100 slams, Borg is the better player.

[CAS]

Petchey knows a lot about tennis tactics but some of his over exaggerations are maddening "put that next to the Mona Lisa" for a standard Nadal passing shot

[kingraf]

Oh... okay... Happy for you enjoy the tennis

[ChequeredJersey]

Petchey knows a lot about tennis tactics but some of his over exaggerations are maddening "put that next to the Mona Lisa" for a standard Nadal passing shot

To be fair the Mona Lisa is overrated too

[The Special Juan]

Wimbledon's shaping up to be a cracker this year, that's for sure.

[ChequeredJersey]

The King isn't dead yet

[kingraf]

Which king Jersey? The world number one King, or the Clay King?

[CAS]

Petchey knows a lot about tennis tactics but some of his over exaggerations are maddening "put that next to the Mona Lisa" for a standard Nadal passing shot

To be fair the Mona Lisa is overrated too

haha touche'

[ChequeredJersey]

Which king Jersey? The world number one King, or the Clay King?

There is only 1 King in Paris and that is Rafael the First

[bogbrush]

Is Djokovic injured?

[CAS]

apparently Hawkeye showed that break point actually caught the line

[_homogenised_]

Novak at his best makes nadal look stupid, but he isn't at is best and he has to be if he wants to win this. He's dipped again in 3rd.

[kingraf]

BB - Isnt he always? Nadal gets a lot of flack, but at least he goes away for seven months after injury. Djokovic gets a magic rub, then boom - 6-1

[debaters1]

Hmm, he may be injured but I have too often seen Novak look dead only to go on and win in 3 or 5 sets..... trainer.

Shouldn't have been a break at that paticular point, given Hawkeye had it in, but Rafa has come out to win this set and force Djokovic to play 5 sets to win.

[The Special Juan]

Is Djokovic injured?

He's an odd one and very Murray-like; can barely move one second then sprinting the next. I wonder if playing like Stretch Armstrong is just starting to catch up with him these days. If that ankle injury had properly healed coming into RG then I'm Barbara Streisand.

[Haddie-nuff]

Novak at his best makes nadal look stupid, but he isn't at is best and he has to be if he wants to win this. He's dipped again in 3rd.

I just wish you would stop with the name calling.. YOU DONT LIKE NADAL fine.. but leave it at that eh?? stop spoiling this thread

[_homogenised_]

Novak at his best makes nadal look stupid, but he isn't at is best and he has to be if he wants to win this. He's dipped again in 3rd.

I just wish you would stop with the name calling.. YOU DONT LIKE NADAL fine.. but leave it at that eh?? stop spoiling this thread

Where is the name calling? You need to deal with it that some of us want to see a match. Also, that was not a break. Stop being a fanboy, it will give you a heart attack.

[The Special Juan]

Heck, the bagel's on here.

Indeed CAS, that shot was in (by a smidge, but it was still in). They got one wrong in a Sharapova match the other day too when they called it in but it was an inch or 2 out.

[summerblues]

Looking pretty dire for Nole. An odd match so far, quite different from their usual encounters.

[_homogenised_]

Novak might come out again in the 4th, this set has been thrown away, thanks to a bad line call by the umpire and perhaps a Novak injury. Real shame if that's what it turns out to be.

[kingraf]

Dont care for the bagel I just want the win! (I reserve the bagel for Rosol, if/when it happens)

[bogbrush]

Dont care for the bagel I just want the win! (I reserve the bagel for Rosol, if/when it happens)

Why?

[kingraf]

Homogenised - Do you have tissues out for every player who has ever lost a game due to a bad line call? Must have cried rivers for Stan Wawrinka in January, no?

[Haddie-nuff]

Novak at his best makes nadal look stupid, but he isn't at is best and he has to be if he wants to win this. He's dipped again in 3rd.

I just wish you would stop with the name calling.. YOU DONT LIKE NADAL fine.. but leave it at that eh?? stop spoiling this thread

Where is the name calling? You need to deal with it that some of us want to see a match. Also, that was not a break. Stop being a fanboy, it will give you a heart attack.

STUPID is a name calling to me, you already keep calling him a moonballer, and have made comments that you do not believe he has had problems with his knee. Me a fanboy dont embarass yourself

[The Special Juan]

Not the bagel

[Jahu]

Rosol is the Princ, carefull when you talk about him.

[kingraf]

BB - Nothing against Rosol, just want Nadal's win to be as authoritative as possible, to completely exorcise the demon.

[_homogenised_]

I said he makes him look stupid. That's not an insult calling him stupid as a person. However, you then took the argument to me, because you are a fanboy. Truth is, you can't accept some people dislike Nadal... with very good reasons. Don't make me repeat about time wasting and assaulting other players.

[HM Murdock]

Eh? What?! I step away for half an hour and Rafa is 5-0 up?!!

What happened?!

[summerblues]

Oh my oh my. What is going on here? Mr. Djokovic rather woeful; Rafa not even playing his best, yet threatening with a bagel.

[CAS]

anyone want to call 6-1 Nole 4th set?

[Haddie-nuff]

I said he makes him look stupid. That's not an insult calling him stupid as a person. However, you then took the argument to me, because you are a fanboy. Truth is, you can't accept some people dislike Nadal... with very good reasons. Don't make me repeat about time wasting and assaulting other players.

[_homogenised_]

Nadal told off again...

[summerblues]

Ouch.

[bogbrush]

Is that the weakest enforcement of the time rule ever! A point peaty at 5-1, 40-0.

If they want these rules to mean anything that has to be happening at 30-all.

[The Special Juan]

Next warning is a game, isn't it?

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