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!

[HM Murdock]

Seriously, I was away pretty much that whole set. Did something happen or did Novak just start stinking?

[_homogenised_]

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.

They need to remove the umpire from the equation and get a timer on the scene. It's the only way. Stop this blatant crap from Nadal.

[barrystar]

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.

I guess it's a start - it makes it easier to enforce it on other occasions.

Anyway, Djoko's back is now right up against the wall.

[JuliusHMarx]

Seriously, I was away pretty much that whole set. Did something happen or did Novak just start stinking?

Djoko might have tweaked his ankle - went off for a toilet break at 3-0 - commentators were/are a bit confused as to what's happened

[bogbrush]

And he's still ignoring the rule.

[_homogenised_]

Nadal will break any rule he can. But 25 seconds is too long anyway. It should be 20 maximum. The umpire should have given at least 5 point penalties already.

[CAS]

so brave of the umpire to do a point penalty at 5-1 40-0! haha

[The Special Juan]

That might be my favourite point ever!!

[summerblues]

LOL, what a point.

[_homogenised_]

Come on Novak!!!!

[The Special Juan]

Actually, 2nd favourite point. No wait, 3rd.

[_homogenised_]

It's not looking good for Novak at moment... for whatever reason he is not in the form he has shown all tournament and he is going to have to up his game to win this set let alone match.

[CAS]

Djokovic has his serve back, he just needs one awesome return game which we know he is capable of and we have a 5th set

[_homogenised_]

He should have come to the net after that forehand.

[kingraf]

This is it break time!!

[_homogenised_]

Players really do need to mix it up against nadal... do more drop shots, bring him into the net more. Stop just playing baseline slug fest against him.

[Haddie-nuff]

Vamos Rafa atta boy

[CAS]

this has been a bit of a letdown of a match

[JuliusHMarx]

Djoko's FH AWOL in that game - 4 UE's
He looks a bit awkward out there somehow - unbalanced in his movement - left ankle/leg maybe?

[kingraf]

No drama. Rafa, please!!

[_homogenised_]

Djoko's FH AWOL in that game - 4 UE's
He looks a bit awkward out there somehow - unbalanced in his movement - left ankle/leg maybe?

Yup... Nadal has been a lucky boy.

[HM Murdock]

The build up and excitement about this match on the forum has been great.

Talk about an anti-climax!

[lags72]

CAS - it sure has been. Was good for about 20 mins but a bit anti-climatic after that.

[The Special Juan]

He'll never have a better chance to win the FO and will be incredibly annoyed he couldn't bring his A game.

[CAS]

Djokovic never knows when to roll over. Respect.

[The Special Juan]

Fair enough

[_homogenised_]

GET IN!!!! Come on Novak!!!

[lydian]

The build up and excitement about this match on the forum has been great.

Yes. But its been a rather negative thread since, I'm certainly not in the mood to post on here at the moment.

[kingraf]

Rafa you... little... whoo saaa.

[CAS]

Rafa you... little... whoo saaa.

I think credit goes to Novak there, that was the return game that has earnt him 6 slams

[bogbrush]

The build up and excitement about this match on the forum has been great.

Talk about an anti-climax!

Weird match. I can't work out what's going on.

[lags72]

Yep, credit indeed.

[break_in_the_fifth]

I want Djoko to win so badly.

[barrystar]

He'll never have a better chance to win the FO and will be incredibly annoyed he couldn't bring his A game.

If he finishes his career without the French I wonder if his loss to Fed in that wonderful match in 2011 will be the most frustrating - but he had a chance last year too.

[barrystar]

I want Djoko to win so badly.

I want Nadal to lose

[kingraf]

this is a huge game. Nadal has gone to one five setter in 12 months, cannot afford a fifth.

[Haddie-nuff]

The build up and excitement about this match on the forum has been great.

Yes. But its been a rather negative thread since, I'm certainly not in the mood to post on here at the moment.

I agree with you lydian... very much so

[CAS]

finally some tension at least, 6-5 Novak would be nice so a tense game or a tense tie break in the bag

[lags72]

When was the last time Djoko hit more than 50 UE's in less than four sets ....??

[break_in_the_fifth]

I want Djoko to win so badly.

I want Nadal to lose

Yeah I guess that's what I meant.

[_homogenised_]

Novak trying to throw it away.... No way he should have lost that game.

[barrystar]

That's got to be it now, surely.

Nadal's like Sharapova, I don't like either of them but you've got to respect their 'never-say-die' attitude.

[The Special Juan]

He'll never have a better chance to win the FO and will be incredibly annoyed he couldn't bring his A game.

If he finishes his career without the French I wonder if his loss to Fed in that wonderful match in 2011 will be the most frustrating - but he had a chance last year too.

I think you're right, that one will hurt more. He had the beating of Nadal that year more than he did last year or this year.

[break_in_the_fifth]

Somethings up with Djokovic, if he'd just tried to outlast Rafa he'd have been fine, instead he's trying to attack which never wins.

[Haddie-nuff]

That's got to be it now, surely.

Nadal's like Sharapova, I don't like either of them but you've got to respect their 'never-say-die' attitude.

And you will witness it again with Daveed later

[kingraf]

his doing a poor job of it then, we should be done by now!!

as I type that Vamos. Novak is a fighter, but he has been behind the eight ball, the entire game.

[barrystar]

He'll never have a better chance to win the FO and will be incredibly annoyed he couldn't bring his A game.

If he finishes his career without the French I wonder if his loss to Fed in that wonderful match in 2011 will be the most frustrating - but he had a chance last year too.

I think you're right, that one will hurt more. He had the beating of Nadal that year more than he did last year or this year.

There's a sort of parallel with Fed, until he got it in 2009 I thought that Fed's most frustrating RG loss might have been that weird capitulation to Kuerten in 2004 when he had the beating of everyone in the draw on every surface.

[barrystar]

That's got to be it now, surely.

Nadal's like Sharapova, I don't like either of them but you've got to respect their 'never-say-die' attitude.

And you will witness it again with Daveed later

But if Ferrer gets to face Nadal in a final then his self-belief seems to vanish.

[_homogenised_]

If Ferrer makes the final I am not even going to bother watching. It will just be more of the same.

[_homogenised_]

There is no stopping Novak is there...? He just won't go down without a fight.

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