US Open - Matches

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Have changed the topic so that this thread can run through the tournament. Hope that's OK

Gasquet doing well so far. Has an early break but you get the feeling Ferrer will bounce back or Gasquet will freeze.

And Gasquet's nerve holds (for now) as he takes the first set 6-3.

Here I was thinking Ferrer is going to roll through little Richard given the head to head

And Gasquet breaks early in the second set as well.

Ferrer needs to keep going, Gasquet will have a brain fade, he needs to keep it close until then.

Gasquet playing beautifully, while Ferrer a little off-colour so far with a few weak errors. Gasquet breaks again for 4-1 in the second.

So glad Gasquet is beating Ferrer, hopefully he can hang on as I think he is more of a threat to Nadal than Ferrer is.

Gasquet always plays well until there is some resistance, waiting for Ferrer to rally

Ferrer with an absolutely horrible game, and Gasquet takes the set 6-1!

Allez Richard!

shocking start to the third by Gasquet and immediately he retreats to 4 yards behind the baseline. Back with a decent hold there, but still 2-1 and a break down.

Ferrer was a double break up now back to a single break up. This would be the Daddy surrender of them all if Gasquet throws this away from two sets up.

TopoftheChops wrote:So glad Gasquet is beating Ferrer, hopefully he can hang on as I think he is more of a threat to Nadal than Ferrer is.

I can't see Gasquet putting in any challenge if he gets drawn into another marathon match here or else he'll be a physical wreck. His last match against Raonic was a whopping four hours forty minutes so I reckon he must get this done in straight sets. Nadal will be loving this as if Ferrer does come back to win he will also be a physical wreck as he had a three hours forty five minutes match last round and this match will be over three hours.

Imagine going into match against Nadal having never beaten him, off the back of back to back thrillers, with him unbeaten on hard court for the year. Lamb. Slaughter. Gasquet will want to make sure he has something in the tank. I cant see a fully fit Gasquet challenging for longer than a set, a knackered one is may as well go collect the Semi finalist cheque

Aren't the Men's semis on saturday? He will have two whole days to recover if he gets through

CaledonianCraig wrote:

TopoftheChops wrote:So glad Gasquet is beating Ferrer, hopefully he can hang on as I think he is more of a threat to Nadal than Ferrer is.

I can't see Gasquet putting in any challenge if he gets drawn into another marathon match here or else he'll be a physical wreck. His last match against Raonic was a whopping four hours forty minutes so I reckon he must get this done in straight sets. Nadal will be loving this as if Ferrer does come back to win he will also be a physical wreck as he had a three hours forty five minutes match last round and this match will be over three hours.

well at least against Raonic there won't have been too many rallies you'd have thought, but 3 hours with Ferrer is another matter altogether. Ferrer with the third set 6-4, does he become favourite for the match now?

Ferru!! I think he's going to coast the last two sets if he gets up an early break in the 4th.

TOTC - Indeed they are, still dont think thats enough time given the submission by attrition brand of tennis Nadal plays.

TopoftheChops wrote:Aren't the Men's semis on saturday? He will have two whole days to recover if he gets through

Hmm decent point this, whoever comes through this will at least have had decent recovery time.

He'll need more than two days to recover though and adopt a whole new mindset that he has never had before when facing Nadal - that comment incidentally could describe both Gasquet and Ferrer.

Took a while, but Ferrer finally realized "wait a minute, this is Gasquet Im playing"

I liked the point Grinning Greg made before the match about Gasquet standing on the baseline. Richard wants to stand there and dominate the rallies but due to his huge backswings off of both wings, it's impossible for him to do so.

An annoying habit I noticed Gasquet has is when playing drop shots he stands and watches (three feet behind the baseline) until Ferrer retrieves it and has to scurry to play his next shot from his deep position. That is sloppy in my opinion.

Come on Gasket, knock his hair-do.

The Special Juan wrote:I liked the point Grinning Greg made before the match about Gasquet standing on the baseline.  Richard wants to stand there and dominate the rallies but due to his huge backswings off of both wings, it's impossible for him to do so.

That's a really good point, though he definitely has retreated further back in these last couple of sets. This game seems really pivotal - 3-2 with plenty of deuces, Gasquet trying to break back. That backhand shall forever be a beautiful shot....

Gasquet, like his all court compatriots, Tsonga and Monfils seem to not quite "get" tennis, a lot of the tactical mistakes they make you would think were taught out of them before they were teenagers. Maybe, they were just so much better than their opponents growing up that it wasnt necessary... and developed bad habits

Ferrer a double break up in the fourth set. I wonder what odds you'd get on a Gasquet win now?

As predicted...Gasquet is the better player but the pusher is fitter and Gasquet is cream crackered after the Raonic match. This match is done already.

5th set now surely, 5-2 ferrer .

Come on Gasquet beat the boring grinder!

I'd love Gasquet to show some emotion out there rather than the odd fist pump and making the "trout pout" face.

lydian wrote:As predicted...Gasquet is the better player but the pusher is fitter and Gasquet is cream crackered after the Raonic match. This match is done already.

can't agree with this. Gasquet has the better BH and volleys, serve is pretty even, but Ferrer is better in every other department.

I meant more talented.

I think Gasquet is going to sneak through here. I backed Gasquet to come good this year, and a Slam Semi would suffice

lydian wrote:I meant more talented.

probably, though I'm starting to lean towards the Matthew Syed school of thought on this one more and more, in that we tend to overplay the "talent" thing, when a lot of it is just hard work. My post was that there is very little objective evidence on which you can call Gasquet the "better player", he simply isn't.

Gasquet is at least scrapping hard here, but his problems are more physical than mental, the pop has really gone out of his shots.

Come on Gasquet, blow his valves off, brake point.

Don't screw it up now Reeshard...  

well that was very un-Ferrer, what a sloppy game. Allez Richard! Serve it out now!

Wow! Gasquet's broken Ferrer. I'd actually like to see Gasquet fulfill his undoubted talent in his latter years on the tour. His game is so beautifull to watch is deserves more

No way is Gasquet better than Ferrer. And talent is about the most subjective thing to define. I don't see how he's more talented either. Looking flashier doesn't make you more talented.

I also believe the Syed stuff and always believe the ultimate talent is the ability to extract the W. However, wrt to Gasquet he is the more talented ball striker but his mind lets him down. Ferrer's talent is consistency, grit and hard work.

But hey...forget this...where is Gasquet finding these new reserves from? I'm impressed. That said Ferrer is getting tight. Gasquet could do with breaking again or he'll be a bag of nerves serving for it!

I called it! Allez Gasquet!!!

banbrotam wrote:Wow! Gasquet's broken Ferrer. I'd actually like to see Gasquet fulfill his undoubted talent in his latter years on the tour. His game is so beautifull to watch is deserves more

if somebody gets him a physical trainer he might yet

looks dead on his feet here, barely even getting off the ground to serve, but a gutsy hold means he's just one game away. Allez!

Credit to Gasquest for showing some steel when Ferrer's level just dipped but now he has to show more steel to serve this match out.

Gasquet doesn't want to be tiring himself out in this game...

Ok, moment of truth. His biggest service game for years.

As an aside, talent definition is a hopeless thing to attempt to break down. I remmember when Kevin Pietersen first played a switch-hit, the British media, and commentators couldnt stop gushing about how KP's ability to play the shot was evidence that he is the most talented player in world cricket, that was great, but now I see school cricketers playing the shot succesfully... Sometimes flash is mistaken quite wrongly, imo for talent. Also I dont subscribe to the Syed principle

He may well deservedly take this match, but I've always thought gasquet has achieved pretty much what his talent is worth. If the guy was a computer game character he's basically maxed out on one shot and is Luke warm in all other departments, poor in tactical awareness and poor in mental strength. These are talent he lacks which ultimately have proved more important than his flashy shots in bringing results in.

We agree to disagree.

Gwan Ferru!!!

Richard Gasquet wins!  

Well done Gas, top play.

MP!!!