US Open - Matches - continued

First topic message reminder :

As you were...

I never saw any of the tennis today (work) but Djoko V Wawrinka sounds like it was match of the day. Stan gave Novak a real match and sounds like a carbon copy of their Aussie Open match with the same result. The fact Novak came through gives hope that he has rediscovered his steely will to win. The other semi went pretty much as I expected - fairly straight forward for Rafa and so e'll be all the fresher for it whilst Novak had well over four hours of a physical battle. Going on current form and other factors I tip Rafa Nadal to win in four sets.

CaledonianCraig wrote:I never saw any of the tennis today (work) but Djoko V Wawrinka sounds like it was match of the day. Stan gave Novak a real match and sounds like a carbon copy of their Aussie Open match with the same result. The fact Novak came through gives hope that he has rediscovered his steely will to win. The other semi went pretty much as I expected - fairly straight forward for Rafa and so e'll be all the fresher for it whilst Novak had well over four hours of a physical battle. Going on current form and other factors I tip Rafa Nadal to win in four sets.

Good call, Craig. I'll hop onto that 'Rafa in four' bandwagon with you  

My prediction is Djokovic in 5. I am hopeful he can end his recent tightness and loss of focus in some his bigger matches. I think Djokovic was surprised a bit in the Toronto final by Nadal changing both his return positioning and his serve tendencies, these wrinkles in Nadal's game gave Novak a lot of problems in Toronto. I have feeling he will be better prepared for Nadal's new aggressive approach on hardcourts.

For once I agree with Socal, Nole's camp are clearly working on Rafa's game silently. Rafa's camp was smart enough to take time off and re-plan their strategy for the upcoming season in the end of 2012, this shell shocked Nole's camp as they were least prepared for the new aggressive style of Rafa.

Whether Djoko's team new tactics to counter Rafa will work or not will be seen on Monday, but for sure they are aware of Rafa's new game play and gonna come up something of their own.

I hate to call it this way but Djoko in 5. 

This is the first Rafa v Novak in a long time that I can't see anything but a Rafa win.

I think Novak proved v Wawrinka what a tough competitor he is. To manoeuvre a win over Stan in that kind of form when Novak's own form was lacking was a display of guts and resilience.

It doesn't however, change the fact that his own form was lacking. The first set in particular was dire.

It's a hard court slam, so I can't write him off entirely but I see this as 70/30 in Rafa's favour.

HM Murdoch wrote:Since the start of Wimbledon, Novak's break point conversion rate has been abysmal.

And yesterday was 4 out of 19! Stan takes the credit for a lot of that but it's still a shockingly low rate.

...you're quoting yourself HMM!  

I'm getting worried for your mental state ahead of the final!

From what I heard, Rafa wasn't great but didn't need to be and when you can criticise a player for getting broken once for the first time in 88 games you know he's doing pretty bloody well

invisiblecoolers wrote:

Henman Bill wrote:in the final although I would have Djokovic possibly as slight favourite purely on the hard court head to head record of recent years, and more hard court slams won in the last few years.

Based on the 1st scenario I would have Nadal will win easy, I don't think the current Djoko has in him to beat Rafa, unless and untill he rediscovers the mojo of Monte Carlo Djoko will go down in st.sets.

Well I did only say "Djokovic possibly as slight favourite" and now I am writing an article looking at the arguments for each man to win there really seems nothing in it, it is pretty much 50/50. So I am tempted to get right back on the fence to be honest.

laverfan wrote:BTW... Tokyo gets 2020 Olympics. Madrid is disappointed at the loss of the bid, as is Istanbul.

Madrid has been hard done by on this for years, they had a good bid for 2012 as well.

A few of you should head on over to the article I am about to post where you can vote for the winner, it should be up just after 11am!

uk time

Henman Bill wrote:

laverfan wrote:BTW... Tokyo gets 2020 Olympics. Madrid is disappointed at the loss of the bid, as is Istanbul.

Madrid has been hard done by on this for years, they had a good bid for 2012 as well.

I think destroying all those blood bags went against Spain.

Welcome to the fence HB. Nice place to watch it all unfold

Henman Bill wrote:

invisiblecoolers wrote:

Henman Bill wrote:in the final although I would have Djokovic possibly as slight favourite purely on the hard court head to head record of recent years, and more hard court slams won in the last few years.

Based on the 1st scenario I would have Nadal will win easy, I don't think the current Djoko has in him to beat Rafa, unless and untill he rediscovers the mojo of Monte Carlo Djoko will go down in st.sets.

Well I did only say "Djokovic possibly as slight favourite" and now I am writing an article looking at the arguments for each man to win there really seems nothing in it, it is pretty much 50/50. So I am tempted to get right back on the fence to be honest.

I have already switched sides for a Djoko win. 

Current form favors Nadal, career performance on hardcourts favors Djokovic. This is a very tough one to call as even their career head to head favors one player on a hardcourt and the other player overall. So it is a toss up anyway you look at it, it is whichever guy executes better on the day.

The Special Juan wrote:

Henman Bill wrote:

laverfan wrote:BTW... Tokyo gets 2020 Olympics. Madrid is disappointed at the loss of the bid, as is Istanbul.

Madrid has been hard done by on this for years, they had a good bid for 2012 as well.

I think destroying all those blood bags went against Spain.

Did they finally do it?

Corrupt, but it doesn't surprise me. Some cultures have an entitlement mentality, and Spain has that in spades. Guess that comes from ages of having their infrastructure built by others and thinking they earned it.

It's what I read.

I can't see anything but an Azarenka hammering. Serena's been playing near perfect tennis so far this tournament whereas Azarenka has been grinding out wins whilst playing nowhere near her "best".

The Special Juan wrote:I can't see anything but an Azarenka hammering.  Serena's been playing near perfect tennis so far this tournament whereas Azarenka has been grinding out wins whilst playing nowhere near her "best".

I can't help wondering how Serena would address a Murray 2nd serve. Her attitude to Azarenka's is frightening.

bogbrush wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:I can't see anything but an Azarenka hammering.  Serena's been playing near perfect tennis so far this tournament whereas Azarenka has been grinding out wins whilst playing nowhere near her "best".

I can't help wondering how Serena would address a Murray 2nd serve. Her attitude to Azarenka's is frightening.

I don't think we'd see the ball on its way back .  Her second serve return is absolutely devastating but the funny thing is where she stands to return the first serve too.

The wind is playing absolute havoc with both player's serves and groundstrokes. Serena seems more perturbed than Azarenka so far

Who the hell has a sweaty belly button?

The Special Juan wrote:Who the hell has a sweaty belly button?  

Everyone, when they play tennis. Mine also has the advantage of being hairy.

bogbrush wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:I can't see anything but an Azarenka hammering.  Serena's been playing near perfect tennis so far this tournament whereas Azarenka has been grinding out wins whilst playing nowhere near her "best".

I can't help wondering how Serena would address a Murray 2nd serve. Her attitude to Azarenka's is frightening.

She'd struggle with it. The difference in spin between a mans and women's serve is immense. It just wouldn't be in her hitting zone at all.

Awesome point from Vika. This is set to be a great match.

JuliusHMarx wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:Who the hell has a sweaty belly button?  

Everyone, when they play tennis. Mine also has the advantage of being hairy.

Thank you for that Julius. I genuinely feel a bit queasy now.

Foot fault!



That could have been fun.

This could be a bagel.

Double-break for Serena. I think we all know this is over now.

Only Serena could choke a match she's pretty much won.

The Special Juan wrote:Only Serena could choke a match she's pretty much won.

I agree.

The Special Juan wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:Only Serena could choke a match she's pretty much won.

I agree.

 ... To be fair Azarenka has also been playing some ballsy tennis (in addition to Serena's ....cough...)

Credit to Vika for fighting back. Serena was always going to give her chances. She always has moments like this. It's a matter of her rivals capitalizing. But she only delayed the inevitable.

ALPanorak wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:Only Serena could choke a match she's pretty much won.

I agree.

 ... To be fair Azarenka has also been playing some ballsy tennis (in addition to Serena's ....cough...)

Cough please.

This tournament is getting messed up by wind though. Its happened for a couple of years.
I hate playing tennis in the wind.

Great to see there are many women n tour with bottle other than Serena. Massive credit to Vika even if she loses this.

Good on her.

This could get very, very ugly for Serena.

Azarenka, the most annoying personality to have ever graced the tennis courts. Serena ain't far thought.

Another TB probably.

Jahu wrote:Azarenka, the most annoying personality to have ever graced the tennis courts. Serena ain't far thought.

Another TB probably.

I love Azarenka thou.   

As a female?

Serena really cocked up that 3rd set. I've always said for all her athleticism, her footwork often suffers under pressure. She gets these emotional brain fades where she just forgets to move her feet and screws up shots comically like an amateur.

Yeah, she seems not there, suffering from Fed lack of focus.

Now she turns it around, super serving, great shots, and breaks Aza, I think Serena has got this match now.

All done, Serena takes it. Super third set, and Aza just gave up.

Well despite fluctuating quality (understandable due to the weather), that was a thoroughly enjoyable, intriguing match for me. Most interesting WTA game i've seen in a long while anyhow...

Come on Serena, the Grand Slam next year please. I'd love to see her nerves if she was serving for it in the final of the USO next year!!

ALPanorak wrote:Well despite fluctuating quality (understandable due to the weather), that was a thoroughly enjoyable, intriguing match for me. Most interesting WTA game i've seen in a long while anyhow...

I totally agree....
 

Anyone know what time that match starts?

10pm in the UK