Australian Open: Day Ten - 2014

http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/scores/schedule/schedule15.html

Day 9 somehow got lost , but Day 10 is ready to start.



Cibulkova would be an interesting winner, but she has a hard time closing matches (she is a class apart from the recent Djokovic antics).

Vika should have an easier time, but ARad is a tough cookie.

The Mens side has seen two "upsets" already, is there room for more?

Can Grigor (Baby Fed, to the French version) do the possible and upset Nadal the Iron Man?

Perhaps Federer (the elder) is the more capable between the two to cause an upset and beat Murray?

Fun day of Tennis awaits. Goodluck to all contestants today.

I think fed murray will be a great match.

nadal dimitrov can be entertaining if dimitrov is at his best. if not it will be boring

How I see the men's quarters going is Nadal winning in three or four sets but if Dimitrov brings self-belief in bucket loads onto court it could be a lot closer. Roger also to win in three or four sets for a couple of reasons. Roger looks in great nick with no discernible dips in for so far whilst Andy has been less fluent here and is on the return from a long lay-off.

CC - have just been reading Andy's column for The Age, published in Melbourne (might be available online, not sure).

Very good and honest read. His closing paragraph :

"Naturally I'm going to be a little bit stiff and sore after that (ie 2hrs 42mins v Stephane Robert, the longest he has played since surgery). But with each match my body will get adjusted to it again and each day I'll be getting closer to 100 per cent again. I can't wait to get back on the court tonight, it will be a great match"

Well he has to talk positively. Andy has played one competitive match prior to this tournament after three months out. Has Murray looked polished thus far in Melbourne? No. Looked very good against Soeda. Indifferent against Millot. Better against Lopez but still slow start and against Robert it sounded like another patchy display. Top that with Roger's form which has been consistent and at a high level (some saying it is akin to form of old) then you have to go for Federer.

About to take to court are Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov. For the young Bulgaria this is the biggest match of his life so far. Will he rise to the occasion or will Rafael have just too much for the youngster? Time will tell.

Grigor, you will need it.

On the basis of what you say CC, yes, there are solid reasons to go with Federer tonight. And many, perhaps even a majority, will do just that.

But, once all the rational and statistical match previews /analyses have been done, it's always worth remembering that a player's form varies not just from year to year and month to month but so often from day to day. Yes, Federer has been fluent and untroubled at this AO to date, almost like old times as you mention ; and Murray has been patchy, very good in parts but, understandably, still in recovery and recuperation mode - there was doubt that he would even compete here at all.

But so many things can change tonight. Murray could suddenly produce his best, and the Fed magic that blew away JWT on Monday night could just as quickly disappear.

Once you know how to make a good loaf of bread you can get exactly the same near-perfect result time after time after time. But this is sport, which happily has a lot more variables, and hence unpredictability. Otherwise not much point in either the players  - or us  - turning up.

Here's hoping they're both at something approaching their best tonight ........

Until then ........ Go Dimi !!!

Dimitrov will be white washed .

summerblues wrote:

invisiblecoolers wrote:Dimitrov will be white washed .

I heard Rafa is nursing some Knee injury thou, its advocated by Patrick in AO website, so who knows Dimitrov better count his stars.   

invisiblecoolers wrote:Dimitrov will be white washed .

That would be a first? In their previous three matches Dimitrov has always won a set in their matches.

For me a lot depends on Grigor. Does he really believe he can beat Rafael? Does he have the heart and spirit? If so and if he can play to a consistent level then you'd feel he certainly has a chance.

CaledonianCraig wrote:For me a lot depends on Grigor.  Does he really believe he can beat Rafael?  Does he have the heart and spirit? If so and if he can play to a consistent level then you'd feel he certainly has a chance.

Well he can beat Maria Sharapova and she knows that but today's opponent is different.  

A confident hold to start for Dimitrov followed by him attacking Rafa's serve getting a break point and sealing it to lead 2-0.

Break consolidated and Dimitrov leads 3-0.Interesting.

2009 AO Delpo lost to Fed 6:3 6:0 6:0.  That is the worst that can happen to Dimi from here on

Ok, let's leave it there.

Best of 3 games and it's a convincing win for Grigor !

Much more solid from Rafa holding to love and trails 1-3.

Dimitrov taken to deuce on his serve but holds to lead 4-1.

great serving from dimitrov so far

bad serving from nadal in his first serve game

some strange mistakes in the forehand for nadal

5-2 in just 20 minutes


not the game that nadal wants

and more unusual errors with the forehand

Now for the first test of that belief. Dimitrov to serve for the first set leading 5-3.

well he reacted as a champion with those 3 serves

Dimitrov has a wobble falling to 0-30 but served his way out of trouble and seals the first set 6-3. Game on.

That opening DF did not look good, but Grigor steadied the ship. Well played so far.

Surprising number of empty seats for what could be a cracker.

I'd expect them to start filling pretty soon after that set .......

just one bad serve game and set lost.

and it seems it will be a very very difficult match. cos dimitrov is looking very confident

and not much energy was lost yet

Although it will ultimately not be enough for the match by itself, Dmitrov's first serve has won him the set.

Rafa will still win in four.

The problem I see for Grigor is manufacturing another break whilst continuing to serve to a high standard himself. Just now Rafa's service game is firing much better so if Dimitrov let's his level slip it is a given that Rafa will pounce.

And there is that drop in Grigor's serving level and Rafa breaks to lead 2-0.

Oh dear, very odd from Rafa.

3 double faults in one game. really strange from rafa

Surprisingly sloppy from Rafa throwing in an error strewn service game and Dimitrov breaks back. Mind blowingly  bad serving - three double faults.

And there is that drop in Rafa's serving level and Grigor breaks to make it 2-2 !

Dimitrov holds to love and leads 6-3 2-2. Rumour has it the trainer has been called for Rafael.

Blisters could be the issue .....?

Have rarely seen Rafa feeling the need to engage the crowd so early in a match

Could be lags. We shall see shortly. Taken to deuce but Rafael holds to lead 3-2 after a lengthy game. Odd behaviour from Rafa going berserk winning a nothing sort of a point. Suggests he perhaps feels a little flat.

And Jim Courier has just said exactly the same as me on Aussie TV re Rafa and crowd 'involvement'

Although .... many of you don't rate Courier's commentary  

I find him very insightful.

so far very erratic play from rafa

and great serving level from dimitrov

impressive really in his first 1/4s and against the n1

I don't mind Courier as a pundit but wish he would quit asking infantile questions in the on-court interviews.

With serve in the second set Rafa leads 4-3.

Occasionally those weird interview questions work, but I'd agree that mostly they do not.

Meanwhile ..... as well as being World No. 1, is Rafa the sweatiest player on the tour ?? His shirt already looks drenched, and Grigor's seems almost dry.....

Wonderful point by Dimi to go 30-30

You get the feeling this set is pivotal. If Rafael finds a way to win it surely it will settle him down and you'd back him to win but if Dimitrov wins it then he must be a warm favourite as the demons will remain in Rafa's mind.

And then another to square the set

nadal is really having a bad time now. very uncomfortable with the ball. missing lots of forehands... dimitrov serious, very serious play. good from him

In fact I will retract that last post. I feel Dimitrov either wins in straight sets or loses. My query is whether he can go toe to toe with Rafa in a three hour plus match and I don't think he can.

the one winning this set wins it all