Australian Open: Day Ten - 2014

First topic message reminder :

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.

Oh dear. This could unravel pretty quickly for Murray.

He's usually getting really annoyed with himself at times like this, but looks surprisingly unmoved.

Federer is up to speed more quickly because he has been playing and beating the likes of Tsonga, whereas Murray has been playing qualifiers etc. So the first set is a bit of a tune up for Murray. Federer obviously has to be ruthless and try not to allow Murray to get into a higher gear.

Interesting to hear that Edberg is having an impact on the way Federer is playing - one can begin to understand the rationale in having Edberg on board.

So easy draw knocked Djoko too yesterday?

Stan or Fed are playing better than Djoko and Murray!!!

Danny - I think he's all too aware that showing any visible anger can only help Federer even more ; and I'm pretty sure Lendl would have been at pains to remind him of that too ......

Some silly UEs from Andy, 5:3 now.

Very muted atmosphere after all the hype.

Murray needs to somehow steal this set to get himself, and crowd, fired up .....

I can't see a way back in. Even if Feds level dips, Murray is miles off the level he needs to be. He's not even hitting the ball that hard. He doesn't have the confidence to.

Hype brings adverts, otherwise many here who predicted Andy would win it after Fed destroyed Tsonga, is on some illegal substances.

Not bad, some nice rallies.

Second set Fed.

ALLLEEZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!1
GET IN THERE YA BEAUTY!!! 2 SETS BOOOM

Federer, the Old Man, has held up remarkably well for 2 sets with Murray in physically grueling rallies. Impressive.

Nadal awaits same treatment.

Did many predict Murray would win? I didn't. Can't think of many Murray fans that did either.

That was the first game that Murray's actually hit the ball fully. Bit late Andy!

Danny_1982 wrote:
That was the first game that Murray's actually hit the ball fully. Bit late Andy!

Not done yet, Danny.

Jahu wrote:Hype brings adverts, otherwise many here who predicted Andy would win it after Fed destroyed Tsonga, is on some illegal substances.

Not many on here predicted a Murray win - did anyone? Many of us hoped though

laverfan wrote:

Danny_1982 wrote:
That was the first game that Murray's actually hit the ball fully. Bit late Andy!

Not done yet, Danny.

He'll never outlast him. Any other time in his career maybe, but not this tournament.

The Great One signing his redemption song so far at the 2014 Australian Open. 

Dismantled Tsonga. Mauling Murray. 

Playing like this The Emperor can finally beat Nadal as a major again, can't believe it's been nearly 7 years since he beat the Spaniard in a major  

Will he play like this, or be able to, knowing that the man across the net is his nemesis in a Major?

Not sure I agree there Danny. If Federer does dip (as he quite likely will) then I don't believe Murray is too far off the pace now

Murray obviously not up to his full standard yet, but it sounds as though Fed is likely to be more of a force this year than he was last year, which is good news (although the Hewitt wobble is a bit perturbing).
 
The very fact that Murray is struggling against Fed indicates that he's unlikely to have it in him to beat Nadal even if he does pull off a massive recovery (no chickens being counted yet ever since the Tsonga match).
 
Either way, Nadal is looking very good for the x2 Career Slam; the only way any of these guys are going to beat him is on a combination of an absolute career performance from them and a lapse by Nadal... in a Slam SF... which his camp have been very clear about him wanting desperately... I don't think so.
 
H2H
Nadal  13 :  5  Murray
Nadal  17 :  3  Berdych
Nadal  12 :  0  Wawrinka
Nadal  22 : 10 Federer
          64 : 18

Well, not helped by the blister apparently, Rafa hasn't been playing that well, and is a seemingly undrainable mental reserve enough against multi-slam winners like these two?

Could Fed beat Nadal playing like this? Well, he'd need to play this well on the backhand which has been exceptional. But Murray hasn't really gone to the backhand with any great pace or depth. He's just bunted it there a lot of the time.

Rafa's attack on the backhand would be far more relentless. Though Fed isn't rotating as much on that side. It seems like he's able to get depth and placement with less effort. Less effort, less rotation, less shanks.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Will he play like this, or be able to, knowing that the man across the net is his nemesis in a Major?

Maybe Roger can give Rafa a firm handshake prior the match and hurt that blister.... 

 

lags72 wrote:Not sure I agree there Danny. If Federer does dip (as he quite likely will) then I don't believe Murray is too far off the pace now

Really? I think he's hanging on by his fingernails! And I think they're about to snap.

We shall see ..... not too long to find out

It's a joy to once again watch tennis like this being played by a top player....
  
Who said you can't win matches in today's men's tennis by coming to the net?

Time to break now for Fed, and close it down quickly.

3:3

Murray still has back issues, I think.

I was at the Hisense when Kavcic managed to break the Federer serve.

Am I right in thinking that's the only time he's been broken so far this AO ... ??

Sure, too soon, he should take AO as a preparation for this year.

Not for me.
He is just on the road to recovery at not at his best.

Hmm ... maybe Duckworth did too ...

When we see Federer executing tactics like this, it makes comments that hailed Nadal's simply moving to closer to the baseline as brilliant seem rather exaggerated.

Fed really doesn't want to lose this set on a tie-breaker or a sloppy service game. He wants to be home and hosed asap to keep his chances up - he'd also be the only guy in the SF yet to drop a set.

Break time!!!

5;4 Fed to serve for the match

BREAKS!!!!
Will serve for the match!
4 aces please feds

Oh come on - 0-30 when serving for it!

Now, the first two BP's in the match!

Wake uppppppppppppppppp

First time broken

I like Murray, but I want Federer to finish it now. The last thing either of them needs is a marathon.

God sake Fedddddddddddddd

Break back 5:5

Comeback is on!

Where on earth did that come from? Barely threatens all match, barely in the match, and then breaks right at the end. Don't you just love tennis!

TB will be. 7:4 Fed.

Still no hope for Murray, Danny ...... ?

Ha, I think Fed will take the tie break.

If Murray managed to steal it, then it would be fun... But I really don't think the comeback is on.

Come on Fed, get your rocket Aces on for the TB.