Australian Open: Day Ten - 2014

JuliusHMarx wrote:Supporting a tennis player we've never met, for various tenuous reasons, is pretty ridiculous too, but we still do it

bogbrush wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:Not sure why but I keep hearing that Elvis song today 'It's Now Or Never'. A message to Roger?

Not really, Federer is 33 soon and his time at the top is done. Now it's flashbacks and reminders, though if we were looking for such a sentiment as that we'd be looking for a freakily easy draw, not going past Tsonga, Murray and Nadal, and then Berdych / Wawrinka.

summerblues wrote:Even now, 10 years on, with the rivalry long not what it used to be, nothing makes this forum go all warm and fuzzy like when these two guys meet.  

Henman Bill wrote:Missed the game today, but just saw the 20 minutes highlights. Very impressive win for Roger.

In my view, Roger to some extent "won" the head to head with Murray with the Wimbledon final victory which gave him an unassailable lead of 3-0 in slam finals.

I am a bit surprised to see Roger win today, as Murray looked to have the better of him last year and I expected Andy to win 70-80% of the matches from then on. It did go to 5 sets last year, but Murray was clearly the better player.

Roger is also 4-1 in all slam matches with Murray, and a notable win of past his best vs at his peak.

socal1976 wrote:

summerblues wrote:Even now, 10 years on, with the rivalry long not what it used to be, nothing makes this forum go all warm and fuzzy like when these two guys meet.  

Speak for yourself you guys are all worse than English football fans before a world cup, anyone expecting anything other than Rafa treating Federer like a fat lady at an all you can eat Vegas buffet destroying the shrimp cocktail bar then you are all delusional. Blisters shmisters. Unless Nadal gets a serious injury he is going to beat Federer in 3 or 4 sets. Next you guys are going to tell me England will beat Germany in a penalty shootout. Seriously, this is the most uninteresting and overrated non-rivalry in sports. At least since 09 on any outdoor court. Roger has won a couple of times indoors where Nadal is vulnerable. But despite Nadal's poor form the guy is just ruthless when he smells the finish line.

Danny_1982 wrote:

socal1976 wrote:

summerblues wrote:Even now, 10 years on, with the rivalry long not what it used to be, nothing makes this forum go all warm and fuzzy like when these two guys meet.  

Speak for yourself you guys are all worse than English football fans before a world cup, anyone expecting anything other than Rafa treating Federer like a fat lady at an all you can eat Vegas buffet destroying the shrimp cocktail bar then you are all delusional. Blisters shmisters. Unless Nadal gets a serious injury he is going to beat Federer in 3 or 4 sets. Next you guys are going to tell me England will beat Germany in a penalty shootout. Seriously, this is the most uninteresting and overrated non-rivalry in sports. At least since 09 on any outdoor court. Roger has won a couple of times indoors where Nadal is vulnerable. But despite Nadal's poor form the guy is just ruthless when he smells the finish line.

Don't break my heart socal... One day, before I die, England will beat Germany in a penalty shoot out. I'm clinging onto that, and I won't let it go.

socal1976 wrote:

Danny_1982 wrote:

socal1976 wrote:

summerblues wrote:Even now, 10 years on, with the rivalry long not what it used to be, nothing makes this forum go all warm and fuzzy like when these two guys meet.  

Speak for yourself you guys are all worse than English football fans before a world cup, anyone expecting anything other than Rafa treating Federer like a fat lady at an all you can eat Vegas buffet destroying the shrimp cocktail bar then you are all delusional. Blisters shmisters. Unless Nadal gets a serious injury he is going to beat Federer in 3 or 4 sets. Next you guys are going to tell me England will beat Germany in a penalty shootout. Seriously, this is the most uninteresting and overrated non-rivalry in sports. At least since 09 on any outdoor court. Roger has won a couple of times indoors where Nadal is vulnerable. But despite Nadal's poor form the guy is just ruthless when he smells the finish line.

Don't break my heart socal... One day, before I die, England will beat Germany in a penalty shoot out. I'm clinging onto that, and I won't let it go.

I'll be rooting for you guys as the underdog, but after watching the Man U v. Sunderland shootout in the league cup where every English player missed their penalty shot I am not optimistic.

JuliusHMarx wrote:All I first said was "If it's a massive impediment Rafa will lose. If he wins it clearly isn't a massive impediment." I honestly don't see anything wrong with that argument.

H-N comes back with "   How so very predictable"

Seems like every word I utter also gets dissected to the nth degree and still no-one knows what she meant. I was happy to leave it at that, but the debate went on with a few other posters, so I went with it. I don't think he could've beaten Dimi with a massive, withdrawal-type impediment/'crater'. I think the use of those words is excessive and needless hyperbole - the same way the media hype everything up. That's just my view. I think he beat Dimi despite being hampered somewhat on his serve by a blister - that's all. The same way Fed beat Murray with Murray somewhat hampered by the legacy of his back trouble - not because Murray had a massive impediment.  

Lydian, I've already specifically said that my views on 'some' Rafa fans are not directed at you. There are 'some' Fed fans who are equally ridiculous as those 'some' Rafa fans, if not more so.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

Henman Bill wrote:Missed the game today, but just saw the 20 minutes highlights. Very impressive win for Roger.

In my view, Roger to some extent "won" the head to head with Murray with the Wimbledon final victory which gave him an unassailable lead of 3-0 in slam finals.

I am a bit surprised to see Roger win today, as Murray looked to have the better of him last year and I expected Andy to win 70-80% of the matches from then on. It did go to 5 sets last year, but Murray was clearly the better player.

Roger is also 4-1 in all slam matches with Murray, and a notable win of past his best vs at his peak.

Put things into perspective HenmanBill. First up by all accounts Federer turned back the clock with this display so kind of negates your past his best claim and your claim it was a peak Murray is false. He came into this tournament with low expectations and one competitive match in four months so I fail to see how that equates as peak Murray. Roger deserved the win no doubt but think perspective eh.

socal1976 wrote:

summerblues wrote:Even now, 10 years on, with the rivalry long not what it used to be, nothing makes this forum go all warm and fuzzy like when these two guys meet.  

Speak for yourself you guys are all worse than English football fans before a world cup, anyone expecting anything other than Rafa treating Federer like a fat lady at an all you can eat Vegas buffet destroying the shrimp cocktail bar then you are all delusional.

Henman Bill wrote:This could be really close this one. It's really on a knife edge which way it will go.

If you're really pushing me I'd say Rafa in 4, but it could just as easily be Rafa in 3. It's hard to call.