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.

Rafa getting a bit of rhythm going now and holds to love and leads 5-4. Another test of Dimi's belief now serving to stay in the second set.

A straight-forward hold and back level at 5-5.

Looking much more focused and settled now is Rafa. Holds to love to lead 6-5. Another test for Grigor coming up.

Overall points tally all square right now

Solid hold by the Bulgarian and it is 6-6 and tie-break time.

Grigor getting sloppy just at the wrong time

Very nervy tie break from Dimi so far.

I would say the tide has now turned. Rafa comfortably takes the tie break and we are level at one set all.

Hope Grigor can hang tough and push Rafa all the way ; but I suspect tide has indeed turned and that Rafa could wrap up next 2 sets fairly swiftly .....

Rafa's standard has risen whilst Grigor's hasn't. My money would have to be on Nadal now.

The problem is I don't think Dimi can yet keep this level up over three hours plus. He spoke of tiredness after his last match and that was no marathon.

Mine too.

But we wouldn't get very good odds ; just as we wouldn't have done before the match started .....!

Right. Time for me to head to work. Best of luck to Andy today and hopefully he can put in a more polished and complete display. He will need to. Hoping for a classic match.

There is no doubt that Grigor has looked perfectly at home in this august company.

Not once has he seemed flustered so far ; which can't quite be said for Rafa today

Regardless of what happens here today, I am more convinced than ever that Dimitrov is the real deal.

He has all the shots, PLUS the ability to keep calm under pressure

6-5 to Dimitrov in the 3rd.

Nobody seems to be around now, so I'll quit here rather than talk to myself.

lags72 wrote:6-5 to Dimitrov in the 3rd.

Nobody seems to be around now, so I'll quit here rather than talk to myself.

As I said, Nadal in 4.

Dmitrov has a decent game, but he needs to get mentally tougher...

Sounds like Grigor choked the tiebreak in set 3. Rafa however sounds well below his normal level possibly hampered by the blister. Hard to see Grigor winning from here but if Rafa is playing at this level he won't beat Federer or Murray.

Rafa's record in tie breaks is unbelievable. When did he last lose one?

What's even more amazing is how many of them are choked away by opponents.

He must be badly hampered by a palm blister...missing loads of uncharacteristic shots today. Don't know he can struggle through the championships with a blister like that as you cant exactly cover it up.
Anyway, can Dimi's legs keep up with this....?
I agree he has a bright future come what may here (and may yet still win), its just taking a long time for him to mature fully...like it did Roger when the game was less physical.

Nadal's the best clutch player I've ever seen. He does really well in TBs despite neither his serve nor his return being his strongest shots.

Three reasons for Nadal's tie break success:
1) mental toughness
2) low risk game
3) a reputation that causes players to choke at the big moments

You get the feeling Nadal might be there for the taking due to a possible combination of ankle, hand and knee injuries but everyone else might be too beat up to take advantage. It's looking good for Stan at least!!

biggest reason for his success, imo opinion is his second shot, on both the return, and the serve. If Nadal can get parity on the rally by his second shot... You have to back him more often than not to win the

Achieving 2) takes talent though. Ask any coach, they want consistency first and foremost out of players, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Actually quite rare talents at the highest level.

I agree. I wouldn't dispute his talent.

Come on Dimiiiiii knock his bottle caps off

Radwanska just confirmed a date with me, as beating Azarenka has made this January so good

Nadal takes it. Dimi could of made those TB a little more interesting, but not a bad performance.

Nadal nothing special. Ferrer would of beaten him today.

Great play from dimi, now that I have had a chance to really analyze his game he has a great deal different to his game from Federer's. He is bigger, stronger, and taller and therefore handles the heavy high ball to the backhand better. He hits a heavier ball than federer especially off the backhand and has a more explosive first serve. That being said he has a lot of areas to improve in particular his return game and his fitness. If he can become even an above average returner with that serve he will win multiple slams. Nadal played terrible if he played a more mature player like Djoko or Murray or even Berdych or Del Po they would have taken him out today. Some really poor errors from the back, some double faults beyond what is normal. He was very average today if he plays like that in the semi and final he will get beat.

He says his hand is hampering his serve hence the unusually high number of double faults. It'll get a severe examination in the next 2 matches for sure. Dimitrov shows us he has good potential and is starting to make headway...only a matter of time you feel until something big happens, he's the best prospect of the new generation.

Yes, lydian, given what we saw from him earlier today, any doubt that Dimitrov is clearly the best prospect of the 'new' generation has been removed.

Meanwhile Hewitt and Courier giving their court-side thoughts ahead of tonight's clash. Hewitt is normally hugely respectful of the Fed (understandably, with that streak of 15 consecutive losses) but I had a wry smile when he referred in a rather understated way to Federer as being "a quality opponent" for Andy.

If Federer keeps serving like he has the first 2 games it won't be much fun for Andy.

Come on Fed, wrap it up in quick 3.

4;1 Fed up in 15 min.

Come on, Andy!

I'm for Fed, but I will be gentle to Andy and not curse him

I just want to see the Andy- Rafa showdown we've been denied so long. Even if Rafa's form is not quite there

ChequeredJersey wrote:I just want to see the Andy- Rafa showdown we've been denied so long. Even if Rafa's form is not quite there

Me too. Andy's form isn't quite there either, so it would make for a good match.

I want that too, but Maybe in W, as Andy don't think is 100% yet.

It's been great watching Federer in this tournament...he's been coming to the net so much more, quickly sneaking in, a la Edberg.
  
He completely befuddled Tsonga in the quarters!

Andy better in that game, no cigar though. Federer looks extremely confident.

Edberg leads Lendl 14;13 in overall H2H.

Average length of service games in that first set :

Federer : 1 min 35 sec

Murray : 3 min 1 sec

Murray needs to work out his counter-tactics, and quickly. Not coping with Fed's net-rushing.

Very good from Federer. Playing the better stuff, and most significantly serving way better. Murray has to serve better to have a chance.

He needs to dig deep, but how deep is the well... I'm not sure.

Andy awake finally.

Andy looking much better. He's looking to draw Federer into longer rallies - or should be !

Andy very popular here in Melbourne - but seemingly not when playing Fed .... Results of 'Fango' poll for Channel 7 TV :

Who are you cheering for tonight ?
Federer 87%
Murray 13%

Fed breakes 3:2

Hmm..... trouble at mill .....