Federer V Nadal At The Australian Open 2014

First topic message reminder :

I think the AO semi featuring Federer and Nadal might need a thread of it's own   

Just to set the scene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqr_gA4MYls

 

He can't lay a glove on Nadal's serve, and he's giving Nadal a bunch of looks at his serve - 1/8 bp conversions is an odd stat for Nadal vs. Federer.

People seem surprised but always the same story! This is why you need djokovic in the tournament, the only player who can challenge nadal!!!

slashermcguirk wrote:People seem surprised but always the same story! This is why you need djokovic in the tournament, the only player who can challenge nadal!!!

I don't think anyone in the thread is particularly surprised?

Nadal serving for the set, both players giving it some serious power at the moment.

Crazy point at 0-30!

slashermcguirk wrote:People seem surprised but always the same story! This is why you need djokovic in the tournament, the only player who can challenge nadal!!!

Maybe the only people who are surprised are those who thought the blister would have any effect. Everyone else was pretty much expecting this.

Nadal up by two sets. Fantastic game there by both, it has to be said.

Yup, blister having no effect whatsoever thus far.

JuliusHMarx wrote:

slashermcguirk wrote:People seem surprised but always the same story! This is why you need djokovic in the tournament, the only player who can challenge nadal!!!

Maybe the only people who are surprised are those who thought the blister would have any effect. Everyone else was pretty much expecting this.

Exactly, I don't think many seriously bought the "Federer back to his best" line. I would rather give credit for him to still have the desire to get this far in a slam, he has nothing left to prove and there is no shame in losing to the current best player in the world.

That second set was a lot better quality, some 2009-esque points  . Nadal dominated most games and rallies. I still don't understand what on earth Fed was moaning about at the beginning of the set though....

VTR wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

slashermcguirk wrote:People seem surprised but always the same story! This is why you need djokovic in the tournament, the only player who can challenge nadal!!!

Maybe the only people who are surprised are those who thought the blister would have any effect. Everyone else was pretty much expecting this.

Exactly, I don't think many seriously bought the "Federer back to his best" line. I would rather give credit for him to still have the desire to get this far in a slam, he has nothing left to prove and there is no shame in losing to the current best player in the world.

Well said.

slashermcguirk wrote:People seem surprised but always the same story! This is why you need djokovic in the tournament, the only player who can challenge nadal!!!

This sums up why I'm so frustrated with tennis at the moment.

There's only one player who gives Nadal a match up problem and that player is forever shooting himself in the foot. Once Novak's out of a tournament, you just know it will be a win for Rafa. It's so predictable. When was the last big tournament not won by Nadal or Djokvic? July!

ALPanorak wrote:That second set was a lot better quality, some 2009-esque points  . Nadal dominated most games and rallies. I still don't understand what on earth Fed was moaning about at the beginning of the set though....

Can't be certain, but I think he complained to the umpire about Rafa getting coached by Toni.

Lionel Hutz wrote:Awful performance from Federer. Why can't he just play the game!

Because of who is on the other side of the net.

We were expecting Fed of this AO and got Fed from last USO.

Disaster.

VTR wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

slashermcguirk wrote:People seem surprised but always the same story! This is why you need djokovic in the tournament, the only player who can challenge nadal!!!

Maybe the only people who are surprised are those who thought the blister would have any effect. Everyone else was pretty much expecting this.

Exactly, I don't think many seriously bought the "Federer back to his best" line. I would rather give credit for him to still have the desire to get this far in a slam, he has nothing left to prove and there is no shame in losing to the current best player in the world.

That's my feeling - when he got Wimbledon 2012 and broke the #1 record I thought to myself that from here on in its just bunce, and I am amazed at his continued willingness to compete and try to get the best out of himself.

I'd be sad if Nadal got the slam number because I consider him a far less worthy ambassador of tennis on and off the court, but if he does kudos to him; it doesn't avoid the fact that Federer has had a magnificent career from point of view of success and, something Nadal will never manage in my view, watchability and pure entertainment. They are both good to watch in tight matches, but only Federer is also fantastic to watch when he's handing out a gubbing. It's also important to reflect that Nadal's arrival on the scene and his undoubted greatness has been a huge part in creating the narrative of Federer's career, and making it a more interesting one than if he had picked up 24 slams and been stopped only by getting older.

Where have all the Rafa fans gone? C'mon guys, your guy is winning. I know you all said he'd lose but surely the result is more important than the prediction?

Federer might be the best volleyer in today's game, but he's no Edberg at the net....
  
Sadly, volleying is becoming a lost art.

HM Murdoch wrote:

slashermcguirk wrote:People seem surprised but always the same story! This is why you need djokovic in the tournament, the only player who can challenge nadal!!!

This sums up why I'm so frustrated with tennis at the moment.

There's only one player who gives Nadal a match up problem and that player is forever shooting himself in the foot. Once Novak's out of a tournament, you just know it will be a win for Rafa. It's so predictable. When was the last big tournament not won by Nadal or Djokvic? July!

Sadly, that's the state of men's tennis right now....

Federer gets a rare break of serve.

Federer breaks back. Only took him two hours!

Nadal has been truly excellent after the first set.

Roger vanquishes his mental demons for at least one game and backs up the break.

When I saw those two horrible forehands, I thought, "here we go again"

kemet wrote:Roger vanquishes his mental demons for at least one game and backs up the break.

When I saw those two horrible forehands, I thought, "here we go again"

Alas, he could only keep the demons at bay for that one game.

I can almost live with Nadal besting Federer at the baseline, but not when Federer gifts him games like that

Come on Fed - make him serve it out at least.

barrystar wrote:Come on Fed - make him serve it out at least.

Roger is mentally beaten

It pains me to say it, but the truth is a harsh mistress.

Shouldn't have finished with such a weak miss.

Oh well.

That's a shame - he was going to lose but it's always better to make the guy serve for it.

at least 3 finals in every slam

not bad

Well played, Rafa! Some excellent tennis this evening, that forehand really warmed up as the match went on. And congratulations to his fans, too.

Good tournament for the Fed, yet another AO SF and looked far more solid than the whole of last year. He can look to build on this through until the clay swing.

kemet wrote:

barrystar wrote:Come on Fed - make him serve it out at least.

Roger is mentally beaten

It pains me to say it, but the truth is a harsh mistress.

Yep, and my mistress is a harsh....actually, best not go there.

I'm starting to think a break from tennis might do me good.

HM Murdoch wrote:

slashermcguirk wrote:People seem surprised but always the same story! This is why you need djokovic in the tournament, the only player who can challenge nadal!!!

This sums up why I'm so frustrated with tennis at the moment.

There's only one player who gives Nadal a match up problem and that player is forever shooting himself in the foot. Once Novak's out of a tournament, you just know it will be a win for Rafa. It's so predictable. When was the last big tournament not won by Nadal or Djokvic? July!

DEl Potro (and Darcis) can beat Rafa and we've seen guys who can beat Djoko, you just need a draw where Rafa gets to play Del Po and Djoko someone like Wawrinka mark 2

HM Murdoch wrote:I'm starting to think a break from tennis might do me good.

Nonsense - you should get back on the court this weekend!

Pretty good match from a Nadal standpoint with some formidable side-to-side play latter on - really found his rhythm after the first set, oddly enough after that adjustment was made with the blister at the start of the second.
I suppose Federer gave it his (patchy) best but at this point in his career that was/will never be enough in this matchup

Which could have happended this year admittedly, Agut beating DelPo basically was hugely in Rafa's favour

Predictable result.

Rafa is not number one for nothing.

And Roger is number six (and soon to slip down the rankings?) for a good reason.

He has to solve the backhand problem versus Rafa or he will continue to lose against his nemesis (rival is not the correct word to describe Rafa from Roger's point of view)

Fed not even the Swiss No 1!

Maybe they should shake up the tournament- change the balls, speed up the USO and Wimbledon properly etc

JuliusHMarx wrote:Fed not even the Swiss No 1!

Stan's backhand is actually more solid.

With that said, the sobering reality from Stan's viewpoint, is that Rafa holds a 12-0 H2H over him and has the benefit of past success and major final appearances to boot.

I hope Rafa had a great visit to the dentist since biting trophies is his custom and he is set to record a straight sets demolition of Stan the Man on Sunday.

Nadal just too good. Simple as that. Age not a factor as if it were then he would have at least won the first set tie-breaker.

kemet wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:Fed not even the Swiss No 1!

Stan's backhand is actually more solid.

With that said, the sobering reality from Stan's viewpoint, is that Rafa holds a 12-0 H2H over him and has the benefit of past success and major final appearances to boot.

I hope Rafa had a great visit to the dentist since biting trophies is his custom and he is set to record a straight sets demolition of Stan the Man on Sunday.

Never lost a set to Stan, Nadal is overwhelming favourite now

ChequeredJersey wrote:[

DEl Potro (and Darcis) can beat Rafa and we've seen guys who can beat Djoko, you just need a draw where Rafa gets to play Del Po and Djoko someone like Wawrinka mark 2

well the draw had delpo for rafa. it was delpo who didnt attend the meeting

I am not so sure. I can see Stan putting up a real good fight. Obviously, Rafa will be a warm to hot favourite but I don't think it will be that easy.

kemet wrote:Predictable result.

Rafa is not number one for nothing.

And Roger is number six (and soon to slip down the rankings?) for a good reason.

He has to solve the backhand problem versus Rafa or he will continue to lose against his nemesis (rival is not the correct word to describe Rafa from Roger's point of view)

It is impossible to solve because his backhand is inherently not good enough as a shot, no amount of practice or technique changing will alter this at this point. Federer's backhand has always been an overall average shot, its his backhand slice that is the best shot on that wing yet it can't be utilised effectively vs Nadal. Therefore it all comes down to a perfect alignment of consistently good forehand, footwork and a quick court (indoors), plus maybe a below par Rafa, not hitting with depth - the only scenario I see Federer getting a win these days

naxroy wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:[

DEl Potro (and Darcis) can beat Rafa and we've seen guys who can beat Djoko, you just need a draw where Rafa gets to play Del Po and Djoko someone like Wawrinka mark 2

well the draw had delpo for rafa. it was delpo who didnt attend the meeting

I said that!

CaledonianCraig wrote:Nadal just too good. Simple as that. Age not a factor as if it were then he would have at least won the first set tie-breaker.

Have you seen anyone mention age as an excuse in this thread? Jesus Christ.

CaledonianCraig wrote:I am not so sure. I can see Stan putting up a real good fight. Obviously, Rafa will be a warm to hot favourite but I don't think it will be that easy.

Stan's weapon is his glorious backhand. It is a great weapon, but it is SH. Against Rafa it will immediately cease to be a weapon and be a gaping weakness. There is a reason he has never won a set and when you have that kind of record and are in your first slam final, overcoming the mental barrier has to come before even overcoming the physical and technical one. And Rafa will have no mental barrier at all, and is ruthless

Silver wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:Nadal just too good. Simple as that. Age not a factor as if it were then he would have at least won the first set tie-breaker.

Have you seen anyone mention age as an excuse in this thread? Jesus Christ.

Not here but it was awash with it on other threads over the last two days.

HM Murdoch wrote:I'm starting to think a break from tennis might do me good.

Don't go, you're one of the bastions of sanity on this forum! You don't want me to have to resort to speaking with JHM for reasonable discussion, do you? No man should endure such horror

Banhammer incoming

Not sure about today, but Fed will be down at No 8 in the rankings and will never regain a top 4 place. Clearly age is a big factor in his overall position in the game.

Silver wrote:

HM Murdoch wrote:I'm starting to think a break from tennis might do me good.

Don't go, you're one of the bastions of sanity on this forum! You don't want me to have to resort to speaking with JHM for reasonable discussion, do you? No man should endure such horror

Banhammer incoming

Or women and children, for that matter!

and btw. this result so far really gives nadal the chance to really hold onto number 1 for a long time