Australian Open 2014 Men's Final

We seem to have overlooked this. It's tomorrow apparently. Or today in Australia. The bad news is it that rain is forecast - no, not for Oz, for my doubles match at midday 

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I think there's only going to be one winner in this one but it will be a moral victory for Stan if he can get at least one set. I hope he isn't overwhelmed by the big occasion tomorrow.

(Note: Chances of Nadal holding all 4 majors after Wimbledon?)

A thread not about the GOAT? I'm confused. Can someone please hijack this thread quickly before something other than Fedal gets discussed?

For the final, desperately hope Stan can get his moment. But everything points towards a 3 set win for Rafa I'm afraid.

I am sorry Nadal is too much for stan. Stan moves well but he is not a great mover and Nadal's angles that he can generate with his incredible spin will be too much for Stan as he will not allow Stan to simply stand in the V and blast away. Stan is playing great and has pushed Nadal a bit more in recent matchups. So I think it will be tight and close 4 tight sets is what I am thinking. But the last two matches have been tough on STan and he had a tough war against Robredo as well before that. He may have had a lot taken out of him emotionally and physically this week while I think Nadal has really not been pushed much this tournament.

It won't be easy and Stan will hold his own but Rafa quite simply has too much.

Nadal in 4.

Perhaps socal but Stan has had 3 days rest. Rafa is favourite but it is Stan 2.0. However, the bad news for Stan is that Rafa has just played 2 hard hitting SHBH guys...Stan (as no-one ever does) hasn't faced anyone like Rafa. The only thing may be that Rafa feels a bit more pressure on this one as it would create an Open Era record (winning each slam twice). Stan is such a massive underdog that surely he can just swing the racquet without pressure.

for some reason I feel that 12-0 h2h is no good for rafa. I mean, that kind of h2h is bound to change at some point and this could well be it.

stan is playing great and nadal has all the preassure

if stan manages to win one set, just one, doubts will come all over to nadals head, specially if thats the first set.

stan serves great so it will be hard to break him, and nadals serve has been an issue in some matches (remember against dimitrov)

I hope nadal gets it, but the record he is about to get is so big that he could have a moment of weakness, and stan has the tennis to use that moment

Stan is the very definition of a Slamless also-ran pushover, at least that's what they're called by some.

I think he's a really good player with style, but I don't make the rules.

He used to be BB, not so sure now. Stan is uber talented, just lacked a brain before. He's borrowing Magnus's now so who knows.
yes naxroy, as it eventually happened against Djokovic...hadn't he won 13 matches straight before the QF loss? Stan is too good a player, especially now, to never beat Nadal...it's just a question of what he can bring tomorrow. But he s likely to have to play one of the matches of his life and hope Nadal has a flatter than normal day. If Rafa is 90% plus then Stan has no chance because Nadal is simply the better player. However, so is Djokovic but things came good for Stan for once...they may tomorrow (today).

It's not you lydian, but I just love this idea that a guy who's done nothing and scrapes a Slam final is called "2.0" in 2014 and announced as a serious challenge to enhance the legacy of the winner, but 10 years earlier the same type of guy is derided as a waster and a gift Slam.

to both, Nadal and Wawrinka. If Wawrinka can exceed his past 5-set v Djokovic, he can do so against Nadal (as this is in my future, so a what-if is valid, I presume ).

Dimitrov should be a good clue, and Stan came through a close match against Berdych.

The first set will set the tone of the match.

@Lydian… This man could play at 0:16 (Mcenroe/Robinson talk about his Gym work if you listen, as well as Hingis)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvkLNA-SJTs

No, it is me as well BB, I'm not stupid. You're applying the beauty of Stan 1.0 hindsight without seeing what he does in 2014. This Wawrinka is nothing like the player of 2-3 years ago...he pushed Djokovic to the brink 12 months ago, got to a Masters final, lost v. narrowly to Fed at IW, pushed Djokovic to 5 sets at USO (after dismissing Berdy & Murray) and made WTF losing v. narrowly in 2 TBs to Nadal in the group before qualifying for the semis. He also won Chennai coming into the AO.

His results have gone up a couple of levels and the guy is seriously starting to knock on the door of something big. I just said he's practically no chance vs Rafa if RN is 90%+ but you can't simply dismiss a guy who has pushed Djokovic hard over 5 sets each time across 3 matches on HC, winning the recent one. Which guy who pushed a 6 time slam winner in slams like Stan has the past 12 months was derided as a waster 10 years ago?

@BB… Sevrin Luthi was not pushing as hard as Magnus can and does. That is part of my reason for the video link, where you hear Ted Robinson/McEnroe talk. Norman is very similar in mind set to Muster and Soderling, his previous pupil, was pushed hard and results were showing (he beat Nadal in 2009 and Federer in 2010 at consecutive RGs).

Magnus reminds me of Piles pushing Ferrer. Wawrinka 2013-2014 (currently ATP #8) is very close to Wawrinka 2008-2009 (ATP #9-#10).

(http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Stanislas-Wawrinka.aspx?t=rh)

I agree with Lydian that he is not same player he has been between 2009-2012. He has pushed Murray at W in the past, if you recall.

The question is whether he can handle Nadal, or will Nadal just grind him down. Currently, IMVHO, Wawrinka BH is better than Federer's has been at anytime. The other factor is how Wawrinka handles the pressure of a slam Final. He can learn from Magnus, more than he can from Luthi, regarding this specific aspect.

lydian wrote:Perhaps socal but Stan has had 3 days rest. Rafa is favourite but it is Stan 2.0. However, the bad news for Stan is that Rafa has just played 2 hard hitting SHBH guys...Stan (as no-one ever does) hasn't faced anyone like Rafa. The only thing may be that Rafa feels a bit more pressure on this one as it would create an Open Era record (winning each slam twice). Stan is such a massive underdog that surely he can just swing the racquet without pressure.

There is a reason the matchup is so lopsided. Nadal is most troubled by players who stand close to the baseline and take the ball early, and who can handle his high spin on the backhand. Stan is a player for all his power who does not hug the baseline. He generates his power with huge swing and a lot of power. The problem against Nadal with that court positioning is that it gives his ball the opportunity to kick off the court and to generate huge angles. I think this will be the deciding factor in the match up as I feel that Nadal will make Stan cover way too much court. It will take an absolute blinding performance from Stan to win this match because of the heaviness of Nadal's shots and the angles he creates with the spin.

the fact that stan never won a set to nada is dangerous for both.

for stan its obvious... he might think, I am 26-0 in sets... how am I gonna win 3 tonight?

for nadal, it has its danger too, as if stan wins a set, and above all the first one, then nadal will feel in a totally new territory... and who knows

naxroy wrote:the fact that stan never won a set to nada is dangerous for both.

for stan its obvious... he might think, I am 26-0 in sets... how am I gonna win 3 tonight?

for nadal, it has its danger too, as if stan wins a set, and above all the first one, then nadal will feel in a totally new territory... and who knows

Yes but there is a substantive reason why he has never managed a set the match up is bad, I doubt Nadal will be much bothered dropping a set to Stan. The guy has been back up against the wall in numerous slams and pulled through he is a big match player and has so much more experience in this situation than Stan.

Aggressive start from Stan, some rip roaring winners!
2-1 lead

Come on Stan, mince him. Keep it short and dont be scared

there we go, awful decision after good serve and now double fault.

STAN BREAKS!!!! ALLLEEEZZZZ!

Stan breaks, gooo Stan goooo

to be honest, expected start... and the only possible hopeful start for stan

stan serving great, and nadal didnt quite serve bad (despite double fault) but made some bad decisions when leading the rally. this set is going like with dimitrov

but stan is better

Oh Stan baby, keep it up

nadal again starting slow... too risky in a final with a player playing the tennis of his career

He needs a double break I think. He will get a bit tight if it comes to him serving for the set.

Stan the Rocket Man

WOW!
Nadal grinding for his life and stan beautiful down the line backhand

when a player is playing like that you better be solid on serve... and nadal has been all but solid on serve this last week

Good on Stan!

Nadal being made to look very average here.
Stan playing beautifully.
He would dearly love to break here and not have to serve for it

Stan you can do ittttt

Stan absolutely ripping the ball. I hope he can keep it up!

naxroy wrote:for some reason I feel that 12-0 h2h is no good for rafa. I mean, that kind of h2h is bound to change at some point and this could well be it.

stan is playing great and nadal has all the preassure

if stan manages to win one set, just one,  doubts will come all over to nadals head, specially if thats the first set.

stan serves great so it will be hard to break him, and nadals serve has been an issue in some matches (remember against dimitrov)

I hope nadal gets it, but the record he is about to get is so big that he could have a moment of weakness, and stan has the tennis to use that moment

Whilst that looks like it's a possibility today, logically there is no reason that a 12-0 kind of record has to change at all, especially with players of a similar age!

Here is the big one.
Needs as many 1st serves as poss and not errors like that!

Close it Stan, rocket mode ON¡

So unlucky there from Stan. 0-40

Oh noooo, Stan get on the net, dont be scared

Ace Stan deuce it

Yessss deuce

COME ON!

Phew!

awfull nadal. they were all second serves and you were 0-40

Set baby set 6:3 with rocket ace

ALLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEZZZZZZZZ!!!!!
1ST EVER SET TO STAN!

Ok, looks like I was wrong and we could see a battle/a new winner. Long way to go yet though...

2 more consecutive ones please Stanny boi!

if you have a 0-40 in favour, presure is on your rival, all you have to do is oblige your opponent to hit the ball, nadal decided to risk and miss the first two returns on second serves... really cant understand this along with the too many double faults

26-1
and now what?

new territory

lets see how nadal handles this