Australian Open 2014 Men's Final

First topic message reminder :

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 

Does Stan not understand he need not aim for the lines anymore?

He's going to play with more freedom for a bit- he's had a rest and some treatment, but the back will come back and I'll be amazed if we get to 4 sets

Come on Stan, dont take the bait.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Hahahahahaha!

Nadal acting injured to get the crowd on his side and now he Breaks.

He has done this before at Wimbledon   

JM you know that hole you have in the middle of your face can you put this in it 

3-0.
Stan mentally way off atm.

Stan is thinking about that Aussie title just a bit too early...

This is Rafael Nadal we are talking about

Murray's done this before. It's no surprise to see Nadal suddenly playing well again. I just hope Ginny Wade says something...

Yes Wawrinka had won the first set...but the match was not a foregone conclusion up to the back injury no matter what purple patch Stan was going through. Crossing the finishing line in set 2 & 3 wouldn't have been straight forward. The anti-inflammatories may kick in but Nadal isn't serving above 150k and can't rotate properly so this would take a miracle to reverse.

I am only following match on live commentary on BBC site and did feel Stan would give him a good match. It is a shame for Stan but I don't think anyone will begrudge him a slam win. As for posts above many are nauseous for their nastiness quite frankly. Rafa (by all accounts ) is in great pain but is soldiering on yet all he is getting is spiteful comments.

Break him Stan, nowww

Did someone order a Haddie? Anyone?

Cannot believe anyone thought Nadal was "injured" especially you bogbrush, he choked for 2 sets and used his "tactic"

And Stan seems to take it

Code:

4-1.
Come on stan!

Nadal's BH was off from the start (and yes Stan was playing great) so I think his back was tight, then went. It's not coming back, Nadal has to simply play with what he has and go for winners now.

Before the match:

Nadal has never lost a set to him, he will run riot!

   

Nadal is now playing completely different tennis to normal though. Still don't think he can win though

No Nadal fan said that JM, I was the one plugging Stan's ability, it was BB comparing him to journeymen from 10 years ago.

This reminds me a lot of set 2 when Nadal played Murray in Rotterdam 09. Nadal somehow won it despite being injured as Murray got completely thrown and couldn't decide what to do. Stan doing something similar here.

More like it stan, get this break come on!

Personally, I could see nothing wrong with Nadal up until 0-2 in the second set. Then he hurt himself. That's how I saw it.

Now a couple of anti-inflammatories and a couple of rubs his movement looks fine, although his serve isn't quite 100%.

Stan seems to have lost all momentum because of it.

Serve getting faster.......

lydian wrote:No Nadal fan said that JM, I was the one plugging Stan's ability, it was BB comparing him to journeymen from 10 years ago.

Not in here, I am making the point that H2H means absolutely nothing in a future match...

Nadal settings records for short time between his serves

What a bh that is when its on song!

Sensual winner there

Mid 170's now.

Orgasmic BH

lydian wrote:No Nadal fan said that JM, I was the one plugging Stan's ability, it was BB comparing him to journeymen from 10 years ago.

To be precise, I was referring to the jargon used to describe single final opponents of 10 years ago.

Born Slippy wrote:This reminds me a lot of set 2 when Nadal played Murray in Rotterdam 09. Nadal somehow won it despite being injured as Murray got completely thrown and couldn't decide what to do. Stan doing something similar here.

Stan needs to target the back, or just start doing what he was earlier

This would be the weakest era ever if Stan gives this up.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:

lydian wrote:No Nadal fan said that JM, I was the one plugging Stan's ability, it was BB comparing him to journeymen from 10 years ago.

Not in here, I am making the point that H2H means absolutely nothing in a future match...

You make a comment ... but never a point   

Forget this set. Start serving on 4th amd run Stan, runnnn

Nadal didn't even run for that.

I think Stan's just getting his head together now. Come on the Stanimal!!

Rafa still doesn't have the movement

Break him

No need to go for that, Stan...

ChequeredJersey wrote:Rafa still doesn't have the movement

Looks fine to me.

Weak serve but ok

6;3 Nadal, somehow...

Stan Stan Stan - got to get it together.

2-1
Come on Stan fight!

Hmmm, tad dodgy if Rafa wins this and I am a Rafa fan

Stan's in deep trouble....

This is what he gets for thinking he won before the match is over.

Anything can happen.

Stan was unbelievably pathetic in that set. Acted like it was over already.

What happens now?

Stan literally shot himself in the foot that set. He committed so many unforced errors whilst being emotionally volatile. At least we have a match again, sort of, i think...

It's pretty clear when Rafa hurt his back then!

Well, watching the start of the second set I didn't have any idea how Rafa was going to change the momentum of this match. But here we are, it's changed.

This is a monumental test for Stan now. Mentally.

As I said at the start of the third, not over by any means. Stan needs to try to refocus.

Get your balls together Stan, focus baby focus