French Open discussion thread

[Danny_1982]

First topic message reminder :

Murray is surely going to go all out attack in the SF. I can't see him beating Nadal who is starting to look close to his peak form. However, if he can give him a tough match that will be very encouraging for Wimbledon.

Yep, it'll be all guns blazing I imagine. Going after every return he can and trying to end points quickly. It'll be fun to watch, but if you offered me a 4 set defeat for Muzza now I'd bite your hand off.

[bogbrush]

A lot of holding going on; not typical.

Nadal is covering a lot of ground.

Djokovic hoping for the promised poor weather to arrive.

[socal1976]

wow what a forehand up the line by Nadal

[socal1976]

wow what a fh up the line by nole

[socal1976]

there the break cmon Nole, hold your serve

[Guest]

Advantage Novak!

[invisiblecoolers]

the ball is travelling faster through the air, what ball are they using?

[socal1976]

Now he is giving it back, 0-30

[socal1976]

S and V by Nole down 0-30 that is some cajones amigo

[kingraf]

Two break points

[socal1976]

A lot of UEs off forehand for Nadal so far

[Guest]

Rafa mistiming his FH a couple of times in that game. The Novak factor for sure.

[slashermcguirk]

Come on Novak!

[socal1976]

There it goes baby set number 1 for the serbinator

[kingraf]

Two absolute rank misses on break point

[invisiblecoolers]

Is that just me or anybody else notice Djoko breathing hard and looks a bit tired already? is that due to nerves of closing the set and saving the breaks? or he is physically already worn ?

Whatever congrats Nole on winning 1st set, I am still confident its gonna be 5 sets and Djoko to win the 5th set.

[Jahu]

Wake up Rafa.

[summerblues]

So far so good.  Rafa showing nerves in the game he got broken and then both showing nerves in the following game.

This match has so far played out exactly the way I expected.  But Rafa will not go down easy, even though I think that if Nole plays really well Rafa will have no answers - even in favorable conditions - I do not see him losing in straights.

And if Nole slips ever so slightly...

[Josiah Maiestas]

Novak is 1/3 of the way to his title   

[socal1976]

Djokovic looks on form right now, so much for the weather deciding this match

[socal1976]

Nice hold there for Nadal

[socal1976]

2 stupid drop shots in a row

[Danny_1982]

It's ideal conditions for Rafa though socal which makes the start by Novak all the more impressive!

[NickisBHAFC]

Great shot by Nadal there!

[socal1976]

exactly Danny, it isn't about the weather it is about who brings it on the day

[bogbrush]

Djokovic looks on form right now, so much for the weather deciding this match

To clarify, that's not my view.

Wet / damp gives this to Djokovic no question; this is neutral so I favour Djokovic. It's only a furnace type that I give it to Nadal.

[socal1976]

Djokovic looks on form right now, so much for the weather deciding this match

To clarify, that's not my view.

Wet / damp gives this to Djokovic no question; this is neutral so I favour Djokovic. It's only a furnace type that I give it to Nadal.

Don't get me wrong I agree it is a factor but I don't think it is as determinative as some are making it.

[invisiblecoolers]

To be frank Nadal plays better in a losing match, so Djoko has his game on from here.

[socal1976]

body serve one of the things that are really working for Nadal. You feel like Novak is so good on the stretch it is almost better to hit it right at him.

[invisiblecoolers]

DJoko need to target Rafa's running forehand compared to backhand, Rafa's backhand so far is amazing.

[bogbrush]

I wonder if / when the clouds are coming? Perhaps the most important thing Djokovic has done by winning the first is to extend this into late afternoon for sure.

[Danny_1982]

Nobody deals with Rafa like this on clay. Gonna try and put the ball shoulder height? Fine, I'll step in and hit it on the rise. Gonna cover your backhand side? Fine, I'll go to the forehand more often as I think I can deal with it. Gonna play cross court most the time? Fine, I'll take it on the rise AND down the line!

He makes what everyone else finds so difficult, look so easy.

[socal1976]

great post Danny it is true no one can hang with Nadal on clay like this especially because I don't thing Nadal has played poorly. But I still don't feel comfortable in this match a strong service hold there and Nadal starting to click on the forehand.

[socal1976]

Stunning point there by both players great net play by Djoko

[bogbrush]

I doubt even Nadal can run like this for 5 sets. He's going to have to start shortening the rallies.

[socal1976]

BP Nadal, good response by him this second set.

[socal1976]

wow what an overrule there that hawkeye confirms back to deuce

[socal1976]

Djokovic hits an overhead hurray

[socal1976]

got the break

[invisiblecoolers]

Djoko is completely tired, thats the tired way of losing the point, hope Djoko don't end up a Ferrer.

[kingraf]

Imagine that, Djokovic nailed an
overhead, got to advantage, and still
got broken... just goes to show the
whole "woulda won if he nailed the
overhead" theory isn't an exact
science

[kingraf]

Imagine that, Djokovic nailed an
overhead, got to advantage, and still
got broken... just goes to show the
whole "woulda won if he nailed the
overhead" theory isn't an exact
science

[socal1976]

What a warrior Djoko breaks right back, how you like me now

[skyeman]

Great reply, Nadal went sloppy.

[invisiblecoolers]

Nadal now looks tired given the way he delivered the double fault.

They both need a MTO before the 3rd set.

[skyeman]

Nadal at the moment, for a change looks like a player thinking {what can i do}.

[invisiblecoolers]

Nervous hold for Djoko.

[bogbrush]

Djokovic is a fool trying to hit stingers off the return, he doesn't need to.

[kingraf]

Some awful errors at key points here from Nadal. Still, 20 games away from 37 games at 15/10

[socal1976]

Nadal's backhand has been much better than his forehand so far this match

[Jahu]

Rafa break him now, take the set or go home!!

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