Australian Open Day 10-14 - Djokurray! And others! :P

First topic message reminder :

Well some of you hardcore mob will no doubt be up watching the first round matches and even up first thing if your boarding the Fed Express. I will be utilising the power of Sky+!

So we have Federer, Nadal, Murray, Berdych, Gulbis and Dimitov all in action on the men's side.

On the ladies we have Halep, Sharapova, Bouchard, Ivanovic, Kerber and young gun Bencic.

Should be an action packed day.

hawkeye wrote:

I'm excited about FEDAL's prospective semi. It will be like a disco

Why it will be as competitive as watching eskimos club baby seals?

Dimi takes the third set and Federer all set to take the third set as Bolelli struggles to maintain that high standard.

Fed 5:1 up on forth set.

Bolelli had a good 2 sets on him.

Interesting to see Kyrgios so far taking care of Karlovic relatively easily. 2 sets up and yet to even be taken to deuce on his own serve. This kid really looks the real deal.

If Murray an Dimitrov reach round 4, when is that match likely to be? Would it be Sunday night / Monday morning?

Want to book that day off to ensure I can watch it.

This chap is more than holding is own against Nadal here. 3 set points for one all here.

Astonishing. Nadal has just lost 8 consecutive points on his own serve.

At 2 nil down in third, Rafa breaks back and then Nadal calls trainer. It's all very interesting. Smyczek (?) played by far his worst game yet to be broken back. He's so pumped.

Nadal break up in third. But far from over...proper battle.

Nadal saved two break points. Gets a time warning. And moves 5 3 ahead. Suddenly the big points are going in his favour

Smyczek breaks back!! What a game. Nadal even applaudef Smyczek after one point.

Tie break...Tim got mini break at 2:1

Smyczek 2 sets to 1 up. Playing really well. Nadal looks all the world a beaten man. Looks really tired. That being said, I hope he doesn't take a 6 minute break like at the end of last set.

Something has mentally gone here with Rafa. It is not pleasant viewing.

It's admirable he's sticking this out. He's just absolutely knackered. Still on serve in 4th. He's change in tactic seems to be doing ok..just belt it.

He looks physically shot to me. I have just joined the coverage but apparently complaining of dizziness during his time out. It is a weird situation where he knows he is on the brink but also that if he hangs on in there he could turn it around. Rafa looks to be trying to end rallies quickly - a sign of physical discomfort.

His big chance is that he's playing an absolute nobody.

He is just cooked. For what ever reason. Nadal breaks. This has completely thrown Tim

Smyczek needs to control his errors for any hope to win despite the scoreline.

Playing a nobody doesn't help when you're in this condition. Playing a nobody who has gotten incredibly tight on the other hand...

bogbrush wrote:His big chance is that he's playing an absolute nobody.

But surely he must be thinking Rosol, Darcis and Kyrgios? Rafa breaks and we could be going the distance.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

bogbrush wrote:His big chance is that he's playing an absolute nobody.

But surely he must be thinking Rosol, Darcis and Kyrgios? Rafa breaks and we could be going the distance.

They were all big lads with power, and Kyrgios is young and hungry.

Tim is titchy.

Somehow Smyczek v Nadal reminds me of Pouille v Monfils.

Suddenly Rafa is back grunting and umphing. And taking his time between serves again...

So a decider.

kingraf wrote:Playing a nobody doesn't help when you're in this condition. Playing a nobody who has gotten incredibly tight on the other hand...

There is another nobody (aka Sela) next in line for Nadal.

Commentators are spot on - this is all about survival for Rafa.

Dammit, Nadal needs to draw Djokovic and Co early. These people I've never heard of are bloody tough

Is it only my TV provider where the commentary sounds... hollow? Like they're speaking into a tunnel.

It's not a side of Rafa I particularly like. The glaring changes in attitude depending on how the match is going. He's a bundle of energy compared to how he was throughout that 4th especially at the start

Comment from Mats just summed it up for me. "The level has gone back up. Nadal is back in the fighting mood". Think that is spot on.

Johnyjeep wrote:Comment from Mats just summed it up for me. "The level has gone back up. Nadal is back in the fighting mood". Think that is spot on.

After all these years you'd have thought they'd worked it out that he's always in the fighting mood, it's just what play he uses at the moment.....

Yup. Suddenly Nadal is bouncing around the court again. Side to side. He won't lose it now.

Saying that, what a hold.

If I pretend to be surprised that Rafa is having to battle through an early round, do I also have to pretend to be surprised when he hits top form around the semi final?

Id still be surprised if he manages to bluff his way through this one.

That said, hes hitting the ball really well, but he looks totally un match fit and knackered. Maybe time for some smaller tournament matches to try and get his fitness up.

HM Murdoch wrote:If I pretend to be surprised that Rafa is having to battle through an early round, do I also have to pretend to be surprised when he hits top form around the trophy presentation?

Fixed that for you

Stop slicing back the serve!!

Hes vamosing and jumping, but then hes also still out on his feet, I think hes just hiding it now,

4-4

temporary21 wrote:
4-4

As Slur Alex Whiskynose (©bogbrush) would say, "squeaky bum time".

I agree. I don't doubt he's on fumes. Really not match fit at all. But his attitude at times in the 3rd and especially the 4th was poor. Great effort though.

Nadal 4-5 down in the fifth; tremendous pressure

Love hold 5-5

Johnyjeep wrote:I agree. I don't doubt he's on fumes. Really not match fit at all. But his attitude at times in the 3rd and especially the 4th was poor. Great effort though.

Yeah it was, he look a bit resigned, then his opponent gave him the break and he believed again.

Wow I wish I could be watching this. Is this like Robert Kendrick at wimby where after an early tournament scare Nadal goes on to win the tournament or is this a reflection of how far he has to go in terms of form to get back to where he was.

Thats a big pass though....

socal1976 wrote:Wow I wish I could be watching this. Is this like Robert Kendrick at wimby where after an early tournament scare Nadal goes on to win the tournament or is this a reflection of how far he has to go in terms of form to get back to where he was.

The latter, hes hitting it really well, but his physical endurance is gone at the moment, he needs to get it back

Hws broken though, Nadal leads 6-5

IF Nadal does finish this, he wont have Rosol, it'll be Dudi Sela, was not quit as big a hitter (and a shbh)

Ive noticed form these matches that Nadals CCfh no longer hurts opponents much anymore, its like theyve sussed out how to deal with it

Physical endurance is gone when you're outlasting an opponent late in the 5th?

Wow, the Americans just given nadal his 1st serve back after someone called out



40-0 but a lovely gesture as well