Le Big Match - Nadal v Federer

First topic message reminder :

After a breathtaking day of semi finals, we have our two men to compete in the final.

Who wins?

keep coming over the return Roger don't give in, don't chip the backhand return that is what the wants.

kemet wrote:

Nore Staat wrote:Maybe, maybe - while Rafael and Novak have been taking the glory during the masters series, Roger has been focusing himself on devising a strategy for the slams...

There's a long way to go though.

Yes it may not be enough but it would demonstrate his commitment to adapt his game and continue to make a real challenge in the slams.

Nadal asked for the trainer?

Nadal's playing the injury card again it seems...

Very nice Roger, this is the perfect game plan for Rafa. Serve him wide, don't chip the backhand especially on the return, and move in when you can. Very nice indeed. Give us another 2 hours of this and Rafa will be in big trouble.

Trainer just took off some ankle straps.

This, fellow posters, is a tactical time out!
Remember Hamburg 2008?

Can't believe Nadal still does it to his friend

Beautiful return, don't chip the backhand return Roger come over it, take the errors but keep coming over the backhand return. Excellent.

Federer really is a special player. I love watching him in full flow.

Wow what a backhand pass by rafa, patented, no one hits it better. How does he pass like that off the backhand!

Serve it out Roger your playing beautiful, just as well as in the semi at least so far.

Eirebilly, very specal indeed. Was this the guy that got straight setted by Juergen Melzer?

Federer needs to focus on those serves.

The French crowd are an absolute disgrace. Calling out during points and booing if a call goes against Federer. They are worse than a US Ryder Cup crowd. Just appalling. Some great tennis being played and they are playing their part trying to ruin it.

uh oh, break point on a bad backhand error. Come on Roger don't lose it here.

Roger missing the first serves and Rafael breaks.

Omg for an inch on the net. Go Fed

Unbelievable Rafa how does he get to that, how does he come up with such a passing shot there? Really brilliant on break point. roger played a good point and still lost.

socal1976 wrote:Unbelievable Rafa how does he get to that, how does he come up with such a passing shot there? Really brilliant on break point. roger played a good point and still lost.

Roger is finding a new way to p$#$ me off

Omg for an inch on the net. Go Fed

Rafa has done well to pull himself back into this first set. Federer's tactics have been superb, especially with the backhand not trying to rip it right away and has played his way into trouble in this first set.

Rafa does what he does best and ties it up in the first set, he just has such confidence playing fed on this court.

God's sake. First serve down, backhand down, go on FED!!

Rafa is just ripping the passing shots right not basically like only he can. Roger has played a good first set and looks like he is going to lose it.

Nice Roger needed a couple of good first serves and got it!

The king of clay just showing too much game right now.

No idea why Fed ran in behind the forehand, should've done it with the backhand!! Not looking good for Federer. Some great serving from Roger, but it is falling away from him.

What does Roger have to do to win a point.

Roger Roger Roger. Deary me. Some bad decision making on points has cost him this set.

Rafa breaks...I can't watch this anymore...

Rafa serving for the set after all that. That is the problem for Roger, Rafa just has so much belief against him on this court. Borg record looks like it might be tied to today. The number #1 doesn't look like he wants to go out quietly into the sunset.

socal1976 wrote:Roger has played a good first set and looks like he is going to lose it.

Yeah, the tactical time out worked well...just like in Hamburg 2008

Here we go again: the boxer against the wrestler. The boxer was dancing but the wrestler drags him to the ground

Ok gallery, Roger had a 4 day tactical time out in the semi, I don't want here about him having to wait 40 extra seconds. Looked to me like Rafa's foot needed to be taped so what.

I think Fed's needs some of the Djokovic tough mentality against Nadal.

5-2 up and Roger gifts Rafa a safe passage back into it....

Roger why did you bother showing up today?

Should have let Djokovic through...

Fed defeating himself, throwing balls out of court.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:5-2 up and Roger gifts Rafa a safe passage back into it....

Roger why did you bother showing up today?

Should have let Djokovic through...

Go away if your just going to insult players!

Now we are seeing why it was no disgrace Andy lost to Rafa Nadal.

Kudos to Nadal. Hung in there and held it together. He looked done for at 3-0. Have to question some of Rogers shot selections in the latter half of that set.

Wow - what a forehand to win the set!
5 games in a row....and worryingly Federer cant play much better.

This is Hamburg 2008 all over again.....

Federer faltered on his serving - first serve percentage fell away ...

kemet wrote:This is Hamburg 2008 all over again.....

Including the time out

gallery play wrote:

kemet wrote:This is Hamburg 2008 all over again.....

Including the time out

Stop your moaning about the MTO. Roger had the set for the taking and didn't. MTO doesn't win matches.

Gallery, both players got a time out with the extra 40 seconds or so. Its not such a big deal.

socal1976 wrote:Ok gallery, Roger had a 4 day tactical time out in the semi, I don't want here about him having to wait 40 extra seconds. Looked to me like Rafa's foot needed to be taped so what.

How dare you after your endless nagging about Fognini? who happens to be a friend of Djoko BTW

gallery play wrote:

socal1976 wrote:Ok gallery, Roger had a 4 day tactical time out in the semi, I don't want here about him having to wait 40 extra seconds. Looked to me like Rafa's foot needed to be taped so what.

How dare you after your endless nagging about Fognini? who happens to be a friend of Djoko BTW

You're comparing a MTO to Fognini pulling out of the tournament with a smile on his face???

Rafa is rolling now, too much super Rafa. Have to give credit to the man. Legend don't be so hard on Josiah, let him have his opinion.

Again: Fognini is a friend of Djoko