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?

Yes Gallery, I know a 40 second ankle taping throws Roger off and is an unfair advantage, but Fognini keeping Novak off the court for 4 days doesn't throw Novak off at all does it. Your double standard is real funny, Fognini's 4 day imposed layover effected Novak much more than Rafa's half minute foot taping.

I'm amazed rafa got back into that set - 5 games in a row was awsome considering just how well and just how much pressure Federer was exerting.

Good start to the 2nd also

such talent on show today

What has them being friends got to do with Fognini pulling out? Shows Fognini lacks bottle and respect. Doubt he will ever reach another Grand Slam Quarter Final.

It wasnt a timeout, it was taking some excess strapping off during a break between games. Stop moaning about it.

7 games in a row...

legendkillar wrote:

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!

Ok, a vented/daft post by some one...but, where's the insult?

by legendkillar Today at 3:18 pm

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... steam



Go away if your just going to insult players!

Saying it as I see it...

Infact i've now switched it off as we know what the result is going to be....

Tom_____ wrote:

legendkillar wrote:

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!

Ok, a vented/daft post by some one...but, where's the insult?

He has edited it

This match is far from over...ok he's a set and break up but anything can happen in the match.

Tom_____ wrote:

legendkillar wrote:

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!

Ok, a vented/daft post by some one...but, where's the insult?

I edited it.

Please keep it friendly guys, we have a classic match happening.

legendkillar wrote:

Tom_____ wrote:

legendkillar wrote:

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!

Ok, a vented/daft post by some one...but, where's the insult?

He has edited it

ah.

Roger is by no means out of this. He needs to use the backhand slice because it is just the flat backhand he is using. Variety.

Lydian I'd like to be as positive as you are I want Roger to win it so Novak gets the #1 ranking. But Roger needed that first set a lot more than Rafa did.

I disagree legend, Rafa eats up backhand slice on clay like a fat lady at an all you can eat pizza parlor. Slice plays like rudey poo on a clay court and Rafa just uses it as an opportunity to run around the slow slice and hit an angled forehand off the court. If Roger wants to win he needs to risk it and keep coming over the backhand.

legendkillar wrote:

Tom_____ wrote:

legendkillar wrote:

Josiah Maiestas wrote: ....

Go away if your just going to insult players!

Ok, a vented/daft post by some one...but, where's the insult?

He has edited it

An administrator would have edited it. However the new member Maiestras has shown his intentions with his first post on this forum.

Roger just needs to slow down a bit. Like he did in the first set when he didn't go for shots right away and constructed some fantastic points. Get the game on his momentum.

Rafa looked sick at the start of this match. I agree Federer is by no means out of it - it still looks close all things considered. BUT Rafa looks like he believes now - thats highly significant

Have to say i'm shocked Rafa ended with a higher 1st serve % than Fed in that first set, as after the first few games, rafas serve looked all over the place

legendkillar wrote:What has them being friends got to do with Fognini pulling out? Shows Fognini lacks bottle and respect. Doubt he will ever reach another Grand Slam Quarter Final.

a. Fognini wasn't out to cross Djoko. So why critizise him
b. you're all missing the psychological aspect of what Nadal did, it was a reminder, obviously

But that's the last thing i said bout it

Yes he did need that first set agreed socal but we cant always think that the past will dictate the future. The likelihood is that Nadal will win - and if he does then probably deservedly so - but you never know in this game.

You tend to think that when Nadal comes back at Federer, it gets to Roger and the self-doubt starts to creep in. You can only be impressed though at the ability of Nadal to raise his game - and after the slow start you felt it would always come at some point.

lydian wrote:This match is far from over...ok he's a set and break up but anything can happen in the match.

Thanks for the optimism Lydian, but this match is over.

Why couldn't Novak have won the semi....

socal1976 wrote:I disagree legend, Rafa eats up backhand slice on clay like a fat lady at an all you can eat pizza parlor. Slice plays like rudey poo on a clay court and Rafa just uses it as an opportunity to run around the slow slice and hit an angled forehand off the court. If Roger wants to win he needs to risk it and keep coming over the backhand.

Not always. Murray done it in MC and it bagged him the 2nd set. If he gets the length right, he won't get murdered. At the moment he has upped the tempo and Rafa is killing him out there.

Seems that the serve is the only thing keeping Roger in this right now.

Gallery play lets just says his pull out had a lot to do with how Novak played in the first two sets. and he better not show himself at a wimbeldon warmup in a week or two or there should be a full blown investigation. you answer my question what would throw a player off more a 4 day layover or waiting 40-60 seconds for an ankle being taped?

Beautiful backhand by Roger to keep him in striking distance.

Good hold here by Fed - he IS still in this

To be fair kernet, NoDjo playing Nadal at FO would have been very different than playing him at Masters and Nadal's form is probably now better than when NoDjo played him at the other 4 events this year. Beating Nadal over 5 sets on clay is a monstrous task for anyone...

Well lydian we will never know thanks in part to Fabio fognini and the two sets worth of rust he handed Djokovic.

lydian wrote:To be fair kernet, NoDjo playing Nadal at FO would have been very different than playing him at Masters and Nadal's form is probably now better than when NoDjo played him at the other 4 events this year. Beating Nadal over 5 sets on clay is a monstrous task for anyone...

True, but at least he won't be caving in mentally like Roger is doing here (I admit, I am still watching and hoping against hope)

Roger looks stumped out there. No sign of him trying to change things up.

Nice dropper by roger, come on Rog break back and get this set!!!

Kemet to be fair I think Roger isn't caving mentally, Nadal is just a tough matchup for a single handed backhand on clay.

I am hoping that service game will give Roger some lift.

Fed doesn't appear to be caving in - a lot of these points are close and the unforced errors have reduced a bit in the middle of this set. It just seems that beside going for and making consistent majestic shots that the percentages tip towards NAdal when the two play. Its very slowly moving to Nadal, but this set is not beyond Federer yet, nor is the match.

Rain expected in about 15 minutes ...

One other thing thats interesting is how much the 1st serve means in this match.

stat just ppped up Rafa has only won 36% 2nd serve - very low. Feder, only 30%! basically Federer needs to hit 3-4 first serves per game to convert his serve - thats very hard to do for 5 sets if it stays like this

looking stronger right now tho Fed

Tom, I want fEd to win, but its over my friend. Rafa ain't going to lose even if he gives a break back. Fed had his chance when he was serving for the 1st set.

COME ON FED! Still in this! Only a break down.

Rafa is so good on clay guys, its not Fed mentally caving we are watching the best clay courter ever. Wow what a point, unbelievable fed ends it on a backy up the line. Great point Roger show him why you are the living legend.

Wow what a waste of a break point.

Come on rog get the break back, you can do it!

socal1976 wrote:Tom, I want fEd to win, but its over my friend. Rafa ain't going to lose even if he gives a break back. Fed had his chance when he was serving for the 1st set.

Seriously, do you really think Federer is not good enough to come back from such a position? I know its been 4 years since he last beat Nadal in a slam, but whether he does come back or not, hes far better than that

ARGHHHH! Convert these brak points

come on Roger you got one more break chance.

federer breaks back to 4-4

yes rog, there you go. Do it for the serbinator.

Nice fight back to deuce roger, and he blows a tough forehand volley to give Rafa another break point.

Awesome by Nadal to break straight back

is Fed thinking too much?

Its over now, with all due respect to Roger he just can't deal with Rafa's super spin on a clay court.

socal1976 wrote:Nice fight back to deuce roger, and he blows a tough forehand volley to give Rafa another break point.

And Rafa shuts the door once more. One of the commentators was right. It is SO difficult to win a game against Rafa.

Its not just the spin socal, its his force of will too

Tom it isn't that Fed isn't good enough, Rafa is murder on a single hander on clay court. The one hander doesn't like the high heavy ball and rafa hits about the heaviest ball we have ever seen. Its a technical disadvantage Roger had and he needed that first set a lot worse than Rafa.