2013 French Open SF: Nadal vs. Djokovic

[Murat Baslamisli]

It is amazing how many players gave Nadal fits , breaking him multiple times, but best returner in the game is struggling to get a couple. Obviously Nadal is serving bigger and better but still...

 

[SF Nadalite]

rafa is serving better in set 4...finally

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Nadal's forehand is bouncing so high Nole has no chance. Maybe Isner could handle those with his height....maybe not.

---

Finally a Nole like return and he breaks back.

---

Nadal's defense deadly...Nole must now understand a bit how Roger felt like playing against Rafa in all those finals...everything you throw at him comes back and you end up making the mistake. If you play timid, he punishes you...

Nadal to serve for the tournament, no disrespect.

 

[britbox]

Djokovic showing the heart of a lion.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I love the fight in Nole. Even though he never quite get it going today on a consistent bases , he keeps fighting...

---

Nole is giving himself lots of margin for error on the DTL backhand...he is still pulling that elbow and not swinging freely. I have a feeling if he wins the TB, that elbow might loosen up.

---

Well, my earlier wish for 17-15 for Nole in the fifth still a possibility...

3 hours and 15 minutes so far. Considering who is on the court, this is really fast.

 

[britbox]

Gutsy set from Nole. Mindset of a true champion.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Rafa right now probably looking at the court watering guy and thinking" Stop it...that's enough...I mean it..!"

---

Nole sensing blood in the water...3 break points...

 

[shawnbm]

I think regardless of the outcome, I can safely place Novak in the company of Connors, Borg, and Rafa in terms of fighting through and winning on grit. The guy is a true champion--even if he ends up losing this.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Best returner in the game showing why...

---

...and one of the best defenders showing why it is not over till it is over.

---

what a point!...Nole had to do everything perfect to win that point.

---

Rafa making a couple of weak errors for his standarts...This last service game , he could have broken I thought...

---

It feels like the level from both players dropped like a tiny percent...or maybe it is just me...I got spoiled.uzzled

 

[tennisville]

the radio made it seem like the level improved . nadal hit 3 backhand winners

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

the radio made it seem like the level improved . nadal hit 3 backhand winners

They might be right...it is constantly changing. One minute a couple of lame backhands from Nadal, the next minute both their forehands are exploding...

 

[lindseywagners]

This just isn't an exciting match. I am watching it on Eurosport, which doesn't have the broadcast capabilities of an NBC (so maybe that's part of it - not being able to hear the crowd as clearly), but it just seems rather dull.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I don't know lindsey, maybe it is not the highest quality I have ever seen, but i find it exciting.

---

Nadal with a break point...forehand saves the day.

---

You cannot SHANK at break point man...what are you , Roger?

---

He touched the net...Rafa gets the point. WOW

---

Nole is pumped...He should start getting some first serves in though...

 

[lindseywagners]

I don't know lindsey, maybe it is not the highest quality I have ever seen, but i find it exciting.

---

Nadal with a break point...forehand saves the day.

---

You cannot SHANK at break point man...what are you , Roger?

---

---

That's what I mean: it builds but then it falls with a forehand error. If this were to really hold the intensity, Nadal would have smacked a return winner on that break chance instead of rallying and then eventually mishitting.

This net touch by Djokovic has things stirring a little.

 

[tennisville]

what a fightback

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Rafa's crazy defending gets him the break. Back to level.

 

[lindseywagners]

Is anyone watching the NBC/ESPN (I don't know who is covering it in the States) broadcast? I'm curious as to how those commentators are reacting. I think these Eurosport commentators say too much and don't let the match tell the story.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Huge hold from Nole. Still had to hit one more shot than he liked to to win it. rafa 's defense just out of this world.

---

Nole needed that easy hold I think. Let's see how rafa reacts...uhm...he reacts by killing the forehand...Huuge...

---

There is no more watering of this court...It will get drier and drier. Slight edge to Rafa. He still has to play.

 

[britbox]

Is anyone watching the NBC/ESPN (I don't know who is covering it in the States) broadcast? I'm curious as to how those commentators are reacting. I think these Eurosport commentators say too much and don't let the match tell the story.

I'm watching Foxtel in Australia. The commentators don't say too much, which is good.

 

[shawnbm]

Why no more watering of the court?