2014 Aussie Open Final: Nadal vs. Wawrinka

[nehmeth]

Unfortunately, what I feared would happen, did happen. Many "responsible" news sites are spouting headlines:

"Stan Wawrinka beats injured Rafael Nadal to win Australian Open" or variations on that theme.

Even if that is true, Stan played some of the best tennis of his life to unquestionably lead/dominate the match until the injury/MTO, was able to win despite the mental trauma caused by his friend's apparently debilitating injury, so why couldn't he get a more respectable headline, like;

"Stan Wawrinka's power breaks down Nadal to win Australian Open"

Stan Wawrinka beats an injured Rafael Nadal for Australian Open title

- CBS News

Wawrinka beats injured Nadal to capture Aussie Open title

- Foxnews

Australian Open: Stanislas Wawrinka beats injured Rafael Nadal to claim maiden grand slam title

- ABC

Wawrinka beats injured Nadal to capture Australian Open

- The Globe and Mail

Wawrinka upsets injured Nadal to win Australian Open title in Melbourne

- Daily Mail UK

Just disgraceful...

At least the BBC was kinder:

Australian Open 2014: Stanislas Wawrinka beats Nadal in final

- BBC

Respectfully,
masterclass

You know what? I betcha his coach will round up all those headlines lay them on the table and use them to fire up Stan for their next meeting. Not saying it will lead to a win, but I know it will motivate him.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Even if that is true, Stan played some of the best tennis of his life to unquestionably lead/dominate the match until the injury/MTO, was able to win despite the mental trauma caused by his friend's apparently debilitating injury, so why couldn't he get a more respectable headline, like;

Seriously buddy, I don't know what your problem is. As you yourself say, it's true. So why shouldn't it be reported? You want to censor this information and make it look like the match was different to what it was?

It's not like Stan was home and hosed when it happened...

For the life of me, I still can't understand the uproar. As if pointing out that Nadal was injured is some sort of agenda-driven disrespect against Stan's achievement. I guess we should just start sugarcoating the truth from now on.

I guess referring to that infamous Bulls-Jazz match as "the flu game" is an insult to the Jazz. How dare everyone report that Jordan had the flu even though it was obvious he could barely walk? The media is making it sound like the Jazz were beaten by a sick man. Wait, what? They actually were? Oh my god the horror!

 

[House]

Just finished watching the replay. Huge respect to Nadal for the way he greeted Stan at the net following the loss.

I wonder how many of those Swiss flags were brought for Fed, but kept for Stan

 

[Cosmo]

Hi Moxie- sorry for your loss- I know we take it to heart when our guys lose. It's hard.

I have not seen any instances of Rafa being raked over the coals by the press (not by detractors, as they are called apparently) this a.m. - point me in the right direction haha!

 

[brokenshoelace]

You know what? I betcha his coach will round up all those headlines lay them on the table and use them to fire up Stan for their next meeting. Not saying it will lead to a win, but I know it will motivate him.

Even better: I really don't think Stan or his coach care, nor should they. Winning your first slam is enough motivation. At least that's what it should be.

 

[Front242]

You know what? I betcha his coach will round up all those headlines lay them on the table and use them to fire up Stan for their next meeting. Not saying it will lead to a win, but I know it will motivate him.

Even better: I really don't think Stan or his coach care, nor should they. Winning your first slam is enough motivation. At least that's what it should be.

Yup. Worked for Murray. There was a lot of talk about him only winning his first slam because of the wind but he beat the same guy again at Wimbledon. Has to be doing something right.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

By the way, how is Federer feeling about all this? Besides feeling happy for Stan?

Yeah!

Stan: And then I looked up to God, and it happened! I won! Roger: Cool story, bro.

Respectfully,
masterclass

:snigger :laydownlaughing

 

[masterclass]

Rafa is a great player, no doubt one of the greats, and I give him full credit when he wins like he did against Federer in the SF, where he played incredibly to beat him handily.

But seriously, the only trouble I have with what Rafa said, is in his interview, where he said that he was injured before the match started, in the warm up no less.

That is a low blow to his friend Stan. By saying that, he contradicts his other verbal credits, with the implication that the injury held him back from playing better the whole match and takes even more away from Stan's performance than he already did by suffering injury requiring attention well into the match.

There was no hint of an injury until that second game of the second set, visually, statistically, or otherwise. If there was some niggle, it didn't affect his play, so why mention it?

Respectfully,
masterclass

 

[brokenshoelace]

Just finished watching the replay. Huge respect to Nadal for the way he greeted Stan at the net following the loss.

I wonder how many of those Swiss flags were brought for Fed, but kept for Stan

Yeah, I think both showed exemplary attitude really, given how difficult the circumstances were for everyone involved. Honestly, that was one of the most sincere hand-shakes I've seen in a slam final, from both really. It was actually a heartwarming moment. I also give Stan all the respect in the world for such a muted celebration out of respect for his injured opponent. I wouldn't have faulted the man for tearing his shirt off (though thank god he didn't), as he'd just won his first major. All things considered, I thought both handled it very, very well.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Rafa is a great player, no doubt one of the greats, and I give him full credit when he wins like he did against Federer in the SF, where he played incredibly to beat him handily.

But seriously, the only trouble I have with what Rafa said, is in his interview, where he said that he was injured before the match started, in the warm up no less.

That is a low blow to his friend Stan. By saying that, he contradicts his other verbal credits, with the implication that the injury held him back from playing better the whole match and takes even more away from Stan's performance than he already did by suffering injury requiring attention well into the match.

There was no hint of an injury until that second game of the second set, visually, statistically, or otherwise. If there was some niggle, it didn't affect his play, so why mention it?

Respectfully,
masterclass

He explicitly pointed out that he felt discomfort in the warm up (as opposed to flat out injured) but he was fine in the first set.

 

[herios]

Masterclass, North American press sucks!
!
The brits are classy, look at Telegraph headline:
"Stanislas Wawrinka upsets the odds to beat Rafael Nadal and claim 2014 Australian Open title"

This is how it should be written

 

[19USC66]

As we all know Nadal only loses because of injury and for a man with so many maladies the man has never gotten hurt when winning. It's a miracle. You gotta laugh.

 

[Front242]

By the way, how is Federer feeling about all this? Besides feeling happy for Stan?

Yeah! Thanks bud, I've still got a 4 slam lead over Rafa now!

Stan: Piece of cake, man, he was walking like Quasimodo from the 2nd set Roger: Man, that sucks. He was fine against me !

Respectfully,
masterclass

:snigger :laydownlaughing

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

anyway..this loss means that's its a shoe-in that captain vamos will win the French open,

he will carry the pain around with him and wait for his revenge in paris.

 

[brokenshoelace]

By the way, on a completely unrelated note, there was one point that made me chuckle:

After Rafa hurt his back in the second set, he was serving at 1-5 down, and Wawrinka had a set point. Rafa clearly wanted to throw it away, so after he missed his first serve, he hit a 120 Kph second serve...and slowly followed it to the net. Wawrinka hits a hard return at his shoelaces, which Nadal picks up for an incredible half volley, the reacts brilliantly to the second passing shot attempt with a put away forehand punch volley. If Rafa was actually trying to win that point, he'd have lost it. Goes to show you what nerves do. Novak missed a far easier volley on match-point.

No idea why I brought this up, but I thought it was funny.

 

[19USC66]

Masterclass, North American press sucks!
!
The brits are classy, look at Telegraph headline:
"Stanislas Wawrinka upsets the odds to beat Rafael Nadal and claim 2014 Australian Open title"

This is how it should be written

Yes bless the Brits heart. They get it.

 

[Kieran]

Masterclass, North American press sucks!
!
The brits are classy, look at Telegraph headline:
"Stanislas Wawrinka upsets the odds to beat Rafael Nadal and claim 2014 Australian Open title"

This is how it should be written

This is the Telegraph article.

First 3 paragraphs?

Rafael Nadal was struck down by a back spasm today in the middle of the Australian Open final, turning what was promising to be a thrilling match into one of the strangest spectacles this sport has seen for years.

The immediate consequence is that Stan Wawrinka has joined the gilded inner circle of grand slam champions. He is the first man to break the stranglehold of the “big four” since Juan Martin del Potro won the 2009 US Open.

But the narrative was complicated by Nadal’s injury, which knocked Wawrinka off his big-hitting game for a while. The Swiss lost the third set in an otherwise dominant 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory, which was the period when Nadal was least able to move around the court.

Seriously lads, I don't know why you want to censor the press, or act as if this didn't happen. Can only conclude it's your bias against Rafa... :nono

 

[brokenshoelace]

Masterclass, North American press sucks!
!
The brits are classy, look at Telegraph headline:
"Stanislas Wawrinka upsets the odds to beat Rafael Nadal and claim 2014 Australian Open title"

This is how it should be written

Daily Mail and BBC are not North American press. They're Brits

 

[Fiero425]

Rafa is a great player, no doubt one of the greats, and I give him full credit when he wins like he did against Federer in the SF, where he played incredibly to beat him handily.

But seriously, the only trouble I have with what Rafa said, is in his interview, where he said that he was injured before the match started, in the warm up no less.

That is a low blow to his friend Stan. By saying that, he contradicts his other verbal credits, with the implication that the injury held him back from playing better the whole match and takes even more away from Stan's performance than he already did by suffering injury requiring attention well into the match.

There was no hint of an injury until that second game of the second set, visually, statistically, or otherwise. If there was some niggle, it didn't affect his play, so why mention it?

Respectfully,
masterclass

Here, here! :clap :clap Stan also had to mute his exaltation in winning AO in respect for Nadal! When is Nadal respectful of someone he defeated? Never!!! You don't see it! He'll be falling on the court, jumping up and down, and fist pumping if the roles were reversed! Such a freakin' hypocrite; along with his sychophants! :lolz: :lolz: :nono :angel:

 

[Front242]

There's no way Nadal would've had a mad celebration if his opponent couldn't move properly. I guarantee that.