2014 Aussie Open QF: Nadal vs. Dimitrov

[DarthFed]

Those are exactly the mistakes Roger will make. Doesn't matter how bad Rafa plays in that matchup. AO 2012 Roger played well coming in.

Yup. I remember so many sports editors had him heavy favourite there based on form and past victories here and look how he played that match against Rafa after having been so good leading up to it.

Exactly, that match ended up being a practice session for Rafa by the 4th set.

3rd set was decided by a tie-break. In the 4th set, Nadal was down a break at 2-4, and when serving for the match, had to save a break point. Hardly a practice session.

If Nadal plays this badly against Federer, he loses.

He was never down a break in the 4th, he was down one in the 3rd and broke back at love and easily won the tiebreak.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Those are exactly the mistakes Roger will make. Doesn't matter how bad Rafa plays in that matchup. AO 2012 Roger played well coming in.

Yup. I remember so many sports editors had him heavy favourite there based on form and past victories here and look how he played that match against Rafa after having been so good leading up to it.

Exactly, that match ended up being a practice session for Rafa by the 4th set.

3rd set was decided by a tie-break. In the 4th set, Nadal was down a break at 2-4, and when serving for the match, had to save a break point. Hardly a practice session.

If Nadal plays this badly against Federer, he loses.

If you understood your favorite player at all, you wouldn't even raise that possibility.

Kieran understands Rafa infinitely more than you ever will - because he can actually understand how people think.

Agreed in full. Can you write this post in French?

 

[calitennis127]

There is absolutely no basis in arguing that Nadal is playing well. The UFEs are horrendous by his standards to say the least (and at the AO they are usually forgiving - so he probably has more). He is just spinning his first serve in, so afraid he is to expose his second serve. So many times he starts the point on neutral even on serve (no 1-2 punch). His forehand change of direction whether it's inside out or DTL is absolutely abysmal. Every time he tries to attack, he basically misses.

Oddly enough the saving grace (somewhat) for Rafa has been his backhand from the backcourt. He's generally been solid swinging from the baseline from that wing. Suffice to say, Nadal would have lost today to a top player especially Djokovic IMO. It is rather fortunate that he faces someone who is relatively inexperienced as Dmitrov (who has still given a very good account of himself BTW).

This post implies that Nadal plays much better on a regular basis than he usually does. I'll never fail to be amazed at how people can marvel at something that isn't all that spectacular or romanticize it like maniacs just because it results in wins.

 

[Front242]

Yup. I remember so many sports editors had him heavy favourite there based on form and past victories here and look how he played that match against Rafa after having been so good leading up to it.

Exactly, that match ended up being a practice session for Rafa by the 4th set.

3rd set was decided by a tie-break. In the 4th set, Nadal was down a break at 2-4, and when serving for the match, had to save a break point. Hardly a practice session.

If Nadal plays this badly against Federer, he loses.

If you understood your favorite player at all, you wouldn't even raise that possibility.

Kieran understands Rafa infinitely more than you ever will - because he can actually understand how people think.

Agreed in full. Can you write this post in French?

Mais oui. Nadal est tres tres merde et Federer est magnifique!

 

[calitennis127]

Yup. I remember so many sports editors had him heavy favourite there based on form and past victories here and look how he played that match against Rafa after having been so good leading up to it.

Exactly, that match ended up being a practice session for Rafa by the 4th set.

3rd set was decided by a tie-break. In the 4th set, Nadal was down a break at 2-4, and when serving for the match, had to save a break point. Hardly a practice session.

If Nadal plays this badly against Federer, he loses.

If you understood your favorite player at all, you wouldn't even raise that possibility.

Kieran understands Rafa infinitely more than you ever will - because he can actually understand how people think.

Agreed in full. Can you write this post in French?

In Italian, yes. French, no.

I will have to write my very best just to have small chance to do good translation in French, no?

 

[the AntiPusher]

Those are exactly the mistakes Roger will make. Doesn't matter how bad Rafa plays in that matchup. AO 2012 Roger played well coming in.

Yup. I remember so many sports editors had him heavy favourite there based on form and past victories here and look how he played that match against Rafa after having been so good leading up to it.

Exactly, that match ended up being a practice session for Rafa by the 4th set.

Come On Darth, give Grigor some credit.. he has truly pushed Rafa. To ask him to play the part of a ATP top ten talent is just one hell of a leap.. e.g. Stan has paid his dues and has a brillant opportunity to make the finals.

 

[calitennis127]

Those are exactly the mistakes Roger will make. Doesn't matter how bad Rafa plays in that matchup. AO 2012 Roger played well coming in.

Yup. I remember so many sports editors had him heavy favourite there based on form and past victories here and look how he played that match against Rafa after having been so good leading up to it.

Exactly, that match ended up being a practice session for Rafa by the 4th set.

Come On Darth, give Grigor some credit.. he has truly pushed Rafa. To ask him to play the part of a ATP top ten talent is just one hell of a leap.. e.g. Stan has paid his dues and has a brillant opportunity to make the finals.

Come on AP, he should have won that second set. Nadal gifted him the chance to win it in the tiebreak and he blew it.

Losing that set was not something a young member of the Big 4 would have done.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Those are exactly the mistakes Roger will make. Doesn't matter how bad Rafa plays in that matchup. AO 2012 Roger played well coming in.

Yup. I remember so many sports editors had him heavy favourite there based on form and past victories here and look how he played that match against Rafa after having been so good leading up to it.

Exactly, that match ended up being a practice session for Rafa by the 4th set.

Come On Darth, give Grigor some credit.. he has truly pushed Rafa. To ask him to play the part of a ATP top ten talent is just one hell of a leap.. e.g. Stan has paid his dues and has a brillant opportunity to make the finals.

Come on AP, he should have won that second set. Nadal gifted him the chance to win it in the tiebreak and he blew it.

Losing that set was not something a young member of the Big 4 would have done.

Sure Cali.. Grigor should have won the 2nd set and 3rd set but he didn't. Remember what the great Pete Sampras said, "Tennis, you can't pass the ball". Its not so easy as it looks. Players like Rafa, Fed, Djoker and Murray puts so much pressure on you with their defense that sometimes make a routine put away seem difficult. Its just the game, you know that

 

[brokenshoelace]

Those are exactly the mistakes Roger will make. Doesn't matter how bad Rafa plays in that matchup. AO 2012 Roger played well coming in.

Yup. I remember so many sports editors had him heavy favourite there based on form and past victories here and look how he played that match against Rafa after having been so good leading up to it.

Exactly, that match ended up being a practice session for Rafa by the 4th set.

3rd set was decided by a tie-break. In the 4th set, Nadal was down a break at 2-4, and when serving for the match, had to save a break point. Hardly a practice session.

If Nadal plays this badly against Federer, he loses.

He was never down a break in the 4th, he was down one in the 3rd and broke back at love and easily won the tiebreak.

Oh, I see. Well still, the overall point stands.

 

[Moxie]

Those are exactly the mistakes Roger will make. Doesn't matter how bad Rafa plays in that matchup. AO 2012 Roger played well coming in.

Yup. I remember so many sports editors had him heavy favourite there based on form and past victories here and look how he played that match against Rafa after having been so good leading up to it.

Exactly, that match ended up being a practice session for Rafa by the 4th set.

Come On Darth, give Grigor some credit.. he has truly pushed Rafa. To ask him to play the part of a ATP top ten talent is just one hell of a leap.. e.g. Stan has paid his dues and has a brillant opportunity to make the finals.

Come on AP, he should have won that second set. Nadal gifted him the chance to win it in the tiebreak and he blew it.

Losing that set was not something a young member of the Big 4 would have done.

Nadal was always ahead in the 2nd set TB.

Guardian "as it happened."

Tiebreaks are a bit where the rubber meets the road, and Rafa won both. That's experience.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Yup. I remember so many sports editors had him heavy favourite there based on form and past victories here and look how he played that match against Rafa after having been so good leading up to it.

Exactly, that match ended up being a practice session for Rafa by the 4th set.

Come On Darth, give Grigor some credit.. he has truly pushed Rafa. To ask him to play the part of a ATP top ten talent is just one hell of a leap.. e.g. Stan has paid his dues and has a brillant opportunity to make the finals.

Come on AP, he should have won that second set. Nadal gifted him the chance to win it in the tiebreak and he blew it.

Losing that set was not something a young member of the Big 4 would have done.

Nadal was always ahead in the 2nd set TB.

Guardian "as it happened."

Tiebreaks are a bit where the rubber meets the road, and Rafa won both. That's experience.

Well stated Moxie..

 

[isabelle]

It was a nice match, Dimitrov did the best he could, it wasn't enough but he played at a decent level
Now I guess Nadal'll win AO, I can't imagine a loss for him

 

[nehmeth]

Congrats Rafa... on to Fedal re-match #2,814,310.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Congrats Rafa... on to Fedal re-match #2,814,310.

This one does feel special though, something I wouldn't have said 10 days ago. A lot on the line. Legacies to protect (let's not even pretend it's not the real final). Roger may get his 18th in spectacular fashion or Nadal closes in on him. It's their first high stakes GS match since Rafa really got within touching distance of the Fed record.

 

[Tennis Miller]

Congrats Rafa... on to Fedal re-match #2,814,310.

This one does feel special though, something I wouldn't have said 10 days ago. A lot on the line. Legacies to protect (let's not even pretend it's not the real final). Roger may get his 18th in spectacular fashion or Nadal closes in on him. It's their first high stakes GS match since Rafa really got within touching distance of the Fed record.

I actually think Rafa would have a tougher time with Stan than Fed, given Stan's greater strength on those high backhands, how well he's playing, and his apparent fitness level. This assumes he beats the Berd.

Cheers

TM

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Just finished watching the taped match, without looking at the score, well, because I cannot do that...It is a thing with me, I am seeing a doctor about that.

Anyways, congrats to Rafa on winning, ugly or not. It is easy to win when everything is clicking. Congrats to Grigor for stepping it up a bit, making it a game for 2-3 sets. Baby steps. But boy, if there EVER was a set point on someone's racket, that is the one he missed. Great serve, weak return, sitting in the middle of the court, waiting to be punished...and he missed it. I still think Rafa would have won in 5, which was my prediction.

I have every reason to believe Rafa will be much better for the semi. He is great at coming back from sub par performances. Unless the hand is seriously bothering him.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Just finished watching the taped match, without looking at the score, well, because I cannot do that...It is a thing with me, I am seeing a doctor about that.

Anyways, congrats to Rafa on winning, ugly or not. It is easy to win when everything is clicking. Congrats to Grigor for stepping it up a bit, making it a game for 2-3 sets. Baby steps. But boy, if there EVER was a set point on someone's racket, that is the one he missed. Great serve, weak return, sitting in the middle of the court, waiting to be punished...and he missed it. I still think Rafa would have won in 5, which was my prediction.

I have every reason to believe Rafa will be much better for the semi. He is great at coming back from sub par performances. Unless the hand is seriously bothering him.

muhat,do you think it's fair to assume that all Rafa needs just rest and medical treatment on his hand before his match with Fed

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Just finished watching the taped match, without looking at the score, well, because I cannot do that...It is a thing with me, I am seeing a doctor about that.

Anyways, congrats to Rafa on winning, ugly or not. It is easy to win when everything is clicking. Congrats to Grigor for stepping it up a bit, making it a game for 2-3 sets. Baby steps. But boy, if there EVER was a set point on someone's racket, that is the one he missed. Great serve, weak return, sitting in the middle of the court, waiting to be punished...and he missed it. I still think Rafa would have won in 5, which was my prediction.

I have every reason to believe Rafa will be much better for the semi. He is great at coming back from sub par performances. Unless the hand is seriously bothering him.

muhat,do you think it's fair to assume that all Rafa needs just rest and medical treatment on his hand before his match with Fed

The assumption is based on a lot of previous data. Nadal almost ALWAYS shows up against Roger, and he is so good at making adjustments after a sub par performance. I don't know if rest and treatment is ALL he needs, but in the past, it has been enough for him. The hand has a lot to say in the matter though...

 

[SF Nadalite]

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Rafa had looked brilliant against Monfils - very much the #1 ranked player.
Nishikori was not quite the same, but still solid (and very strong play from his opponent).

Rafa has struggled with Dimitrov in the past (esp. with his serve). The first set made sense - Rafa starts out slow, Grigor serves like a wizard and Rafa cannot regain his ground.

From the second set on, it was clear that something was wrong. Grigor was fading, but Rafa was fading just as fast. I am not a fan of the ESPN crew, but Brad Gilbert was spot on when he said he had never seen Rafa play this poorly.

But winning ugly is still better than losing.

Unless they find some new skin rather quickly, it's going to be a big problem. 48 hours is not really enough time to get a blister like that to heal.

Unless they can find some solution, Roger will make mincemeat of Rafa's serve and the match will be over in under 2 hours.

 

[the AntiPusher]

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Rafa had looked brilliant against Monfils - very much the #1 ranked player.
Nishikori was not quite the same, but still solid (and very strong play from his opponent).

Rafa has struggled with Dimitrov in the past (esp. with his serve). The first set made sense - Rafa starts out slow, Grigor serves like a wizard and Rafa cannot regain his ground.

From the second set on, it was clear that something was wrong. Grigor was fading, but Rafa was fading just as fast. I am not a fan of the ESPN crew, but Brad Gilbert was spot on when he said he had never seen Rafa play this poorly.

But winning ugly is still better than losing.

Unless they find some new skin rather quickly, it's going to be a big problem. 48 hours is not really enough time to get a blister like that to heal.

Unless they can find some solution, Roger will make mincemeat of Rafa's serve and the match will be over in under 2 hours.

Uncle Toni stated today that the blister is drying up and they hope to play with the bandage. :clap