2014 Aussie Open QF: Nadal vs. Dimitrov

[nehmeth]

Picking Ralf in 3 sets.

I think his chances of tying Sampras (at 14 majors), have been expedited. With good knees and without Nole, so has his countdown to "17".

 

[kskate2]

Rafa in straights. One set will be close 7-5 or even a breaker.

 

[Goldenboy]

Picking Ralf in 3 sets.

I think his chances of tying Sampras (at 14 majors), have been expedited. With good knees and without Nole, so has his countdown to "17".

Hope you are right. Commiserations for today.

 

[shawnbm]

Where is Kieran? I have not seen him around. Then again, I have no been around as much either.

 

[bobvance]

Nadal's way to the Championship just got a whole lot easier. He gets Baby Fed who is not ready for the big time. Then out-of-practice Murray or Shaky Federer, then Stan or Berd Man. I think Rafa is the very clear favorite right now.

 

[Front242]

Where is Kieran? I have not seen him around. Then again, I have no been around as much either.

He never posts during slams.

 

[shawnbm]

Where is Kieran? I have not seen him around. Then again, I have no been around as much either.

He never posts during slams.

You know, now that you mention it--that appears to be correct. He always comes in at the end. Cool customer, that Irish poet. Probably sitting in McDaids enjoying a pint or three of the black stuff and looking at portraits of Yeats, Joyce and Wilde on the walls. I wish I were there with him.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Where is Kieran? I have not seen him around. Then again, I have no been around as much either.

He never posts during slams.

You know, now that you mention it--that appears to be correct. He always comes in at the end. Cool customer, that Irish poet. Probably sitting in McDaids enjoying a pint or three of the black stuff and looking at portraits of Yeats, Joyce and Wilde on the walls. I wish I were there with him.

Ha, yeah Kieran is superstitious and doesn't post during slams. He admits as much.

 

[Denis]

Where is Kieran? I have not seen him around. Then again, I have no been around as much either.

He never posts during slams.

You know, now that you mention it--that appears to be correct. He always comes in at the end. Cool customer, that Irish poet. Probably sitting in McDaids enjoying a pint or three of the black stuff and looking at portraits of Yeats, Joyce and Wilde on the walls. I wish I were there with him.

Ha, yeah Kieran is superstitious and doesn't post during slams. He admits as much.

I wonder if he reads the boards though. He must be having a field day at the moment.:wave

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

I want a new slam champ!

Masha's boyfriend in 4

 

[shawnbm]

^ Likewise, I'm thinking Dimitrov might grab a set but Nadal wins going away.

Precisely my impression as well; I can't see Grigor outlasting Nadal in a best of five battle. IF he pulls it off, then he may take off for the rest of the year.

 

[tented]

Rafa in straights. One set will be close 7-5 or even a breaker.

7-5, 6-4, 6-2

 

[britbox]

Where is Kieran? I have not seen him around. Then again, I have no been around as much either.

He never posts during slams.

You know, now that you mention it--that appears to be correct. He always comes in at the end. Cool customer, that Irish poet. Probably sitting in McDaids enjoying a pint or three of the black stuff and looking at portraits of Yeats, Joyce and Wilde on the walls. I wish I were there with him.

Ha, yeah Kieran is superstitious and doesn't post during slams. He admits as much.

He's alive and well and going through his slam ritual... which entails not posting here, wearing an Ireland Commonwealth games running vest back to front and watching an episode of Columbo before each televised night match.

 

[Denis]

Where is Kieran? I have not seen him around. Then again, I have no been around as much either.

He never posts during slams.

You know, now that you mention it--that appears to be correct. He always comes in at the end. Cool customer, that Irish poet. Probably sitting in McDaids enjoying a pint or three of the black stuff and looking at portraits of Yeats, Joyce and Wilde on the walls. I wish I were there with him.

Ha, yeah Kieran is superstitious and doesn't post during slams. He admits as much.

He's alive and well and going through his slam ritual... which entails not posting here, wearing an Ireland Commonwealth games running vest back to front and watching an episode of Columbo before each televised night match.

An episode of Colombo before each night match? ouch! That's quite a penance for a Nadal victory.

 

[sid]

Could be a long match if Dimitrov plays his best,Nadal in 5.Dimitrov has taken a set of Nadal in the past when he was younger.

 

[the AntiPusher]

If it comes down to strength in the legs, here are two factors to consider, Rafa's lady isnt at the tournament, Grigor still have Pova hanging around.

 

[tented]

Could be a long match if Dimitrov plays his best,Nadal in 5.Dimitrov has taken a set of Nadal in the past when he was younger.

I just don't see Dimitrov surviving that long. This is a guy we've seen collapse with cramps midway through best-of-3 set matches. There's no way he can keep up with Rafa for 5.

 

[Front242]

Could be a long match if Dimitrov plays his best,Nadal in 5.Dimitrov has taken a set of Nadal in the past when he was younger.

I just don't see Dimitrov surviving that long. This is a guy we've seen collapse with cramps midway through best-of-3 set matches. There's no way he can keep up with Rafa for 5.

True, I also think it'll come down to survival of the fittest and well, Dimitrov hasn't proven his fitness at all.

 

[El Dude]

OK, here's a thought. While I want to say that Dimitrov is going to pull off a victory that we'll look back on as a changing in the balance of power - sort of like the 2008 Wimbledon was, Roger passing (unwillingly) the baton to Rafa - I just wouldn't place my money on it. I don't think Grigor is quite ready to take Rafa. That said, I think he's going to learn from his probable loss to Rafa, and that the fire will be lit under him. Being in a QF is being a contender; he'll have been close enough to the Finals to smell blood, and next time around he'll really want it. We're going to look back at the 2014 as the tournament that Grigor Dimitrov arrived, and he's going to be playing into the second week at most Slams going forward.

Plus, I like his confidence, even if it is a bit premature:

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/01/dimitrov-playing-nadal-i-my-chances/50363/#.Ut8NJbQo4l0

I said it last year, but I think 2014 is the year we start to see not only cracks in the Big Four, like we did last year with Roger's fall, but in the Big Three. Andy will be wobbly for at least part of the year, Novak and even Rafa will prove to be mortal. Between the three of them they might still take all four Slams, but we'll start seeing upsets, leading to a true tidal shift in 2015, with 2016 being the new era. So it might not be the AO, but King Rafa is going to be taken down by one of these young pups this year.

 

[tented]

So it might not be the AO, but King Rafa is going to be taken down by one of these young pups this year.

At Wimbledon, maybe. We all know what happened the last two years.

At the others? No. Not yet. The only person I think could beat Rafa at RG is Novak, and it will take a top guy to take him down in New York, too.