2014 Aussie Open SF: Fedal Volume 33

[lindseywagners]

The last couple times they met in slams it seems that Rafa really never needed to get out of first gear to win going away.

I disagree, partially because of the wording you used. The last two times they met in Slams was AO '12 (Fed won the first set, lost the third 7-6 (7-5), ultimately lost in 4) and the French in '11 (where Federer was a net ball away from winning the first set; that match ultimately went 4 as well).

 

[lindseywagners]

if fed plays as well as hes been playing this is pretty much the final right here. if rafa wins i dont see berdych or stan being any real threat to rafa. itll be one way. if fed wins, final is still questionable berdych could blow him out but fed will have upper hand against stan

Federer has never faced Wawrinka in this form. When he pounded on Stan in the fourth round or quarters (AO '11) in the past, that wasn't the same matchup that's there today. Wawrinka is playing at a very high level.

 

[Front242]

Losing that first set at RG 2011 after being up 5-2 was one of the worst memories I have of Fed starting amazing and completely outplaying Nadal only to resort to his usual clown self against him. Abysmal.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

if fed plays as well as hes been playing this is pretty much the final right here. if rafa wins i dont see berdych or stan being any real threat to rafa. itll be one way. if fed wins, final is still questionable berdych could blow him out but fed will have upper hand against stan

Federer has never faced Wawrinka in this form. When he pounded on Stan in the fourth round or quarters (AO '11) in the past, that wasn't the same matchup that's there today. Wawrinka is playing at a very high level.

Wawrinka has beat Federer only once before and that time Mirka was pregnant
(2009 Monte Carlo).uzzled

 

[GameSetAndMath]

For those of you , who have not seen match preview in tennis.com,
Richard Pagliaro goes with Rafa in five.

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/01/one-watch-rafael-nadal-vs-roger-federer-semifinal-preview/50383/

 

[Moxie]

Nothing to be done now but take a nap, and see how it goes. ¡Vamos, Rafa! See you all in a few hours.

 

[calitennis127]

I must say - I can't wait for this match. Time to get a little bit of sleep before the war begins.

Let's go Federer - do it for Kieran!!!!

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

I must say - I can't wait for this match. Time to get a little bit of sleep before the war begins.

Let's go Federer - do it for Kieran!!!!

How about fedfan, you and me?

Rafa is not 100%, everyone knows, including the ol' meister!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

He's being very French about this.

We"ll ask Cali...

I'm right here. If only Nadal had some of the toughness that Gasquet and Simon and Monfils do....

Good of you to take that one on the chin, Cali.

BTW, not a surprise that the thread about Fedal XXXIII has turned into a festival of statistics. Good stuff, actually. What else have we got? Two big fan bases waiting for the big battle...

For once, it's actually meaningful, interesting, and telling statistics though.

Forget the careet stat that Hunting YOu posted and forget the 2013 hard court stat
that I posted. What is even more relevant is their stat in the current 2014 AO so far.
Want to look at some of them. Read on.

"And Fed is tough, so tough, leading the tournament in break points saved (9-of-11 for 82 percent). And did I say aggressive, as he ranks fifth overall in first-service points won at 83 percent (Nadal is tied for 30th at 76 percent). Federer is tied for ninth in total winners (23 percent) while Nadal is -- hmm -- tied for 47th (17 percent)"

The above stat is taken from ESPN debate article. Caveat: the author admits they
cherry picked the stats in which Fed is doing good. But, still the above stats are important
ones and not some weird stats.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

If Masha's boy friend can take a set from Rafa and push him to TB in 2 more...
Fed will destroy his old nemesis!

Fed=18

 

[DarthFed]

Time for superstition to set in, I ain't watching this. I count 4 wins and 5 losses when I don't watch. Enjoy the tennis!

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

I didn't mean fedfan, I meant Darthfed!

You better watch if you want the streak broken!!

 

[kskate2]

Nadal in 4

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Party blooper!

 

[Moxie]

Nadal in 4

I like your thinking. And always above the smack-talk.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

But you are a Rafa Fan, I am a Tennis fan, I go for the excitement!

Fed win will generate much excitement....

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Ok, enough BS, I am going to sleep!

 

[Moxie]

I must say - I can't wait for this match. Time to get a little bit of sleep before the war begins.

Let's go Federer - do it for Kieran!!!!

I keep saying I'm going to get some sleep, too. Let's hope. In fairness to Kieran, he was saying that there was life in the old guy, when even his fans weren't having much of it. Well, he'll be smiling silently from somewhere in a bunker in Dublin, because he wasn't wrong. However, don't make any mistake about who he'll be pulling for, now. ¡Vamos, Rafa!

 

[Goldenboy]

The rain is expected to ease off by 7 pm. Given the match stars at 19:30, it will probably be outdoors after all.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Indoor courts is the last place where Roger has a H2H advantage over Rafa.
Everybody expects a closed roof to favor Roger and an open roof to favor Rafa.

Oh Boy, Did you all hear what happened? They were playing with roof and it got
stuck. One of the wheels in the moving mechanism got off the rails on which it
is supposed to be resting. Anyway, It is now neither open nor closed and the
women's doubles is going on in that crazy status of roof stuck.


It is half closed, if you are optimist and Roger fan (or pessimist and Nadal fan).

It is half open, if you are pessimist and Roger fan (or optimist and Nadal fan).