2014 Roland Garros SF: Djokovic vs. Gulbis

[Riotbeard]

Novak is known for mid-match walkabouts, too. I have a feeling that's what's going on. In other words, it's mental, and he'll get it together soon enough.

That's one of the main reasons why I gave ernie a set, but it's scary when you can't see

That's one reason I'm worried if he faces rafa

Novak can drop a third set to rafa, and still win 4. Honestly that would be my guess as to what happens, assuming rafa doesn't increase his serve speed.

 

[Riotbeard]

Nole can't afford to take 1.5 sets off vs. Balding Bull. I'd imagine Wafa likes his chances more if he saw the semi today.

Agree that 1.5 is too much, but a few game laps to lose one set, he did in all there 2011 gs finals, but then again, this 2011 novak.

 

[Denis]

Nole can't afford to take 1.5 sets off vs. Balding Bull. I'd imagine Wafa likes his chances more if he saw the semi today.

Exactly. You can be assured that Rafa will take at least a set on his own. If you give him another, you're in trouble. Let alone 1,5 sets.

 

[tented]

Nole can't afford to take 1.5 sets off vs. Balding Bull. I'd imagine Wafa likes his chances more if he saw the semi today.

Exactly. You can be assured that Rafa will take at least a set on his own. If you give him another, you're in trouble. Let alone 1,5 sets.

You guys are worrying over nothing. Rafa hasn't done anything in ages to point towards a victory, least of all his little-girl serve.

 

[Riotbeard]

Nole can't afford to take 1.5 sets off vs. Balding Bull. I'd imagine Wafa likes his chances more if he saw the semi today.

Exactly. You can be assured that Rafa will take at least a set on his own. If you give him another, you're in trouble. Let alone 1,5 sets.

You guys are worrying over nothing. Rafa hasn't done anything in ages to point towards a victory, least of all his little-girl serve.

Classic Rafa fan mind games The 8 time champion is the favorite I say!

 

[Denis]

Nole can't afford to take 1.5 sets off vs. Balding Bull. I'd imagine Wafa likes his chances more if he saw the semi today.

Exactly. You can be assured that Rafa will take at least a set on his own. If you give him another, you're in trouble. Let alone 1,5 sets.

You guys are worrying over nothing. Rafa hasn't done anything in ages to point towards a victory, least of all his little-girl serve.

Maybe. I think Novak should be okay. But the weather is going to be much better on Sunday which helps Nadal. I wonder if, like front said, he'll be able to serve stronger from now on. Really curious to see what he does against Murray.

 

[huntingyou]

Rafa has to up his CC backhand several levels to have a shot IF Novak plays like he should. The serve doesn't worry me much because if he were to improve his groundies then it becomes a mute point.

 

[britbox]

Rafa has to up his CC backhand several levels to have a shot IF Novak plays like he should. The serve doesn't worry me much because if he were to improve his groundies then it becomes a mute point.

The serve would worry me, but we'll see how it plays out today.

 

[Denis]

Rafa has to up his CC backhand several levels to have a shot IF Novak plays like he should. The serve doesn't worry me much because if he were to improve his groundies then it becomes a mute point.

The serve would worry me, but we'll see how it plays out today.

Yes, Im curious how it will play out against Murray. No free points matter in matches between these two.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Rafa has to up his CC backhand several levels to have a shot IF Novak plays like he should. The serve doesn't worry me much because if he were to improve his groundies then it becomes a mute point.

The serve would worry me, but we'll see how it plays out today.

I think the serve is even more important, because Nadal may find his range and up the aggression as the match progresses, but he hasn't served that good in a while. Not to mention, the serve against Novak is huge because it could give Nadal cheap points, otherwise he'll be starting most points on the backfoot following some deep Novak return, and then it's an uphill battle.

 

[huntingyou]

Rafa has to up his CC backhand several levels to have a shot IF Novak plays like he should. The serve doesn't worry me much because if he were to improve his groundies then it becomes a mute point.

The serve would worry me, but we'll see how it plays out today.

I think at RG on a sunny day IF Rafa's ground game it's firing on all cylinders then the serve it's not a determining factor. Obviously he hasn't been close to the level that I'm speaking off.

 

[huntingyou]

Rafa has to up his CC backhand several levels to have a shot IF Novak plays like he should. The serve doesn't worry me much because if he were to improve his groundies then it becomes a mute point.

The serve would worry me, but we'll see how it plays out today.

I think the serve is even more important, because Nadal may find his range and up the aggression as the match progresses, but he hasn't served that good in a while. Not to mention, the serve against Novak is huge because it could give Nadal cheap points, otherwise he'll be starting most points on the backfoot following some deep Novak return, and then it's an uphill battle.

I'm not saying the serve doesn't matter but on clay when we are discussing Rafa, it's all about his groundstrokes.

He wasn't serving any better at Rome and still found himself serving 3-3 in the third set.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Wow, the majority picked right, I was among them.

Good job you all.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I am just surprised that it was Nole that broke a racket in this one.

 

[Rose]

The only surprise here to me was that Ernie actually got a Set from Nole!

 

[nehmeth]

Nole can't afford to take 1.5 sets off vs. Balding Bull. I'd imagine Wafa likes his chances more if he saw the semi today.

You're right, he can't go away for 1.5, not here.

Before Rafa went on his string of wins after getting beaten in seven (7) finals - he played really well in Oz 12 and even though he lost, you felt as though he'd figured something out. Doesn't seem to me as though he's there yet. He's still the favorite because he's done it here 8 times and Novak hasn't.

Novak has had a decent run here. Gulbis crushed the Berd, and almost got sent home in a quick three sets today. I'm glad Novak had the lapse in this match. He should regain his equilibrium by Sunday.

I hope he starts quickly and wins the first three sets before he gets tired.

(Balding Bull v. Chia-head Serbinator)

 

[Moxie]

Nole can't afford to take 1.5 sets off vs. Balding Bull. I'd imagine Wafa likes his chances more if he saw the semi today.

You're right, he can't go away for 1.5, not here.

I'm glad Novak had the lapse in this match. He should regain his equilibrium by Sunday.

I hope he starts quickly and wins the first three sets before he gets tired.

That's one way to look at it…that Novak got that walkabout out of his system, and won't have one in the final. That's possible. But you're right about not being able to afford to take 1.5 sets off in the final.

And you're also right to roll your eyes about his getting "tired" against Gulbis, today. I suppose he was trying to deflect the conversation off of why he dropped the third today, but "fatigue" is a bit of a joke, right?

 

[nehmeth]

Nole can't afford to take 1.5 sets off vs. Balding Bull. I'd imagine Wafa likes his chances more if he saw the semi today.

You're right, he can't go away for 1.5, not here.

I'm glad Novak had the lapse in this match. He should regain his equilibrium by Sunday.

I hope he starts quickly and wins the first three sets before he gets tired.

That's one way to look at it…that Novak got that walkabout out of his system, and won't have one in the final. That's possible. But you're right about not being able to afford to take 1.5 sets off in the final.

And you're also right to roll your eyes about his getting "tired" against Gulbis, today. I suppose he was trying to deflect the conversation off of why he dropped the third today, but "fatigue" is a bit of a joke, right?

No, I have no idea why he felt fatigued. I don't believe he was trying to deflect the conversation. He's been very candid about sometimes losing focus in a match and that it's something he continues to work on.

In Rome he came out going for his shots from the first point - a lot of them missed. Yet he never stopped going for them and they began hitting the mark halfway through the first set. My hope is that he will do the same on Sunday... and win the first set this time, as well as the two after.