2014 Roland Garros SF: Djokovic vs. Gulbis

[Denis]

Work made me miss the match so far. How is it going?

 

[nehmeth]

Hi Denis!!

Some nice tennis so far, huge angles on some points, heavy legs for Ernie, Novak playing like a wall.

 

[Denis]

Two sets up, seems like most of the posters here were right in their predictions.

 

[Denis]

Hi Denis!!

Some nice tennis so far, huge angles on some points, heavy legs for Ernie, Novak playing like a wall.

Lol, ok then. Ernie might have actually had a few too many then on Tuesday.

 

[nehmeth]

Hi Denis!!

Some nice tennis so far, huge angles on some points, heavy legs for Ernie, Novak playing like a wall.

Lol, ok then. Ernie might have actually had a few too many then on Tuesday.

:snigger. Yeah, I feel kinda bad. Found his hotel room and sent the congratulatory liquor and cigarettes.

 

[britbox]

Novak's cruising this in all honesty - you get the feeling he could move up a couple of gears if need be. That's if he doesn't fall to sleep on the job. Ernie's forehand has been exposed.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Generally, matches between two somewhat similar players don't tend to be too enjoyable, especially when one does a few things better than the other. Ultimately, Novak is way to consistent for Gulbis. Novak is smart to recognize that, as he's really not going for much and just playing within himself. The only downside to that would be if Gulbis catches fire as Novak won't playing with enough intensity/aggression to match, but he's up two sets to love already and would have plenty of time to adjust.

Plus, it doesn't seem like Gulbis will be catching fire anyway.

 

[britbox]

Awful volley from Ernie.

 

[britbox]

Hi Denis!!

Some nice tennis so far, huge angles on some points, heavy legs for Ernie, Novak playing like a wall.

Lol, ok then. Ernie might have actually had a few too many then on Tuesday.

:snigger. Yeah, I feel kinda bad. Found his hotel room and sent the congratulatory liquor and cigarettes.

No hookers?

 

[brokenshoelace]

Novak's cruising this in all honesty - you get the feeling he could move up a couple of gears if need be. That's if he doesn't fall to sleep on the job. Ernie's forehand has been exposed.

We posted at exactly the same time. I wasn't stealing your thoughts. Of course you're the boss so the system will display your post first in an effort to make me look bad

 

[nehmeth]

Novak's cruising this in all honesty - you get the feeling he could move up a couple of gears if need be. That's if he doesn't fall to sleep on the job. Ernie's forehand has been exposed.

Yep, but that backhand is lethal yet. He's going to need to be able to go up a gear or two if Ralf's in the final. uzzled

 

[nehmeth]

Hi Denis!!

Some nice tennis so far, huge angles on some points, heavy legs for Ernie, Novak playing like a wall.

Lol, ok then. Ernie might have actually had a few too many then on Tuesday.

:snigger. Yeah, I feel kinda bad. Found his hotel room and sent the congratulatory liquor and cigarettes.

No hookers?

As we learned from Sweden, he always has a bevy of them already.

 

[isabelle]

Expected walk in the park for Nole, very good level from the great Serbionator

 

[britbox]

Novak's cruising this in all honesty - you get the feeling he could move up a couple of gears if need be. That's if he doesn't fall to sleep on the job. Ernie's forehand has been exposed.

We posted at exactly the same time. I wasn't stealing your thoughts. Of course you're the boss so the system will display your post first in an effort to make me look bad

 

[Denis]

Hi Denis!!

Some nice tennis so far, huge angles on some points, heavy legs for Ernie, Novak playing like a wall.

Lol, ok then. Ernie might have actually had a few too many then on Tuesday.

:snigger. Yeah, I feel kinda bad. Found his hotel room and sent the congratulatory liquor and cigarettes.

No hookers?

Nah, Ernie prefers them to focus on their families these days.

 

[nehmeth]

Expected walk in the park for Nole, very good level from the great Serbionator

Hi Isabelle!

 

[brokenshoelace]

I remember last year I wrote a blog (remember when I used to do that!?) talking about how if you don't have an elite forehand, you don't stand much of a chance of being an absolute top player in this era. Now, Gulbis' career has been halted by too many things beyond the forehand (attitude and mentality to name a few), but as far as his actual game goes, that forehand is a big hindrance. He can hit it big when it's on his terms, he's in the middle of the court, and doing the dictating. But as a rally shot, it's pretty underwhelming. Not to mention poor technique, a big backswing, and the fact that when he goes after it, it's way to inconsistent.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Speaking of which, I remember when a poster, who shall remain nameless, argued that Gulbis had a better forehand than Nadal...

 

[brokenshoelace]

You know, Nadal often gets credit for this (rightly), but Novak is also someone who's really good at exposing his opponent's weaker wing.

 

[kskate2]

out of nowhere BP for Ernie