2015 Australian Open Quarterfinals: Berdych vs. Nadal

[tented]

P.S. -- Congrats to Novak Djokovic.

 

[brokenshoelace]

If Berd plays anywhere near that level he will be in the final. He has a good history vs. Murray and I suspect slow hards is a good surface for him matchup wise vs. Andy.

I'm guessing you only watched the third set?

Because "anywhere near that level" would literally mean his usual level, which may or may not be enough to get him to the final. I agree though, I think the surface suits Berdych. It's not too quick to where he can't line up his shots, and not too slow to where they won't penetrate as much (though in fairness, there isn't a surface Berdych's groundies can't penetrate).

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Seriously though, I'm so impressed. He pulled in someone new to help him out and I imagine that's at least some of the difference. But I'm just so impressed that Berdych played so smart today. Kept his nerve and didn't go for too much. Measured his shots so well. Got his first serves in to set up points. Very smart. I'm really impressed. Definitely got some help from Nadal. And perhaps knew he would get that help. Surely he saw like we have that he hasn't been at his best. But definitely impressive to see him just come in with a different game plane and do what he can to change it up. He had to execute and he did and that's the hard part. But he had to start by sitting down and just trying to come up with a better game plan.

It really may be the same situation we've seen with Wawrinka and some of the other older players who aren't contending for slams but are doing like a last push. These guys that have so much experience and are using it to change up their games and go for more, knowing that their careers are closer to the end than to the beginning. Berdych actually older than Nadal of course, at 29. Berdych may just know that he's got to take more chances and he certainly sees that Nadal and Fed don't have their greatest powers anymore and that Djokovic, while amazing at his best, is still more beatable than they were when not at his best. Anyways, I don't know what the development is. Maybe it's just a culmination of a great deal of development over the last year or so. Though, last year was sort of a down year for him I think.

Anyways, me and my long winded ways. Impressive play today from Berdych.

 

[brokenshoelace]

P.S. -- Congrats to Novak Djokovic.

How does that change things in any way? It's not like Djokovic's chances were hinging on Nadal. On the best of days, Nadal is a significant underdog against Djokovic at the AO. This year, it wouldn't have been remotely competitive.

Djokovic has 3 tricky matches ahead, whoever he plays. He's the favorite but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

 

[DarthFed]

^ I don't necessarily disagree but more I'm thinking that it took a little more quality of shot for Rafa to really get him off balance. In the 3rd set when Rafa started ripping the forehand up the line then yea the point was usually over but in the past it really didn't take much to get Berd on the defensive and when he's there it's usually curtains.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I would just like to congratulate Tomas Berdych for a well played match and well deserved victory!

Good luck Tomas in your s.final match.

 

[DarthFed]

If Berd plays anywhere near that level he will be in the final. He has a good history vs. Murray and I suspect slow hards is a good surface for him matchup wise vs. Andy.

I'm guessing you only watched the third set?

Because "anywhere near that level" would literally mean his usual level, which may or may not be enough to get him to the final. I agree though, I think the surface suits Berdych. It's not too quick to where he can't line up his shots, and not too slow to where they won't penetrate as much (though in fairness, there isn't a surface Berdych's groundies can't penetrate).

I saw the whole match. Berd's serve was great the first 2 sets and his return was great the entire match and we know how weak Murray's 2nd serve is. I know that Rafa was really out of whack the first 2 sets but Berd serving and returning like that with few errors is an uphill battle for Murray IMO.

 

[tented]

P.S. -- Congrats to Novak Djokovic.

How does that change things in any way? It's not like Djokovic's chances were hinging on Nadal. On the best of days, Nadal is a significant underdog against Djokovic at the AO. This year, it wouldn't have been remotely competitive.

Djokovic has 3 tricky matches ahead, whoever he plays. He's the favorite but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

If Rafa had made it to the final, I would have given him a chance. Now we know that's not going to happen, and I don't see anyone else beating Novak.

 

[tented]

P.S. -- Welcome back, Kieran!

 

[rafanoy1992]

P.S. -- Congrats to Novak Djokovic.

How does that change things in any way? It's not like Djokovic's chances were hinging on Nadal. On the best of days, Nadal is a significant underdog against Djokovic at the AO. This year, it wouldn't have been remotely competitive.

Djokovic has 3 tricky matches ahead, whoever he plays. He's the favorite but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

If Rafa had made it to the final, I would have given him a chance. Now we know that's not going to happen, and I don't see anyone else beating Novak.

You never tented ANYTHING can happen Just look at last year's Australian Open. Everyone thought Nadal would win the whole thing once Djokovic lost to Wawrinka but looked at what happened...

Let's just wait one match at a time...

 

[Fiero425]

Nadal on ESPN, exit interview/Press Conference! :clap :angel: :dodgy: :devil

 

[tenisplayrla08]

P.S. -- Congrats to Novak Djokovic.

How does that change things in any way? It's not like Djokovic's chances were hinging on Nadal. On the best of days, Nadal is a significant underdog against Djokovic at the AO. This year, it wouldn't have been remotely competitive.

Djokovic has 3 tricky matches ahead, whoever he plays. He's the favorite but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

If Rafa had made it to the final, I would have given him a chance. Now we know that's not going to happen, and I don't see anyone else beating Novak.

Soooo.... part of me wants to say, "Lol. It does sort of feel like he's got it wrapped up doesn't it." But... of course there's a but, no point in replying otherwise. When Nadal struggled against Smyczek and went five, I knew he wasn't able to contend with Djokovic, Nishikori, Wawrinka, or Murray. So him being officially out doesn't really change anything for me. And while I imagine Djokovic would find a way around Wawrinka this time, and he can certainly beat Nishikori, I'm sort of expecting Nishikori to beat Wawrinka and then I fully believe he can contend with and beat Djokovic again. He's who I've been pulling for though since Fed fell. So maybe it's just fandom clouding my mind. And I'm worried about an injury the commentators mentioned against Ferrer. But if he's healthy, I definitely think, here in the pseudo-Asian slam, he has a chance. And a year after an Asian woman won her first slam it would be fitting for an Asian man to do the same. And that's not just sentimentality. We all know he's a great player and has it in him. He almost certainly will be a slam winner. The question is just whether that is now or later this year or in a year or two.

Basically, I'm trying to say that I think my initial reaction that Djokovic has it wrapped up is a product of residual expectations of the big four to rule. But, while they're not dead, that time is indeed over. They'll still win slams. They'll still dominate others from time to time. (AND I know Murray is part of the big 4 but he had a bad year last year after the back surgery so I'm not used to talking about him.) We can't just knee jerk default to the remaining big 4 members left in a draw anymore, precisely because, there are often only 1 or 2 or the big 4 left in the draw at the qfs or semis.

 

[brokenshoelace]

P.S. -- Congrats to Novak Djokovic.

How does that change things in any way? It's not like Djokovic's chances were hinging on Nadal. On the best of days, Nadal is a significant underdog against Djokovic at the AO. This year, it wouldn't have been remotely competitive.

Djokovic has 3 tricky matches ahead, whoever he plays. He's the favorite but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

If Rafa had made it to the final, I would have given him a chance. Now we know that's not going to happen, and I don't see anyone else beating Novak.

Against Novak? Zero chance.

On any surface, Nadal needs to be moving terrific and in top physical shape to beat Djokovic. He also needs to be serving great. Incidentally, those are the most notable missing aspects of his game.

There literally isn't a way for him to beat Djokovic otherwise, as he can't rely on his groundies to dictate. Even if he gets aggressive, Djokovic defends so well and turns so many rallies around that Nadal needs to be able to match him in that regard.

I'm not even exaggerating when I say zero chance.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Wow, what a determination and composure by Birdman. I have not read anything on this thread
so far as I was glued to the TV.

I know that Rafa did not move at all in several points during the first two sets. But, he was
fit enough to play in the tourney and in this match. Birdman did not blink when the going got
tough in the 3rd.

Hats off to Bird! No one beats bird 18 times in a row!

 

[Fiero425]

How does that change things in any way? It's not like Djokovic's chances were hinging on Nadal. On the best of days, Nadal is a significant underdog against Djokovic at the AO. This year, it wouldn't have been remotely competitive.

Djokovic has 3 tricky matches ahead, whoever he plays. He's the favorite but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

If Rafa had made it to the final, I would have given him a chance. Now we know that's not going to happen, and I don't see anyone else beating Novak.

Against Novak? Zero chance.

On any surface, Nadal needs to be moving terrific and in top physical shape to beat Djokovic. He also needs to be serving great. Incidentally, those are the most notable missing aspects of his game.

There literally isn't a way for him to beat Djokovic otherwise, as he can't rely on his groundies to dictate. Even if he gets aggressive, Djokovic defends so well and turns so many rallies around that Nadal needs to be able to match him in that regard.

I'm not even exaggerating when I say zero chance.

I hope so! Really ties into thread I created last year! They should rename Trophy after Nole:

- http://www.tennisfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=737 -

 

[Federberg]

Wow! Just woke up and saw the score. And looking at the thread Berd man just plain beat him? Rusty Rafa I guess, and not injury related. What a bizarre open. Big 4 might not be dead but Fedal in the E.R!

 

[tented]

How does that change things in any way? It's not like Djokovic's chances were hinging on Nadal. On the best of days, Nadal is a significant underdog against Djokovic at the AO. This year, it wouldn't have been remotely competitive.

Djokovic has 3 tricky matches ahead, whoever he plays. He's the favorite but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

If Rafa had made it to the final, I would have given him a chance. Now we know that's not going to happen, and I don't see anyone else beating Novak.

Against Novak? Zero chance.

On any surface, Nadal needs to be moving terrific and in top physical shape to beat Djokovic. He also needs to be serving great. Incidentally, those are the most notable missing aspects of his game.

There literally isn't a way for him to beat Djokovic otherwise, as he can't rely on his groundies to dictate. Even if he gets aggressive, Djokovic defends so well and turns so many rallies around that Nadal needs to be able to match him in that regard.

I'm not even exaggerating when I say zero chance.

Look, I know it wasn't likely Rafa would even get to the final. As I've already mentioned tonight, I didn't pick him in my draw challenge even to get to the quarterfinals for a reason. (Yes, I joked I didn't want to jinx him, but I played it to win.)

I always give him a chance, though, in a big match. Had he played well enough to get past Berdych and Murray, and started becoming "Rafa" again .... well, you can't know the future, as several others have already said.

P.S. -- Wasn't it obvious "P.S. -- Congrats to Djokovic" was a knee-jerk reaction from a disgruntled Rafa fan, and not to be taken so super seriously? Honestly, I'm surprised anyone even responded.

 

[herios]

Well, hopefully Nadal doesn't slide too much after all doesn't want a lower seeding at the French. Well the other players don't want him seeded lower. I doubt he cares about his seeding on the clay.

I think he's 3rd by a lot. Regardless, barring injury he won't be falling out of the top 4.

There is only one scenario in which Rafa can drop out of the top 4 following AO:
The winner has to be either Berdych or Murray and they would need to defeat in the final Nishikori.
In those cases, both finalists can pass Nadal.
In other words, Kei needs to reach the final to pass Rafa, Tomas, Andy or Milos need to be winners.
Wawrinka cannot pass him.

 

[brokenshoelace]

And looking at the thread Berd man just plain beat him?

As often is the case when one player wins

Berd played well. Nadal didn't. Berd deserved the win. Pretty straightforward. Nadal still needs some match play to become a serious contender again.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I knew we were jinxed when Rafa wore Pink and why did he wear those short,shorts with a reflector stripe?......................