2015 Madrid Masters Semifinal: Nadal v. Berdych

[nehmeth]

Tomas showed some gumption to come back and win today against Isner. Rafa had a pretty straightforward win against Dimitrov. What do you see happening here?

I'm picking Rafa in two.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Rafa in 3.

 

[Moxie]

I'm going Rafa in two, as well. Berdych has to serve better than he did v. Isner, and Rafa is beginning to feel his game. In general, Tomas doesn't match up well v. Nadal, and I don't see him upsetting him in Madrid, even on the "clard."

 

[Kirijax]

I'll be a homer and pick Berdych in two sets. As we all saw at the AO, Berdych has Nadal's number now.

 

[tented]

Rafa in 3.

My vote as well. I imagine Rafa doing something like getting broken at 5-6 in the second set.

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Also, thanks to Nehmeth, a Djokovic fan, who nevertheless created the poll/thread for a tournament in which his favorite isn't even playing. :clap

 

[Fiero425]

I'll be a homer and pick Berdych in two sets. As we all saw at the AO, Berdych has Nadal's number now.

I wish; I hope! I'll give Berdych the match in 3; a walk-about set dropped! :angel: :dodgy: :ras:

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Nadal in straights without even a breaker, as impressive as Berdych has been this year, everything is against him when he faces Rafa on this surface.

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[Kirijax]

Nadal in straights without even a breaker, as impressive as Berdych has been this year, everything is against him when he faces Rafa on this surface.

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If Berdych wins, we'll know Nadal has definitely lost it! :snicker

 

[Kieran]

This is a really interesting one, because Berdy may have developed a brainless swagger after what happened in Oz, and why not? No top ten player is so poor that they should be defeated 17 times in a row by another. It's all between the ears, and that part of it's gone now, or should be. Of course, he'll want to rubberstamp the victory, especially on clay, but the burden has been eased. And he's playing well, in almost every event.

From Rafa, I've seen more, but this isn't the second week in Paris. He's not that yet, but he's calm and combative, composed. This is Rafa on the comeback trail. The confidence comes first, and next thing you know he's lassoing forehands around the other blokes neck, strangling him for oxygen in the backhand corner, or hurling the clipper don't the line, unanswered. The confidence brings the shots, the speed, the movement, not the other way around, and he gains what he calls "the calm" first of all. Seen enough of that this week to see that he's not the same befuddled geriatric he was in Barcelona.

But he's still not playing great tennis. That'll come, and I expect him to be better today. Poor Grigor, doomed to a career of stunted growth. He's like Dorian Gray. A photo grows older, but he stays young and pretty. He should consult the photo now and again.

Rafa today, and if he takes the first, the second will be a joy to watch...

 

[Denis]

Nadal in straights without even a breaker, as impressive as Berdych has been this year, everything is against him when he faces Rafa on this surface.

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If Berdych wins, we'll know Nadal has definitely lost it! :snicker

Yeah, highly unlikely that Berdych wins this. Could get rather ugly. 6-2, 6-1 or something.

 

[isabelle]

Rafa in 3.

Same for me

 

[Riotbeard]

Rafa in 3.

Same for me

Ditto.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Both holding comfortably so far, bird up 2-1.

 

[kskate2]

Nadal in straights without even a breaker, as impressive as Berdych has been this year, everything is against him when he faces Rafa on this surface.

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If Berdych wins, we'll know Nadal has definitely lost it! :snicker

Yeah, highly unlikely that Berdych wins this. Could get rather ugly. 6-2, 6-1 or something.

I can't see it being that one-sided. Berd has confidence after AO.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Bird pounding Rafa's backhand to draw errors and succeeding. Rafa serving well and the forehand is on.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Name of the game for Bird is still composure. He gets out of trouble after that horrible forehand miss at the net.

 

[kskate2]

^ Just me and you, ehh?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

^ Just me and you, ehh?

Just the two of us...we can make it if we try...:snicker

 

[Moxie]

Hey, there! I'm traveling, so only able to watch live scores. I'm counting on you guys to tell me how it's going.

 

[kskate2]

Sorry. Thought it was a party for 2. Back to biz. Still on serve. 5-5