2015 Shanghai Masters 1000 Semifinal: Nadal v. Tsonga

[nehmeth]

Nadal steadily building momentum with more extended views of his old form. Jo battling his way through the draw to get here. Does he pull off some magic or does Rafa take him down in a quick two?

I'm saying Rafa in two.

 

[dante1976]

Yep Rafa in 2 (maybe even 3 if Jo somehow reach at least one tiebreak )

 

[Kieran]

I think Rafa might start to feel a bit tetchy and anxious in this one, but he's faced two big servers already and so he's honed: Rafa in two tight sets...

 

[Kirijax]

Tough one to call. After two servbots and a Wawrinka with a shoulder issue (?), Tsonga could be a tough one for Nadal. I want to see a Muzza-Rafa final, so I'll say Nadal in three.

 

[zalvar]

Hm. If there's one thing you can count on, it's JW Tsonga missing when it counts.
Rafa in 2.

 

[Kirijax]

So are all you Nadalites ready? Good luck! May the best Fre...I mean may the best man win!

 

[DonDropShot]

I'm sick of seeing Jo-Willie. Every time I turn on Tennis Channel, there he is, playing 3 looong sets. If Rafa plays like he did yesterday, he'll kick his ahss in two (please, God).

Rafa looks smaller to me than just a month or two ago. Less beefy. His upper-body looks less muscular, which is good. Muscle is heavy, and part of the reason he's a half-step slower. I've posted several times in different places he needs to lay-off the weights, just work on the cardio, and lose 8lbs+ to get lighter on his feet. Glad to see he's listening to me. Please send my check ASAP, VAMOS! !ARRIBA!, even.

And he's finally hitting with DEPTH, again. It's about friggen time. One of the commentators was saying something about Rafa working with someone new, I think. I had just walked into the room and caught a piece of that. Anyone...?

I'd LOVE it if he won this tournament.

 

[zalvar]

I'm sick of seeing Jo-Willie. Every time I turn on Tennis Channel, there he is, playing 3 looong sets. If Rafa plays like he did yesterday, he'll kick his ahss in two (please, God).

Rafa looks smaller to me than just a month or two ago. Less beefy. His upper-body looks less muscular, which is good. Muscle is heavy, and part of the reason he's a half-step slower. I've posted several times in different places he needs to lay-off the weights, just work on the cardio, and lose 8lbs+ to get lighter on his feet. Glad to see he's listening to me. Please send my check ASAP, VAMOS! !ARRIBA!, even.

And he's finally hitting with DEPTH, again. It's about friggen time. One of the commentators was saying something about Rafa working with someone new, I think. I had just walked into the room and caught a piece of that. Anyone...?

I'd LOVE it if he won this tournament.

Hello! I think Rafa's team is ruminating whether they should get an addition to their group. They said, depending how he does the rest of the year, Toni might step back a little.

Also, maybe Rafa's getting smaller cause his clothes are getting tighter and tighter and it's squishing him? haha.

Anyway, hopefully he'll play like yesterday. That was sweet indeed.

 

[isabelle]

Nadal'll probably crush Kinder !!

 

[zalvar]

Intense rallies so far

 

[Kirijax]

If Tsonga wins this match, he'll be back in the Top Ten next week, Been out since August 2014.

 

[nehmeth]

Jo serving for the set. I never thought he'd be in a position like this.

 

[zalvar]

Oh darn.

 

[Kieran]

I wonder if Rafa's foot is bothering him... :snicker

 

[Front242]

Jo serving for the set. I never thought he'd be in a position like this.

Just started watching and me either. Good to see him playing well again but I don't have a whole lot of faith in him to win the match. But who knows. cali would like the stats too, an impressive 17 winners in set 1 for Tsonga to just 4 for Nadal.

 

[nehmeth]

I wonder if Rafa's foot is bothering him... :snicker

:snicker He only loses when he's injured.

 

[nehmeth]

Jo serving for the set. I never thought he'd be in a position like this.

Just started watching and me either. Good to see him playing well again but I don't have a whole lot of faith in him to win the match. But who knows. cali would like the stats too, an impressive 17 winners in set 1 for Tsonga to just 4 for Nadal.

Expecting Jo to go off the rails here now.

 

[Front242]

Jo serving for the set. I never thought he'd be in a position like this.

Just started watching and me either. Good to see him playing well again but I don't have a whole lot of faith in him to win the match. But who knows. cali would like the stats too, an impressive 17 winners in set 1 for Tsonga to just 4 for Nadal.

Expecting Jo to go off the rails here now.

And he does. Most expected sadly.

 

[zalvar]

JW serving well! but Rafa break on the 3rd BP.

 

[Front242]

Too many lame errors from Tsonga now just won't cut it.