2016 Australian Open match discussions

[Moxie]

Rafa breaks to take the 3rd.  Verdasco looking tired and deflated.  I did say that Nadal would have to work for this one.

 

[Moxie]

Nadal is refusing to be aggressive in this match.  Verdasco is "go big or go home."  At least step in on a 2nd serve!  I don't think Rafa has been to the net yet, either.

 

[Mastoor]

Carol, there were threads in other forums discussing why the other spanish players used to fold so heavily against Nadal. A lot of Nadal fans were part of the discussion. This started to change (and slowly, in fact) just in the last two years, and even so most victories from the other Spaniards against him were in injury comeback periods. Up until 2013 all those guys (Ferrer, Verdasco, Lopez, Almagro) had almost zero victories combined against Nadal, even on surfaces were they should have some kind of advantage. Ferrer had a few more, but in two of them I remember pretty well that Nadal was clearly injured. And, before you get defensive (sorry…), the same use to happen with Wawrinka against Federer (not anymore) and with the other serbs (Troicky, Tipsarevic) against Djokovic.

Not at all!!! What's  Tipsarevic's and Troicki's record with Bog 3 other than No1e? Verdasco and Ferrer had decent h2h until couple of years ago.

 

 

 

[Mastoor]

Moxie, is RLA half empty or half full?

 

[Moxie]

Moxie, is RLA half empty or half full?

RLA?

 

[Moxie]

Oh, bloody hell.  Now we're on to the 5th.

 

[Mastoor]

Stadium, Rod Laver Arena

 

[Moxie]

Stadium, Rod Laver Arena

No idea, but if that's what you're thinking about, have fun with that.  I have my own issues right now.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa you should have won in 4 sets,I was live in Melbourne in 2009 when I had to endure 5 sets,I am too old to watch the 5th set.I will wait for another hour to see if you won.

 

[Moxie]

Rafa you should have won in 4 sets,I was live in Melbourne in 2009 when I had to endure 5 sets,I am too old to watch the 5th set.I will wait for another hour to see if you won.

I still think he'll win it, (and he just got the break,) but he has been shameful about not taking opportunities.

 

[britbox]

Just blown that break by getting broken back.  I still think he'll do it though. Verdasco isn't renowned for coming through tight matches.

 

[britbox]

Then again, he's hitting some monsters right now... 179mph forehand down the line

 

[Moxie]

Just blown that break by getting broken back. I still think he’ll do it though. Verdasco isn’t renowned for coming through tight matches.

Yes, but he's playing with confidence and belief.  Rafa has conceded all of his momentum points in the last two sets.

 

[britbox]

His serve is really hurting him - 6th double. Break Point Fernando.

 

[britbox]

Verdasco serving at 4-2 in the fifth.  Rafa in huge trouble now.

 

[Moxie]

Verdasco serving at 4-2 in the fifth. Rafa in huge trouble now.

Indeed.

 

[britbox]

5-2.  It's going to take a monumental collapse from Verdasco.

 

[britbox]

Match Point

 

[britbox]

There it is... Rafa out of the AO.

Credit to Verdasco - he was absolutely crushing everything - particularly Rafa's second serve (a liability).

 

[Moxie]

Ok, that hurts.  But Fernando deserved that.