2017 Australian Open SF: Dimitrov vs. Nadal

[GameSetAndMath]

Unlike other Fed fans, I actually want Rafa to win this Sf (and Fed to beat Rafa in the finals).

 

[the AntiPusher]

The Kiss of Death (Tignor) has spoken again..yesterday's pick was Stan, today's pick is Grigor..:clap

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Unlike other Fed fans, I actually want Rafa to win this Sf (and Fed to beat Rafa in the finals).

I'd feel the same - except that I quite like Grigor, so normally would want him to win.

But with all the history, it will be nice to see Fed face Rafa in the final. And if Nadal can keep his domination of Fed in GS tennis going, then you've just got to say it's too good.

 

[isabelle]

Please Grigor, please....avoid me another boring and atrocious final...all those awful RG's finals are still in my mind that I won't have the courage to rewatch that another time...if it happens, so I'll go to walk in the park !!! I rely on you Grigor, don't disappoint me please

 

[the AntiPusher]

Please Grigor, please....avoid me another boring and atrocious final...all those awful RG's finals are still in my mind that I won't have the courage to rewatch that another time...if it happens, so I'll go to walk in the park !!! I rely on you Grigor, don't disappoint me please

Good Grief..:nono

 

[kskate2]

Please Grigor, please....avoid me another boring and atrocious final...all those awful RG's finals are still in my mind that I won't have the courage to rewatch that another time...if it happens, so I'll go to walk in the park !!! I rely on you Grigor, don't disappoint me please

That's some really exasperating desperation when you have to rely on Grigor to win a match. Up until a few weeks ago he couldn't hit a beach ball with a telephone pole. :cover

 

[shawnbm]

I get the impression this one goes the distance, with Nadal eeking it out in the end on guts and grit. It will be fitting that he meet Roger after both have fought through not one, but two five setters!

 

[crystalfire]

Please Grigor, please....avoid me another boring and atrocious final...all those awful RG's finals are still in my mind that I won't have the courage to rewatch that another time...if it happens, so I'll go to walk in the park !!! I rely on you Grigor, don't disappoint me please

PREACH. cant take another fed beat down :cry

 

[the AntiPusher]

Please Grigor, please....avoid me another boring and atrocious final...all those awful RG's finals are still in my mind that I won't have the courage to rewatch that another time...if it happens, so I'll go to walk in the park !!! I rely on you Grigor, don't disappoint me please

PREACH. cant take another fed beat down :cry

Good Griefnono

 

[lob]

Please Grigor, please....avoid me another boring and atrocious final...all those awful RG's finals are still in my mind that I won't have the courage to rewatch that another time...if it happens, so I'll go to walk in the park !!! I rely on you Grigor, don't disappoint me please

PREACH. cant take another fed beat down :cry

If Grigor prevents a Fedal final then he has won my loyalty forever. Why does Roger enjoy these exercises in masochism? They should change things up by playing the Fedal finals after the prize ceremony.

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[Busted]

I'll be shocked if Nadal doesn't win in 3 sets. I see two problems here - First, Dimitrov is a headcase and a choker. Secondly, he hasn't had to play any difficult opponents. No offense to the tiny little David Goffin and one-dimensional Richard Gasquet intended. His other oppnonents - an out-of-gas Istomin, an up-and-comer and a qualifier. He hasn't been tested - especially not the grinding physicality of Nadal's game. If Nadal took out big serving Roanic in 3 tight sets, then Dimitrov's a goner in 3 relatively easy sets. Plus, Dimitrov is still trying to be Roger, Jr. - with fewer skills. Watching his match against Goffin - it looked like the exact same game tactics Roger used last year against Goffin. And we all know what Roger's record against Nadal's heavy topspin is. Then there's the fact that Nadal wants to win B-A-D. It's been 3 years since he's even had a sniff at a Grand Slam title and most people had written him off. He's not going to let Dimitrov stop him from getting to the finals. If Dimitrov wants to play with the big boys - he's going to have play at a level he's never produced before - and one I'm not sure he has.

Guys.. I like this Busted fella ..I respect the cut of his jib..:clap

I'm not a "fella"...but thanks...

 

[Busted]

Still think Nadal wins but saw good bits of the Dimitrov-Goffin match and the quality was pretty high. I guess you are under rating the guy a bit.

I saw the whole Dimitrov/Goffin match and what I saw was Dimitrov doing his usual "trying to play like Roger" routine. It's hard to judge how good his game really is for 2 reasons - First, Goffin is a tiny guy without a lot firepower and he's not very aggressive. Secondly, he wasn't tested. Goffin never really mounted much of a push and yet he wasn't totally blown off the court. If Dimitrov had had Roger's draw - Berdych, Nishikori, Murray on paper (Zverev instead), Wawrinka - would he have gotten as far as he has? I don't think he would have made it past Nishikori even if he did beat Berydych. But the draw he had? Goffin (world ranking 11), Istomin (#117), Gasquet (#18), Chung (#105), O'Connell (#231)? If Istomin hadn't beaten Djokovic - Dimitrov would have been history in the 4th round. As it is he lost 2 sets to guys ranked $105 and #117. So no, I wasn't impressed by Dimitrov in the Goffin match and don't think he has much of a chance against Nadal.

 

[AnonymousFan]

I'm expecting Grigor to lose in under two hours, so I'll be recharging before the men's and women's finals.

 

[mrzz]

I saw the whole Dimitrov/Goffin match and what I saw was Dimitrov doing his usual "trying to play like Roger" routine. It's hard to judge how good his game really is for 2 reasons - First, Goffin is a tiny guy without a lot firepower and he's not very aggressive. Secondly, he wasn't tested. Goffin never really mounted much of a push and yet he wasn't totally blown off the court. If Dimitrov had had Roger's draw - Berdych, Nishikori, Murray on paper (Zverev instead), Wawrinka - would he have gotten as far as he has? I don't think he would have made it past Nishikori even if he did beat Berydych. But the draw he had? Goffin (world ranking 11), Istomin (#117), Gasquet (#18), Chung (#105), O'Connell (#231)? If Istomin hadn't beaten Djokovic - Dimitrov would have been history in the 4th round. As it is he lost 2 sets to guys ranked $105 and #117. So no, I wasn't impressed by Dimitrov in the Goffin match and don't think he has much of a chance against Nadal.

Let´s see then. Dimitrov played who was on the other side of the net. He beat the guy who has beaten Djokovic, anyway. Not the same thing, course, but different than zero.

I disagree about Goffin. He is not that tiny to begin with, and what matters is the speed of his shots, and he is hitting them hard. I agree that Federer´s draw was harder (who wouldn´t), but still... and, Federer himself lost a set to a guy ranked outside the top 100. Melzer is a fine player, I agree, but if he had played Dimitrov he would be part of the argument.

One way or another, the Bulgarian is on a win streak, and he had competitive matches with Nadal before. Nadal is no stranger to a slow start, and worst players than Dimitrov already took him the first set. What I can say for sure is that if Nadals plays his 2016 level, we will have a match, to say the least.

 

[El Dude]

I'd be very surprised if Grigor wins, but you never know - I'm certainly hoping for it, both because I start whimpering at the thought of another Fedal Massacre, but also because I like Grigor's game and would love to see him have the true breakthrough that making the final would represent. Grigor needs to beat at least one top player to make this feel real; he hasn't even faced a top 10 player yet.

All that said, if we do get Fedal I think it will be closer than some feel (or fear). The fast courts, Roger's better-than-expected comeback, and the fact that Roger won their last match (albeit way back in 2015) may give him a bit of confidence. I'd still favor Rafa, but don't think it will be a massacre and even think Roger has a chance. Maybe 40-60?

 

[Puppet Master]

Still think Nadal wins but saw good bits of the Dimitrov-Goffin match and the quality was pretty high. I guess you are under rating the guy a bit.

I saw the whole Dimitrov/Goffin match and what I saw was Dimitrov doing his usual "trying to play like Roger" routine. It's hard to judge how good his game really is for 2 reasons - First, Goffin is a tiny guy without a lot firepower and he's not very aggressive. Secondly, he wasn't tested. Goffin never really mounted much of a push and yet he wasn't totally blown off the court. If Dimitrov had had Roger's draw - Berdych, Nishikori, Murray on paper (Zverev instead), Wawrinka - would he have gotten as far as he has? I don't think he would have made it past Nishikori even if he did beat Berydych. But the draw he had? Goffin (world ranking 11), Istomin (#117), Gasquet (#18), Chung (#105), O'Connell (#231)? If Istomin hadn't beaten Djokovic - Dimitrov would have been history in the 4th round. As it is he lost 2 sets to guys ranked $105 and #117. So no, I wasn't impressed by Dimitrov in the Goffin match and don't think he has much of a chance against Nadal.

We can agree to disagree, but hear me out:
Do you honestly believe that Grigor would have even struggled against Berdych? Lol
Nisikori? The guy who he just demolished in Brisbane, and the only reason he lost a set was because it was the final and he got nervous?
Wawrinka? The guy who he leads the h2h 4-1 or 5-1 or something like that? A guy who moves better than Roger and arguably has more stamina, plus he presents him with ALMOST the same matchup problems that Fed does? Grigor's level of play in this tournament has been incredibly high, don't get it twisted. It will take one hell of a performance from Fed/Nadal to take him out.
Also Goffin is just a solid weaponless player, basically Ferrer with a less potent forehand, but just as Ferrer, not every journeyman can take him out on a given day, you have to have weapons, which Grigor absolutely has.

 

[lob]

Puppet, Grigor's level of play will drop on Friday. You note that he got nervous in Brisbane final. Tomorrow is AU open SF. He will be rattled by Nadal. I'd love to be wrong.

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[the AntiPusher]

I'll be shocked if Nadal doesn't win in 3 sets. I see two problems here - First, Dimitrov is a headcase and a choker. Secondly, he hasn't had to play any difficult opponents. No offense to the tiny little David Goffin and one-dimensional Richard Gasquet intended. His other oppnonents - an out-of-gas Istomin, an up-and-comer and a qualifier. He hasn't been tested - especially not the grinding physicality of Nadal's game. If Nadal took out big serving Roanic in 3 tight sets, then Dimitrov's a goner in 3 relatively easy sets. Plus, Dimitrov is still trying to be Roger, Jr. - with fewer skills. Watching his match against Goffin - it looked like the exact same game tactics Roger used last year against Goffin. And we all know what Roger's record against Nadal's heavy topspin is. Then there's the fact that Nadal wants to win B-A-D. It's been 3 years since he's even had a sniff at a Grand Slam title and most people had written him off. He's not going to let Dimitrov stop him from getting to the finals. If Dimitrov wants to play with the big boys - he's going to have play at a level he's never produced before - and one I'm not sure he has.

Guys.. I like this Busted fella ..I respect the cut of his jib..:clap

I'm not a "fella"...but thanks...

Oops.my baad..:eyepop

 

[Puppet Master]

Puppet, Grigor's level of play will drop on Friday. You note that he got nervous in Brisbane final. Tomorrow is AU open SF. He will be rattled by Nadal. I'd love to be wrong.

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For better or for worse, I am not Steve Tignor, I can't make predictions 100% right all the time...
I did contradict myself a bit with that statement regarding nervousness, so let me try tp put it another way: he needed the Brisbane title as a reassurance he can beat the top guys again. Now he is very confident, and everything he does in Australia is a bonus. He won't hold back. I could be completely wrong though he might choke like a dog. We will see what happens about 10 hours from now. I expect a great match nonetheless.

 

[mrzz]

Apart from Nadal on his absolute prime, everyone get´s tight. But, yeah, quite possible that Dimitrov chokes hard.

The thing is that guys who are not used to get this far on majors are unknown quantities. Nobody will be shocked if Dimitrov folds completely, but nobody will be shocked if he plays well either, even if quite a few actually expects him to win. He is a good rally player, works well with angles, can punish a weak second serve (which sometimes is a problem with Nadal), so the result is not a given.