2017 Australian Open SF: Dimitrov vs. Nadal

[Carol]

A good entertainment meanwhile yesterday was raining and waiting to practice

[video=youtube]http://https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlygKAQut0E[/video]

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Latest odds for this match alone.

Rafa 2/5 and Grigor 20/9

Works out to about 71% chance for Rafa and 29% chance for Grigor.

 

[BIG3]

I will give Grigor at least one set, otherwise his latest surge is purely hyped.
No matter who will fight against Fed on Sunday, it will be dream final.

 

[atttomole]

He will pound the backhand, just like he does with Fed. Grigor will have no answers to that.

 

[El Dude]

Grigor looks awesome. It is early, but I'm heartened at what I see for him going forward. He looks hungry out there, and with a variety of weapons and terrific movement. Regardless of the result today, I think his breakthrough is legit.

 

[El Dude]

Well, I spoke too soon. Grigor seems to be softening. He can't let Rafa into his head - just play his aggressive game and he has a chance.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Dimitrov was serving for the second set, but got broken. Then he had four set points on Nadal's serve, but Nadal holds for 5-5.

I'm not watching but this feels a bit like the Fed-Nadal matches of old. Roger would have chances, but be unable to take them, and in the end it all would go Rafa's way.

Let's see whether it turns out like this here. At least Dimitrov doesn't get broken himself, holding to 30 to make it 6-5 and force Nadal to serve to stay in the set once more.

 

[Frode789]

And FINALLY Dimi was able to capitalize on all his set balls. Wins the second set 7-5.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

OK, I would guess Nadal is having a bit of a dip. Dimitrov gets two more set points, and this time takes the set 7-5. The match is level at one set all.

 

[atttomole]

In my opinion Nadal has the advantage as long as he attacks the backhand on crucial points, given that Dinitriv's serve is not very solid, allowing Nadal to get into rallies.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

You've got to feel this third set is key, and Nadal deals up the pressure -and breaks Dimitrov for 3-2.

If Rafa keeps serving well, this could be over fairly quickly now.

 

[Puppet Master]

Dimitrov is such a tough customer. This has become much more than a warm up for the match against Roger. If Grigor keeps it up, Nadal is in huge trouble because he started making a few more errors here and there from the baseline.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Early in the fourth, this match is already longer than the Fed-Wawrinka 5-setter.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Nadal holds for 6-5 in the fourth. Grigor to try and take this to a tie-break.

 

[Puppet Master]

Such a high quality match. Rafa hasn't played at this level, exactly since Roland Garros 2014. Mind boggling. Grigor is also fantastic, he is blasting winners left right and centre. Ok, maybe not centre, Rafa gets to those easily.
I am so proud of bith.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Grigor gets the mini-break, and brings home both of his service points for 5-2.

I still won't be surprised if Nadal finishes this in 4 - he's so good in the big moments. But it's on Grigor's racquet now to take it into a decider.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

He gets another mini-break, and loses his first set point but not the second.

Speaking of the big points, Nadal saved 9 of 13 break points so far, versus 5 out of 9 for Dimitrov.

 

[atttomole]

Shades of 2009.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Dimitrov holds the first game of the fifth after an almighty struggle.

He's still in this.

The match has now gone on for more than four hours.

 

[rafanoy1992]

This is the reason on why I was hesitant on calling on this match same as the match against Milos. When Nadal is facing a hot player or player playing his best tennis of his life, he is more than likely will have to "suffer" to win the match.

The only good thing is that he is playing well and Dimitrov is not wilting...meaning it is not self destructing like the Fognini or Verdasco matches.