2018 AO Men's QF: Nadal - Cilic

[brokenshoelace]

There's something really weird about Nadal. Each of his best years in which he finished as world number 1 were followed by injury except for 2011 (not counting mental injuries inflicted by Djokovic). 2009, 2014, 2018...

 

[Moxie]

That's the point. It's not hard at all. You're hitting out at the wrong people. Don't blame us. Rafa has had shockingly bad luck here. We agree. Even DF isn't dancing for joy. That's got to tell you something

You did actually say that I was making it hard for you to empathize with me.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I think Nadal would have been in the final if he doesn't get hurt, as he's obviously not going to lose to an unseeded player in the semi, but at his current level, and even without physical struggles, he had no shot vs. Fed and he'd honestly be in some danger vs. Berdych. So I guess that's the glass half full outlook. Still, it's a tough pill to swallow considering how his path to the final had opened up.

 

[Federberg]

You did actually say it was hard to empathize with me.

@Moxie read what I wrote again. The SpecSavers thing was a joke before, but jeez...

 

[brokenshoelace]

Was there an option to vote "Cilic in 4.3"?

 

[Denis]

I think Nadal would have been in the final if he doesn't get hurt, as he's obviously not going to lose to an unseeded player in the semi, but at his current level, and even without physical struggles, he had no shot vs. Fed and he'd honestly be in some danger vs. Berdych. So I guess that's the glass half full outlook. Still, it's a tough pill to swallow considering how his path to the final had opened up.

He could have been playing supremecist Sandgren for all we know in the final.

The glass is pretty much fully empty. Sorry man.

 

[Federberg]

I think Nadal would have been in the final if he doesn't get hurt, as he's obviously not going to lose to an unseeded player in the semi, but at his current level, and even without physical struggles, he had no shot vs. Fed and he'd honestly be in some danger vs. Berdych. So I guess that's the glass half full outlook. Still, it's a tough pill to swallow considering how his path to the final had opened up.

When he went 2 - 1 up I was more pre-occupied with psyching myself up for Roger making the appointment. Didn't see this coming at all. What is it with Fedal these days. These days we - on either side of the aisle - can't count our chickens

 

[Federberg]

He could have been playing supremecist Sandgren for all we know in the final.

The glass is pretty much fully empty. Sorry man.

Is there a story here? I heard he had been deleting old tweets, but I never bothered to find out what he'd been redacting

 

[brokenshoelace]

When he went 2 - 1 up I was more pre-occupied with psyching myself up for Roger making the appointment. Didn't see this coming at all. What is it with Fedal these days. These days we - on either side of the aisle - can't count our chickens

The final was looking pretty inevitable with only Cilic/Berdych having an outside shot at upsetting it. Didn't count on an Nadal injury. Oh well. Roger still needs to take care of business.

 

[Moxie]

There's something really weird about Nadal. Each of his best years in which he finished as world number 1 were followed by injury except for 2011 (not counting mental injuries inflicted by Djokovic). 2009, 2014, 2018...

At the risk of being crucified by some here...he did have a dodgy knee coming in. I kept saying his footwork was throwing his timing off all of this match. He was a step off on so many shots that he would normally make. Maybe that was the knee, and maybe that precipitated whatever happened at the end...hip? groin? But I do think he was late on a lot of gets from the beginning of the match.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Is there a story here? I heard he had been deleting old tweets, but I never bothered to find out what he'd been redacting

I second that question.

 

[britbox]

I think Nadal would have been in the final if he doesn't get hurt, as he's obviously not going to lose to an unseeded player in the semi, but at his current level, and even without physical struggles, he had no shot vs. Fed and he'd honestly be in some danger vs. Berdych. So I guess that's the glass half full outlook. Still, it's a tough pill to swallow considering how his path to the final had opened up.

Nadal would have beaten Berdych at 70%... I do think Fed would have had his number... but I've got a few lingering concerns about the Fed/Berd match before the final in any event.

 

[brokenshoelace]

At the risk of being crucified by some here...he did have a dodgy knee coming in. I kept saying his footwork was throwing his timing off all of this match. He was a step off on so many shots that he would normally make. Maybe that was the knee, and maybe that precipitated whatever happened at the end...hip? groin? But I do think he was late on a lot of gets from the beginning of the match.

He did pull out of Brisbane. His movement was OK for the first few rounds, but the footwork (not the same thing) was a little off, for whatever reason. Still, the draw opened up nicely for him and he still would have made the final. Winning it on the other hand, was a tall order if Fed was on the other side of the net.

 

[Denis]

I second that question.

Go to the QF thread. He was following a bunch of white supremecists on social media, allegedly 'out of interest'.

Some background:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/22/tennys-sandgren-alt-right-australian-open-twitter

 

[Federberg]

The final was looking pretty inevitable with only Cilic/Berdych having an outside shot at upsetting it. Didn't count on an Nadal injury. Oh well. Roger still needs to take care of business.

yup. This is the problem. I'm actually more stressed now after what's just happened to Rafa, because Roger not picking up the title now will be almost unbearable

 

[Moxie]

Well, whatever it is, I just hope it's temporary. My man Chung is still in. Sandgren is a Yank and everyone likes Kyle Edmund.

EDIT: Ok, YIkes re: Sandgren. I may revise that.

 

[Federberg]

Go to the QF thread. He was following a bunch of white supremecists on social media, allegedly 'out of interest'.

Some background:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/22/tennys-sandgren-alt-right-australian-open-twitter

you would think these guys would be smart enough to be discrete in such a public type of career. The ATP should add social media training to the curriculum

 

[Denis]

Well, whatever it is, I just hope it's temporary. My man Chung is still in. Sandgren is a Yank and everyone likes Kyle Edmund.

I like we both like Chung.

After Chung its Berdy and then Edmund for me. All the others I could not care less.

 

[Denis]

you would think these guys would be smart enough to be discrete in such a public type of career. The ATP should add social media training to the curriculum

I actually kind of like the fact that he has not been polished by the ATP PR machine. But for me, it's dodgy as hell.

 

[Moxie]

I like we both like Chung.

After Chung its Berdy and then Edmund for me. All the others I could not care less.

Chung would be amazing! I'm not a Berdych fan, but Edmund is darling. He seems so shocked.