2018 Australian Open, Melbourne - ATP GRAND SLAM

[mrzz]

So after spanking Dzumhur, Nadal gets Schwartzman next. I guess if Nadal manages to squeek out a bit more spin, the Argentinian will not even be able to reach the ball.

Goodness me, draw handpicked by Carol and Mox indeed.

Hehehehe, you're joking but I once saw Schwartzman returning a few second serves from some big server who had a huge kick serve actually smashing the ball. It was surreal.

The physical mismatch is huge -- so I agree with your post in general -- but I guess Schwartzman will still be hardest test for Nadal so far. He fights for every point, punish short balls and is a good returner. He won't allow Nadal to get in a passive mode, and if he does he surely surrenders a set. I expect a tougher battle than most are imagining, but probably Nadal shows up with his game face on and wins in competitive three.

 

[Federberg]

Hehehehe, you're joking but I once saw Schwartzman returning a few second serves from some big server who had a huge kick serve actually smashing the ball. It was surreal.

The physical mismatch is huge -- so I agree with your post in general -- but I guess Schwartzman will still be hardest test for Nadal so far. He fights for every point, punish short balls and is a good returner. He won't allow Nadal to get in a passive mode, and if he does he surely surrenders a set. I expect a tougher battle than most are imagining, but probably Nadal shows up with his game face on and wins in competitive three.

Rafa might give up a set in that one. To me this is like Rafa facing a modern day Ferrer. He'll get thru, of course, but he'll be made to work for it

 

[mrzz]

Rafa might give up a set in that one. To me this is like Rafa facing a modern day Ferrer. He'll get thru, of course, but he'll be made to work for it

So we are two secretly hoping for the upset... just don't tell anyone. People are crucified here for this sort of thing.

 

[DarthFed]

Nah, Nads is looking good. He will have no trouble raping the Shortman.

It's up to Roger to make the final and preserve his legacy. It's becoming clear that 19 is probably not enough.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Don't we have Berdych vs Del Potro tomo?

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

I hope Roger plays his A game against Gasquet. At least, it will send a message to others.

 

[britbox]

Del Potro will be Roger's litmus test... I can't see Gasquet getting much out of the match...

 

[Denis]

Nah, Nads is looking good. He will have no trouble raping the Shortman.

It's up to Roger to make the final and preserve his legacy. It's becoming clear that 19 is probably not enough.

Fed is not beating Nadal again here at the AO, Nadal is also looking great so far. Your hope should be on other players. I suggest Fed tanks the semi against Novak, so Novak is well-rested for the final.

 

[DarthFed]

Fed is not beating Nadal again here at the AO, Nadal is also looking great so far. Your hope should be on other players. I suggest Fed tanks the semi against Novak, so Novak is well-rested for the final.

Lol, I saw Nole against Monfils. He is not winning this tournament. And not sure if you saw the Fed-Nadal matches last year when Nole was on the sidelines. Also this is not the same tourney Nole dominated for so long, they've sped up the courts.

I'd say the best chance for Rafa to lose is facing Roger and best chance for Roger to lose is facing Rafa here. Roger of course has the tougher path by far but if he gets through and plays his game on a fast hardcourt he should win. He needs to treat this as life and death though, pick up the intensity where it needs to be. 19 is jack shit if jungle boy gets 20 or more...

 

[britbox]

Fed is not beating Nadal again here at the AO, Nadal is also looking great so far. Your hope should be on other players. I suggest Fed tanks the semi against Novak, so Novak is well-rested for the final.

Nadal looked great most of last year unless he was playing Federer.

 

[Denis]

Lol, I saw Nole against Monfils. He is not winning this tournament. And not sure if you saw the Fed-Nadal matches last year when Nole was on the sidelines. Also this is not the same tourney Nole dominated for so long, they've sped up the courts.

I'd say the best chance for Rafa to lose is facing Roger and best chance for Roger to lose is facing Rafa here. Roger of course has the tougher path by far but if he gets through and plays his game on a fast hardcourt he should win. He needs to treat this as life and death though, pick up the intensity where it needs to be. 19 is jack shit if jungle boy gets 20 or more...

I have no issue with speeding up the courts. Novak has taken Fed to the shed at the US Open the last three times. As to whether that is in Fed's favour if he would get past Novak. A bit speculative, but I do note that Nadal won last year's US Open whereas Fed wasn't even there at their supposed to happen rendez-vous.

 

[DarthFed]

US Open is now playing considerably slower than Australian Open. They started slowing it down many years ago and now it's slow-medium instead of medium-fast. And by taking him to the shed are you referring to Fed's consecutive choke jobs while up 2 match points? Even 2015 was semi-competitive with Roger playing much weaker tennis.

Fed also entered last USO with a crappy back, no one expected him to do well and he didn't do well, losing to the constantly overrated Del Potro.

 

[Denis]

US Open is now playing considerably slower than Australian Open. They started slowing it down many years ago and now it's slow-medium instead of medium-fast. And by taking him to the shed are you referring to Fed's consecutive choke jobs while up 2 match points? Even 2015 was semi-competitive with Roger playing much weaker tennis.

Fed also entered last USO with a crappy back, no one expected him to do well and he didn't do well, losing to the constantly overrated Del Potro.

That's an interesting observation. It does look quicker, but its hard to compare. It doesn't matter. Looking forward to the semi when it happens

 

[Moxie]

Here is an article about pace of courts last Sept. at USO and it talks about the AO, too. USO director insists the courts haven't changed in 10 years. AO director says the courts weren't sped up, but there is some explaining of why/when courts play faster/slower.

 

[DarthFed]

Yes the court may remain the same but the ball is often a big factor and when I say the courts have been sped up or slowed down that factor is included. Same with Wimbledon which pathetically keeps using a heavier ball leading to much slower conditions.

USO has gone to a heavier ball. As for AO they said that starting last year they resurfaced the courts later which led to faster conditions than previous years. It seems they are going to be doing that from here on out which is nice since the two others (Wimbledon and USO) have pathetically given in to the promotion of long boring points. Roger should have been on 10-12 at Wimbledon by now if they kept the courts good.

 

[Moxie]

Yes the court may remain the same but the ball is often a big factor and when I say the courts have been sped up or slowed down that factor is included. Same with Wimbledon which pathetically keeps using a heavier ball leading to much slower conditions.

USO has gone to a heavier ball. As for AO they said that starting last year they resurfaced the courts later which led to faster conditions than previous years. It seems they are going to be doing that from here on out which is nice since the two others (Wimbledon and USO) have pathetically given in to the promotion of long boring points. Roger should have been on 10-12 at Wimbledon by now if they kept the courts good.

Maybe you can find something to support your contention about the balls then. You keep telling us what all these courts and balls are like, as if you went out and played them all yourself. You must read it somewhere, otherwise.

 

[Denis]

Yes the court may remain the same but the ball is often a big factor and when I say the courts have been sped up or slowed down that factor is included. Same with Wimbledon which pathetically keeps using a heavier ball leading to much slower conditions.

USO has gone to a heavier ball. As for AO they said that starting last year they resurfaced the courts later which led to faster conditions than previous years. It seems they are going to be doing that from here on out which is nice since the two others (Wimbledon and USO) have pathetically given in to the promotion of long boring points. Roger should have been on 10-12 at Wimbledon by now if they kept the courts good.

Lol yeah and if they had done even more, Dr Ivo would be the GOAT. If they would have played the WTF on clay for the past 10 years, Fed would not have a single title. If they had forced women to play with men, Serena would not even be in the main draw for the past 10 years. Do you want me to continue?

 

[DarthFed]

Lol whatever, it was well stated last year that they went to a heavier ball than the year before at Wimbledon. To my knowledge they changed the Wimbledon surface back in 2001 which slowed it down a bit but then they switched to a heavier ball starting in 2006. I'm not going to waste my time finding articles from 10 years about it. Tournament directors don't care about anyone's complaints anyways as long as the money comes in.

 

[Denis]

Lol whatever, it was well stated last year that they went to a heavier ball than the year before at Wimbledon. To my knowledge they changed the Wimbledon surface back in 2001 which slowed it down a bit but then they switched to a heavier ball starting in 2006. I'm not going to waste my time finding articles from 10 years about it. Tournament directors don't care about anyone's complaints anyways as long as the money comes in.

But who is complaining exactly? Not me.

 

[DarthFed]

Lol yeah and if they had done even more, Dr Ivo would be the GOAT. If they would have played the WTF on clay for the past 10 years, Fed would not have a single title. If they had forced women to play with men, Serena would not even be in the main draw for the past 10 years. Do you want me to continue?

It's all good. Roger is playing on a tour much more designed for Rafa and Nole and he's still reigned supreme. Not sure your analogies make any sense. I'm calling for 1. Better variety in the courts and 2. That tournaments stick to what they have been in the past which relates to #1. It's a personal preference. I'm sure you, Moxie, AP and others are thrilled with the new status quo.