ABN Amro, Rotterdam, Netherlands, ATP 500

[isabelle]

Berdych through semi (beat Klizan)

 

[isabelle]

Berdych beat Klizan and is in semi

 

[herios]

Tomas Berdych in the SF, after defeating Klizan in 6-3, 6-3.

 

[Carol]

He has twice before and a fourth set in his freshman Wimbledon final vs the then 3 time Wimbledon champion

That was the Rafa before he lost four times in a row to folks ranked at or above 100 at Wimby. The new Rafa will not really reach the 5th set against Roger on Grass.

Hmm. I will have to see it to believe that Rafa can still compete at Wimbledon against Roger.

Sent from my Titanium Octane using Tapatalk

Why not? first l'd wait to see how everything is going and later we'll see who can compete against whom.

 

[britbox]

Berdych through semi (beat Klizan)

Klizan's defence of his title ends here.

 

[herios]

Grigor against David once again.
David breaks first in the first set 3-2

 

[the AntiPusher]

Rafa wouldn't make it to the 5th set vs Roger at Wimbledon .

He has twice before and a fourth set in his freshman Wimbledon final vs the then 3 time Wimbledon champion

That was the Rafa before he lost four times in a row to folks ranked at or above 100 at Wimby. The new Rafa will not really reach the 5th set against Roger on Grass.

Somehow I doubt if Rafa would've continued his mastery over Roger last month you would be so dismissive about Rafa vs Roger on grass..however we shall see.. I have a feelin that he will be fresher then the past 5 years at Wimbledon although there's no excuse loosing to slugs he has succumbed too as of late there

 

[herios]

First set to David 6-4.
This is a very good match.

 

[Federberg]

Watching Dimi down a set against Goffin. Much as I like Goffin, a player with Dimi's tool set really shouldn't be bothered by him. Read somewhere he reckoned that if he'd just been able to get through Rafa he thinks he would have had the beating of Federer. These are the sorts of matches he needs to gut through to not make statements like that sound silly. Let's see what happens

 

[mrzz]

These are the sorts of matches he needs to gut through to not make statements like that sound silly

As much as I like Dimitrov, this is silly in almost any possible universe. The only way it could sound solid is if he goes on to win the next two slams, or the next masters event against the top guys to say the least. Prior to the final people were saying that Nadal would win because Dimitrov did everything better than Federer (something I never agreed), and on the final match it became blatantly obvious that it was the other way around. Sure, Federer had his hiccups, but as well as Dimitrov could have played in the semi, it was nowhere near what Federer did on sets 1, 3 and 5. I know I am biased, but is hard not to think it would be a quick 3x0 if those two had played the final.

But, as unlogical as it may sound, I think that he really should say those things. It is a statement to his peers. But, as you implied, now he needs to back it up.

 

[Federberg]

As much as I like Dimitrov, this is silly in almost any possible universe. The only way it could sound solid is if he goes on to win the next two slams, or the next masters event against the top guys to say the least. Prior to the final people were saying that Nadal would win because Dimitrov did everything better than Federer (something I never agreed), and on the final match it became blatantly obvious that it was the other way around. Sure, Federer had his hiccups, but as well as Dimitrov could have played in the semi, it was nowhere near what Federer did on sets 1, 3 and 5. I know I am biased, but is hard not to think it would be a quick 3x0 if those two had played the final.

But, as unlogical as it may sound, I think that he really should say those things. It is a statement to his peers. But, as you implied, now he needs to back it up.

Yes I definitely think these are the sorts of things he should think. Should he say them though? I think you have to walk the walk before you talk the talk, otherwise it just looks silly

 

[herios]

Grigor takes the second set, but now in the third, David up again a break.

 

[herios]

Revenge by David, very well done!
:clap

It was the potential top 10 ranking on the clone and he made the most of it.

 

[herios]

Very well done today by David to get a revenge on the two previous recent losses to Grigor.
The match was spectacular most of the time.
No matter how much I would like Dimi to maximize his potential, there are other players who are also slowly improving and today he faced a very neatly put together game of David who made the most of his opportunities.
A potential top 10 ranking at the end of this tournament was on the line for both of them and David looked the more focused.

 

[Puppet Master]

This wasn't a bad loss for Grigor. He was just a bit too paasive and got into too many extended rallies with Goffin, who seems to thrive in these conditions. A shame for his ranking really, he could have been top 10 with a title in Rotterdam. I guess he was fatigued as well.
Now he needs to rest up for IW and Miami, two tournaments he hasn't exacly shined in.

 

[Federberg]

Very well done today by David to get a revenge on the two previous recent losses to Grigor.
The match was spectacular most of the time.
No matter how much I would like Dimi to maximize his potential, there are other players who are also slowly improving and today he faced a very neatly put together game of David who made the most of his opportunities.
A potential top 10 ranking at the end of this tournament was on the line for both of them and David looked the more focused.

Yes he did. Happy for Goffin, I do like the way he plays. I just think if Dimi is a big time baller he takes that one. I remember when Delpo was climbing up the rankings he ruthlessly closed out the 250s. It really made me sit up and notice. Remember a few years back when Roger made a play for the number one ranking? He played here I think and ran roughshod over the field. That's what a big time baller does

 

[DarthFed]

I don't mind the confidence from Dimitrov even though it isn't well-founded in this case. He's never beaten Fed and I don't think he's even been particularly close. I know it is a new Grigor but still.

Even if he had shown up fresh for the final (doubtful) I think Roger would've taken him. The way Grigor played in that semi and all year he'd have had a chance and probably would've at least troubled Roger but he wouldn't have beaten him, not the way Roger was playing for most of the tournament including the 5th sets.

With that said I was one of the posters doubting that Roger could play Rafa as well as Dimitrov did in that semi. Who would've thought Roger would hit his backhand the way he did vs. Nadal. I figured he couldn't match what Dimitrov did off that wing vs Nadal but he far exceeded it.

 

[Front242]

He'll be facing the cream of the crop there. Don't expect too much from him.

 

[herios]

I am absolutely delighted by Pierre Hugues Herbert performance. Too good, I love his serve-volley style, job very well done!
Domi gets an early ticket to Rio, long way to fly anyway

 

[herios]

I watched Herbert upsetting Domi today. It was delightful, as the French got a very neat serve and volley game, he is not a slam winner in doubles for nothing.
I hope Pierre will be playing more in singles in the future, because he has some good potential.