Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Day 5

[Moxie]

Nice start by Rafa, he seems to be more at ease in this match than the last two...

I was just making that point to a friend. He's much sharper, so far.

 

[nehmeth]

Nice start by Rafa, he seems to be more at ease in this match than the last two...

He's gearing up to play the big guys in the semis and finals.

 

[brokenshoelace]

So easy to tell when Nadal is feeling the ball well...

 

[kskate2]

Rest assured Moxie. The seer predicts a straight set victory for the Bull. Something like 6-3 6-4.

 

[Kieran]

He's got that Harrison Ford stare of rugged fierceness. You know the moment, when it dawns on Harrison Ford that the feller he's chatting to is the baddie. Rafa's serving great too. Return is carrying some freight...

 

[Front242]

Such a shame Tsonga didn't make it this year. Would've liked to see him here. Infinitely more watchable than Ferrer and definitely wouldn't have ended up 0-3.

 

[Front242]

Nice serving Big Berd.

 

[Kieran]

Close out the set, take top spot in the group - then tank! :snigger

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Just turned the tv on...Ralph is serving for the set. So, it has been just one break , or multiple?

 

[brokenshoelace]

First set in the bag. Second set will end 7-6 or 7-5.

 

[Front242]

Just turned the tv on...Ralph is serving for the set. So, it has been just one break , or multiple?

Just the one. Right at the start :/

 

[Moxie]

Just turned the tv on...Ralph is serving for the set. So, it has been just one break , or multiple?

Just the one.

 

[Moxie]

Such a shame Tsonga didn't make it this year. Would've liked to see him here. Infinitely more watchable than Ferrer and definitely wouldn't have ended up 0-3.

Except that he wouldn't have taken Ferrer's spot. I would have like to have seen him too, though. Guess he'd have taken Gasquet's.

 

[nehmeth]

Cliffy "outs" Cahill who made this statement during the break, "Novak Djokovic has made Rafa Nadal a better tennis player."

 

[Front242]

Such a shame Tsonga didn't make it this year. Would've liked to see him here. Infinitely more watchable than Ferrer and definitely wouldn't have ended up 0-3.

Except that he wouldn't have taken Ferrer's spot. I would have like to have seen him too, though. Guess he'd have taken Gasquet's.

Yup I realize it wouldn't have been Ferrer's place that he'd have taken but simply that Ferrer has been crap here and Tsonga would definitely have won a match at least. A pity really 'cos Ferrer was great at Paris and it seems he used up all his stamina there. Looks mentally and physically zonked. Never expected him to reach the final there and I guess he went all out to defend his points and title knowing he wasn't going to win the WTF anyway. Just a pity he had nothing left in the tank for here.

 

[Front242]

Cliffy "outs" Cahill who made this statement during the break, "Novak Djokovic has made Rafa Nadal a better tennis player."

It's true. He'd never have put so much effort into improving his BH as much as he did if not for the beating he took in 2011.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Thanks Front/Moxie.

Nice defensive slice there from Bird. Where did that come from?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Is Stan swearing at the TV right now, or watching in the stands and swearing at Nadal?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

By winning the first set, Rafa has won GROUP A, even if he goes on to lose the match.

So, Rafa will not play Novak in SF as Novak has already won GROUP B.

 

[Kieran]

Suddenly Stan is sitting on the porcelain...