Basel 2014 ATP 500

[herios]

Coric is doing a great job. I hope he enjoys the experience against Nadal and learns from it. It is always a good thing when kids face a top pro and find out how the real world works at the top.

You bet he enjoyed the experience:clap

 

[Kieran]

Well done to Coric and Federer, particularly the youngster, he musta shown a glimpse of something we need more of in the game. Let's hope these two meet in the final.. :clap

 

[mrzz]

Just watched all the highlights... I do not think Nadal played THAT bad... I bit sub-par, surely, given everything, and a good young player who played better than expected.

I am pretty sure Nadal knew he was not going to wipe the floor with people in those tournaments. He is probably just tired of staying these long periods away from the court, and considering that the recovery time from the probable surgery is small and just went for it.

It may sound a bit strange for people outside, who use to always think on "the big picture", or "the grand scheme of things" or whatever, but in this case I guess he was just thinking on the immediate present (this happens too). As far as he is not risking any serious injury, I agree with him.

EDIT: Just saw the news, season is over and surgery scheduled. Still think he just did not want to stay out that long (by calling it a season two months ago).

 

[Front242]

^ He didn't play badly in set 2 but 19 ufes to 1 winner in set 1 can't even be classed as bad but abysmal like Federer in the first set of the final of Brisbane against Hewitt. Coric was also pretty bad in set 1 with 2 winners to 13 ufes. Set 2 was much higher quality.

 

[mrzz]

^ He didn't play badly in set 2 but 19 ufes to 1 winner in set 1 can't even be classed as bad but abysmal like Federer in the first set of the final of Brisbane against Hewitt. Coric was also pretty bad in set 1 with 2 winners to 13 ufes. Set 2 was much higher quality.

I believe you. But people, even top 4 people, do have abysmal sets... specially in your least favourite surface, a bit rusty and etc etc.

What I mean is: I do not see reason for any extreme conclusion from this particular match. If someone sees it as another small evidence of long term decline, as long as he factors the circunstances, ok. But, in the end, all theories will be tested at the AO.

Anyway, it is a shame. It would be a dream final for Federer...

 

[El Dude]

Wow. I actually read through the last six pages I missed and am glad I missed the drama (or should we call it rafadrama?).

 

[TsarMatt]

So that's it for Nadal until next year?

 

[brokenshoelace]

I think Rafa is allowed to be affected by injuries. He is also allowed to suck with or without injuries every now and then. Fair?

Absolutely. He sucked without an injury earlier this year after the AO. Clearly, he sucked WITH an injury now since you know, he does carry an injury that will likely require surgery. Fair?

I mean my whole point is, we're acknowledging he has an injury since that's not really debatable, yet it's forbidden to assume it hindered his performance, and it's somehow more logical to claim that 3 consecutive extreeeeeemely crappy performances (in about one month) are just unrelated. Ok, serious question, when was the last time Nadal ever had three terrible tournaments like this back-to-back, on any surface? I'll wait.

Now, can anyone who "liked" your post (since people make a big deal about likes recently) please explain this coincidence to me.

 

[brokenshoelace]

He's playing tougher these days. I find myself able to relax and drink my London Pride!

I couldn't agree more. There's something about Roger these last few months. Even when he's losing or having a tough match he's digging deep and making guys earn it. It's great to watch.

Now watch him lose to Rafa at the semi finals of the Australian Open and everyone lament the disappearance of said toughness during another "inexplicable" performance against Rafa

 

[Fiero425]

He's playing tougher these days. I find myself able to relax and drink my London Pride!

I couldn't agree more. There's something about Roger these last few months. Even when he's losing or having a tough match he's digging deep and making guys earn it. It's great to watch.

Now watch him lose to Rafa at the semi finals of the Australian Open and everyone lament the disappearance of said toughness during another "inexplicable" performance against Rafa

You're assuming a lot; not like it'll be a cakewalk for either! Both have had trouble just making the semi of late in some majors! It'll only get worse as the years tick on! :angel: :dodgy:

 

[brokenshoelace]

He's playing tougher these days. I find myself able to relax and drink my London Pride!

I couldn't agree more. There's something about Roger these last few months. Even when he's losing or having a tough match he's digging deep and making guys earn it. It's great to watch.

Now watch him lose to Rafa at the semi finals of the Australian Open and everyone lament the disappearance of said toughness during another "inexplicable" performance against Rafa

You're assuming a lot; not like it'll be a cakewalk for either! Both have had trouble just making the semi of late in some majors! It'll only get worse as the years tick on! :angel: :dodgy:

I'm not assuming a lot when I assume Nadal will beat Federer. I'm assuming the norm.

 

[Fiero425]

I couldn't agree more. There's something about Roger these last few months. Even when he's losing or having a tough match he's digging deep and making guys earn it. It's great to watch.

Now watch him lose to Rafa at the semi finals of the Australian Open and everyone lament the disappearance of said toughness during another "inexplicable" performance against Rafa

You're assuming a lot; not like it'll be a cakewalk for either! Both have had trouble just making the semi of late in some majors! It'll only get worse as the years tick on! :angel: :dodgy:

I'm not assuming a lot when I assume Nadal will beat Federer. I'm assuming the norm.

That is an embarrassing record even if clay matches taken out of the equation! In the past, the GOAT of his era always ruled and had winning records over his closest rivals! Borg owned Gerulaitis, the Bagel Twins (Dibbs and Solomon), and to an extent Connors and McEnroe! Sampras bested Agassi, Courier, and the rest until the end at '02 USO! Neither Evert or Navratilova had glaring embarrassments in their records, BUT Roger and Nadal rivalry is turning into a joke! I gave him every benefit of the doubt, but as time goes on, even when he has a good chance on hardcourt or grass, the results have been the same! Roger's lucky to take that first set taking advantage of Rafa's slow starts! :nono

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

Wow. I actually read through the last six pages I missed and am glad I missed the drama (or should we call it rafadrama?).

naah. it was the borna coric show.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

I really enjoyed Federer v sir grigor too.

amazing day with goffin beating milos "savedbythebellhairdo" raonic. the glorious glory or coric going 5-0 up v a beleaguered nadal then winning in straights.

..seems more than a 500 tourney. and meanwhile Valencia even with the murray-ferrer shoot out seems a bit..ummm whatever.

 

[bobvance]

He's playing tougher these days. I find myself able to relax and drink my London Pride!

I couldn't agree more. There's something about Roger these last few months. Even when he's losing or having a tough match he's digging deep and making guys earn it. It's great to watch.

Now watch him lose to Rafa at the semi finals of the Australian Open and everyone lament the disappearance of said toughness during another "inexplicable" performance against Rafa

Let's let Rafa heal his appendix (and wrist, and back, and knees, and ocd) before we pencil him into the semifinals anywhere.

 

[lacatch]

I agree with you, Bob Vance. I mentioned on another thread that, unfortunately, I think we've already seen the best from Rafa, and in the future will see flashes of brilliance that occur farther apart, a la Fed.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

By virtue of being the highest ranked player in the semifinals in Basel among those
who did not get a direct entry into Bercy, Goffin gets special exemption to directly
enter the main draw of Bercy. Congrats, Goffin.

 

[Front242]

''There was pressure but I didn't have anything to lose, because if I lose I lost to the No. 1 in the world. I never played against him so I didn't know what would happen, whether he would kill me or not.''

Coric after his win lol. Firstly you were playing the world number 3 not number 1 though and he isn't Ted Bundy and doesn't kill people!

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/10/goffin-beats-raonic-to-reach-swiss-indoors-semis/53122/#.VEsjdMkpC2U

 

[Haelfix]

The Dimitrov-Federer match was interesting imo. It really told us something about Grigor.

At the end of the day, both these players have some similarities in their game. Now, Grigor clearly moves better at this point of his career and looks a lot like Federer did in his prime, what with the great running forehand and gets. However the indoors venue neutralized a bit of that advantage, and allowed Federer to make up for his somewhat less good footwork, and really emphasized the actual ball striking and timing.

And there you can really spot differences. I thought Federer won most of the bh to bh exchanges. His bh had a little more bite and topspin to it, and really pushed Dimitrov backward. Federers forehand is both more dynamic, and can create angles that Dimitrov's cannot. Finally, Federer would actively take the center of the court and hit balls a little earlier than Grigor. Then of course the dynamic at net was also a big win for Federer.

At the end of the day, Roger just has more options available to him at almost every spot on the court, and it showed us that Grigor, while talented, doesn't quite have that one 'killer' counter that he can go too when an opponent deals with his variety. He doesn't have a Djokovic backhand, or a Rafa cc forehand or a Raonic serve.

Imo that's why he won't be as big of a champion, assuming that he does break through in the next few years.

 

[pavlik89]

2014 Basel 1/4 Borna Coric vs Rafael Nadal Highlights [HD]

http://www.tennishdhighlights.com/basel/