Cincinnati 2014: Western and Southern open

[DarthFed]

^ There are very few places where Roger will not be the big fan favorite vs. Nadal or anyone else for that matter. Obviously Spain and maybe Miami and that's about it. Roger plays with huge home crowd style advantages practically anywhere he plays. I was just in Cincy and you can see how much of a factor it can be.

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Much bigger match for Murray than Roger. If Roger loses the extra rest could be helpful for New York and if he wins he is in the semis with a good chance to win the tournament. Kind of no lose situation as winning the tournament is a nice confidence boost but could come at the cost of playing too much the past 2 weeks. Only 1 week off and then the USO where he'd have to play 2 more weeks to win it. Murray needs this for confidence. If Murray loses he can't feel good about his chances at the USO.

I'm sure Roger will be reasonably okay with a week's rest and early slam rounds are often little more than extended practice sessions for him, so I wouldn't be too concerned about deep runs in Canada and here impacting his US Open that much.

 

[DarthFed]

Maybe you're right but I think rest is huge at this point. This would be 2 straight long weeks and then just 1 week off before 2 weeks of best of 5 tennis. It all adds up and could hurt him come semifinals at USO if he gets there.

I think this past clay season worked well for him to be fully rested and ready to go for grass season. With the birth of his twins Roger skipped Madrid and lost early at Rome and RG. With deep runs there and at Halle it could've hurt him at Wimbledon IMO. It didn't in 2012 but he is 2 years older now and even in 2012 I don't think it was ideal.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

^ There are very few places where Roger will not be the big fan favorite vs. Nadal or anyone else for that matter. Obviously Spain and maybe Miami and that's about it. Roger plays with huge home crowd style advantages practically anywhere he plays. I was just in Cincy and you can see how much of a factor it can be.

I was at the 2012 AO semi-final and Nadal got a louder applause when he entered the court than Federer did (and the crowd seemed to be in Nadal's corner late in the 4th set, which is strange because fans usually want a 5th set).

I wasn't at the 2014 AO semi-final but from TV it sounded like Nadal again got the bigger applause.

I have no doubt Federer plays with bigger crowd support than other players, but not bigger than Nadal (except for at the French Open where Nadal is rarely the crowd favorite vs anyone, and was booed from the court when he lost to Soderling).

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Yeah, it is hard to judge really, but I think we can agree pretty conclusively that if he loses to Murray tonight, the extra two days off this weekend certainly won't do any harm to his US Open chances.

Benneteau getting absolutely schooled by an in-form Stan. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see Wawrinka win this week and add to his bizarre season of either winning another biggie or getting kicked out by someone mediocre. Only exceptions I can think of are Queens and Wimbledon.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Stan takes the first set 6-1 as the quarterfinal matches begin.
The Frenchman is ahead in the second set, enjoying an early break and ahead 4-1

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Awesome point from Benneteau to get the second break! Roles reversed, Stan about to lose this set 6-1.

Imagine if Benneteau somehow gets his first title here :snigger

 

[DarthFed]

Saw Benneteau and Jerzy yesterday, he is a crafty player. One of those guys you can tell is thinking out there and that is not the case with a lot of players these days.

 

[herios]

Awesome point from Benneteau to get the second break! Roles reversed, Stan about to lose this set 6-1.

Imagine if Benneteau somehow gets his first title here :snigger

I think he would pull the Bartoli and retire

 

[herios]

Jules breaks early in the 3rd set.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Stan loses the second set 1-6 resembling a WTA score.
Julien gets early break again and leads the decider 3-1

 

[DarthFed]

This really blows up that top half if Stan loses this. Stan is still really flaky. Cilic has been playing pretty well heading into that match yesterday and won the 1st set 6-3. I didn't see it but Stan must have gone into full out Stanimal mode the last 2 sets yesterday and continued it for the 1st set today.

 

[herios]

Stan does not seem to care. Jules to serve for the match.

 

[herios]

This really blows up that top half if Stan loses this. Stan is still really flaky. Cilic has been playing pretty well heading into that match yesterday and won the 1st set 6-3. I didn't see it but Stan must have gone into full out Stanimal mode the last 2 sets yesterday and continued it for the 1st set today.

That is exactly what happened. The last 2 sets yesterday and first today, Stan was unplayable. Then he dropped to an abysmal level. Good for Jules!!! Allez

 

[TennisFanatic7]

So Robredo, Daveed or Benners will compete for one final spot while Federer, Murray and Raonic fight over the other.

Anarchy, I tell you!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Saw Benneteau and Jerzy yesterday, he is a crafty player. One of those guys you can tell is thinking out there and that is not the case with a lot of players these days.

Benneteau is one guy who always gives trouble to Fed. The matches between them are
not routine wins for Roger, by any means.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Looks like Sock/Popsicle pair lost their first match as a team.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Benneteau finished the task.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

So Robredo, Daveed or Benners will compete for one final spot while Federer, Murray and Raonic fight over the other.

Anarchy, I tell you!

You forgot to include Fog in the second half. :snigger

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Looks like Sock/Popsicle pair lost their first match as a team.

My scoreboard shows they won the super-tie-breaker 10-7

Doubles pair of Pospisil and Sock make the semifinals.