Cincinnati Semifinal: Nadal/Berdych

[ClayDeath]

yes. when nadal was 5 years old.

 

[tented]

Nadal leads the H2H record over Berdych 14-3. Nadal has won their last 13 encounters. Berdych last win was in 2006 Madrid. Also, Nadal is 2-0 over Berdych this year (IW and Rome), both of them were also in the Semifinals.

I pick Nadal in two sets.

Didn't Berdych beat Nadal in Cinci in 2005?

Yes, when Rafa was 19. Berdych then beat him twice in 2006. Since then he has won 2 sets in 13 matches.

 

[Kieran]

I'm concerned about Rafa peaking too soon. It isn't that it's impossible to win Montreal, Cincy and then NY, and he's clicking W's for fun, but I don't mind if he tones down the intensity and saves some for NY.

However, he seems to have his eyes on the Top Spot and he's gunning for it. He'll turn Berdy over in straights...

 

[brokenshoelace]

I'm concerned about Rafa peaking too soon. It isn't that it's impossible to win Montreal, Cincy and then NY, and he's clicking W's for fun, but I don't mind if he tones down the intensity and saves some for NY.

However, he seems to have his eyes on the Top Spot and he's gunning for it. He'll turn Berdy over in straights...

No point in toning down the intensity when you're already in the semis. I don't disagree with the premise, but if he would have gone that route, I'd have preferred if he skipped Cinci altogether, or bottled it against Dimitrov, or even Roger (Okay, maybe not against him!).

 

[Kieran]

I'm concerned about Rafa peaking too soon. It isn't that it's impossible to win Montreal, Cincy and then NY, and he's clicking W's for fun, but I don't mind if he tones down the intensity and saves some for NY.

However, he seems to have his eyes on the Top Spot and he's gunning for it. He'll turn Berdy over in straights...

No point in toning down the intensity when you're already in the semis. I don't disagree with the premise, but if he would have gone that route, I'd have preferred if he skipped Cinci altogether, or bottled it against Dimitrov, or even Roger (Okay, maybe not against him!).

Exactly. My thinking too. Even a loss against Roger wouldn't matter, since they don't resonate into the slams. It would be a mere statistic...

 

[Mog]

Djoko gone, Federer gone and Murray gone.
Has it happened anytime when Djoko, Nadal, Federer and Murray all failed to reach the final?

 

[nehmeth]

Berdych struggled but held serve. Rafa punished a few of those 2nd serves. Looks ready to go

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Djoko gone, Federer gone and Murray gone.
Has it happened anytime when Djoko, Nadal, Federer and Murray all failed to reach the final?

Last year in France I think.

 

[Mog]

Djoko gone, Federer gone and Murray gone.
Has it happened anytime when Djoko, Nadal, Federer and Murray all failed to reach the final?

Last year in France I think.

Thanks Murat.

 

[Emma]

Berdy will have to serve a very high percentage of first serve to get some cheap points and avoid going into rallies against Nadal. And also, will have to be mindful of pure ballbashing; instead, will have to use his brain for a change and be selective as to when to attack or create opportunity and seize that moment. Keep it very, very neat and cool, Berdy.

The downside is, he will have to play with a very narrow, narrow margin and that's a big deal.

 

[Emma]

Djoko gone, Federer gone and Murray gone.
Has it happened anytime when Djoko, Nadal, Federer and Murray all failed to reach the final?

Last year in France I think.

Thanks Murat.

I thought Federer wasn't there?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Djoko gone, Federer gone and Murray gone.
Has it happened anytime when Djoko, Nadal, Federer and Murray all failed to reach the final?

Last year in France I think.

Thanks Murat.

I thought Federer wasn't there?

He was not, and the final was between Ferrer and Janowicz...No big four in the final.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Bad miss from Nadal. He usually makes those passes with his eyes closed.

 

[nehmeth]

Uh oh, PMac just outted Rafa for playing golf while he's been here in Cinci. Senor' Death won't like that...

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Uh oh, PMac just outted Rafa for playing golf while he's been here in Cinci. Senor' Death won't like that...

The question is, how did he find time to do that?:huh:

 

[Emma]

Great point there by Berdy.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Some bad misses from Bird and Rafa breaks. He will serve for the first set.

 

[Emma]

Berdy got completely distracted by that challenge from Nadal and ended up playing a couple of bad points to give away the break. Oh well.

 

[nehmeth]

Well, this set is Rafa's and we'll soon see how completely Berdych crumbles in the 2nd.

 

[Front242]

Some completely BS umpiring ruined this whole match. That late challenge in set 1 shouldn't have been allowed. Berdych was robbed.