Doha 2014

[the AntiPusher]

Hoo-ray! Rafa finally gets Doha. Good play from Gael. He could definitely cause trouble in Oz.

Has Rafa finally found a trophy he will not bite:laydownlaughing

 

[brokenshoelace]

Monfils showed pretty much all his sides in this match. There was the "sit back and let him run you around" side. There was the "go for broke on every forehand" side. And there was the "controlled aggression" side.

Obviously, when he was just being passive he was getting killed. But early in the second set, he just started unleashing his forehand and going for broke on every shot, they landed in, and he broke. Then after being broken back, he realized that he can actually chill, rally, and pick his spots better, and that's when he played his best tennis of the match. For some odd reason, in the game in which he got broken in the final set, he decided he needed to go for 100 mph forehand winners on every shot. He got broken, and never recovered.

I actually didn't think Nadal looked impressive all tournament long, but I don't think he needed to. It was a good work-out for him. He faced players who were good enough to challenge him (even if on paper they were unknowns, they ended up playing great), but not good enough to beat him. Got a confidence building win, and now we got Melbourne where the courts and conditions are different.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Hoo-ray! Rafa finally gets Doha. Good play from Gael. He could definitely cause trouble in Oz.

As long as Monfils don't do this often in OZ, he will be fine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk_rhsDxUFs

Great win for Nadal! This is his 11th title since his return from injury last February. Let's hope he can carry this momentum into the Australian Open.

In addition, the way he was challenged in this tournament would surely help him in the Australian Open.

By the way, this is the first time Nadal has won a title in January. When he won his only Australian Open, the date was February 1, 2009. November is the only month where is hasn't won a title yet.

 

[Front242]

I remember that travesty, rafanoy1992 One of the worst matches I've ever watched. Painful viewing. Should be used as torture actually.

 

[Goldenboy]

Wow for a long time that looked like it was a warm up rally.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I remember that travesty, rafanoy1992 One of the worst matches I've ever watched. Painful viewing. Should be used as torture actually.

If I remember correctly, both players needed IV fluids after the match.

 

[Front242]

I remember that travesty, rafanoy1992 One of the worst matches I've ever watched. Painful viewing. Should be used as torture actually.

If I remember correctly, both players needed IV fluids after the match.

Unreal lol. That rally was pure pusher nonsense till the last 5 seconds or so when they actually started to hit it like grown men. Torturous viewing.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Hoo-ray! Rafa finally gets Doha. Good play from Gael. He could definitely cause trouble in Oz.

As long as Monfils don't do this often in OZ, he will be fine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk_rhsDxUFs

Great win for Nadal! This is his 11th title since his return from injury last February. Let's hope he can carry this momentum into the Australian Open.

In addition, the way he was challenged in this tournament would surely help him in the Australian Open.

By the way, this is the first time Nadal has won a title in January. When he won his only Australian Open, the date was February 1, 2009. November is the only month where is hasn't won a title yet.

How about December? Are you conting some DC title or omitting it as it is off season?

 

[Iona16]

Congrats to Rafa. He's still not keen on those birds of prey Moxie. It won't bite Rafa.

Only posted this because of the little girl holding Rafa's arm. How happy does she look? Rafa not looking too bad either.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Congrats to Rafa. He's still not keen on those birds of prey Moxie. It won't bite Rafa.

It may not bite Rafa; but, Rafa may bite it.

 

[Moxie]

Congrats to Rafa. He's still not keen on those birds of prey Moxie. It won't bite Rafa.

Only posted this because of the little girl holding Rafa's arm. How happy does she look? Rafa not looking too bad either.

I believe Rafa did bite that particular bird of prey! Thanks for the photos, Iona. That little girl is so cute. That would be me.

 

[lacatch]

Moxie--I hesitate to think what might happen if you came face to face with your MAN

 

[Moxie]

Moxie--I hesitate to think what might happen if you came face to face with your MAN

Remember back in 2009 when a fan ran on the field at the USO and kissed Rafa? Kieran said that, before he heard it was a guy, he wondered if it was me. :laydownlaughing I like to think I'd be cooler than that. :smooch :basiate