Gerry Weber Open (Halle) 9-15 June 2014

[mrzz]

Current form wise, all 128 players will lose before the semis in Wimbledon.

 

[brokenshoelace]

^ Well was referencing 2008 specifically. Roger did not belong anywhere near the final in 2010.

So "mental issues" are now the reason why Nadal beat Federer at Wimbledon in 2008? Well it's been 6 years, might as well come up with a new view on the match.

 

[brokenshoelace]

What concerns me more than the defeat itself is Nadal's game to be honest. It's easy to lose a match on grass since a lot hinges a couple of points, but that wasn't one of those defeats.

Showing up and losing is much better than not having the energy to show up at all. Plus, he got a few days hitting on the surface. In the first set today, Rafa was holding easier than Brown until Brown hit a few inspired shots to break. That's how it goes. The thing about the grass now is, we don't get the chance to see any patterns emerge, so we basically go from this match - to the first round at Wimbo. We don't get to see how he develops.

But still, this match isn't an indicator of anything other than the fact that it's Rafa first match on the surface in a year and he got caught cold. It doesn't tell us how he'll do at Wimbledon...

If the problem last year was energy, then he wouldn't have lost to Darcis, since skipping Halle gave him that energy...and he still showed up and lost his first match.

You're still focusing on what this match indicates. Alone, it doesn't indicate much. The fact that Nadal has won a combined two matches on grass in 2012, 2013 and 2014, indicates far more.

I'm not focusing on this match indicating anything, since I just said that in the post you replied to.

I wouldn't write Rafa off or get anxious based upon last year's Wimbledon, or the year before. Nor would I say that these are indicators that he can only do better, therefore he'll do better this year. I'm saying that it's too soon to call him on anything yet, especially just a couple of days after winning a match that was emotionally and physically draining.

I expect him to do a lot better this year at Wimbledon, however...

Who's writing him off? And yeah, the least he can do is a lot better since he can't do any worse.

 

[Front242]

^ Well in Darth's defense, Federer should never have bottled that 4-1 lead in set 2 in Wimbledon 2008. Similar debacle in RG 2011 when up 5-2.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

Federer is through and karlovic was knocked out..so he won't face mr nuclear war serve next up.

 

[Kieran]

Who's writing him off?

Glad to hear it, although it was lucky for him the last time you did...

 

[brokenshoelace]

It's great the way every thread now is turning into a mini-Fedal feast... :snigger

Only way Federer is relevant nowadays.


































Ok, I'm obviously joking.

 

[brokenshoelace]

He won RG last 2 years also so wouldn't put too much stock in that.

??

People aren't annoyed that he won RG.

LMAO sure they're not...

 

[Front242]

He won RG last 2 years also so wouldn't put too much stock in that.

??

People aren't annoyed that he won RG.

LMAO sure they're not...

Ok, well But the main issue of discussion here is Nadal is crap on grass these days and so is Federer bar the anomaly of 2012 as I mentioned.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Darth just wondering, do you also blame "mental issues" for Nadal losing at the 2011 Wimbledon final to Djokovic? I mean it's literally the same logic so if that's the case, Nadal should still have two Wimbledons if you want to hand 2008 to a mental-issueless Roger.

 

[Kieran]

Ok, well But the main issue of discussion here is Nadal is crap on grass these days and so is Federer bar the anomaly of 2012 as I mentioned.

Glad it's you who's describing Federer slam wins as an anomaly. If I did that I'd be chased across the web for a week... :snigger

 

[Front242]

I think most will agree Djokovic's 2011 level in practically every tournament was very high. Federer's level in Wimbledon 2008 didn't pick up till it was almost game over and when he went surging ahead in set 2 he took the foot off the gas as he too often does.

 

[Front242]

Ok, well But the main issue of discussion here is Nadal is crap on grass these days and so is Federer bar the anomaly of 2012 as I mentioned.

Glad it's you who's describing Federer slam wins as an anomaly. If I did that I'd be chased across the web for a week... :snigger

Any slam win at age 31 is an anomaly imo.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Who's writing him off?

Glad to hear it, although it was lucky for him the last time you did...

Actually, no it wasn't. I'll remind you that the last time I wrote him off was against Djokovic in Rome, and I was absolutely right.

I never wrote him off at the FO and in fact chastised our dear tented for doing so. The posts are there for everyone to see. There's a difference between writing someone off and favoring someone over him.

I'll also remind you that the last three times you picked him to win Wimbledon weren't that lucky for him

 

[Kieran]

Who's writing him off?

Glad to hear it, although it was lucky for him the last time you did...

Actually, no it wasn't. I'll remind you that the last time I wrote him off was against Djokovic in Rome, and I was absolutely right.

I never wrote him off at the FO and in fact chastised our dear tented for doing so. The posts are there for everyone to see. There's a difference between writing someone off and favoring someone over him.

I'll also remind you that the last three times you picked him to win Wimbledon weren't that lucky for him

I definitely missed those posts where you picked him in Paris. Some days I tuned in here and thought I was reading DarthFed writing about Federer.

I definitely didn't pick him to win Wimbledon in 2011, or the US Open that year. Maybe I picked him in 2010. I picked him in 2012, for sure. Who didn't?

Don't think I picked against him last year but doubt I was brave enough to say he'd win it either...

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

This is not a big deal really for Rafa, (Although a huge one for Brown so congrats to him) but what is a big deal is the fresh grass he will step on 2 weeks from now for his first round match. That grass is the fastest and the most slippery one Wimby is going to have and he has to find a way to figure it out.

Yet he made it to the Wimbledon final in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011.

I would not go back home. I would go straight to London, find some grass courts and find my grass legs. Home is not going anywhere.

Agreed.

I bet he sneaks off and goes off in his big tub and help keep the Mediterranean fish population down.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Who's writing him off?

Glad to hear it, although it was lucky for him the last time you did...

Actually, no it wasn't. I'll remind you that the last time I wrote him off was against Djokovic in Rome, and I was absolutely right.

I never wrote him off at the FO and in fact chastised our dear tented for doing so. The posts are there for everyone to see. There's a difference between writing someone off and favoring someone over him.

I'll also remind you that the last three times you picked him to win Wimbledon weren't that lucky for him

I definitely missed those posts where you picked him in Paris. Some days I tuned in here and thought I was reading DarthFed writing about Federer.

Re-read. I never said I picked him to beat Djokovic on the forums. I said I didn't write him off and chastised those who did, while explaining to you that there's a difference between writing a player off and just favoring someone else over him. My stance before the FO began was that Nadal is at least a co-favorite, has a less chance of being upset before the final than Djokovic, but that I'd favor Djokovic if they were to play. Hardly writing him off, is it? You can also check out my posts in the Nadal-Djokovic thread...

I definitely didn't pick him to win Wimbledon in 2011, or the US Open that year. Maybe I picked him in 2010. I picked him in 2012, for sure. Who didn't?

You absolutely picked him to win Wimbledon in 2011, especially after the Murray performance. I still remember an army of Nadal fans attacking me for picking Novak in that match (well in fairness, it was just you via PM and A-P on the boards. But you two felt like an army!).

And you absolutely picked him in 2012 in a thread called "Nadal's chances at Wimbledon."

Don't think I picked against him last year but doubt I was brave enough to say he'd win it either...

I don't have any facts to back this statement up, but you are nothing if not brave, and I highly doubt you'd ever shy away from voicing your support re: Rafa's chances in a tournament. I feel confident assuming you did

 

[Kieran]

No, I didn't pick him in 2011. He was slumping against Nole then, and I knew he hadn't figured him out.

Of course I picked him in 2012, as did almost everybody else.

I would say I hedged my bets last year, because obviously with Rafa, you don't write him off at big events, his record is too great. Who would be foolish to bet against him?

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Anyone else pick up on the fact that Brown becomes the second active player with a winning H2H over Rafa? Davydenko may retire soon too so he'd become the only one in that case.

 

[Front242]

No, I didn't pick him in 2011. He was slumping against Nole then, and I knew he hadn't figured him out.

Of course I picked him in 2012, as did almost everybody else.

I would say I hedged my bets last year, because obviously with Rafa, you don't write him off at big events, his record is too great. Who would be foolish to bet against him?

Depends very much on the draw and we'll see real soon