Gerry Weber Open (Halle) 9-15 June 2014

[tented]

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.

There's also Chris Guccione:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=G621&oId=N409

And Joachim Johansson (who's technically not listed as "inactive", and did play last year):

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=J194&oId=N409


[I wonder if Fiero will state sanity is prevailing for my having listed these facts? ]

 

[DarthFed]

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?

No way in hell you picked him to lose to Nole in 2011, but we can't dig through the old forums.

I think Murray would figure to be Rafa's only threat in the semis/finals. But everyone and their grandma is a threat to him on the fast, slick grass of week 1.

 

[DarthFed]

^ 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.

Certainly made life easier. Roger wasn't exactly the model of toughness for the vast majority of the match.

 

[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?

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

Well, tell me how you're betting cos you're on a roll!

 

[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?

No way in hell we can dig through the old forums.

I think Murray would figure to be Rafa's only threat in the semis/finals. But everyone and their grandma is a threat to him on the fast, slick grass of week 1.

Fixed that for ya, buddy...

 

[Denis]

Surprised by this result. Everybody kept telling meduring RG that Nadal never tanks a match.... uzzled

 

[tented]

Surprised by this result. Everybody kept telling meduring RG that Nadal never tanks a match.... uzzled

I haven't seen anyone using the word "tank" but you. Did you even watch the match? Or Wimbledon last year? Or the year before?

 

[brokenshoelace]

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?

No way in hell you picked him to lose to Nole in 2011, but we can't dig through the old forums.

I absolutely have to confirm the above. Kieran, buddy, you're braver than this and you're kind of accusing me of lying. I assure you, you 100% picked Nadal to beat Novak in Wimbledon in 2011. There's no shame in that, to be clear, but own up to it.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Surprised by this result. Everybody kept telling meduring RG that Nadal never tanks a match.... uzzled

Dude, I wouldn't bring that up if I were you... And if you really think Nadal lost this match on purpose then well, you probably also think Nadal would tank in the semis of a major to avoid Djokovic...Oh wait.

 

[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?

No way in hell you picked him to lose to Nole in 2011, but we can't dig through the old forums.

I absolutely have to confirm the above. Kieran, buddy, you're braver than this and you're kind of accusing me of lying. I assure you, you 100% picked Nadal to beat Novak in Wimbledon in 2011. There's no shame in that, to be clear, but own up to it.

No, I'd never accuse you of lying. My memory is telling me I didn't because I was actually depressed about how slumped and defeated Rafa was at the time. I know I felt little hope for him then or at the US Open, but I'd never accuse you of lying, buddy, so I'll defer to your memory of it. If I backed Rafa in that tourney, it was either in the hope that Nole would be taken out by Federer before the final - or a very rare occasion that I was stubborn...

 

[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

Well, tell me how you're betting cos you're on a roll!

Very much depends on the draw but there's no point making loads of bets and p1$$1ng away money either. Best thing I've found in recent years is backing number of sets in matches. For example, most of us here picked 4 sets for RG final this year, many of the women's matches I thought would be 3 setters ended up that way though I made no bets on RG. Quite likely Murray wins a lot of matches 3 sets to 1 in Wimbledon imo.

 

[brokenshoelace]

or a very rare occasion that I was stubborn...

Now that would be just as outrageous as accusing me of lying! :laydownlaughing

 

[Kieran]

or a very rare occasion that I was stubborn...

Now that would be just as outrageous as accusing me of lying! :laydownlaughing

 

[brokenshoelace]

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

Well, tell me how you're betting cos you're on a roll!

Very much depends on the draw but there's no point making loads of bets and p1$$1ng away money either. Best thing I've found in recent years is backing number of sets in matches. For example, most of us here picked 4 sets for RG final this year, many of the women's matches I thought would be 3 setters ended up that way though I made no bets on RG. Quite likely Murray wins a lot of matches 3 sets to 1 in Wimbledon imo.

I'm starting to suspect there's correlation between you laying money on Brown and Rafa tanking this match. We could have another Davydenko betting scandal here. Who would have thought Front and Rafa would be at its heart?

 

[Kieran]

Surprised by this result. Everybody kept telling meduring RG that Nadal never tanks a match.... uzzled

Seriously, Denis, I meant to ask you: WTF was that about! :Lolz:

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqnsy1he7C4[/video]

 

[Front242]

There's a difference between tanking a match on a slow surface and simply being overwhelmed by fast serves and rocket paced groundstrokes, not to mention some top notch lobs by Brown today.

 

[Kieran]

There's a difference between tanking a match on a slow surface and simply being overwhelmed by fast serves and rocket paced groundstrokes, not to mention some top notch lobs by Brown today.

No way Rafa was getting near them lobs with his back and his knees... :nono

 

[Front242]

There's a difference between tanking a match on a slow surface and simply being overwhelmed by fast serves and rocket paced groundstrokes, not to mention some top notch lobs by Brown today.

No way Rafa was getting near them lobs with his back and his knees... :nono

He has a back and two knees like everyone else but they weren't getting to them either.

 

[tented]

Surprised by this result. Everybody kept telling meduring RG that Nadal never tanks a match.... uzzled

Seriously, Denis, I meant to ask you: WTF was that about! :Lolz:

This reminds me: I need to change Tennis Frontier's headline for the RG final to "Nadal Tries to Tank, but a Tanking Djokovic Prevails."