Gerry Weber Open (Halle) 9-15 June 2014

[Denis]

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

A two time Wimbledon champ has absolutely no business losing in straights and a second set 6-1 against a player like Dustin Brown. The only explanation is that he did not 'try his best'. I get that. He just won RG for the ninth time. I understand he just wanted to pick up his participation fee and head off to London, but this just goes to show that Nadal does not always and everytime gives everything he has.

OK, now take that very same logic, and apply it to last year's match at Wimbledon against Darcis. So, do you think he tanked that match too? Because a two time Wimbledon champ has absolutely no business losing to player like Darcis and he had just won the French Open. I guess Rafa didn't give everything he had?

Also, let's just say, for argument's sake, that you're right. That Rafa did indeed tank this match today and he doesn't always "try his best." How does it make the idea that Nadal might not try his best in a grand slam semi final (at Roland Garros too!) in order to avoid a certain player any less ridiculous?

Trust me buddy, you're better off leaving that one alone. You're not helping your case.

Wimbledon is not Halle. That should explain it. I get why he tanked today. He can practice at Wimby.

This argument contradicts your initial post about Nadal possibly tanking against Murray, since Roland Garros is not Halle either. I'm not harping on this, you're the one who brought it up as if your were vindicated or something.

Nah, you're just unwilling to read what I post.

 

[Denis]

Tennis secondary for me over the next month. In Salvador de Bahia for the World Cup! Yay!!

You got tickets for the Spain - Netherlands match?

ps enjoy!

Yup
And...

Germany v Portugal
France v Switzerland
Bosnia v Iran (can't sell those for toffee )
And the first knockout match in Salvador

Sounds like the place to be. That's quite a line-up they have there is Salvador.

 

[tented]

I'm not asking anyone to relive Roger's tears, but go to 3:50 and notice that Nadal does not lift the trophy above his head. It was a muted celebration, given Roger's disappointment. If you don't think that was elegant, and comparable to Wawrinka's muted celebration, then I don't know what.

Another example: the 2008 RG final. Considering he had just won a Grand Slam, his "celebration" was barely even that. Skip to around the 12 minute mark.

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG8jrzqPW7Q[/video]

 

[herios]

I didn't really. I just didn't want the option to be on the table.

But what does that mean, you didn't want the option to be on the table? It only makes sense if you think that Rafa would actually take the option.

But why would he do that?

I didn't really think Rafa would tank the semis, it was partly fear that he might, partly just beating on the wardrums. Anyway, it all turned our pretty good for you guys in the end. But the point that Rafa would never tank a match is clearly wrong. 6-1 against Dustin Brown. :lolz:

Unless you can get irrevocable proof that Nadal purposely lost this match, you can't realistically say it's "clearly" wrong. Did you even watch the match? I did. There was no tanking. There was an ass kicking.

You need two to play tennis, remember?

Denis, what is so difficult to comprehend? Nadal on grass in a first week of the competition, when the grass is lush is a different player, just about average. His results, especially the last 2 years tell the truth. If he meets a player who has a good day and "who does not choke", he could lose.
He is uncomfortable when the surface is slippery and ball bounces low.
The second week in Wimbledon, the grass is chewed up, is not slippery anymore and the ball are bouncing higher.

 

[Kieran]

Rafa is thinking of playing an exo tourney next week in London in a desperate bid to get matches. "To play well on grass the most important thing is to play matches. You need to play with confidence… [and] you need to adjust. The only way to adjust is by playing matches and winning matches."

Brown was the worst possible opponent to face, then, but the match between Brown and Kohlschrieber whould be a good one. I expect Kohl to win in straights...

 

[herios]

QF:

Brown - Kohlschreiber
Gojowczyk - Falla
Johnson - Nishikori
Federer - Lu

 

[brokenshoelace]

A two time Wimbledon champ has absolutely no business losing in straights and a second set 6-1 against a player like Dustin Brown. The only explanation is that he did not 'try his best'. I get that. He just won RG for the ninth time. I understand he just wanted to pick up his participation fee and head off to London, but this just goes to show that Nadal does not always and everytime gives everything he has.

OK, now take that very same logic, and apply it to last year's match at Wimbledon against Darcis. So, do you think he tanked that match too? Because a two time Wimbledon champ has absolutely no business losing to player like Darcis and he had just won the French Open. I guess Rafa didn't give everything he had?

Also, let's just say, for argument's sake, that you're right. That Rafa did indeed tank this match today and he doesn't always "try his best." How does it make the idea that Nadal might not try his best in a grand slam semi final (at Roland Garros too!) in order to avoid a certain player any less ridiculous?

Trust me buddy, you're better off leaving that one alone. You're not helping your case.

Wimbledon is not Halle. That should explain it. I get why he tanked today. He can practice at Wimby.

This argument contradicts your initial post about Nadal possibly tanking against Murray, since Roland Garros is not Halle either. I'm not harping on this, you're the one who brought it up as if your were vindicated or something.

Nah, you're just unwilling to read what I post.

Nice cop out.

 

[herios]

Falla - Gojo 7-6, 7-6.

 

[isabelle]

Rafa is thinking of playing an exo tourney next week in London in a desperate bid to get matches. "To play well on grass the most important thing is to play matches. You need to play with confidence… [and] you need to adjust. The only way to adjust is by playing matches and winning matches."

Brown was the worst possible opponent to face, then, but the match between Brown and Kohlschrieber whould be a good one. I expect Kohl to win in straights...

Will Nadal play the Boodles challenge ?

 

[Kieran]

Rafa is thinking of playing an exo tourney next week in London in a desperate bid to get matches. "To play well on grass the most important thing is to play matches. You need to play with confidence… [and] you need to adjust. The only way to adjust is by playing matches and winning matches."

Brown was the worst possible opponent to face, then, but the match between Brown and Kohlschrieber whould be a good one. I expect Kohl to win in straights...

Will Nadal play the Boodles challenge ?

I dunno where it is, Isabelle. He's gone home to Mallorca for a few days rest and returns to London next week...

 

[Kieran]

Brown has a big game to do well on grass and fast hards, I wonder if he spends too much time on his hair and not enough on brains, because he's irritating and inconsistent as hell...

 

[Kieran]

He's a drama queen. 5-2 up in the final set tiebreak, with a double break of serve, he just got outta jail saving match point at 5-6 down...

 

[Kieran]

9-9 now, match points lost on either side.

One good thing about this match: Brown's missus is no Brendan O'Carroll...

 

[herios]

Brown has a big game to do well on grass and fast hards, I wonder if he spends too much time on his hair and not enough on brains, because he's irritating and inconsistent as hell...

Why do you think he spent 99% of his 12 year pro tennis player career outside of the top 100?

 

[Ricardo]

A two time Wimbledon champ has absolutely no business losing in straights and a second set 6-1 against a player like Dustin Brown. The only explanation is that he did not 'try his best'. I get that. He just won RG for the ninth time. I understand he just wanted to pick up his participation fee and head off to London, but this just goes to show that Nadal does not always and everytime gives everything he has.

OK, now take that very same logic, and apply it to last year's match at Wimbledon against Darcis. So, do you think he tanked that match too? Because a two time Wimbledon champ has absolutely no business losing to player like Darcis and he had just won the French Open. I guess Rafa didn't give everything he had?

Also, let's just say, for argument's sake, that you're right. That Rafa did indeed tank this match today and he doesn't always "try his best." How does it make the idea that Nadal might not try his best in a grand slam semi final (at Roland Garros too!) in order to avoid a certain player any less ridiculous?

Trust me buddy, you're better off leaving that one alone. You're not helping your case.

Wimbledon is not Halle. That should explain it. I get why he tanked today. He can practice at Wimby.

This argument contradicts your initial post about Nadal possibly tanking against Murray, since Roland Garros is not Halle either. I'm not harping on this, you're the one who brought it up as if your were vindicated or something.

Nah, you're just unwilling to read what I post.

whatever you post is going nowhere, Nadal doesn't tank. It's not in his character, and he has no motivation of doing it anyway.... he is looking for more grass matches not less.

 

[Kieran]

They're rattling through the errors now. No rallies, just serves and missed returns, Hawkeye, then change ends.

12-12...

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Kohly how do you miss that????

15-15

Epic.

 

[Kieran]

15-all. In the tiebreak.

Another change of ends, but that was more lively, with Kohl having a gilt-edged chance to send Brown home, but he bunched a pass at 14-14... :nono

 

[Kieran]

Ouch. The Predator is down.

And out.

Two bad shots and it's over. Kohl is a classy bloke, I think that's why I prefer him to blokes like Brown, who are too drama queeny to be likeable by me...

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Good fight from both.