Internazionali BNL d'Italia - ATP 1000 - May 11th to May 18th

[Front242]

Federer fans are never neutral when Rafa plays, and we know that you sure as monkeys aren't!

Seriously, where's the need to bring Federer into any of this?! Ernests Gulbis said the very same thing I mentioned about it being all for nothing. An interviewer said to him that he almost always takes a set off Nadal and ultimately loses by a single break 6-4 or so in the end. He replied "so what, I didn't win, I want to win" and others today have already posted re Murray mucking up at the end same as me. So if Gulbis said it was all for nothing 'cos he didn't win it's ok but if I say it, it's 'cos I'm a Federer fan?!

Fact is, if you fail to capitalize on your best chance to beat an opponent, it was, indeed, all for nothing. I can't see what all the fuss about this post is about.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

Federer fans are never neutral when Rafa plays, and we know that you sure as monkeys aren't!

"sure as monkeys"..lol reminds of alan partridge pitching his ideas for more tv work with head of entertainment david hares..

.....monkey tennis ?.

 

[Kieran]

I didn't bring Federer into it.

The fact is, Murray kept trying til the end. He may have been gassed, but he didn't fold or melt down.

And let's be frank, we don't need Cali here to tell us that the most bruising guy to get in a brawl with is Rafa...

 

[Front242]

I didn't bring Federer into it.

The fact is, Murray kept trying til the end. He may have been gassed, but he didn't fold or melt down.

And let's be frank, we don't need Cali here to tell us that the most bruising guy to get in a brawl with is Rafa...

I know I'm getting older but I'm staring at your quoted post at the top of the page and I see the name Federer right there! uzzled

 

[Kieran]

I didn't bring Federer into it.

The fact is, Murray kept trying til the end. He may have been gassed, but he didn't fold or melt down.

And let's be frank, we don't need Cali here to tell us that the most bruising guy to get in a brawl with is Rafa...

I know I'm getting older but I'm staring at your quoted post at the top of the page and I see the name Federer right there! uzzled

Yeah, and what's the word immediately after it?

Federer's fans aren't Federer!

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^^I agree murray made some errors late on but that was defo him getting tired,

murray needs matches like that to be "match tough" in the future, he has not had many (if any) since he came back after his back op.

 

[Front242]

Still have no idea what Federer fans have to do with me or anyone else (as many have stated it) saying that Murray lost it at the end.

 

[Front242]

I didn't bring Federer into it.

The fact is, Murray kept trying til the end. He may have been gassed, but he didn't fold or melt down.

And let's be frank, we don't need Cali here to tell us that the most bruising guy to get in a brawl with is Rafa...

I know I'm getting older but I'm staring at your quoted post at the top of the page and I see the name Federer right there! uzzled

Yeah, and what's the word immediately after it?

Federer's fans aren't Federer!

Federer fan or not I'm still able to see that a player ahead in a match against an opponent who he'd normally have no chance against on clay, should've stayed ahead and capitalized instead of playing donkey tennis at the crucial final stages and as a result I still say it was all for nothing.

 

[Kieran]

There's no "should have."

If he was ahead against a guy he owned, and on his best surface, I'd wonder what went wrong. But he wasn't, and he wasn't. He against Rafa on clay. Wins against him aren't just a matter of "should've stayed ahead." It gets complicated out there...

 

[TsarMatt]

Nadal dropping a set on clay is a regular thing nowadays.

 

[DarthFed]

All the hard work was for nothing.

How? He fought hard and played well, and his level has improved. It's a step forward for both players...

You are something else when it comes to losing efforts. I will give you credit for being consistent :snigger

Somebody has to lose! It's possible to lose and still make headway in your game. I don't buy into the notion that every loss is a 100% disaster. Sometimes a loss gives a player the key to winning the next time. And sometimes a player plays bloody well but still loses. In that case, if his effort is also huge - and Andy's was - then give the guy credit for improving!

No?

Somebody has to lose...the weaker one. Doesn't matter if you're against God himself, coming in 2nd out of 2 competitors doesn't deserve respect. If Murray takes positives out of this it is an indication that his game/confidence has been so low that a loss is a positive. Not sure he is that weak. Especially given the fact he was up 4-2 and yet was booking his flight out of Italy 15 minutes later...

 

[mrzz]

The fact is, Murray kept trying til the end. He may have been gassed, but he didn't fold or melt down.

But he still lost 9 points in a row in the very end of the match, some of them quite stupidly. We all know how well Nadal plays on these moments, but how many times he will have to win like that so the others realise that they better at least try to make a stand otherwise they're toasted?

I know it is easier said than done, but by now the very challenge should have inspired at least one...

 

[tented]

The fact is, Murray kept trying til the end. He may have been gassed, but he didn't fold or melt down.

But he still lost 9 points in a row in the very end of the match, some of them quite stupidly. We all know how well Nadal plays on these moments, but how many times he will have to win like that so the others realise that they better at least try to make a stand otherwise they're toasted?

I know it is easier said than done, but by now the very challenge should have inspired at least one...

It has: Novak Djokovic.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Problem is each ugly win adds confidence and finally will lead to non-ugly wins.

It is amazing how many folks let Rafa off the hook starting from Pablo Andujar in Rio.

These matches should only make you appreciate Ferrer and Almagro for actually
completing the task (despite the (correct) claims of Rafa Playing Ugly). Not every
one is able to finish the task even when Rafa plays bad.

 

[Moxie]

^ Yeah right.

You're only wishing too hard that Rafa would lose. I told you after the first set ended that Rafa would win...

I'm no fan of either guy but simply saying it as it is as a neutral fan, Murray folded like a cheap tent at the end. He was up 4-2 and running away with it, Nadal got back on level terms but towards the very end Murray's level really dropped and his game deserted him. Hence why I said it was all for nothing. Obviously it's good to win a set against Nadal on clay, better still 6-1 but if you ultimately lose the match 'cos of your own stupid tennis at the end it was clearly all for nothing.

This is the second time you say that Murray 'folded like a cheap tent,' and I resisted the first. That comment is both unfair to Murray and to Nadal. You say you're not a fan of either, but we both know that you're 'anyone-but-Nadal.' It galls you no end when someone blows a chance to beat Nadal, but you never give Rafa the credit for wresting it back, which I think he did here, today. Andy played the best match he's played since his surgery. But he didn't gift it over to Nadal. Rafa got aggressive and snatched it away.

 

[Moxie]

Nadal dropping a set on clay is a regular thing nowadays.

The good news about that, such as there is, is that the French Open is best of 5, so he can afford to gift one.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

...

The fact is, Murray kept trying til the end. He may have been gassed, but he didn't fold or melt down.

...

I don't know what you call "melt down" but in my book losing 9 out of 10 points at the end of match like Murray did is melting down, kinda worse like a nuclear melt-down or in tennis terms, a royal choke.

And I thought you said Ladies Tennis is rubbish.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

I think with this match both Rafa and Andy are back.

Murray is not back.

wrong. lol.

If your idea of "being back" is being able to play a close match with a poor Nadal then you're right! LOL

IMO, being back means winning titles again. Or even making a final once in a while. Murray has done neither in almost a year. He ain't back.

wrong. lol.

 

[Moxie]

I think with this match both Rafa and Andy are back.

Murray is not back.

wrong. lol.

If your idea of "being back" is being able to play a close match with a poor Nadal then you're right! LOL

IMO, being back means winning titles again. Or even making a final once in a while. Murray has done neither in almost a year. He ain't back.

wrong. lol.

I agree. Murray playing top-drawer is "back." If you think that only means winning titles, you really have no concept of how hard it is to win titles. Note that Berdych didn't even win one last year, and he's #6 in the world. Murray played world class tennis today. On clay, against Rafa. He is back, IMO.

 

[herios]

I saw only one match, Raonic - Chardy today then I had to leave for work. Very happy with both Dimi and Nole as well, although Nole seems he had to fight hard.
Well, tomorrow Nole will have a speedy match, because with Milos he will not spend much time on court, that is for sure.
Not surprised Murray could not finish the plot, with Nadal that is the norm scenario.

I am hoping for a Djorov final