Madrid 2013 F: Nadal vs Wawrinka

[kskate2]

Rafa leads the Series 8-0

Rafa has won all 3 clay meetings in straights. The most recent was a QF in Monte Carlo last year. Can Stan's new found confidence break the tide against the Spanish bull?

Who ya got?

Who did you vote for?

I hadn't yet, but will now. Rafa in 3. I'll watch the first set and then I have to leave.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Two breaks to start from Rafa. Stan is still asleep.

 

[kskate2]

I had a feeling he would start slow. He'll probably pick it up in the 2nd set (making the match competitive), but then lose a tight 2nd set or completely fall off in the 3rd set.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Ronaldo and Ramos enjoying the game...

 

[Front242]

Wawrinka's sleep pattern is all messed up from playing night matches. Poor fella's still asleep. Nadal's playing great too which won't help matters. Was hoping for much better viewing than this so far but it's very one sided.

Well at least being on the scoreboard is a start.

 

[britbox]

Wawrinka off the mark.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Trainer already?

 

[Front242]

I had a feeling he would start slow. He'll probably pick it up in the 2nd set (making the match competitive), but then lose a tight 2nd set or completely fall off in the 3rd set.

Very much doubt it's going to 3 sets. For it to go 3 sets Wawrinka would definitely need to win the first set imo. He's played tons of matches last 10 days and must be feeling it. Night sessions up to now didn't help either. Has to adjust to higher humidity and daytime temperatures now, as well as an opponent who plays his best in these conditions at this time of day.

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Shame that Wawrinka overhit that last shot after defending so well.

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Really finding his range now. Two great winners.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Very solid from Rafa. Let's see if Stan can put up a fight in the second.

 

[Front242]

Commentator just said this will be Nadal's 40th title on clay. Quite an incredible stat.

 

[huntingyou]

Nadal I/O forehand is hitting the court like balls of fire.......Wawrinka has to jump to barely connect to the ball during CC exchanges

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Nadal I/O forehand is hitting the court like balls of fire.......Wawrinka has to jump to barely connect to the ball during CC exchanges

That's why DTL backhand is huge for Stan ...if he can hit it deep, he has a sliver of hope.

 

[Front242]

Nadal's serve and FH have gone off the boil a bit and Stan still isn't capitalizing. Really needs to pick his level up like his last service game from set 1 to have any chance.

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Much much better. At least he's making it a match now.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

A very solid game from Stan to go up 2-1. Maybe he is waking up....

 

[Moxie]

Commentator just said this will be Nadal's 40th title on clay. Quite an incredible stat.

I think I heard yesterday that if he wins today, he ties Muster for clay titles, and puts him 5 away from Vilas for all-time most.

 

[britbox]

Nadal I/O forehand is hitting the court like balls of fire.......Wawrinka has to jump to barely connect to the ball during CC exchanges

That's why DTL backhand is huge for Stan ...if he can hit it deep, he has a sliver of hope.

Agreed, but he's going cross court to Nadal's forehand most of the time. Stan needs to keep the ball deep in the corner on Nadal's backhand wing and keep doing it over and over... keep going back behind Nadal until he either has him out wide or gets a short ball. Djokovic does it a lot.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Stan channeling his inner JMac to nail Rafa at the net but Rafa is channeling the inner Pistol Pete to fend the balls off...

 

[britbox]

Stan's volleying hasn't been good today.

 

[britbox]

Good hold.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Some hold from Stan...