Madrid Draw

[tented]

Anyone watching Verdasco/Raonic? It's currently 5-5 in the 3rd. (I just started watching myself, thanks to Riotbeard's advice on ESPN3!)

 

[Riotbeard]

Just turned it on. Raonic is hitting his backhand very well during the breaker.

 

[tented]

Congrats to Verdasco! That was a fun tiebreak.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Horrible loss from Milos. Last time nando beat anyone on anything was when he beat his granny in checkers...and THAT was a close one.

 

[Front242]

Well Verdasco really lucked out with the slop from Raonic at the end of that TB and wins 2 straight matches for the first time in over 4 months. Good for him but a poor loss for Raonic and I'd have liked to see Raonic against a top 4 player.

 

[herios]

Anyone watching Verdasco/Raonic? It's currently 5-5 in the 3rd. (I just started watching myself, thanks to Riotbeard's advice on ESPN3!)

I wasn't home and when I came back and tuned in it was just about when you did at 5-5 in the 3rd. It was very hard for me to watch this, because I wanted both of them to do well.
Of course if I was going to pick, i preferred to have Nando win, because he needs confidence like oxygen, and if he was going to lose, he would've been out of the top 50 for the first time in eons (he was QF last year).
Milos, has improved movement and groundies and stays in points a lot longer than a year ago, but a DF in a TB is a no-no. I still think Milos will breakthrough soon.

 

[tented]

Anyone watching Verdasco/Raonic? It's currently 5-5 in the 3rd. (I just started watching myself, thanks to Riotbeard's advice on ESPN3!)

I wasn't home and when I came back and tuned in it was just about when you did at 5-5 in the 3rd. It was very hard for me to watch this, because I wanted both of them to do well.
Of course if I was going to pick, i preferred to have Nando win, because he needs confidence like oxygen, and if he was going to lose, he would've been out of the top 50 for the first time in eons (he was QF last year).
Milos, has improved movement and groundies and stays in points a lot longer than a year ago, but a DF in a TB is a no-no. I still think Milos will breakthrough soon.

I was thinking about you when I saw they were going to play, wondering which guy you would want to win. It was quite a match from 5-5 on. I thought Verdasco was done when Raonic was up a mini-break in the tiebreak.

Congrats to him, though, on pulling through. As you mention, he desperately needed that win.

Raonic played very well, too. I was impressed with his game, based on what I saw. He does seem to be improving, particularly his lateral movement.

 

[Front242]

Very gutsy serve and volley by Dimitrov set point down but bad form by Djokovic trying to bluff that it was out. At least it was clearly called in.

 

[tented]

Very gutsy serve and volley by Dimitrov set point down but bad form by Djokovic trying to bluff that it was out. At least it was clearly called in.

I don't think he was trying to bluff. I believe he was genuinely convinced it was out, but players often get it wrong when it's on their own baseline.

 

[tented]

Dimitrov breaks, and will try to serve out the first set. Anyone think he'll do it? I suspect we're heading for a tiebreak ...

 

[Riotbeard]

Dimitrov breaks, and will try to serve out the first set. Anyone think he'll do it? I suspect we're heading for a tiebreak ...

Good call

 

[Denis]

Nole is back on serve. Just jumping in, what is the state of play?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Dimitrov is fast becoming THE guy who cannot close out sets against tough competition.

 

[Front242]

Nole is back on serve. Just jumping in, what is the state of play?

1st set TB.

 

[Denis]

That Dimitrov backhand is one powerful shot.

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Nole is back on serve. Just jumping in, what is the state of play?

1st set TB.

lol I got that, must be my English, I meant how are they playing?

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Nole is back on serve. Just jumping in, what is the state of play?

Novak was making a lot of ufe's. He had a few chances on Dimitrov's serve, before losing his. On the last break (6-6) he really tightened up his game.

Merci.

 

[Riotbeard]

Nole is back on serve. Just jumping in, what is the state of play?

Overall solid, with Djokovic going back forth between good and sloppy tennis.

 

[Front242]

That Dimitrov backhand is one powerful shot.

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Nole is back on serve. Just jumping in, what is the state of play?

1st set TB.

lol I got that, must be my English, I meant how are they playing?

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Nole is back on serve. Just jumping in, what is the state of play?

Novak was making a lot of ufe's. He had a few chances on Dimitrov's serve, before losing his. On the last break (6-6) he really tightened up his game.

Merci.

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Haha sorry Very nice match so far but Dimitrov again suffered the same lapse in concentration. Got the break and for the third time failed to serve out the set. Third time as previously he failed to do so against Djokovic and Murray in the last 2-3 weeks. I'd like to see him at least win a set to make this interesting and the first set is his best bet but he keeps blowing it.

6-6 now. Getting interesting. Make that 7-6 Dimitrov. That was some winner!

 

[tented]

Quite a point to set up set point.

 

[Riotbeard]

great rally at 5-4 that djokovic took.

 

[tented]

Wow! He did it. Great first set.

(But I think Djokovic will take it in 3)