MONTE CARLO ROLEX MASTERS - Apr. 12-20 - 2014.

[Moxie]

What's in the water today?

What word goes hand in hand with water? Pressure. Roger and Novak were/are feeling it!

I was thinking 'closet.'

 

[nehmeth]

Same problem for Novak now as with Roger. Huge pressure to win since Rafa lost. Could make things very tricky.

I disagree there. Nole doesn't worry about Rafa like Roger does obviously. This is just a case of the bad Nole showing up so far. It's early.

Co-signed.

 

[nehmeth]

What's in the water today?

Not sure...

Of course Novak had his served at "room temperature" as instructed.

2nd break to GGL

What is happening for those who can't watch, I mean geeze, has he been broken twice?

Sorry RB. Nole was sleep-walking through his first few games, maybe not used to so many of his shots coming back and making the errors first. Just got one of the breaks back and is beginning to wake up a little.

Plus it is cool, overcast, and the atmosphere is a little flat after so much tennis today... And GGL is a better player than the other guys he's faced.

 

[Moxie]

Same problem for Novak now as with Roger. Huge pressure to win since Rafa lost. Could make things very tricky.

I disagree there. Nole doesn't worry about Rafa like Roger does obviously. This is just a case of the bad Nole showing up so far. It's early.

Co-signed.

I agree with that, too. His issues are different to Roger's.

 

[Front242]

Same problem for Novak now as with Roger. Huge pressure to win since Rafa lost. Could make things very tricky.

I disagree there. Nole doesn't worry about Rafa like Roger does obviously. This is just a case of the bad Nole showing up so far. It's early.

He doesn't no, but he does know it's a bigger challenge on clay than anywhere else versus Nadal and also his bid to defend 1000 points just got a truckload easier so that brings a lot of expectation and pressure to win.

 

[Front242]

What's in the water today?

What word goes hand in hand with water? Pressure. Roger and Novak were/are feeling it!

I was thinking 'closet.'

Or stagnation of pungent stench from dirty water.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Stan the Man kept his end of the bargain, by reaching the semis... :clap

But, somebody else did not.

 

[Riotbeard]

Same problem for Novak now as with Roger. Huge pressure to win since Rafa lost. Could make things very tricky.

I disagree there. Nole doesn't worry about Rafa like Roger does obviously. This is just a case of the bad Nole showing up so far. It's early.

He doesn't no, but he does know it's a bigger challenge on clay than anywhere else versus Nadal and also his bid to defend 1000 points just got a truckload easier so that brings a lot of expectation and pressure to win.

That's fair, I think.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Just when I'm cockily writing off the little terrier, he's got Rafa at 15-30, second serve... :nono

Nadal isn't playing well enough and hasn't been all year. Contrary to popular belief, Ferrer doesn't just fold when he plays against him. So don't expect this match to be particularly pretty or for Nadal to cruise.

Not another day at office. I guess, good Friday is a holiday.

 

[nehmeth]

All right... off to lunch. Thinking this will be a three setter. 15 u.f.e.'s from Novak so far.

 

[Front242]

Same problem for Novak now as with Roger. Huge pressure to win since Rafa lost. Could make things very tricky.

I disagree there. Nole doesn't worry about Rafa like Roger does obviously. This is just a case of the bad Nole showing up so far. It's early.

He doesn't no, but he does know it's a bigger challenge on clay than anywhere else versus Nadal and also his bid to defend 1000 points just got a truckload easier so that brings a lot of expectation and pressure to win.

That's fair, I think.

That's all I meant all along but people took it up the wrong way completely Besides you

 

[Kieran]

Let's face it, if Nole loses, it's easier for the others. If Roger loses, the others get it easier. If Rafa loses - especially on clay - it's better for the rest. Much better. There's no guarantees they'll win anything, but it's better without those guys around to get in the way.

Nole doesn't fear Rafa like Roger does - Nole can go through Rafa at a major - but he'd be a fool if he didn't feel a twinge when Rafa lost - and it wasn't a twinge of regret...

 

[Front242]

Novak gifts another set point.

 

[Kieran]

This is GGL's one chance to win the match. His only one. If he fails to hold serve here, he's dead. He'll lose anyway, but this game is the match for him...

 

[Front242]

Luckily for him, GGL channels his inner Roger with a shank for the ages.

 

[Front242]

This is GGL's one chance to win the match. His only one. If he fails to hold serve here, he's dead. He'll lose anyway, but this game is the match for him...

If he loses this game he loses set 2 by 6-1, 6-2 or 6-0.

 

[Front242]

Well played by GGL.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Let's face it, if Nole loses, it's easier for the others. If Roger loses, the others get it easier. If Rafa loses - especially on clay - it's better for the rest. Much better. There's no guarantees they'll win anything, but it's better without those guys around to get in the way.

Nole doesn't fear Rafa like Roger does - Nole can go through Rafa at a major - but he'd be a fool if he didn't feel a twinge when Rafa lost - and it wasn't a twinge of regret...

Nole may not fear Rafa like Roger does. But, Nole does fear Roger when the field is clear
of Rafa.

 

[Riotbeard]

Come on Novak.

 

[Riotbeard]

Let's face it, if Nole loses, it's easier for the others. If Roger loses, the others get it easier. If Rafa loses - especially on clay - it's better for the rest. Much better. There's no guarantees they'll win anything, but it's better without those guys around to get in the way.

Nole doesn't fear Rafa like Roger does - Nole can go through Rafa at a major - but he'd be a fool if he didn't feel a twinge when Rafa lost - and it wasn't a twinge of regret...

Nole may not fear Rafa like Roger does. But, Nole does fear Roger when the field is clear
of Rafa.

Maybe three years ago. I think Nole sees rafa as a much bigger threat than roger. He didn't have to bring his best to win Indian Wells.