Paris Bercy, ATP 1000

[shawnbm]

Looks like Roger was toying wtih Seppi and broke the Italian again to give him a breadstick for lunch.  I am imagining the second set may have gone much the same.

 

[Denis]

So Murray v Goffin that's an interesting prelude to Davis cup.

 

Also I read somewhere Nadal does not like Rosol because he beat him. Lol such ridiculous Nadal logic, in line with the Bernardes situation.

 

[Moxie]

So Murray v Goffin that’s an interesting prelude to Davis cup. Also I read somewhere Nadal does not like Rosol because he beat him. Lol such ridiculous Nadal logic, in line with the Bernardes situation.

In case you've lost track, the current H2H is 4-1 in Rafa's favor.  If Nadal doesn't like Rosol, it's likely because, as Murray said to him recently during a match, that nobody likes him.  Word is that he plays a lot of head games on court.

 

[Denis]

Denis wrote:
So Murray v Goffin that’s an interesting prelude to Davis cup. Also I read somewhere Nadal does not like Rosol because he beat him. Lol such ridiculous Nadal logic, in line with the Bernardes situation.

In case you’ve lost track, the current H2H is 4-1 in Rafa’s favor. If Nadal doesn’t like Rosol, it’s likely because, as Murray said to him recently during a match, that nobody likes him. Word is that he plays a lot of head games on court.

Rosol plays headgames? Lol pot, cattle

 

[Moxie]

Moxie wrote:
<blockquote>
Denis wrote:
So Murray v Goffin that’s an interesting prelude to Davis cup. Also I read somewhere Nadal does not like Rosol because he beat him. Lol such ridiculous Nadal logic, in line with the Bernardes situation.

In case you’ve lost track, the current H2H is 4-1 in Rafa’s favor. If Nadal doesn’t like Rosol, it’s likely because, as Murray said to him recently during a match, that nobody likes him. Word is that he plays a lot of head games on court.</blockquote>
Rosol plays headgames? Lol pot, cattle

By pot-smoking cattle, I'm assuming you're trying to imply that Rafa plays head games.   ;-) Firstly, he didn't call any kettle black.  That's what the commentators say about Rosol and why he's not well-liked.  Secondly, Nadal's rituals are for his own head, and he's always had them.  He's far from the only one, though he does have loads of them.  Otherwise, that reputation is manufactured by fans of his rivals.

 

[Billie]

Schedule for tomorrow:

Court Central starting at 10:30:

Goffin vs Murray

Nishikori vs Gasquet

Nole vs Simon

Isner vs Federer

Tsonga vs Berdych

Anderson vs Nadal

 

Court 1 not before 3pm:

Ferrer vs Dimitrov

Wawrinka vs Troicki

 

[Moxie]

Schedule for tomorrow:

Court Central starting at 10:30:

Goffin vs Murray

Nishikori vs Gasquet

Nole vs Simon

Isner vs Federer

Tsonga vs Berdych

Anderson vs Nadal



Court 1 not before 3pm:

Ferrer vs Dimitrov

Wawrinka vs Troicki

The big battle tomorrow is Tsonga v. Berdych. I hope Jo-Will can take the home town advantage there. Nishikori v. Gasquet? Maybe, but probably not. Ferrer v. Dimitrov? Maybe. But Ferrer's elbow troubles seem to be over, and Dimitrov doesn't seem to be turning himself into the player that he was supposed to be, but apparently won't.

 

[DarthFed]

I figured Isner had a good shot here.  On this extremely slow court it's easier for him to get looks on Roger's serve and hang in rallies.  Meanwhile Isner can serve through mud.

 

[Moxie]

Roger not looking especially crisp today. And now he's grabbing at his ankle.

 

[isabelle]

Nishi retired (injured again) I wonder if he'll ready for London

 

[mrzz]

Roger not looking especially crisp today. And now he’s grabbing at his ankle.

If he was making funny faces maybe he was impersonating Murray.

 

[ClayDeath]

Rafa snatches the breaker.

vamossssssssssssssssssssssss.

now snatch the match. Take it.

 

[ClayDeath]

Tough loss for Federer.

this time breakers did not go his way.

 

[Moxie]

Rafa snatches the breaker.

vamossssssssssssssssssssssss.

now snatch the match. Take it.

And he did!  !Vamos, indeed!  Glad you're still rooting for him, even if you've lost faith in him.   B-)  Lol.  Another good step on the Confidence Comeback Trail.  He was playing with a spring in his step after he got the early break in the 2nd, but then got a bit tight again.  Anderson had a MP in the TB'er.  Rafa was rejuvenated in the 3rd, and Anderson started to lose energy and belief.

 

[ClayDeath]

a bit of a test for rafa tomorrow. this time wawrinka is fresh.

 

it should be a good battle. Rafa has to hit the ball off that backhand wing. pushing and shoving wont do.

the idea is to dictate play and you cant do that with that weak slice that just sits up for target practice.

he also gives his topspin backhand a better chance to get in the groove.

 

slice has its place but for the most part you have to dictate play if you want to win.

 

[ClayDeath]

I had to sign in with my twitter account.

 

let me try my regular account again.

 

[Moxie]

a bit of a test for rafa tomorrow. this time wawrinka is fresh. it should be a good battle. Rafa has to hit the ball off that backhand wing. pushing and shoving wont do. the idea is to dictate play and you cant do that with that weak slice that just sits up for target practice. he also gives his topspin backhand a better chance to get in the groove. slice has its place but for the most part you have to dictate play if you want to win.

Agreed.  Rafa recently skunked Stan in Shanghai, but you never know which Stan will show up, and I expect that Wawrinka is invested in proving he can beat a healthy Nadal on slow HCs.  A curiosity:  I wonder if Djokovic fans will be rooting for Rafa to win this one?  Novak looked a little wobbly today, from what I saw, and the stats, and Stan can trouble him on this kind of court.

Semis are this, and in order of play tomorrow:

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Bottom half:</span>

Gasquet v. Murray

Ferrer v. Isner

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Top half:</span>

Djokovic v. Berdych

Nadal v. Wawrinka

___________________

I think Murray should feel embarrassed if he's not able to make the final from there.

The top half is more complicated.  Djokovic will get through, almost certainly, but the semi-final could be complicated, whichever one he faces, especially if he doesn't clean up his game.  If the top half make a wreck of each other, and Murray gets through as he should, he could be hoisting the trophy on Sunday.

 

[ClayDeath]

CAMELOT wrote:
a bit of a test for rafa tomorrow. this time wawrinka is fresh. it should be a good battle. Rafa has to hit the ball off that backhand wing. pushing and shoving wont do. the idea is to dictate play and you cant do that with that weak slice that just sits up for target practice. he also gives his topspin backhand a better chance to get in the groove. slice has its place but for the most part you have to dictate play if you want to win.

Agreed. Rafa recently skunked Stan in Shanghai, but you never know which Stan will show up, and I expect that Wawrinka is invested in proving he can beat a healthy Nadal on slow HCs. A curiosity: I wonder if Djokovic fans will be rooting for Rafa to win this one? Novak looked a little wobbly today, from what I saw, and the stats, and Stan can trouble him on this kind of court. Semis are this, and in order of play tomorrow: <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Bottom half:</span> Gasquet v. Murray Ferrer v. Isner <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Top half:</span> Djokovic v. Berdych Nadal v. Wawrinka ___________________ I think Murray should feel embarrassed if he’s not able to make the final from there. The top half is more complicated. Djokovic will get through, almost certainly, but the semi-final could be complicated, whichever one he faces, especially if he doesn’t clean up his game. If the top half make a wreck of each other, and Murray gets through as he should, he could be hoisting the trophy on Sunday.

djokovic is nearly impossible to beat right now. he just keeps taking his fitness higher and higher each and every day. you have to catch him sleeping and even then he can go for 6 hours if he has to. djokovic's philosophy is very simple: outwork them all and fight to the death for a point like you have not eaten in a month. in fact he just said that he likes his chances against anybody from the baseline.

 

he lost a little bit of rhythm on his serve against simon and it can happen. the end result is always the same with him. he runs through you like knife through water.

poor serving? no problem. he just demolishes you with his returns.

 

you have to redline your game like wawrinka did at RG. wawrinka got away with it. everything went in from everywhere and he just kept on firing.

 

one other thing to note: wawrinka also prepared very hard for RG.  and he did not go in there to lay down for Djokovic.

 

in fact he said he had to game to beat djokovic and he pulled it off. he basically said he was not scared of djokovic or anybody.

 

[ClayDeath]

djokovic and Federer offer plenty of inspiration to the world:

outwork your competition on the practice courts and on the fitness front and then just go and win your matches.

be focused, driven, and outwork them all. make the sacrifices and rule the planet.

 

[Billie]

Lots of stuff going on today.  Nole and Gilles were trading breaks as if they made a bet on who will win that stat LOL

I am surprised that Tsonga lost easily to Berdych, I thought he played well the previous round.

A bit of a shock that Federer lost.  I thought that it might be tough for him to play two straight weeks, but I didn't figure Isner would be the one defeating him.