Shanghai Rolex Masters 2017, ATP Masters 1000

[Federberg]

I haven't felt confident about Roger since before Wimbledon. If he wins this one perhaps he really has got something on Rafa. Frankly I'm expecting Rafa to win

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Surface favors Roger and I've been unimpressed with Nadal's forehand. I think Roger takes this.

I was going to say Rafa, for exactly the same reason, reversed...the forehand part.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Best I've seen Nadal serve out wide was that Monte Carlo final against Novak in 2012. Granted Novak wasn't at his best then (it was when his grandad whom he was close to died) but he had no chance of returning the wide serve regardless of the rest of his game as Nadal was hitting it bang on the line out wide for much of the match.

Front you were spot on about JMDP being available, Roger needed that 3 set workout before facing the World's number 1..i still favor Roger although Rafa needs to defeat Roger in straights sets..i doubt very serious the tennis gods will allow Roger to loose to Rafa in that scenario

 

[crystalfire]

havent seen much from either but fed seems to be playing loads better than USO but still not sure if its his AO form. if he plays anywhere close to AO form then id say this match is his if not rafa gets this maybe in straights. imma go with rafa just dont know about fed (hope im wrong tho)

 

[Front242]

Front you were spot on about JMDP being available, Roger needed that 3 set workout before facing the World's number 1..i still favor Roger

For the record btw, I did watch a few games of Nadal v Cilic and before you mentioned it I did also think to myself the ball bouncing was overkill by Cilic and annoying but still wasn't over the 25 seconds. Neither of them went over I'd say for the most part but probably borderline a few times. Didn't watch any of Fed's match though. Went for a snooze with my little fella 'cos he sleeps better and longer with someone next to him. Hope the final is good. 10:30am start here tomorrow so I'll definitely watch that. Was a pretty good match for the most part, Nadal v Cilic. Rare to see Nadal so angry after dropping serve. Thought he was gonna smash his racquet but just bashed his leg twice and appeared to shout puta.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The final at 4.30 a.m. EDT. I doubt I will get up to watch it live. Hope, Roger wins and maintains his spot in Rafa's head.

 

[the AntiPusher]

The final at 4.30 a.m. EDT. I doubt I will get up to watch it live. Hope, Roger wins and maintains his spot in Rafa's head.

Are you referring to the ever fading bald spot on Rafa’s scalp..LOL.. Rafa is getting closer to covering Fed and that bald patch.. BTW.. question for you or Front. Will the Roof be cover for the final.. if it remains closed huge advantage for Roger, IMO

 

[the AntiPusher]

Yippee..sa KOD picks Roger..i might not have to say some additional prayers for Rafa..

 

[Front242]

Are you referring to the ever fading bald spot on Rafa’s scalp..LOL.. Rafa is getting closer to covering Fed and that bald patch.. BTW.. question for you or Front. Will the Roof be cover for the final.. if it remains closed huge advantage for Roger, IMO

Possibly the roof may be closed actually, AP. Just checked weather for Shanghai and it says light rain showers tomorrow.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Possibly the roof may be closed actually, AP. Just checked weather for Shanghai and it says light rain showers tomorrow.

Damn..tennis gods luv them sum Fed

 

[Busted]

The final at 4.30 a.m. EDT. I doubt I will get up to watch it live. Hope, Roger wins and maintains his spot in Rafa's head.

I concur. I've seen some of both of their matches and Nadal's not been very impressive given the competition and the fact that he played - and won - the week before. Roger's shown some rust, but still managed to win his matches in a fairly routine manner. And of course I had to laugh when I saw the match times for Nadal/Cilic and Roger/DelPo. Roger play 3 sets in 14:47 minutes less time then Nadal played 2 sets - and that included a 14-minute DelPo service game.

 

[Busted]

I haven't felt confident about Roger since before Wimbledon. If he wins this one perhaps he really has got something on Rafa. Frankly I'm expecting Rafa to win

I think Rafa has more at stake than Roger does. He doesn't like Roger winning the last 4 on the trot any more than he liked it when Djokovic was beating him like a drum 7 times in a row. He really thought he had Roger's number, so you know he's going to leave his left kidney on court trying to stop Roger's streak.

Plus, I keep seeing all of these "Who's the Player of the Year - Nadal or Federer" stories and it seems to me like Nadal, with a 2,360 point lead, would have that locked down, but a number of people have chosen Roger because of the H2H this year. Roger skipped the entire clay court season and basically spotted Nadal 5,680 points...and yet he only trails him 2,360 points going into the final while playing 5 fewer tournaments. Plus, Roger's H2H against the Top 10 is better than Nadal's.

And since I'm a Fed Fan...I'll pick Roger just on principle. I don't know that he's unlocked the key to his matchups with Nadal - but I think he's ceased caring about their H2H numbers while Nadal's ego demands that the H2H remain in solidly in his favor for the GOAT debate - especially if he never wins another Slam (said hypothetically because there's always the French Open).

 

[britbox]

Put the Live Chat on for this if anybody is around watching.

 

[britbox]

Fed a break up early 2-0

 

[britbox]

Nadal holds 1-2.

 

[britbox]

Federer having an Ace fest. 4-2

 

[Federberg]

Roger's absolutely crushing it on serve at the moment

 

[Federberg]

but somehow I'm still not that confident about this match

 

[Federberg]

haven't seen anything from Roger for so long!

 

[britbox]

Hey Fberg. Yeah, Nadal's just not getting a look at on the Federer serve at all.