The Castle

[ClayDeath]

2 absolutely massive forehands by roger.

 

[ClayDeath]

that forehand was out.

 

[ClayDeath]

this just goes to show that roger is still at a very level of play.

and this match should still be going on.

that last ball was out.


nothing is ever easy against roger on the quicker courts.

 

[ClayDeath]

cinci scheduling sucks.


they should have given nadal and berdy a night match.



http://www.atpworldtour.com/Scores/schedule.aspx?EventId=422

 

[ClayDeath]

I still maintain that it was nadal`s ability to make some adjustments very specifically as they relate to his return of serve that made the difference. he started to gain control of the 2nd set and the match the minute he started returning better. and that also allowed his ground game to come into play a little more effectively.



this is what atp site had to say:


"Federer had executed a highly aggressive game plan early on, which included topping many backhand returns rather than engaging his customary slice, and attacking the net with authority. Nadal turned the tables late in the second set, anticipating his intentions and employing a highly efficient brand of tennis from the baseline. Federer’s unforced error count would rise to 44 as Nadal continued to apply pressure on his serve with deep angled returns with significant pace."

 

[ClayDeath]

sharapova dumps Connors after just 1 match:


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tennis--sharapova-dumps-connors-after-one-match-193859497.html

 

[ClayDeath]

good article on nadal:


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/known-king-clay-rafael-nadal-still-thriving-across-180700794.html

 

[ClayDeath]

fresh flowers being delivered daily for the ladies at the castle:

 

[ClayDeath]

 

[ClayDeath]

u.s. open to have retractable roof:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Are you folks aware that Nadal Leads Federer in Hard Court
H2H by 7-6. Fed fans like me can no longer say that H2H is skewed
due to large number of clay matches won by Nadal.

 

[ClayDeath]

affirmative general GSM. roger is getting old general.

no telling what is going to happen now. he should target the next Wimbledon really hard if things don't work out for him at the u.s. open. I think he can still do his thing on grass. the surface is also somewhat forgiving.


by the way check out my new sig. I had to make sure alexander the great was represented.

 

[ClayDeath]

 

[ClayDeath]

 

[Emma]

I enjoyed the match last night however I was also slightly bored. While there were some great rallies. points etc. the result was almost NID - at least 90% of the time anyway. In that regard it was not at all interesting. I know the likes of Babbs etc. hate Andy vs Nole final, but the outcome of this rivalry is almost always unknown - most of the time anyway. And when the outcome is unknown, the match automatically becomes very interesting - to me anyway, because I have great interest in mystery, suspense etc. things that are unknown and it's only then I can watch a match with great interest.

I've said earlier a few pages ago that I try not to watch any of Nadal or Djokovic matches where I fully expect them to win. I have no interest wasting my time on those matches. I would have said Federer as well but he's become a bit more interesting lately as his performance is not as good as it used to be and there's always this drama attached to it - he may lose too. As to Murray, who I truly support, well you never know with him. You never know what the outcome will be given most tournaments. Is he going to show up and put out a masterclass performance or is he going to lose in straight? Or struggle endlessly to win? I mean who here thought he was going to beat Nole in straight at Wimbledon final? Even I, as a fan, didn't expect that. So there's always this great 'unknown' factor attached to him and it always intrigues me. I also enjoy Berdych a great deal for similar reasons, but of course, he's not as mysterious as Andy. Murray is just a very, very unique player. He's very different than any player I know. I find Nadal, Nole, Federer all a bit of a showboat with their dominating game, whereas I find Andy more down to earth, more human, giving and allowing his opponents at least something to think about. It gives lesser ranked opponents a false sense of victory but at the same time, it gives them a great confidence boost.

 

[Emma]

Are you folks aware that Nadal Leads Federer in Hard Court
H2H by 7-6. Fed fans like me can no longer say that H2H is skewed
due to large number of clay matches won by Nadal.

Well, to be fair, it's not really a very fair rivalry like Andy/Nole is or Sampras/Agassi was. Nadal caught up with Federer in 2008, when Federer had already left 5 very successful years behind and it would be a bit much to expect from him at this stage of his life to beat the top guys, who are 5 to 6 years younger than him. If they were of same age and played competitive matches since then on, we could have concluded, especially based on that H2H that, Nadal is indeed a better player than Federer, but we don't have solid and equal grounds to conclude that. Sampras/Agassi was a very equal rivalry and so is Nole/Andy. Right now, Nole is quite ahead of Andy but since they are still in the middle of things, we can't say for sure once all ends that, Nole will still remain ahead of Andy. Nole, for example, may stay at No. 1 for another couple of years but Andy may win more Slams than Nole, and these are possible scenarios, so either way, we can't afford to be conclusive until everything has panned out and we are now at the end of the scene. For the same reason, I wouldn't go and say Nadal is the best player of 2013 until the end of the year, where we will have to take everything into account including those many things that are subject to change in the coming months. As a tennis fan, I'd like to reserve my comments until then.

 

[ClayDeath]

morning lady emma.


I expect andy to make his run for the title at flushing meadows. lets see how it goes.


I am looking forward to watching it all unfold at the open. just 9 days away now.

 

[Emma]

I like, I like.

I have set one of these as my background wall paper - the one where it says, 'I am not happy with my Dunblane Diamond'. Of course I am happy with him but it's so cute.

 

[Emma]

Morning herc, I have an invitation tonight so won't be here and in a few minutes I'll have to go and do some groceries. I'd like to catch both semis today so need to wrap a few things up before then.

I'll see you later!

 

[Nekro]

I'll see you later!

I hope Andy runs into some ballbasher on fire at the USO :angel: ok just kidding