The Dirt Devil vs the Serbian Slayer

[Kieran]

Tignor picks Fedovic ; No surprise there.

It's a reasonable assumption and I think he supports it well. It's too soon for Rafa to defeat Novak, but the signs are all positive for the future, as Tignor acknowledges. Rafa tends to serve first nowadays and a pattern of his defeats to Novak over best of three is that Novak was taking control from the off, breaking serve immediately in almost every match. It'll be interesting to see how that pans out today.

Plus, for Rafa, will he be able to control his nerves and remain calm in the clutch? He didn't against Federer, in Basle. It's one thing to improve your form, but another thing to apply it when you need to. This is one of the final pieces of the puzzle for Rafa, in getting his confidence back to ironclad levels of yore.

I don't think he's there yet, there's another stage between his comeback in January, and reaching his best again, and that's proving he can make this kind of match competitive....

 

[the AntiPusher]

Tignor picks Fedovic ; No surprise there.

It's a reasonable assumption and I think he supports it well. It's too soon for Rafa to defeat Novak, but the signs are all positive for the future, as Tignor acknowledges. Rafa tends to serve first nowadays and a pattern of his defeats to Novak over best of three is that Novak was taking control from the off, breaking serve immediately in almost every match. It'll be interesting to see how that pans out today.

Plus, for Rafa, will he be able to control his nerves and remain calm in the clutch? He didn't against Federer, in Basle. It's one thing to improve your form, but another thing to apply it when you need to. This is one of the final pieces of the puzzle for Rafa, in getting his confidence back to ironclad levels of yore.

I don't think he's there yet, there's another stage between his comeback in January, and reaching his best again, and that's proving he can make this kind of match competitive....

So important for a serve like Rafa which is based on him "hitting his spots". I noticed this time he is eager to face Djoker which is a good thing.

 

[Front242]

It ain't no Djoke. There's Nada(l) he can do

 

[Kieran]

It ain't no Djoke. There's Nada(l) he can do

Groan :snicker

 

[Backhand_DTL]

Btw, for Novak to lose to Rafa on this surface would take a "serious mental injury" from Novak. There's absolutely nothing to base thinking Nadal will win on other than outright blatant hope. This is one of Novak's best surfaces and Rafa's worst.

My impression was that yesterday and in the second set on Tuesday Novak struggled to play with any intensity. So for whatever reason he really seems low on energy at the moment, which together with Rafa seemingly playing quite well gives the match a lot more suspense than probably anybody would have thought a week ago.

Of course it's possible that Novak will play much better tomorrow and if he reaches the level he had against Nishikori or even in the first set against Roger it should be enough to win the match but if he does play like he did against Berdych, Rafa will rightfully like his chances.

Gotta remember he only had to win one set against Berdych to qualify so there's nothing to base the performance on after that. He could well have taken the foot off the gas 'cos he didn't need to win the 2nd set after qualifying from winning set 1.

Yes, for the second set it's understandable (although trying to win quickly in 2 seems like the best option in that situation), but Novak already was far from convincing in the first. Hitting just 1 winner against Berdych on a surface that suits Novak is not a good statistic.

Of course Novak is still the clear favourite as the match-up against Rafa usually suits him on this kind of surface and this year he was often able to raise his level for the big matches. Also especially the match against Nishikori shows, that Novak is capable of a good performance this week but without a considerable improvement compared to Thursday he definitely won't be able to win as routinely as in the other three matches they had this year.

 

[Front242]

Fear not, they're both downing a double McEpo combo meal right now. I expect a fairly high octane, high quality match.

 

[Mile]

Tignor picks Fedovic ; No surprise there.

It's a reasonable assumption and I think he supports it well. It's too soon for Rafa to defeat Novak, but the signs are all positive for the future, as Tignor acknowledges. Rafa tends to serve first nowadays and a pattern of his defeats to Novak over best of three is that Novak was taking control from the off, breaking serve immediately in almost every match. It'll be interesting to see how that pans out today.

Plus, for Rafa, will he be able to control his nerves and remain calm in the clutch? He didn't against Federer, in Basle. It's one thing to improve your form, but another thing to apply it when you need to. This is one of the final pieces of the puzzle for Rafa, in getting his confidence back to ironclad levels of yore.

I don't think he's there yet, there's another stage between his comeback in January, and reaching his best again, and that's proving he can make this kind of match competitive....

True, Nadal is gaining stamina, might be really ready for Ozzie, while Fed will probably drop off in January, since he peaked now.

 

[Front242]

Head to head should be 23-23 in a few hours.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Head to head should be 23-23 in a few hours.

We shall see.

 

[Carol]

Head to head should be 23-23 in a few hours.

We'll see but if it will be it doesn't matter, it will change probably soon again (January)

 

[Front242]

Head to head should be 23-23 in a few hours.

We'll see but if it will be it doesn't matter, it will change probably soon again (January)

Of course. It will be 24-23 to Novak next

 

[Carol]

Head to head should be 23-23 in a few hours.

We'll see but if it will be it doesn't matter, it will change probably soon again (January)

Of course. It will be 24-23 to Novak next

I doubt it but you should be more concerned about if Novak would play the final vs Roger and wins then it will be 22-22 and I don't think Roger can play better and to improve at his age

 

[Front242]

Relocated to the sitting room 'cos our kitchen ceiling is being re-plastered in one corner of the room but the connection is much better now with me sitting right next to the router/modem. Perfect stream for once.

 

[Front242]

We'll see but if it will be it doesn't matter, it will change probably soon again (January)

Of course. It will be 24-23 to Novak next

I doubt it but you should be more concerned about if Novak would play the final vs Roger and wins then it will be 22-22 and I don't think Roger can play better and to improve at his age

I'm completely certain Novak will be ahead in the h2h in the end against Roger. He's 34 after all and eventhough he's Novak's biggest challenge right now, he'll be 35 next year and Novak is in his absolute prime. This is a given and if Roger somehow kept their h2h even it'd be a surprise and impressive. Rafa and Novak on the other hand are practically the same age. Keep supporting Nadal though, it's good to believe he'll suddenly start beating Novak left, right and center even if there's absolutely zero to base it on but utter, blatant wishful thinking.

 

[kskate2]

Some people actually voted for Nadal in straights? :laydownlaughing

 

[Front242]

Good start by Novak.

 

[Front242]

Some people actually voted for Nadal in straights? :laydownlaughing

That kind of lunacy never fails to amuse.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

That first return game from Novak was nasty. Just wow. He's just so amazing these days.

 

[Front242]

7 winners in 2 games on this dog slow court already for Novak is mighty impressive.

 

[Kieran]

Novak is out of the traps fast. Rafa looks nervous, and as I mentioned, his very first service game came under ferocious assault, a sure sign that Nole is on...