The Dirt Devil vs the Serbian Slayer

[kskate2]

Wow that was in

 

[Front242]

Total pwnage.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Nadal looks good. He's not playing bad. Novak is winning with winners. Nadal has 1 error. Make that 2, to lose the 3rd game. But he doesn't look that good because Djokovic looks so good. Y'all know me. I'm a Fed fan and a Nadal hater and used to be a Novak hater some years ago (after liking him when he first showed up). But these days, you can't hate the guy. He's just too good. I mean, we're only 3 games into the match so maybe I should temper my enthusiasm. But he's just on another level.

 

[kskate2]

More abuse for Rafa's serve. He'll be fortunate if he can avoid bakery products this set

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Now three errors from Djokovic in this game. Nadal playing well to be sure. Getting good depth. But Djokovic can afford errors at the moment. He's up 3-love. I mean that's how he does it these days. He plays ridiculous for as long as he can. He manages the inevitable let downs. He knows you can't be perfect and rarely lets the errors get to him because he can usually bring his best when he needs to.

 

[Front242]

Making a monkey out of him.

 

[Kieran]

Rafa's not playing well, I'm not sure what match you're watching....

 

[Front242]

2 pretty lame errors there by Novak.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Rafa's not playing well, I'm not sure what match you're watching....

And I'm not sure what match you're watching. He's being outplayed to be sure. But he's not playing poorly.

 

[Front242]

Good overhead by Nadal.

 

[kskate2]

2 pretty lame errors there by Novak.

there's been a handful creeping in the last couple of games

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Loving these British commentators. Bringing up Andre in reference to great overheads. Along with Nadal.

 

[Front242]

Waste of a challenge. Perfect serve.

 

[Front242]

Great game by Novak. Serving was inch perfect and no need for speed with placement like that.

 

[kskate2]

5-2. Let's see if Nadal gets nervous and dumps serve again

 

[Kieran]

Rafa's not playing well, I'm not sure what match you're watching....

And I'm not sure what match you're watching. He's being outplayed to be sure. But he's not playing poorly.

He's not playing with any assertiveness or confidence. He's reacting to things, rather than trying to dictate. Novak is playing great and bossing the big points.

None of this adds up to "Nadal is playing well..."

 

[Kieran]

There's been a pattern to these best of three set matches between Rafa and Novak, since Rafa won the USO in 2013: Novak almost always breaks Rafa's first service game then steers himself home with ease. It's up to Rafa to be more aggressive and change this...

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Rafa's not playing well, I'm not sure what match you're watching....

And I'm not sure what match you're watching. He's being outplayed to be sure. But he's not playing poorly.

He's not playing with any assertiveness or confidence. He's reacting to things, rather than trying to dictate. Novak is playing great and bossing the big points.

None of this adds up to "Nadal is playing well..."

I guess I would argue that Djokovic is playing too well to allow Rafa to dictate. And that's on purpose. Because he knows if he allows Rafa to dictate at all, Rafa can find a way to win.

 

[nehmeth]

... not very competitive there.

 

[kskate2]

nope