The Fedal Basel Final: Federer v Nadal

[britbox]

Roger might be rue-ing that non-break. He had a couple of opportunities there.

 

[shawnbm]

Big game for Nadal to hold. I love how Paul Annaconne narrates and calls a match.

 

[teddytennisfan]

how about they call Nole to play one breaking game for rog and one breaking game for rafa...and give back the match to roger and rafa. lol.

 

[teddytennisfan]

30-15 for rog.

 

[teddytennisfan]

40

 

[shawnbm]

You know Nadal appears to be playing like any other year. I would not know which year it is in terms of his rallying and strokes.

 

[britbox]

Swiss crowd sound like they are in an athletics stadium waiting for the long jump to get underway.

 

[teddytennisfan]

true. shambm

 

[shawnbm]

In short, regardless of this match I see Rafael as totally in for every event next year. This late season swing is showing he back to being a major competitor.

 

[teddytennisfan]

understandable they want roger to get that break and open the gap. any hometown would.

 

[britbox]

Nadal getting taped.

 

[teddytennisfan]

me too shawnbm. win or lose today - i always suspected rafa needed a ''familiar" rival at the very top like roger...that always gave rafa confidence against.

 

[shawnbm]

Roger must feel more comfortable against his old rival on a quicker indoor court. If this were on clay, I question whether the score line would be the same.

 

[Billie]

Rafa's forehand needs to improve, if he wants to make this competitive, like that last one

 

[teddytennisfan]

those wide , deep angles - those were missing often in this year's rafa. i think.

 

[shawnbm]

Rafa beating Roger would immensely help Nadal against everyone else--even being competitive with Federer should help

 

[teddytennisfan]

ya -- for rafa right now - of course he wants to win -- but keeping the actual POINT close and intense - i think that's partly what he's been looking for from himself.

 

[Billie]

Rafa starting to go more for Fed's BH, understandably

 

[teddytennisfan]

and of course against less familiar players -- and THAT nole -- it's very hard to find that confidence and competence...

 

[teddytennisfan]

hey , they should my pete. with andre.