The Fedal Basel Final: Federer v Nadal

[teddytennisfan]

the big matches will be good BB!

 

[britbox]

Cheers guys, I'm going to merge this into the main thread now and go to bed!

 

[Billie]

Congratulations to Fed and his fans.

 

[britbox]

Roger Federer defeats Rafael Nadal 6-3, 5-7, 6-3

 

[Billie]

That was a nice speech from Rafa. 

 

[shawnbm]

Returned and watched on dvr and thought we were treated to a good one here.  Nadal showed a lot of grit and Roger withstood the pressure points in the third set after losing the second, which he likely did not think he should have lost. We. Saw some very good rallies and shots and Rafael demonstrated that he is definitely in the mix again.  He is not squandering matches or fading in big moments like earlier this year.  He is fighting and grinding it out.  Federer likely feels some relief and this victory was huge for him mentally in terms of playing Nadal again.  He needs to continue hard returns up the middle, commit to hard backhands cross court and keep the service at least 65%.

 

[scoop]

This match was supposed to be won by Fed a little more comfortably than he finally did - home court, favorite surface, strong year high confidence vs Rafa who has had a down year and his confidence in fragile - if ever there was a time for Fed to crush Rafa today was the day - yet he still couldn't quite do it - after match Rafa looked Fed in the eye and said, "I hope we can play many more finals" - which I interpreted to mean: "Yes you won today Roger at your home party but next time in a more level playing field I will exact my revenge"  -- great match it was though, when these two lock horns it's always a titanic, high quality struggle  - the perfect synchronicity of elegance and violence vs the ultimate tennis combination of brute force and iron will --

 

[Mastoor]

Congratulations to Fed fans, but this looked like a friendly to me. There's more fight in some of Rafa's exhos I watched than in this finale.

 

 

[Moxie]

Congratulations to Fed fans, but this looked like a friendly to me. There’s more fight in some of Rafa’s exhos I watched than in this finale.

Certainly not in the last one.  B-)  I think you must have accidentally tuned-in to a rerun of some hit and giggle.  Or else you were watching through your Nike-doll-hating goggles.  

 

[Moxie]

That was a nice speech from Rafa.

I liked the bit where he thanked the crowd for all their support, then added, "Well, maybe not as much today," and everyone had a laugh.  I do think Rafa and Roger enjoyed playing each other in a final again.  Maybe this is what Mastoor (above) was seeing.  It was a good fight, but they did indulge in a bit of nostalgia, I think, when it was over.  I do like Scoop's subtext for Rafa's comment about hoping they meet in more finals in the future.  (Thought bubble:  I'll get you next time!)  ::sw1::

 

[ClayDeath]

Congratulations to Fed fans, but this looked like a friendly to me. There’s more fight in some of Rafa’s exhos I watched than in this finale.

rafa does not have the fitness or the proper focus.

 

also nobody gives a damn how many semis or the finals of small tournaments he makes. End result is the same. A loss.

 

he has exactly zero hard court titles since 2013. Soon it will be 2016. The objective folks will note that he will have exactly zero hard court titles in 2016 also.

 

they just don't get it. he won't win a single title on any surface unless he shows more hunger, drive, focus, better fitness and better training.

 

this is not by accident. He refuses to work hard on his fitness and his training.

he was worn out in the third set. He said he spent more time on the courts.

 

He he would have won a total of 2-3 games against djokovic today.

 

[Moxie]

Mastoor wrote:
Congratulations to Fed fans, but this looked like a friendly to me. There’s more fight in some of Rafa’s exhos I watched than in this finale.

rafa does not have the fitness or the proper focus. also nobody gives a damn how many semis or the finals of small tournaments he makes. End result is the same. A loss. he has exactly zero hard court titles since 2013. Soon it will be 2016. The objective folks will note that he will have exactly zero hard court titles in 2016 also. they just don’t get it. he won’t win a single title on any surface unless he shows more hunger, drive, focus, better fitness and better training. this is not by accident. He refuses to work hard on his fitness and his training. he was worn out in the third set. He said he spent more time on the courts. He he would have won a total of 2-3 games against djokovic today.

By what information is it that you are so sure he refuses to work on his fitness?  That doesn't seem consistent with his work ethic.

 

 

[mrzz]

Hi all!

Just checking in... good to see Federer finally wining.

 

 

[britbox]

Hi all! Just checking in… good to see Federer finally wining.

Welcome mrzz!​

 

[ClayDeath]

great thread.

 

[Moxie]

Hi all! Just checking in… good to see Federer finally wining.

Good to see you, mrzz!

 

[Billie]

Hi all! Just checking in… good to see Federer finally wining.

Hi mrzz...nice to see you here.