US Open 2019, Flushing Meadows, NY USA - Grand Slam (Men)

[Nadalfan2013]

He had the momentum from winning Canada last year too. He also was fresh as a daisy for the Wimbledon semis this year and still got beaten badly by a pretty unimpressive Federer. Anyways Rafa better hope someone takes out Djoker before the final.

This is the US open and he’s won it 3 times this decade. Nothing to do with Wimbledon. Also last year he got injured during the tournament and had to stop playing, So he didn’t get to give it his all. Hopefully this year he will be luckier and continue being healthy physically. As for Djokovic I think the U.S. Open actually brings the best out of Rafa so I’m not worried.

Spoiler

Healthy Nadal is undefeated B-)

 

[Moxie]

He had the momentum from winning Canada last year too. He also was fresh as a daisy for the Wimbledon semis this year and still got beaten badly by a pretty unimpressive Federer. Anyways Rafa better hope someone takes out Djoker before the final.

Rafa also has the best HC record of the year of anyone. Personally, I won't be sad if Novak goes out before he meets Rafa in the final, but do remember who has the best h2h between the 2 of them here in NYC.

 

[DarthFed]

Rafa also has the best HC record of the year of anyone. Personally, I won't be sad if Novak goes out before he meets Rafa in the final, but do remember who has the best h2h between the 2 of them here in NYC.

You know the drill if he plays Novak the final Sunday here. AO was also slow and high bouncing, if it ain't incredibly high bouncing (as clay is) Novak usually tunes Nadal. The relevant H2H at USO is 1-1 and that's about the best he's fared off clay vs. Novak. Nice little HC record this year and all. Hey, maybe it will be your lucky fortnight and Djoker goes home early. But his legacy is kind of on the line too, 16 is still pretty crappy in this era.

 

[Carol]

Millman has said after the match.....

 

[Moxie]

The relevant H2H at USO is 1-1 and that's about the best he's fared off clay vs. Novak. Nice little HC record this year and all.

Your bolded above? No entiendo. And, yes, it is a nice little HC record this year for Rafa.

 

[rafanoy1992]

At this point of their careers, while the Big Three are still better than everyone else, they are still in their 30's so they still have to preserve their body physically for the fortnight. I understand that Nadal lost to Djokovic and Federer this year while being fresh as daisy in Slams BUT I would still take those conditions over than playing 3+ plus hours for 3 straight matches . The former will maximize your opportunities to win a Slam while the latter will only hurt you physically in the long run.

After last year (retiring in two grand slam events), Nadal will gladly take an "easy" draw to the semifinal and final in order for him to maximize his opportunities to win a Slam.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Great, Nick held it for 1.75 sets before starting a fight with umpire.

 

[Moxie]

Great, Nick held it for 1.75 sets before starting a fight with umpire.

OMG, I am SO rooting for Stevie now, despite the unfortunate mustache. Nick had no reason to turn this into a circus. It was going along perfectly well.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Nick up 6-5 in 2nd set (with 1st set in bag). Johnson to serve to stay in the set.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

tb

 

[Moxie]

Kyrgios putting on a show in this TB.

 

[Michael;Kiwi]

Federer has had a lucky first two rounds draw. He would have lost to any top 50 player in the first round but he had #190. Hopefully he will improve in Round 2 but if not Dzumhur should really be incapable of actually winning. His play reminds me of 2017 when he played 2 terrible five setters to start the tourney. He started playing better though and could have won the title if he had gotten past Del Potro (had set points for 2-1 lead). This time might be even better though because it is all mental. He hasn’t gotten over Wimbledon. If he can make it to the quarters I think he will start to focus on this tournament. He will view it as a chance to redeem himself. It will also put some wins between him and the final which is crucial. I could see him winning this if he makes it to the quarters. He has honestly played as well as Djokovic since Australia. Just got mentally spooked.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Nick runs away with the TB. Nick serving tomahawk missiles today.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Nick starts the 3rd set with a break.

Unless he melts down on something absolutely trivial, he should win this in another 20 mins.

So, I am going to bed.

 

[Moxie]

Federer has had a lucky first two rounds draw. He would have lost to any top 50 player in the first round but he had #190. Hopefully he will improve in Round 2 but if not Dzumhur should really be incapable of actually winning. His play reminds me of 2017 when he played 2 terrible five setters to start the tourney. He started playing better though and could have won the title if he had gotten past Del Potro (had set points for 2-1 lead). This time might be even better though because it is all mental. He hasn’t gotten over Wimbledon. If he can make it to the quarters I think he will start to focus on this tournament. He will view it as a chance to redeem himself. It will also put some wins between him and the final which is crucial. I could see him winning this if he makes it to the quarters. He has honestly played as well as Djokovic since Australia. Just got mentally spooked.

This is a bit of an overstatement, the bolded above. He would still have had to get past Rafa, and then win in the final. I don't think it's all mental this year. There is a lot of not playing well enough. Except for Wimbledon, which was a heartbreaker for the fans, I'm sure.

 

[Michael;Kiwi]

This is a bit of an overstatement, the bolded above. He would still have had to get past Rafa, and then win in the final. I don't think it's all mental this year. There is a lot of not playing well enough. Except for Wimbledon, which was a heartbreaker for the fans, I'm sure.

I just meant that I felt he had chance. Rafa was playing way better than Federer but considering how well Federer played against Rafa I think it would shave been 50-50. I was just trying to provide an example of a tournament he started terribly but got far better. Also I just meant that I think his first match against Nagal was all mental not the whole year. I was just saying I expect the pain to fade a bit as the tournament goes on.

 

[Moxie]

I just meant that I felt he had chance. Rafa was playing way better than Federer but considering how well Federer played against Rafa I think it would shave been 50-50. I was just trying to provide an example of a tournament he started terribly but got far better. Also I just meant that I think his first match against Nagal was all mental not the whole year. I was just saying I expect the pain to fade a bit as the tournament goes on.

Of course Federer had a chance if he'd stayed in the tournament in 2017, but he didn't. Full stop. I also don't agree that his match v. Nagal was mental. Rust, perhaps, but v. a guy we'd never heard of? No, that was just some crap tennis from Roger. For sure he's going to improve on that result. But he's not looking like the world-beater that he once was.

 

[Michael;Kiwi]

This is a bit of an overstatement, the bolded above. He would still have had to get past Rafa, and then win in the final. I don't think it's all mental this year. There is a lot of not playing well enough. Except for Wimbledon, which was a heartbreaker for the fans, I'm sure.

I don’t think you quite understand how bad it was. Nadal hasn’t ever lost a slam match from match points up. It was like winning the lottery only to find out the said the wrong number. I think you underestimate its effect on Federer because he always seems to get over bad events so quickly. He looked mad against Rublev and disinterested against Nagal. I think he’s going through a mini depression.

 

[Michael;Kiwi]

Of course Federer had a chance if he'd stayed in the tournament in 2017, but he didn't. Full stop. I also don't agree that his match v. Nagal was mental. Rust, perhaps, but v. a guy we'd never heard of? No, that was just some crap tennis from Roger. For sure he's going to improve on that result. But he's not looking like the world-beater that he once was.

I never said he should have won. Del Potro deserved the match and Nadal deserved the tournament. It also is irrelevant that his draw was easy. It’s Federer’s fault it was easy. I was trying to use an example to support my opinion that Federer could improve and even win this years US Open.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I don’t think you quite understand how bad it was. Nadal hasn’t ever lost a slam match from match points up. It was like winning the lottery only to find out the said the wrong number. I think you underestimate its effect on Federer because he always seems to get over bad events so quickly. He looked mad against Rublev and disinterested against Nagal. I think he’s going through a mini depression.

I do not think Federer is going through a mini depression. He has won 20 Majors, 102 Titles and more than 1200 matches over his career. While it might be painful for him to lose that Wimbledon Final after having championship points on his serve, he will not lose sleep or get a mini depression because of that devastation loss.

He looked mad against Rublev because Rublev was playing spectacular tennis and Federer could not do anything to stop him that day. As for the Nagal match, it is probably just rust. You gotta remember that he is 38 years old. His body will not react as much he wants to compared from 5 years ago.There will be matches in which he will look "old" and just spray errors all over the court.