Wimbledon Day 4: Thursday, June 26 - Order of Play

[Fefe26]

vamos Rafa! hopefully now he can relax and win this title!

 

[DarthFed]

Wafa survives the mighty Rosol. No death foretold this time.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

That's all she wrote.

I think Rafa is officially over the hump this year at Wimby. The people that can bother him early are big hitters that can take time away from him, until Rafa finds his footing. I think he did in this match, eventually. Nobody is going to bother him until Kei or Milos and even then, no big deal I think.

He has to be a heavy favorite now.

 

[Fiero425]

That's all she wrote.

I think Rafa is officially over the hump this year at Wimby. The people that can bother him early are big hitters that can take time away from him, until Rafa finds his footing. I think he did in this match, eventually. Nobody is going to bother him until Kei or Milos and even then, no big deal I think.

He has to be a heavy favorite now.

We'll see! :nono :angel:

 

[DarthFed]

That's all she wrote.

I think Rafa is officially over the hump this year at Wimby. The people that can bother him early are big hitters that can take time away from him, until Rafa finds his footing. I think he did in this match, eventually. Nobody is going to bother him until Kei or Milos and even then, no big deal I think.

He has to be a heavy favorite now.

You are greatly overrating him on this stuff. If he makes the semis and it's Roger there it will likely be as good as a bye, otherwise I'd expect him to struggle throughout. It isn't about his footing, it is all about the surface.

 

[britbox]

That's all she wrote.

I think Rafa is officially over the hump this year at Wimby. The people that can bother him early are big hitters that can take time away from him, until Rafa finds his footing. I think he did in this match, eventually. Nobody is going to bother him until Kei or Milos and even then, no big deal I think.

He has to be a heavy favorite now.

Dunno about that - he's got a pretty loaded draw. I wouldn't make him a heavy favourite at all even though I picked him to win the title.

Rosol... credit where it's due. Came to play, dominated for patches, didn't go away.

 

[zalvar]

That was torture. gahhh.

Go Rafa!

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Guys, nobody that played 5 finals here is overrated. Rafa finds his rhythm, Rafa is a favorite.

 

[Front242]

Well it wasn't death foretold after all Good match. Pity for Rosol that his serving let him down 'cos the penultimate service game was how it needed to be all match. Probably one of the fastest service games you'll see. Nadal and fans must be happy.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Where is Fronty... Nah.. it was a great match.. Lukas played very well and Rafa was able to regroup. reestablish his 1st serve and tried to take advantage of a few opportunities that Rosol gave him a peek into his service game. I never can recall seeing Uncle Tony so far up.. Uncle Tony wanted his nephew to lay the smack down but Rosol was stubborn and fighting to the very end.:clap

 

[Front242]

Rosol let the slowness of Nadal's time between points and games get to him at 4-2 second set and we witnessed another gutless umpire today. Pascal Maria should've been umpiring there. Average 25 seconds between points and not even a warning all match. Shameful.

 

[crystalfire]

Done! My mom used to say, "act like you've been there before!" That jumping up and down with a 2nd round match is pathetic! In my day you just didn't act like that, even at a tourney's end, much less an early round match! :nono

Samee hate when he does that. Calm down its just a second round. Not your fifth Wimbledon

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

In the meantime , Sam is up 12-11 in the 5th.

 

[DarthFed]

Guys, nobody that played 5 finals here is overrated. Rafa finds his rhythm, Rafa is a favorite.

Even then the guy pretty much always struggled the first week despite naturally playing nobodies. It is no coincidence at this point. Anyone has a chance vs. him.

 

[imjimmy]

He has to be a heavy favorite now.

How is Nadal the heavy favorite? He's struggled the first 2 rounds and he still has potentially Raonic/Federer/Djokovic to the title?

This is not the Nadal of 2008 and 2010. He's fighting to keep alive. What makes you think he is the favorite against the likes of Federer/Murray/Djokovic on this surface? Keep in mind this is the first time he's made round 3 in three years.

Rafa has a loaded draw. A lot will depend on how he plays in week 2 (should he get there). I wouldn't say he's the clear favorite despite his #1 ranking.

 

[Front242]

In the meantime , Sam is up 12-11 in the 5th.

That match is still on?!

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

In the meantime , Sam is up 12-11 in the 5th.

That match is still on?!

from yesterday, yeah...

 

[Front242]

In the meantime , Sam is up 12-11 in the 5th.

That match is still on?!

from yesterday, yeah...

Madness! Yeah, knew it was continued today but expected it to be over by now.

 

[Front242]

Guys, nobody that played 5 finals here is overrated. Rafa finds his rhythm, Rafa is a favorite.

Even then the guy pretty much always struggled the first week despite naturally playing nobodies. It is no coincidence at this point. Anyone has a chance vs. him.

Well Jiri Vesely just won a tough 5 setter so that's probably a walkover for Rafa.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

He has to be a heavy favorite now.

How is Nadal the heavy favorite? He's struggled the first 2 rounds and he still has potentially Raonic/Federer/Djokovic to the title?

This is not the Nadal of 2008 and 2010. He's fighting to keep alive. What makes you think he is the favorite against the likes of Federer/Murray/Djokovic on this surface? Keep in mind this is the first time he's made round 3 in three years.

Rafa has a loaded draw. A lot will depend on how he plays in week 2 (should he get there). I wouldn't say he's the clear favorite despite his #1 ranking.

His struggles in the first week of Wimbledon is well known and established. We have talked about it at great length here. But he does not usually struggle in the second week, does he. He either loses early, or goes deep. The change from clay to grass is never smooth with him, but once he figures the grass out and survives a couple of rounds, getting a match under his belt from a big hitter, like today, he becomes dangerous.

I am not saying he cannot lose. I am only saying he might be over the hump this year and rest of the field watch out.