(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (7) Andy Murray
Ricky: The good news for Murray is that he played Nadal tough in a recent Rome three-setter, he seems to be well past his back-surgery issues, and he is playing the best clay-court tennis of his career (this is just his second-ever French Open semifinal). Unfortunately, that standard was still barely good enough to survive five-setters against Philipp Kohlschreiber and Gael Monfils. Nadal is not at his dominant best, but he has plenty of momentum after pulverizing Ferrer in the last three sets of their four-set quarterfinal. Since Murray won their first Grand Slam semifinal at the 2008 U.S. Open, Nadal has won four such meetings in a row–and none of those four meetings were particularly competitive. Nadal is simply far better than Murray at this point in majors, especially at Roland Garros. Don’t be surprised if this is a beatdown of the highest order. Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.
Steen Kirby of Tennis East Coast: Nadal just beat Murray in Rome, but it took him three sets. The Spaniard has won all five previous meetings on clay and he leads the overall head-to-head series 14-5. Murray has a had a great fortnight to reach the semifinals and it’s clear he is finally improving from back-surgery recovery time, but this is Nadal on red clay at the French and a back issue of his own has seemed better the past two matches. Murray is coming off two five-set matches, so I think this is the end for him…and in routine fashion. Nadal 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.
Joey Hanf of The Tennis Nerds: At one point Wednesday, with the sun fading in Paris, it seemed like both Murray and Nadal might have play their respective quarterfinals over two days. However, both men finished their matches in time and they were both rather bizarre contests. Nadal faced his first test of the tournament against Ferrer and after dropping the first set, he quickly found his best form and lost only five games in the next three sets. Murray played one of the craziest matches of the year, winning the first two sets against Monfils before dropping the next two. He then bageled the Frenchman in the fifth. The Nadal-Murray “rivalry” isn’t exactly a rivalry, but Murray has had some big Grand Slam wins over Nadal. He has beaten Nadal at the Australian and U.S. Opens, but clearly the Spaniard is different animal at Roland Garros. I haven’t seen Murray hit his forehand as well as he is now since Wimbledon last year, so I think he will push the favorite. But greatest clay-courter of all time simply does not lose in the semifinals. Nadal 4-6, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1.
Jared Pine of the Second Serb: Tennis fans had to wait almost three years for this rivalry to be renewed a couple weeks ago in Rome, and it was worth the wait. Nadal came back from a break down in the deciding set to win 7-5 in the third. Now the two are meeting in the semifinals, the same round in which 11 of their 19 previous meeting have taken place, including seven in a row. Both players struggled at times in their quarterfinals but finished strong to advance, and will be relatively well-rested for their semifinal. This has always been a bad matchup for Murray and it is only worse on clay. Nadal should have no real problem getting to his ninth French Open final. Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
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(18) Ernests Gulbis vs. (2) Novak Djokovic
Ricky: This is going to be an intriguing battle between Gulbis’ offense and Djokovic’s defense. Djokovic, of course, is not a strictly defensive player, but Gulbis has never been more confident and he will come out swinging freely and will not let up regardless of the score. That tactic, combined with the fact that the Latvian is playing by far the best tennis of his life, will keep him competitive for a while. However, this is Gulbis’ first trip to a major semifinal. Djokovic, on the other hand, has slam semis for breakfast and he even has six Grand Slam titles. Experience will be factor, as will Djokovic’s superior ability to that of–say, Roger Federer, Tomas Berdych, and just about anyone–to make Gulbis hit extra balls to finish points. Djokovic 7-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Steen: Gulbis and Djokovic have not met in three years. Gulbis has never taken a set off the Serb in in his four losses to him, but he does have a lone win in 2009 on a hard court. Gulbis is on an amazing run and has enjoyed a fantastic past couple of weeks, having now made himself a Top 10 player. Djokovic, though, is also on a long winning streak and has dropped just one set in his five matches this fortnight. Gulbis thrashed Berdych in the quarters, but Djokovic is at a different level. Again, my pick is the higher seed and favorite in straight sets. Djokovic 7-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Joey: One of my favorite quotes of the year was Gulbis saying that he has chosen to go on the “gluten-full” diet. Of course, his semifinal opponent is famous for his gluten-free diet and if you think Gulbis’ statement was just a coincidence, think again. He was taking a little jab at Djokovic and it will be interesting to see how the match plays out. Gulbis has been serving very well all tournament and his movement has been Djokovic-like. However, the world No. 2’s motivation to complete the career Grand Slam may be greater than Gulbis’ motivation to be world No. 1, and that’s saying something. The Latvian always says nothing short of winning the tournament is a success, but I sensed a level of relief from him after his quarterfinal crushing of Berdych. The tipping shot in this match will be Djokovic’s backhand down the line, which will feed right into Gulbis’ weakness, the forehand. Gulbis will certainly not tank like some have in this tournament, but Djokovic will be too good in a best-of-five match. Djokovic 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-6.
Jared: To say this is a dream semifinal would be a stretch since these two could have just as easily met in the first week in Paris. However, a match featuring two of the best two-handed backhands in the game right now is not the only thing that makes this a mouth-watering semifinal. This is a matchup of brute force and elastic defense between two friends, who even share a little bit of history at this event. Prior to this semifinal, Gulbis’ best result at a slam was the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2008, when he lost in three competitive sets to none other than the Serb. Djokovic has been a part of many thrilling semifinals at majors and this should be another one. Djokovic 4-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
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https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/474586043782406144/photo/1
No wonder some people have the impression this is a strictly Rafa fan only site 😀
How do you manage to always get in first with this? Do you have an agreement with Ricky that everybody else is held up in a moderation queue?
^^^Apart from the possibility that @augusta08 has a bot on the prowl, stalking Ricky’s brain, waiting to pounce as soon as a Ricky Rafa-blog hits the Tenngrand pages!
It isn’t?
rafaisthebest (at 4:27 pm)
I am a follower of The Grandstand. Aren’t you?
My clumsy comment was meant as a compliment @augusta08! Yes, I am a follower of The Grandstand but you are always one step ahead of me, and everybody else from what I can see!!
Chapeau……
rafaisthebest (at 4:55 pm)
I keep my computer open.
But you must sometimes be away from the computer, even if it is only to go to the loo.
I’ve already cast my vote earlier today.
Djokovic in 4
Nadal in 4
Nole in 3.
Nadal in 4.
Rafa;
Djokovic.
Gulbis has the game to trouble Nole and he just might. Can’t really think of any reason why Gulbis should not win this, but I don’t think he will. It could be a blow out or a dog fight, 3 sets or 5 sets. Anything is possible but I thin Nole will win in the end.
In my opinion, Murray will only beat Rafa if Rafa is impaired in any way. Rafa is not playing his best atm, but I think he is playing well enough to see Murray off. Possibly, in 4.
Nole Says:
“I’m trying to focus the attention only on the next match, so I don’t think about eventual final,” Djokovic said, when he was asked how he saw his chances for winning the title were shaping up.
Isn’t he contradicting himself in the same sentence?
#Eventual
Eventual has a somewhat different meaning in some non-English languages, including French, than in English. In them it means something like “potential” or “possible”.
Don’t you speak a lot of French, hawkeye?
.C’est dommage mais je ne comprends pas le Francais
It’s funny. I can understand Milos when he speaks “French” but not a native Frenchman.
Hard to understand a native Frenchman or a native Quebecois ? 😉
One by one, they are beginning to desert the “Djokovic is favourite” ship……..
“Garber: I can’t say I disagree. I usually root for the underdog, but Murray seems to be out of his element. Actually, in many minds, Rafa is the underdog to win this tournament. Students of Experts’ Picks already know that we both tabbed Novak Djokovic to win. Now, I’m kind of leaning toward Rafa.”
http://espn.go.com/tennis/french14/story/_/id/11036470/french-open-andy-murray-shock-rafael-nadal
Oh dear…………
https://twitter.com/NeilHarmanTimes/status/474609829378785281/photo/1
Yeah, Soderling is a hero of the Federazzi and journos who talk with a British accent.
Do they remember that Soderling beat Fed at Roland Garros and afer that he was beaten by Rafa ?
I think Rafa still regards that as his worst defeat ever.
He’s only voicing what the British want to hear……….
Muzza never goes in for that unattractive belligerent triumphalism, least of all when he is facing one of his chums. He’s like Rafa in that respect.
RT @SI_BTBaseline: “Sharapova after another 3-set comeback: “At the end of the day, it’s not how you finish a first set. It’s how you finish the last set.””
#Respect
or more importantly how loudly you scream.
Vamos Halep.
Sharapova I beautiful and smart 🙂 “the scream” only makes her more distinctive, doesn’t it? 🙂
Sure that’s one word to describe it.
Please don’t bring WTA here!!!
Thank you!!!
^^Where are we supposed to “bring” it, pray tell? Or is it not “real tennis”?? 😀
rafaisthebest (at 9:57 am)
https://tenngrand.com/category/wta/
c’mon augusta…don’t be narrow minded 🙂 …the statement about who wins the last set is all it matters” is applicable to both ATP and WTA, don’t you think?
augusta08 says: June 6, 2014 at 11:04 am
and what am I supposed to do with that link, bookmark it? No thanks. What heading does the link fall under: Match Previews, Match Recaps, Best of the Day, Stats, Social? What?
One shouldn’t have to go on a fishing expedition, one should be able to access the WTA page easily, just like one accesses the ATP player pages. That is why I asked. Not too problematic, I hope.
Getting real tired of being told what to post where and ow to be a good fan.
#ToEachTheirOwn
#PostAndLetPost
#VamosRafa
#GoGenie
Extremely confusing Gulbis coach interview in Latvian.
Ernests played a great game against Berdych , but the next opponent – Djokovic – is well above the shelf . What are your thoughts on the upcoming game?
I believe that we have no chance against Djokovic . Novak will win the tournament. That’s what I said before the tournament , saying it now. That he is currently the best physically , technically and mentally , he has gained fitness is to finally win in Paris.
Is it right that the coach talks like that before the match? Have you talked about it with Ernest ?
Yes, last night just talking about this topic. In my opinion, he feels the same way .
Is it in some way will not affect his game?
Of course not . He plays his game , despite everything . But he is not so good . Maybe will get after six months , maybe a year later , as long as he continue to work just as hard as the last nine months . I hope that from now on we more often manage to reach at least the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam tournaments.
Next week Ernest will debut at top 10 in ATP ranking. This jump is not too fast and will not affect future starts ?
Too fast ? No, five years too late ( laughs) . He has worked hard and earned a place among the best. I know that it was one of his goals. But if he is now happy with the top ten, after a few weeks he will no longer be, he will want to be in the ninth , eighth , and so on. He will never be completely happy until he is first .
Returning to the game tomorrow . Djokovic is now a coach Boris Becker , once the trained by you . What is your relationship now ?
Our relationship is very good . After returning to the tour in Australia he had invited me to dinner, we also spent time together in Monte Carlo. In Paris Dominic spent a few trainings with Djokovic, we maintain good relations.
Commentary tournament official web site Bresniks indicated that for victory Ernest needs a miracle. With out that it will be impossible to win . Although Gulbis playing high-level tennis, it is still 10-15% lower than the average of Djokovic . Novak can play at a high level for several hours, so 3-4 geims in Set would be a great success .
What do you think about this??????I have never heard anything like this before!
Why they care only about rankings, winning Grand Slam should be top priority.
jaw on the floor
If Gulbis’s coach was an honest man he would follow-up on his pessimism about Gulbis’s chances tomorrow and ask Gulbis to forfeit the match.
As a possible “motivational speech”? Beyond the pale…………
^^^^Disagree. I know three people told by doctors they will never walk again and will spend the rest of their lives in a wheelchair. All three have responded by being motivated to prove the doctors wrong. In one instance my friend’s response was ‘in that case I won’t even get into a wheelchair’. He rolled himself out of bed and crawled on his hands and knees for six months. Today he can do 18 holes on the golf course.
Breznik his tapping into the ‘I’ll prove you wrong ‘ nature of his charge. It may not work.
As far as chances to win barring a “miracle”, I agree. Next to impossible.
Federer hand an outside chance had he reached the semis.
There is only one player with a “great” chance to beat Nole.
Gulbis is no Nadal or Federer.
However, he is doing what any good coach should do. Take off the pressure by lowering expectations and put all expectations and pressure on Nole as the heavy favourite.
Same as Uncle T choosing to publicly “complain” about Rafa playing his quarters on Lenglen as an affront, and notice how Rafa latched onto it in his presser. There is method to Uncle T’s action: building a sense of injustice in Rafa, motivating him to show up his “tormentors”.
It’s done…………#9thRG
@hawkeye,
Yes! That’s exactly what his coach is doing. It’s a classic move and a good one. Sometimes you have to look deeper than just the words themselves. He is doing this in the hope that Gulbis will go out there feeling no pressure with nothing to lose and go for his shots. That’s his only shot.
Gulbis is an interesting case. With his talent, the much more serious work he seems to have done last couple of years. and the growing desire he actually has the _potential_ to hang with Nole. Yes, he’d have to have a very good day, play at his best, make lots of good decisions on court and few bad ones. He does have the potential. Not the likelihood, no, but if he came to defeat Nole tomorrow (won’t happen) it would not be the shocker that it would be with most other players not named Rafa, Murray and Roger.
I have no idea whether he’ll keep up his hard work and consistency through the next 12 months but if we did then we’d see how he really measures up.
Ivan Ljubicic (@theljubicic)
Posted at 6 June, 2014 7:52 AM on Twitter
“@milosraonic will not hold serve once on grass #moderncoaching #iamin”
It’s as if the entire eastern bloc is with Djoker.Where does this confidence come from? that he beat Nadal in Rome? He’s made ONE final and lost in 4. Rafa is 8-time champion, but clearly not the favorite. Rafa has lost 1 set and 34 games. He’s had 3 6-0 sets. Nole has lost 1 set and 50 games and has zero 6-0 sets. And we’re to believe he is the favorite? I don’t get it. #doesnotaddup
What justifies the belief in Nole up to a point is that most years of the last three he is the only really tough opponent for Rafa even when Rafa is playing very well. However, it isn’t as lopsided as Rafa used to be for Roger, even when Roger was playing very well. And it is RG out of 5. All this is either helping or harming Nole between the ears. Mostly it must be generating a lot of income for the betting houses.
It’s called the power of desire @Jeu…………
Desires, pressed enough, are hallucinogenic, the lines between hope and expectation become blurred…………..
I really think Ernie’s coach is an IDIOT…complete idiot…and he surrendered before the match even started…he must know better than that…he should motivate his protégé not kill any hope in him…I would immediately fire him…
Gulbis probably wrote that response for him.
once I wrote my comment, initial reaction, I thought the same: nice bit of psychology. Better than saying “If Ernstststs plays his best game he has a good chance to win tomorrow”. In any case,except for mind games the words spoken before the ball do not win or lose a single point on court. Who knows what will happen tomorrow for sure (as opposed to what is likely)?
I’m going for Nadal in 3 and Djokovic in 4. Murray has played well this week, but I doubt he will have much left in the tank to push Rafa in a best of five set match.
guys did you see rafa’s today practice photos? they are concerning!
https://www.facebook.com/Rafael.Nadal.2014/photos/a.473230912736144.110221.472588616133707/714519358607297/?type=1&comment_id=714521925273707&reply_comment_id=714527535273146&offset=0&total_comments=2¬if_t=photo_reply
Rafa is just resting.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2649691/Andy-Murray-plotting-Rafa-Nadals-downfall-pair-face-French-Open-semi-final.html
Rafa’s every move is documented. Why don’ t they go and pester other players?
I actually have to agree about that picture of Rafa. It’s nothing to get concerned about at all. We have heard how intense Rafa’s practices are, so it’s to be expected that he needs to lean on a wall for a breath! 🙂
Rafa is absolutely fine!
It’s the Daily Mail. Needless to say more … 🙂
I gave my thoughts about Rafa/Murray on the other thread. I do think it’s going to be a competitive match. My pick is Rafa winning in four sets.
As for the other semi, I just don’t see Gulbis beating Novak here. He could take a set off him or it could be a three set win for Novak. I don’t think Gulbis can stay with Novak in a best three out of five set match. I know that he did it with Fed, but Novak is at a different place in his career right now. If Gulbis can be focused and keep it together, he might get a set off Novak. So my pick is Novak with the qualifier that it could be either three or four sets.
Rusedski was very sure Nole would win the title up till today now he thinks Nadal is looking very good and he won’t give the title away,Nole will have to wrest it away from him.
The ESPN guys rescinded their pick of Nole last week. Garber and someone else…wonder how many others are back-pedalling and thinking maybe it’s never wise to bet against the house/rafa.
I’ll say it again:
As far as this year goes, Novak will have to pry the RG trophy from Rafa’s feral fingers.
@chloro,
Right on! Rafa will fight with every breath in his body for that title!
Raga in 5, Nole in 5
Shit, meant Rafa
Shireling,
You’re up late! A Bruxelles…
And two bold predictions, nice to see :-).
Mine is 4 and 4.
I think that Murray is ready to shock the world…he’ll win in 4. …and Gulbis playing at a high level as well….he’s not afraid of anybody, inc his old friend. Gulbis in 4.
The boldest predictions are yours, scootd.
Based on what else, Murray in 4? Based on what else, Gulbis in 4?
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
I have a sneaky feeling Ern is going to shock us and since there’s no money riding on it, I’m going for Ern in 5. Rafa in 3.
Rafa in 4.
Novak in 5
For NNY7: Unbelievable, but NBC won’t be showing the Rafa/Andy match live anywhere but the East Coast. For our time zone, Novak and Ernests will begin play at 4 am on the Tennis Channel. TC is live until 8 am. On the East Coast, coverage then switches to NBC for the remainder, but on the West Coast, coverage is delayed until 11 am PST. NBC is showing the 2nd match at 11 am, no matter the time zone. So, I’m assuming that NBC.com, which is streaming the match, will be showing it live for all time zones. In any event, I’ll be watching it via a stream if I’m to see it live. (The NBC.com streams are very good, by the way…just like ESPN).
@jpacnw,
Are you kidding with that? I don’t believe it! When the networks get involved, that’s when things just go down the drain!
By the way, I should tell you that I don’t live in L.A. anymore as of this week. I have relocated to Florida. This has been in the works for a while, but I didn’t think it was something I should bring up here. It’s a personal issue and I can’t go into any details here. But I thought you at least deserved to know that I am no longer on the west coast.
Then I guess it will have to be the NBC livestream. I don’t get this business of televising it at 11:00 for all time zones! The match is going to start much earlier. What is wrong with these people? No way am I waiting to see a tape delayed broadcast.
Thanks for letting me know about the NBC live stream. I would not have even thought to check it out. I am also grateful that they are good quality like ESPN.
You always have my back! 🙂
If you’re already in Florida, then you will be able to see it live on regular NBC. For you, the 1st match will be at 7 am on the Tennis Channel (if you still have it, and again if you’re already in Florida), then at 11 am, it will switch to NBC and be live. I was just livid when I saw that NBC was delaying it for everyone else.
Djokovic in 4, and nadal in 4 I guess.
@jpacnw,
I am definitely in Florida now as of June 3rd. That’s when I arrived. Now I am getting confused. So the first match with Novak/Ernie will be on the tennis channel live at 7:00 am? Guess what! Right now I don’t have it here. Different cable provider. I haven’t even had a chance to call and check but I don’t think they carry it. I am still fighting some jet lag and am not used to the time change.
So Rafa’s match will be televised live at 11:00 am on NBC? Rafa is the second semifinal. Sorry, I have been getting confused for the last two days with the time change. I still think of the matches in west coast time!
The networks just have to get out of broadcasting any tennis matches at all. It’s a disgrace when they get involved.
nny7: ^That’s correct. Novak/Ernie begin at 7 am your time and will be carried by the Tennis Channel. (ESPN does not have the rights to it and so it won’t be on ESPN3 on a stream). At 11 am your time, coverage switches from Tennis Channel to ESPN3. I’m assuming that if Rafa/Andy start early because Novak/Ernie ends quickly, that Tennis Channel will show the beginning of the Rafa/Andy match. But their live coverage ends at 11 am your time, then coverage will switch to NBC. NBC will not start sooner than that. The Tennis Channel will be showing replays of both semis Friday night. For me on the West Coast, Tennis Channel is 4 to 8 am, but instead of switching to NBC at 8, they’re just not showing it until 11 am, so for me there’s a 3 hour delay for NBC coverage. That’s why I’ll be watching it on the NBC stream instead of NBC TV. So, you’ll have it live on TV….I won’t.
Might the reason they are not featuring the match live be due to the massive coverage of the 70th anniversary of the D-day landings taking place this weekend? Earlier this week I watched a convoy of some of the original US army jeeps used in 1944 making their way to the Normandy beaches. This is the last time there will be any living veterans in attendance (most of those left are mostly in their 90s) for this anniversary which has taken place every ten years since June 6th 1944.
http://mashable.com/2014/06/05/d-day-invasion-70/
I have to admit there is a conflict for me between watching tennis and watching this emotional event unfolding live today.
^^Ed, I wish it were something that noble. “The Today Show,” which is a combination news show/talk show/fluff show/entertainment, etc, runs Monday through Friday between 7 and 10 am. They’ll be showing the D-Day memorial, but that’s just one segment of the 3 hour show. NBC did the same thing with their coverage last weekend…it was delayed. What’s annoying is that NBC has another network called NBCsports (only available via cable/satellite) and they could show the match live on that channel for those of us not on the east coast. It’s just typical NBC. The contractual issues are exasperating….I have scores of sports channels via my cable provider, yet I’ll be watching the second semi on a stream. At least the stream will be a good one.
I want Gulbiz to win…
Just for entertainment!
Let the records show, today I, @ritb, am at one with a Fedfan, @sabs. May Gulbis win indeed!
Vamos Gulbis!!
I have a feeling that Gukbis is not going to turn up today and that match is going to b a damp squib.
@willmw101, anti-jinxings, please??
yes, wilmw101, pleaseeeeeeeee…bring it on…
looks like we will have 2 entertaining SF’s 3 yrs after the 2011 FO.
https://twitter.com/piersnewbery/status/474826594620829696/photo/1
“Toni Nadal. “When you play against Murray you know u will suffer.He is in good shape,at the beginning of the year he wasn´t in such a good shape,but if u see him playing now…”he said at the end.”
http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20140604/tenis/toni-nadal-rafa-y-djokovic-tienen-la-misma-presion_54408696314.html
If there’s a ‘shocker’ it’ll most likely be Murray winning and not because Andy beating Rafa, which he’s more than capable of doing, but because of Rafa’s legendary record here – anything other than a win here for Rafa is a huge media shock
Are you getting wrong /worrying feelings for Rafa? Why do I feel so?
Shireling..You writing this way worries me a lot (:-
Gulbis has done will to reach the semis but I don’t think he’ll be able to win three sets against Djokovic, in fact, I’m sure of it.
I think I’ll stick to VB because there is not much joy around here for Rafa. The King of Clay with an 88-1 record at RG is not getting his due respect.
Vamos Rafa
It’s already been pointed out here that stating one’s predictions is not linked to lack of respect in any way. I think that Rafa will win (in 5) but as far as shockers go, Murray is more capable of coming up with one than Gulbis, that’s for sure.
What I’m saying is, if Nole or Fed had an 88-1 record plus 8 titles anywhere, no one would give anyone any chance against them, even though nothing is impossible and anything can happen.
If Gulbis is capable of beating Fed and Berdych, I don’t see why he stands no chance at all against Nole. Gulbis has beaten Nole before but has never beaten Rafa, even though their matches have been close. I bet if Gulbis was playing Rafa many would give Gulbis a shot. No respect for Rafa, at all, from some people.
Murray has never made a clay final nor does he have any clay titles. Yes we can point to Sod, but that was a very unusual result and not the norm, barring the circumstances at the time..
No, rafa aint losing this. Rafa in 3 or Rafa in 4….If rafa comes out with his backhand firing, he’l do it in 3.Otherwise, given how aggressively murray can play, it will be a tough 4 setter. A 5-setter is obviously a possibility but chances of that happening are quite remote IMO
Gulbis CAN make this a really tough battle..but WILL he? lets wait and see
it’s all about timing and momentum, when Rafa beat Fed in Wimby there were many voices saying that Fed was going to lose and that was no disrespect, Rafa had almost won the year before. Andy has pushed Rafa before and he’s in good shape whereas Rafa is nowhere near his top..
Gulbis is in great shape too, true, but with him is very difficult to make any predictions.
But you’ve already stated categorically that Gulbis cannot take 3 sets from Nole.
when did Andy push Rafa at RG?! You don’t consider Rome as relevant (KEY?) indicator, do you? Or don’t you? And as far as I know, Rafa still won in Rome…so, what is your point? Rafa losing today just because he lost a set to Andy in Rome?! Didn’t Rafa lose the set to Andy in MC last year? and what happened then…the rest is history…
Rafa can only lose this match if impaired, that is, if his back issues are more serious than we think…I certainly hope he is ok…seeing the practice photo of Rafa makes me MAD because the media just wont leave him alone…they read so much into every move, every gesture Rafa makes…they are so obnoxious..
If Rafa’s back is ok I stay with my prediction that Murray poses no danger to Rafa on clay…which basically means that he may not even be able to take a set from Rafa, unless Rafa really messes it up and starts slow again…
As far as Gulbi is concerned, I disagree with the widely expressed opinion that his coach is doing the right thing by killing his hopes and destroying his confidence at the root of it…it is tactically and motivationally ridiculous thing to do to admit defeat before the game even started…if that means that Gulbi will just show up for the sake of it to take just 3-4 games per set, Nole will destroy him…if I were in the ‘spoiled Latvian” shoes I would live on the victory achieved over Fed and would use that hype (read adrenalin!) to counterattack Djokovic…and then anything can happen…
Vamos Rafa!
I hope you’re right, I’d love Rafa to dismantle Andy and be as positive and fresh for the final as possible.
I do agree with you as well about the strategy in Gulbis’ camp.. to state that you have no chance is just stupid… they could have just played the Djokovic is the favourite card
true indeed…the same as Uncle T is doing…
There’s no way Gulbis is taking three sets from Djokovic, this is more optimistic than your post (nadline) from June 6, 2014 at 7:58 am
It’s just difficult to say which Gulbis will show up
When I said Nole/Gulbis might end up being a damp squib, it’s because I had great hopes of Raonic giving Nole grief and that turned out to be a damp squib. I was not suggesting that Gulbis is not capable of beating Nole. I don’t want to get my hopes dashed, that’s where I was coming from.
Gulbis believes that he is as good as the top guys so I cannot see why he would throw the towel in even before the match starts. He said in his presser that as far as he is concerned, they are 0:0 going in, that what’s happened before doesn’t matter.
Gulbis believes he can battle anyone left in the draw so I doubt he would get to this stage and not try to win his first slam then spend the rest of his career clubbing it, having put his name in the history books.
well, I hope we see an in-the-zone Gulbis and a fantastic match.. a squib indeed would be very disappointing
Great article about Ernie, there is some adittional information about ‘no chance for Gulbis.’
http://online.wsj.com/articles/coachs-backhander-for-tennis-star-gulbis-1401989260
What pics are people talking about here that has everyone concerned? I have not seen any. Anything that came up today or yest?Maybe its good I did not see yet 🙂
http://online.wsj.com/articles/coachs-backhander-for-tennis-star-gulbis-1401989260
^^Good read, thanks.
why are the stands half empty?!
https://twitter.com/bbctennis/status/474881856442499072/photo/1
#RG
Lots of errors from both players. I hope it gets better.
Obedient student Gulbis took his coach’s words to heart, implementing effectively……..
@sanju 😀 why are you running away? 😀
Djoko just gave a point to Gulbis though the first serve was ruled out on set point. How confident is he on his return despite gulbis having a good serve !!
first set to the djoker!
why the hell he doesn’t play a quality player in slams through his way to the final!
He does!! Just makes them look ordinary
whom really?!!!!! just a shadow of a not inform tsonga!!!!!!!!
Oh dear! You know Djoko feels the match is in the bag when he starts applauding/appreciating opponent winners
true…
and yeah, Gulbi just following his coach advise: 3-4 game per set at most…
A damp squib as I suspected. Djoker stays calm until his opponents implode.
if gulbis does not raise his level…what a cake draw for djokovic
Gulbis is playing a little better in the second set. He is serving well now, but not able to make any inroads into Djokovic’s service games.
Can’t watch the match until replay at home. From the live commentary it looks like Ernsts is doing quite a bit with what he has in skils at the moment, Novak is just better by a comfortable margin. Maybe next year if Ernsts’ forehand has become a real weapon he will make even more waves. Looks like Novak will not be rattled enough in any set to lose one.
On Sunday Novak will become only the second player who is not the King of Clay in more than a decade to make it to the RG more than once. Roger made it several times (four I think) but never came close to defeating Rafa there. Rafa has not always been at his best there himself, with exceptions such as 2008.
^ to the RG final
Is the squib damp yet?
Thank Neil for the confirmation, the squib is indeed damp:
RT @NeilHarmanTimes : “Zero fluency from Gulbis today. Djokovic getting a relatively easy ride into the final. Leads two sets to love.”
The squib is not only damp, it’s soggy………………dripping wet.
Ah well, look on the bright side, ey? Our Rafa will have pleeeeeenty of time to dispatch Muzza!!
Djokovic is attacking Gulbis’s second serve and returning very deep. As a result Gulbis wilts at the wrong time. Djokovic serving for the second set now.
where did that forehand of Gulbis disappear? is this the same guy who expressed such a fighting spirit against Fed…his coach told us all, why did we even suspect his words…
Looks like Rafa will have do it the hard way!! Muzza and Djoko b2b if he wants to win his 9th.
^^@vmk1, did you SERIOUSLY expect Gulbis to give Novak a hard time or, Lord have mercy, beat him????
Beat him, no! Put a scare into him in at least 2 sets, yes!
Last night I was thinking that my prediction of 4 sets in this match was more a hoping for a best case scenario for Ernsts than what was the more likely outcome.
Djokovic’s slices are really ugly and ineffective, much like his overhead smashes.
Djokovic probably is the most respected player by Gulbis, he doesnt look agorant, pumped up anymore.
This slam semi might take less time than many an out of 3 matches.
Long match on Sunday?
Gulbis leaves the court now.
^Why, he’s on script, no?
#CoachMustBeHappy
#ExceedingExpectations
😀
^ Wouldn’t that have been being broken twice a set and never breaking Nole?
^^Hehehehe!
Really boring match. It seems like the match has just started and when you look at the scoreboard and the way Gulbis is playing its going to be over very soon.
Djokovic is practising drop shots now.
abhirf says:June 6, 2014 at 8:09 am
looks like we will have 2 entertaining SF’s 3 yrs after the 2011 FO.
Cracking match this Djoko/Gulbis semi, eh?
#TooFunny
Don’t worry…rafa prefers to arrive in a final tested. Djokovic will perhaps be lacking in preparation? Don’t think so but it’s always better to be tested before facing the ultimate challenge in tennis/sports .
Djokovic is playing most balls to Gulbis’s forehand is letting Gulbis make all the UEs.
Time for Gulbis to take an MTO or is it too late.
no, nadline…it’s time for Gulbi to go home…
Let’s not give uo, I recommend he takes an MTO asap.
nadline10 (at 12:46 pm),
Isn’t Djoko famous for taking MTOs?
Yes, he is but people have this idea that when you are losing taking an MTO is all you need to do. As if!
Anyway, Gulbis has taken the 3rd set.
Vamos Gulbis
Seems like most pundits are still overselling Novak. Yes, he is a class above most players. Yes, he’s played well this fortnight. Yes, he is the one player on tour that is a tough match-up for Rafa. Yes, he has a chance at the crown on Sunday. But you’d think they have not been looking lucidly at how Rafa is peaking this week. Might we see a Novak on Sunday that is just a little over-confident? At any rate, I expect Rafa will be near enough his best level, not close but near enough. Perhaps a netgate can help save everyone’s face again? 🙂
Hope you are right! Does anyone remember what kind of hype surrounded Wimbledon 2008? I am sure Rafa was not being anointed as the new grass king!
He definitely wasn’t. Henman, McEnroe etc. were all saying you couldn’t bet against Fed at Wimbledon………….was he 5 times champion then?
I surprised how much Djokovic seems to be panicking even though the match is in the bag.
Oh come on Novak, we have a real match coming, make it snappy! Don’t keep us waiting………
Finally Gulbis gets a break
Poor Neil, sounds almost plaintive:
RT @NeilHarmanTimes: “If Gulbis could get a toe-hold in this third set, I think this match can still be very competitive.”
Well enjoy this mate, this will be standard fare once Rafa retires!
But consolidating it is another thing altogether
He did consolidate the break………..he takes the 3rd set.
Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
nadline is right…MTO is coming..
Yes! Gulbis gets the 3rd set!
Congratulations to everybody who forecast four sets………………..including me.
Brave comeback (even if it is shortlived) by Gulbis.
It’s not over until the at lady sings.
*Groan*
Djokovic donates a set. I am pretty sure he’s doing this on purpose to delay Rafa and Muzza…………..
C’mon Gulbis, take an MTO.
nadline10 (at 1:18 pm)
Why not THIS man?
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/474903797249368064/photo/1
This man may well ask for one seeing he’s not getting it all his own way.
What’s up with Djoker smashing his racquet? Bad sportsmanship.
My previous picture (at 1:23 pm) was from the 2011 USO final
This is 2012 USO final:
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/474906302821715968/photo/1
Looks like the gluten full diet is catching up with him
MTO is on the way
what did Nole do after getting broken? Why a warning?
So we see a Novak racquet smash before an Ernie smash.
He smashed his racquet. He’s already thrown it twice.
jpacnw, that’s worth noting!
Has Gulbis injured his back?
Your cynicism knows no bounds………….. 😀
^^^^^that was for you RITB
^^I’m onto Djoker, he’s just toying with us!! 😀
I’ve got my x-ray glasses on…………….
Now we have a real match on our hands, or may be not.
Gulbi just doesn’t strike me as someone who wants to win in this match…his body language is terrible…and he also seems to be injured…again… 🙂
I cannot watch the match at the moment…will leave for home now…gulbis has improved quite a lot it seems after terrible effort in sets 1 and 2
Anyone listening to American commies. Would be interested on their take on the match.
Djoker is not setting the house on fire, is he?
He is not. But against Rafa, he becomes another animal
Don’t they all?
See…now Djoker’s serving for the match……told ya.
Rafa, start warming up!
OK, the Djoker is in the final again… Gulbis has improved but needs to keep working, I hope he does cause he’s a great player
Gulbis’s coach will be happy, Gulbis is an obedient student, did as he was instructed to do: go out and give Djoker a hit, prepare him for Sunday’s exertions, after all, he has GUARANTEED Djokovic will be the winner on Sunday!
#NID
you are so right…I am still puzzled and shocked by those statements…after all, the guy should be professional enough not to issue any guarantees as such…
Gulbi never believed or never wanted to beat Nole…I bet if he played Rafa he would have been all pumped up and would have fought for every damn point…unbelievable…Gulbi will never be a GS champion…he just doesn’t care enough…
^^^I agree with you.
Off the atp website:
Reflecting on his battle with Djokovic, Gulbis admitted he hadn’t been able to produce his best level due to nerves and tension, but is looking to take the positives from the experience against six-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.
“I’m not used to playing these kinds of big matches,” said Gulbis. “It’s just normal that I felt extra nervous and extra tense. I can take one positive out of the match: that I could still win the third set [when I was] feeling that nervous and that extra tired. That’s one thing that I take for the future.
“The more I play these kinds of matches, the more I’m going to get used to these situations. For me, I take only the positive stuff out of it. I need to be in these situations once, twice, three times and then I can maybe make that extra step. I enjoyed it.”
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/06/24/Gulbis-Top-10-Emirates-ATP-Rankings.aspx
RT @christophclarey: “Djokovic over Gulbis in an all-Pilic Academy semifinal 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. One victory (again) from the only Slam singles title he lacks”
#All-PilicAcademy
Not happy..
Now I disappear for 4 hours and will peep in later
Murray and Djoko back to back..not good (:-
Gulbis might fire his coach after having won the 3rd set, that was not in the plan 🙂
So one match of entertaining tennis over..
Hoping that Muzz can make it entertaining for us…
Extraordinary number of empty seats for a semi-final. I think people have stayed away because of the traffic problems due to the high security in place with so many heads of state due to be in Paris tonight after the D-Day remembrance ceremonies in Normandy.
Bazookas being unleashed off the forehand wing. Interesting to see how long he can keep this up
Rafa hasn’t just peaked: he’s launched into this match like guided missile.
Nice to see Rafa out of the blocks quicker than his opponent
Just what I expected. If anyone was doubting how serious Rafa is this fortnight to get his 14th / 9th they were putting blinkers on their eyes.
RT @bbctennis: “5-2 Nadal after just 26 minutes. http://bbc.in/1tNRNee“
Vamos Rafa!
https://twitter.com/bbctennis/status/474922493963436032/photo/1
How is Rafa’s BH today?
He does not have to hit a lot of them. the few UFE’s that he has made is off that wing though.
Rafa on fire so far! Vintage stuff.
You can tell how much the French crowd love him there…
Harman (@NeilHarmanTimes)
Posted at 6 June, 2014 11:34 AM on Twitter
“Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal walk out to a one third full stadium for a grand slam semi final. Atrocious”
Hawkeye63 (at 2:47 pm)
Don’t hurry to spread announcements of the Federazzi and those who speak with a British accent
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/474926968241397760/photo/1
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/474938348994564096/photo/1
to Hawkeye63 (at 2:47 pm)
https://twitter.com/rolandgarros/statuses/474926965418647552
No it’s understandable. I’ve offered a reason above.
Sorry Ed. They’d find a way if it was Fed IMO.
The commentator on the Telegraph mentioned toward the end of the first set that the stadium had filled to capacity. Traffic issues seem like the most likely explanation for most of the stragglers.
Hawkeye63@June 6, 2014 at 3:21 pm
I don’t understand WHY you are trying to diminish Rafa ???
I didn’t watch Fed’s matches. I just once checked how many people there were in the stands. There was a lot of empty seats.
Hawkeye63@June 6, 2014 at 3:21 pm
After the win, Rafa received a STANDING OVATION from the crowd!
1st set, Nadal.
Vamos
#Fearless
#peRAFAect
#Phenomenadal
I like what we’re seeing from Rafa. A lot. Only 7 unforced errors in 1st playing Andy says it all.
I still expect Rafa to be nervous on Sunday, at least for part of the match. But he’s faced the improved Novak many, many times since the start of 2011. There were many matches against Roger-in-his-prime where Rafa was nervous or rather both were. They almost always went Roger’s way. But since Rafa’s form is back Novak has a tough match (defeat) coming. I just don’t see any other possible outcome. Novak had a chance we thought in 2011 when Rafa was vulnerable. Novak had a chance in 2012 when he made the final. He had perhaps his best chance in 2013 when he met a reasonably vulnerable Rafa in the semi. He might have hope to get a pretty vulnerable Rafa in the final this year but it’s not to be. All Novak has is his own skills and his matchup with Rafa. Not enough.
I’m listening to French commies. They are praising Rafa to the skies.
What are the English commies saying Nadline?
OMG!!! He is even converting break points!! 😀
Lol!!! Seems Rafa left eveything for the semis and finals!! Send a message Rafa…….chose just the right time to send it to!…..brilliant!!!!
this is an intimidating performance so far
lets not start talking about the final as yet….enjoy rafa’s performance and let him take care of a dangerous opponent
well no more live tennis for me becaues hey, guess what? NBC does not air tennis for 2 more hours. By then Rafa will [hopefully] be in the locker room. If anyone has a stream,,,it would be greatly appreciated. merci.
Why not signup to tennisTV.com? There is also an ESPN subscription stream.
I am so happy with rafa’s ROS
@vamosrafa,
Can you give me the breakdown on how Rafa is playing? I trust your thoughts. But obviously the score tells me that Rafa must be on his game.
NNY,, i missed the start of the match as i was on my way back to the office . From what I have watched so far, rafa has looked really good. His serve is clicking, he finally is getting good length on his ROS off both wings and going after andy’s 2nd serves a lot !really positive…
The forehand is , as expected, getting more potent and yes, I am RELIEVED that his backhand is also pretty solid today. Rafa has won 94% of 1st serve points so far !
The movement is also very encouraging
And the service games. To not give a returner like Murray a look at BP is incredible.
They are cheering for Rafa.
Okay finally it’s on! They didn’t show the first set so I had to get the score online. I should have followed the NBC live stream.
Rafa up a set and break! YAY!
and 2 breaks!! 😀
Thanks for mentioning the NBC stream. I just downloaded it to my tablet. I like what I am seeing from Rafa….very nice. 2 sets for Rafa. I hope he wins the next one 6-1 just to have a pattern.
@vamosrafa,
Thanks so much for the update! I will have to try to get a replay later on today to see the first set.
Apparently, Nole said he was fatigued in his post-match interview. I don’t have the link, though.
ritb, what’s Neil Harman got to say now?
^^You can’t make this up……
RT @NeilHarmanTimes: “Atmosphere here non-existent”
RT @NeilHarmanTimes : “Murray in danger of stirring restlessness in crowd. There’s a hum of disquiet around the place. Nadal 5-2, two breaks.”
Rafa up two breaks! But the commentators are talking about how Murray has not shown up.
My goodness, Rafa is really trashing Andy here.. I expected more resilience from Murray I have to say…
With any luck, Nole will not show up tomorrow.
No, he will!! He want this so badly!!!
They put up a stat saying, Rafa has lost only 9 sets since the soderling loss!! :O
How has Rafa’s BH been so far in the second set?
How much of Murray seemingly not showing up is simply who is on the other hand? Have there been balls where you could see Andy do what he promised: to fight his hardest?
He is hardly hitting backhands. HE seems to have enough time to run around and hit forehands to set the point up. Backhand is solid, no errors!
thank you vmk1
Looking forward to Sunday then… perhaps it won’t be as nervy an affair for rafans after all…
and this one turns out to be the damp squib.
good performance from Rafa so far especially serving.
Muzz seems to be just sleepwalking through this match…
Muzza never beat a top 10 player at RG and just one career win on clay against top 10.
What’s Sunday’s forecast Ed?
#NID
morning showers on sunday…it will be sunny at the time of the match..I hope the court does not get too damp….
these sunny conditions really energize rafa and provide extra zip on his forehand
thanks Ed!
Thanks VR and Ed!!!
Good so far. Thunderstorms are around but probably won’t hit Paris till Monday.
U.Toni is grinning from ear to ear!!!!
Rafa is flattening out his inside-out forehand, creating space and going for DTL forehands ….too good from him….
Andy ,on the other hand, has looked lethargic. He can surely do much better than this …right now clearly being overwhelmed by the legend
Is Murray playing that bad or Rafa is just rocking it today?!!!!
^^^Both.
I kept wondering about Andy’s pronouncements, that he an (he didn’t insert the word ‘theoretically’) win RG (this year… beating Rafa and Nole :-), that his desire is high and that he will give it his all this semi final. I know that is just what the GB public wants to hear. Did he mean it entirely?
100 % of break-point conversion from Rafa
I think Andy wants to go home.
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/474934901910036481/photo/1
If andy is lacking energy in his legs ,then why is he not trying to shorten points by hitting flatter shots?! he is often looping back shots and rafa ,using his footwork, is able to hit forehands from any place on the court.
what’s wrong with murray? what was all the talk about having the belief and game to beat rafa here !!!
@vamosrafa,
That’s what I was thinking! He’s not playing like he believes at all.
He does not care for it! He feels he did well to be in semis and perhaps his back is hurting!
Crowd won’t let Rafa serve doing the wave.
Sure do love him there. What was I thinking?
#NoClass
This is why I say that talk is cheap. Murray was saying a lot of stuff about knowing how to beat Rafa. All Rafa said is how good Murray is and that he would have to play his best.
Rafa looks so focused today but Murray is just not doing much out there. I wonder if the five set match with Monfils was too much. He’s had a lot of tough matches.
JMac keeps saying that Rafa isn’t even serving that fast, from the low 100’s to 110 or 111. But Murray still can’t do anything. I hope Rafa is saving some bigger serving for the final.
Stadium looks pretty full now. So much for Murray “being tall and will be able to handle the high top spin, just like Sod did.”
Murray struggled his way through long matches to get to the SF. I knew it would take it’s toll
I also thought it would take a toll but not like this !
its mainly because he has not played such a grueling tournament since his surgey…this will harden his body and prepare him for wimbledon….
RG is the toughest slam to win…many former players attest to that and I concur….depends on players’ strengths weaknesses etc but considering factors ,RG is the toughest slam to win…
Look at what this guy has done/is doing at RG. 65-1 after this match? what a joke
rafa is pouncing on every single chance to go for an aggressive Dtl forehand ! he is even ready to hit half-volleys in that direction lol.. very very confident at the moment
All Sod did was handled Rafa’s bad knees.
A healthy Rafa schooled him in the 2010 RG final.
^^^^^^^^^ this x 100
Yes, Murray was saying that he’d discovered holes in Rafa’s game in Rome that he would capitalize on. The commies kept repeating the 7:5 final set in Rome, saying Andy should have won that match, blah, blah, blah.
looks like my wish for a 6-1 set might come true. I wanted a 3-set win but this is a beat-down. #happy
Don’t give up hope
http://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/474935669710917633
He thinks his wrist is hurting. Not sure yet. He will now more clearly whether it is hurting after watching the Rafa – Andy match a little longer.
haha. right, he will have some excuse ready just in case he loses. Better yet, he withdraws. Bet the French will go out and dust off the guillotine if Nole loses the final by walk over. #longlivethekingofclay
Nadal has won twice as many points as Murray.
Not even a BP? I think he’s only lost 10 points on serve!
RT @Mike_Dickson_DM : “Amazing how Nadal can break the resolve even of hardened scrappers like Murray and Ferrer, unusually not much fight here.”
I think Andy has just realised that they’re playing on clay
Those who are thinking that this could be Djoko’s Wimby 2008, another omen. Guess who got the 65 match grass court winning streak to an end. And now Rafa has won 65 at RG 😀
Are you saying that Djoker would snap the Rafa’s 65??
Nope!! I am saying the stars are aligned for Djoko to win as far as the parallel of WIby 2008 is concerned. The last two years he has had a 4 setter and a 5 setter just like Rafa had at Wimby. I am hoping Rafa bucks the trend
Okay, @nadline and @natashao, I have got my big bowl of crow at the ready………..
MEA CULPA!
Yesterday I argued that Muzza would test Rafa and it would be a dog-fight, you said it would be a stroll for Rafa. You were right, I was wrong.
*proceeds to eat crow*
Tastes delicious!!!
thanks!!! 😀
^^Shhh, don’t tell @willmw101, but I think he’s got competition in the anti-jinxing department 😉
@vamosrafa June 6, 2014 at 3:44 pm
McEnroe I think it is that mentioned just the other day that in his day the toughest thing in tennis was to beat Borg at RG. And these years it is to beat Rafa at RG.
Let’s unpack that a little:
Borg did get beaten there, twice I believe. And he never played into the later 20s age. And I don’t think Borg ever was defeated for being truly injured.
Rafa has never been beaten yet at RG except for once when his knees finally gave out. Take that away and you have a 64-0 streak.
The second toughest thing, arguable, in male tennis these years was beating Roger at Wimbledon in his prime. Rafa nearly did that at age 20 and then did at age 21. After which they did not meet there again.
what a way to finish
congraaaaaaats to all of you 🙂
and 100% of conversion!
So by the score, who had the easier opponent in the semi?
names will tell it all pal 😉 gulbis or andy?! ferrer or roanic
well look at that!! 6-3 6-2 6-1. Wow. what a performance. Bring on the Djoker.
Ah well, we could have skipped the whole tournament and just gone straight to the final, no?
If it was any other player waiting in the final, they might as well hand him the trophy. In such form, Rafa should play a doubles team to make it more competitive
^ 🙂
I love the way Rafa lets his racquet do the talking unlike others who talk the talk but can’t walk the walk.
True enough, we should just listen to nadline and natashao…
63 62 61…………..vamos!!! Go get well rested Rafa, and hope with that emphatic win you have saved the best for last!!!!
Hopr Rafa and LeBron (Miami Heat) make my Sunday a really happy one by wining their matches!!! Ooh la la!!!
Ok, I predict Rafa in 3 for the final, lol
Given the marquee matchup, I think the conditions will play a huge role in the final.
If it’s warm and sunny out there, Rafa will most probably pocket in the title.
If it’s damp and cool atmosphere, Nole will have the advantage.
So much for the waiting, bring on the final!
May the best win ( let’s see if I get my pre-season prediction right)!
what was your pre-season pick? nole for RG?
^ yup! (based solely on past 2 yrs performances)
Well, our boy didn’t disappoint. I knew he’d do it. I had no doubts he would and I don’t like putting my head above the parapet.
@ed251137 The Weather Whisperer, what’s the forecast for Sunday?
They say Sunday’s weather will be similar to today’s.
Good. Couldn’t be better for Rafa. Temperatures around 30C and SE 15km/h breeze Sunny with possible cloud late pm. Am keeping an eye on the barometer because thunderstorms are predicted for Monday. As long as the wind direction doesn’t change suddenly the situation shouldn’t change.
Nadal had exelent preperation for final to meet Djokovic. Djokovic oponents were totaly different from Nadal. Had Djokovic met Nadal in first round, we would now the outcome. But now Djokovic might meet allmost unbeatable Nadal again!
And I have a question, when Nadal started rubing his holes?Anus first then both ears, both eyes, nose. When receiving then just anus and cock.
Is he doing that from childhood?
Troll alert!!
Ricky please note the language from @anatolijs. This cannot be acceptable. Thanks.
Yes, please Ricky we have a flagrantly obscene and inappropriate post from @ anatolijs. Unfortunate.
the style looks familiar , or is it just me?
The user name looks familiar. I think this person used to pop up on TT at times.
I remember this user name. TT or perhaps from tennis dot com.
I have sent an e-mail to Ricky about that post and poster. Good if others could do the same………………
Thanks.
https://twitter.com/RAFAddicted/status/474938994447613952/photo/1
^^Bravo!!
I don’t think there was any reason for us to think it wouldn’t be a tough match. Murray has played Rafa tough in the past. I just think that Murray finally ran out of gas in this match and Rafa was just too good. I am not eating crow at all. It was a reasonable prediction based on how Murray is capable of playing.
Murray needs to learn to not talk and let his racket do it for on the court, like Rafa. But to think that this was the real Murray, is just kind of absurd.
I am just hoping for the same weather for the final. Rafa loves it sunny and warm.
RT @dougrobson: “Djokovic took more than 2 hours to come to press and referred to some physical issues he did not want to discuss, but sounded a little sick.”
Understandable, he would too, after watching that clinic from Rafa!!
^^^Lol
Let’s not fall for this though. We’ve been here before.
^^Yeah, right!!
*snooze*
I have a feeling that the commies thought Rafa would fall before the final that’s why they were so sure Djokovic would take the title.
Murray slunk off the court looking embarrassed. As well he should. Whatever the reason fatigue/back, he was helpless caught in the eye of the storm which was Rafa on a mission at RG. But even a red-hot Murray would not have altered the end result.
On Wednesday somebody (sorry cant remember who) commented Rafa was dripping with sweat on a cold, damp evening. Today temperatures were soaring. He was glistening with sweat from exertion but no more than that. Conclusion, the profuse perspiration is triggered when he is tense and nervous.
I hope Nole is already breaking into a sweat just thinking about the final.
Rafa’s average first serve speed was 177 kmh and the fastest serve was 192….he can surely go up a gear with the pace….
on clay, ,however, he usually sacrifices some pace. He serves quicker at wimbledon…always! Against novak though, he’l clock 200+ and average 180+…
@vamosrafa,
Yes, he will need to serve bigger against Novak. I hope that he’s saving his best serving for the final.
I commented the other day, IMO it is more important he goes for placement and accuracy than speed. Nole feeds of fast serves (look what happened to Raonic). Rafa’s serve percentage stats today were the most impressive he’s posted in a long time.
https://twitter.com/RafaelNadalFC/status/474946114828120065/photo/1
I am confident now…rafa will survive nole again…
@vamosrafa,
Wow! Coming from you that’s quite a statement! When you are feeling it, then I know things are looking good. However, I am not going to buy into the two hour delay for Novak’s presser being anything that should get us excited. He’s going to come out ready in the final. But so will Rafa!
I think that there is no way Rafa will lose this final after what happened at the AO. He had enough disappointment with that one. He’s going to go out there and fight like a man possessed for the win.
guys do have any link to a good highlight?
would you please post it here when you got it?
thanks
RT @linzsports: “The hardest Rafa’s worked all day is at attempting French during the post-match interview.”
Miaow!!
LOL….
wonderful performance by Rafa…he played extraordinary tennis, reminded me of 2008, where all of his shots, including the serve, were working supremely well…I disagree that the reason for this score/outcome is that Murray went out of gas…he did eventually, but Rafa really never gave him a chance, never let him play his game…Rafa’s shots were deep and strong, he was hitting angles forcing Murray to run a lot and that is where Andy could not cope…Rafa was just fantastic today…
Great match, Rafa! You made us all so proud!
Six down one to go!
Vamos Rafa!
When Nadal started rubing his holes?Brown eye first then both ears, both eyes, nose. When receiving then just eye and sousage.
Is he doing that from childhood?
I am asking it becouse i think its unacceptable. We tennis fans are used to that, but my wife keeps noticing that allways! He is adult.
and BTW, congrats Ricky for great & accurate prediction of Rafa in 3 sets…”beatdown of the highest order” it is…it means that this time Ricky may just get it right for the finals 😛
Vamos Ricky! 😉
Vamos Myself
Novak seems to have a case of mono judging by what he said in his press conference. Early stages I’m guessing.
that cannot be the case…he seems perfectly healthy to me…you can’t get mono overnight…the symptoms show earlier and they become more obvious as the condition gets worse…Nole does not show any sign of mono so the story just does not make sense…maybe it’s just misinterpretation…
Sars, mono, whooping cough, whatever. He better show up on Sunday, he is GUARANTEED to win, no?
ritb,
yes, they are already inscribing Nole’s name on the trophy.
Mono or what?
Djoko took a MTO for his back during the US Open 2011 final (at Rafa vs Djoko 2-6 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 0-1; before Rafa’s serve)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xve4ShLFjJ0
Real, clinical mono? Or the other kind? Sorry, a certain boy has cried wolf quite often over the years.
Veteran Rafa watchers. How do you explain the surge of confidence today compared with the tentative start and errors in the first set against Ferrer. Pity today wasn’t the final. I will have to watch the match again. I was doubling up with the D-Day events on TV so once I saw the way Rafa was playing my attention was more on that.
Watching Putin, Obama, Cameron, Merkel, Holland et al all at the same event was a riveting study in body language but a nightmare exercise for the respective diplomatic corps of each country.
Rafa explained all this. He said his b/h wasn’t working against Ferrer in the 1st set even though he had worked on it in practice so he decided to run around his b/h instead and from then on he was in control of the match. Ferrer then realized that Rafa had shot his fox, because his strategy was to attack Rafa’s b/h.
I think that that the match with Ferrer pushed Rafa to raise his level of play and make some tactical adjustments. He got dialed in and gained control of the match. This was the first time he was really tested at all in this tournament. I think it came at the perfect time, right before Murray in the semis. This is when Rafa usually finds another gear, from the quarterfinals on. This is when he starts peaking and finding his best form.
NBC didn’t show the first set. I am trying to find a replay so I can see that first set because it seemed to be the most competitive. I just think that Rafa is now producing the kind of tennis that has earned him eight titles here. He always senses the finish line and raises his game.
I also watched the D-Day ceremony in honor of my father, who is no longer here to do so.
Gulbis says their SF was low quality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM&feature=kp
Just what the doctor ordered: make the final not hampered by back or other injuries (apparently, minus the usual pain in the knees, have some tough opponents on the way and at least one hard match (Ferrer), don’t play a very long match in the semi but one where you can practice your shots, boost your confidence, and instill a couple more doubts in your opponent. I know, it’s not fair…
For what it’s worth, I watched Novak’s on court interview with Gimelstob, and I thought Novak looked ill….similar to when one is dehydrated or nauseous. It’s possible that my interpretation of his appearance was colored by the fact that the commentators had mentioned that he might be ill, but even before they said it, during the match, I thought that Novak was perspiring more than usual and that in the third set there seemed to be a lack of energy. In the interview, he looked like he had less color in his face and his eyes didn’t seem the same. Doesn’t mean he won’t be perfectly fit for Sunday, but I do think he was definitely feeling some illness toward the latter stages of the match.
^^Thanks @jpacnw for this update. Joking aside, do not wish ill health on Novak at all. Hope it is temporary discomfort and he is fit for Sunday.
ditto
@jpacnw,
NBC televised the third and fourth sets of the Novak/Gulbis match after Rafa made quick work of Murray. I wasn’t watching that closely, so maybe that’s why I didn’t see anything to indicate Novak might be feeling unwell. However, I appreciate your observations of his interview on the tennis channel. This is why I miss having access to it now. It’s killing me! They always replay the matches and get some good interviews with the players post match.
I wonder what it could be. At least he has a day to rest and deal with it.
Nole doesn’t cope with the sun/heat well…he may have felt dehydrated but he sure will recover soon from that…please do not buy into those excuses…Nole was so optimistic when he spoke to MatsW in the Game, Set and Mats, and one just don’t get seriously ill overnight…today, the first two sets he looked great and was running at every ball; it was when Gulbi managed to break him that Nole started having panic attack and breathing problems as he used to do before…yet he dismantled Gulbi easily in the 4th set…he will be fine by Sunday…
@natashao 5:25 pm
Nole should not really start to panic just because Gulbis was being a little dangerous for a stretch. Nole today outclasses Gulbis too much for that. Unless it was nerves he couldn’t control. Makes me wonder, though, how much of that comes from being so set on winning the crown while having lingering doubts?
It seems to me that one of the main reasons for Novak’s visible improvement around the start of 2011 has to do more than with the gluten diet (although if he had true allergies that could make a real difference) but to what people have stopped writing about for the last three years. I seem to remember he talked about having worked with a sports psychologist. I have wondered ever since whether in that case he addressed some of those pernicious deep-seated self-doubts, and learned some method to change his self-talk. He surely has been self-assured so much more and so much more often ever since. The right change in self talk can turn your world around.
This sports psychologist story came to mind when you mentioned possible panic and I thought about the doubts he might have, what with being hyped up so much by one and all.
Gulbis has a point there!
Sorry. I am deeply suspicious of any news bulletin about Nole’s health and injuries when they emanate from Nole himself. Was this a self diagnosis, or has it been suggested by doctors mono could be the reason for indifferent performance?
Please don’t tell me he might present a sick note saying he is unfit to play the final.
Novak’s presser is up on the RG site. Regarding his “illness” he said this:
Q. What is going on? I know it took you longer than usual to come to press, also. What was bothering you?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: There is nothing bothering me. Just the general fatigue that, you know, probably was influenced by conditions or other things that I felt today.
But I’m not going to talk about. That’s it. I just I’m glad I won in four sets, because if it went to a fifth, God knows in which direction the match could go.
I’m just going to rest today and tomorrow, try to not spend too much energy on the courts, and get ready for finals.
interpret that as you will…
Change the record, Djoker.
I’m guessing it was probably dehydration or similar. The weather has been cool most of the tournament and they were playing in 80 degree heat, which isn’t hot by summertime standards, but certainly hot enough to have caused some discomfort. If that’s what it was, it won’t have any bearing on Sunday’s match. I’m reminded of the game last night between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat (NBA basketball finals, game 1, for those of you who don’t follow USA hoops). The air conditioning in the Spurs’ Arena broke just hours before the game and the arena was 90 plus degrees. These guys are some of the fittest on the planet, yet Lebron James had to leave the game and not return due to dehydration. I have no trouble at all believing that Novak could have been feeling ill, but I also know that unless it’s something other than what it appeared to be, he’ll be fine for Sunday.
If it was a case of oncoming partial dehydration in that set it might explain that Nole started to get worried and nervous … about possibly losing such an important match that he would otherwise win easily.
Nole did panic, why else would he break a racquet? I commented during the match that he was panicking even though he was winning.
I’m not going to buy into the ‘I’m not well’ scenario; When you cry wolf all the time, you can’t expect to be taken seriously.
https://twitter.com/rolandgarros/status/474954850254749696/photo/1
congrats to me on my Rafa-Murray prediction
^^^3 cheers!
I hope you play an even better math of the clay court season tomorrow.
Vamos
you mean the day after tomorrow… 🙂
Audio. Rafa’s post-match press conference (26:05 minutes; in English until 12:25)
http://www.tennistopic.com/arthur-ashe/audios/es-la-forma-de-llegar-la-final/
fixing to get banned
http://espn.go.com/tennis/french14/story/_/id/11041973/french-open-rafael-nadal-rolls-andy-murray-set-final-novak-djokovic
“Djokovic had remained a marginal favorite over Nadal to win his first French Open. But now, Ladbrokes has Nadal as a 4-to-5 favorite and Djokovic at even.”
Don’t bet against the house…….
#Rafa
From Nole’s presser posted on the RG site:
Q. You said on the court that the conditions were difficult for you. How much this condition affect your game today?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It requires a little bit of an adjustment, because we played for over 10 days of the tournament in overcast and a little bit heavier conditions. The ball wasn’t bouncing as high as it did today.
Today the hitting point was a bit higher, so you had to adjust to that. And of course it was strong sun. That also affects the fatigue of the players.
It was a lot of exchanges we had, a lot of long rallies. But at the end of the day, in the end of the match I managed to find a necessary rhythm.
“Novak already did a lot of times positive results here,” Nadal said. “Is nothing new for him to be in the final. He has the motivation to win Roland Garros for the first time for sure. But at the same time, he has the pressure to win for the first time. But I don’t know if that’s gonna make a big impact on the match. What’s going to make the real impact is the player who will be playing better.”
“So probably he will come to the match mentally a little bit better than me because he beat me the last four,” Nadal said. “But at the same time, my feeling is I am doing the things better and I am playing better again, so that’s a positive feeling for me.
“But it’s true that he defeated me four times in a row. This will have an impact, but I hope it will not be too big of an impact.”
Vamos Rafa!
#9
#14
What is Rafa trying to imply here
“But it’s true that he defeated me four times in a row. This will have an impact, but I hope it will not be too big of an impact.”
?????
RT @TennisReporters : “Rafa again smokes Murray at RG, wins 63 62 61. Nadal against Djokovic in classic but he can actually beat RN in Paris? Not sure”
RT @Ringham7: “Guga: “High bounce to tough to deal with. Need a damp court to worry Rafa””
RT @AndrewCastle63 : “Rafa Nadal…..That was show time today. Destroyed #Murray Not a total surprise. #Djokovic desperate to add the #FrenchOpen to CV.”
https://twitter.com/rolandgarros/status/474956151952789504/photo/1
I wonder if Nole and his team will be studying the Nadal vs Murray SF match before the final.
Ha,ha. They’ll be up all night poring over the video and dissecting the match point by point.
Oddsmakers have changed their mind
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/474985053211357185/photo/1
I think the final will be similar to their 2012 FO final or 2013 US Open final. Nadal in 4 after losing the second or third set. Things that could make an impact in my view:
1. Weather: If its dry and sunny, advantage Nadal and it is a big advantage IMO as Nadal’s forehand will be at its menacing best.
2. First set: Djokovic must start well and win the first set to have any chance of winning the final. At the moment, I don’t see him being conditioned enough to go to a 5th set and win it in the end. If he doesn’t win the first set he just might stop believing that he can beat Nadal in a best of five on this court. On the other hand, Nadal can loose the first set and still come back and win the match in 4 or 5.
3. Nadal’s forehand vs. Djokovic’s backhand: Nadal’s DTL forehand and Djokovic’s DTL backhand will be the key shots that can make or break their fortunes.
4. Serve: Nadal’s first serve percentage and speed will be key to his success. He needs to make sure that djokovic doesn’t get too many looks at his second serve. Djokovic, on the other hand, needs to return Rafa’s second serve aggressively to put pressure at the start of the rally.
5. Nerves: I think both men will start a little nervous. novak because its RG and he is up against Rafa, and Rafa because Novak has beaten him the last four times. Their nerves could be the difference in converting break point chances, serving for the set or serving for the match.
Congrats folks on the semifinal
Few tweets
Matthew Willis @mwdw_ · 1h
Nadal will become first player to win at least 1 slam for 10 consecutive years if he wins Sunday #Incredible #RG14 cc
DjokerNole: “I know that it will be a physically demanding match [against Nadal]… I’m ready for it.”
Douglas Robson @dougrobson · 2h
Djokovic took more than 2 hours to come to press and referred to some physical issues he did not want to discuss, but sounded a little sick.
Rafael Nadal: Novak Djokovic will be full of confidence after winning in Rome but I think I am getting better day by day.
I’m going to try & be aggressive against Nadal,” says @DjokerNole. “That’s the only way I know how to play him.”
“There’s no doubt that he’s the favorite to win the final.” -Novak Djokovic on facing Rafael Nadal at the French Open.
Steve Tignor @SteveTignor · 2h
Nadal-Djokovic to play French Open final. Nadal 5-0 against him at Roland Garros; Djokovic has won their last 4 matches. #RG14
Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg · 3h
Not sure what’s more shocking, that Nadal has won 40 out of 47 points on serve, or that Murray has only won 7 of 47 points on return.
Thanks for the feature Sanju! That tweet got a ton of attention.
willmw in da house.
How will Nole’s coach be feeling tomorrow?
to Hawkeye63
The stadium was crowded during Rafa’s SF match
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t1.0-9/10447735_754596504562020_8147244534817394573_n.jpg
The crowd also gave him a standing ovation and chanted “Rafa, Rafa, Rafa…….” at the end of the match.
If Murray hadn’t played his Qtr F on PC, some would have said that’s why he lost so badly.
All this Djoko sickness ignore..Hell come all charged and ready for the final. Rafa don’t underestimate him 1 bit
Rafa uttering this 4 match losing streak not good (:- This is your kingdom Rafa, it starts 0-0
^^It also started 0-0 for Gulbis, look how that turned out…………….
@Sanju,
Rafa is playing possum. He knows that those four wins are not the same as beating him at RG, where he is King. However, Rafa is maybe indicating how Novak will be thinking – that he’s beat him the last four times. That’s what I try to do, get in the mind of Rafa’s opponent and figure out what he’s thinking in approaching a big match. Rafa is smart enough to sense how Novak will be preparing for this match. But he and everyone else in the world knows that it’s a whole other thing to beat him at RG. 🙂
Just an off the topic comment. Monica – what has happened to you?
Billionaire Tom Golisano, 73, will wed former tennis star Monica Seles, 41. He says they are engaged.
We may well ask Monica what first attracted her to the BILLIONAIRE, Tom Golisano. lol
^^Another good one from nadline…LOL.
well Seles looks about that old
Nothing scary from RAFA, Hope Nole will do it in straights.
@sabs,
Now that’s funny! 😀
Yeah Sabs, you go ahead and hope
Murray’s presser:
“That’s the toughest match I’ve played against him,” said a disconsolate Murray. “You can go out there with, you know, all the tactics in the world, but when he’s hitting the ball like that, it’s very difficult to put the ball where you want to.
“Against his forehand – especially with the conditions the way they were today – it was incredibly hard to control the ball. As soon as he was inside the court, he was hitting the ball so close to the line. Then when I did have the opportunity, I wanted to make a winner or make him run too much, and I ended up making a lot of mistakes.
“It’s difficult, because I normally strike the ball fairly cleanly. Today I was mis-hitting a lot of balls. It was incredibly frustrating. I never want to say forget about matches like this, but obviously the grass-court season starts in a couple of days and I need to switch my mind to that.”
Tiggy’s sticking with his pre-tournament pick, Novak. Well and good. But what got me scratching my head is the justification:
“A second thing in his favor: No matter what their form appears to be coming into their showdowns, Djokovic tends to leave it behind and play better when he faces Nadal. Three weeks ago in Rome, Rafa blitzed Grigor Dimitrov in one semifinal, while a testy Nole barely survived Milos Raonic in the other. Yet the next day it was Djokovic who beat Nadal in the final, and played some of the best tennis of his career to do it.
Thinking about it some more, Nadal’s quarterfinal win over Ferrer also reminded me of his quarterfinal win over Tomas Berdych at the 2012 Australian Open. There, as here, Rafa started slowly before finishing at the top of his game. In his next match in Melbourne, he played his best tennis of the tournament to beat Roger Federer. Then he faced Djokovic in the final. We all know what happened in that match. Get ready for a good one. Winner: Djokovic
So, Tignor’s seeing “similar” patterns to Rafa’s losses to Novak……………..in Rome, and the Australian Open??
Someone’s stolen Tiggy’s brains. I cannot believe the stuff he writes these days………..
^^Sorry, forgot to post the link:
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/06/first-ball-66-final-round-forecasts/51695/#.U5I0sU1ZrIU
I used to really like reading Tiggy. What happened with his objectivity in the last, I don’t know, two years?
[polldaddy poll=8107246]
Yes, Tignor has been sounding colicky of late………..
I have to agree about Tiggy. I honestly cannot follow his logic and reasoning in this latest blog. I have been saying that it’s a whole other thing entirely to take on Rafa at RG. In 2011, Novak beat Rafa at both Rome and Madrid yet he didn’t even get past Fed that year to meet Rafa in the final. Last year he beat Rafa at MC and ended his winning streak, yet he lost to him in the semifinals.
Why can’t Tiggy see the pattern? Whatever previous losses Rafa had to Novak, it all went out the window at RG each time they played. So I don’t get it.
One by one, they are falling off the Novak is favourite bandwagon:
RT @AndrewCastle63 : “Impossible to pick a #FrenchOpen winner. #Nadal blows my mind, best clay courter ever. #Djokovic could cut him down “
A family that eats together, stays together………..
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152271450581026
“Celebrating today’s victory with family. Thanks for being always with me!”
#Always
Vamos Rafa!!
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/06/rafael-nadal-novak-djokovic-french-open-final-2014-preview
If Rafael Nadal wins:
1. Earns his ninth French Open title. No man in the history of tennis has won any tournament (from a Slam to a lowly 250) that many times.
2. Becomes first man in history to win a Grand Slam in 10 consecutive years.
3. Ties Pete Sampras for second on the all-time list of Grand Slam wins with 14. Moves to within three of tying Roger Federer.
4. Becomes first man to win five straight French Open titles. Nadal has twice won four straight at Roland Garros (including the current run). Bjorn Borg also won four straight from 1978-81.
5. Snaps a four-match losing streak to Djokovic (’14 Rome final, ’14 Miami final, ’13 Barclays WTF final, ’13 Beijing final).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in-4zPYEj90
great video 😉
Thanks Rafaelo. I’ve always thought that tennis is the most demanding of all sport.
you are very welcome dear 🙂
What has been missed is Rafa is now the 2nd in all time list in GS finals..He has reached 20 and is 2nd behind Roger at 24. Remarkable.
It all depends who will be mentally stronger of the 2 and can handle his nerves better. The one who handles it better wins it.
There is a lot at stake just like their 2012 final – Career slam and grabbing No 1 for Novak, Retaining No 1 and his kingdom at RG plus tying with Pete for 14 for Rafa.
http://www.tennisworldusa.org/My-superstitions-my-tiers-my-fears-Rafael-Nadal-articolo18416.html
how sweet is he!? 🙂 look at respect he has for roger!
What Rafa? You cried when Fed won RG 2009? I wonder if Fed ever got emotionally happy when you won USO 2010 or any big title.
The day when the world of sports made you cry
“I cried the day that Federer won the French Open in 2009. It really touched me. He really deserved to win this tournament, after all the finals and semifinals he played. He really deserved to have all 4 Grand Slam titles. I also cried when Spain won the Soccer World Cup in South Africa (Rafa was there)”.
I wonder if he would cry if Nole wins RG! 😀
^^Nope. Rafa’s no mug. He knows where the power lies, with the legion of Federazzi infecting the tennis establishment and the media. He wants to keep them anaesthetized especially at this crucial juncture when he is so close to upsetting the number of Slams apple-cart. So, he trots out these well choreographed, treacly homilies about Fed now and again. It disarms them.
Look what they did with the time violation thing…………..
He does not need to “butter-up” Djokovic.
On the contrary, Roger laughed when Rafa lost to Rosol……………..for 10 mins!
nadline 10 (at 7:08)
Yes, Fed laughed for 10 minutes when Rafa lost to Rosol in 2012.
MailOnline 30 June 2012: ¤¤ Rosol’s victory over Rafa just made me laugh, says Federer.
Roger Federer has admitted he was ‘laughing’ as his archrival Rafael Nadal crashed out in the biggest upset of this year’s men’s singles – and says he is glad that big names can still be humbled by minnows.
“It was nice to see it’s still possible,” said Federer. “I think 15 years ago you had matches like this much more often, when [an outsider] could catch fire and just run you through.”
“It was amazing to see such an upset was still possible. OK, so Rosol didn’t play like that for five sets, but in the fifth he was playing so well it was a joke. I was laughing because of his performance for 10 minutes after that. I couldn’t believe that he pulled it off the way he did.” ¤¤
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2167034/Wimbledon-2012-Lukas-Rosols-victory-Rafael-Nadal-Roger-Federer-laugh.html
Karma boomeranged back in 2013 – Federer lost to S. Stakhovsky. 😆
Murray made it very clear in his presser that when rafa is playing like this, all your tactics and stuff go down the drain. I think he was implying that when rafa is hitting the ball that well, the match is on rafa’s racket.
We don’t know what’s going on in a player’s head. But what could be going on in novak’s head? My guess is that novak was overly confident after dispatching rafa in Rome. He knew that rafa is not the same on clay this year as rafa lost to ferrer and almagro. Then, novak’s 4 match win streak must have instilled greater belief. Then rafa’s potential back issues during the event must have made him feel his chances are great. BUT, in my view, lots of things have changed. Rafa’s ruthless dismissal of murray is BOUND to diminish djokovic’s belief. After all, if djokovic beat rafa at rome, murray also came awfully close to beating rafa ! Look what happened to him here.
Rafa has improve with every match this clay season.Literally. He was finally able to replicate his form on the practice courts in actual matches. These are signs of vintage rafa who is not afraid of anyone.
Djokovic, in my view, has not been that great during the fortnight. His opposition has been weak and he dropped one set each to Cilic and Gulbis when those guys played good tennis. So, I don’t think djokovic is playing very well. He is playing good tennis and I know he has a reputation of significantly raising his level against rafa. The weather on sunday will be in rafa’s favor. This will be a huge boost to rafa’s confidence and a dent to djokovic’s confidence. According to Muzz, rafa’s forehand was uncontrollable in the sunny weather as rafa was being very aggressive. It was cold/damp in rome so murray was able to profit from that.
Djokovic got bothered by the heat in the semi. so when he sees similar conditions on sunday, his confidence will definitely take a hit.
The weather, djokovic not playing scary tennis, rafa’s rejuvenation in terms of self-belief and performance , the final being a best-of-5 at Roland Garros, all make rafa the favourite in my view.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/06/23/Roland-Garros-Brain-Game-Djokovic-Nadal.aspx
I really like Craig O’Shannessy’s analysis and discussions of tactics,strategies and patterns. His knowledge is rich.
He has predicted djokovic in 4 sets and has written an insightful preview.BUT, i have a problem . Throughout his preview, he has only discussed ways on how to beat rafa …as in what should djokovic do given what has worked well for him in the past against rafa. Apart from suggesting that rafa shud serve more to djo’s forehand, he has not offered anything. A good part of this preview appears to be a tactical guide to djokovic !
the patterns can be made for rafa too…
vamosrafa (at 8:38 am)
—Throughout his preview, he has only discussed ways on how to beat rafa—
I have a feeling that money talks in his bank account.
I too have a lot of respect for O’Shannessy’s analyses and I agree with you @vamosrafa, this time he is letting his Novak fanboy ism get in the way! I like how these pundits act as if Team Rafa is sitting there doing nothing to counter Djokovic’s arsenal. Anyone who follows tennis knows how Rafa respects his opponents and Djokovic is no exception. Respect means you study your opponent’s patterns, understand what works for you and adjust accordingly. Also, Rafa is known as the best at making mid-match adjustments if needed.
Lord, it’s as if it’s Rafa and Uncle Toni against all the coaches in the world! That, is a measure of the respect they have for Rafa.
Vamos!
Craig definitely doesn’t need to discuss Rafa’s strategy who has already beaten Nole here many times.
For me, Rafa’s key to win would be:
1. Warm and sunny conditions
2. He needs to be aggressive with his FH right from the start
3. Target Nole’s FH with his FHDTL.
4. Will need to convert more than 70% of his 1st serve pts and >50% of his 2nd serve. Will need his bodyline serves to work well.
^^ 5. will need to play more meaningful BH’s than he did in their previous meetings, not just hitting those to keep the ball in play.
“Craig definitely doesn’t need to discuss Rafa’s strategy who has already beaten Nole here many times.”
This is quite irrelevant . so what if rafa has beaten him here? it is a clay court match no diff than any other grand slam match. Both players apply just about the same tactics on all surfaces. If nole has comperehensively beaten rafa in the last 4 meetings ,why is there a need to discuss what nole has to do ! Does not he have the ‘winning formula’?
Murray made it quite clear yesterday that when rafa is hitting the ball that well, tactical aspect loses its importance. He said you can have all the tactics in the world but rafa does not allow you to apply them.
The preview should have covered both aspects ! that is the purpose of a good preview.
Well, I for one can’t understand why is everybody here saying that Nole must be over-confident and all that stuff. He needed the win in Rome to be confident about his chances, not to be over confident about it. That match will give him the belief to at least push himself. I don’t understand how he would have felt better for the final if he had lost that Rome final. He is mature enough to understand the difference between confidence and over-confidence knowing that each day out there is different.
Also, Rafa stating those past 4-5 matches means that he too is affected by their previous encounters and thinks that it will have a role to play in their final.
Weather alert for Sunday. VERY unstable 🙁
But don’t hit the panic button just yet. The sudden mini heat-wave combined with turbulent winds veering all over the place are provoking thunderstorms. The situation changes from hour to hour which means there is no point trying to anticipate the exact timing even for today. It could be quite different by tomorrow afternoon.
Next Ed bulletin at 15.00hrs.
The world agrees Rafa is at his very best in warm sunny conditions.
Is there any evidence that Nole is better than Rafa when it is cold, wet weather?
I cant think of any matches when that applied.
What I do vividly remember however is the 2010 final against Soderling which had us all hyper-ventilating beforehand – acerbated the by cold, wet conditions which the pundits decreed favoured Soderling.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/frenchopen/7806935/French-Open-2010-Rafael-Nadal-is-world-No-1-following-defeat-of-Robin-Soderling-in-Paris.html
There was a poster on TT called Raindrops and we joked she had to do her ‘rain dance’ that day to keep the rain at bay.
Nope. There is no evidence that Nole is better than Rafa in cold conditions. It’s just about the warm conditions bring up much more potency to Rafa’s groundstrokes.
Don’t think you will find evidence. I think there is no doubt that nole will get the benefit from a damp,slow, heavy court and there are logical reasons for that. SO in a rafa vs nole contest, cold ,damp conditions on clay favor nole but that does not mean rafa cant beat him.
*note RG 2008 final was also played in damp,cold conditions.
I don’t attach any importance to what happened in Rome, even less to what happened in Miami, the WTF or Beijing. Rafa has never won many titles in the winter and he was suffering with back injury since the AO.
Rafa never talks himself up. He always goes along with the flow, acknowledging that he has lost to Novak 4 times in a row recently because he knows that’s what everyone wants to latch on to; just like he would call Fed the best in history and say how he would have to be at his best to have any chances against him, despite their h2h.
Rafa praised Murray before the SF, saying Muzz was a great player and one of the contenders for the title then crushed him. The British press interviewed Moya just before the match, who told them how much respect Rafa has for Andy and that Rafa expected a tough match. The commies also kept banging on about how Murray should have beaten Rafa in Rome, how he dominated the 1st set and how he led 4-2 in the final set and how Rafa only won that set 7-5. What did that match have to do with the SF yesterday……….NOTHING.
Ahmm.. Yes!
But Nole is not Muzz nor is Rafa!
Also after his 2011 losses Rafa does tend to reflect on his previous matches with Nole.
What are the significance of these previous encounters only the 2 of them know..
I would not say that the Rome final has no significance. It surely has. But the significance is definitely bring overhyped. Rafa was clearly under-performing in the rome final.
Rafa hit 15 winners to djo’s 43 winners in rome. this is sufficient evidence of rafa being far from his aggressive best. Keep in mind that rafa hit more winners than Djokovic in both RG 2013 SF and USO 2013 final ! Rafa is much more aggressive in slams and at RG, he is a diff beast. He has also started all their RG matches much more aggressively.
The rafa djo will be facing on sunday will be a diff proposition.
emailed you
At least Muzza had the consolation of winning twice as many games against Rafa at RG than Federer managed in the 2008 final lol.
In fact Roger has not been able to take Rafa to five sets at RG since the 2005 SF.
I think that SF was also the time Federer first came out with the quote (repeated several times since) “it is not always the better player who wins when it goes to 5 sets.”
Has repeating that statement many times make it at all more true?
what statement
that it’s not always the best player …
that is a true statement
Also true for best of 3
Would be for best of 1, too!
I think the question is, how often is it true: quite often or not very often? (and why say it at that moment … when a very promising player just turned nineteen beat you at the toughest court. In hindsight it was even less charitable a statement, given that the following four times Roger played Rafa at RG he lost again each time and while being in his prime.
The whole world and their fathers and mothers are offering Djokovic tactics and tips to beat Rafa..They all want someone else to win other than Rafa. We will see anyways what happens on the court.
Sanju (at 10:14 am)
The legionaries of the Federazzi have always wanted someone else to win other than Rafa.
All the weather predictions i have seen for sunday, it is sunny after 1 pm onward. Rain will be there but in the morning hours.
You obviously have not seen this latest update
http://paris.lachainemeteo.com/meteo-france/ville/previsions-meteo-paris-3903-1.php
I’m sure the final doesn’t commence until 15.00hrs.
I I’m also getting a nauseating feeling that this final would be a damp squib too.. and not a classic as many hope for.
In favour of whom to win ? Tell Tell
Can’t pick a winner.
^^^ you mean in terms of the level of play, or the outcome?
both.
I feel one of them would turn up flat.
If Rafa were to lose tomorrow he’d be the first player to lose all 4 major finals to the same opponent.
But he won’t let that happen.
All these computations and probabilities are neither here nor there. What I was trying to point out in my previous post is that what happened before mean nothing, it’s who plays better on the day and my gut instinct, which is all it can be, is that Rafa will prevail tomorrow.
Vamos Rafa
Yup.
The better player tomorrow will win!
The match in Rome does had a meaning..proves Rafa was nowhere near his best but that he showed no tendency ti fight hard for the win either…I kind of expected such outcome…Rafa knew there was no point killing himself in that final when he was not at his best while Nole was playing superb…so, well deserved win for Novak..does it have an influence on tomorrow’s match? Only to the extent that Rafa can expect Nole to repeat his performance and should be prepared for it..
read Nole’ statement to the Serbian press…he said he was ready to beat Rafa and lift the trophy…
This phone gives me a hard time..forgive my spelling errors..?
So all that talk about not feeling great and other things going on that he didn’t want to talk about was all eye wash as usual.
Exactly..I pointed it out before i read your reply… ?
@natashao,
any link to the Nole’s serbian press??
it was a print version of daily newspaper …but you could check these sites:
http://www.vijesti.me -sport
http://www.kurir-info.rs
Djokovic should have traded the WTF for the FO with Rafa although I think Rafa would prefer to win his 9th FO and not win the WTF.
The Halle draw is out
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2014/500/mds.pdf
So the speculations about Nole being ill are far gone and just mind games…I hope everyone including Rafa is clear that Novak will start with all guns blazing…
The final is scheduled for not before 3 pm local time.
Thanks Naddy. As I thought.
Has Djokovic issued a fresh bulletin on the state of his health?
Where did the idea come from it might be mono setting in?
From the comments above I’m getting the sense the crisis has passed 😉
I think it was someone here who speculated about mono.. too much of imagination!
1. I think Djoker was making excuses fro dropping a set to Gulbis because he said it was half way through the 3rd set that he began to feel bad.
2. I think he wanted to spent watch the Rafa/Andy match hoping Andy might come through, although that’s no better fro him because Andy has beaten him in 2 slam finals.
He surfaced as soon as the match finished.
^^Those were my thoughts exactly regarding his delay to do press after his match, he went straight to the next telly with his team to see the Rafa/Muzza match and then concocted the illness story as is his wont.
Rafa will not be fooled.
Please tennis Gods, bring the sun tomorrow afternoon….
Vamos Simona!! Can you imagine if both Shriekapova and Djokovic won RG? Oh Lord, have mercy………………..
*reaches for the smelling salts*
I like Simona but I also like Sharpie primarily for her determination and her fighting spirit…IMO she is at advantage due her experience and mental strength… Please don’t make any parellel with Nole & Rafa match, I will call for augusta to intervene..?
^^What? Not even a compliment to Sharpie? Hahaha!
Even though I am not a fan, I admire Sharpie for precisely the same reasons: her fighting spirit. Honestly, it reminds me of a certain great from Mallorca. That is where the similarities end. Rafa plays tennis, Sharpie just bashes the ball, no tennis nous whatsoever…………
I wish she would tone down the shrieking though……………
Is he never going to learn?
To be absolutely frank. My first thought, when I read he was 2 hours late to the press room, was don’t tell me there’s a problem with the post-match drug test.
Wash your mouth out Ed ?
^^and you said MY cynicism knows no bounds??
With certain people my default mode is to think the worst.
Excuse my ‘grammar’ I started writing one thing then changed it but not completely. I read it over but saw what I thought I’d written.
Doesn’t Ricky and his merry band pundits do a Finals prediction? After all, Vegas has changed its mind and has Rafa as a slight favourite now, has the Rickster changed his mind per chance??
^^merry band of pundits………..
Gosh, at least @nats has a good excuse for the typos and grammatical errors, her blooming phone has a mind of its own! For me its just me fat fingers……..sigh
Weather Bulletin
Impossible to say what it will be like 24hours from now. The official forecasts are going up and down like a blooming yo-yo. We’ve had one violent but short lived thunderstorm and are now in sunshine with hazy cloud in spite of the map showing continuous rain until midnight in my area. RG is still sunny.
#TakeYourPick
Watch ESPN change their minds
http://espn.go.com/tennis/french14/story/_/id/11041973/french-open-rafael-nadal-rolls-andy-murray-set-final-novak-djokovic
Fed will be kicking himself that he let Gulbis et away with that match he would have taken a half baked Nole out in the S. final.
fed couldn’t take out Gulbis.. how on earth was he going to get better of Nole. His level fluctuates too much in a best of 5.
I disagree…if Fed had beaten Gulbis he would have dealt with Nole easily…Nole was not playing well in the semis and Fed would have gotten the better of him…trust me on this…Nole and his fans still fear Fed the most…
well, I for once would accept that Nole is most tentative against Fed. But Fed’s game was hardly up to the scratch. He would have troubled Nole, but I think Nole would have won in 4 or 5 sets!
I also believe Fed would have dispatched the Novak of the semis. Fed handles different weather conditions very well and would have capitalized on Novak’s obvious discomfort.
I believe Rafa is going to win. I believe he has played Novak enough to know how to play him and this is the RG final, its his favourite place where he has grown in confidence. Rafa will be OK, except for a few hickups as usual, but he Will come out victorious!
By the way, Shriekova is taking so long to serve and is yet to be given a warning!
After losing the 2nd set Shrieki left the court for what seemed like an inordinately long bathroom break.
#Gameswomanship?
Which would seem to have worked. Simona promptly loses her opening service game.
Shrieki has nothing on this guy. See how the arm-wrist-hand bandage has suddenly made an appearance? And he takes a picture to publicise the fact?
https://twitter.com/DjokerNole/status/475300649266335744/photo/1
Ricky, un-moderate my Djoko pic. I want @ed251137 to see it…………
@ed251137, I posted the same pic on the new Finals thread, check it out…
done
rafaisthebest (at 3:45 pm),
Question is: what is THEIR next move???
Thanks Ricky!
@augusta, they have already made their move: try to lull Rafa into a false sense of security by sending out the signal that Djokovic is injured………….
Can he not see how transparent he is? Note Boris has been back for a top up hair transplant treatment and had the colour redone 😀
Look at how Djoko pointedly touches the bandage, just in case you miss it…………… 😉
Such posers!
Another move
https://twitter.com/LuisGatTWI/status/474969614183845888/photo/1
Don’t be so cynical ritb. Don’t you realise how strenuous it is on the arm moving chess pieces around the board.
Oh, alright @ed251137, how in heaven’s name is he going to wield a tennis racquet for at least 2 hours on his date with destiny? Poor mite……….. 😉
Sharapova!!! 🙂 What a player!!
Barry Glendenning of The Guardian was of the same opinion
“The deciding set has yet to begin, as Maria Sharapova has left the court for a break of some description.She’s been gone so long that Simona Halep has asked umpire Kader Nouni to send out a search party. She’s nothing if not crafty, Ms Sharapova – leaving her inexperienced opponent to stew in the Paris heat and think about what’s she’s done and how much she has left to do.”
God I hope Rafa just pays no attention to Novak at all and what hes upto. Just focus on yourself Rafa .
In the pic Djoko looks a bit off. Im sure he is putting on an act 🙂
Do you honestly believe that Rafa pays attention to Noble’s extra curricula activities? Who cares?!!
I clearly remember in AO 2012 final, Novak tricked him into believing that he was gassed and ran out of steam. Remember the falling flat on the ground after a monstrous rally?
Rafa won’t be fooled by any games from Novak. He’s far too smart for that! Nobody can get to Rafa in his house! I don’t think Rafa is paying any attention to what Novak is doing.
Rafa will be focusing on his preparation and nothing else. Our boy has got his head on straight! 🙂
I wanted Sharapova to win just so that motor mouth Rusedski would be proved wrong. And wrong he is.
I like Halep and I wanted her to win but unfortunately she was Tiggy’s pick, who also picked Novak so sorry, but am happy one of Tiggy’s picks lost! I hope this trend continues……………
She has the essential ability to raise her game when her back is against the wall. That’s why she is winner of multiple slams and has been No.1 and will be again.
But there needs to be a penalty for breaking the sound barrier and for taking like 5 minutes to serve.
How come she got just 1 time violation all match today?
One rule for the women. Another for the men. 🙁
ed251137 ( at 4:41 pm)
Because Federer was the president of the ATP Player Council, not WTA.
Federer called Djokerout so I’m sure everyone is aware of his gamesmanship. You can’t fool all of the people all of the time.
So, Sharapova is the Fed of the WTA: takes advantage of the favourite’s ouster to win at RG!
Tennis matches are impossible to call among equals so all these predictions are more to do with who people WANT to win as opposed to who they THINK will win. Everyone picks and chooses the stats and facts that back up what they want to happen.
Wilansky picked Djokovic in the ESP experts picks before RG began:
http://espn.go.com/sports/tennis/picks
He has changed his mind, he is now tipping Rafa:
Wilansky: My prediction: Nadal in four.
http://espn.go.com/tennis/french14/story/_/id/11046887/french-open-novak-djokovic-chances-rafael-nadal
Weather forecast for Paris in next 18 hours:
Sunny before 4 PM. Partly cloudy between 4 PM and 7 PM. Scattered Thunderstorm after 7 PM.
When does the Final begin in local time?
3 PM in Paris
Thanks Ricky. So it will be sunny when they start and partly cloudy for much of the match. Hopefully, it will be over before any thunderstorm arrives after 7PM. That’s a 4-hour window.
prob good for Rafa
Here is the forecast on weather.com. I have found its hourly forecast be very accurate:
http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/graph/Paris+FRXX0076:1:FR?pagenum=2&nextbeginIndex=6
JCK: Hourly forecasts are all well and good. But they are updated on an hourly basis so you have to recheck on an hourly basis.
weather.com’s hourly forecast has been pretty good. I rely on it on my photography outings. I just checked. The forecast hasn’t changed.
even the chances of rain at 7pm are 40% ! that’s as per weather.com
According to ACCU weather, it could rain ! 47% chances of rain at 3pm and 51% AT 4PM. I HOPE AND PRAY THERE IS NO RAIN .
http://www.accuweather.com/en/fr/paris/623/hourly-weather-forecast/623?hour=33
Thinking about the length of the delay before Novak turned up for the press conference (it seems a bit long, even after suffering some weakness, apparently, due to partial dehydration), and the statements he made to the press, the picture with the bandaged wrist and then practicing without the bandage…. it seems that Novak is really quite nervous about the final. In fact fairly publicly more nervous than usual. And Rafa probably nervous too up to a point but not unusually so.
It could be that Nole will start playing nervously (and Rafa too). It could be that Nole will start out with lots of fire, trying to get the first set and not look back. The one thing I don’t expect is for Nadal to be overly affected by nervousness etc. There will be nervous play for both, sure. But I expect Rafa’s usual prowess on this surface, out of 5, on Chartier to come through as they always do in the last matches at RG. I don’t expect Roger to cave in, even if Rafa plays a level higher for most of the games. A hard fought 4 set win for Rafa. Or a somewhat less hard fought 4 set win for Rafa.
Your summary matches my train of thought. The bottom line is Djokovic has MORE at stake than Rafa. Thus he has MORE stress to deal with. He has only managed to overcome this level of stress once before and that was Wimby 2011. On that occasion he was helped on his way by a Rafa struggling with a recurrence of a foot problem which had nearly put paid to his career in 2004.
Rafa has already proved he has conquered the demons that plagued him earlier in the clay season. He is fully aware that it’s Djokovic who faces the greater mental battle.
I don’t know what to make of that photo with the bandage around Novak’s arm. I also don’t know if anything should be made of him being late to his post match press conference. There are times when players can get a bit dehydrated in some warmer conditions. But that doesn’t mean that they won’t be fine after a day’s rest. That’s the key here. Players have a day off before they meet in the final.
Whether this is a sign that Novak is nervous, I guess it’s possible. I have never been able to read him. I think that being the favorite to win RG after he beat Rafa in Rome, might have put that pressure on him. It’s something that Rafa has had to deal with every year. But this time Novak got much more attention, with many so-called experts picking him to break through and beat Rafa for the title. That kind of attention does bring a price. We know that Rafa never liked being the favorite. He has always tried to deflect it in interviews at RG. I think Rafa’s ability to handle the unique pressure of someone who has an unmatchable record at RG. is another quality that makes him special.
It is true that Rafa has nothing to prove now at RG. His record here will probably never be equalled. It’s interesting that each time he is in a slam final, he’s chasing history. It makes me feel better to think that maybe this time Novak has more stress.
I meant to say I don’t expect Novak to cave in, (where I wrote Roger) late night fingers… 🙂