Fellow Swiss’ Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka will battle for a spot in the Rome title match on Saturday. The other semifinal pits Novak Djokovic against David Ferrer.
(8) Stan Wawrinka vs. (2) Roger Federer
It will be the 18th career meeting between Federer and Wawrinka when the friends but familiar foes collide in the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Saturday. Federer is dominating the head-to-head series 13-2, but his clay-court edge stands at just 3-2. Wawrinka once lost 11 matches in a row to his countryman before ending the skid last season in the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters. Federer promptly restored order by prevailing 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 at Wimbledon and 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) at the World Tour Finals–where he saved four match points.
Both men needed to pick up some momentum in Rome and they have done just that. Federer, who lost early in Madrid to Nick Kyrgios, has been the best player in the whole tournament this week. The world No. 2 has not dropped a set in victories over Pablo Cuevas, Kevin Anderson, and Tomas Berdych. Wawrinka had lost five of his previous 10 matches heading into this event. But after taking out Juan Monaco and Dominic Thiem, the world No. 9 added to Rafael Nadal’s woes with a 7-6(7), 6-2 upset on Friday. Given Wawrinka’s relatively inconsistent form, asking him to string together so many strong performances in succession may be asking too much. It does not help that he will lack belief in his ability to get the job done against Federer.
Pick: Federer in 2
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(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (7) David Ferrer
Djokovic and Ferrer will be facing each other for the 20th time in their careers on Saturday. The head-to-head series stands at 14-5 in favor of Djokovic, who has won eight in a row at Ferrer’s expense dating back to the start of 2012. They have met five times on clay, with Ferrer holding a 4-3 edge in those matches. But the Spaniard last beat Djokovic on clay in 2009 and the Serb has won on two consecutive occasions on this surface. Their most recent encounter of any kind came earlier this season on the hard courts of Miami, where Djokovic pulled out a 7-5, 7-5 quarterfinal victory.
It has not been an easy week in Rome for Djokovic, who is looking for his fourth Masters 1000 title in as many tries this year. The world No. 1 held off Nicolas Almagro 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 in his opener, overcame Thomaz Bellucci 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 in round two, and got the best of Kei Nishikori 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the quarters. Ferrer has advanced with wins over Richard Gasquet (6-4, 7-5), Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (6-1, 6-3), and David Goffin (6-2, 4-6, 6-3). The seventh seed is 32-6 this season with three titles, including one on clay (Rio de Janeiro). Clay will help Ferrer be competitive, but the matchup is not a good one. Djokovic can match the underdog’s defense and consistency while also wielding superior firepower off the ground and a better serve.
Pick: Djokovic in 2 with no tiebreakers
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Can’t believe Rafa lost to this numpty……..
Rafa loses to himself these days.
Fed is fooling Wawrinka around.. Fed needs to play his C game and it’s just about enough…
@nats, all of them just turn up when it’s Rafa across the net, otherwise: puff!
Even the commies are saying Fed is playing at 50% and it’s good enough to beat this guy.
What a joke…..
Pathetic. A Masters clay court semi done and dusted in 54 Minutes??
Classic letdown after the big win over Rafa.
Fed over Nole in two is the pick in the final.
This is what I am finding hard to deal with regarding Rafa’s losses. He is getting taken out by…..speed-bumps, rather than genuine contenders. Why can’t these people play their normal game when they plat Rafa?
You really feel as though Federer is playing well enough on caly right now to clip the Djoker? After losing to Kyrgios and Monfils I’m not so sure I could pick against the defending champion. The Djoker also defeated Federer at Rome in 2012 and 09′. I couldn’t disagree on the argument that he is due for a loss seeing has Nole hasn’t been defeated since February against Fed. However, that win for Federer required 12 aces and took place on one of his favorite courts in Dubai. I think it will be incredibly close and I feel the -275 line in favor of Nole is a bit higher than it should be, but I still feel Djokovic will take this one in yet another 3 setter for him.
What I am seriously worried about in Rafa’s game is that he simply does not employ any plan B…his game is predictable enough but even if it clearly does not work he changes nothing…Fed today changed the tactics and destroyed Waw…Rafa has a lot to work on…his hitting is less powerful probably due to getting older or lacking top form, his balls lend short which makes it easy for his opponents to hit winners all over the place…Rafa avoids going to the net and while standing far behind the baseline he is unable to hit deep and fast and we all know those slower balls even though with high spin are easy to manipulate…Rafa will have to make significant changes if he wants to be a force on the court…
He has played for 12 years now does he not realize all this? Nobody needs to teach him these things now. I simply cannot understand his love for standing far behind baseline.
And yes where is the adjusting Rafa? The tactician? How can he just disappear all of a sudden?
Rafa’s form or lack of it is puzzling like crazy. There is a lot for sure going on behind the scenes .
Did Rafa not say in 2013 after he came back from 7 months off in 2012 that he has not forgotten to play tennis. Why has he forgotten now how to win?
It was interesting to see Fed turn things around in that match. He was able to get the early break back and then started dictating the points. That’s what Rafa used to be able to do. He was always a brilliant tactician. But he doesn’t seem to have that anymore.
Fed handled Stan the way I would have expected. I thought Rafa would do the same. But I was wrong.
Maybe Rafa needs 1 match against Fed to turn things around.
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Nadal simply is not playing up to the level of the ‘Big 4’ and the current top 5. He used to be able to play up to that level with ease, and often above it. He is either not able to keep up with the grind physically, which seems untrue based on his level of fitness. To me, it seems like his problem is more mental than anything. Some were calling me silly for thinking that his quotes after the Miami Masters where he said he was nervous the entire match based on the expectations he placed upon himself, especially so during crucial points. The way he is playing right now makes me sad just watching. If some feel he has hit bottom, they have only seen the beginning. I honestly have little confidence in his being able to make the quarterfinals, let alone making the finals and taking the title. If he plays with the attitude of defeat that he has in these past few matches once he starts to struggle, then it will be all over before it begins. We could easily be discussing his fall to #9 in the world by year’s end. From my perspective, the sky is not falling, it has fallen.
we can agree to disagree…from my perspective, Rafa will be back! And he did play the final just last week, remember?…losing to Wawa was pathetic, that much I agree, but not of key importance…if he loses to Wawa in RG then we could consider it dangerous…all these tourneys serve two things: to get prepared for RG and to save or add points again for RG…so, RG is what matters…I am not saying Rafa will win it but I think a different Rafa will show up at the FO courts…and they can put him wherever they want he will not mind…I don’t think Rafa will play with “losing-the-match rather than wining” it mindset…he has been too long on tour and too much of a champion to surrender like that…great champions fight and that is what Rafa will do…
You are a true Rafan natashao n I like your optimism though I feel at times you are more confident of Rafa than Rafa himself 🙂
At least better than some people who say something and go to other extreme in flat 2 weeks.
It is very understandable n easy to get angry on Rafa now but I don’t understand how people can change their opinions in 2 weeks from 1 extreme to another. And hello this is not a dig at any of the regular Rafans here , so please don’t jump at me.
I repeat it Rafa needs to win a big title to get his confidence back. Winning solves everything.
It was winning in Dubai 2014 that lifted Federer from his disastrous 2013 and he said exactly that.
That’s why the Madrid final loss was key , that was an opportunity to turn things around.
Winning 250s where no big player competes won’t cut it.
Did you not say 3 weeks back that this season will be renaissance of Rafa’s Indian summer or something to that effect and told people to mark your words?
@Sanju, why are you always on other Rafans backs, checking what they write and use it later on as a weapon against them? Creepy obsession………..
“It is very understandable n easy to get angry on Rafa now but I don’t understand how people can change their opinions in 2 weeks from 1 extreme to another. And hello this is not a dig at any of the regular Rafans here , so please don’t jump at me.”
Who are the “people” you are referring to @Sanju?
None of you – the regulars here. I told it above.
I am not on anyones back either neither do I have any obsession . I simply cannot understand how people change their opinions in span of 2 weeks? And further more tell people to mark their words and then in 2 weeks forget they even said anything like that :-). I mean why say something then just for effect ?
@Sanju, peace.
It’s absurd that anyone would think to accuse Sanju of getting on the backs of Rafans. As far as checking what they write and using it as a weapon on them later, he’s got nothing on augusta.
Some see what they wish to see and ignore the same behavior from other people.
I would hope that Rafa fans can be supportive of each other. It’s tough enough seeing Rafa in his current situation. It would be nice if we could all band together and hang in there with him.
nativenewyorker7 says:
May 17, 2015 at 2:40 pm,
—As far as checking what they write and using it as a weapon on them later, he’s got nothing on augusta.
Some see what they wish to see and ignore the same behavior from other people.—
=================================================================
But what about you, NNY? Why are YOU using others’ words “as a weapon on them later”?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFN_zfSW0AEx-pr.png
^^^ more bot regurgitation with nothing new or original to say about tennis.
it’s an automated response at 4:05 pm. They keep coming. Nothing new or original!
Agreed.
Difference being is that is all you do. No formed opinions. No analysis. Nothing but regurgitated bot spam.
May 17, 2015 at 4:41 pm,
Difference is that you are trolling.
Every time you dig out a past quote (usually out of context) and criticize a Rafan, you are trolling.
Nothing but regurgitated bot spam.
May 17, 2015 at 5:16 pm,
You have been trying to construct fake stories, but the actual quotes keep you (&other people) in touch with reality.
Have you any factual proof that I have criticized a Rafan?
No need. Criticism is a highly subjective term. That said, you’ve criticized primarily through snide insinuations myself, nny, VamosRafa and chloro and deuce just to name a few.
Perhaps they feel otherwise but I highly doubt it.
It is my opinion. Opinion is not fact.
If it wasn’t for your repeated criticism of Rafans, I wouldn’t bother with you.
May 17, 2015 at 7:43 pm,
—you’ve criticized primarily through snide insinuations myself, nny, VamosRafa and chloro and deuce just to name a few—
=====================================
You have always played a role of an imaginary victim! Nothing new.
I don’t see any factual proof on others here. (The fake/imaginary stories you have constructed don’t count.)
And there is the example you were looking for.
Hilarious!!!
Anyways I am not expecting Rafa to win the FO but neverthless hopeful that he will surprise.
You’re not alone in that respect, @sanju……
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it is hard to expect anything from Rafa right now…and the reason why we are all here nervous and on the edge lies in the fact that over the years we’ve got used to Rafa disappearing from the tour due to injuries and then having great comebacks…it is not happening now and there may be various reasons for it…we can only speculate…but what we can do at the moment is hope…
I first of all hope that Rafa will go deep in RG…and if he manages through the second week he may as well be ready to put up a real fight…I repeat I saw brilliance in Rafa’s game but only occasionally… he is unable to be consistent in it….however, it does not mean he will not bring it together soon…
Anyway, this is just my positive thinking which means zero…Rafa will have to talk to his team to plan implementing adjustments as the tourney progresses…but most importantly Rafa will have to talk to his inner self, i.e., to that guy who is fearing from every opponent…I don’t think Rafa fears the opponents as much as he fears his own game…
we will soon know…
Relax @nats, Rafa will do us proud.
Yes, @Sanju, It will be the same me pillorying him 2 weeks later if he disappoints!
#LaDecima
augusta,
I reserve the right to stand up for myself and also to fight back by reminding you of certain facts.
You are the one who started this despicable business of regurgitating people’s pasts comments over and over. I guess you have a library or a file on your computer where you can search at will for whatever.
If you think that I will let you get away with that kind of behavior without saying something right back at you, then you are quite mistaken.
Sanju is not the one who persists in dredging up old posts of fellow Rafans. However, that is what you do. Yet when someone answers you back, then you get even more agitated. It’s outrageous to even try to say that Sanju brings up comments from other Rafans all the time.
As I said, some here choose to be blind and ignore the chief offender. That distinction goes to you!
nativenewyorker7 says:
May 17, 2015 at 4:48 pm
—I guess you have a library or a file on your computer where you can search at will for whatever.—
==========================================================
You and (everybody else) can find whatever in The Grandstand archive.
.
.
.
nativenewyorker7 says:
May 17, 2015 at 4:48 pm
—If you think that I will let you get away with that kind of behavior without saying something right back at you, then you are quite mistaken.
Sanju is not the one who…—-
============================================================
I have nothing to do with this “Sanju’s case”, but YOU mentioned ME in your post (at 2:40 pm). You shouldn’t think that you can attack others without getting response from them!
Leave ME out of this “Sanju’s case”!!!
I am hesitant to give any thoughts about Rafa and his prospects at RG. I do find it hard to believe that he can go into that tournament without having won a title throughout the clay season and being ranked #7 and find himself. Winning a slam takes consistency, fitness and absolute mental strength and physical fitness. Rafa’s inconsistency this year does not bode well for him at RG.
I am bracing myself to see the draw. Rafa will have to face one of the other top three players in the quarterfinals. He’s lost his aura of invincibility. The early rounds are always tricky, but now will be even more so.
I would love to think that there will be a surprise for us at RG. But for now I just don’t know.
augusta,
This will be my final response to this latest dustup over nothing. I choose not to live in the Tenngrand archives! I have better things to do with my time than to go back searching everyone’s posts. That’s a waste of time as far as I am concerned.
As far as bringing you up, well you did it to me so I am returning the favor. I am not about to let anyone pretend that Sanju is the one who is regurgitating Rafa fans posts and then using them to attack people. That’s been your job for quite some time. So own up to what you have been doing here. You want to bring up past comments of people and then somehow try to duck and cover or resort to the usual cheap shots. Sorry, but you are the guilty party here. As long as you persist in this behavior of digging up post after post for the sole purpose of attacking other Rafa fans, then I will call you out.
^^ +1
nativenewyorker7 says:
May 17, 2015 at 6:18 pm
I choose not to live in the Tenngrand archives!—
=======================================================
You should choose not to live in attack mode.
.
.
.
nativenewyorker7 says:
May 17, 2015 at 6:18 pm
— I am not about to let anyone pretend that Sanju is …—-
=======================================================
I repeat: leave me out of this “Sanju’s case” !!!
Oh my 2 ladies fighting over me :-). I feel privileged :-). Wish it was that in real life too 🙂
You all know I am joking okay to lighten the mood, no offense here 🙂
I think we are all on the edge because of Rafa’s subpar performance , we all pinned our hopes on the clay season for him to turn things around and he disappointed us big time. Now we are all clinging onto that 1 last straw of hope – Roland Garros and experiencing duality – 1 of hope that he will do well and other of fear that he will again disappoint.
NNY..your command over the English language is impeccable. Where do you find some of these words? I did not even know a word called ‘regurgitating’ even exists.
Sanju says:
May 18, 2015 at 3:29 pm,
—Oh my 2 ladies fighting over me…—
==========================================
I hope, you don’t include me. NNY has desperately tried to drag me into the fight. I have asked her twice to leave me out of “Sanju’s case”. I am not fighting “over you”!
I said it as a joke, you can choose to take few things lightly.
You made the mistake of assuming a sense of humour where there is none.
A valiant effort though.
This really is bot-like behavior lol. I guess Hawkeye was right.
Oh , and now a screen-shot from tenngrand’s archives is very likely coming my way lol
Sanju says:
May 18, 2015 at 5:24 pm,
—I said it as a joke, you can choose to take few things lightly—
===========================================
I take NNY’s attempts to fight lightly!!! :lol.
You cracked me up when you wrote that she was fighting over you!
Anonymous says:
May 19, 2015 at 5:30 am
—Oh , and now a screen-shot from tenngrand’s archives is very likely coming my way—
=============================================
Oh, that’s why you are “Anonymous”! I am curious why you are so afraid of your own words ?! 😆
sanju,
You made me laugh with that comment about my command of the English language! I would really want to be remembered for a word other than “regurgitating”, however it was the best one I could think of and so apropos to the problem at hand.
I appreciate your sense of humor! Goodness knows we need it here! Poor augusta doesn’t want to be included with me! Oh, boo-hoo-hoo! 🙁
I think you are right about all of us being on edge right now. It’s a tough time for Rafa fans as we watch our guy struggle.
I have to make one final comment to augusta –
The idea that I have to “drag” you into any fight would be funny if it wasn’t so dishonest and disingenuous! You start it all by yourself! Someone who searches through the Tenngrand archives and dredges up comment after comment by a select group that has been targeted, has no business protesting about being dragged into anything!
You start it all on your own and then go whining and carrying on when it bites you back! 🙂
nativenewyorker7 says:
May 19, 2015 at 3:55 am,
—The idea that I have to “drag” you into any fight would be funny if it wasn’t so dishonest and disingenuous! You start it all by yourself! —
===============================================
It’s so funny that you are so dishonest in your fights, isn’t it? You made me laugh! That’s where you started to drag me into your fight (hahahahaaa):
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFXIzu-WgAAUI96.png
nny, you nailed it.
came back after a week of not being able to watch and not knowing any results to find out the worst. Pretty gutted – I keep hoping that like last year he’s going to suddenly turn things around….Rome was the turning point last year when he beat Murray, yes he lost to Djoker in the final but that allowed him the way back into his real game. And he lost to Wawa!! oh horrors….I take it he was very bad? can someone give me an update please as to the faults in his game? seems to me that like last year it’s all in his head and he’s just paralysed by nerves….
amy,
You were wise not to watch. I actually had to stop watching after Rafa lost the first set in a tight tb. I just couldn’t not do it anymore. He lost the second set 6-2, which says it all. Just awful. He reverted back to his bad self after a great win over Isner.
I honestly cannot remember when Rafa was so up and down and inconsistent. Stan hadn’t done anything this year, but when he saw Rafa at the other end of the court then he just started playing well. But the truth is that Rafa’s opponents haven’t had to play all that well to beat him. He just basically gives the match away.
It was really sad to me. For Rafa to have to now go into RG without having won a title in the clay court season and playing so up and down and all over the place, well it just does not bode well for his chances. You must know that Rafa’s ranking dropped to #7, so he will face one of the top four in the quarterfinals. If he gets there.
There has not been a turning point yet. I truly do not know what to expect at RG. I assume that you will continue not to watch. If you come here, then you can keep up with what’s happening with Rafa.
nny,
thanks a lot for letting me know. I was really hoping that Rafa would turn things around but I also felt that things could just carry on being bad and I couldn’t face it. I don’t really know what to say as there seems to be very little positive in his performances ie the occasional good one and then just awful. Evidently it is all in the mind but I read through the comments for the Stan match and people were saying that Rafa was complaining of tiredness in the second set! that is very worrying and makes one wonder how on earth he is going to compete in best of five. Tension and nerves do make people very tired of course and that must be a factor. I don’t think one can ever rule out someone who has won 9 out of 10 times at RG but it’s a very big ask…..think of Fed’s 2013 year when he was playing so badly and he was talking about getting on the grass, everyone saying he couldn’t be ruled out at Wimby, and then he lost to Stahkovsky. Also, people will now be wanting to play him as everyone must be scenting blood with the aura gone.
amy,
Thanks for your reply. I am glad that you are posting here. It helps if Rafa fans can talk it out. You expressed the concerns quite well. If Rafa is tired after best two out of three matches, then how can he stand up to the grueling best three out of five set matches at RG? I also agree that tension and nerves can produce fatigue. The mind is so powerful.
I tend to agree with you that one certainly cannot rule out a player who has won nine out of ten times. I also think your analogy to Fed’s 2013 year. I remember that many thought he might bounce back and find himself at Wimby. We all know how that turned out. I also think you are spot on in saying that players will be eager to play Rafa, knowing how fragile he is right now. It is like the smell of blood. Unfortunately.
nny, thanks again…I’m going to be posting here for sure today and the next couple of days…it does help to moot ideas and suggestions doesn’t it?
I have to say that the thought of watching Rafa at RG isn’t very appealing at the moment as I hate the idea of his going down to some nonentity. If he goes down playing well to someone like Djokovic that’s ok because if he has to lose he can accept that but it will be very bad for his self-confidence if he loses to someone much less talented. I won’t be able to watch if he plays Rosol, Kygrios &tc in the early rounds – to lose to them would be awful.
Luck is going to play a huge part in what happens this year….
nny, One positive though is that despite the concerns over Rafa’s fitness he is way better mentally in best of 5 scenarios. He doesn’t panic so much if he loses the first set and resets and alters his game much more effectively knowing he’s got time to get back.
I don’t know how much of the tiredness is physical and how much mental.
When has Rafa come back from behind this year? from what you are saying practically never..but he will find it much easier to do in best of 5 psychologically speaking
Any thoughts on changes Rafa could make after our conversation last week? ie seeing a psychologist, like everyone else when they have problems! and getting a new coach in? I know Rafa would never get rid of Toni as he is loyal to a fault but he could bring someone else in and Toni was talking last year of wanting more time away from the tour anyway…..Rafa desperately needs a fresh look, fresh eyes and ears….
How about Santana?? it was he who was Rafa’s first tennis hero….
I think he is too old to go on the tour travelling week after week.
Guga would be perfect to help Rafa rediscover his ‘colm’ and find the ‘right feelings’.
There are very few candidates unfortunately.
yes, I thought maybe he was too old as well…..
Can you really see Guga on the tour week in week out? he’s too addicted to surfing and beach life….
Why are you so sure it couldn’t be an American? (remember reading your saying this last week before I ran away….)
also Guga never came close to winning a slam outside the French. The reason I mooted Santana (although I agree about the age thing) is that apart from being Rafa’s childhood idol, Spanish and someone who is very relaxed he also won Wimbledon. Think it should be someone whose game extends beyond clay…
Well, it depends on what is required. If it is a strategist, then maybe but I don’t believe that is the case here. Rafa and his team have continually evolved and found solutions in the past. This time is different and I believe is mental, maybe mid-career burnout. Federer went through it at the same age in 2008 just not to the same degree before adding four more slams from 2009-12.
So, for me, Rafa needs a muse, someone who was very successful but is not so consumed and serious about the game like Guga. However, I agree, he is likely having too much fun in life for that.
I just think there is too much of a cultural divide between Americans and Spaniards.
Can’t think of an example of an American successfully coaching a European at least im men’s tennis, the best example maybe being Annacone and Federer, but even that wasn’t great. Again, if it was tactical, then maybe but it is definitely mental unless he is just chronically fatigued now.
I see this as his greatest career challenge to recover from this downward spiral, even greater than his seven month absence from the game in 2012-13, especially considering he is 29 soon.
We will see.
yes I suppose you are highlighting an internal contradiction in my argument hawkeye…
ie I am absolutely on the same page as you about the need for a muse rather than a strategist….someone who’s been there and done it and can communicate that knowledge…so I guess you are right that it doesn’t matter about their specialism…
I don’t see though that because the cross over traffic between Europe and America has not thrown up successful working partnerships before that it couldn’t work in the future – in theory that is!
If Darren Cahill were to give up the commentating might he be a thought? he’s both calm and intelligent and looked up to by many players for his insights….
Maybe your previous suggestion of Borg is worth a bash…but Borg really dislikes the media…
I agree that this is his biggest career challenge…
Yes, although Borg himself retired early with suspected possible burn out, he might have potential to bring back confidence to Rafa. Not sure.
Becker is a big admirer of Rafa…perhaps we should poach him…
Rafa, Becker and Vajda would be quite a team…..!
I think Becker was hired as a personal cheerleader.
Darren Cahill would also be a great candidate IMO but he doesn’t want the coaching life either.
Marian Vajda perhaps?
ha ha Hawkeye…our posts have crossed over as I had just suggested Cahill…
As ritb would say, *snap* 🙂
You really are hilarious! 🙂
I was going to add that I was just kidding but my post wasn’t intended for anyone who would think otherwise lol.
hawkeye,
I agree with your thoughts in your post @ 3:53pm, especially the last two paragraphs. This is a mental issue, not a tactical one. In that sense it is even more challenging. I don’t know if fatigue is also a factor. I’ve been wondering in light of Rafa’s comments after some of his matches. Talking about not having his legs or enough of his legs. He’s mentioned it a few times.
I absolutely 100% agree with your last paragraph. You summed it up really well! This is his greatest career challenge, no doubt about it. He’s not getting any younger.
I hope that I am up for watching RG.
I’m up for it nny. It will be sad if Rafa loses but there are other stories in tennis that I can still enjoy. Federer winning isn’t one of them though.
hawkeye,
Yes, there are other stories to enjoy. There is a reason why I continued to watch tennis after Borg walked away and also after Lendl had to retire with back problems. I found compelling matches, rivalries, quality tennis. The only time I stopped watching was from 2005 to 2007 because Fed was dominating and beating everybody. So I missed the early rise of Rafa. But everyone was talking about this guy Nadal and curiosity got the better of me. I decided to watch the 2007 Wimbledon and the rest, as they say, is history!
I don’t think it’s going to happen with Fed. I don’t see him being able to sustain a high level of play over best three out of five set matches. He’s coming in ranked #2 and will not have to worry about meeting Novak until the final.
I wish that I wasn’t so sad about Rafa coming in being ranked #7. But the truth is that I am. I honestly never thought it would come to this. Did not see it coming!
This is priceless! I was rolling on the floor laughing!
Missing: The real Rafa
That wasn’t Rafa in Rome. It must have been an impostor who lost in straight sets against Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals. With his historic success on clay and a reservoir of confidence, the Nadal we know and love wouldn’t have contrived to lose the first set — after leading the tiebreaker 6-2.
That’s right, Wawrinka survived four set points. And the real Rafael Nadal would never have made what sounded suspiciously like an excuse afterward. The “night ball is bigger,” the man posing as Rafa said. “He has the chance to go for it.”
Wawrinka, amazingly, was 1-12 against Nadal going into Rome. And then there was this: “I am ready to accept the challenge,” Nadal supposedly said. “If go to Roland Garros [and] lose [and] I don’t play well, life continues. It’s not the end of the world. It’s normal that I can lose. Losing is part of my life.”
http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/12907838/tennis-disparate-paths-novak-djokovic-rafael-nadal
danica Says:
Nadalista,
waves back at you 😉
#ICYMI
@danica was/is a cool cat………….
#Nolefan
#Respect
Speaking of the CryBaby, here’s another post AO ’14 prima donna moment last week…
“Okay,” Fergus begins, in a tone that indicates he knows this will be considered a completely ridiculous idea, “so Stan would like to switch off ALL the lights at the back of both sides of the court, so I told him I’d ask.” It was ALL STAN, not me, nope, I’m just the innocent umpire in all this.
“Stan, they can’t switch it off.”
“Why?”
“Just because of all the advertising for the tournament.”
Stan is much harder to hear because he’s not in front of the mic, and his voice warbles a bit in the middle, but it sounds like he says, “But not during the f**king play.” The F-bomb is very clear, though, flattening the typically rounded vowels of his Swiss-French accent.
http://tennisinsideout.com/bright-lights-agitate-the-stanimal/
Aside: Maybe Magnus Larsson is looking for a new player to coach?
#MirkasRight