Roger Federer will continue his U.S. Open campaign when he eyes a quarterfinal spot at the expense of Roberto Bautista Agut on Tuesday. Tomas Berdych and Dominic Thiem are also in fourth-round action.
(17) Roberto Bautista Agut vs. (2) Roger Federer
This time last year, Federer had already bowed out of the U.S. Open with a fourth-round loss on Labor Day to Tommy Robredo. Fast forward 12 months and this is a much different Federer despite seemingly being past his prime at 33 years old. The Swiss finished runner-up at Wimbledon and in Toronto, triumphed in Cincinnati, and so far this fortnight has taken out Marinko Matosevic, Sam Groth, and Marcel Granollers.
Federer’s relatively favorable draw continues with a first-ever clash against Bautista Agut during round-of-16 action on Tuesday night. Bautista Agut is a rock-solid baseliner who is in the midst of by far his best season on tour, but he has no real weapons with which to trouble his heavily-favored opponent. The 19th-ranked Spaniard booked his spot in the second week by defeating Andreas Haider-Maurer, Tim Smyczek, and Adrian Mannarino. Bautista Agut almost lost to Haider-Maurer and this is where his friendly draw comes to an abrupt end.
Pick: Federer in 3 losing 8-10 games
[polldaddy poll=8281792]
(6) Tomas Berdych vs. Dominic Thiem
Berdych and Thiem will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Tuesday. Thiem’s breakout 2014 has continued with what is now the best and most notable result as a professional. The 20-year-old Austrian is through to the fourth round of his first-ever U.S. Open after crushing Lukas Lacko, coming back from two sets down to upset good friend Ernests Gulbis, and easing past Feliciano Lopez. Thiem has done the majority of his damage on clay this season, but his hard-hitting game can also work well on fast hard courts and it is doing just that in Flushing Meadows.
Although Berdych is still on course for another World Tour Finals berth, he has not played well since getting destroyed by Gulbis in the French Open quarterfinals. The seventh-ranked Czech’s summer hard-court results have included early losses in Washington, D.C., Toronto, and Cincinnati. In between straight-set routs of Lleyton Hewitt and Teymuraz Gabashvili this fortnight, Berdych struggled against Martin Klizan in a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win. His confidence, though, should be back after thrashing Gabashvili and he has the benefit of facing an inexperienced opponent who has never been in this kind of situation. Talent-wise, Thiem can hang in there; Berdych’s experience and slightly superior ability to win free points on serve will be the differences.
Pick: Berdych in 4
[polldaddy poll=8281789]
first!
This Federer is the real deal navigating a very tricky draw so far and handling the tough conditions shrewdly by playing at night. Credit Edberg for his savvy approach!
Note the three empty seats behind the increasingly unpopular Fed in the pic above!
hawkeye: do stop winding up poor Gussie and Nadline or you’ll get banned from the knitting circle again :-p
ed251137 (at 5:09 pm)
Don’t worry, ed, I am laughing! I’m here to support Rafa, that’s all that matters.
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/tennis/laughing-tennis-ball-smiley-emoticon.gif
Well I thought I was banned long ago(I’m getting used to it) but am glad to see augusta is laughing!
I think Fed’s going to win in straightforward fashion.
I do think Thiem could make it interesting, but I expect Berdy to get the win.
Dithered whether to stick my neck out and back Thiem again. Reluctantly though I agree this match will be a bridge too far for him.
Berdych in 4
Federer in 3, losing 11-14 games
If you want to see empty seats, take a look at Lois Armstrong. Not counting the player teams, family and friends there cant be more than a couple of hundred spectators at the Simon v. Cilic match.
@ed,
Now that I did notice! Not a lot of people to see Cilic/Simon.
And yet Simon thinks he deserves more pay than women when he can’t even draw flies.
Just finished watching LaMonf take out ritb’s “real deal”. Now that was fun to watch. Won’t bother watching the Gilou match as I’m out of NoDoz.
#DoYouuuuuu
A few more people have drifted in since the Monfils match finished. I do believe Gael has started to take his tennis a bit more seriously at last.
@ed,
You said exactly what I was thinking while watching Monfils against Dimitrov. He seems less the clown these days and more serious about actually playing some really good tennis. I found myself marveling once again what a gifted athlete he is and how incredibly talented. He has such easy power with this groundstrokes. It’s like he can do it at will. I think Dimitrov was not at his best, but I believe that Monfils had something to do with it. Also, the truly horrendous weather. My sister e-mailed me that there is a heat wave in New York. Pity the players who had to struggle through the heat of the day.
It’s nice to see Monfils healthy. He just seems to be feeling it these days. I really enjoyed watching him.
Oh snap (Im not alone)…
https://twitter.com/anBhanna/status/506908911744851968
Twitterer nycsandygirl, who’s at the Open, says that StubHub prices for the Fed/RBA match have dropped all the way to 8 dollars as the match gets underway. I’m sure they’re the nosebleed seats…but still.
@jpacnw,
Now that’s some interesting info!
I was just up at the OPEN and Fed looks amazing…but I saw B-A over at Indian Wells and he’s fast and focused….but still, Fed in 3.
Berdy serves up a breadstick.
I hope that Real Deal enjoys his meal deal.
Not content to pick a fight with Gussie and nadline, hawkeye is now picking one with me but I will not bite……..
Just accept hawkeye: Dimitrov, Thiem, Raonic, Nishikori went further than Kyrgios, they are better players than Kyrgios, they have more variety than Kyrgios (yes, even Raonic) and one of my “real deals”, Nishikori, is still in! So, quit pouting like a big blouse and accept!
….One more thing, Kygrios took one look at Tommy’s walking stick and decided the better part of valour was to run for the hills! My real deals are being beaten by young, rock solid players. Your real deal got beat by an ol’ man.
….One more thing, old man Tommy is ranked higher than La Monf.and at least took a set off him and a tiebreak. THAT was a fun match to watch!
Here are the skills La Monf needed to beat “RealDeal” NeverFed
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11454778
Seriously though, for me, this was the point of the tournament so far…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWCFKuGD0Q4
@hawkeye63 11:48pm
Hahaha! You mean just like THAT real deal enjoyed his $1000 one? Looked to me like he choked on it…….
For me, it wasn’t that he spent $1000 on a meal in Manhattan. The problem is that he feels the need to tell everyone.
No-no-no-no!!!!!
Firstly, not fighting, just good natured ribbing (or is it ritb-ing). No foul intended at all and sometimes that is the trouble with the interwebs as that frequently the intent or emotion is unclear so sorry for that. 🙂
Secondly, it was you who started needling me with all of your (good-natured?) pokes at me after I called Kyrgios the #RealDeal. How many times did you have a go at that comment yesterday? 🙂 🙂
#PeaceOut
@hawkeye63, of course I know it’s good natured ritb-bing going on with you and Gussie and nadline, and me also. I love that we can tease each other mercilessly without putting road-signs, I.e. Putting a smiley all the time or saying, “that was a joke”! I feel if one has to do that then it was not a funny joke in the first place………
So T-Berd dumped on Bambi, watch him capitulate meekly against the big boys………
#Bully
jpacnw says:
September 2, 2014 at 11:26 pm
Twitterer nycsandygirl, who’s at the Open, says that StubHub prices for the Fed/RBA match have dropped all the way to 8 dollars as the match gets underway. I’m sure they’re the nosebleed seats…but still.
You don’t say! They must have been dying to fill the seats to save Federer’s blushes. This myth that he sells more tickets than Nadal is only held by people who are blind to the facts. I think I would pass on the $8 and probably get a drink instead.
I recorded his match against RBA but found it a little too mundane, so I ff it to 4:2 in the final set so I could go on and watch Woz and Errani. To prefer watching the girls to a men’s match really says it all.
Nadline’s definition of “facts” is hilarious!
Very true! I thought we were giving opinions here. Isn’t that what a forum is all about? Maybe not for some.
nativenewyorker7 @September 3, 2014 at 1:12 pm
—I thought we were giving opinions here—-
Is the FACT (that prices for the Fed/RBA match have dropped all the way to 8 dollars) not allowed here or what??? 😮
Show me this fact gussie. Even of it is true, ticket prices (scalper prices) drop off dramatically AFTER a match has started).
Tip of the day: Hearsay is not fact!
#OneToGrowOn
#YoureWelcomeMyFan
A little more info from nycsandygirl, the cheap tickets were at 20 dollars most of the day, but the regular ticket exchange closes at 6, an hour before the match starts. The StubHub prices started dropping then and she got hers for 8 dollars. Here’s her view.
https://twitter.com/nycsandygirl/status/506993417919160320/photo/1
No facts. Hearsay. Just saying. There is a difference.
That said, assuming it is accurate (probably is), Stubhub is for people (normal peeps like you and I, scalpers, etc.) trying to dump tickets that they bought at face value or comps from sponsors, big corps, promotions, etc.).
Not surprised. Fed vs Nobody will not sell out anywhere and ticket prices will drop dramatically as match time approaches and passes.
The same would occur regardless of if it was Rafa vs nobody. Especially wit tennis lack of interest in the US.today.
#GoBlake
#WheresRicky
hawkeye63@September 3, 2014 at 2:31 pm
—The same would occur regardless of if it was Rafa vs nobody—
As a rule, you never forget to emphasize that Rafa is worse (in your eyes)!
That’s what the people who are marketing Fed are doing – they are always trying to show SOMEHOW that Rafa is worse.
Thank you once more augusta08 for showing your bias and lack of reading comprehension .
Well I just hope you don’t compare “the same” with “worse”, don’t you? Or do you.
No. You did. You SOMEHOW compared my words “the same” with your word “worse”.
OK. Good.
You are doing my work for Me augusta08. Like shooting fish in a barrel!
Hilarious!
#ThankYouMyFan
^^True. The point of my original post is that I had no idea that night session tickets could be had so cheaply, regardless of who is playing. I’m used to looking at prices pre-tournament when making travel plans. For someone like the above twitterer, who lives in the NYC area, it seems like a great deal. You could go to the grounds and wait until just before the match starts and snag some pretty cheap entertainment.
Yes that’s a very good point.
I’ve often considered planning a trip around attending the USO but have opted for Montreal instead due to cost (and seat quality).
However, Ashe has some terrible nosebleed views. I wonder if I went to NY, how cheaply tickets could be picked up for R16 or QFs the day before or even day of. I think you can print the tickets yourself using stubhub? Otherwise, getting hold of them shortly before the match would be too tricky.
Leaving aside the gaping hole left by Rafa’s non-appearance, this is proving to be the flattest, least exciting Slam I can recall. Nadline is right. The WTA matches have often been marginally more interesting than many of the mens’ matches. The weather conditions have not helped – the daytime sessions must be sheer purgatory for the players and for the spectators sweltering in the stands. Small wonder they have been so lethargic and unresponsive most of the time. Even the commentators ensconced in their air-conditioned boxes are struggling to sound excited about the proceedings.
And that’s one more reason why there should be equal pay at shared ITF majors. Popularity between the men’s and women’s game ebbs and flows. Late 90’s and early 2000’s, the women’s game was much more popular than the men’s.
I bet the ATP big wigs are having sleepless nights. What is happening now in NY is an ominous portent of what lies ahead as the spectre of another Weak Era draws ever closer.
Talking of commentators………where are Messrs. Koenig and Goodall? You all know how allergic I am to this duo but I’ve actually found myself missing them 🙂 at least they they can be relied upon to be animated and involved and talk about what’s happening in front of them unlike the dreary bunch currently droning away on the Eurosport channel who might just as well be describing a ladies’ bowls tournament.
^^
I think they have a deal that Koenig and Goodall only do the ATP events and the rest do the Slams. You’re right, the soporific lot on offer make Koenig and Goodall sound positively sublime! I mean, my feed has Taylor Dent commentating, Taylor Dent? The same Taylor Dent who one only heard of during the North American swing during his playing days. The other day he opined that Berdych was one of the best movers in Tour! Knock me over with a feather………..
Like @nadline, I have found myself enthralled by what’s on offer on the women’s side: much more depth, GENUINE teenagers not the sorry lot we see on the men’s side, real competition for the top seeds and yes EXCITEMENT!
Until Rafa comes back, men should not even be paid the same as the women, they should be paid less. Aargh!!
+1
#PhenomeNadal
If you’re right about that then it’s a relatively new development. Usually the Slams are covered by the most experienced and/or high profile commies. Weird to field nobodies. You are watching the Eurosport Player feed, same as me, no? Nadline mentioned the other day that the Sky commies were similarly bad. My French TV is up the creek at the moment otherwise I would switch over to get the French Eurosport which is usually excellent.
.
I have been so enthralled with the men’s matches that I sometimes forget to check the overnight results in the morning and as for watching them live at midnight BST, forget it. Only Rafa deprives me of my sleep. Normally, I avoid all commitments when there is a tournament on but we had house guests for a long weekend which was a very welcome distraction from the lack lustre tennis.
Someone will be telling us that Roger played to record crowd and that the attendance at this year’s USO broke all records in spite of Rafa’s absence, but now we know that it’s rent-a-crowd.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-lawrence/despite-nadals-absence-pr_b_5701251.html
@hawkeye,
Interesting article. Sometimes it’s helpful to provide facts. It seems that the USO will still be successful even without Rafa.
For myself, it’s been awful without Rafa. But I do love this sport. I’ve watched it all my life with one hiatus when Fed was dominating and no one could beat him. I will still watch tennis even while missing Rafa. The sport will go on and even Rafa knows that.
hawkeye63@September 3, 2014 at 11:49 am
What a misleading headline!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/no/thumbs-down-smiley-emoticon.gif
08/28/2014: ¤¤ Despite Nadal’s Absence Prices of US Open Tickets Up
The biggest impact by Nadal’s absence is in the prices for the Men’s Final. Before his announcement, the Men’s Final had an average price of $837.33. Now prices have DROPPED (!) down to $773.64, a 7.6 percent decrease in a short span of time. Even with the decrease on the secondary market, it is unlikely there will not be a full 22,547 in attendance at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the Men’s Final on September 8. /—/
While there have been some NOTABLE price differences since Nadal pulled out of the tournament, there has not been a drastic negative impact on the tournament. With the absence of Nadal, the U.S. Open will not be void of the world’s best tennis players. Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will participate on the men’s side while Serena Williams will defend her title from last season. ¤¤
augusta08 says: September 3, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Thanks Gussie, interesting!
Math is hard for you is it Gussie.
But cherry picking isn’t. Just curious gussie why you continue to twist the facts like the federazzi.
Here is the main point that backs up the headline…
“Surprisingly, though, ticket prices for the U.S. Open have been increasing overall. Over the past two weeks, the average price across the entire tournament has risen from $318.04 to $327.82, an increase of 3 percent. Currently the average price of the entire tournament is more expensive than it was last year when Nadal won. Last year the average price for U.S. Open tickets was $316.48.”
Do the math. More revenue baby.
#YoureWelcomeMyFan
#EmptySeats
3% increase in ticket prices is annual inflation factor, real change zero…………….
Sigh. Et tu, ritb? Oh well.
No. US inflation from 2013 to 2014 is closer to 2%
http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/historical-inflation-rates/
Real change in 2013 dollars 1%.ticket price increase.
#HopeThisHelps
Are you sure it wasn’t 0.9999%?
“Sunday’s U.S. Open final between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka drew the highest overnight ratings for a U.S. Open women’s final in 11 years—a 4.9 rating—which was higher than the men’s final’s ratings on Monday. Rafael Nadal’s four-set win over Novak Djokovic, also broadcast on CBS, earned a 2.8 overnight rating, according to Sports Business Daily.”
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/09/us-open-womens-final-scores-better-tv-ratings-men/49130/#.VAcBhvldUTU
#EqualPay
#RatingsDriveRevenue
hawkeye63@:September 3, 2014 at 11:58 am
Last year’s US Open men’s final was played on a Monday, it was scheduled to start at 5 p.m. ET. I am wondering, how many people in the USA can watch TV at this time of the day.
Why are you wondering when the facts are stated in my post above?
Did you figure out the headline you were confused about earlier?
#HereToHelp
#PleaseReadMoreCarefully
nadline10 (at 11:21 am)
—Someone will be telling us that Roger played to record crowd and that the attendance at this year’s USO broke all records in spite of Rafa’s absence, but now we know that it’s rent-a-crowd—
Someone must pay a lot of money to the tournament organizers to get a crowd to the stadium during the Fed’s matches!
I have come to the conclusion that creating stories about the crowd support is a very important promo tool in marketing of Fed (and creating negativity around his opponents).
^^^^snap
If it weren’t for the fact that I’m a bit of an insomniac I wouldn’t have seen any of the night sessions – as it is switching on in the wee small hours of the morning is more effective than counting sheep.
If people aren’t rocking up to Flushing Meadow it suggests TV viewing figures will have slumped too.
How about this for a piece of hot news 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/09/36/US-Open-Federer-Autographs.aspx
ed251137 ( at 11:39 am)
This is called desperate marketing of Fed.
ed251137 ( at 11:39 am)
The article you posted:
¤¤ FEDERER BEST FOR AUTOGRAPHS
by ATP Staff | 02.09.2014
Player_______Avg. Time Per Autograph
Roger Federer___3.6 seconds
Novak Djokovic___2.6 seconds
Milos Raonic_____2.6 seconds
Andy Murray_____2.5 seconds ¤¤
Federer is the best??? Jesus! The headline should be: “The OLDEST player is the SLOWEST man!”
http://ui.crawlersmileys.com/files/smileys/07/02/11667.gif
Well I’d rather have a well prepared steak than a Big Mac.
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/tennis/laughing-tennis-ball-smiley-emoticon.gif
#QualityTakesTime
#EmptySeats
Isner was the fastest… http://tinyurl.com/lu544se
Djokovic: http://tinyurl.com/l3c3emv
Federer: http://tinyurl.com/malfrbx
You can see the sheer regal and elegant quality and class of Roger’s sterling scribe. Brought me to tears of joy.
Swiss quality is worth the wait instead of a “fast food” mass produced scribble from the likes of Isner, Murray and Djokovic, no?
http://ui.crawlersmileys.com/files/smileys/07/02/11667.gif
#peRFection
Also, thanks for proving my point once again!
Augusta again twists and cherry picks the facts misrepresenting the article’s intent by conveniently leaving out the column listing the time spent with fans signing autographs…
Player Total Time Signing Avg. Time Per Autograph
Roger Federer 15:33 3.6 seconds
Novak Djokovic 12:27 2.6 seconds
Milos Raonic 7:42 2.6 seconds
Andy Murray 4:15 2.5 seconds
Tell me augusta08, I’m curious as to why you continue to twist the truth just like the federazzi.
Hilarious!!!
http://ui.crawlersmileys.com/files/smileys/07/02/11667.gif
#YouDoItToYourself
#ThankYouMyFan
You can see the sheer regal and elegant quality and class of Roger’s sterling scribe. Brought me to tears of joy.
Swiss quality is worth the wait instead of a “fast food” mass produced scribble from the likes of Isner, Murray and Djokovic, no?
#peRFection
WARNING: This tweet is specifically designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children under 17. This program may contain one or more of the following: crude indecent language (L), explicit sexual activity (S), graphic violence (V) or empty seats (E).
https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/506958966824263680
#AvertYourEyes
@hawkeye,
I saw some of that match. ESPN didn’t show much because of the lopsided nature of it, but the paucity of people in the stands was impossible to miss.
I also noticed it in the Cilic/Simon match. It wasn’t as empty, but the stands weren’t full.
Vamos Tomas!!!
https://twitter.com/tomasberdych/status/506976431977816064
#GetFed
https://twitter.com/HannahStormESPN/status/506984045168062464
#GoBigOrGoHome
#HopefullyTheLatter
I suppose there’s not harm in dreaming………….
#BolsteringHisEgo
#ActionsSpeakLouderThanWords
Well could be just another example of….
#WhileTheCatsAway
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/09/millennials-ball/52651/#.VAcNyvldUTV
Well according to Tiggy, ritb and I are both right (and just for the record, I think Thiem has the better chances to win for sure, no?).
#RealDeals
I think Tiggy’s underestimating the Serb youngster, Krunic. I see something in her far more wily: brains. I see her running rings around the WTA pretty soon.
Poster called @Roxitova at the bottom of the article adds the players’s current ranking which Tiggy did not. Certainly gives more perspective to the overall picture.
Bouchard 20 yrs 8
Bencic 17 years 59
Kyrgios 19 years 60
Thiem 21 yrs 45
Krunic 21 years 143
I see Kyrgios’s game as closer to Raonic’s. However, even at 19 (Kyrgios’s current age) Raonic was much more mature and professional in his approach to the game, which in my mind is a big part in his current Top 10 ranking. This is why I have a hard time agreeing with Tiggy’s projected ranking for Kyrgios right now. Who knows, he may change, become more mature and professional in which case Tiggy’s prediction could be right.
If you took Kyrgio’s shot-making and combined it with Raonic’s maturity and commitment, you’d have an incredible player in 1-2 years.
I don’t include Theim with players like Raonic and Dimitrov. He showed in the match with Berdy that he’s not ready for the big stage yet. It doesn’t mean that he can’t get there but right now still a work in progress. Jerzy had his supposed breakout year in 2013, yet hasn’t been able to follow it up this year. It’s true that he did have some injuries, but despite predictions that he would be in the top ten this year it just hasn’t happened. Kyrgios is another one who is still an unknown quantity. Only time will tell if he can do something in this sport.
Raonic and Dimitrov are now in the top ten. That’s an accomplishment.
Somewhat to be expected, Kyrgios and Thiem are much younger than NotYetFed and Milosh.
Raonic and Dimi are No. 6 and8 respectively. Kyrgios and Thiem are Nos 45 and 60 right now.
By comparison, when Dimi was 19, he wasn’t even in the Top 100. Milos was in the Top 40.
On another note, LOVE this tweet…
https://twitter.com/andyroddick/status/506565057380356096
@hawkeye,
Point taken. But that’s why I don’t like to see Theim and Kyrgios lumped in with players like Raonic and Dimitrov. I believe that Raonic and Dimitrov are working towards realizing their potential. They have shown enough consistency to get into the top ten.
As I said previously, everyone was raving about Jerzy as the next big thing in tennis. I was a bit more cautious because of his emotional outbursts and mood swings on court. He immediately reminded me of Marat Safin. The jury is still out on him. He’s young and still has time. The injuries did him in this year, but I don’t know if he is capable of being consistent enough despite having the shots and game to do something in this sport. I see Kyrgios as being similar to him in many ways. I think he’s even more tightly wound. But at least he was fined for bad behavior in Davis Cup, so hopefully that might set him on the right road.
Agreed.
Again though, Jerzy was ranked between No. 200-300 at 19. So I think the potential upside on Kyrgios is greater. But for sure he is a diamond in the rough and only time will tell.
Dimi and Milosh are more accomplished but they have less time and more overlap with the Top 4.
#ABirdInTheHand?
awkeye63 says:
September 3, 2014 at 11:58 am
“Sunday’s U.S. Open final between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka drew the highest overnight ratings for a U.S. Open women’s final in 11 years—a 4.9 rating—which was higher than the men’s final’s ratings on MONDAY. Rafael Nadal’s four-set win over Novak Djokovic, also broadcast on CBS, earned a 2.8 overnight rating, according to Sports Business Daily.”
The men’s final was held over until Monday because of bad weather which was a working day and ticket holders had to return to work because the tournament was supposed to finish on Sunday.
Don’t try to obfuscate the facts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Firstly, I didn’t say it. Please don’t try to obfuscate the facts. It was a quote from a news article.
Secondly, I quoted facts that included the days that the finals were played. There was no obfuscation as you so claim.
Thirdly, the article refers to television ratings, not ticket holders.
Tell me nadline, I’m curious as to why you obfuscate facts just like the federazzi is known to do.
You and gussie. Blind leading the blind.
Too funny!!!
#PotMeetKettle
#PleaseReadMoreCarefully
#ThisIsFun
For My BFF nadline…
https://tenngrand.com/2014/09/02/u-s-open-r4-previews-and-picks-federer-vs-bautista-agut-berdych-vs-thiem/comment-page-1/#comment-112628
hawkeye, you posted that newspaper quote to support your view that Rafa is not popular. You massage the low turnout where Federer is concerned but bend over backwards to prove that Rafa is unpopular. That piece should not have been used to support your views because of extenuating circumstances.
They reduced the cost of the tickets for Federer’s match to $8 the other day, what have you got to say about that?
Where do I say Rafa is not popular? Show me this. He is the second most popular player of all time!!! That’s extremely popular.
Your favourite singer must be Chubby Checker. Let’s twist again. You and gussie could really boogie down to that one, for sure, no?
I already addressed the $8 price heresay above. (No facts BTW just saying.) Please to read more carefully hahahaha.
This is a riot! It’s KILLING Me!!!!!
Not as fun as winding up ol’ scoretracker but still too funny!
@hawkeye,
You make me very nervous when you mention scoretracker. Now I have to anti-jinx!
Of course you did not say that Rafa isn’t popular. Why would anyone say that? His popularity is not even up for debate.
Loved the reference to Chubby Checker. Back in the day, I could do a mean twist!
I appreciate your good sense of humor about it all, but I truly don’t see anything funny about one or two people going after other Rafa fans because they are not adhering to the party line. Are we supposed to say that Fed is unpopular just because we are Rafa fans? Has it really come to that? I want no part of it.
Yes nny, we are all supposed to twist the truth just like the federazzi apparently.
I completely hear and understand you regarding scoretracker as I remember your history with that nutbar stalking you but on some chubby checker level, it meant he valued what you said otherwiise he would not have responded.
It seems I’m having my own “history” here!
I will continue to defend my opinions with facts where applicable in a good natured way. I won’t let people twist my words nor will I twist theirs. This is the tool of the federazzi of which I want no part of.
Keep on rockin’ nny!
Mantra of augusta, nadline and the federazzi….
“Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story.”
#MarkTwain
#Republicans
The story is that Rafa is not the 2nd most popular player he is the most popular:
FB
Nadal
14,625,178 likes
Federer
14,509,154 likes
Twitter
Nadal
6.6m
Federer
2.13m
Yea, yea, yea, Federer has won the Fans’ Favourite Award forever. If you believe that you’ll believe anything.
Well again nadline I’m sure that the vast majority on Facebook follow both guys. Besides, even then, the difference is less than 1%.
Social media like facebook and twitter are a skewed population. In addition, you yourself leave out a key stat that Federer has only been on twitter for a short period of time compared to Rafa.
I do not say it is a fact that Fed is more popular than Rafa. I certainly nowhere have said that Rafa is not popular as you have ridiculously stated. It is my opinion based on watching tennis for many years especially overall crowd support. Again, it is only at the London Olympics where I’ve ever seen the crowd overall support for his opponent but that was cheering for their home country. In Wimby 2012 final and 2012 WTF final both in London, the crowd picked Fed over Murray.
In addition, sometimes fans cheer for the underdogs in all matches to “get their money’s worth”. It is a common and understandable behaviour. I’ve seen it against all top players except for one.
It is just my opinion. Nowhere have I tried to claim this as a fact.
To hawkeye63
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bwn-_coCUAI_jFP.png
augusta08, please read more carefully my post above where I talk about facts vs opinion, skewed populations, length of time on twitter, etc.
Hope this helps.
🙄
#HowManyTimes!!!
how does Rafa have that many more followers than Federer on Twitville?
^^because he’s the GOAT…….
hawkeye: “The same would occur regardless of if it was Rafa vs nobody. Especially wit tennis lack of interest in the US.today.”
Why drag Rafa into this because it looks bad for Roger? Didn’t you say that Federer practices to a packed house, in which case, what does it matter who he is playing?
Your first question is unclearly stated. I don’t understand your question “Why drag Rafa into this because it looks bad for Roger?” Please be so kind as to clarify and I will respond to the very best of my ability for you nadline.
Both Roger and Rafa practice to a full house and Nole and Muzza too!
In case you haven’t noticed, Ashe has a slighly higher capacity than practice courts.
#ApplesAndOranges
#PotsAndKettles
#EmptySeats
#MuchAdoAboutNothing
Don’t stop now you lot, I’m enjoying the debate. All it needs is for Ricky to join in 🙂
what’s the issue
I’m not really sure…………………… 🙂
but basically Hawkeye has taken the Chairperson and the honorary news/pic editor of the Tenngrand Rafa fan club to task on the subject of who is the more popular player.
The issue is that if anyone dares to say that Fed might be as popular or more popular or draw bigger crowds than Rafa, then they are just federazzi. Apparently, you can’t be a Rafa fan if you have anything good to say about any of the other top players.
Of course Rafa must draw the biggest crowds, be the most popular player ever, have the most fb followers, twitter followers, while Fed is purportedly being propped up by the media and relying on rent-a-crowd to make it look like he can draw fans to his matches.
That’s about it in a nutshell.
nativenewyorker@September 3, 2014 at 9:00 pm
—The issue is that if anyone dares to say that Fed might be as popular or more popular or draw bigger crowds than Rafa, then they are just federazzi—
Jesus!!! You still haven’t noticed/understand that hawkeye63 calls ME (!!!) the federazzi!!! And why? Because I don’t want to worship Fed!
http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/happy/rolling-on-the-floor-laughing-smiley-emoticon.gif
Your rofling emoticon is cracking me up
Length of time on twitter is irrelevant. How long does it take to follow someone on twitter? A nano second. Fed has been on it long enough to catch up.
You said that tickets for Roger’s match were going for $8 because he was playing a nobody and the same would apply if Rafa was playing a nobody, that’s why I asked why you have to drag Rafa into it.
i guess cause Nadal is Spanish and Fed is Swiss.
if Fed were from Spain or Argentina, he’d prob have like 30 million.
Del Potro trends worldwide on Twitter every time he goes to the bathroom.
^^
What’s your point Ricky? That the Swiss are too busy doing something else than follow the twittersphere? What, milking cows?
Is that why Stan only has 422,087 likes on FB, because he is Swiss? 🙂
Do you mean like or like like.
#DontYou
Delpo only has 1,613,699 likes on FB and 2.07 followers on twitter.
Irrelevant to the biased cherry picker perhaps.
I drag Rafa and any other player into it (not just Rafa – please read more carefully).
I mentioned Rafa by name because his fanatics here (you and augusta08) artificially prop him up by trying to put down Fed on observations that don’t’ just apply to him but to many players.
I find no need to cheapen Rafa’s achievements with twisted information. This is how the federazzi NEED to prop up Federer as GOAT. They have no choice. To support Rafa’s greatness requires only facts.
To each his/her own. Not my way.
hawkeye63@September 3, 2014 at 6:29 pm
—I mentioned Rafa by name because his fanatics here (you and augusta08)—
I am a Rafa fan(atic) and I’ll be!
http://www.emoticonland.net/smileys/sports/spoort014.gif
You’ll be?
I am more of a tennis fan than a Rafan where as you are more of a Rafan than a tennis fan.
No biggie.
#DoYou????
I enjoyed tennis immensely long before Rafa and likely will continue to after he leaves the game.
#DontYou
@hawkeye,
You and I have definitely had our disagreements, but this latest post is now my favorite! Thank you for saying it! Someone had to, for heaven’s sake! All you need to do is read tennis-x where the real federazzi, the worst of the worst, have their home base. If any Fed fan there dares to say anything except fulsome hero worship praise, they will get tarred and feathered. If it’s not Skeezer, then madmax aka maxie, aka matheser, aka fleur, will do the job. She went after a few disheartened Fed fans on that site last year when they dared to get down on Fed for his annus horribilus. It’s not allowed.
We should not emulate the likes of Skeezer or madmax.
nativenewyorker7@:September 3, 2014 at 9:04 pm
Once again, hawkeye63 is the ONLY person, who calls (some of) Rafa fans the federazzi here!!!
As for tennis-x, I don’t visit it. I have read enough Fed fans’ nasty comments on other forums.
Isn’t Fed supposed to transcend boarders?
Folks, don’t look now but Kei is up a break in the third set.
What. A. Mega. Choke.