Steen Kirby (Tennis East Coast) – Stan the Man continued his career year by crushing a listless Andy Murray in straights, while Djokovic needed four sets to take care of Mikhail Youzhny, cruising in the first couple before a minor hiccup in the third. This match is, of course, a rematch of some of the best tennis of the year in Melbourne, where Djoker prevailed 12-10 in the fifth set. In that match, Djokovic was terrible for the first one and a half sets and Wawrinka was redlining it almost the whole time, but the world No. 1 still prevailed…just as he has in 10 of their other 12 meetings, including a straight-set win (with a retirement) at last summer’s U.S. Open. Wawrinka probably takes a set in this one, but unless Djokovic comes out as listless as Murray did, he should advance.
Djokovic 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Ricky Dimon – Djokovic-Wawrinka at the Aussie Open is arguably the match of the year to date, producing inspirational tennis from both men once the Serb woke up late in the second set en route to a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7(5), 12-10 triumph. Wawrinka has endured his fair share of heartbreak on the court in 2013, but he is back in peak form when it matters most. The Swiss got past Berydch–who had been playing great ball, himself–then clobbered Murray. Djokovic is playing far better than he did in Cincinnati (he actually played well in Montreal despite losing to Nadal), but he has labored through a few brief walkabouts in New York. The result should be a competitive affair on Saturday, but this is Wawrinka’s first major semifinal and Djokovic is far more accustomed to this kind of situation. Djokovic 6-3, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4.
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(2) Rafael Nadal vs. (8) Richard Gasquet
Steen – Gasquet accomplished some career milestones by reaching his second Grand Slam semifinal (Wimbledon 2007), his first semi at the U.S. Open. He avoided a collapse by beating David Ferrer in five sets on Wednesday and now he has to play the most dominant player in the draw whom he has never beaten as a professional (0-10). But they haven’t played since 2011. Nadal drubbed Tommy Robredo in the quarters and while Gasquet had his backhand firing against Ferrer, it’s hard to expect him to even get a set here. Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
Ricky – Not only is Nadal a perfect 10-0 lifetime in the head-to-head series, but he has also won 14 consecutive sets against Gasquet dating back to the 2008 Toronto Masters. Gasquet is playing stellar tennis this fortnight and he showed rare mental strength against Ferrer, but he needed 10 total sets to get though his last two matches–including four hours and 40 minutes against Raonic. Sure he has a lot of recovery time, but anything less than 100 percent is a death wish for anyone–not just Gasquet–against Nadal right now. The Spaniard is undefeated on hard courts in 2013, he has dropped only one set at the U.S. Open, and he looked borderline unbeatable against Robredo. Nadal 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.
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NY Times have to go there about Nadal vs. Federer. Of course, Federer fans come out to defend their man’s GOAT title:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/sports/tennis/in-federer-nadal-rivalry-best-debate-is-yet-to-come.html?_r=0
Agree with the picks. Stan is not going to take Novak out which means Novak gets to keep the #1 spot even if Rafa wins the tournament. Bummer. However, with his strong showing at Flushing, Rafa will be year end #1, no question.
If Rafa wins the USO it will only be a matter of time before he is #1. I hope Djoker doesn’t make the final and Rafa wins. That would be awesome.
Ah well, I guess Tan will soon be doing regular checks on the rankings to see where Roger’s at!
^^*Stan*
should be a close race to the end of the year (the Swiss one, not the world No. 1 one)
So why will there not be a close finish to Year end World No 1? You see a clear contender, if yes who? Novak or Rafa?
I think Roger’s #7 ranking is safe. Tsonga is sidelined and there is too big a gap between Roger and Gasquet or Wawa.
people actually care if a No. 7 ranking is safe!?!?!
If Wawrinka wins in SFs, he will rise to No. 5 – 6 and Federer will drop to No. 8 in the ATP race rankings (race to London).
Wawrinka and Gasquet are not far behind Fed:
7. Roger Federer – 3055 points
8. Stanislas Wawrinka – 2925
9. Richard Gasquet – 2765
10. Jo Wilfried Tsonga – 2455
good stuff. the race this year could be more interesting than usual.
I have an innate dislike of the goatdom discussion which rages on all the forums. Watching the 40 year celebration for the living No.1s for me underlined the futility of elevating just one man above all others to crown as the ultimate GOAT.
I am lucky enough to have seen all of the players gathered there in action in their prime and hate the lack of respect shown to them by the spurious arguments laying claim to Federer’s right to be crowned as superior to the legends of tennis who went before him.
Ditto, ed251137 re the GOAT discussion. And frankly, there is an air of desperation nowadays about it. What I find pretty perculiar is that hardly anybody argues against Fedfan’s coronation of Fed as GOAT and yet they feel they have to constantly justify Fed’s GOAT status! I guess we know who the real sceptics are………..
ritb,
Did you notice on tennis-x that the post-mortem continues about Fed’s loss? Someone even felt compelled to post something about letting go of it and talking about the tennis still being played at the USO. Reams of posts going over and over this match and what Fed should do, what Fed shouldn’t do, why he lost, get a new coach, don’t get a new coach, do this, do that, and on and on and on.
It’s too bad that they can’t see the simple truth – Fed is getting old as all great champions must. No one is exempt from it. I think they are terrified that Rafa is going to be able to catch Fed’s record of 17 slams. Seeing him in this kind of form has made them cling even more tenaciously to the whole GOAT propaganda.
Tough times for them.
ed,
You have made so many great posts over the years that I have been privileged to chat with you, but this one will rank as one of my all-time favorites! Thank you for saying it! I am in complete agreement with you!
It’s interesting that you brought up the recent celebration of all the #1 players in the last 40 years. I had the same thought as I watched them – I have been fortunate enough to see them all. You know that I despise the whole GOAT argument and refuse to even participate in any discussion about it. It’s an insult to the great champions who have graced this sport in prior eras. I was reminded once again how each of these players has contributed something unique and special to this sport. They have helped to make it what it is today.
That celebration was one of true greatness over the decades and years past and present.
NNY: Thanks for your kind words. When you have seen half a century of tennis It sure is difficult to be patient reading the endless justifications put forward by the obsessive Fedups.
ritb raises the interesting point that it’s relatively rare for fans of other players to become embroiled in the discussion. I guess Fedups believe if they recite the mantra often enough it will come to pass.
Really disappointed to see Andy play, god he was so bad and so passive, he got whacked on the court. This is the biggest issue with Andy – you just dont know which Andy will turn up. This means we wont get a long Andy-Djoko semi and Novak will come well rested for finals which will mean difficulty for Rafa.
I think Novak – Rafa if in finals is anyone game, can go either way, it will be brutually contested and both guys will give their all on court . Hope Rafa wins 🙂
Stan – Please push Novak a lot and Gasquet – please dont trouble Rafa 🙂
Amen
Lol u guys 🙂 As a “neutral” I want 2 intensely fought grueling 5 set semis…;) Well, I can hope…..
I also want the final to go to 5 sets… but I want Rafa to win all of them 🙂
It anyways wont be a straight setter that is for sure . Minimum 4, likely 5.
I don’t see the semifinals going five sets. That would surprise me. I think Gasquet has worked hard to improve his fitness and is reaping the rewards. But I think he’s going to come up short against Rafa. I am not sure that we will see a similar score line to the Robredo match. I think it will be more competitive. I think that I voted for Gasquet winning 11-13 games. If I am wrong and it’s a blowout, that won’t bother me. 🙂
As for Djoker and Stan, I don’t see this being a straight sets match. If Youzhny could get a set off Djoker, then so can Stan. I wonder if Stan will keep in mind that tough match he lost against Djoker at this year’s AO. I remember that he broke down and cried after the match. He was that close! Will that give him more determination this time? He is playing some outstanding tennis. But I think that Djoker got a little wakeup call with Youhzny taking that third set. He really did go walkabout in that third set and it cost him. There was even the sight of Djoker double faulting away a break. He got himself together and righted the ship by shutting out Youzhny in the fourth set. I think the sets should be competitive and the scores close.
Honestly, I don’t even want to think ahead about the final. I know it seems like a foregone conclusion that Rafa and Djoker will be there. I do think it will happen. I just don’t want to think about how it will play out. We know how it will go – how it always does with these two guys.
@nny 8:04 am;
I have likened the Fedfan reaction to Fed’s recent loss to going through the 5 stages of grief, they are now at the bargaining stage. It reached poignancy levels when one of the hard-core Rafa haters there (therefore, a hardcore Fedfanboy) said Fed needed to grind more to win. He probably did not realise it, but this was as good as conceding that Rafa’s game wins. Coming from people who have spent their entire tennis-fandom lives disparaging and excoriating grinders, this was……………priceless. Any chance they will soon concede clay court tennis players are the best? I am not holding my breath…….
Karma truly is a biatch………..
Ribt, i know what you mean. I see the kind of comments they make about Federer needing to play every point like its match point, that the fire has died in him unlike Rafa and Novak, that he needs to run more and be more patient………..all the things they had dislked about Rafa’s game in the past and Novak’s to some extent, they are now suggesting that Fed add to his game. I just sit back and laugh……….indeed!!!!
You make an interesting point @mona, Novak grinds as much as Rafa, if not more, but the Fedfans call him a genius! Why, because he is the closest (in their minds) that will come to stopping Rafa. But hey, I’ve noticed a cooling off in the Novak love-fest lately………..hmmmm.
Next they will be suggesting Fed hire Uncle Toni………..
But seriously though, Fed could do no worse than hire a Spanish coach right now.
Hahaha! Even the High Priest of “beautiful Fed tennis”, Bodo, has “beautiful and brutal” in the same sentence in describing a tennis match:
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/09/beautifully-brutal-tennis/49067/#.Uir82z9RCDc
ritb,
I read that comment! I know exactly who you are talking about! I could not believe my eyes when I saw it! Wow, was all I could think! That just says it all. They really are going a bit nutty these days. Losing it completely!
I do have to give respect to Fed fans like abhirf. He has always been fair. There were a few others on TT. But the rabid Fed fans, the ones who hate Rafa with every fiber of their being, give the good ones a bad name.
I do not think djokovic will have it easy against stan. I am not convinced djo will lose to stan BUT, I feel this could be a really tough match…. chances are low but I do have in mind the possibility of a 5 setter…
nadal will roll over gasquet though !
stan has really toughened up mentally…and the results are there for the showing…
according to greg sharko, stan is 7-7 vs top 10 players this season …he is 7-28 for the previous three seasons combined
What does he mean 7-7 vs top 10 players this season? Didn’t Stan lose to Rafa at RG quarters, and wasn’t Rafa a top tenner then? And he lost to Rafa in Madrid 2013 final too……..
The beauty about Stan’s game is that it is not heavy on defense, so he does not expend too much energy out there even if he plays a 5-setter. Gasquet, otoh, tends to get yanked from side to side during matches, and that takes a toll…..
ritb, yeah he lost those two matches to rafa this season and they are part of the 7 loses he has had against top ten players this season..he has won 7 and lost 7 ! in the previous three years he was 7-26
and i agree, stan’s game is not based too much on defend even though he can defend really well…he is a complete player
Thanks @vamosrafa, I understand now……………………….
Heartening to see Stan do so well… Should be a cracker against Novak. The marathon at AO earlier this year will be playing on both their minds.
Will Stan fold – if again under pressure – or will he exact vengeance?
As much as I’d welcome that, hard to look beyond Novak in this… But should he suffer lapses, a dialled-in Stan could do the unthinkable.
Hoping for a great match!
PS: Fleeting thoughts on Stan’s rise… http://www.sportsbox360.com/editorial-14678-tennis-stan-and-deliver
which SF is first?
I read on another blog that Djokovic/Wawa would be first. Don’t known the source of that info as the Saturday OOP is not yet out.
You tell us 🙂
Day 13: Saturday, September 7
Arthur Ashe Stadium
12:00 pm
Men’s Singles – Semifinals
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1]
vs.
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) [9]
Not Before: 2.50pm
Men’s Singles – Semifinals
Richard Gasquet (FRA) [8]
vs.
Rafael Nadal (ESP) [2]
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/s…chedule19.html
the best part is “not before 3:30”
LOLOL
Nole played QFs after Rafa so he should play his SF also after Rafa.
Whether this happens or not remains to be seen.
I voted ’11-13 games to Gasquet’.
Keep your mind focused, remain confident and be strong like a lion, Rafa!
I am going to the Semis!! Woo Hoo!!
epic
Wow!
While I do have to admit that Fed is my all time favorite player, and I am not too hung up on the GOAT issue one way or the other, and I too have seen all the greats going back to Laver and Newcombe.
In the semis I like Rafa in 3 relatively quick sets, and Joker in 4….then an amazing final on Monday!
Djokovic-Wawa first
not sure why
There’s a great deal more sponsorship money riding on Rafa’s shoulders (pun intended) so it’s logical the TV companies would prefer him in the prime time slot to keep advertisers happy.
ed,
That’s the only reason I can think of for them to schedule Rafa in the second semi. It’s all about the big bucks!
I was thinking that there could be a possibility that Djoker/Stan could go five sets. But for now I am going with four.
NNY: Back in ’68 I worked in the promotions department at Sports Illustrated and part of my job specification was manning their hospitality tent at the USO. Believe you me the TV companies and major sponsors wagged the tail of the dog even then. Keeping them happy must be a nightmare problem today.
That’s so interesting! That sounds like a great job. I think it’s even worse today.
Anybody knows why the US Open didn’t schedule the men’s semis on Friday and final on Sunday? In the past few years, rain delayed the final. Why do they move the final without rain? Will it be Monday night? Does CBS want to use it to combat Monday Night Football even though it’s preseason? It just feels so wrong to have it on a Monday. How many people get to watch it?
because the first round lasts 3 days. Only when the first round lasts two days can they have time for a Friday-Sunday semis and final.
So why couldn’t they schedule the 1st round in 2 days? All other GSs do.
they can. they just don’t.
they are doing the 2-day first round and Sunday final starting in 2015 or something like that.
ed, agree with you on the GOAT debates. No one felt a need to elevate one player to GOAT status until Federer. I wonder whether Fed’s sponsors have been behind all the GoAT talks.
For me, it’s the smugness of the Fedfans and their GOAT obsession which turned me against Fed. I was s glad he was humiliated by T-Rob in New York, the seat of his sponsors and marketing muscle. So not only was the egg splattered on Fed’s face, it was all over their’s too.
Their hatred of Rafa does not bother me as much, because it does not influence Rafa’s on court performance, and it’s a reflection of their character, not Rafa’s. I confess I want Rafa to do well on court so they can marinade more in their bitterness and it eventually consumes them.
I understand big bucks but its crap that Rafa is scheduled second though he has played all his matches earlier.
Whenever Rafa has played semis second, he has lost the final ..2010 he played 1st, won it, 2011..he was 2nd..lost and wheneve Novak has played semis 1st, he has won it, 2010..he played 2nd n he lost, 2011 he played 1st and won, 2012 he played 2nd and lost.
ahh there me worrying unnecessarily (:-..cant help but
Matt Cronin has predicted Stan the Man to upset Novak ..haha..
Haha as well on Cronin’s pred! Cronin must be a secret Rafan. However, should it come to pass, expect Novak to:
a) fire his new coaching consultant;
b) take a long sabbatical from the game, otherwise defense of Oz Open is at serious risk.
I hope Novak wins. I kinda like this “arms race” he is locked in with Fed to see who ends up with the most losses to Rafa.
If somehow Rafa wins both US and Oz Open, it will shut up all his detractors for good for life..well but long road ahead.
I want Nole to win. Doubt if anyone else could give Rafa a run for his money.
Lol Stan’s H2H against Rafa.
Hopefully you are satisfied that Andy ran out of steam against Wawa.
Yes, and hardly unexpected after Wimbles. In fact Andy was so shocking, it’s difficult to know exactly how well Stan is playing,
Djo-stan shall be big
Stan’s most effective serve on the deuce court is the out wide serve to the righty’s forehand…he used this this amazingly well in their Oz open match and djokovic was retuirning majority of them with bunts or sliced forehands which wawrinka was eating up with his backhand or forehand…. Murray also used this serve to win the fifth set against djokovic last year ! he was flawless with it ..
In my opinion, this will be a very very tough match for djokovic…i cant say anything about stan choking but I doubt that because he seems to be mentally much tougher now..
the only SHBH that can compete with the best of the double handers…look for that breath taking BH DTL from stan to wrong foot djokovic 😉
In their fifth set earlier this year, stan was gassed out so he was just passively slicing backhand djkovic’s first as well as 2nd serves…and still had many chances to win..he can really go toe to toe with djokovic but djokovic is such an amazing big match player and on a hard court his defense is ABSURD…
CANT WAIT
Also Djoko has hardly played any day matches, if it is hot and humid, he could get a bit irritated.
Stan played at exactly the same time against Andy, so he has the feel.
A weather forecast says that the weather will be fine:
a) during Djokovic -Wawrinka match:
¤ it’s sunny
¤ temperature: 73 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23 – 24 degrees Celsius),
¤ humidity: 32- 37%, it will be rising during the match time,
¤ wind: 8 -9 mph (13 – 14,5 km/h);
b) during Rafa – Gasque match:
¤ sunny -> mostly cloudy
¤ temperature: 76 – 74 degrees Fahrenheit (24,5 – 24 degrees Celsius),
¤ humidity will be rising (over 40%),
¤ wind 9 -10 mph (14,5 – 16 km/h).
http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/graph/Flushing+NY+USNY0504:1:US?pagenum=1&nextbeginIndex=0
What impressed me most about Stan’s game against Muzza was that he was not just ball bashing, he was patient, waiting for the right opportunity to unload. I think Djoker/Wawa match is the popcorn match of the day!
Rafa – 1; Novak – 0 in one aspect at least, merchandise movement!
http://goo.gl/c9gJtm
“Nadal-themed clothing stands out for its variety and popularity among fans from around the world. Djokovic certainly has his supporters, too, but it may take a few more wins before he and his logo—based on his initials—burns up sales like the bull horns that have become to symbolize Nadal. A walk around the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center recently illustrated just how diverse the support is.”
“I played great the first set,” Nadal said. “It’s my first set so far this year 100 percent.”
this was said by rafa after the robredo match…what exactly did he mean by this? I think he meant it was the first set in 2013 in which he felt all facets of his game worked almost perfectly…
@sanju 10:36 am;
Don’t hold your breath, Rafa’s detractors will simply move the goal posts even further! A theme which appears to be gaining currency (I think because of Rafa’s current irresitable HC form which makes equalling or surpassing Fed’s Slam haul possible) is that Rafa needs to equal or overtake Fed in the number of weeks at #1………..
Everyone can see that Rafa is fast approaching being the undisputed GOAT but do not expect the Fedbots to concede………
Federer should have spent a bit more time studying the competition and how to beat them and less time obsessing with the tennis history books and fretting about breaking records. As it is his reputation as the greatest of his era is in jeopardy. lol.
Granted the record number of weeks at No.1 (one of his most significant achievements) is unlikely to be broken IMO. That at least must be a comfort to his fans and to Roger.
The problem is, in their attempt to shift the goal posts, the Fedfans tie themselves up in knots and contradict themselves! They like to dismiss the H2H in the measurement of GOATdom on the basis that there is no trophy for H2H. Well, there is a trophy for year end #1, none for number of weeks as #1! How many times did Fed finish the year as #1? Am sure that is a statistic within Rafa’s reach, especially if he maintains his current HC good form…………….
http://goo.gl/D2j6Nk
“Nadal approaches each opponent as if dangerous, regardless of their ranking, typically using the opening set of a match to feel out his adversary’s strengths and potential vulnerabilities. Only then, a few games into the contest, does he raise the stakes in a carefully calibrated manner — stepping in closer to return serve, increasing the pace and spin of his groundstrokes and seizing opportunities to charge the net.
In most cases, opponents who might have felt they had a chance against him at the outset find themselves mentally spent and physically depleted as the match grinds on.”
#Rafa
Quite so. It’s always a war of attrition for Rafa and there is only a handful of players who can hang with him when he is at his best.
re: Year end No.l – this year possibly if Djokovic has a bad autumn season but I dont think it is realistic to believe Rafa can match Fed’s 5 (four of them consecutive) at this stage in his career.
He will have zillions of points to defend next year 🙁
djoker in 4 seems to be the safest bet…lets see how stan plays
Wawa has 2 breaks.
Wawa says after winning the 1st set against Murray yesterday he played more freely.
3rd break for Wawa.
1st set Stan – 62
Doublefaultkovic…….
1st set Wawa………
Novak will have to play at least 4 sets to get to the finals……..
so , that is why I was saying this would be a very very tough match…if stan can keep this up, we don’t know whats in store for us..
terrible tennis from djokovic though
Shocked at seeing Djokos play in the 1st..so many DFs..passive too..tons of UE
But its not as if Stan played as well as Murray match either..he was good though.He hs started the 2nd laing 4 UE in a row
Count on Djoko to come back strong .
Looks like I’m the only one who is awake here.
Wawa needs to win the 2nd set.
It’s a strange match – Djokovic looks ill and Wawrinka looks tired.
Wawa can’t buy a 1st serve.
Wawa seems to be making mistake of plling foot off the pedal..this is what is horrible..Djoo won his serve to love and is now 0-30 on Wawa
Why isn’t Djokovic being cited for on court coaching? He is having running conversations with his box, even the commies mentioned it…..
Stan is not playing lights out tennis………….just Djokovic playing crap..
Spot on!
stan really hasn’t the needed forehand to deal with these guys! struggling so much to hold!
Man that 2-2 game in 2nd was crazy. It was as if both were competing to not win the game..loose loose errors from both
I wonder if Rafa is watching.
Hope not…..crappy play might be contagious.
Im sure Rafa is watching!!!!
Stans level has dropped a lottle from 1st..Djokos has slightly improvedstill both are playing badly in 2nd
RT @LindyRed: “I remember a journalist saying that Andy is the only player that looks at his box in frustration when he’s losing. Is he watching Novak?”
Dont you guys think Djoko plays too safe, just keeps blocking the ball, rarely pulls the trigger for the winning shot?
Nole is playing safe because he lacks confidence.
Novak just got cited for coaching……..about time.
Djoker gets a warning for coaching at last.
stan is absolutely playing big on big points. Not great from Djoko though.
Stan can’t buy a 1st serve………
This is it for Stan, Djoko breaks and I think this is where Djoko turns the match.
Novak is playing not like Novak but Stan keeps letting Novak hang around by not being able to serve big! He can get a 1st serve anywhere…….wow!!! Hope he can at least take this set to a tie break and win it!!!!
Yes curtains now for Stan..joko springs back to life..hope it goes 5 though.
What a time for Stan to serve an ace.
I dont know why are you all making so much about Stan’s 1st serve. It’s not bothering him much as he’s holding up pretty well from baseline.
Also Nole’s returning is off too. So serve not much of big deal. Though, this kinda reminds of Fed v Muzz at AO this season. Fed struggled throughout the match to buy a 1st serve.
That is precisely the point @abhirf. With Novak return of serve this woeful, can you imagine how much damage Stan would have done with a good 1st serve, in addition to the damage he is doing now with a 2nd serve?
That’s what a lack of a 1st serve does to you in a TB, you risk a DF….
Probably would have holded his serve much easier.
Though he needs to serve much better in TB.
17 UE for Stan in 2nd compared to 6 in 1st
7 for Djoko in 2nd compared to 14 in 1st
Says it all
I woke up late to see that Stan won the first set. Now a tb! What’s going on here? Djoker has to win this set to even have a chance.
Is it because Djoker had such an easy draw and wasn’t tested? I read the comments and people are saying Djoker is not playing well. I am pleased to know that he was cited for coaching. Long overdue!
Well we said it would be a match.
Stan’s CC FH have been just brilliant throughout the tournament.
And Nole levels the match. Best of 3 now!
There is the match for Djoko..still hoping it goes 5
DF in TB was suicidal for Stan
Pity for Stan, he allowed Novak back into the match!!!
Pretty clear Novak is going to win this now. However, hope Stan stays calm and does not panic. As his tattoo says, if he is going to lose, better to lose better!
Yes, the double fault was a crucial mistake. That gave Djoker the opening. He did let Djoker back in the match. We will have to see what happens. Will Stan be deflated from that tb?
I have mixed feelings watching this match. On the one hand, if Stan could beat Djoker then Rafa would have a shot at being #1 if he wins in the final. But it would be much more satisfying to see Rafa beat Djoker at this hard court slam.
I think the match is gone for stan! he blew up his chance in second!
RT @enricomariariva: “Wawrinka just made a huge contribution to the Djokovic Foundation #charitytennis”
Lol!!!! Huge contribution indeed!!!
Stan is making more errors now and Djoker is getting more confident.
Yeah, this is usually how it goes!!!!
RT @tzorke: “Djokovic to Vajda in Serbian: “Shut up, don’t say anything to me” #usopen”
So, Vajda still coaching from the stands………………..
Stan needs to hold serve in 3rd and put pressure on Djoko as he is serving behind.
NNY : Agree it would be more satisfying to see Rafa beat Novak to win USO , indeed hugely satisfying.but there is no guarantee that Rafa will beat Novak if they both reach the final right. If Rafa reaches final, Stan will be easier than Novak for sure.Novak is still the fav on HV over Rafa irrepective of Rafas 20-0 record this year
Yawn, enough of this crap……..bring on Rafa.
Agree RIBT, bring on Rafa!! This is indeed boring, was expecting Stan to make more of a match of this!!!!
Sanju says:
September 7, 2013 at 6:23 pm
“Novak is still the fav on HV over Rafa irrepective of Rafas 20-0 record this year.”
That’s insulting to Rafa.
Am just thinking what an opportunity Muzza missed, this Novak would have been easy for him……
ritb,
I am not so sure of that. The reason Murray isn’t there is because he couldn’t play well enough to get through to the semis. Emotionally and mentally he wasn’t there. If Stan had not played as well and somehow Murray pulled through, do you honestly think that he would have been able to beat Djoker? The whole problem is that Andy hasn’t recovered from the pressure and the stress he had to deal with at Wimbledon. That took so much out of him.
More than likely he would have lost in embarrassing fashion. Sometimes things happen for a reason. He was spared that. Now he will have some time to regroup and get himself together.
No RITB..Murray was far far more crappier..A match between Nole and Andy would have bored us to death
This is a terrible match.
Wow! Djoker broken at love! This is why I don’t think bringing in a new coach solves the problem. I took note of Djoker’s walkabout in the third set with Youzhny. He double faulted away a break in that set. That’s the mental weakness that we have been seeing from him this year.
Now a crappy game to lose his serve at a critical point in the third set.
Yuppie if Novak wins, he has to do it in 5
Stan really stepped it up in last 2 games and the 35 shot rally was awesome
Has Stan Arrived?!!!!
Stan leads 2 sets to 1.
So Djokovic is determined to go to 5……
Second set Wawa……….
I thought that whoever won the third set would have the real advantage. Now Djoker will have to do it in five. But honestly he is not playing that well at all. He just lost his focus and concentration in that game where he was broken at love. This is stuff we didn’t see happening to him in the previous two years. Maybe he is suffering from some kind of burnout.
If Stan can continue to play well, he has a real shot to take this. As much as I knew that he would make a match of it, I honestly did not expect to see this.
It really doesnt matter if Novak have to do it in five, once he sees Rafa on the other side of the net he will be ok!!!!
that’s the case!
This site keeps crashing on me, wtf?
Lord please deliver us from this shambolic match……….
stan is self destructing!
I just hate these djoker comebacks! he doesn’t play good but some how the opponent hands him the match!
Stan has an MTO.
Mark Petchy has just said this match could be one of the matches of the year???????
He’s mad……..
He’s an idiot!!!!
Madrid is out of the 2020 Olympic considerations. Hope Rafa does not get too distracted by this bad news………….
Vamos!!
Will Wawrinka win the fifth?! Win one lose one, win one, win one, could that be the pattern here?!!!…………hehehe!!!!
No, he’s losing. I wish he would lose quickly so we can watch Rafa. Wawa should have won this in 3, he was a break up in the 2nd!
Stan has that thigh injury, so if he should manage to win this he won’t be in any kind of shape to play a decent final.
He did have his chances to beat Djoker. But when it goes to a fifth set, then you have to go with Djoker.
So Rafa’s match will be pushed even further back.
These 2 should be fined for this atrocious display of tennis………
what an annoying game…duece points are good stuff but on the ad point, either of them plays a pathetic point…NOW CLOSE THIS OUT STAN
stan will be a spent force after this game …
the serve I was talking about before the match, is really helping wawrinka in the match…out wide on the duece court… another duece, this is so irritating
Wow 20 minute game..neither could win 2 points in a row.
How I hope for a Djko collpase very well knowing it wont happen as Stan is totally spent and gassed
S Novak break Stan and will now go into the final (:-
match is over! now I am really sad!
So guys you think Novak being on court for 4 hours will be of any help to Rafa should Rafa also reach the final?
I doubt as the match though long ws not gruelling, not too mnay long rallies and no too much scrambling
Stan is dumping so many FH into the net..its irritating
RT @juanjo_sports: “For the match, Stan is serving 49% 1st serves. Yet he’s taken 2 sets off Djokovic. Azarenka would never.”
And we were worrying about Rafa’s 1st serve level potentially against Muzza and Nole……..
So Rafa’s quest for #1 will have to wait………….
SHAME…! I don’t know what rafa will do against Djoko should he get to the final!
nerves!
If Rafa gets to the final, he will play against Djokovic..what else will he do 🙂
Yeah Rafas quest for No 1 needs to wait..but well if he does win the semi nd does beat Novak in final..victory will be sweeter infinite times..so let us see what happens..First Gasquet hough.
Rafa will be still a good 1300 points ahead in race if he loses the final..but though Rafa has won 9 titles and Novak 3 so far..should Novak win 2 slams compared to Rafas 1, jury will be out on who is the player of the year
Which 2 slams has Novak won?
Listening to the SKY commentators, I’m wondering if we were watching the same match. They are calling it an epic and saying they played lights out tennis.
djokovic’s defensive shots were amazing tonight! scary amazing!
who do you guys pick? rafa or novak in a dream final? according to current forms
If Rafa makes the final, and he will, that will already be one more strong result on hardcourts since his return from injury. And he won’t be beaten easily. I don’t expect him to be overly non-confident tomorrow. In any case we know Novak will rise to the occasion. And I expect Rafa to win in four.
To be honest, Rafa has exceeded all my expectations. I don’t care if he wins or loses if he gets to the final. This is his worst surface, so I will cut him some slack. Right now, I just want him to get to the final….
Vamos Rafa!
RT @SI_BTBaseline: “If anyone wants a free geometry primer, Professors Nadal and Gasquet are putting on a tutorial on CBS. #usopen”
Rafa is not as vicious as he was against Robredo.
No need to be….yet. He is coasting, hope Reeshie does not up his level so Rafa has to raise his in response. Needs to conserve energy for the final……..
Rafa is broken for the first time in the tournament. Okay Rafa, time to show Reeshie who’s boss………..
I am really liking rafa’s backhand….not so happy with the forehand…the finishing shots have not been so great so far….
solid performance but not the killer ,vintage rafa… I hope he finishes big..
gasquet is serving pretty well
Rafa needs to up his intensity now. He is allowing Reeshie too many looks on his serve……
What’s up with Rafa. He is not feeling the ball.
this is not a good performance to be honest…
Did not see the match..though he is 2 sets up..the scoreline is too tight..which means he is not playing great..vamosrafa..what is working and what is not?
right now i am off to bed! rafa is not playing well and it makes me nervous! i hope he pulls this out some how! good night guys
I hope he plays this set really well….the forehand is off sometimes and he is not going for much from his forehand now…
may be the two day hiatus broke his rhythm…get it back,rafa
Rafa is 2 sets to ;love up.
Rafa’s forehand is not penetrating, as a result Reeshie is having fun returning Rafa’s shots. The funny thing is Reeshie’s BH is penetrating, so what is Rafa’s problem, why aren’t his shots troubling Reeshie? Rafa’s points are coming more from Reeshie’s UEs than winners from Rafa…………
That’s more like it. I hope Rafa holds from now on.
sanju, the backhand has been working pretty well so happy about that… the forehand has been an issue…he has been generally passive with his forehand , i mean not really passive but not like the lethal forehand we have been seeing from him of late… he is hitting better in set 3 though !
Serve is ok, ROS is ok…not vintage rafa, but doing a fine job
the destructive DTL forehand and inside-out forehand have not been there consistently enough today.. I hope they are 100% ready for the final because rafa needs them working at 100% to be beat djokovic….
I think he wants to lull Nole into a false sense of security.
NID
Mr Finals………..
Well done Rafa!
congratssss 😀 better 3rd set
Gasquet should be in the top 10.
Gasquet IS.No.9 in the rankings.
gasquet’s forehand is a weak shot
Rafa is saving himself for the Djoker.
And the winner is – Rafa!
Vamoooooos!!!!!!
Rafa played well enough to win the match. The good thing is that he won the match much quicker than the first finalist. Rafa’s SF lasted 140 minutes (the first SF lasted 249 min).
Winners (set 1 + 2 + 3 = total)
Rafa: 13 + 11 + 11 =35
Gasquet: 9 + 8 + 9 = 26
UE ((set 1 + 2 + 3 = total)
Rafa: 10 + 12 + 2 = 24
Gasquet: 8 + 12 + 12 = 32
Thanks @augusta08. Watching the match, I did not have the feeling Rafa hit so many winners, much more than Reeshad in fact.
So No 1 vs No 2 both in mens and womens as per the script. It couldn’t have gotten better
And in both mens and womens, the match is wide open..either can win it.
Keep calm and keep the faith in Rafa!
I’ve been hiding behind the sofa for both matches today. It sounds Rafa didn’t play at top form and Djoker was good? I’m really nervous for the final. Ricky, what’s your pick?
I was concerned that Gasquet wouldn’t play well enough to force Rafa to play really well. This was certainly not Rafa at his best. I wondered if the two days off disrupted his rhythm. I would have preferred that he only had one day off. Rafa does better when he plays in a certain rhythm.
This was good enough to beat Gasquet, but not great from Rafa. I don’t think he gains any advantage with Djoker playing the more difficult five set match. Djoker has had so many easy matches and hasn’t had to raise his level of play. He hasn’t been challenged. Stan took it to him in their match. Djoker was playing from behind for so much of the match. But he managed to do it in the moments that counted, the crucial moments in the match. I think this match is going to give him a great deal of confidence. Rafa always seems to get big confidence from the tougher matches. Djoker even said that Stan played better. But he still managed to get the win. That will help him going into the finals. Djoker is in great shape. This match won’t take much out of him. Plus he gets a day off.
I kind of wish that Rafa had an opponent that would push him a little more. I just hope that he brings his best in the final. He will need it. Rafa doesn’t need to conserve energy. He had one tough match with Kohls in the fourth round. The last two were easy.
There is a lot on the line for both of them in the final. I would like Rafa to beat Djoker again in a hard court final. If he wins then he will be only 120 points behind Djoker. I think that’s right. He could easily get the #1 ranking after this. I don’t want Djoker taking any more slam finals from Rafa. He got three in a row and that was really hard to watch.
I am going to be very nervous before the final. I haven’t been really stressed out during this tournament. That’s unusual, but a lot of it had to do with how Rafa was playing. Also once he avoided Isner, I fet a whole lot better! Then he even avoided Fed. So a tough draw turned out to be pretty easy.
I know that Djoker didn’t play great throughout that match. But he did get the win. So he can still bring the goods when it counts. Rafa will simply have to come out blasting. Much better than he played today. I hope he is saving his best for the final.
Transcript of Rafa’s presser. I love how candid he is.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/o5dbune
On vb some of the people are starting with this business of saying that they thought Rafa was limping on the court. This kind of thing really drives me absolutely crazy! Then they take that unconfirmed sighting and then start discussing Rafa taking anti-inflammatories for the pain.
I don’t know why this has to keep coming up. Rafa has looked really good. But when he doesn’t play outstanding tennis, then this stuff starts being thrown around. Then others said that they didn’t see him limping. I don’t know why people have to start speculating.
Rafa knows that it’s a war when he plays Djoker. I don’t blame him for saying he would like to play someone else. I read the transcript of his presser on another site. He is always honest about everything. I refuse to worry about the knee. I am just going to assume that he is okay. He may be feeling it after all the tennis he has played since he came back. He will do his best as he always does when he gets to a final.
On tennis-x, they are already discussing the points and what will happen should Djoker win or Rafa win. Who will be #1, when, how, whatever. Even talking about the 2014 AO. That’s getting too far ahead for me.
I am going to be very nervous on Monday. For now I want to relax and just be happy that Rafa is in another final.
@nny, they ran Novak’s post match presser over at tennis-x blog where he owned up to being coached from the stands and says the Umpire was right to cite him for it. Not a word from the “usual suspects” about this in the comments section, dead silence. Can you imagine the melodrama if it had been Rafa? I am actually beginning to suspect the anti-Rafa vitriol is encouraged there for a reason on that site: to drive up traffic!
Excellent business sense…………….
I wondered how they would take it over in hater world! After all the garbage I have read about Rafa being coached, now there’s Djoker admitting it to the world! And not a word from the usual suspects? Typical! Hypocrites all!
Oh NNY, I think we Rafans are an over concerned and insecure lot . Please ignore all comments about the knee etc. What has to happen will happen and I hope Rafa wins, he deserves it after all.
I dont think Djoko will walk out of the semifial feeling any more confident. Stan lost it, Djoko did not win it (remember the DF in tiebreak, Stan being up 4-2 in 2nd etc). We always knew in best of 5, neither Stan or Gasquet could have withstood Rafa or Nole, finally their endurance would pull them through. But the fcat that Djoko had some 20 plus BP chances and coultake just 3 is very telling, isnt it?
Sanju,
Thank you for reminding me of that significant stat about all the break chances that Djoker was unable to convert. At the time when the commentators pointed it out, that really shocked me. I remember how concerned we were when Rafa had that problem against Kohls. But to be unable to do it in a semi, is even more concerning.
I well remember that DF from Stan. That was very costly. It was strange to see Djoker fighting to stay in the match in that second set. He got a little bit lucky there.
I thought that Stan’s thigh injury could have been very costly. He gamely went on after getting it taped off court, but I wondered if he could last if it went to a fifth set. It sure didn’t help his chances. He really played his heart out. The crowd gave him an incredible ovation at the end. Well deserved!
I noticed at one point when Stan just raised his arms to get the crowd going and then Djoker looked at him as if he was jealous. LIke – how dare you play to the crowd! So then he started doing the same thing! Copy cat!
I do think that some Rafa fans get overly concerned about his knee. I just don’t like to see it brought up right before a final. I have been pretty calm throughout this tournament, but the nerves are going to hit me on Monday. This is it! The big match!
I so want Rafa to win. For so many reasons.
Djokovic as usual talking the talk.
“The way he’s been playing he’s very confident, but I know how to play him. Hard court is the surface that, as I said, is my most successful surface. I have played him already here twice in the finals. I know what I need to do.”
nny: I think you are being overly concerned. IMO Djokovic didn’t win that match: Stan lost it. I think he was emotionally and physically exhausted but still made a pretty good fist of the match. Go to the USO results page and take a look at the set by set stats and you might feel better 🙂
Here is the link
http://preview.tinyurl.com/68oldm
Ditto Rafa’s match
http://preview.tinyurl.com/37voluq
I disagree Djokovic is in great shape btw. He outlasted Stan in that department but he was showing signs of fatigue and mentally he’s all over the place.
Rafa has paced himself well for the big push. 🙂
ed,
You are my saving grace! I did check out those links. It’s very enlightening. I think when you watch a match, sometimes your perception can be skewed. Also, I got up late and did not even see the first set. So it does help to review stats, especially set by set.
I will say that once Stan got that thigh injury, I thought that he wasn’t going to win. Up to that point, I really thought he had a chance to pull it off. But I do think in the fifth set the injury was bothering him and also physical exhaustion. I think that the early game in the fifth set in which he had to fight just over twenty minutes to hold his serve, just did him in mentally. It was only one break in the fifth that gave Djoker the win.
They played some of Djoker’s post match presser. That’s where I heard those comments you referenced. I am really over hearing him going on like that. I want Rafa to shut his big mouth once and for all.
This is why I come here. I need other opinions and points of view. Another perspective. After I thought it over a while, I decided that this victory for Djoker in the semis could go one of two ways. Either it will give him a big boost of confidence that he got a win against an opponent who was outplaying him, or he will come out and still have the same problems with mental concentration and focus that have plagued him all year. Despite the new coach and the new input and feedback that he was blabbing about, he is still having these mental lapses. I don’t know that this goes away overnight. Rafa went through something like that in 2011. It took him a while to sort it all out.
I hope that you are right with Rafa pacing himself. I would like to believe that he didn’t play his best because it was not necessary. No disrespect to Gasquet, but I just did not believe that he could ever beat Rafa. Rafa also said in his presser that the windy conditions were very tricky.
Thanks for helping me to see this in another light! 🙂
In the event both semi-final matches were a bit of a let down 🙁
ed, I agree.. We all expected Rafa to blow Reeshard off the court, 2, 1 & 3 but Rafa wasn’t on fire yesterday, guess he wasn’t feeling the ball. Djoker was just awful and anyone with half a game seems to be able to challenge him these days.
I hope Rafa will be more fired up for the final. Maybe, he wanted to give Djoker a false sense of security.
I just want Rafa to kick Novak’s ass and wipe that smugness away, am really getting tired of it.”I know how to play him”. Ehm, Rafa doesn’t know how to play you? If you know how to play him, what happened at RG, Montreal and all the 21 times he has beaten you? Oh I get it, those were flukes, the REAL results are the 15 times you have beaten him…………
Beat him, please Rafa.
ritb,
You just said it all for me. Exactly my thoughts!
Congrats to Nole and Rafa.
The “right” final. Should be a corker 🙂
Did you guys notice how Novak, after the first set, started running around his BH to hit a forehand? His money shot, DHBH, totally deserted him yesterday and it’s been leaking tonnes of errors all season. I wonder what’s up with that?
To me, the key to the final will be how each handles their backhands. If Novak re-finds his BHDTL (which has been MIA all tournament and then some), Rafa will be in for it. If Rafa continues using his BH offensively (as opposed to his usual defensive stance) as he has been doing all tournament, Nole will be in for it. Unlike Nole, who is running around his BH because of lack of confidence in it, Rafa is NOT running around his like he did early in the season. Actually, Djokovic and all players who have made it a tactic to pepper Rafa’s BH have done Rafa a favour, it’s been good practice!
We need to also keep in perspective that this is 75% of 2011 Nole, he has lost many matches this year which were tight (IW against Delpo, RG against Rafa, Rome against Berdy, Madrid against Grigor, Wimby against Murray, Montreal against Rafa, Cincy against Iser). All those 7 matches he could have won, in many of them he was in a position to win, yet he lost. So mentally he is a bit off and I am sure Rafa knows it too well. Also I bet Rafa did see parts of his SF match to see that he struggled to even put a hobbled Stan away, I think Rafa will be confident. All I hope is he does notstand like 10 feet away from basline and that he is agressive from the tart and plays inside the baseline all tim
Also come to think of it, If Rafa has to win his 13th GS and 2nd USO, it is better he defeats Nole and wins it. If it was Wawrinka, peple wold not have attached enough credence to the won nd always would have put * aaround his win.
Why do you guys persist in going to the Dysfunctional Tennis Forum. Join me on TalkTennis where the debate is more balanced. Sure there are Rafa haters there but there are also a lot of Rafa fans. You can start a thread on anything you want to get off your chest or that interests you.
Give it a try. I won’t give up, because I’m missing you all there.
Please give me a link to TalkTennis, @clayqueen. Tennistalk was my default home with tennis-x blog as the alternate simply to get another perspective and truth be told, needle the Fedfans over there now and again!
But honestly, I am no longer enjoying reading/posting on tennis-x blog, it just ain’t funny any more. I think it’s because Rafa’s winning and the angst over there is all too real now. Nothing funny about bearing witness to a human being in full blown despair, truth be told. It was funny when they were all giddy with the hope that Rafa’s injury would sideline him forever. Now it’s just raw despair…….too pathetic for my taste.
Of course Tenngrand is now my default home but I still want some place else to listen to, so glad if you could give me the link, clayqueen……….
I mean, even the blog contributors are having full-blown Rafa-hate meltdowns over there………………beyond cringe-inducing.
Naddy. When TT closed down I tried to register at TalkTennis as many of you were talking of going there. I was getting to grips with a new computer and made a mess of several attempts and was refused, I sent emails asking for help but got no response. The next time I tried I was told my email address was banned as spam. 🙁
ed, what a shame. Try with another email address because some of them are accused of having several monikers so it’s possible. I guess the problems with the new computer must have contributed to your email address being seen as a spam.
clayqueen@September 8, 2013 at 8:41 am
—We all expected Rafa to blow Reeshard off the court—-
I voted ’11-13 games to Gasquet’ (see my comment of September 6, 2013 at 3:01 pm). Gasquet won 12 games. The result of the match is OK for me.
augusta, I also voted for Gasquet taking 11-13 games which is in line with their previous encounters but Rafa was not on his game yesterday and I have to say Gasquet was a little bit tighter than he was against Ferrer, but then Feru is not Rafa.
This is my referral link to TalkTennis. I get points for referring contributors.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?referrerid=99043
Thanks.
Thanks from me also. Will give it a go – I’ve got a Gmail address although it will be a pain to keep checking it out 🙁
You won’t need to keep checking your email because they don’t contact you unless you get a PM then whoever sends it will let you know they are sending it.
I did not see the Rafa match, how much would yo guys give Rafa/ 10?
I read many comments saying Rafa was not crisp, was dropping balls short..was it due to the wind?
Djoko who did not ply that great either I think will get a 6.5 /10.
Sanju@:September 8, 2013 at 10:39 am
Nadal vs Gasquet 1 Set 1/2 Final US OPEN 2013 (in Russian)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQPQrIbOSZw
Nadal vs Gasquet 2 Set 1/2 Final US OPEN 2013 (in Russian)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnD4RH9zVbw
Nadal vs Gasquet 3 Set 1/2 Final US OPEN 2013 (in Russian)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDqv-dmRppc
Watch quickly – the videos can disappear from Youtube!.
Thanks Augusta
Tignor picks Nole over Rafa in final
Hasn’t this been Djoko’s typical behaviuor lately (remember him in Madrid!):
“07.09.2013 US OPEN Djokovic vs Wawrinka, Djokovic Gets Angry to the Crowd and Yells”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc7j1Vvlu18
Mental fragility?
It will be really huge if Rafa beats Novak in a HC slam final on USO – his least fav surface , I just hope it happens and I cant wait to live that moment :-).
Rafa has already done it – in 2010!
Moreover, if Rafa wins, he will be the only current player with multiple wins at three Slams with different surfaces: clay, grass and HC. More importantly, it would really sow seeds of doubt in Djokovic going into the Australian Open, a slow HC which suits Rafa’s game better (a la IW) than the faster US Open surface.
Yes Augusta, but 2010 Djoko was ot the Djoko post 2011. Beating him now will be far far more huge and yes it can put a scar on Djoko vs Rafa.. Rafa really needs to go for the kill this time..go Rafa Go.
I am reading his book Rafa My story and the adrenaline and power of concentration and will to win hopefully take him to victory. I am excited aat the prospect of Rafa beating Novak at USO if it comes to actually pass.
Via @genny_ss: The RFET offered Rafa a private jet to bring him to Madrid for Davis Cup, but he’s rejected it due to Spain’s economical situation (@calvonbauer)
Having read Rafas back and just finishing it, the thing that is most concerning is ‘The fear of winning’ to Rafa.Will he be able to close out the match when he is in a position to win against his biggest rival. He admits nerves take him over completely and it did him in in Wimby 2008 (could not close out match in 4th having match points ), RG 2013 (could not close out match in 4th serving for it at 6-5 ), AO 2012 (lost after leading the match in 5th up 4-2). Add to this Djokos tendency to go for broke when he is down.
@Sanju, Stop talking as if Rafa has never beaten Novak. Those “nerves” have garnered him 12 Slams so far, no? Are you one of those people still haunted by 2011? Get over it, this is 2013…………….
Sanju’s opinion of Rafa is not very high.
Read his book, I am quoting what he said. It is not me making up things here.
I meant book above instead of back..grrr typos
On ESPN, P. McEnroe and Brad Gilbert both pick Rafa in 4. Sean on tennis x also picks Rafa in 4.
@JCKNY
Oh no! Not the (in)famous Sean jinx…;) Picked Andy b4 the tournie…..
but Sean picked Gasquet in the semi. I didn’t see anyone else pick that.
The picks are just for fun, they mean nothing.
Anyone who picked Gasquet in the semis needs to have their head examined! That was absolutely ridiculous! I picked Rafa to win with Gasquet winning 11-13 games. That’s what happened. One of those rare times when I was right.
There are any one of a few reasons why Rafa wasn’t at his best. It could have been the windy conditions, the fact that he knew that Gasquet couldn’t beat him and did just enough to get the win or maybe he wasn’t feeling it that day. All I want is for him to come out playing his best when it counts on Monday.
Also, about Rafa having beaten Djoker at the 2010 USO. Yes, but that was before Djoker 2.0 arrived in 2011. I will say that this Djoker is nowhere near the same player. Even in 2012 he was able to win matches with his mental strength. I remember mentioning it on TT more than once. I was very impressed with seeing him do that. But this year that has completely changed. He is losing matches when he is up a break and has the lead. He has double faulted away breaks of serve or even sets. Something is off with him.
That’s why I think Rafa can and will beat him. Rafa is the mentally stronger, more confident player now. I don’t think it will be easy. It never will be between these two. I think beating Djoker now after so many naysayers wrote off Rafa and after coming back from being off for seven months, will be epic. It will cap off a great year.
I would like to see Djoker brought back down to earth. At times his behavior has been insufferable. I want Rafa to do it.
No no no, Sean picked Gasquet over Ferrer to get into the semi. Almost everybody else picked Ferrer. Then he picked Djoker in 5 and Rafa in 3 in semis. Most people picked Djoker in 4. So he’s been right on recently.
Thanks for the clarification. That makes a lot more sense.
What else has Rafa been doing in these last two months but get as ready as can be to make the US final, be aggressive on hardcourts and play with confidence whoever he would face in the final? Yes Rafa will suffer some nerves at times on Monday and Novak will at times pull a rabbit out of a hat to save or win a game but judging by their mental and other forms these last two months you have to pick Rafa in a tough match. Either it will be tight a lot of the time or Novak will not be able to play at the level he has formerly played at. I don’t see Rafa have the sort of trouble he had in ’11 and less so at the AO ’12. Rafa in 4 seems to most likely prediction to me.
Gosh!! People here really badly want Nole to lose. Judging by it, I dont know what you guys will actually do when Nole loses tomorrow.
Though I still could not understand the reason of this hate. But will give just one advice – be careful of what you ask for.
Coming to tomorrow’s match, I have Rafa:Nole :: 75:25 to win the title.
But Rafa will have to do it in 5. Nole can win it in 4 or 5.
Why cant Rafa do it in 4? Reason?
Well taking into account their recent past encounters, mostly RG 2013. Other than that, I dont expect Novak to lose that easily. Plus, Rafa has shown signs of waning off in b/w sets in his matches. It’s really difficult to play at the same high level across the sets.
Though recent news about windy weather has made me to ponder a bit more on my pick. If it’s really windy, then Rafa will win in 3. Nole is just terrible in wind
abhirf,
May I ask to whom you are directing this comment? To all of us? Why would I want Djoker to win? I am a Rafa fan. Would you want Fed to lose to anyone? Let’s be real here, please!
You may remember that we have seen Rafa lost seven straight times to him. For myself, I don’t know how long Rafa will be able to play. I am staying in the moment and enjoying it. He already lost three straight slam finals to Djoker. I want to see Rafa have his chances to cement his legacy of greatness. He has to do it now while he is fit, healthy and playing well. He has had a long road back. You must realize that we had to endure seven months with Rafa out of action. We didn’t know how he would be or how he would play when he came back. You might also remember on TT how there were Fed and Djoker fans who wrote Rafa off and got in our faces about it all the time. So we are having our moment now. This is our time.
I am not a hater. Never have been, never will be. I would not throw that word around so carelessly here. If you want to read real hate, just check out tennis-x. Then you can read about how it’s all a conspiracy with Rafa. That he just took off seven months, dropped out of the Olympics where he was supposed to carry his country’s flag, dropped out of Montreal and Cincy and the USO and everything through to year’s end, all while pretending to have a knee injury. That he is doping. That he has zero integrity and is a disgrace. Just check out this guy Ben Cronin and you can read some serious hatespeak. Nobody here has said anything remotely like that about Djoker.
You have really stepped over the line with this comment. I expected better from you.
here you go:
https://tenngrand.com/2013/09/09/u-s-open-final-preview-and-pick-djokovic-vs-nadal/
Hey, hey easy out there. I didnt mean it like that. I know you all are Rafa fans and will definitely want him to win this one after what have you all been in recent times. But I sensed some kind of ‘dislike’ (or hate) towards Nole going through the comments. I know that most of you here are not haters. I just said what I felt.
abhirf. NNY is right I dont think anybody posting here indulges in hate-speak about any player. I myself readily admit to often being antagonised by some aspects of Djokovic’s behaviour and I’m quick to criticise him but even as I wrote ‘I hope the wind blows’ I thought at the time it was a rather mean thing to wish for.
On the brink of such an important match it’s only natural Rafans are all feeling a bit jumpy – hence NNY’s indignant reaction to your comment 😉
My opinion of Rafa is very high but its not of blind worship. You have to acknowledge and respect credentials of his key rivals and on HC, numbers say that Nole has better results. That does not mean Rafa cannot win tomorrow, ofcourse he can but he has to play really well and key is not drop balls short like he was in Gasquet match and have both his DTL FH and BH working.
@Sanju, you are no better or worse than any other Rafa fan, no need to get on your high horse with this “blind worship” shtick. How does acknowledging Rafa’s good play todate and victories over Djokovic diminish Djokovic’s HC game? Both Rafa and Novak have to play really well to beat the other.
To say it’s Rafa only who needs his “A” game to beat Novak is to imply Novak does not need his “A” game to beat Rafa. Wrong. Take a look at their recent matches all round, they were decided by fine margins, meaning they could have gone either way for both players. If you believe Novak is a better player than Rafa, say so, just do not patronise those who may have the opposite opinion.
@abhirf, it is not hate against Novak, it is annoyance at his disrespect towards his opponent. Yes, he knows how to play Rafa, just as Rafa knows how to play him. Personally, it would not surprise me at all if Novak wins tomorrow, theirs are matches of small margins after all. Having said that, it would not surprise me if Rafa won either.
RITB..you are clearly overreacting and you know it. You are clearly too nervous and it is showing. I dont want to argue anymore with you as you are misconstruing simple things.
I did not tell anything about Rafa, I just quoted what he said in his own book, his own words about fear of winning, stop misconstruing things here. Novak is a better player than Rafa on HC going by the results is a fact, the same way that Rafa is a better player than Novak on clay and grass going by results. No one can dispute this fact and that is what I said. I also added that in no way means Rafa cannot beat Novak tomm, ofcourse he can.
I have no interest in what Novak needs to do to beat Raafa, whether he brings his A game or B, I dont care..I am only bothered about what Rafa needs to do and that is what I pointed out.
You are no bigger a Rafa fan than I am..so let us jut stop it here itself
Peace.
Peace indeed @Sanju. And yes, hearing a Rafan call other Rafans “blind worshippers” makes me nervous. I was hopping we were done with that on TT, denigrating other Rafans that is. Please let’s not go back there.
The wind will be a huge factor……..
#NewYork
I did not call anyone directly a blind worshipper. I said not seeing numbers and stats and history that sugests Novak is a better HC player equates to blind worship.
I go only by facts and results..there is no other truth. About not going back here or there, request you to stop misconstruing others posts and stop preaching too.
Again I reiterate if history and past results say Novak is a better HC player, that simply does not mean Rafa can win tomm. Rafa very well cn and may too . History also suggests Rafa plays better in wind (except maybe IW 2012 semi).
Peace.
@Sanju, my apologies to you if I misconstrued your words.
ritb and Sanju,
Come on people! We are all getting jittery and nervous about the final! But there’s no need to go at each other. I do not think that Sanju meant to be insulting or disrespectful in any way. We should always want everyone to feel free to say what they think. I believe that Sanju was just speaking for himself. He was giving his opinion and saying that he doesn’t believe in blind worship. That’s his point of view. I didn’t see him say anything about anyone else.
We all love Rafa and want him to win. We express it in our own unique way. There is no right or wrong. Sanju has already been attacked by someone else. There’s no need for that. We are on the same side.
Rafa is honest about Djoker’s strength on hard courts. He has said it many times. He is honest with himself and others. But that does not mean that Rafa can’t play well on this surface, too. That does not mean that Rafa cannot beat Djoker. He’s already done it. Rafa even said that he would like to play another player when asked in his presser after the win over Gasquet. It’s the truth. But he has shown how well he can play on hard court yet again. We are sensitive because of all the hatespeak and propaganda about Rafa being a supposed clay court specialist and one dimensional player. We have heard that garbage all too often.
The enemies are out there on other sites. We had to read it on TT in the last few months before the site closed down. We can read it every day on tennis-x. There are other places where the haters will spew out their lies about Rafa. But here should be a safe place where we can all say what we think.
Peace everyone!
Well taking into account their recent past encounters, mostly RG 2013. Other than that, I dont expect Novak to lose that easily. Plus, Rafa has shown signs of waning off in b/w sets in his matches. It’s really difficult to play at the same high level across the sets.
Though recent news about windy weather has made me to ponder a bit more on my pick. If it’s really windy, then Rafa will win in 3. Nole is just terrible in wind.
Now everybody shake hands please 🙂
I’ve got a zillion things I should be doing but I cant settle to anything I’m so on edge about this match.
Speaking about myself, I have already apologised to @sanju. I am now safely ensconced in the middle i.e. expecting a tight match which either could win!
Sigh.