Indian Wells: Federer vs. Nadal [Semi-finals]

[dh003i]

Fed is definitely the "in form" player of the moment. He's going for his 6th title over the last 5 months (including 2 master finals in a row)
Still a bit of a question mark in best of 5 format but pretty good nonetheless and rather intriguing how long he can keep this up.

Agree, and this goes towards the importance -- even post prime and hypothetically post-Major win -- of sticking around and begin comeptitive.

I mean, for Jimmy Connors to be competitive so long after his prime was very impressive. I mean, his USO 1991 semi-final run? To say that isn't impressive, especially at his age, is crazy.

 

[Mustard]

Disagree. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Nadal has a matchup advantage vs. Federer, irrespective of their respective talents and overall strength.

Nadal's 0-7 stretch against Djokovic is horrible for Nadal. A loss to Federer isn't.

It was a horrible match for Nadal. He had no bite on his forehand. Federer's game didn't seem that affected by the wind and Federer just dictated the tone of the match.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

yet he destroyed murray in the wind back in 2009 at IW...

so the wind, does it hurt rafa's topspin more, or does the spin keep the ball in, and is Federer's serve hurt more as well as his more agressive aproach? Federer is better indoors so why did the wind hurt Nadal more than Federer today

Ah, but look what Rafa's true followers think about the windy conditions:

Federer's main problem when he plays Nadal is he isn't good enough to keep the ball over the net yet within the court at the same time. Maybe he just doesn't know how to hit Nadal's heavy top-spinning ball. Most of Federer's errors are off Nadal's standard topspin delivery. Since no player puts as much topspin on the ball as Nadal, maybe it is simply this. When they play indoors, Federer wins every time. What changes indoors? Zero wind factor means Nadal cannot get the same number of revolutions on the ball. People say it's all about Federer having to play high balls on the backhand side. It's not just backhand however, its both sides. Federer's forehand is in shambles vs Nadal outdoors, yet clean as a whistle indoors. Federer simply can't hit Nadal's heavily spinning ball properly.

 

[dh003i]

Wind does not necessarily favor the topspin player more. Agassi is an infinitely better windplayer than Nadal, and he hardly hits with any topspin.

I think wind necessarily favors the player with the lower-risk game...unless of course they have some mental problem with playing in the wind.

 

[dh003i]

It was a horrible match for Nadal. He had no bite on his forehand. Federer's game didn't seem that affected by the wind and Federer just dictated the tone of the match.

What I'm saying is that irrelevant of how bad the match went, it wasn't horrible for Nadal.

 

[boojay]

Twice. Federer also lost on clay to Isner in Davis Cup. Davis Cup does count. Exos and walkovers don't count on win-loss records and head-to-heads.

Last time I checked, you get ZERO points for winning Davis Cup, so no, it does not count.

 

[bjk]

Isner got 40 pts for DC.

 

[niff]

Lolz.

Mad day of tennis.

 

[niff]

This has been one of the best days of sports I've had in years!

Wales won the Grand Slam, Swansea City achieved their best ranking in the Premiere League ever, and now Federer has proven me wrong and beaten Nadal on a slowish outdoor hard court

So chuffed right now!

'grats lovely

 

[Rozroz]

"the real excuse was him, he played better than me."

http://twitter.com/#!/burtonad

if Nadal did say that, respect for him.

 

[intrepidish]

I don't wanna get too ahead of myself here but this COULD be the match that turns the tide in their rivalry.

Quoted for posterity

 

[Rozroz]

anyone got press text?

 

[batz]

Stuck £20 of my Isner winnings on Sexi Classy Rogi at 11/8. Go Rogi!

Yesterday was a good day - Isner and Sexy Classy turn my £5 into £55!

 

[batz]

Last time I checked, you get ZERO points for winning Davis Cup, so no, it does not count.

You haven't checked for a while then?

Roger has lost once this season - the ATP record books reflect this.

 

[joeri888]

You haven't checked for a while then?

Roger has lost once this season - the ATP record books reflect this.

Twice you mean

Saw the match last night?

 

[Russeljones]

Yesterday was a good day - Isner and Sexy Classy turn my £5 into £55!

Good one!

Great day overall except for the Muamba incident. Let's hope he gets well.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

if Nadal did say that, respect for him.

You can't unscramble a scrambled egg.

 

[batz]

Good one!

Great day overall except for the Muamba incident. Let's hope he gets well.

Awful stuff Russel - simply awful. Brought it all into perspective.

 

[batz]

Twice you mean

Saw the match last night?

Doh! Forgot about AO :shock: What a muppet I am! Twice it is - DC still counts though; which was my point.

Yep - stayed up to watch it in bed - was an excellent performance from His Rogerness - there's an argument to say he's playing the best tennis of anyone in the world at the moment.

 

[joeri888]

Doh! Forgot about AO :shock: What a muppet I am! Twice it is - DC still counts though; which was my point.

Yep - stayed up to watch it in bed - was an excellent performance from His Rogerness - there's an argument to say he's playing the best tennis of anyone in the world at the moment.

Yeah, shame he played pretty bad in that AO semifinal. But it's ridiculous anyway that after being written of by many pundits four or five times now, he still can bring this stuff on his day. The guy is 30. Most tennisplayers are dead and burried by that age.

 

[Rozroz]

You can't unscramble a scrambled egg.

he acknowledges the term: excuse.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

he acknowledges the term: excuse.

It doesn't matter, if he acknowledges anything. Actions speak louder than words.

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

Nadal's forehand was pretty ineffective, the hotter conditions would have helped him better. But credit Federer for being so good off the ground.

 

[nadalwon2012]

Thank you federer for restoring my faith in this rivalry. I now look forward to Fedal matches. No longer is it a man vs a boy. This rivalry is now 2 adults. The real deal.

 

[nadalwon2012]

Yeah, shame he played pretty bad in that AO semifinal. But it's ridiculous anyway that after being written of by many pundits four or five times now, he still can bring this stuff on his day. The guy is 30. Most tennisplayers are dead and burried by that age.

Ever heard of Andre Agassi? Winning Australian Opens into his 30s. And how old was Sampras when he won his last US Open?

 

[Smasher08]

Nadal's forehand was pretty ineffective, the hotter conditions would have helped him better. But credit Federer for being so good off the ground.

Thank you federer for restoring my faith in this rivalry. I now look forward to Fedal matches. No longer is it a man vs a boy. This rivalry is now 2 adults. The real deal.

I have to agree with the clear implication of both of you: this match has to do wonders for Fed psychologically. Rafa's really been in his head since 2008, and now Fed seems to have finally found his feet again.

Nothing succeeds like success, and Fed's really on a roll right now. That said, so's Isner: taking Fed out in Davis Cup went straight to his confidence.

Might be a closer final than a lot of people think.

 

[nadalwon2012]

I have to agree with the clear implication of both of you: this match has to do wonders for Fed psychologically. Rafa's really been in his head since 2008, and now Fed seems to have finally found his feet again.

Nothing succeeds like success, and Fed's really on a roll right now. That said, so's Isner: taking Fed out in Davis Cup went straight to his confidence.

Might be a closer final than a lot of people think.

True, and taking Djokovic out, in a match where Djokovic actually played very well.

 

[rommil]

Thank you federer for restoring my faith in this rivalry. I now look forward to Fedal matches. No longer is it a man vs a boy. This rivalry is now 2 adults. The real deal.

Hello there ma'am, where were you last night? Too bullsh!tted scared to post while game was on? Oh yeah, you were probably practicing backhands

 

[SLD76]

True, and taking Djokovic out, in a match where Djokovic actually played very well.

djokovic played like crap, tactically.

I dont know if it was an ego thing or he didnt think Isner would be as consistent as he was but..I could not understand why he was content to hit the ball right to, Isner so many times.

Like, Isner didnt even have to move his feet alot of the time.

From point one Id have been working the ball from corner to corner making him run, testing out his retrieval skills, and have been using the slice for change of direction, not only making him move but get low as well.

he just played dumb, tactically.

I can only assume he underestimated Isner's ground game and thought all he had to do was show up and return well.

But even as the match wore on, he still was hitting the ball right to Isner without making him move barely.

It was the dumbest tennis Ive seen from djoker in a while.

 

[Sartorius]

Thank you federer for restoring my faith in this rivalry. I now look forward to Fedal matches. No longer is it a man vs a boy. This rivalry is now 2 adults. The real deal.

Yeah right, kiddo..



Great match from Fed. He enjoyed the conditions more than Nadal, it showed both during and in between points.

Out of all the little things Nadal comes up with in his matches, I've never been so ticked off as I did with the bathroom break he took yesterday, checking out the clouds while walking back. He actually came back pretty quickly, but it was rather shocking to see. And don't think I've ever seen rain delay on match point, in a game of this magnitude no less.

 

[hoodjem]

Dang!

Fed beats Nadal in two, and Isner triumphs over Mr Defense in three. There is life in this old game.

Will wonders never cease?!

 

[nadalwon2012]

Hello there ma'am, where were you last night? Too bullsh!tted scared to post while game was on? Oh yeah, you were probably practicing backhands

Well, I was watching a tennis match. Were you online posting this^ crap to people you don't even know? Seriously I can only remember maybe 4 or 5 Nadal matches that I've actually posted about during the match, and even then I would only post for about a set. I never understand the appeal of wasting the experience by staring at a computer screen and typing.... And I definitely wasn't posting during the Fedal semi-final at the 2012 AO.

You sure are a poor poster, the tone of a very disturbed person, even on your best day :shock:

 

[Rozroz]

djokovic played like crap, tactically.

I dont know if it was an ego thing or he didnt think Isner would be as consistent as he was but..I could not understand why he was content to hit the ball right to, Isner so many times.

Like, Isner didnt even have to move his feet alot of the time.

From point one Id have been working the ball from corner to corner making him run, testing out his retrieval skills, and have been using the slice for change of direction, not only making him move but get low as well.

he just played dumb, tactically.

I can only assume he underestimated Isner's ground game and thought all he had to do was show up and return well.

But even as the match wore on, he still was hitting the ball right to Isner without making him move barely.

It was the dumbest tennis Ive seen from djoker in a while.

i'm so relieved some people can see things as they really are.
thanks!
i was beginning to worry with all this Tizzner uber hype.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Ever heard of Andre Agassi? Winning Australian Opens into his 30s. And how old was Sampras when he won his last US Open?

Great examples of the extraordinary. Like Connors also.

 

[rommil]

Yeah right, kiddo..



Great match from Fed. He enjoyed the conditions more than Nadal, it showed both during and in between points.

Out of all the little things Nadal comes up with in his matches, I've never been so ticked off as I did with the bathroom break he took yesterday, checking out the clouds while walking back. He actually came back pretty quickly, but it was rather shocking to see. And don't think I've ever seen rain delay on match point, in a game of this magnitude no less.

You have to respect that there is somebody out there that will do every single thing consistently to get an upper hand. That warrior like is nothing but admirable.

 

[nadalwon2012]

Great examples of the extraordinary. Like Connors also.

True that, and Becker to an extent.

 

[rommil]

Well, I was watching a tennis match. Were you online posting this^ crap to people you don't even know? Seriously I can only remember maybe 4 or 5 Nadal matches that I've actually posted about during the match, and even then I would only post for about a set. I never understand the appeal of wasting the experience by staring at a computer screen and typing.... And I definitely wasn't posting during the Fedal semi-final at the 2012 AO.

You sure are a poor poster, the tone of a very disturbed person, even on your best day :shock:

Awww you sound butthurt if I remember correctly you were posting during the Nadal- Nalbandian match........I apologise for thinking you were out hitting backhands.

 

[SLD76]

i'm so relieved some people can see things as they really are.
thanks!
i was beginning to worry with all this Tizzner uber hype.

Dont get me wrong, Isner played well.

But I think what frustrated Djoker so much was

1) the serve, especially big serve in crucial points obviously

2) the sheer amount of luck Isner was having. Clearly the boy was redlining, and I cant tell you how many awkward, off balance shots Isner hit that kissed the outside of lines, floated onto the lines, or dropped right on the baseline.

shots that are not routinely in the Isner repertoire.

I mean, if Fed or Rafa hit a shot like that you are like 'ok, too good'

but shots like that from Isner you are like 'wtf, is he Irish? Cuz it's st paddy's day today and nobody is that lucky'


thats what frustrated djoker.

also, with as far back as isner was alot of the time, he should have used the drop shot way more.

tactically this match was a disaster for Djoker.

 

[Rozroz]

Dont get me wrong, Isner played well.

But I think what frustrated Djoker so much was

1) the serve, especially big serve in crucial points obviously

2) she sheer amount of luck Isner was having. Clearly the boy was redlining, and I cant tell you how many awkward, off balance shots Isner hit that kissed the outside of lines, floated onto the lines, or dropped right on the baseline.

shots that are not routinely in the Isner repertoire.

I mean, if Fed or Rafa hit a shot like that you are like 'ok, too good'

but shots like that from Isner you are like 'wtf, is he Irish? Cuz it's st paddy's day today and nobody is that lucky'


thats what frustrated djoker.

also, with as far back as isner was alot of the time, he should have used the drop shot way more.

tactically this match was a disaster for Djoker.

i'm not a ********, but did we watch the same match?
BEFORE Novak was frustrated, he looked pale, moved sluggishly, strokes were poor, right to Isner's hands.
adding that to what you said, and it could have been Raonic out there doing the same. no?

 

[nadalwon2012]

Awww you sound butthurt if I remember correctly you were posting during the Nadal- Nalbandian match........I apologise for thinking you were out hitting backhands.

Like I said, only 4 or 5 matches that I've ever posted during. And not for long when I do, a set at the most. And definitely never have during a slam semi or final.

 

[SLD76]

i'm not a ********, but did we watch the same match?
BEFORE Novak was frustrated, he looked pale, moved sluggishly, strokes were poor, right to Isner's hands.
adding that to what you said, and it could have been Raonic out there doing the same. no?

who knows..maybe he too had the dreaded flu.

but it was just a strange performance from Djoker, thats for sure.

And before anybody says Isner made him play that way, no, he didnt.

Djoke was not being bullied around the court at all, except on return of serve.

 

[rommil]

Like I said, only 4 or 5 matches that I've ever posted during. And not for long when I do, a set at the most. And definitely never have during a slam semi or final.

So give us your in depth analysis on the match last night, on what went wrong, what went right.

Btw, I believe the name Nadalwont2012 is not taken yet. I have been telling you to do so. I know, I know, you said you don't know how to make an account

 

[Faster]

Well, I was watching a tennis match. Were you online posting this^ crap to people you don't even know? Seriously I can only remember maybe 4 or 5 Nadal matches that I've actually posted about during the match, and even then I would only post for about a set. I never understand the appeal of wasting the experience by staring at a computer screen and typing.... And I definitely wasn't posting during the Fedal semi-final at the 2012 AO.

You sure are a poor poster, the tone of a very disturbed person, even on your best day :shock:

You have to do something to kill the time that Rafa takes between points

 

[rafan]

Ever heard of Andre Agassi? Winning Australian Opens into his 30s. And how old was Sampras when he won his last US Open?

Yes I agree they shouldn't write off these people. I mean who have we got coming up with the same talent at the moment. Federer should keep going for as long as he can

 

[nadalwon2012]

Yes I agree they shouldn't write off these people. I mean who have we got coming up with the same talent at the moment. Federer should keep going for as long as he can

I agree, especially on clay where Tomic and Raonic both haven't shown anything yet. But Isner has some clay potential, that's for sure.

 

[jones101]

The Top 4 are getting closer to each other.

1. Federer gains on Nadalovic and distances himself from Murray.

2. Rafa gains on Nole but Fed/Murray close the gap on him.

3. Murray gains on Nadalovic but is further from Fed.

4. Djokers loses ground to all three.

This CC season could be carnage rankings wise

 

[rommil]

I agree, especially on clay where Tomic and Raonic both haven't shown anything yet. But Isner has some clay potential, that's for sure.

We are waiting Nadalwont2013 for your review of the match

 

[nadalwon2012]

We are waiting Nadalwont2013 for your review of the match

Posted it a while ago-

Thank you federer for restoring my faith in this rivalry. I now look forward to Fedal matches. No longer is it a man vs a boy. This rivalry is now 2 adults. The real deal.

 

[celoft]

That's exactly why Fed has to do all he can to reach no 2 spot before the FO. Actually with Nadal and Djokovic in the same half of the draw in majors, Fed could be the favorite to win...

I concur.

Federer for Channel Slam 2012.

 

[Sartorius]

You have to respect that there is somebody out there that will do every single thing consistently to get an upper hand.

No, I don't have to respect that. I respect seeing Nadal's intensity during play, I really like it. I don't respect what he does beyond that.