For Fed fans - would you rather have Nadal or Murray in Fed's 2013 AO half?

[OrangePower]

Rather have Nadal:
- Even if he announces he will play, Nadal might pull out last moment if he is not ready
- If he plays, he is unlikely to make it to SF (let's not forget 2 out of the last 3 years he failed to make semis, and that's without a 6 months layoff before)
- If he somehow gets to semis, he will be tired and worn out since he is not match fit.

On the other hand, Murray is in form, and has shown he can take it to Fed.

[Hood_Man]

Murray. It doesn't seem to matter what form either Fed or Nadal are in, Fed won't pull it off. As much as I enjoy the prospect of a looming Fedal match, I'd much rather see Federer reach the damn final

Despite Murray's improvements this year, the result isn't set in stone between him and Roger.

[veroniquem]

It really doesn't matter if he gets Berd in quarters

[dudeski]

I would love if Nadal was in Fed's half and then if Nadal lost in the 1st round.

[tistrapukcipeht]

Nadal, if He makes that far.

If nadal had a severe injury like del Po had, it will take at least 4-5 months competing hard for him gain his old form, if already shows up playing perfectly, and make a run at AO, He was up to something that we don't know.

So I'd rather have Nadal that won't get to latter stages of the match and have Murray going against Djokovic (good match up for Murray) and have Fed deal with Ferrer.

In equal conditions Murray is a better opponent for Federer.

[monfed]

Umm neither?

[Sabratha]

Federer has a good chance against Murray most of the time, but against Nadal he is beaten more often than not.

[Sabratha]

Originally Posted by monfed

Umm neither?

You would rather have Djokovic dismantle Federer?

[DolgoSantoro]

The Muzz, hasn't beaten Fed in a slam yet, and if Fed wins he'd crush whoever "won" the 7 hour Djonadal semi

[90's Clay]

Isn't Nadal returning in December? He should have some match play under his belt by the AO (maybe it won't be enough though).. I dont like Fed's chances anymore vs either on slow hard courts regardless. Unless Murray self destructs which of course is always possible knowing him

[Sabratha]

Even if Nadal returns in December, he won't be match fit by January. I still predict a big run from him, though. At least to the quarters.

[Federer20042006]

I'm hoping for Nadal. The long layoff should hurt him...at least you'd think it would.

Even apart from that, Murray is not a guy Federer wants to face at the AO at this point. With the monkey off Murray's back, it's a mismatch on that surface.

Federer at least had a chance in the match against Nadal this year, but just couldn't sustain his first set level of play.

But I think there's a decent chance Nadal loses before the SF.

[Clay lover]

Nadal ALWAYS finds a way to get into Federer's head in slams. ALWAYS.

A sane man must choose Murray.

[August]

Nadal. I want to see another Fedal match but not in a final. And Murray is easier to beat in the final than in the semis.

[tudwell]

It really doesn't matter at this point. Federer is more vulnerable than ever before the semifinals, so it's possible he doesn't even make it. Nadal will just be coming back on tour (hopefully), so it's possible he doesn't even make it. Murray hasn't had an early round upset in a while, but it's still possible he as well might not even make the semifinal. If we assume all three will make it, I want Nadal in Federer's path so he can start evening up that head-to-head.

[Shangri La]

Nadal will pull another Rosol at AO so it doesnt matter.

[Netspirit]

Originally Posted by Clay lover

Nadal ALWAYS finds a way to get into Federer's head in slams. ALWAYS.

Not in his prime, 2004-2007, see Wimbledon 2006 and 2007 (and even their clay matches before 2008 ). He only got into his head after Federer self-destructed in the FO 2008 final, which affected his confidence in the Wimbledon 2008 and AO 2009 finals, after which they never met again before Federer was way, way past his slam-winning age.

[underground]

I want to have Nadal:

- because he probably wouldn't be fully fit
- because even if he wins I still want to see Federer to fight
- because if Federer wins it will be great that he finally beats him in a slam
- because I live in the UK and I can't stand anymore of the Murray hype.

[Feather]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

It really doesn't matter if he gets Berd in quarters

It doesn't matter if he gets Rosol in the second round

[Clay lover]

Originally Posted by Netspirit

Not in his prime, 2004-2007, see Wimbledon 2006 and 2007 (and even their clay matches before 2008 ). He only got into his head after Federer self-destructed in the FO 2008 final, which affected his confidence in the Wimbledon 2008 and AO 2009 finals, after which they never met again before Federer was way, way past his slam-winning age.

Even in the matches he lost, no one got as close to winning against Federer in slams with the exception of Safin who in fact beat him in AO2005.

Off the top of my head, I can think of at least 10 matches in which Fed was leading/the score was close before Nad got into Fed's head:

06 Dubai
06 FO
07 FO
08 Monte Carlo
08 Hamburg
08 FO
09 AO
11 Madrid
11 FO
12 AO

Nadal is a slow starter but usually picks up his consistency and heaviness of shot over the course of the match, whereas Federer's focus and consistency declines as Nadal's consistency increases. That is how most of their matches in which Federer lost have been played out.