Spoiler alert Nadal Ivanisovic

[irishbanger]

Why did Goran retire after the first set? Provided Roger gets past Davydenko (lol!) this sets up a great 2nd rounder that I hope is televised but I'm sure it won't be since neither are American. I win either way since both are on my fantasy tennis team!

[pound cat]

Mercury News...google sports

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. - Recurring shoulder trouble forced Goran Ivanisevic out of the Nasdaq-100 Open on Friday, and he said he won't return.

"I know that it's my last Key Biscayne for sure," he said.

Ivanisevic retired after losing a set to Rafael Nadal, 6-4. The injury-plagued Croatian has played just nine matches since the beginning of 2003 and has hinted at retiring after one more appearance at Wimbledon, which he won in 2001.

Ivanisevic, who won his first-round match Wednesday, has mounted several comebacks since undergoing shoulder surgery in May 2002. He said he couldn't get loose against Nadal.

"Maybe the nerve is jammed," he said. "It was a heavy arm, bothering me like this before my surgery. It's pretty disappointing."

The ailment is the latest in a series to sideline Ivanisevic at Key Biscayne. A stiff neck forced him to retire from the 1996 final, and last year he withdrew with a sore foot after stepping on a shell while wading in the ocean.

He never should have made that bargain! LOL

[sseemiller]

Thanks, pound cat. I posted a bit about this below.

Rafa was holding his serve very easily in the first set, which isn't like him. Even going up 40-love. And he then had some blown Break Points on Goran's serve, and then when Goran was serving to stay in the set, Rafa broke him. This is what I gleaned from watching the SB. He converted on the first Set Point. Then Goran retired.

Now, Rafa shouldn't have any trouble with Roger, I'm sure. But at least they have played before -- in doubles. Although Rafa needed Tommy's help to defeat him there.

I hope we get the match on TV, and we could given all the hype about Nadal, and the fact that Roger is the No. 1 player. We'll see. Depends on who else is playing that date, most likely.

I really think Roger will beat Davydenko, but there have been some bizarre results already this week, with some guys who did well at IW going down very early.

Susan

[PureCarlosMoyaDrive]

Fed is gonna piece apart Nadal. I like em both, but I like Federer a lot more. He's gonna beat him like 7-5 6-3 I bet.

[@wright]

7-5 6-3 would be a great accomplishment for Nadal, going down to Fed the way he is playing now. I'd love to watch the match though.

[sseemiller]

I don't think Rafa is ready for prime time Federer yet, but no one else on the Tour is either. Although Fed did gave major props to Nadal/Robredo after their doubles match. He was surprised that those guys could volley. Something Spaniards are starting to do. *lol*

But Fed doesn't like playing lefties much, and Rafa is that. So I'm hoping that there's some competitiveness there, although believe me, if Rafa loses by some awful score, it won't reflect badly on him. That's been happening to most players against Fed, including higher-ranked ones.

But I'm thinking this match could be more competitive than what most folks think. I don't expect Rafael to win, but it could be a great learning experience for him. And he has nothing to lose out there. He can go for it, which is just the type of opportunity Rafael likes best.

I hope it's a fun one, and we get to see it. Instead of Serena bagelling or breadsticking someone. Which is what we are more likely to see. *sigh*

But I really didn't doubt that Rafael would given Goran trouble. I didn't think he would win for sure, but with a slower court, Rafael is always in contention.

But Fed's another matter. And unlike most 17-year-olds, Rafa has faced the Federer serve in a match, and has played him a bit. So he has a bit of experience there to build upon. But when No. 32 meets No. 1, you have a good idea who the fave is. *lol*

And of course, Fed has to get by Davydenko. I think he will. But people thought Henman would win today, too. Been quite a few upsets already.

[sseemiller]

Here's a great article about the Goran/Nadal match. Rafael is very realistic about his chances against Fed. And I love the comments about his noticing the young Russian players. We noticed that at IW, too. There's some funny stuff in this article -- which Marat Safin dared them to write.

http://on.starblvd.net/cgi-bin/bbsms...l&tr=752.1