[2]Rafael Nadal vs [3] Roger Federer 2012 Australian Open Semifinal

Federer or Nadal

  • Federer in 3

    Votes: 39 13.5%
  • Federer in 4

    Votes: 97 33.6%
  • Federer in 5

    Votes: 35 12.1%
  • Federer Retires( Bad Back)

    Votes: 2 0.7%
  • Nadal in 3

    Votes: 11 3.8%
  • Nadal in 4

    Votes: 78 27.0%
  • Nadal in 5

    Votes: 24 8.3%
  • Nadal Retires( Bad Knees)

    Votes: 3 1.0%

  • Total voters
    289
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Deleted member 77403

Guest
Bookies have Federer as the favourite at the moment. Surprising tbh

Really? Nadal has won every slam encounter post W 07, on every surface. He is the heavy favorite, and should reach his fourth straight slam final. Federer was expected to get to the semi-final to meet Nadal and he has done that.
 

dudeski

Hall of Fame
I don't know about that. Federer hasn't lost an official ATP match since the US Open (he's now on a 23 or 24 winning streak), he beat Nadal in their last official match very easily 6-3 6-0, he's the only player left in the tournament who hasn't lost a set yet, dismantled an in-form Del Potro without breaking a sweat, Nadal on the other hand had a poor post US Open 2011 season, lost to Monfils in straight sets earlier this year in Doha, struggled big time against Berdych today (was 1 point away from going 0-2 in sets). So it isn't necessarily surprising

All this is meaningless if ******** shows up and he always does against Nadal outdoors :( I say Nadal in 4. I used to think Nadal in 3 but Fed does seem to be in good form so I give him a set before ******** takes over. Unfortunately peak Nadal is unbeatable by anyone other than Djokovic.
 

Tony48

Legend
You may have jumped the gun if Rafa has an off day.

(And I'm still mad Roger and Rafa are in the same half; I was dying for a FEDAL final.)

DelPo had one; Roger played brilliantly, but DelPo could have put up more of a fight.

We'll have to see.

:-?

They've been on the same side for 6 years. Haven't you had enough?
 
Winner of Nadal-Federer get 2 days off before the final. That is a nice advantage to have, knowing Ferrer/Murray/Djokovic tend to play long points/matches.
 

Claimant

Rookie
Federer in 3. He played very well against Delpo and is looking in better form than Rafa at the moment. Worst case scenario Fed in 4.
 

sheq

Professional
Winner of Nadal-Federer get 2 days off before the final. That is a nice advantage to have, knowing Ferrer/Murray/Djokovic tend to play long points/matches.

Thats right, and it is also good for recovering. You know both are dealing with some back and foot problems. Hopefully, it wont affect anything at their meeting.
 

Docalex007

Hall of Fame
Winner of Nadal-Federer get 2 days off before the final. That is a nice advantage to have, knowing Ferrer/Murray/Djokovic tend to play long points/matches.

That's good to know.

I wonder what Federer is thinking after watching Nadal's win (if he indeed stayed up to watch or will watch tomorrow)?

He must fancy his chances here nonetheless. Federer is playing with an extra something that I haven't seen from him in a slam since the FO 2009.
 

DragonBlaze

Hall of Fame
I better start fixing my sleep cycle. That way I can sleep through this match.

Sigh, I know it's sad to have such a gloomy outlook but I've also been burned far too many times with Fed-Nadal matches before.

Nadal is playing well now. Fed seems to be as well but in the case of Nadal he needs to not just play well, he needs to play perfect.

Nadal in 4.

Still I will watch. Hopefully old man puts all his heart into it in 2 days time, I will be happy with that I think.
 
That's good to know.

I wonder what Federer is thinking after watching Nadal's win (if he indeed stayed up to watch or will watch tomorrow)?

He must fancy his chances here nonetheless. Federer is playing with an extra something that I haven't seen from him in a slam since the FO 2009.

Jim Courier said Federer stays up late every night to get his sleep pattern right for night matches, and that he would have watched all of Nadal's match.
 

joeri888

G.O.A.T.
Federer bet Del Potro 6-3 6-0 6-0 at the 2009 AO. I guess the AO surface helps Federer a lot in that matchup.

Yeah, it does. Low bounce, is harder for Del Potro and favours Fed against anyone. Slow courts, neutralize the serve a little bit, makes it more of a grind, movement becomes more important. Favours Fed over Delpo but not over Nadal
 

dudeski

Hall of Fame
Winner of Nadal-Federer get 2 days off before the final. That is a nice advantage to have, knowing Ferrer/Murray/Djokovic tend to play long points/matches.

Wait what??? You said that instead of just saying Nadal gets 2 days off. Are you losing faith in peak Nadal? I am sure peak Nadal will handle Federer without losing more than a set.
 

kevin_95

Semi-Pro
After Federer's performance against Nadal at the french open last year, i don't see why he can't win this match as long as he serves well and doesn't tighten up on the big points. Fed in three or four sets.
 

merwy

G.O.A.T.
I really want Federer to win:( Nadal seems to be in excellent form though.. Damn I just hate the way that he plays, all those loopy moonballs, it feels as if he's cheating just by playing that way.
 

ZeroSkid

Banned
Fed is playing like his prime, maybe better, and Nadal started to play amazing near the end of the fourth set against berdych. Can he recover from another exhausting match and beat Federer again like he did in 2009, I'm picking Nadal in 5 sets
 

Sid_Vicious

G.O.A.T.
Sigh, I know it's sad to have such a gloomy outlook but I've also been burned far too many times with Fed-Nadal matches before.

Nadal is playing well now. Fed seems to be as well but in the case of Nadal he needs to not just play well, he needs to play perfect.

Nadal in 4.

Still I will watch. Hopefully old man puts all his heart into it in 2 days time, I will be happy with that I think.

It was fun while it lasted. Watching the AO late at night here in the east coast of the USA. I am also taking one a pain-in-the-ass math course these days, so late night study sessions with the intermittent AO viewing became the best part of my day and it will suck going back to my normal schedule. I am still hoping that Fed somehow pulls this match out
 

wilkinru

Professional
Fed played with a serious game plan vs Delpo.

He may have seen something when playing against Nadal at the WTF, again with a actual game plan.

Usually I would dread this match for Fed but if he comes out with a true game plan and is on serve, well he better win it in 4.
 

tennis_pro

Bionic Poster
Fed is playing like his prime, maybe better, and Nadal started to play amazing near the end of the fourth set against berdych. Can he recover from another exhausting match and beat Federer again like he did in 2009, I'm picking Nadal in 5 sets

Whatever. 2005-2006 Federer would beat the crap out of 2012 Federer
 

sonicare

Hall of Fame
I am a federer fan but I bet 100 dollars on nadal at 2.38.

If federer wins, I will be very happy and wont care about the money and if nadal wins, the extra cash will help soften the blow. :)
 

Sid_Vicious

G.O.A.T.
I am a federer fan but I bet 100 dollars on nadal at 2.38.

If federer wins, I will be very happy and wont care about the money and if nadal wins, the extra cash will help soften the blow. :)

clever-girl.jpg
 

niff

Legend
I am a federer fan but I bet 100 dollars on nadal at 2.38.

If federer wins, I will be very happy and wont care about the money and if nadal wins, the extra cash will help soften the blow. :)

Haha I do that every time too :) Same with Man City.
 

All-rounder

Legend
I see many Fed fans falling into the same trap yet again. Thinking how Fed plays in previous rounds has any indication of how he will play against Nadal.
 

Sid_Vicious

G.O.A.T.
Whatever. 2005-2006 Federer would beat the crap out of 2012 Federer

In terms of consistency. Federer was playing like a god yesterday. People need to stop acting like Federer was ending every match 2005-2006 with 57 winners and 7 UEs. He had his share of crappy performances in those days as well. That match yesterday was vintage Federer. Too bad he can't consistently summon that level these days.
 

david93

Rookie
I see many Fed fans falling into the same trap yet again. Thinking how Fed plays in previous rounds has any indication of how he will play against Nadal.

It may not count for the FO but in their only AO encounter to date Federer played relatively well in the final after he had an amazing tournament.
Nadal should usually win this but I do think that Roger has a chance if he plays his absolute best. Come on, Maestro! :)
 
N

NadalAgassi

Guest
I do think if Federer gets past Nadal he will probably beat Djokovic in the final (if Djokovic makes the final). He is playing the best tennis of anyone at this event right now. The only problem for him is the matchup and psychological problems with Nadal. Nadal on the other hand looks better than he has in awhile but still not good enough to beat Djokovic on a hard court. He will have to hope Murray or Ferrer help him out if he makes the final.
 

batz

G.O.A.T.
Would anyone believe me if I told them that the last time Roger beat Rafa on an outdoor hardcourt was Miami in 2005? In fact, the only time Roger beat Rafa on an outdoor hardcourt was Miami 2005:shock:
 

NamRanger

G.O.A.T.
Would anyone believe me if I told them that the last time Roger beat Rafa on an outdoor hardcourt was Miami in 2005? In fact, the only time Roger beat Rafa on an outdoor hardcourt was Miami 2005:shock:



That's because they rarely meet on outdoor hardcourts.


And they only meet on surfaces generally that favor Nadal. Dubai is that lone exception, and that's a match that had nothing to do with Nadal and everything to do with Federer just blowing his four hundred thousand opportunities.
 

sonicare

Hall of Fame
Would anyone believe me if I told them that the last time Roger beat Rafa on an outdoor hardcourt was Miami in 2005? In fact, the only time Roger beat Rafa on an outdoor hardcourt was Miami 2005:shock:

****..and lettuce be reality..nadal was up 2-0 and just got tired cos he was very young.. ****
 

tennis_pro

Bionic Poster
I am a federer fan but I bet 100 dollars on nadal at 2.38.

If federer wins, I will be very happy and wont care about the money and if nadal wins, the extra cash will help soften the blow. :)

That's not a bad idea. Imagine all the things you can buy for 138 dollars, like 100 cheeseburgers
 
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Deleted member 77403

Guest
The one thing that favors Roger is that this is a semi, not a final. Maybe that will help steady the nerves, maybe not. But he would be going in knowing that there still will be some tennis to be played after the Rafa semi final.
 

FlashFlare11

Hall of Fame
This match is a complete toss-up, though Federer seems to be in better form. I think the winner will take it in 4 sets.

I will say this, however: Nadal struggled against a player who plays similarly to Federer in Berdych, though without the volleying skills. Tactically, if Federer is going to win, he needs to take chances and come to the net to finish points. This is where Berdych failed against Nadal (he was one volley away from going 2-0 sets). Roger is also much better than Berdych in pulling Rafa off the court, especially with his serve. If Roger can maintain the same strategy he did at the WTF (weaken the backhand and only come to the net to finish the point, not giving Rafa a chance to pass), he can win.

I'm hoping for a Federer victory, of course!
 
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