2019 Roland Garros Semifinal: Nadal (2) vs Federer (3)

Winner?


  • Total voters
    253

AndyM

Legend
So it's it's going to be damp and cool on Friday with 90% chance of showers that's really going to be creaking out there with his bones
 

Terry Tibbs

Hall of Fame
35.2% of voters predicting a Federer win. Seriously guys come one. Use head not heart otherwise it's false. Would love to say Fed but just can't see anything other than Nadal in straight sets with maybe 1 set being close.
 

ARaj

Rookie
I just hope Fed is fit after the match, have a feeling he will go down 2-3-2 or something along those lines :(
 

EllieK

Hall of Fame
I'm a huge Fed fan but even I think Rafa will win this one. I'm just hoping for a respectable scoreline, but if by some miracle Roger were to win then I would be ecstatic. I'm impressed that he has made it to the semi finals after this long off clay and at his age. He has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of if he loses on Friday. I will be cheering him on regardless.
 

3fees

G.O.A.T.
If Federer beats Nadal he will be in 2nd Place in the ATP ranking without an RG 2019 win,, 2nd place with Grass season coming up fits Federers plans.

Cheers
3Fees :)
 

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
Federer in 5.

Past performance is an indicator of future results, right?

Fed has dominated Rafa since 2017 and hasn't lost to him since 2014 AO.


No, this irrelevant.
AO match, remenber?. Nadal had one less day of rest and a semifinal match much more demanding than Federer and even so he was 9 points of victory. I forgot it was on fast harcourt, too.
Now the conditions are totally different. they are the best of 5 sets on clay, Federer is tired, and the Spaniard comes with confidence.
If you talk about background, it is much better to refer the crushing 13 to 2 on this surface and especially the 5 to 0 blushing in favor of the Spaniard in their clashes at Roland Garros.
If it is in 3 or 4 sets, you will have to see if the weather helps the Swiss a bit but the result is already written in favor of Nadal.
 

metsman

G.O.A.T.
Fed seemed to strike the ball a little better today against Stan than I've seen lately. Hopefully he plays like he has nothing to lose, because he doesn't, and goes for shots and we get a decent match. Don't know if Fed can take a set, but that would be the goal.
 

Sephiroth

Hall of Fame
image


Federer should just forfeit to avoid embarrassment, no?

Btw where is this pic from?
 

AndyM

Legend
is this the first time that the mighty fed has been such a huge underdog in a match and will this be the first time in his mind that he knows he's up against it and a huge underdog
 

uscwang

Hall of Fame
Although it is unlikely with two full days of rest, I think there should be an option for Nadal to win by w/o.
 

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Although it is unlikely with two full days of rest, I think there should be an option for Nadal to win by w/o.
What total BS. Are you hoping for Fed to break his leg while slipping in the shower? Maybe you need to reflect on your guy retiring in 11 matches in his career, including in 3/4 majors.

Walkover? And don't mention Rome when he played three matches in two days at almost 38. Fed is not giving Nadal a walkover and any tennis fan who has watched the game for more than 2 years would know that.
 

uscwang

Hall of Fame
If I were Nadal, i would use the match to dampen Federer's winning chance, for Wimbledon.
Psychologically and physically.
 

Terry Tibbs

Hall of Fame
is this the first time that the mighty fed has been such a huge underdog in a match and will this be the first time in his mind that he knows he's up against it and a huge underdog

I reckon it must be. His back odds in the betfair betting exchange are currently 8. I can't think of any other match he has played were his odds would have been so long. Perhaps his other matches against Nadal at the FO?
 

TennisFan3

Talk Tennis Guru
Looks like Federer is Optimistic:

'There's always a chance': Federer dreaming of toppling Nadal

https://sports.yahoo.com/theres-always-chance-federer-dreaming-toppling-nadal-191737747--ten.html

Federer 'believes' -

"Like against any player, there is always a chance. Otherwise nobody will be in the stadium to watch because everybody already knows the result in advance," said the 20-time Grand Slam champion.

"That's exactly what everybody believes by facing Rafa. They know it's going to be tough. But you just never know. He might have a problem. He might be sick. You never know.

"You might be playing great or for some reason he's struggling. Maybe there's incredible wind, rain, 10 rain delays. You just don't know. That's why you need to put yourself in that position."

"The complete dream would be to win the tournament," said Federer. "Other players won't agree. It will be difficult, but I believe it anyway.

"For me to get to Rafa is not simple. It took five matches here for me to win to get there.

"That's why I'm very happy to play Rafa, because if you want to achieve something on the clay, inevitably, at some stage, you will go through Rafa, because he's that strong and he will be there.

"I knew that when I signed up for the clay that hopefully that's gonna happen."

__________________

Unfortunate about the bolded part. Even if he were to beat Nadal somehow, he would get pulverized by Djoko in the final.

That's the problem. For him to win RG, he would need to take down both Nadal and Djokovic. That's a very hard task.
 

BVSlam

Professional
I really see this as a nice throwback, nostalgic RG clash between the two. I never expected them to face off at RG again, and here they are. Nadal is definitely going to win, in three or maaaaybe in four sets, but this occasion is definitely a celebration of everything they've done after their very first slam match, which also in the RG semi's 14 years ago. Kudos to both, here are they are yet again and similar to Rafa's great tournament at Wimby last year, Fed's RG this year (despite the fairly easy draw that he ended up with) is great proof of his high and consistent base level on all surfaces, even on his worst.
 

Ray Mercer

Hall of Fame
The thing that pisses me off is that Nadal got Fed 4 times during 2013 when Federer was battling injuries and having a career worst year. Now this year Fed plays well at Indian Wells and Nadal pulls out and Fed willingly meets Nadal at RG clay at 37 years old. It’s just ridiculous how often Nadal benefits from crap like this. The guy is an absolute weasel.
 

Tennis Rules

Semi-Pro
great match up...vintage...

fingers crossed for rafa. but it will be a very tough one since federer beat rafa the whole 2017 (2016 and 2015? doesn´t count because of off form rafa).

no it will go on clay....
 
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