Blake Or Nadal *Spoiler (If Necessary)*

[ctbmar]

I am sticking with Blake winning Nadal in 4 sets because of Blake's US J-Block fan supporters, Blake is in winning form and just beaten a tough Rusedski and played quite well against a rusty Federer in Cincinnati. Blake has not played Nadal before but Blake definitely gets fired up when playing Hewitt, so a fiery pump-fist Nadal on court is quite similar to a "Come-on" Hewitt.
What are your opinions?

 

[Sissela]

Nadal wins in 3 sets but he gotta play his best on hard court. Blake is really tough right now.

 

[DariusRaiden]

I'm pulling for Blake, and he's got what it takes to beat Nadal. I was very surprised at how close the Sco match was, Sco had three break points at the end of the second set but didnt convert.

On these fast hardcourts, Nadal is more susceptible to attack. The big hole I noticed with Jenkins was net play and putting shorter balls away. Since Blake is far better than Jenkins in both of these departments, maybe he can pummel the Spaniard.

The big problem for Blake is that Nadal will force him into overhitting. If Blake is confident and not afraid to come forward, I feel like he should actually beat Nadal. He's hitting his backhand very well lately so it should be tough for Nadal to break it down.

Blake has a pretty bad record in 5-setters, I don't think he's won one yet, so he'd better make quick work of it. I'm feeling Blake in three sets if he's on, but I voted for four sets since it's a somewhat safer bet. This is going to be an intense match, maybe it'll even be personal!

FIRE UP JAMES!!

 

[fantom]

I would love to see Blake win, but I don't think he'll be able to pull it off.

I am really excited to watch the match, though. Both of those guys have blazing speed, so there will probably be some fantastic points. If James' forehand is 'on' and he's keeping his backhand in he's got a shot.

 

[Shyyre]

one of two things is going to happen... either blake is giong to decide he has to go for it all on every shot which means he'll miss a lot and nadal will get to most of those that are in but blake will lose quickly due to UE OR it will be a really close match. either way nadal wins, straights in the first scenario or in 4 tough sets in the second.

i love players and if blake plays his best this could be the match of the tournament.

 

[GRANITECHIEF]

I have to think Blake has a puncher's chance in this match. The thing is, in his last bunch of matches, he really found the range on his forehand and has been able to hit many winners. I think that if he gets the timing down on the massive topspin of the Nadal ball, he's really going to be able to crank it. Also, judging by how tight Scoville played him, i gotta think Blake can only do better.

I know i'll be rooting big time for Blake and the crowd will probably be a factor.

Go James!!!

 

[gugafanatic]

I think James is going to pull through in 4. He has the greater momentum going into the match and is probably playing the best tennis of his career. James like Nadal is able to convert defence into attack and is a great scrambler. He also has more weapons off the ground and his serve has been booming of late.

 

[Kaptain Karl]

I'd love to see James take it, but I'm also a realist. I picked Nadal in 4.

(But based on my predictions on that other thread, you'd do well to choose anything *other* than what I picked. Ugh!!!)

- KK

 

[DashaandSafin]

Ill be rooting for James. He has these advantages
-Crowd <---- Huge one
-Forehand to Nadal's backhand
-Volleys
-Lightning fast USO courts
-go for broke Strategy

Nadal:
-Speed
-Forehand to Blakes backhand
-Speed
-Never give up attitude

I think ill go with Blake in 5?
either that or Nadal in 3

 

[Kevin Patrick]

Can't wait till Saturday afternoon.

I like Blake, but he's never had a really big win over a big name on a big stage. He's 25(so he's not young enough to have a care-free attitude about big matches) & is facing the pressure of having 23,000 fans cheering for you. I haven't seen anything in his career that would indicate he's capable of this kind of win. Though he was able to push Hewitt to 5 sets at the '02 US Open.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

If Blake plays as well as he has so far he wins, period. It is all up to him.

 

[Type40]

Nadal to win in 3 sets

 

[Rafa's boy]

I don't think Blake has ever handled anything like Rafa. Rafa has the edge on agressiveness, forehand, and speed, most notably. IMO, Nadal also has the edge in backhand and serve. Nadal also has an amazing mind.

The only way I see Blake beating Rafa is going for broke 'Safin style'. It also depends how much of a factor Nadal's heavy topspin is. I just don't see it happening for Blake especially with like someone mentioned, the pressure that must be on him for pulling something like this off.

 

[VamosRafa]

I think it's going to be a very tough match for Rafa, and am a bit concerned about it. So I cheated, and e-mailed Simon Cambers with Reuters, and asked him what he thought. This is what he said:

"I think [Rafa] will be just about good enough to get past Blake, who is playing well, but I would say four sets to Nadal!!"

Since I liked his answer, I'm going with that one.

 

[felix_leiter]

I'm dying to see this match!

 

[fjgarciap]

Nadal in 4 sets. I would like James to win this but I just don't see it happening.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

I don't think Blake has ever handled anything like Rafa. Rafa has the edge on agressiveness, forehand, and speed, most notably. IMO, Nadal also has the edge in backhand and serve. Nadal also has an amazing mind.

I dont agree at all. Blake has the clear edge in agressiveness on a fast court, he goes for alot more, and he tries much more to dicate points and to make things happen than Nadal. Blake also has a much more overpowering forehand than Nadal possesses on a faster court. I would say they are close in serve, backhand, and
speed, Blake is also one of the fastest players on tour.

The thing going for Nadal is he always plays his best tenins. So it will all depend on how well Blake chooses to play this match.

 

[VamosRafa]

I would say they are close in serve, backhand, and speed, Blake is also one of the fastest players on tour.

Disagree on the speed issue. Rafa's speed on any surface is better than Blake's, and is arguably the best on the ATP.

 

[gugafanatic]

Yes Rafa does get more balls back then anyone on the ATP tour.

Blake does not change direction as well as Nadal, nor can he hit those amazing angled passing shots when pushed out wide on his backhand.

 

[Kaptain Karl]

Remember, I'd love to see Blake take this, but I see James getting only one set....

Blake has the clear edge in agressiveness on a fast court, he goes for alot more, and he tries much more to dicate points and to make things happen than Nadal.

I dont' think you've been paying attention. Nadal is an amazing "dictator" of the pace, points, etc. I'd say he's quite aggressive. [On a ten-point Aggressiveness scale, Rafa's a 9; Blake's an 8.]

Blake also has a much more overpowering forehand than Nadal possesses on a faster court.

I'd call their FHs "even". [Both = 9.]

I would say they are close in serve, backhand, and speed, Blake is also one of the fastest players on tour.

TILT!!!

Serve: Blake [8; to Nadal's 7]
BH: Nadal (by a hair) [7.5 - to - 7.3]
Speed: Nadal (Blake might be "one of the fastest." But Nadal is *the fastest.* [Nadal = 10; Blake = 9]

I, too, am eagerly awaiting this match....

- KK

 

[gugafanatic]

Blakes forehand is a monster. Nadal hits loopers from way behind the baseline, his forehand lacks penetration off the deep ball.

Blake has probably made the biggest jump in rankings from all top 100 players during the hard court swing. He has alot of confidence and is making those crucial points whereas before he would fold. He has taken Hewitt to 5 sets twice at the US Open and is probably a better player now then he has ever been.

 

[Muse]

I hope Nadal pulls something doing a fist pump... Little punk, his act is worn out now that he's actually accomplished something in his tennis career.

 

[Tu Madre]

If Blake plays as well as he has so far he wins, period. It is all up to him.

But what if Nadal plays his ass off too...

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Disagree on the speed issue. Rafa's speed on any surface is better than Blake's, and is arguably the best on the ATP.

Although the "all surface" part of the comment is apart from the main subject here, I still have to comment on that. Rafael's movement is not arguably the best on all surfaces, on grass it is not even that strong, he has trouble even getting his footing underneath him on grass. On grass his movement does not even come within miles of Federer or Hewitt.

 

[Tu Madre]

I hope Nadal pulls something doing a fist pump... Little punk, his act is worn out now that he's actually accomplished something in his tennis career.

I think his fist pumping it out of habit, and is nothing personal. Give him a break.

 

[Rataplan]

Although the "all surface" part of the comment is apart from the main subject here, I still have to comment on that. Rafael's movement is not arguably the best on all surfaces, on grass it is not even that strong, he has trouble even getting his footing underneath him on grass. On grass his movement does not even come within miles of Federer or Hewitt.

This year, he played two matches in Wimbledon, right?
As a matter of fact, I have seen quite a few comments from experts (sadly, I could not see the matches myself) on his speed and how amazing it is even on grass. Pat Cash said that he hadn't seen anybody move that quickly before. So, the speed is there even on grass but there are other aspects that bothered him (how you turn, change direction,...indeed the footing perhaps) where he still needs some work and that will improve once he gets more experience on that surface.

Also, lots of players who grew up on clay courts depend on the slide movement too much and they do not adapt their movement on faster surfaces (the other way round is also the case, many players who are used to faster surfaces can't get used to the sort of movement that works well on clay). Another expert commented that Nadal is adapting the way he should move on faster surfaces and (was it Gilbert? ) said that he expected that his speed could in the long run work even more for him on HC than on clay.

 

[VamosRafa]

I think his fist pumping it out of habit, and is nothing personal. Give him a break.

His fist-pumping is something you either like or you don't -- although I suppose some people are neutral on it. I like it because it gives him character -- for such a young guy, he certainly has many "trademarks" -- the sprinting to the backcourt to warm up, jumping in place as they do the toin coss, the piratas, the tight shirts, his celebratory gestures, etc. I think they make him unique, and are helping to generate excitement for the game. But I also can see how some folks are annoyed by them.

I'm sure his antics will become more tame as time passes, and all this becomes more "old hat" for him. He won't be 19 forever, and that youthful exuberance is bound to taper off.

 

[VamosRafa]

Although the "all surface" part of the comment is apart from the main subject here, I still have to comment on that. Rafael's movement is not arguably the best on all surfaces, on grass it is not even that strong, he has trouble even getting his footing underneath him on grass. On grass his movement does not even come within miles of Federer or Hewitt.

But it may be better than Blake's. Rafa got to the second round. Blake lost to Hernych in the first round.

Rafa's grasscourt play is definitely a work in progress. He played much better at Wimbly two years ago, when he beat Ancic, and made it to the third round. He just hasn't had that much experience on grass, and I agree it's going to be a challenge for him.

 

[ctbmar]

Kudos to all the 10 voters (19.61%) who voted together with me on Blake winning in 4 sets!!!

 

[Kaptain Karl]

I am DElighted to have been wrong with my prediction.

- KK

 

[Shyyre]

I am DElighted to have been wrong with my prediction.

- KK

i second that... what a great match!