Heineken Open, Auckland, New Zealand, ATP 250

[nadalbestclass]

Well I watched the whole match so if you want more details ask away.

It was on-serve in the first set. Ferrer consistent from the baseline, but Nadlbandian hitting through him to bring up break points which Ferrer was able to defend.

Nadlbandian was serving at 3-4 and couldn't find a first serve. He was down 15-40 and hit backhand DTL long, he was simply trying to do too much with the ball. Maybe that's because Ferrers legs were warm and Nalbandian felt like he had to keep hitting great winners just to stay in the match. After he hit it long and lost his serve, he threw his racquet on the ground and lost his cool.

He didn't regain his cool in the second set. He cracked a racquet during a game but to avoid a fine he played the point (the last point of a game) and then changed his racquet. This decision will have saved him some $$$. By this time though Ferrer had confidence and momentum and easily served out the match.

Having watched the match, how are each of them looking for the AO?

 

[ruerooo]

I called it! Vamos Ferru!

 

[ruerooo]

Having watched the match, how are each of them looking for the AO?

Ferru looks fit. I mean fit, like a boxer. Both in body and in head, which is where I think he had it over David N. and surprised him.

Nalby's UE count seems to depend a lot on what headspace he's in. If he feels in control of the match, he starts spinning those wicked angles and he's pretty unstoppable.

If, however, someone is able to hang with him, and hang onto serve, like Ferru did, and tough it out, and keep returning to the point where it flusters Nalby, and that other player stays cool, which is what happened here, well ...

If Nalby beats Lleyton, I think he (David) and Ferru are on course to meet again at the AO. That would be interesting.

 

[aceX]

Having watched the match, how are each of them looking for the AO?

Nalbandian had a bad day yesterday. When he played Fognini in the first round, he was playing poorly but Fognini didn't punish him much for it. Maybe he was mentally tired or the task of hitting through Ferrer was just too much for him. But I'm sure Nalby will learn from this defeat and he'll come back strong. I wouldn't be surprised to see him hit Hewitt off the court.

Ferrer was just a wall. A rock at the back of the court. He looks damn fit. He's physically and mentally ready to grind to a victory. He just needs to keep this going consistently and he'll catch a top player 5 on a bad day and end up with a big title.

 

[Rhino]

I was a bit surprised by the final result, I thought Nalbandian looked more consistent coming into the match.
But well done Ferrer, he deserves it.

 

[aceX]

I was a bit surprised by the final result, I thought Nalbandian looked more consistent coming into the match.
But well done Ferrer, he deserves it.

Before every match, I thought "Ferrer doesn't have the weapons, his opponent is going to hit through him" but each match he played better. Even before the final I thought "Nalby will hit through Ferrer". But damn Ferrer fought off 3 break points in the first set and then managed to break Nalby and that was all she wrote. Disappointed that Nalby let his emotions get the best of him, though.

 

[Underhand]

I'm sure there are donuts shops in Auckland so Nalby can comfort himself.

 

[blackfrido]

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