Legend of Borg
G.O.A.T.
Mun mode on:
Nadal played the best match of his life and barely beat a PK playing at 15% of his ability.
Mun mode off.
Hey Agony, I though you left after the Wimbledon fiasco. Good to see you're still here.
up next for rafa: philipp kohlschreiber
- Thread starter anticaria
- Start date
Hey Agony, I though you left after the Wimbledon fiasco. Good to see you're still here.
Bud
Bionic Poster
Seen him out of the gate too many times that flat and lose in straights. He really picked up the level in set 2, however. He won't have the same luxury against Murray, tomorrow.
Sartorius
Hall of Fame
That was the difference in the end, I don't think PK could have done anything differently in the 2nd but he could have done a lot better in the 3rd. Then again, Nadal himself made a poor start in the 1st and that cost him the set. Other than that, he played well.
P_Agony
Banned
Wow, you sure disrespect Kohly, a player who is alway a tough opponent and has won matches and sets from most of the top players and multiple surfaces.
P_Agony
Banned
I left for a little bit, and then I saw how Talk Tennis turned into "Talk Rafa" and I couldn't let that happen. Thanks man
That was an entertaining match and I am glad that Nadal won it. Congrats to him for not tanking.
He did not play very well, far from his best, that's very clear, but he needs these matchs as a practice for the USO who has to be his ONLY goal of the remaining season. So all the match has to be taken as warm ups for the USO. He wil get better and better matchs after matchs hopefully.
He is not good for the moment but I think it will come.
Tomorrow Murray will be a much tougher challenge, but Murray struggled against Monfils and lost to Querrey so it should be close.
He did not play very well, far from his best, that's very clear, but he needs these matchs as a practice for the USO who has to be his ONLY goal of the remaining season. So all the match has to be taken as warm ups for the USO. He wil get better and better matchs after matchs hopefully.
He is not good for the moment but I think it will come.
Tomorrow Murray will be a much tougher challenge, but Murray struggled against Monfils and lost to Querrey so it should be close.
W/Ue are not bad, but could have played better at the start. I thought he would win in 2, wrong about that, but if this had been their AO match it would have been ~30 min. longer. The aggresivity on hard courts is paying off imo. I want to see at least one huge FH shank and massive missed ROS each match.
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angiebaby
Semi-Pro
Not vintage Rafa, that first set was painful to watch. Much, much better in the 2nd but his form dipped again in the beginning of the 3rd and only picked up in the last two games of the match. Still, he ground out a victory. He's nowhere near his best but he's building up to it and the more matchplay - and wins - the better.
Against Murray tomorrow, I'm reminded of how many people were sure Murray would beat Rafa at Wimby this year, after Rafa's shaky start and the number of sets he'd dropped in his previous matches. Turned out to be Rafa's best performance of the tournament and Murray lost out when it counted the most. Different surface but could it be the same result? Never say never with Rafa. Hoping for the win tomorow.
Against Murray tomorrow, I'm reminded of how many people were sure Murray would beat Rafa at Wimby this year, after Rafa's shaky start and the number of sets he'd dropped in his previous matches. Turned out to be Rafa's best performance of the tournament and Murray lost out when it counted the most. Different surface but could it be the same result? Never say never with Rafa. Hoping for the win tomorow.
rafa leads andy 8:3 lifetime and 4:3 on hard courts so if anyone has the edge, it is rafa..
in fact, of the 3 times andy's beaten rafa (all 3 on hard courts), 2 came at the majors: '08 uso and '10 aussie open.. and in both of those occasions rafa was far below his best: at the '08 uso, extreme fatigue after a marathon euro clay season and olympic gold in china understandably left rafa with nothing left in the tank physically, but especially mentally, with which to threaten andy.. and at the '10 aussie open, rafa's tendinitis ruined rafa's chances.. plain and simple..
so i honestly don't see how anyone can say murray has the edge merely based on two inconclusive hard-court victories at the majors against a woefully subpar rafa..
btw.. i would have expected andy to have taken the lead over rafa on the faster surfaces like grass or hard courts, yet that has not happened..
TheTruth
G.O.A.T.
That's what I think. Nadal has played progressively better each round. He knows who Murray is. I expect him to play better, cut down on his mistakes and take out of it what he needs to do to improve.
I like Kohlschreiber. That was a good match.
In grands slams nadal's two best performances this year have come against murray imo. Their sets at the AO are still the highest level tennis has seen this year. Should be another great match tomorrow.
You are right.
Murray has beaten Nadal two times by retirements on injuries and one time where he just played better (USO).
Murray does not have the edge over Nadal on hardcourt. That's sure. Nadal already beat Murray in toronto a few weeks before their USO meeting and completely destroyed him in the final of Indian Wells.
It completely depends on which Nadal shows up. If this is the Nadal of today, who looked a bit like the Nadal of last year... or if this is the Nadal of Wimbledon.
Murray has more matchs under his belt and is further in his USO preparation than Nadal, but Rafa can still win. He is the best player in the world.
I'd put Nadal as the favourite against Murray, but Murray's 2010 AO win was legit. Nadal got injured in the 3rd set; Murray outplayed him in the first 2.
batz
G.O.A.T.
Your statement in bold is just bollox. Murray was winning both of the matches you allude to before Rafa got injured.
Murray has won 3 of their last 4 hardcourt matches.
drakulie
Talk Tennis Guru
Rafa is the GOAT at retiring withi injurires when he is losing.
Anyways, glad to see him pull it out in straight sets today.
Vamos!
exactly right.. a lot of 'wishful' folks already had murray wiping the grass court with rafa long before that match was even played.. yet, strangely enough, the murray power tool failed to work against rafa on grass despite the home field advantage and wild crowd support.. so you'd think the rafa haters would heed caution and common sense, right?
nope, sadly not.. for the rafa haters tend to throw all trace of caution and common sense right out the window whenever the hard-court season arrives..
will they ever learn? probably not.. they'll just keep wishing and hoping for a new 'power tool' to come along so they can jump on the new power tool du jour's bandwagon..
in short, these folks will do anything to keep from extending rafa the benefit of the doubt..
T
TennisandMusic
Guest
exactly right.. a lot of 'wishful' folks already had murray wiping the grass court with rafa long before that match was even played.. yet, strangely enough, the murray power tool failed to work against rafa on grass despite the home field advantage and wild crowd support.. so you'd think the rafa haters would heed caution and common sense, right?
nope, sadly not.. for the rafa haters tend to throw all trace of caution and common sense right out the window whenever the hard-court season arrives..
will they ever learn? probably not.. they'll just keep wishing and hoping for a new 'power tool' to come along so they can jump on the new power tool du jour's bandwagon..
in short, these folks will do anything to keep from extending rafa the benefit of the doubt..
Well Murray seems to be playing better based on todays matches, and Nadal doesn't move nearly as well on hard courts as he does on natural surfaces. *shrug*
It's pretty easy to call tomorrow for Murray, if thats what you think. Obviously some people wish it, more than think it, but still...
i hear ya, tennis.. but this is a healthy and in-form rafa we're talking about and he is number one for a reason afterall.. this isn't the same rafa who struggled with tendinitis, confidence and match toughness issues in late '09 and early '10..
btw.. what gets me are the silly predictions that murray will somehow 'destroy' rafa, etc.. tsk tsk tsk..
M
meg0529
Guest
It must really be hurting the haters, that Rafa came back from being in quite a bit of doo doo without taking an MTO. 
thejoe
Hall of Fame
It must really be hurting the haters, that Rafa came back from being in quite a bit of doo doo without taking an MTO.
Not really, not managing to put Kohly away in straights was enough for me.
Nadalfan89
Hall of Fame
Let the butthurt flow through you...
I can't imagine what's going to happen when Rafa wins the USO. The amount of whining is going to crash the site.
I can't imagine what's going to happen when Rafa wins the USO. The amount of whining is going to crash the site.
thejoe
Hall of Fame
If this doesn't happen you're going to have a serious amount of cocky posts to account for.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Ha ha good one meg. They're gonna hurt for long since he rarely takes MTOs overall.It must really be hurting the haters, that Rafa came back from being in quite a bit of doo doo without taking an MTO.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Mustard
Bionic Poster
Didn't he do that at Wimbledon?
Kohlschreiber was broken once in the third set, and thus lost the match, because he missed virtually every first serve in that set. I doubt his 1st serve percentage was higher than 20% in the third set. What's remarkable is that he was broken only once.
Now, that is the most obvious reason he was broken in the third, but only because his opponent didn't ask for a MTO. If he had, that would have been a much more obvious reason than the total absence of a first serve.
Now, that is the most obvious reason he was broken in the third, but only because his opponent didn't ask for a MTO. If he had, that would have been a much more obvious reason than the total absence of a first serve.
oh please.. stop pretending.. rafa led all of you guys to get your hopes way up after that opening set.. only to have them rudely dashed in the 2nd and 3rd sets..
btw.. when exactly has rafa ever beaten philipp in straight sets on a hard court? i'll answer that for you: never.. which means that a rusty rafa being taken to 3 sets on his worst surface is hardly anything whatsoever shocking or new..
important thing is rafa prevailed..
in fact, during the latter stages of the opening set today, this thread was full of non-fans wishing upon a star for an upset.. well, we all know how well that turned out..
peace
Nadal storms through comeback to set up Murray match
(AFP) – 2 hours ago
TORONTO, Canada — Top seed Rafael Nadal won 10 points in a row late in the match to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Friday and reach a Saturday semi-final against holder Andy Murray at the Toronto Masters.
Nadal, off the boil in the opening set, managed to right the ship by winning the second and taking the third thanks to a break in the seventh game against an opponent he has now defeated seven times.
Britain's Murray turned in an impressive performance to end the 11-match win streak of Argentina's David Nalbandian with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Murray called the victory perhaps his best effort of a season in which he has yet to lift a title after winning a leading six in 2009.
"It was very good, I served well today and got the first good hits in in a lot of the rallies," said Murray. "I was able to dictate a lot of the points.
"It was a very good performance. It was one of the best matches I've played this year."
In the evening session at the 2.43 million-dollar ATP hardcourt event, third seed Roger Federer will face a Wimbledon re-match with Czech Tomas Berdych, who upset him in the quarter-finals at the All England Club.
French outsider Jeremy Chardy faces world number two Novak Djokovic in another night quarter-final.
Murray had lost his previous two matches against the Nalbandian, who won last week's Washington trophy for his first ATP crown in 19 months.
"It definitely gives me confidence for the rest of the tournament and the rest of the US stretch," Murray said.
The fourth-seeded Scot had been unhappy with his play for months but showed signs of a recovery last month in Los Angeles, where he lost the final to Sam Querrey despite holding a match point.
Murray's game proved ultra-sharp from the start against Nalbandian, who came back a fortnight ago from three months away with a hamstring pull. In May 2009, he underwent hip surgery, missing the remainder of the season.
Nadal struggled to conclude his 50th match win of the season, passing that mark for a sixth straight year.
Kohlschreiber, who spent a recent practise week with Federer, fired 11 aces against four for Nadal, but could not find a first serve, a deadly error against the Spaniard.
Nadal has now defeated the German three times in 2009 and stands 34-1 since the second week of April.
(AFP) – 2 hours ago
TORONTO, Canada — Top seed Rafael Nadal won 10 points in a row late in the match to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 Friday and reach a Saturday semi-final against holder Andy Murray at the Toronto Masters.
Nadal, off the boil in the opening set, managed to right the ship by winning the second and taking the third thanks to a break in the seventh game against an opponent he has now defeated seven times.
Britain's Murray turned in an impressive performance to end the 11-match win streak of Argentina's David Nalbandian with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Murray called the victory perhaps his best effort of a season in which he has yet to lift a title after winning a leading six in 2009.
"It was very good, I served well today and got the first good hits in in a lot of the rallies," said Murray. "I was able to dictate a lot of the points.
"It was a very good performance. It was one of the best matches I've played this year."
In the evening session at the 2.43 million-dollar ATP hardcourt event, third seed Roger Federer will face a Wimbledon re-match with Czech Tomas Berdych, who upset him in the quarter-finals at the All England Club.
French outsider Jeremy Chardy faces world number two Novak Djokovic in another night quarter-final.
Murray had lost his previous two matches against the Nalbandian, who won last week's Washington trophy for his first ATP crown in 19 months.
"It definitely gives me confidence for the rest of the tournament and the rest of the US stretch," Murray said.
The fourth-seeded Scot had been unhappy with his play for months but showed signs of a recovery last month in Los Angeles, where he lost the final to Sam Querrey despite holding a match point.
Murray's game proved ultra-sharp from the start against Nalbandian, who came back a fortnight ago from three months away with a hamstring pull. In May 2009, he underwent hip surgery, missing the remainder of the season.
Nadal struggled to conclude his 50th match win of the season, passing that mark for a sixth straight year.
Kohlschreiber, who spent a recent practise week with Federer, fired 11 aces against four for Nadal, but could not find a first serve, a deadly error against the Spaniard.
Nadal has now defeated the German three times in 2009 and stands 34-1 since the second week of April.
Nadal survives scare to reach Toronto semi-finals
By Steve Keating
TORONTO | Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:54pm EDT
TORONTO (Reuters) - World number one Rafa Nadal survived a quarter-final scare before battling to a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber on Friday to keep his bid for a third Toronto Masters title on track.
Nadal will now face holder Andy Murray for a place in the final after the Briton earlier advanced with a clinical 6-2 6-2 win over Argentine David Nalbandian.
Playing in his first event since winning Wimbledon last month, Nadal has at times appeared to still be in holiday mode, and he was again slow out of the blocks against world number 37 Kohlschreiber.
Nadal could not have expected such a punishing workout from the German, who has just one win over a top 10 ranked opponent this season and had never beaten the muscular Mallorcan in six previous meetings.
But Kohlschreiber soon had Nadal on the back foot breaking the Spaniard at the first opportunity and holding on to take the opening set -- the first surrendered by his opponent this week.
In the second, Nadal seized the initiative with the early break to go up 2-0 on his way to leveling the match.
The third set was a tighter affair until Nadal recorded the decisive break to go 4-3 ahead, the Spaniard's play finally looking as bright as his neon pink shirt.
By Steve Keating
TORONTO | Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:54pm EDT
TORONTO (Reuters) - World number one Rafa Nadal survived a quarter-final scare before battling to a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber on Friday to keep his bid for a third Toronto Masters title on track.
Nadal will now face holder Andy Murray for a place in the final after the Briton earlier advanced with a clinical 6-2 6-2 win over Argentine David Nalbandian.
Playing in his first event since winning Wimbledon last month, Nadal has at times appeared to still be in holiday mode, and he was again slow out of the blocks against world number 37 Kohlschreiber.
Nadal could not have expected such a punishing workout from the German, who has just one win over a top 10 ranked opponent this season and had never beaten the muscular Mallorcan in six previous meetings.
But Kohlschreiber soon had Nadal on the back foot breaking the Spaniard at the first opportunity and holding on to take the opening set -- the first surrendered by his opponent this week.
In the second, Nadal seized the initiative with the early break to go up 2-0 on his way to leveling the match.
The third set was a tighter affair until Nadal recorded the decisive break to go 4-3 ahead, the Spaniard's play finally looking as bright as his neon pink shirt.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
That was grass. The revenge for AO has to happen on hard...
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
I'm sure he can: he's leading 8-3 in their head to head.
Regardless, I'm happy he made the semi. He's already gained points just by doing that. Although I want him to win, I also want him to keep reserves for the next few weeks. I want him to peak at USO, not before.
Regardless, I'm happy he made the semi. He's already gained points just by doing that. Although I want him to win, I also want him to keep reserves for the next few weeks. I want him to peak at USO, not before.
vortex1
Banned
I want him to win here, then he can tank Cinci and rest up. Beating muzza on hard court would be great.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
It would be a big boost for his confidence for sure.
ruerooo
Legend
I think he did.
TheTruth
G.O.A.T.
My sentiments exactly. I definitely do not want Rafa peaking before the USO. I'm hoping he gets in a few good matches in Cincy and then put his full concentration towards the USO.
NO PEAKING TOO EARLY, RAFA!
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