Support MGoBlog: buy stuff at Amazon
I am enjoying this great sports day with El Classico earlier, two of the best (and my two favorite) franchises in the NHL battling, and finishing off with some great tennis.
Roger Federer has somehow brought his game to a higher level at age 30, and Rafael Nadal just came off somewhat of a struggle against Tomas Berdych. Should be a great semifinal, with the winner taking on either Djokovic or Murray.
Federer vs. Nadal 3:30 am tonight
Come on Roger!
Is anyone actually going to watch it live?
Picture matches comment
Ha I suppose it does. It wasn't meant to be snarky. I'm rooting for Roger but there's no way I can stay up that late on a work night. Actually, I might be able to catch the end of it when I wake up in the morning.
Yes.
I get off work at 3am, so i'll be home just in time to catch the start.
I am rooting for Roger to get to his goal of 20 grand slams, and he hasn't won in a while, so I think he will win this slam.
No class tomorrow... I might watch this.
Rafa has always had trouble against tall players who hit flat and hard; his topspin forehand goes right to their wheelhouse. Federer can certainly beat him, and I am hoping that he will, but he can't go 6-19 on break points like he did the last time they met in Australia.
I'm definitely staying up to watch this live. Watching it the next day or taping it causes it to lose it's luster. I understand those who have to work doing that but if you have nothing to do tomorrow, it might be worth it to watch. I have Federer winning although he has struggled against Nadal his entire career. Djokovic will be rooting for Nadal as well because Federer definitely gives him more trouble. Should be a great semifinals and finals down under!
y buena suerte...
This match boils down to tactics, adjustments, and Federer's backhand. Against Del Po, Federer was obviously trying to pick on Del Po's backhand. Fed was realling opening up the court by running around his BH when he could and putting his inside-out FH's cross-court. This kept Del Po from hitting his monster FH, pulled Del Po off the court (opening up the court for Fed), and lastly, kept Del Po off balance.
Nadal moves much better than Del Po, so Fed will have to expect more balls coming back. But the match will probably come down to how well Fed can pull Rafa off the court in a similar way and exploit that by cranking his one-handed BH up the line. If Fed gets down early, I wouldn't be surprised to see him step inside the baseline and take the ball earlier, and then follow a few balls in to try and end the points earlier--though it's dangerous if he follows the wrong ball in, since Rafa has some of the best passers in the game.
Should be a fun match, though I'm dissapointed I won't be able to see it because it's so late (I live on the west coast) and I don't have DVR. Also I have Sharapova over Kvitova.
Perfect analysis. I am taking hope in the fact that Fed seems to be integrating a lot of tactics that Annacone is teaching him and hopefully that is what he needs to get him over the hump. I don't know if you watched their last match in London, but Fed was killing Nadal's second serve.
Come on Roger!
hes ripping his backhand i love it
idk what Roger is doing now. 3 horrrendous shots to make it 4-4 in the first
fed breaks to love. wow.
Fed pulled out that first set nicely, but momentum has definitely swung. Happy Australia Day I guess with these fireworks.
by the ball boy there. nice little grab.
Shit. I don't understand how Nadal hits such filthy passing shots especially on the run.
That was one of the best matches I've ever watched.
