Breathe.
1. Not just an excellent match between Nadal and Djokovic, but a great display of cojones from both players. Best match of the season so far. Rafa beat Djokovic 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, but he had to throw everything he had at Djoker to win that last game. Djoker cut out the nonsense and played ballsy tennis. What does he do when facing match point? Make drop shots. Ostensibly they were battling for the number 2 ranking, but the match was really about who succeeds The Fed when the time comes. Rafa’s been waiting in the wings for three years, that’s too long. Now here comes a guy whose backhand seems to manage Rafa’s forehand of death. Suddenly the clay season is actually exciting.
2. Nerve-wracking Hamburg final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Nadal wins, 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-3. Roger storms to 5-1 in the first set, then Rafa catches up. And goes on to win the first set, 7-5. I’d say “inconceivable”, except that we’ve seen this happen before, most recently at the Monte Carlo final. (Remember Roland Garros two years ago?) Roger takes the early lead, Rafa catches up, then you can see the spirit leaving Roger’s body (Note the posture). Yes, Nadal is the best player on clay, but it looks like Roger’s problem is psychological. Still, Fed went to the net more, and made some bizarre errors while he was at it, but this is a tactic that could pay off.
Incidentally, Fed fans, have you noticed how much we like Rafa now that Djokovic is posing a threat? At the French Open, I’m going to root for. . .Richard Gasquet.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
May 18th, 2008 at 16:46
Awesome match. Will be more interesting if Roger actually wins the final against Rafa. Otherwise it will be what it is, Rafa’s king of clay as usual.
May 19th, 2008 at 02:06
Same old, same old. Another match of missed opportunities. Fed is a different player against Nadal on clay. He gives you this weird psychological vibe every time he leads Rafa in a set. I’d actually be thinking “Uh oh, Rog is leading, but he’s gonna lose it.” The French Open is still Rafa’s tournament to lose. So, good luck to the rest of the pack. That said, I can’t wait for the Nadal season to be over. Bring on the grass!
May 21st, 2008 at 09:11
The Fed is not known from being a choker but I dont know what it is about Rafa that you find Rogi choking his way down time and time again(Montecarlo, Rome, Hamburg, Dubai…)
What surprise me the most was Rafa’s subdued behavior during the match– no vamos or whatsover.