Ugh. Sauce with an ugly miss into the net to give Rafa the set. Mentally, he's looking like pre-DC final Sauce. :/

Get it together, Sauce!

Hmmm...Rafa's got a read on Sauce's shots. Couple of short balls, he didn't even move. That's gotta be very frustrating for Sauce. Hopefully, he can regroup. But, it seems unlikely at this point. Playing the extra shots has taken its toll, imo.

Hey Tfactor :)

Yes indeed. The way he's playing he's got a good shot in the next match. I'm hoping I can watch that one tomorrow.

You got to feel sorry for the Hott Sauce. He's just got into a shell and hitting UFE's all over the place. Gifted the set to Nadal at 6-3. Quality of tennis suffering.

Thanks Rosangel for the Overflow. Much appreciated!

yay for Rafa and the first set. *is calmer*

sbilily - he got all his first serves in the game he was broken.

Rafa's serve is absolutely useless against Hot Sauce.

Nando was playing lights out in the beginning and Rafa did well to hang in there and wait for the let down while he found his game but that's the story of Rafa against all big opponents.

Nando has a clear vision against Rafa as Rafa has against Roger - they know exactly what they want to do from the first ball. The difference is Nando doesn't have a backup plan.

Mischa Zeverev really pushed Fed - how many more points does he need before he can become a regular in the top 30? I really hope he can keep this up and reach there especially on hard courts.

Fed's game is finally coming together as is Djokovic's.

okay i rewrite my post:

birthday: robbie was saying that rafa just sticks with his opponents and slowly wears them down 'sucking the life out of them like a hp dementor' and jason said so you like hp? and robbie said 'yes, i have the goggles and home and everything.' it was cute.

Greenhopper!!!!!!!!! gracias. finally a stream that appears to work in real time.

Pspace: I don't think Verdasco's been playing well at all. I mentioned this earlier, but he's not been the same player since AO. Poor shot selection, low % shots and too many UFE's.
I don't think he will pose any meaningful challenge to the top 4 with this form.

Rafa is so clever with is racquet, you can just see he's spent unfathomable hours on the court and has the intuition to know what he can do but putting his racquet into a certain poition and letting the ball bounce off it ... oh to play tennis like that!

Vamos, Rafa takes the first set and I can go to sleep .. nearly midnight here and I wanna feel good tomorrow. Night all was fun hanging out here today. C'mon Rafa!

Well I give up with you Imjimmy, you have no love for Nando :)
First Rafa was gifting him the games and in the end Nando gifts the set to Rafa?? huh?

i have the goggles AT home...oops

oh yeah before I go, just want to give a big shout out to camera people who work on tennis matches and those people who somehow edit and broadcast 'hightlights of the set' shots into sequence in time to show before the next set .. that is speed work!

that's the way to play a rally against Rafa, O Saucy One.

Sorry for Going OT......but can sum1 explain why i cant watch free highlights on tennistv.com???!!!!!LOL

Nice serve by Rafa to save that BP

imjimmy, I dunno. To win points against Rafa, you need to take a few risks. I think Sauce played well upto the point he got broken. But Rafa did a couple of his usual tricks, i.e., guessing right on the direction of Nando's shots on the short balls. If Nando had won a couple of those points, it would be a different situation now.

Annie - Ha! I like the dementor description.

Sauce with a BP. . .

nando's f/h's are regularly over 100mph around 105. very heavy.

Verdasco's forcing break points here...he's not being gifted them, imo. *shrug*

Sveta wins 6-3, 6-2. Looks like a solid win, without mental walkabouts, that's a good sign for Kuz. I don't who am I going to root tomorro in all-Russian SF :-))

Groan out loud error from Sauce on that last break chance.

"I don't who am I going to root tomorro in all-Russian SF :-))"

Should be :

I don't know who I am going to root tomorrow in all-Russian SF

:-))

Rafa to serve
2nd serve, unlucky netcord, gives Rafa time ,Nando misses the volley 1-0
BH DTL into the net by Rafa 15-15
BH long by the Sauce 30-15
nice shallow CC approach, leads to a high volley winner by Nando 30-30
2nd serve, Nando works his FH inside out deep, Rafa is way behind the baseline, Nando hits a FH winner 30-40
Service winner deuce
another inside out FH winner by the Sauce break point
Rafa teasing Nando with inside out shots, gets a forced error deuce
great CC return, then shot into the other side of the court for a forced error from Rafa break point
Backhand gone wild, error by the Sauce deuce
return error ad in
Rafa Cc shots are making run, forces an error
game Rafa 1-0

Long 9 minute back and forth game. Some great shots from Sauce but also some easy ufe's. Rafa eventually holds.

failed ds gives rafa lst game of 2nd set.

winner here plays winner of juanaco and gonzo. i want rafa juanoco.

Sauce missed a golden opportunity on the second BP. CC BH to the open court...he needs to make those shots.

Tfactor: Sorry for the slightly partisan comments. Don't get me wrong. The 2 Spaniards playing right now, are my favorite players on the tour. I just tend to be sharply critical of both their games- want both of them to be at their absolute best. Fortunately the 1st game of the 2nd set is better tennis. Pity that the Hott Sauce lost it.

does anyone know when the Fed-Djoker SF will be?

I need to watch it and I need to plan my tennis playing :)

Sorry, but I'm not into pitying players who lose matches, sets, games or points. If a player deserved to win the point, match, set or match, he would have won it. The winner did the do when it counted, and therefore deserves it, IMO.

TFACTOR-- thanks for the 76% 1st serve mention!!! u make me feel good!!! hahahaah a-- IMJIMMIY always makes me nervouse although i do like it because we have to alawys be careful and cautious!!

VAMOS RAFA!!!

Tabasco to serve
2nd serve, Inside out FH winner 15-0
great deep serve, return error 30-0
2nd serve, FH error wide by the Sauce 30-15
2nd serve,DF 30-30
nice Fh approach, forces the error from Rafa 40-30
a nice serve, inside out shot combo by Nando
game Nando 1-1

It's Ok Imjimmy, I think most of us are very passionate fans.
I think Nando has played rather well but that's not to say he's lost some good opportunities. It's all part of it, no?

Rafa's record on clay is just amazing, since that loss in Rome last year he's won 27 straight clay matches and 65 out 69 sets

Good game by Verdasco to hold serve 1-1. On serve. Hopefully Verdasco is getting it together.

*Sorry, but I'm not into pitying players who lose matches, sets, games or points. If a player deserved to win the point, match, set or match, he would have won it. The winner did the do when it counted, and therefore deserves it, IMO.*

This is mostly true, but not always. Did you see the Robredo-Kohlschreiber match in Hamburg?

Damn. JJ really has a tough draw. Hopefully she can get past Flavia today.

Imjimmy- you might be like his Uncle Toni:P Rafa says his uncle is very critical about his game but that's because he cares to much about rafa as a player, a nephew and as a person.. and luckily Rafa is the type that really listens:P

Thanks Annie! Rafa as a dementor, LOL.

I'm not sure I'm enjoying this match as much as I was five minutes ago. Patchy stuff.

Sick running passer from Rafa to hold.

gee Rafa plays the big points well

nando dosent deserve to win the 1st set at all?

gee Rafa makes you play at such a high level,he forces you into error? time and time again?

He makes you do shots that you dont normally do?

Verdasco has to keep playing at a high level all the time both mentally as well.

Rafa just closes you down.

And then the dementor hits a pretty sweet passing shot. nice stuff. more please?

Rafa serving
2nd serve, Nando has Rafa running side to side, gets the opening FH winner 0-15
2nd serve, FH return error 15-15
2nd serve, BH DTL return error 30-15
another return error 40-15
a great FH Cc approach by Tabasco gets gift wrapped back as a FH CC winner from Rafa with love
Game Rafa 2-1

Nando's return play has been quite poor for the entire match. No commitment to run around the bh return. Even when Rafa serves to the body he moves to bh instead of fh. That ain't gonna cut it Nando. Run around and try to blast it.

interesting how rafa doesnt go to net against a player like nando. try it, you might like it.

Anyone have a working WTA feed for Stuttgart?

Yes Sher me too!
It's Saturday so I should be able to watch both semis on TV!

Point,

Nando has to learn Controlled Agression?

Tfactor: The problem with Verdasco in the last couple of months is that he hits some brilliant shots to win a point and then proceeds to shank routine balls on subsequent points. The AO level when he had sustained periods of winners with minimal UFE's hasn't really happened since.
In this match Rafa really hasn't had to play anywhere close to his best tennis. Which is a pity.

Agreed, Imjimmy and Pspace.
Nando has been inconsistent but I also take AM's point about Rafa's ability to step it up during the key points

Does anyone hav a JJ Stream....PLEASE!!!!!LOL

Tabasco to serve
nice loopy FH , makes Rafa scramble, then a nice short angle slice , Rafa makes the error 15-0
return error 30-0
another attempted FH Dtl off the return error by Nando 30-15
Rafa hits behind Nando , forces an error 30-30
2nd serve, BH CC shot into the net by Rafa 40-30
aarrrggghhhh a bad FH miss off a short return deuce
Rafa's great movement and courts sense , controls the point , forces the error
break point
nice wide service winner deuce
Nando at the net,OH smash winner ad in
Nando powers a few FH's until he forces an error
game Nando 2-2

imjimmy,

Cos that AO pattern is impossible to maintain for any tennis player day in and day out - going broke for winners and hitting it consistently in the court. What he needs to figure out is a plan B with shots or tactics and patterns that have a slightly higher margin which will let him play relatively safe for a lot of the match and then pull the trigger when he needs to. Put less pressure on himself to go for broke on every point especially against the big 4.

Gusty hold by Verdasco after saving a bp. Nearly lost the game with 2 UFEs. Fortunately proceeded to play 2 good points and hold. Hopefully this will lift him up. Go Hott Sauce! On serve 2-2.

Crazyone: for me, sport is about who does the do in the moment that counts. I don't even care if luck plays a part - that's reality in life and in sport. Unless we're talking about a retirement, the person who wins is the person who deserves to win, in my books.

oh crap rafa 0-30 please hold baby

Sandra: it wasn't an issue of luck in that match. More like a combination of bad umpiring and bad sportsmanship.

er, on that point. Obviously there are issues of how you handle the outcome, but that point itself went to the person who did not deserve it.

yes rafa holds

Rafa serving
error by Rafa 0-15
dropshot by Rafa is a bit too deep Nando gets there for the cc winner 0-30
another misfire on the BHDTL for Nando 15-30
return error 30-30
2nd serve, BH DTL gets an error from Rafa 30-40
FH CC error by the Sauce deuce
Rafa hits the DTL error break point
wow Nando's DTL pass is just out deuce
Rafa's severe FH draws an error ad in
BH CC error by Rafa deuce
2nd serve, chip return, allows Rafa to run around for a inside out winner ad in
Nando gets his chance and flubs the FH long
game Rafa 3-2

when that girl had the camera up to her face I thought it was Flavia Pennetta for a second, hehehe.

did i hear that right? rafa only has 4 winners in this match so far? what is this a defense-fest?

Nadal with a gusty hold after saving 2 bps. 3-2 on serve. That looked to be a key game. Perhaps that's the last bit of challenge from Verdasco. A bit unfortunate not to break there. Good stuff from Rafa.

Another couple of BPs go a wastin'. Oh Nando...

Inexorably, we started hearing about mere qualifiers (Super-Hero in Set 1) and the impossible hurdles lying ahaed of Fed.

"Now evereyone thinks he [Federer] can reach RG final? please one game at a time please lol!"

Of course Roger can and probably will reach the RG final if he plays like today. In case you hadn't noticed, Fed has made 14 of the last 15 GS Finals, including a mere 2 months ago. I know, most people nowadays are so stuck in the moment that they can't remember anything that happened over a month ago.

[Edited]

By the way, watched Rafa-Soderling last night, was pulling for Rafa, and enjoyed the match. And Rafa looks very good again today. Predictably so, but that's actually even more admirable. Verdasco not so much so.

Remember: Scrolling is a symptom of avoidance and cowardice. And it defeats the sense of community and dialogue that makes TW such a interesting and informative place.

You dont get many chances to break Rafa like verdasco did then?

Still couldnt break him.

Gee its scroll time again

That was a forehand from hell. 10 fh winners for Nando to 3 for Rafa.

Good service game from Sauce to hold at love. Thought he might go away a bit and give up the letdown break after failing to convert on those BPs in Rafa's previous service game.

The Sauce to serve
2nd serve, FH winner 15-0
2nd serve, nice slice to Rafas FH opens the court for a beautiful FH DTL shot by Tabasco 30-0
return error 40-0
nice serve an FH Cc combo for a winner
game to the Sauce 3-3

deeps: Agree with your 12:21. However, In AO , the winners Verdasco was hitting were not outlandish: reasonable net clearance and most of them were not painting lines. It wasn't very low % tennis which led me to believe that perhaps he could sustain it. I think what's happened after the AO is that his physical conditioning has not been 100% (partly due to injuries) and he's trying to go for a little too much without concomitant footwork. You're right, he needs to have a plan B while he finds his A game.

Meanwhile as I type this a very strong game by Verdasco to hold 3-3. So perhaps there's still hope.

Rafa's looking off position when he connects with some of these FH's today. not sure why. nando gaining steam. can he do it?

Hi gang! Popping in between work. 2nd set very competitive, no?

Belated Congrats to Roger and Nole fans. Commiserations to Elf and Mischa fans!

Rafa first serve percentage is 73% :)

i meant out of position. yeesh.

Everyone should take a look at tennis.com ranking of weakest world's#1. Very funny stuff. I totally disagree that Safina is number 1. I think that belongs to JJ. Safina was a finalist at two GS. JJ only one. I think the reason why Safina was listed as no 1 because she came in at a time when she was in a slump, but I think you have to look at her career record. I also believe that Safina is the better player of the two.Go Caro, Scandinavia's#1!

"Gee its scroll time again"

But now you're defeating our community!

Samantha Elin As a Safina fan,thanks.

Gah! Nando you lazy b** run around that damn bh. In other news, the center lineswoman is quite the hottie ;-).

AM-- hahah now I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND why you said before "WHY I EVEN BOTHER"

YOU ARE SOOO RIGHT!!!

hahahahahah

Grant Please not you too? lol!

Scroll Scroll Scroll

Tabasco
has some
new
nudes

Hej Patrick, I know you like the WTA so I'm curious what you thought of tennis.com ranking. They listed Safina, JJ, Kimmy, Amelie and I forget who the fifth was. I'm not so sure I agree about Kim because she was holding many high tier tourneys but still hadn't won a slam

Samantha Elin,

I completely agree with you on that weakest world #1 article. I think it definetely belongs to JJ, not to Dinara :-))

Rafa serving
FH long by Rafa 0-15
forced error by Nando 15-15
Rafas FH is called out, but is on the line . replay the point
2nd serve, that damn BH DTL by Nando is really crummy today ,another error 30-15
Rafa gets another error from Nando 40-15
2nd serve, a great BH CC return by Tabasco then a runaround FH DTL winner 40-30
2nd serve,slice by Rafa, gets an unforced error from Nando
game Rafa 4-3

this is truly a grind fest, nando just letting the ball come to him and rallying, great strategy bubblehead! Rafa can play bad and still win in straight sets cuz no one can handle The Wall after awhile they just grab the gun and shoot themselves in the foot rather than have to hit one more bloody ball...

lethargic match for both, nando is playing passively, slow pace, argh!

Samantha, I totally disagree that Amelie should even be on the list of weak number 1 players. True, she had a reputation for choking, but she achieved No. 1 by winning 2 Slams. That does not a weak No. 1 make. When you get to No. 1 without even 1 Slam, then I'll agree that your achievement could be called weak.

""In their hearts, Rafa fans fear the reemergence of TMF, who at his best can and should defeat Rafa in any and every Grand Slam (even a French Open or 2).""
Nah..ain't happening at clay court. TMF or whatever, no way of getting 3 sets from Rafa on the hallowed RG. (unless Nadal is injured).

Meanwhile, disappointing tennis. Nadal does not have to play anywhere near his A game today. As I type this, a shocking bh volley miss by Verdasco.

god rafa's shots are 100 feet over the net and short, nando what the hail?

Hopefully both JJ and Safina can win a Slam this year. I would like that very much indeed.

LOL! Pico in da house! Looking ahead already? Hmmm...interesting.

Awww Juan Monaco looking on (and looking quite cute I must say)

Scrollin' Scrollin' Scrollin' . . .

Pico sighting in the crowd!

Nice to see Sauce picking up his game some. Of course, just as I type that, he throws in a DF. Match has a strange rhythm.

Insane defense from Rafa and a little bit of luck. Deuce.

rafa- maybe a break this time wont be bad:P

Hopefully Dinara can win a Slam in the near future, I think she really deserves it

Uh-oh. Sauce now flexing his knee and fiddling with the wrapping.
MTO. :(

Gosh, Nando is gasping with pain.

Rafa gets the break and Nando gets the trainer.

Tabasco serving 3-4
2nd serve, nice approach chip volley then FH volley winner 15-0
Nando at the net again, misses the high BH volley long 15-15
nice recovery with the FH CC winner 30-15
another FH winner off the return 40-15
2nd serve, DF 40-30
Rafa chases the OH smash, sends it back netcord drops short, chip reply ,CC winner by Rafa deuce
error by the Sauce break point
S & V , wild volley is out
game Rafa 5-3

ah, such a tame end to that game.
Nando's called the trainer? something in his left knee.

Hope Verdasco is ok.