French Open 2012

First blood to Nadal.

This is all but done, I'd say Nadal is keen to finish up for the Spain v Italy game!"

Skid wrote: »

Stick a roof on one of your Courts, Roland Garros

That was a bit disturbing seeing Rafa bossed like that for 8 games in a row.

Hopefully he can get his head together whenever they come back. God knows when that will be, though.

Thats what happens to him on damp clay ,his huge topspin shots are neutralised ,the ball doesnt bounce as high .
He also has less time to get to shots.

Just goes to show how important the speed of the surface is ,Nadal is hopeless on a fast surface.

RosyLily wrote: »

Who would you give the edge to tomorrow?

I'm not sure who this break will benefit!!

1 million dollar question. Could go either way.

If it starts like the way it did today then Novak will find it very difficult, but if Novak resumes with the same agility as he left it today then we are in for a five setter which would be quite interesting.

Novak is monster of a player, he has broken Nadal like 10 (actually he broke his serve 7 times and Nadal broke his 7 as well)times in the match, something only one player did in the whole tournament. In the first two sets, he had an Andy Murray moment where Nadal broke back after he struggled to get back into set games. He was supreme in the third set, although I think at some stage Rafa just wanted to go to a fourth set or hoped that play would be suspended.

It is going to be very exciting tomorrow, I just cant start to comprehend what would be going on in their minds tonite- I doubt either of them will get a good sleep.

walshb wrote: »

I happened to catch a replay of the womens final today during the rain delay. I had to switch it off. How anyone can sit and watch and listen to that shouting and grunting and groaning. It's really off putting. Sickening site.

You are not the only one tbh. As much as I think that Sharapova is a formidable champion, I cannnot stand her grunts and her repeated - C'mon after every point she wins. If you think that was bad, maybe you should listen to Azarenka or Schiavone- even worse! About time the organisers sort it out, it is not only distracting but it is unfair to the opponent, especially if they are not as vocal.

It is not just the women- same for some of the male tennis players- Murray and Verdasco spring to mind. I can't understand how players for e.g.Berdych can play a match without hearing a single thing from him when others decide to turn a tennis match into a shouting/grunting contest.

that was some turn around by Djokovic today still think that Nadal will take it in the 4th set when they return tomorrow.

jupiterjack wrote: »

that was some turn around by Djokovic today still think that Nadal will take it in the 4th set when they return tomorrow.

Novak has the break at 2-1. This may well go all the way, and in a 5th I will back Novak. Hope it goes all the way!

Looks like we're set for the tiebreaker in the 4th set!

Edit: It's over!

walshb wrote: »

Novak has the break at 2-1. This may well go all the way, and in a 5th I will back Novak. Hope it goes all the way!

Unfortunately it didnt. Nadal Wins!! fairplay to Novak though- he played well

Skid wrote: »

That Double Fault will haunt Djokovic. If he had taken it to five sets I think he would have won.

Anyway, I am delighted for Rafa. A strange match but he held his nerve and remains the King of Paris.

Roll on Wimbledon!

Can't wait form Wimbledon. This rivalry may eclipse any rivalry before, even Nadal-Federer, which has become boring and a bit one sided. Novak really has the game to bother Nadal, in all areas.!

Still fancy Djok for Wimbledon. Although the rain break definitely did kill Djok's momentum, I thought Nadal was genuinely struggling to see the ball as well as he usually could last night because of the rain. We'll never know I suppose.