Australian Open 2013: Matches of the day : Day 7 20-Jan-2013

Some tired looking shots from Stan.

Guts time.
Come on, Nole, time to break and go to bed. Nice, deep flat forehands.

To think I was expecting a straigh-sets drubbing...

Brilliant serving from Nole.

Still would be shocked if Stan were to win.

summerblues wrote:Still would be shocked if Stan were to win.

Experience is on Nole's side.

noleisthebest wrote:

summerblues wrote:Still would be shocked if Stan were to win.

Experience is on Nole's side.

Exactly. Fitness probably too. He playes deciders very well.

summerblues wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:

summerblues wrote:Still would be shocked if Stan were to win.

Experience is on Nole's side.

Exactly. Fitness probably too. He playes deciders very well.

Yes he's about 10kg lighter than Stan

I cannot believe Stan is still in it. Even if he loses tonight, I hope that Tomas will at least learn from this.

summerblues wrote:I cannot believe Stan is still in it. Even if he loses tonight, I hope that Tomas will at least learn from this.

Berd will never "learn" THAT backhand

noleisthebest wrote:Berd will never "learn" THAT backhand

That is true.

What is wrong with these lines people????

noleisthebest wrote:What is wrong with these lines people????

Pretty sad, but at least they do not discriminate between the players. They have done it to both of them.

summerblues wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:What is wrong with these lines people????

Pretty sad, but at least they do not discriminate between the players. They have done it to both of them.

I know. But....HOW MANY TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!????????

I do not see Stan getting into any of Nole's service games. He will rue that missed opportunity in the second set...

Nole should try and do a bit more with his returning now. Come on man!!!!!!You've got to push the gas pedal!

noleisthebest wrote:Nole should try and do a bit more with his returning now.

Agree.

Idiots linesmen AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! Costing NOle big time in this game

Deuce.

Deuce at laaaaast! Stan should choke now.

Match point. That was a great return from Nole.

Stan serving lights out!

Oh my, what a point.

Awesome BHDL from Stan!

Some great stuff, but you feel that it will be Nole who will be getting the better of him in more and more of these points.

Like this. Another match point.

And this is it. Nole has done it. Congrats, well done in the end.

Oh Stan

Tough loss for Wawrinka..really impressed with how well he played

AO is on fire after this match!

Nole, the legend walks the tightrope without blinking, what a poker face

When I said yesterday I would love to have Stan among the quarterfinalists, I did not think he would come this close.

But good for Novak, he is there to fight another day.

What to say in the end, iron nerves and more flexible body won this match. Congratulation to biggest fighter as Nole and also for Stan. Stan should gain more on return, that was crucial.

If Nole does not improve serve and FH, then Berd will win their match.

Stan had his chances and didn't use them. Simple as that.
Had a few very sloppy shots in a lapse of concentration and that was all it took today.
Nole was almost an observer and did well to weather all Stan threw at him. He was truly majestic. Tough loss for him, but should fill him with belief and be inspirational for the rest of the season.
Really enjoyed his backhand today, it was better than ever.
He didn't even choke in the end. Played with tons of heart and desire, just wasn't focused 100% when it really mattered.
All part of the game.
Faster courts def on his side, made Nole look a step short a lot of times.
Super match, an instant classic!
May we see a few more of these in the next week

you still convinced nole would like faster courts?
a still slowish/medium court pushed nole to 5 sets by stan, what would it be like if it was a proper fast court?

luvsports! wrote:you still convinced nole would like faster courts?
a still slowish/medium court pushed nole to 5 sets by stan, what would it be like if it was a proper fast court?

of course he would....court today was definitely not slow, but on the fast side, proper fast.
What makes you think he'd struggle?

noleisthebest wrote:I hope everyone can see why I'd ban DBH now

If DHBH is banned, your first and the second man both won't feature in top-200. Would you like that? I know the answer.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:I hope everyone can see why I'd ban DBH now

If DHBH is banned, your first and the second man both won't feature in top-200. Would you like that? I know the answer.

I can see I' on the hate list here. Asta la vista.

noleisthebest wrote:

luvsports! wrote:you still convinced nole would like faster courts?
a still slowish/medium court pushed nole to 5 sets by stan, what would it be like if it was a proper fast court?

of course he would....court today was definitely not slow, but on the fast side, proper fast.
What makes you think he'd struggle?

Who would know more than Djokovic himself. How many times I have brought out his own quotes about what's his strategy of play. Yet you keep asking the same thing.

noleisthebest wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:I hope everyone can see why I'd ban DBH now

If DHBH is banned, your first and the second man both won't feature in top-200. Would you like that? I know the answer.

I can see I' on the hate list here. Asta la vista.

No you are not on the hate list. You are on the fan-list.

I was watching till the end but my browser lost internet connection even though could still watch th match on Europlayer.

Sad to see Stan lose but he threw away his chances at 6 all when he had 2 BPs. He made further easy mistake due to simply a lack of composure. BUt again knowing the chances will be rare and few and that the longer the match the less likely you can win it.

The thing is Nole was getting tired so Stan with a bit more composure could have really made the difference at 6 all, it's harder for the retriever to run as fast as the attackers shots. (this is how Federer won a couple of 5 setters v Nadal). But certainly easier said than done.

noleisthebest wrote:Stan had his chances and didn't use them. Simple as that.
Had a few very sloppy shots in a lapse of concentration and that was all it took today.
Nole was almost an observer and did well to weather all Stan threw at him. He was truly majestic. Tough loss for him, but should fill him with belief and be inspirational for the rest of the season.
Really enjoyed his backhand today, it was better than ever.
He didn't even choke in the end. Played with tons of heart and desire, just wasn't focused 100% when it really mattered.
All part of the game.
Faster courts def on his side, made Nole look a step short a lot of times.
Super match, an instant classic!
May we see a few more of these in the next week

Very good assessment of the match.

This definitely makes the top half of the draw more interesting. I wonder whether today's match was mostly a result of it being a one-off - Stan playing his best and Nole not quite so - or whether speedier conditions played a significant role. Nole's next match should give us a clue. If it is the conditions, he should have his hands full again, if it was just a one-off by Stan, Nole may win easily.

I think it is fair to say it would take an absolute belter of a match to eclipse Nole/Stan. I think that will be match of the year.

legendkillar wrote:I think it is fair to say it would take an absolute belter of a match to eclipse Nole/Stan. I think that will be match of the year.

That is a strong statement, the year still has a long way to go. It was a great match, but there were long parts where neither of them player near their best - e.g., most of that fifth set was not all that great quality-wise, as dramatic as it all was, and as fabulous as the last few points were.

legendkillar wrote:I think it is fair to say it would take an absolute belter of a match to eclipse Nole/Stan. I think that will be match of the year.

I still think that with conditions slightly faster the result would have been different. There were a few too many long rallies for my taste..or more precisely too many good shots that came back. Of course it was thanks to Nole's exceptional coverage of the court...but still the pace shoudl be a tad faster.

As we saw pace of court turned Federer's, Almagro's, Stan's, Gasquet's BHs into potential weapons and not liabilities as it has been the last 5 years!

When was the last time we had 4 SHBHs in the last 16?

Where is LF BTW?

The first set was an absolute clinic of meticulous attacking play. The 4th set TB was sublime. Djokovic's retrieval skills were unreal. Did feel for Wawrinka. His FH hititing was the best I had seen from him.

Think LF is dividing her time with 606V2 and MTL. She might drop by here and say hi and lend her views

Yes in that first set it was very much like Federer. Every shot of his was hurting Djoko. in the second set he lost a step in the middle and was late a few times on his shots.

Something I noticed while playing tennis is exactly that. You arrive fresh on the court and start to pull winners right and left...then you tire and get to produce a few UEs...It takes a while before finding your 2nd breath and the timing that goes with it. But eventually you know the shots you can pull while not as fresh when you started. The shots are not as powerful and acccurate as in the first period but you do find your range/timing again. This is what happened to Stan. At teh beginning it's like "look how good and cool I am"...thne he accepts he is tired but agrees to get into the dog fight.

I feel sad for Stan. He lost his best matches throughout his career.
Ten times more enjoyable to watch than the roadrunners

Results and points table as on 21-Jan-2013

A summary for the day. :

Rotla: -20, 20, 17, 26, -5
Tenez: 20, 20, -17, 26, -5
nitb: 20, 20, 17, -26, 5
SB: 20, 20, 17, -26, 5
Luvspots: 20, 20, 17, -26, 5 ( I don't know what is anteater , presumed its Tipsarvic )
LK : 20, 20, -17, 26, 5


Points as on 21-Jan-2013

Rotla: -97 + 44 = -53 + 38 = -15
Tenez = 214 - 28 = 186 + 44 = 230
nitb: 120 + 14 = 134 + 36 = 170
SB:
Luvspots: 78 - 50 = 28 + 36 = 64
LK: -156 - 26 = -182 + 54 = -128

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No of correct Predictions:

Rotla: 13/29 + 4/6 = 17/35 + 3/5 = 20/40
Tenez: 19/29 + 3/6 = 22/35 +3/5 = 25/40
nitb: 19/29 + 3/6 = 22/35 + 4/5 = 26/40
SB: 2/6 + 0/0 = 4/5
Luvspots: 19/29 + 3/6 = 22/35 + 4/5 =26/40
LK: 12/17 + 3/6 = 15/23 + 4/5 = 19/28