Australian Open 2014 : MOTD : Day 9 QF day1

Th schedule of play is out for tomorrow. So shall be points table for prediction game. I promises I'll get it done even if I have to stay awake all night.


1. Na Li (CHN) [9]
vs.
Flavia Pennetta (ITA) [33]

2. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) [17]
vs.
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) [33]


3. Tomas Berdych (CZE) [33]
vs.
David Ferrer (ESP) [29]

4. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) [33]
vs.
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [27]


My picks:

1. Li Na
2. Bouchard
3. Berdych
4. Stan , I can't pick anyone against Stan unless its Fed. I just can't.

1. Flavia Pennetta (ITA) [33]

2. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) [33] Allez France! She must be a lost cousin!


3. David Ferrer (ESP) [29]

4. Novak Djokovic (SRB) [27]...not much credit there in picking Stan!

Li, Ivanovic, Berdych, Djokovic

Napred Srbi!

Pennetta, Bouchard, Ferrer, Djokovic.

Li, Ivanovic, Berdych, Djokovic

I will not be waking up at 3am for Stan vs Nole, but it could be a good match. I hope Stan can do it, even if it means Rafa strolls to the title through three single-handers.

summerblues wrote:I will not be waking up at 3am for Stan vs Nole, but it could be a good match. I hope Stan can do it, even if it means Rafa strolls to the title through three single-handers.

You just picked Djokovic for the win?

I am realistic enough to know Nole is likely to win. From what I have seen of Nole so far, he played really well and looked really confident. But I will be happy to have picked incorrectly.

Li, bouchard, ferrer, djoko

Li
Ivanovic
Berdych
Djokovic

Berdych
Stan

Going for Stan because he is due a win, has been improving month on month, and Djok's Semi-final run will end soon.

Genie does it          

Wonderful win from Bouchard.   

Both Stan and Nole sticking close to the line. Good tennis so far. And it is again evident that while fresh Stan has the better shots.

Stan making too many really UEs.

Stan has the game, I just wished he had the mental strength of a champion. He is just not playing freely.

but he breaks at last. Djoko's strength is his spiny shots. He finds great angles safely forcing lots of running.

Stan should improve his returns and FH!

Crowd is cheering up for Stan. Isn't he a wonderful player to watch!!

Stan takes the 2nd set. Loving it. It would have been a disaster if Sta wasn't able to keep his game up.

nitb must be behind the sofa

Break in the 3rd. Come on Stan!!!

Double break in the 3rd... Stan    

summerblues wrote:I will not be waking up at 3am for Stan vs Nole, but it could be a good match. I hope Stan can do it, even if it means Rafa strolls to the title through three single-handers.

SB, you are missing some great tennis.

Yes more solid from Stan...but Djoko seems out of form....though that would not be the first time.

Stan takes the 3rd set. This is remarkable tennis from Stan.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Stan takes the 3rd set. This is remarkable tennis from Stan.

...but very poor from Djoko....I expect a tougher 4th!

Tenez wrote:Yes more solid from Stan...but Djoko seems out of form....though that would not be the first time.

Isn't that just about what is Special about Djokovic, being SOLID and opponents crumbling under pressure? What else does he do better than Stan.

Yes but mentally, Djokovic is far ahead.

Again....each time one is far ahead mentally, it is because he is far ahead physically....haven't you noticed that yet?

In fact Wilander said that he heard form Stan's coach Norman that Stan was physically stronger in 2014 than in 13....so that might explain some of this result today.

having said that...Stan looks very tired now....his FH up the middle of the net is very telling.

Tenez wrote:Again....each time one is far ahead mentally, it is because he is far ahead physically....haven't you noticed that yet?

In fact Wilander said that he heard form Stan's coach Norman that Stan was physically stronger in 2014 than in 13....so that might explain some of this result today.

 Stan must finish it in 4.

I agree....the way he goes to the net now to shorten points is a sign of his fatigue....and it does not bode well. He needs to break now to get a boost of belief and energy.

I had a feeling this would be where Djok finally lost before the semifinal... and my prediction is looking good indeed.  Stan is a new man.

not done yet FK! in fact far from it!

C'mon Stan!

If Stan wins this, I'm afraid the after party will be gate crashed by the thought of Nadal winning the title though.

No not done yet, but Stan is looking v good despite that break.  Djokovic can't keep coming back every time.  Nor can Nadal.  Coming to end of their careers.

Djokovic clapping shots even at this stage... what a sportsman.

Stan feeling the pressure.. Come on stan.. not again.

Sad this.  Stan is playing by far the better tennis. but slow conditions mean all his great shots are getting returned.  I've watched at least 10 winners getting returned already.  REally thought this was the one where Stan would take it, but now it's uphill.

Sooner we get away from these dumbed down conditions the better, it's killing creativity.

Djoko grinding Stan down to dust. Sad but expected!....and on the bright side....Djoko is the guarantee v Nadal! While Fed can still beat that Djoko I feel.

Tenez wrote:Djoko grinding Stan down to dust. Sad but expected!....and on the bright side....Djoko is the guarantee v Nadal! While Fed can still beat that Djoko I feel.

Don't count too much on this Djokovic to be stopping Nadal. It may just happen like the Usopen, 13 final.

COME ON STAN!!!!

What would make me smile is to see becker's face if Djoko loses!

I don't like this partnership. I was not a fan of Djoko but Becker was one of my worst player in history....with Connors.

Stan should have finished that game before calling for rain break....tatitical mistake.

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!

STAN!!!!                                    

Djoko losing on key points on this 5th set cause he went for his shots.....This is the hardest thing to do ....unless you have nothing left to lose. Unfortunately Djoko has everything to lose (unlike that USO 10 and 11 v Fed).

Glad for Stan he deserved it even if he was shaky in those 4th and 5th set.

Polly 81 wrote:C'mon Stan!

If Stan wins this, I'm afraid the after party will be gate crashed by the thought of Nadal winning the title though.

Ohh Polly, it feels so much better to watch your favourite player win. If Nadal or anyone for that matter has to win, he can win even against Djokovic. Murray and Nadal showed it last time.

I don't care who wins this AO,2014 . But this match was a monnumental win for Stan, and I hope all the closes losses he had been suffering all these years will make him stronger in future. They did for Fed as he once said, I hope good things for Stan too.  

Commiseration for NITB!   

But that's the beauty of sport. Winning and losing have little consequences! ...unless Nadal wins of course!

Congratulations to Stan, the Man, he did really great job   .  I couldn't have seen it, but the match progress showed how Stan kept his fighting spirit till the end.

I'm  looking forward to his semi with Berd, he looks very optimistic. So hopefully Stan can recover well  for his semi.

Only question stays, whether Nadal can keep his composure into final and that is what he owns. That is funny, at first the draw looked so tough for Nadal, now his way for the win is wide open.

I just had that feeling.  Shame I was too gutless to shove on some money.  Stan is definitely Slam material.  He has come a very long way.  Time for Nadal to get beat by the younger upstart now too   If Nadal and Murray go out I will be very pleased... then no matter who wins I would be a happy chappy.   I really like Djokovic, but I'd like to see some one handers having a go, and some variety on tour.

Really impressed with Stan.  Looked for everyone like he was just gonna be a journeyman for his entire career almost... and then he found an extra level.

Djokovic consecutive semi-final record ends behind Federer at an impressive 14.  It puts Fed's 23 into context doesn't it?  Will that record ever be beaten?