Roland Garros 2014: MOTD Day 13 Fri 06/06/2014

Only 2 matches today!

Men's Singles - Semifinals  
Ernests Gulbis  (LAT) [33]
vs.
Novak Djokovic  (SRB) [17]


Men's Singles - Semifinals  
Rafael Nadal  (ESP) [27]
vs.
Andy Murray  (GBR) [33]

1. Gulbis[33] JOKER

2. Murray [33]

Djokovic
Murray (Joker)

Andy

Djoko
Nadal joker

summerblues wrote: Andy

not in a million year....

Murray seems to believe he can though!

Murray, 27, has taken a set on each of the last three occasions, however, and was encouraged by pushing Nadal close in Rome last month.
"I definitely learned some things in that match," said Murray. "It was quite clear in my head, as well, what was working and what wasn't.
"Conditions change, which makes a match slightly different, but there are some things I learned in that match that hopefully I can use to my advantage on Friday."

McEnroe makes a good point:

"Murray's got an incredible return of serve and Nadal's serve could sit up a bit. I think he's one of the all-time great returners. Every shot matters and it's going to be a battle. You've got to accept the fact that you're going to be feeling pain, but you have to convince yourself that that feels good. If you get past that, you've got a shot at it. It's the hardest surface to maintain momentum. Suddenly you look up and just when you thought everything was under control, you're in big trouble."

Murray sounds like Federer before FO 2006/ 2007 or Roddick whenever he met Federer in a GS, so I wouldn't give it too much credibility. I hope he gives more fight than Ferru though and if Nadal is somehow hampered by drugs gone wrong or something like that, he does have a chance. Btw, nice how the humble one was shown up once again with his "back injury" that he heroically fights in RG.

That being said, today's choices:

Nadal, also joker; Murray didn't seem fit enough in his latest matches, though I'd hope he finds some magic potions before that important match. May the lucky netcords and close linecalls be with Murray in this match!   

Djokovic, Gulbis should be able to trouble him (I'd give him about 20% chance of an upset), but it's likely Djoko's higher consistency will win out
And we get our "dream"-final Nadal-Djokovic! Haven't we waited the whole of RG for that meeting?  

Autumnleaf wrote:Murray....And we get our "dream"-final Nadal-Djokovic! Haven't we waited the whole of RG for that meeting?  

Frankly, I would have preferred Federer v Stepanek!

Tenez wrote:

Autumnleaf wrote:Murray....And we get our "dream"-final Nadal-Djokovic! Haven't we waited the whole of RG for that meeting?  

Frankly, I would have preferred Federer v Stepanek!

Oh well, we have to live with the cards we are dealt there, but even of those still left in the draw, I'd have preferred Djokovic-Gulbis as the final. Fed vs. anyone but Nadal, a dream of years gone by.   In fact anyone but Nadal in the final is already an improvement.   

Djokovic, Nadal (joker)

Tenez wrote:Murray seems to believe he can though!

Murray, 27, has taken a set on each of the last three occasions, however, and was encouraged by pushing Nadal close in Rome last month.
"I definitely learned some things in that match," said Murray. "It was quite clear in my head, as well, what was working and what wasn't.
"Conditions change, which makes a match slightly different, but there are some things I learned in that match that hopefully I can use to my advantage on Friday."

McEnroe makes a good point:

"Murray's got an incredible return of serve and Nadal's serve could sit up a bit. I think he's one of the all-time great returners. Every shot matters and it's going to be a battle. You've got to accept the fact that you're going to be feeling pain, but you have to convince yourself that that feels good. If you get past that, you've got a shot at it. It's the hardest surface to maintain momentum. Suddenly you look up and just when you thought everything was under control, you're in big trouble."

I don't think he believes it at all.
I am beginning to believe he'll be Murray's next coach, though.
Very interesting comment about clay and momentum, as someone once said you need plenty of "corazon" for it.
It's only fitting that the natural colour of the surface is (orange) red.

It's a great surface clay and i love it....just by the fact it leaves marks makes it priceless. It's cool on the joints and you swipe them after every set and they look brand new! 

However we say in french it's like moving sands, you can "sink" in it as one can suddenly los its footwork in it. 

This is exactly what happened to Federer v Guga in FO04 (another year where Fed shoudl have won it). Fed played terrible that day but was never far to suddenly reverse the trend. He panicked and lost to Guga though he beat Guga on clay convincingly 2 years earlier when Fed was only 21.

Match starting.....I think Gulbis can win it.....and maybe go all the way on Sunday....far stretched I agree but he can!

I really don't mind if he wins today, but I'd hate to see Nadal bite that trophy on Sunday...I really, really would.
So, all or nothing...AGAIN!

Go NOLE, and Earnie (if you are able to beat Nadal in Sunday ONLY!!!)

Just started watching at 2:4. Gulbi def not playing "women's" tennis today.
Hats off for the 100% effort he is putting in today...however long it lasts.

From what I've seen (second half of the set), this has been an easy one for Nole.
He is simply too strong, rock solid and consistent for Gulbis from the baseline.
Gulbis not able to swing freely because of it. If anything, Nole isnplaying with more ease than him.
I don't think he even wants to play this match any more.

Sorry Earnie, no fun here, business only, get hour hands very dirty if you want to win today, corazon!

Nole is absolutely cleaning Gulbis in that BH corner...which is where Fed lost his match against him the other day sending him those weak BHs.

Another easy and disciplined set.
Earnie has no chance from the baseline. I'd like him to at least take a crack at some volleying in the third...

In fact, Earnie is a much easier version of Raonic for Nole.
Serve good, but not as deadly and far more manageable, Earnie is more relaxed and confident, though, not under any pressure to win, so from that point of view more dangerous than Raonic as Earnie can really swing when given space.

Yes much more one sided that I expected. Gulbis makes many more errors than v all his previous opponents. Maybe he feels he has to go for broke. 

First time I am watching tennis on my big TV so I realise now how slow those courts are.

Nole's BH looking really good!

I only watched tennis once on big TV, in my parents house, RG 2012. It was great, minus my dad's commentating   

I am impressed with .earnie's clarity of mind and shot selection.
It's just that his execution lets him down due to him being a step too slow for Nole's BH a lot of times.

Oh..Nole got broken while I was typing..another case of focus lapse, that's him, he'll just never be able to "kill" like Nadal...

I saw something wrong with djoko's movement since he was 3/4 down in the 3rd. Is this the back? It's very bad news.

He certainly doesn't move as well.

But we have seen this before from Djoko and then managed to come back.

I hope not, will pay attention...if he's fine he'll roar back easily and break Earnie, otherwise...

And now the commentator notices it too!

Gulbis is of course clearly hampered too!

I am watching the match with no commentary, Gulbis is clutching his back, but I haven't been able to see anything wrong with Nole except the drop in his 1st serve.
Whatever it is it's got to be mind over matter for this one and sheer adrenaline for the final.

Well, Gulbis playing well, but against supreme fit players like Djokovic/Nadal/Murray one can't be holding an injury and hoping to win. They will just win on sheer supreme fitness alone.

But Glubis has been missing too many as well, looked hurried.

Regardless, they are both playing very good tennis, very tough on mind as well as body, though, I can see why Mac said it's hard to keep the momentum, clay really requires a lot from a player.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Well, Gulbis playing well, but against supreme fit players like Djokovic/Nadal/Murray one can't be holding an injury and hoping to win. They will just win on sheer supreme fitness alone.

But Glubis has been missing too many as well, looked hurried.

I don't think Nole has won first two sets on fitness...

Djoko is lucky his to have Gulbis injured.

I love these slow motion replays!
Tennis has never been so good to watch from the comfort of sofa

This is very bad news!!!!

Santoro clearly says it now on ITV!

Nadal's.......LUCK!

Yes, he is right, just saw it now, Nole didn't even move for a reachable shot.
I hope it's just a strain, those can be fixed for Sunday.

I'll be the wind in his sail   

Earnie is such an excellent sport!
He really is a true gem in this ATP tour.

So, so happy for Nole, bravo, indeed!
Nole and NITB in Roland Garros final...I can't believe it!

IDEMO PO TITULU MAJSTOREEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!.                 

Tenez wrote:This is very bad news!!!!

Santoro clearly says it now on ITV!

Nadal's.......LUCK!

What did he say?
Nole looked unusually subdued after this win...maybe he's keeping the emotions explosion for Sunday!

I admit, I may be a little biased when I watch Nole...it's not easy for me to see the negatives as I subconsciously don't want to see them.

He looked pretty good to me, although I did spend 50% of time typing here and pottering around the house...

Now I can relax and enjoy watching Nadal and Murray slog it out in the sun...the longer, the better!

Where is everyone?  

I think i have an idea of how much Djoko means to you, that you'll get to see him in a slam final is really special. One of your dreams came true i guess, now he better bloody wins it too!!

Haven't seen anything of the first semi, hopefully he'll be fine on sunday

What's going on with Murray?  

Murray's max serve speed 164 km/ph??

Tuning in now...I'm on such high I nearly killed myself riding bike into a parked car round the corner 5 mins ago

Murray looks OK, doesn't mind rallying, Nadal...such an eyesore...King of clay playing women's tennis, gutless women's tennis, that is!

gallery play wrote:I think i have an idea of how much Djoko means to you, that you'll get to see him in a slam final is really special. One of your dreams came true i guess, now he better bloody wins it too!!

Haven't seen anything of the first semi, hopefully he'll be fine on sunday

He,he...well this is my second attempt if seeing him in a final...I got kicked out first time, hopefully, Eurostar won't be on strike on Sunday morning!

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:This is very bad news!!!!

Santoro clearly says it now on ITV!

Nadal's.......LUCK!

What did he say?
Nole looked unusually subdued after this win...maybe he's keeping the emotions explosion for Sunday!

he was not sure what it was about but said it was an physical problem, Petchey agreed.

That is why I think he was subdued cause he may realise that his hope of winning this year might be seriously diminished.

gallery play wrote:What's going on with Murray?  

As he said "NO LEGS!!!!"