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

Tenez wrote:

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.

I think so, too. Saw a worried look on everyone's face in Nole's box after the match. Shame. Hope it doesn't hinder him on Sunday somehow.
Maybe they are just putting on a show for team Nadal

Djokovic on American tv after the match- said he starting "feeling bad physically in the middle of the 3rd set" and now was just about "recuperation and preparation"  Commentators speculated it wasn't a physical problem from the match maybe just heat related or some nausea-- but pure speculation..

There has never been a player as lucky as Nadal in the history of tennis.  fact.

Is Nadal's serving good or Murray's returning bad today?

truffin1 wrote:Djokovic on American tv after the match- said he starting "feeling bad physically in the middle of the 3rd set" and now was just about "recuperation and preparation"  Commentators speculated it wasn't a physical problem from the match maybe just heat related or some nausea-- but pure speculation..

There has never been a player as lucky as Nadal in the history of tennis.  fact.

Nole's  never liked playing in hot temperatures, but got used to it.
It's probably something different, he wasn't his usual explosive self. It could also just be one of those customary concentration slumps, too.
Earnie hated the conditions as well.
Nadal...yes, he loves it hot and as inhumane as possible...where sweat and bicep rule and everything else wilts, withers and dies in the heat...

Murray's legs do look lazy and static esp on his BH. He clearly hasn't recovered from those two 5 setters he played.

There's nothing better than seeing Nadal go for one of those safe, extra bludgeoned FH "winners" and missing!

I reckon Murray's back is stuffed, he couldn't wait to sit on that chair and even caught his body weight with his hand on the seat first, yep...he's well cooked unfortunately...

Just switched off the Nadal-Murray match, I just cannot stand it anymore, especially the fawning comments on how the great warrior found his best form just in time for RG. (Really? Are you kidding me?) He must be the most boring player ever, or does he have any competition there? Murray clearly not up to the task of even troubling Nadal today, his road to the SF was too tough on him. How can any guy just be as consistently lucky as Nadal? And if it's consistent, how can it be luck?

I must say, I am happy, Djoko won in four, because Gulbis looked as if his many matches were catching up on him. I don't think he would have been able to put up much resistance in the final. Djoko will have a better chance, hope he'll be fit and up for the ensuing fight. Fortunately he also didn't spend too much time on court. The weather on Sunday should be more in Djoko's favour.

Why don't you turn the sound off?

noleisthebest wrote:Why don't you turn the sound off?

Watching Nadal isn't much joy either.  

Murray just won his 1st game in tje 3rd set...looks resigmed anr relaxed, eben swinging his FH!!!!
COME ON ANDEEEEEEE!!!!!!

What a damp squib of a semi-final...

Djokovic is going to destroy Nadal.  COME ON!

I am having Fed's FH withdrawal symptoms watching these two...

So...Nadal's path to glory: Ginepri,  Thiem, L. Mayer, Lajovic, choking Ferrer, half dead Murray...

What a sad display and a disgrace of a semifinal!

I just switched to the channel with commentary hoping to hear Matts Wilander only to hear the idiotic voice of Greg Rusedski  instead: "well, it's amazing how Nadal just lifts his level towards the end of the tournament..." I couldn't turn it off quick enough!
How dare he be paid for that rubbish!

Well so much for Ferrer and Murray tiring Nadal out... Pathetic.. this is the golden era of competition Nadal has had to face on clay his whole carreer... 

If Djoko is healthy he will cream Nadal though- so that will be fantastic...

noleisthebest wrote:So...Nadal's path to glory: Ginepri,  Thiem, L. Mayer, Lajovic, choking Ferrer, half dead Murray...

It really was the easiest draw ever... but it ends now.

noleisthebest wrote:(...) "well, it's amazing how Nadal just lifts his level towards the end of the tournament..." (...)

  It truly IS amazing though how he is able to find his best form just in time for Roland Garros. They should inquire how he does it  ... I'm interested. 

Also how DID he manage to be injured all the time, but never during clay court season?  :drunk:So many questions, too few answers...

His ego will get injured on Sunday  

truffin1 wrote:Well so much for Ferrer and Murray tiring Nadal out... Pathetic.. this is the golden era of competition Nadal has had to face on clay his whole carreer... 

If Djoko is healthy he will cream Nadal though- so that will be fantastic...

Yes...I can't believe what limp and lame resistance they both "summoned", at least Ferrer gave it a decent shot for two sets before he collapsed...Murray - a complete non-starter!
Nole's simply got to stop the rot on Sunday!!!!!

Order of play for tomorrow

noleisthebest wrote:

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...

True , but we all know there are scores of matches he ahs won almost completely on sheer fitness. In fact he doesn't even shy away from saying so either.

Murray experienced what Federer did in 2008 FO final. Versus Nadal there is no point trying or pretending if the legs are not there.

Murray on todays match:
"His forehand - especially with the conditions the way they were today - it was was incredibly hard to control the ball."

This means the balls, the weather, the timing of the "package delivery  of some Maljorcan drugstore"..it's all following Nadal's ideal scenario.

There are too many factors favoring Nadal. My bet will definitly be on Nadal. I'm disgusted by mentioning it. 

Interesting post-match comments from Gulbis, saying he was not injured, just tired, conditions were difficult and that neither felt the ball well, hitting only 3-4 shots cleanly.

gallery play wrote:Murray on todays match:
"His forehand - especially with the conditions the way they were today - it was was incredibly hard to control the ball."This means the balls, the weather, the timing of the "package delivery  of some Maljorcan drugstore"..it's all following Nadal's ideal scenario.

Yes, this confirms exactly what Gulbis said after the match, too.
Nole said he got fatigued after 2.5 sets...

Sunday is such a do or die day for you...a thin line between heaven and hell 

noleisthebest wrote:

gallery play wrote:Murray on todays match:
"His forehand - especially with the conditions the way they were today - it was was incredibly hard to control the ball."This means the balls, the weather, the timing of the "package delivery  of some Maljorcan drugstore"..it's all following Nadal's ideal scenario.

Yes, this confirms exactly what Gulbis said after the match, too.
Nole said he got fatigued after 2.5 sets...

I don;t believe that....and weird of him to say it as well. How can he get fatigued with such short rallies.

I am not sure again what happened but from what I saw it looked to be the back!

Q.  Ernest said it was like a struggle from start to finish, and he felt that maybe you weren't also at your best.  How did you feel today?
   NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  First two sets went well.  I thought I played well, very solid, putting a lot of returns back in the court, serving at the high percentage.
   Then suddenly midway through the third set started to feel physically fatigued a little bit, and you could feel that.  You could see that both me and him, we struggled on the court.
   It happens, you know.  It happens in the tournament, and important thing for me is that I realize what's going on.  It's nothing serious.  I'm going to have now two days of recovery and get ready for the final.

   Q.  What is going on?  I know it took you longer than usual to come to press, also.  What was bothering you?
   NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  There is nothing bothering me.  Just the general fatigue that, you know, probably was influenced by conditions or other things that I felt today.
   But I'm not going to talk about.  That's it.  I just    I'm glad I won in four sets, because if it went to a fifth, God knows in which direction the match could go.
   I'm just going to rest today and tomorrow, try to not spend too much energy on the courts, and get ready for finals.

A little bit of fatigue? So tired that he could not get to the Press conf on time? And then he doesn't want to talk about it?

I don;t believe a word it's about fatique.

gallery play wrote:Sunday is such a do or die day for you...a thin line between heaven and hell 

For me too! Seeing Nadal win another FO!!!! And now that Djoko doesn't seem 100%....it's such a pain.

gallery play wrote:Sunday is such a do or die day for you...a thin line between heaven and hell 

So far, I have seen Nole quite a few times live, all against quality opponents: against Fed twice, Berd twice, Murray, Raonic, Dimitrov, Haas, Goffin...some of those matches were really close, but he won all of them!
Even the one against Nadal in 2011 Wimbledon final I got kicked out of (I did spend an hour in my seat before it happened )

I always establish rapport with him and keep encouraging him at the right times, we speak the same language, even the same local slang and he loves hearing it!
I am really thrilled I'll be there to support him.
I bought the ticket on the 15th of February when they all came online on RG website. I didn't even plan to get the finals ticket just any day like last year...but something led me straight to the 8th of June...and I had just enough saved up for it!
It's a good seat in row 8, didn't even have time to look where exactly it is.
RG is very special for Nole not only because it's his last missing slam, but because that's the only slam that plays national anthem for the winner, I think that is a lovely tradition.
Nole wanted to hear it badly all his career, but it eluded him at both Olympics...
I know he may come across OTT to the rest of the world with his patriotism, but the struggles he went through because of where he came from are who he is and he is deeply aware of it.
Serbia is like a big wound in his heart.

Anyway...we'll see what happens. It's going to be a fabulous match, I just know.

Tenez wrote:

gallery play wrote:Sunday is such a do or die day for you...a thin line between heaven and hell 

For me too! Seeing Nadal win another FO!!!! And now that Djoko doesn't seem 100%....it's such a pain.

Yes 9 RGs sounds morbid!
I nope two days of rest and whatever magic potions, massages and therapies are available will prop him up and  get him across the line!
I'm currently making a list of lines for Nadal....here's what I came up with so far:

How's doctor Fuentes, Rafa?
Take the ball early if you can!

noleisthebest wrote:

How's doctor Fuentes, Rafa?
Take the ball early if you can!

What about during each and every preparation of serve: "TIME!"

Anyone know the weather for Sunday?

Nadal reached his physical peak this week and that's a problem because he gets so confident of it. He now knows he won't lose over a long distance: it's his riskless fallback scenario. And therefor he feels free to play aggressively. And that could prefend Djoko to really get into the match. 
I don't expect to many long rallies. And i hope there will be a lot of service breaks, that 'll frustrate Nadal more than Djoko. Djoko simply needs a 100% body and the same calmness he showed the previous rounds.
There also could be a little rain on Sunday, the more the better for Djoko (despite what happened last year).

that's a good one!
I'll try in Spanish, just in case...VAMOS, Rafa, tempo!
French crowd are pretty cool about passionate fans
I hope they give Nole at least 10% of love they lavish on Fed, ot can make a huge difference to him...that could make up for the greedy Babolat providing these giant feather balls custom made for Nadal...
Hopefully, the sky will be nice and grey... (I can't believe I've said it )

truffin1 wrote:Anyone know the weather for Sunday?

Looks like same as today... It may change.

http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-france/centre/regi24

noleisthebest wrote:
Hopefully, the sky will be nice and grey... (I can't believe I've said it )

Yeah, Like Fed standing with the trophy in the rain in 2009 was just perfectly fine

I just read that if Nadal wins on Sunday he ties slam count with Sampras, as well as the first man to win RG 5 times consecutively.

I wonder who is scheduled to present the trophy this year...

noleisthebest wrote:

truffin1 wrote:Anyone know the weather for Sunday?

Looks like same as today... It may change.

http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-france/centre/regi24

Correction!!! (I feel like Llayani overruling linesmen now ) that was forecast for the morning, clouds and shower in the afternoon/evening!!!!

http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-france/centre/regi24

truffin1 wrote:Anyone know the weather for Sunday?

It sunny at midday and rain mid afternoon. The wind seems ok.

But not sure how accurate are those weather forecast.

gallery play wrote:Nadal reached his physical peak this week and that's a problem because he gets so confident of it. He now knows he won't lose over a long distance: it's his riskless fallback scenario. And therefor he feels free to play aggressively. And that could prefend Djoko to really get into the match. 
I don't expect to many long rallies. And i hope there will be a lot of service breaks, that 'll frustrate Nadal more than Djoko. Djoko simply needs a 100% body and the same calmness he showed the previous rounds.
There also could be a little rain on Sunday, the more the better for Djoko (despite what happened last year).

Well except against Djoko. If Murray had played today like he played his first point, Nadal would know he would have no riskless fallback strategy. Ferrer was close to inflict the same tempo but he fell first.

I am not sure what's wrong with Djoko but for sure he will need to be 95% or better...and I fear he is not. he looked so string in those first 2 sets today! Real shame. I was even going to bet on a 3 straight sets win on Sunday. ....not anymore....well not for the same player for sure.

Nadal will be crapping his pants against Djokovic.  He is in his head.

I hope so!
First set will be very important...and second...and then the crowd will need to carry him and not let him lull himself into another lapse!
To slay Nadal on Chatrier in the final is going to be one colossal task!

News just in...  Nadal spotted in training.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umU8vKRNnRw

I like to watch interviews, body language often says so much more than words:

Watching Nadal chirp away like a happy, innocent little Rafito in that interview is just such a contrast to his beastliness on the court.
His words say: I am playing my FH well, I am serving well..but the reality is he physically ground Ferrer and Nadal to fine powder.
I can partially understand the tired Murray (although even he seems to have been taken aback) but a fresh and fit Ferrer to collapse like a pack of cards... I simply cannot by his "poor mental preparation" excuse...
That's the thing that fascinates me: how does Nadal suddenly start to play his FH well and paint the lines, why in these last two matches, why not in Rome?
I've played various sports, and form simply does not magically just turn up out of nowhere...esp not on tap!
So, the obvious next line would be this cycling thing (which to me is still a mystery btw).
How is he able to time it all so well?
And how is it that other players are not? It's really strange.

............

On another note, just read the it took Nole over TWO HOURS after the match to turn up for his press conference. That is a kong time, indeed.

noleisthebest wrote:I've played various sports, and form simply does not magically just turn up out of nowhere...esp not on tap!
So, the obvious next line would be this cycling thing (which to me is still a mystery btw).
How is he able to time it all so well?
And how is it that other players are not? It's really strange.

I think if he coudl have played well in Rome and MC he would. There was certainly something that was bothering him (physical or mental). Quite a few champions can raise their level on the occasion and Nadal has shown that a few times in the past. As much as I have no doubt he cycles up and down, I don;t think this sudden form today is down to that. To me today was about confidence, probably helped by knowing and seeing Murray tired....and even more saw seeing Djoko struggling physically. That would give Nadal wings!

On another note, just read the it took Nole over TWO HOURS after the match to turn up for his press conference. That is a kong time, indeed.

yes there was something really wrong with him. He recovered a bit in the 4th but I feared that he pushed his body too much to make sure the match woudl not go to a 5th.