Oz open prediction game - Day 10!

Joker available!

Karolina Pliskova (10] vs. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (33) 
Johanna Konta [18] vs.Serena Williams [4]
David Goffin [22] vs. Grigor Dimitrov [30]
Rafael Nadal  [15] vs. Milos Raonic  [9]
Henri Kontinen-John Peers [4] vs. Sam Groth-Chris Guccione (12)
Pierre-Hugues Herbert-Nicolas Mahut [1] vs. Marc Polmans-Andrew Whittington (12)
Caroline Garcia-Kristina Mladenovic [1] vs. Andrea Hlavackova-Shuai Peng [12]
Eri Hozumi-Miyu Kato (12) vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands-Lucie Safarova [2]




Luvsports: Pliskova, Konta, Dimi (joker), Nadal, Kont-Peers, Polmans-Whitt, Hlav-Peng, Hoz-Kato

I don't play the game.  I'm going for

Fed in 4.
Raonic in 4
Goffin in 4.

I hope Goffin wins.
I'd love to see him in the final.

T: lucic baroni, konta (joker), dimi, nadal, groth, mahut, peng, kato
Bulge: pliskova, konta, dimi (joker), nadal, kont, mahut, garcia, mattek

KP, SW, Goffin, Rao, HKJP. PHHNM, CGKM, Bethanie Mattek.

How Lucic-Baroni look a tactical MTO when there was momentum swing and Pliskova had broken back to level the final set at 4-4. Baroni was frustrated and jittery, want to clam down, gain composure and break the momentum going against her.

So take an MTO. Come out firing aces in her next service game. Pliskova completely broken in her rhythm, trying to server 4*-5 and gets broken to lose the match.

This is another example why MTO should be allowed but players need to forfeit a Game to get it. 90% of the MTO would vanish if this is implied.

Dimi wins 1st set. He is looking stronger of the two.

Dimi wins.. he is playing very good. Goffin wasn't bad, except for a few points.

Based on what I saw v Batista I can't see Raonic winning.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Dimi wins.. he is playing very good. Goffin wasn't bad, except for a few points.

Just saw the highlights...as I saw in (Sydney?) before AO, Dimi playing aggressively with his FH, feeling it very well.
Was able to push Coffin back.

Paid off on this court.

Sad for Goffin, but glad for thr amazing fact that we are going to have 3/4 SBHs in the semis!!!!!

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:
This is another example why MTO should be allowed but players need to forfeit a Game to get it. 90% of the MTO would vanish if this is implied.

completely agree.

NITB wrote:....amazing fact that we are going to have 3/4 SBHs in the semis!!!!!

...again fast conditions....

bogbrush wrote:Based on what I saw v Batista I can't see Raonic winning.

I think he can.

But I must say Nadal is playing well. He is very quick, take the ball earlier than in the past and still find sharp angles.

Dont know how anyone thought Goff can beat Dimi, not the way Dimi is playing, 11 wins in a row.

Come in Raonic, crush himmmm

Has Nadal lost a step....ridiculous retrieving from him....on those fast conds.

Nadal is inside the baseline on Rao's second serve. Shows how much progress he has made.

Tenez wrote:Nadal is inside the baseline on Rao's second serve. Shows how much progress he has made.

With the same FH grip!!!!!

He must have practiced his brains off to get to this stage.

I doubt he'll ever be confortable there, though.

Comfortable for again, useless Raonic....

I must say I did not expect Nadal to play that well. His game is still very potent.....in fact it is much more potent than it ever was on fast surface. That's where you need a Murray or Djoko to beat him.....cause they have a better version of that kind of game nowadays.

Tenez wrote:Nadal is inside the baseline on Rao's second serve. Shows how much progress he has made.

With the same FH grip!!!!!

He must have practiced his brains off to get to this stage.

I doubt he'll ever be comfortable there, though.

But comfortable enough for the again useless Raonic....

Wilander: I can't remember Rafa covering the court as well as he has this week.

Tenez wrote:Wilander: I can't remember Rafa covering the court as well as he has this week.

Wilander: "Nadal looks so natural up there (on the baseline)"

Raonic has very poor volleys.. that neutralizes his big serve advantage to a good extent.

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Raonic has very poor volleys.. that neutralizes his big serve advantage to a good extent.

He is nit buikt to be a tennis player, those legs simply can't cope with fine footwork.

He's done well for himself with what he had.

Tenez wrote:Wilander: I can't remember Rafa covering the court as well as he has this week.

Caution: Wilander is the king of hyperbole. Everyone is always playing better than ever, every match.

Eurosport showing Federer practising in white shorts....

I hope Nike make him wear short white shorts....just once! 

All Nadal's misses from the baseline come from the fact he hasn't changed his FH grip.

2SPs Raonic.

Ajmo Milose sokoleeeeee!

NITB wrote:All Nadal's misses from the baseline come from the fact he hasn't changed his FH grip.

2SPs Raonic.

Ajmo Milose sokoleeeeee!

Squandered.
3rd one, come on!

NITB wrote:

NITB wrote:All Nadal's misses from the baseline come from the fact he hasn't changed his FH grip.

2SPs Raonic.

Ajmo Milose sokoleeeeee!

Squandered.
3rd one , come on!

Gone....

I give up!

Off to Bristol.....

2n set is a must win for Raonic... if he has any chance..

This Nadal is certainly more watchable, I just wish the ump cracks doen on his time between the points.

Eva is great, though!

And it's TB...

If he can't win this...well...

Ajde Milose junace, tako ti gusala pradjedovih!!!!
(Sorry, tough to translate!)

bogbrush wrote:

Tenez wrote:Wilander: I can't remember Rafa covering the court as well as he has this week.

Caution: Wilander is the king of hyperbole. Everyone is always playing better than ever, every match.

Wilander is the only "expert" commentator I actively dislike. He talks mindless drivel. McEnroe might change his mind depending on how he feels on the day but at least he makes some sense at the time.

Slippy wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

Tenez wrote:Wilander: I can't remember Rafa covering the court as well as he has this week.

Caution: Wilander is the king of hyperbole. Everyone is always playing better than ever, every match.

Wilander is the only "expert" commentator I actively dislike. He talks mindless drivel. McEnroe might change his mind depending on how he feels on the day but at least he makes some sense at the time.

I think mindless drivel is a bit too strong.

He is one of the best commentators, just has to be a salesman, as well. He gives good, technical insights, unlike most.

My favourite one is David Mercer.

Bravo Milose!

He redeemed himself with those volleys...


Go, go goooooo!!!!

Raonic's volleys are still so baaaad.

Not even top 100.

Ah well....keep going Milose!!!

Now that was a pure quantum Serbian lob moment there!!!!!!

Roots coming out at laaaast!!!

Serve it out now!

DF....

Too early...give him another 2-3 years then....he may relax.
Poor guy.

Terrible from rao. He has teh game to beat Nadal but the mind.....terrible.

Slippy wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

Tenez wrote:Wilander: I can't remember Rafa covering the court as well as he has this week.

Caution: Wilander is the king of hyperbole. Everyone is always playing better than ever, every match.

Wilander is the only "expert" commentator I actively dislike. He talks mindless drivel. McEnroe might change his mind depending on how he feels on the day but at least he makes some sense at the time.

Wilander is of course right on this occsasion. McEnroe is by far the worst, he is just a salesrep for ignorant tennis fans. .

NITB wrote:Raonic's volleys are still so baaaad.

Not even top 100.

Ah well....keep going Milose!!!

Now that was a pure quantum Serbian lob moment there!!!!!!

Roots coming out at laaaast!!!

He is actually not a bad volleyer. I assume he is nervous and Nadal's spin troubles him.

Raonic like many others is a pathetic weak minded excuse of a tennis player. Seriously some of this lot need some tough love.

So if Rafa wins this, the SF (men and women) will be aged:

36 (Venus)
35 (Fed)
35 (Serena)
34 (L-B)
31 (Stan)
30 (Rafa)
25 (Dimi)
25 (Coco)

Must be the oldest collection of slam SF ever?

Tenez wrote:

Slippy wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

Tenez wrote:Wilander: I can't remember Rafa covering the court as well as he has this week.

Caution: Wilander is the king of hyperbole. Everyone is always playing better than ever, every match.

Wilander is the only "expert" commentator I actively dislike. He talks mindless drivel. McEnroe might change his mind depending on how he feels on the day but at least he makes some sense at the time.

Wilander is of course right on this occsasion. McEnroe is by far the worst, he is just a salesrep for ignorant tennis fans. .

I haven't seen many of Rafa's matches this week, so I can't comment with any certainty. He moved ok against Zverev but I don't remember him looking quicker than ever. I appreciate it suits your agenda though, so of course you agree with him!

Slippy wrote:So if Rafa wins this, the SF (men and women) will be aged:

36 (Venus)
35 (Fed)
35 (Serena)
34 (L-B)
31 (Stan)
30 (Rafa)
25 (Dimi)
25 (Coco)

Must be the oldest collection of slam SF ever?

How do you explain it?

Tenez wrote:

NITB wrote:Raonic's volleys are still so baaaad.

Not even top 100.

Ah well....keep going Milose!!!

Now that was a pure quantum Serbian lob moment there!!!!!!

Roots coming out at laaaast!!!

He is actually not a bad volleyer. I assume he is nervous and Nadal's spin troubles him.

He shouldn't be nervous, that's the whole point.
He is also too scared to lose.

Honestly, I don't know. There are various theories but none of them, to me, explain why both genders are seeing this phenomenon. Perhaps it's because travelling now/keeping in contact with families is so much easier that more players are prepared to continue longer to get the financial rewards?

Slippy wrote:Honestly, I don't know. There are various theories but none of them, to me, explain why both genders are seeing this phenomenon. Perhaps it's because travelling now/keeping in contact with families is so much easier that more players are prepared to continue longer to get the financial rewards?

Hehe, interesting.

Not sure Fed and Nadal are playing for the money, Williams sisters either.

I'd go with Tenez's explanation - young generations don't have new technology to break through.

Old plauers are all getting better (the longer you hit the ball, the better the timing), medicine is prolonging their fitness, then there is the experience of years of big stage matches...so it is really tough for young players.

Only the finest talent is able to make any dent, and in a way that is good.

God there is no hope for some of these new players is there?  A guy like raonic with that serve doesn't have the nerve to serve out a tie break?

Can Dimitrov finally live up to expectations, or is he goingto be equally useless?

Federer never seems to get any luck...  whenever he looks like winning a slam again, something happens. Nadal has been playing terrible for around 2 years.  Now Fed looks in great shape again - suddenly Nadal gets a cake walk draw full of the useless and bottlers... and plays the best he has in 2 years cause the confidence came back along with a purple patch.  It's so annoying.  After this he will likely go back to playing like an idiot.  Cilic did the same thing too to stop Fed.