Australian Open 2014 : MOTD : Day 8

by raiders_of_the_lost_ark Sun Jan 19, 2014 4:21 pm

Matches of the day:

1. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [33]
vs.
Maria Sharapova (RUS) [16]

2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) [17]
vs.
Kei Nishikori (JPN) [33]

3. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) [33]
vs.
Roger Federer (SUI) [29]

4. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) [22]
vs.
Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)[33]

5. Andy Murray (GBR) [4]
vs.
Stephane Robert (FRA)[33]

My picks
1. Sharapova
2. Nadal
3. Fed
4. Dimi
5. Robert ( I hope his luck continues for 1 more round )

by noleisthebest Sun Jan 19, 2014 4:23 pm

Sharapova, Nadal, Federer, Agut, Murray.

by luvsports! Sun Jan 19, 2014 4:31 pm

Sharapova, Nadal, Tsonga, Agut, Murray.

by raiders_of_the_lost_ark Sun Jan 19, 2014 4:35 pm

luvsports! wrote:Sharapova, Nadal, Tsonga, Agut, Murray.

You think Tsonga will take out Fed tomorrow?

by luvsports! Sun Jan 19, 2014 4:49 pm

Unfortunately yes.

by Tenez Sun Jan 19, 2014 5:06 pm

. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) [33]

2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) [17]

3. Roger Federer (SUI) [29]

4. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)[33]

5. Andy Murray (GBR) [4]

by Polly 81 Sun Jan 19, 2014 6:00 pm

luvsports! wrote:Unfortunately yes.

Stay hopeful LS! smiley

Sharapova
Nadal
Federer
Dimi
Murray

by summerblues Sun Jan 19, 2014 6:56 pm

Cibulkova
Nadal
Federer
Dimitrov
Murray

by Daniel Sun Jan 19, 2014 11:56 pm

Make Nadal same size as Nish and then it would be Nish. Sadly, height advantage means Nadal is probably gonna win.

by Tenez Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:19 am

more than height it is Nadal's guns that really will make the difference.

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:58 am

Dimi

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:50 am

1st set 6:3 to Dimi in 32 minutes. Nothing flashy, but pretty solid and comfortable tennis. His game looks quite mature and businesslike now.

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:58 am

...but he gets quickly broken after some silly errors. Sad

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:28 am

..and now loses the second set. I hope he does not lose this match - that would be such a shame.

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:45 am

...and breaks early in the third. A bit of a roller-coaster this one.

by raiders_of_the_lost_ark Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:53 am

Come on dimi.

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:57 am

Third goes to Dimi 6:2 - just please do not lose from here.

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:00 am

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Come on dimi.

What do you think of Dimi, rotla? I have been very happy with what I have seen - both against Rao and today. I think he is close to a complete package now. He is also able to defend very well, which - like it or not - is critical in today's tennis. But he stands pretty close to the baseline line most of the time, unlike say Gasquet, so he is always in a good position to turn defence into attack.

by raiders_of_the_lost_ark Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:13 am

summerblues wrote:
raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Come on dimi.
What do you think of Dimi, rotla? I have been very happy with what I have seen - both against Rao and today. I think he is close to a complete package now. He is also able to defend very well, which - like it or not - is critical in today's tennis. But he stands pretty close to the baseline line most of the time, unlike say Gasquet, so he is always in a good position to turn defence into attack.

Dimitrov was too slow off the blocks when he come into the Pro circuit. Maybe he wasn't physically ready or he felt too much pressure with a great juniors career. But he is definitely getting into the right path. He is a better package than Raonic in my opinion, Raonic lacks self belief and mental strenght of a big match winner.

Dimi is building it good right now, I hope this year is going to be great for him. He has good DTL shot which is so so important for a single handed BH.

He definitely looks to be GS material in the making, but so did Gasquet a long time back. We just have to see if he can do it.

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:41 am

and here it is. Dimi takes the match! Great, his first slam QF, hopefully many more to come.

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 5:51 am

Rafa takes the first set and that is it for me. A couple of hours' nap is in order now; will be back for Roger.

by noleisthebest Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:52 am

Nishikori putting up a great fight.
Serving for the set.

......and now to stay in the match....

TIE-BREAK!!!!!

Disgraceful umpiring.

Poor Nishi...shame he couldn't use the few chances he had.

by noleisthebest Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:32 am

Robert wins the third set!!!!!

by luvsports! Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:37 am

Murray taken to a 4th set.

by noleisthebest Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:39 am

How cool would it be if Robert went through!!!

ALLLEEEEEEEEEZ diva

by Tenez Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:51 am

noleisthebest wrote:
Disgraceful umpiring

why that?

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:55 am

Roger

by noleisthebest Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:57 am

Tenez wrote:
noleisthebest wrote:
Disgraceful umpiring
why that?

Pretending not to hear the obvious nets call in an important point, allowing Nadal to take extra time too much.
Not related to umpiring, but when Nishikori had the momentum and sent Nadal tumbling on the ground, Nadal managed to "snap" his shoelace, leave the court and disappear into tunnel, take a few minutes in the middle of the game ...
Is that allowed?

by noleisthebest Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:07 am

And that was the end for Stephane Robert, the Luckiest Lucky Loser in the history of AO.
It was moving to watch him pack his bag, change his T-shirt, and instead of throwing it to the crowd put it back in his bag, talk to people in the crowd and just wanting to stay in that Lucky Bubble as long as he could.
Tomorrow, back to Challengers...Bon chance, Stephane! Bubbly

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:15 am

Nice start.

by Tenez Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:19 am

noleisthebest wrote:Not related to umpiring, but when Nishikori had the momentum and sent Nadal tumbling on the ground, Nadal managed to "snap" his shoelace, leave the court and disappear into tunnel, take a few minutes in the middle of the game ...
Is that allowed?

Yes that is ridiculous! God knows what happened in that changing room replacing his shoe lacet.

by N2D2L Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:21 am

Nadal's shoelace was in grave danger, thank goodness it's ok now.

by Tenez Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:33 am

it;'s not vintage Federer yet. His FH has become even loopier, due I guess for lack of confidence....and also tactical I guess.

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:35 am

Good first set.

by N2D2L Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:37 am

Nadal's shoe-laces has been moved from ITU to outpatient.

by noleisthebest Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:39 am

Tenez wrote:it;'s not vintage Federer yet. His FH has become even loopier, due I guess for lack of confidence....and also tactical I guess.

Agree.
Having seen him in Brisbane and first two matches in AO, this has been his best BH edition. You can see it's all coming together and that is encouraging.

by Tenez Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:41 am

Yes, his BH is much more solid and that was to be expected with that new racquet.

by N2D2L Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:46 am

Fed playing incredible tennis, Rafito must be shaking in his boots.

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:48 am

You mean Grigor.

by noleisthebest Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:05 am

Even the fastest FHs from Tsonga look slow compared to some super-juiced ones I saw from Nadal today.
Nishi made him run a lot just by taking the ball early and placing it. He is becoming a new Davy for Nadal.

by N2D2L Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:07 am

summerblues wrote:You mean Grigor.

My bad.

by gallery play Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:09 am

Hi folks, finally have some time to watch tennis combined with posting on OTF.

I'm impressed with how Federer plays, i guess he didn't reach this level throughout 2013.
I thought his BH has been solid with this racket all along, even during those few matches on clay before the US open but the FH was dodgy. It seemed like he was thinking too much of how he would hit it and that isn't the case today. Still room for improvement though but a solid win today would prove he's moving in the right direction (finally).

by noleisthebest Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:09 am

What a gorgeous BH return that was.... Magic

by Tenez Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:11 am

Julia Santamaria wrote:
summerblues wrote:You mean Grigor.
My bad.

You missed a superstitious jinx?! Doh

Oh dear....you expected Nadal to roll over Grigor....and now you realise....that was a mistake. That's it!

Nadal is going to win now.... Cool

by Tenez Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:15 am

gallery play wrote:Hi folks, finally have some time to watch tennis combined with posting on OTF.

I'm impressed with how Federer plays, i guess he didn't reach this level throughout 2013.
I thought his BH has been solid with this racket all along, even during those few matches on clay before the US open but the FH was dodgy. It seemed like he was thinking too much of how he would hit it and that isn't the case today. Still room for improvement though but a solid win today would prove he's moving in the right direction (finally).

Welcome back GP! Like me it's my first real watch at a match this year, certainly the first of Fed .

Agree with your analysis. I think he should have changed his racquet a long time ago...and to be even more precise, he should drop Wilson for Head, Prince or yonex.

by gallery play Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:18 am

Lucky break there for Fed. Tsonga was getting a litte nervous too

by summerblues Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:21 am

Joy to watch this.

by gallery play Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:24 am

Tenez wrote:
gallery play wrote:Hi folks, finally have some time to watch tennis combined with posting on OTF.

I'm impressed with how Federer plays, i guess he didn't reach this level throughout 2013.
I thought his BH has been solid with this racket all along, even during those few matches on clay before the US open but the FH was dodgy. It seemed like he was thinking too much of how he would hit it and that isn't the case today. Still room for improvement though but a solid win today would prove he's moving in the right direction (finally).

Welcome back GP! Like me it's my first real watch at a match this year, certainly the first of Fed .

Agree with your analysis. I think he should have changed his racquet a long time ago...and to be even more precise, he should drop Wilson for Head, Prince or yonex.

Hi T,
a long time ago he was still winning everything.. Winking

But you're right, who knows what would have happened if he changed racket in 2008?
He now waited till there was nothing left of his game and confidence, the opposition tore it apart.

by noleisthebest Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:27 am

I must admit, it's a new experience to watch Fed play his FH cautiously, the full-on version is what's been missing from the complete package.
The commentator mentioned wind, so that could play the part in it.
I did see him get hold of it in other matches, though and it looked fantastic.

by Daniel Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:29 am

Julia Santamaria wrote:Nadal's shoe-laces has been moved from ITU to outpatient.

You may joke about it, but even you have to realise what a cheat your man is?

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