Re: Miami Thread

[Polly 81]

Well.....that was quick..

[bluenose]

Frenetic?

[Tenez]

Shoot. did not see the match. Was Gasquet typically Gasquet? I mean overwhelemed by the emotion? or was Roger playing out of his tree?

[Polly 81]

I have no idea. I sat down to watch the match, thinking I had only missed the first set. It loaded on my computer just in time for me to see match point.

49 minutes though, it must have been a beating. Might watch reply tomorrow.

[Tenez]

yes..will do too. I much as I wanted Federer to win.....I am a bit disappointed by Gasquet...though frankly disappointed I should not be knowing how frustrating Gasquet can be.

[Polly 81]

To be fair though, I think it was more due to Federer being better (from what I've just seen). I think he took the ball early, not giving Gasquet any time. Typically putting pressure.
He's playing really well at the moment, excellent shot placement. I don't think it's hype either. Good signs.

[Tenez]

yes as he says in his last interview.

Hopefully he can keep it up.

[Tenez]

Well just saw a couple of games of Fed Gasquet. It was very windy and Gasquet did not even try to play. Very disappointing so this result cannot be taken seriously regarding Fed's from.

[Tenez]

Interesting comments from fed about his first match v Nadal:

Q. Where you played against Nadal. What do you think and how do you feel about that?
ROGER FEDERER: It was a tough tournament. I came off of sunstroke in Indian Wells after beating Henman in the finals. I was in bed for four or five days, and then came here. I beat Davydenko somehow 7‑5 in the third.
Then started feeling better and played Rafa, who was a new guy on the tour. I remember it was one of those matches, 6‑3, 6‑4 maybe. I don't even remember what the score was exactly, but never really got into the match. Still maybe a bit tired but he played great.
But he played great and I was impressed with what I saw. Don't quite remember what I thought of going into the match, you know, what the buzz was around him, but ‑‑ I'm not sure who he beat to get to me.
But, anyway, I mean, that was clearly for him a big arrival on the scene, you know, especially on the hard courts as well to beat ‑‑I was world No. 1 at the time as well. Because that's always a big deal if you can beat a world No. 1 on the hard courts, like when I beat Hewitt here I think a couple years earlier.
It's just like it's a big deal. I think everybody thought he was just a clay courter, and he proved that he was probably going to be more than just that. Went on to have this great career many expected him to have.

===========================
Assuming he is not making it up....I was again right to mention that it was far from an in form Federer that day.

Thi smatch was blown out of proportion but as I explained no way Nadal had the means to beat a fit Federer that day. Nadal lost convincingly to Gomez the following round and there no one Gomez could beat that Federer coiuld not.

[N2D2L]

The year after that Rafa also won the first 2 sets in Miami (as he did in 2004), and beat him in a BO3 in Dubai in 2006.
Anyway according to you Federer fully fit is better now, so those wins don't prove much.

[Daniel]

He is just a clay courter, Federer.  As you well know.  It's just the dumb slow conditions allowing him to play a clay game on virtually all surfaces. Anyway, we all know why Nadal beats Federer a lot on outdoor and clay, it's not just that conditions favour modern bore tennis, but that he is a left hander and a really bad match up. Pretty sure Darcis and Rosol and Soderling are not as good as Federer.

[N2D2L]

Pretty sure Darcis and Rosol and Soderling are not as good as Federer.

If they played more than 30 times (as Fedal have played), I don't think any of those 3 would have as good a record Federer does against Nadal.

In reality, for the number of matches they have played, Federer has actually got a comparatively good record against Nadal.

[noleisthebest]

Miami has been quite slow and uneventful so far, felt like a 250 event.

I saw a bit of Ferrer Nishi yesterday and really enjoyed Kei's win.
Same with Stan and Dolgo.
I have been savouring Dolgo's form recently and noticed a marked level of discipline in his tennis, he started spinning a lot of his FHs and used it to his advantage against Stan on this high bouncing court.
Stan was completely out of his depth and looked his old self: slow and heavy, as I was suspecting was going to be the case after AO.
He himself said he is the same player, the only difference being knowledge he can now beat top players.
Fed Gasquet was terrible, so only saw one game. Gasquet moonballing from 6m behind the baseline.
I even managed to see a few points from Fognini Nadal match in which Nadal as usual did nothing special, Fabio simply self-destructed.
Still, the few shots he played, the sweet timing and elegance were quite something to see in contrast to standard mid-court safe bludgeoning from Nadal.

So, hopefully the tournament will hot up tonight and tomorrow with some reasonable matches.

Don't look forward to Nole Murray but will start watching out of curiosity.
Nishi Fed should be good, but drama-free, also Raonic - Nadal. I do expect Nadal to handle Raonic's serve as he seems to have his way with big servers, but at least there is some hope!
My favourite QF match will be Dolgo Berd. I can't wait to see Dolgo start driving Berd crazy with his inexhaustible shot-selection, should be fun!

[Tenez]

Can't watch it unfortunately as I am going out. It looks like a good match! I d still prefer Djoko to win.

[noleisthebest]

I find Nole Murray matches extremely frustrating to watch: at least one customary escape behind the sofa, internal screams at Goodall's junk commentating (followed by turning the sound off).
The two make the court so small and difficult to needle through, yet they manage to create quite a bit of tension because of it.
In short...  

[N2D2L]

Even on the scoreboard, but certainly Murray is the better player so far; let's see who can step it up in the crunchtime.

[noleisthebest]

Brilliant game from Nole for 7:5.

[N2D2L]

Yep, he stepped it up when it mattered.

[N2D2L]

Djokovic from I've seen is playing better than IW, so should be an interesting end to the tournament.

[noleisthebest]

7:5 6:3....Nole is a better player, simple as that.
The rest is propaganda   

[Daniel]

Julia, do you now agree that Murray had a real injury and Nadal did not? See, in the real world, you don't come back from a real injury better than ever.

[N2D2L]

Julia, do you now agree that Murray had a real injury and Nadal did not?  See, in the real world, you don't come back from a real injury better than ever.

That's not necessarily true at all; do you follow football? Ramsey had his best season ever this year.

[Daniel]

Not as serious as Nadal's supposedly was. And football is not tennis.

[N2D2L]

Not as serious as Nadals?
Guy broke his leg. And you still have to run a lot in football, as well as the leg being clearly important in that sport

[summerblues]

Roger

[truffin1]

Fed tweaked his back middle of second set... Fighting like hell for the win still though.. I am only catching bits and pieces on a live stream, but fans on his site reporting he's doing his stretching between points we saw lots of last year.. damn-- all that beautiful tennis when he's healthy and just like that... gone..

Backs are so fragile.. I'm afraid this is what we will see from Fed here on out.. Some true excellence, then a tweak out of nowhere.

[truffin1]

and Fed goes down in Miami.. 1st pre semifinal loss in 8 tournaments.. Pretty clear what was going on though... Hope he is able to play DC in full health then a long deserved break....    Some beautiful tennis the past few weeks!!

[summerblues]

Oh dear, it looked all so smooth through 6:3 4:3...  Good win for Kei.  He has been playing quite well so far this year.

[raiders_of_the_lost_ark]

Oh.. what a terrible tennis towards the end by Fed. He had the match on his racquet and then let it completely slip.

Poor serving throughout the match.  

[raiders_of_the_lost_ark]

Fed tweaked his back middle of second set... Fighting like hell for the win still though.. I am only catching bits and pieces on a live stream, but fans on his site reporting he's doing his stretching between points we saw lots of last year.. damn-- all that beautiful tennis when he's healthy and just like that... gone..

Backs are so fragile.. I'm afraid this is what we will see from Fed here on out.. Some true excellence, then a tweak out of nowhere.

Ah.. the back again.. Both my fav swiss players struggling with bad back.

[noleisthebest]

I woke up and started watching at 2:3 in the 2nd set, Nishi serving and getting broken.
I thought: yes....fast, but not fast enough for Fed. He went for the tried and tested BH bludgeoning scenario, 5-6 wide shots, followed by an UE "winner".
The balance looked as I had expected, with Fed in firm control, taking time off Nishi no problem.

Fed held his serve and then things changed. I caught his worried look towards the box, which by now I have learnt to decipher as back problems.
Edberg, who was by that point happily smiling at chatting to Mirka in close ups, transformed into a worried man.
Rallies got longer and Nishi suddenly became apparently faster.
Still, Fed had the chance to serve out the match but failed. That was very disappointing. He disappeared into the tunnel between the sets, I assumed for a painkiller shot.
I was thinking, ooooh, he'll have to work hard now in order to grind through a win.
At the beginning of 3rd Nishi continued to bludgeon Fed's BH ever more, and Fed's return of serve on that side became weak mid-court blocks....
He suddenly looked heavy and slow...and I dropped off again.

Was sad to see the score this morning, but again, a good week for him overall. IW and Miami combined, Nole will probably be the only player ahead of him.

[Tenez]

yes sad especially considering he had an easy run till that match so had no real reason for a hurting back. . But now it is clear this back won't go away!

[noleisthebest]

I still hope the back does not prevent him from a good season, he seems very determined to have one.
I wonder if his chronic back problem stems from the fact he is a SBH-er, the number of times he has had to turn it and hit every match, every year, would be interesting to know his career ratio between BH and FH shots.
Naturally, things must have rapidly started deteriorating during road-running era, after conditions slowed down.

[N2D2L]

Fucks sake, that's Nadals hopes of winning Miami down the drain.

[Daniel]

^ clear wumming.

[N2D2L]

Remember RG 2011?

Federer won Nadal the title.

[Tenez]

Fucks sake, that's Nadals hopes of winning Miami down the drain.

Remember...jinxing, after a while, suddenly turns against the jinxer...

[Tenez]

The good news is that Nishi should not trouble Djoko much and should arrive relatively fresh on Sunday.

Nadal won't be pushed much either. So the final, though probably long yet shot-less, might be good drama as Nadal seems really pumped up again. Only the wind can save Nadal!

[Tenez]

Sure Fed had probably an impediment but frankly, at 32 did he want to fight v Djoko and then Nadal having had long weeks in IW and Miami?

Could he have serve it out? not sure as I did not watch.....

[noleisthebest]

Sure Fed had probably an impediment but frankly, at 32 did he want to fight v Djoko and then Nadal having had long weeks in IW and Miami?

Could he have serve it out? not sure as I did not watch.....

That's one way of looking at it.
I admit I was half asleep watching it anyway, but didn't get the impression he tanked that 2nd set, his FH was not good at all towards the end of it, it was almost unrecognisable...maybe I dreamt it all...
Glad Nole beat Murray, though.   

[Tenez]

Yes he probably wanted to win that second set...But if he felt pain or was unwell...I guess you don't want to make it worse and have to challenge Djoko. I think this is what he has been saying recently. He learnt from last year mistake to persevering when he should have stopped.

[truffin1]

it was clear when he tweaked the back... as Nole said- you could see the look at the box and the transformation.. Immediately during the break- the posters that were there live and texting to his forum reported he was doing his stretches during the changeover-- hamstring stretches-  so prob the sciatica flared.   

I imagine in the back of his mind- human nature- that he didn't want a replay of IW last year when he fought for the win against Stan clearly hampered to face Nadal and got crushed-- and prob helped make the injury more long term by continuing to play.    However, it sure looked like he was trying to win the 3rd set.. It was a mess, his sciatica was clearly grabbing the leg and his movement slow- but he was trying...    so no tank I think-  but maybe that little 1% that would have gotten him over the hump was pushed down by his mind knowing what he would have to face in next round.

I just hope he gets it calmed down, has a good training block, and does his best to not overplay during clay..  It's all aobut getting to Wimbledon healthy and in form in my mind..

[noleisthebest]

When is Mirka due, she looks about 7-8 months pregnant.
If Fed wants to take time off around baby time he'd have to skip Madrid or Rome, maybe even both.
Would be tough to go to RG unprepared like that.

Is a complete clay season write-off a possibility/option then?

RG ends on the 8th of June, so he'd be really fresh for the rest of the season.

[Tenez]

Yes....I think he will still play the FO....unless he is really injured.

[Tenez]

it was clear when he tweaked the back... as Nole said- you could see the look at the box and the transformation.. Immediately during the break- the posters that were there live and texting to his forum reported he was doing his stretches during the changeover-- hamstring stretches-  so prob the sciatica flared.   

I imagine in the back of his mind- human nature- that he didn't want a replay of IW last year when he fought for the win against Stan clearly hampered to face Nadal and got crushed-- and prob helped make the injury more long term by continuing to play.    However, it sure looked like he was trying to win the 3rd set.. It was a mess, his sciatica was clearly grabbing the leg and his movement slow- but he was trying...    so no tank I think-  but maybe that little 1% that would have gotten him over the hump was pushed down by his mind knowing what he would have to face in next round.

I just hope he gets it calmed down, has a good training block, and does his best to not overplay during clay..  It's all aobut getting to Wimbledon healthy and in form in my mind..

What surprises me if that Kei in his interview does not mention Federer's struggling. Only that he played well while not realising that Fed allowed him to play better.

Often happens that players are not aware of their opponent struggling. I guess they are so focused. He is a good player and I agree probably will get into the top 10 soon.

[Daniel]

Are we sure it is the back.  I'd hate to think we are becoming like the Nadal fans.... I certainly don't see any evidence of it. And if a player starts, then that's that. I don't think it is fair to claim physical problems or use them as an excuse when a player has entered the match. Fitness is a part of the sport, and at Fed's age, it should be expected.

[noleisthebest]

Kei is good but has limitations, possibly physically fragile to last the entire season consistently like Ferrer seems to be able to.

Not sure how well he plays on clay, or on grass, in fact.
I like his ball-striking and a fairly level-headed attitude on court, although I do remember an incident in Japan open, I think it was last year where he showed a bit of gamesmanship in the final or SF, trying to disturb the server, you could see that Gilbert was his coach.
Fognini is a similar player who strikes the ball even better and has a very nice game to watch, but to much O Sole Mio between the ears, which I like anyway, always entertaining, even when he gives a w/o

[noleisthebest]

Are we sure it is the back.  I'd hate to think we are becoming like the Nadal fans....  I certainly don't see any evidence of it.  And if a player starts, then that's that.  I don't think it is fair to claim physical problems or use them as an excuse when a player has entered the match.  Fitness is a part of the sport, and at Fed's age, it should be expected.

What would be the evidence of a bad back for you?

It seems that some fans take players' injuries more seriously than players, they are part of any sport, probably at least 50% of all matches are lost because of some kind of injury, it's just that some players are under more scrutiny than the others.

Having watched Federer closely for some time, it's easy to see the difference because it always manifests the same way.

Kei is chickenfeed for a healthy Fed.

[Tenez]

Nadal fans are also allowed to mention injuries if there is one. I have recognised a few. Probem with Rafa is that there are many of them and he recovers too quickly from them....whereas Federer has more or less always the same just flaring from time to time.

Federer was playing well and serving for the match until everybody (but me as I was not watching) saw he had a problem. It's clear that his game was different from his first set and a half ......Forums I would think are there to observe and talk about those things which the official press can't quite divulge.

Trust me...if Kei had the game to beat a fit Federer I would say it.

Unless you believe he aged again at 5/4 while serving for the match!

[Tenez]

Kei is good but has limitations, possibly physically fragile to last the entire season consistently like Ferrer seems to be able to.

Not sure how well he plays on clay, or on grass, in fact.
I like his ball-striking and a fairly level-headed attitude on court, although I do remember an incident in Japan open, I think it was last year where he showed a bit of gamesmanship in the final or SF, trying to disturb the server, you could see that Gilbert was his coach.
Fognini is a similar player who strikes the ball even better and has a very nice game to watch, but to much O Sole Mio between the ears, which I like anyway, always entertaining, even when he gives a w/o

But I noticed Kei for a while and he is maturing as expected. He was close to Beat Rafa in the AO...and had he done it, he would probably be close to top 10 by now.

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