RG: Tignor’s parse
Tignor has his Paris predictions up.
First Quarter
In his presser today, Nadal sounded happy to get back down closer to sea level, where, according to him, the ball doesn’t fly off the strings so haphazardly. Separating Paris and Madrid so distinctly in his mind is probably a good strategy; it will allow him to think of his loss on Sunday as an aberration rather than a harbinger. And instead of rattling him, I think it will make him come out with a fighter’s, rather than a defender’s, mindset. He has a little bit to prove again, which isn’t a bad thing.
Who or what stands out in Nadal’s section of the draw? Actually, kind of a lot, now that I look at it. There’s a Hewitt-Karlovic opener that could provide him with his third-round opponent—neither is a gimme, though neither is as dangerous as he used to be. After that, there’s fellow clay dog Ferrer, who pushed him hard for a set in Barcelona; Davydenko, another dirtballer who has troubled Nadal on the surface and has reached the French semis; Wawrinka, a solid Top 20 kind of guy; Almagro, a flashy but perpetually disillusioning fellow Spaniard who was drubbed here by Nadal in 2008; and Verdasco, a, um, flashy but perpetually disillusioning Spaniard who was drubbed here by Nadal in 2008.
Heh.
Semifinals: Nadal d. Gonzalez; Djokovic d. Federer
If Federer and Djokovic face each other, it will be a battle of two players who come in with a lot of confidence, and a lot of confidence that they can beat the other guy. Djokovic must feel like he’s figured out a rope-a-dope method of coaxing Fed to self-destruct, while Federer must feel like he’s in good enough form to put their last two matches behind him and exact revenge on a cocky whippersnapper who has always bugged him. But I think the stronger self-belief, as well as the more natural clay-court game, belongs to the Serb.
Final: Nadal d. Djokovic in straights
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I like what you’re saying, Steve. I like it a lot.
When is this $*@#*%& tournament going to start?!?!?! :)
I thing I’m gonna use this as a mantra, that I’ll keep saying to myself every day of the tournament…
The usual — VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to see him bite another trophy! Rafa es el rey!
I never have figured out why Almagro figures so highly so often in these sorts of things. Sure he can be tough, in flashes. But honestly he’s never given me any reason to think he’s particularly dangerous. I’d worry more about that other flashy, disillusioning Spaniard, Verdasco, to be honest. Though I still don’t think he’d have much of a chance against Rafa at RG.
Rafa drubbed EVERYONE, including Federer, in 2008 didn’t he? I mean, check out the scores from 08:
R128 Bellucci, Thomaz 7-5 6-3 6-1
R64 Devilder, Nicolas 6-4 6-0 6-1
R32 Nieminen, Jarkko 6-1 6-3 6-1
R16 Verdasco, Fernando 6-1 6-0 6-2
Q Almagro, Nicolas 6-1 6-1 6-1
S Djokovic, Novak 6-4 6-2 7-6(3)
W Federer, Roger 6-1 6-3 6-0
That’s a lot of 1s and 0s for a Grand Slam.
Rafa’s RG scores are in binary! OMG HE’S A ROBOT.
On a serious note, I totally agree about Almagro. For being a “claycourt specialist,” he has barely shown up in the clay season and was made to look like a sock puppet last year by Rafa, so I laugh UPROARIOUSLY whenever he’s considered a “threat,” even with qualifications.
Verdasco’s way more dangerous, but over five sets … I don’t see it. He’s played a lot recently and has had physical issues in the last two matches against Rafa, it seemed. He’s expressed his wish to beat Rafa one day (the 10-0 h2h is … owie), but it’s not gonna happen at RG.
I also think Tignor’s right that it’s better for Rafa to have a tough quarter – way more preferable than, oh say, having a five-hour semi.
I just read on eurosports that Rafa lost his one set exhibition match to a qualifier, ranked 138 was it? the score was 7-5, this is scarying me, last years results were amazing and I remember watching him all the way he’s play was fantastic, I have never seen Rafa sooo totally steam roll all his opponents with ease, I remember Almagros match and then Verdasco’s they both felt completely over powered Rafa was just sensational, I’m just wondering because he won it soo easy last year, is the pressure getting to him this year? or am I over re-acting to an exhibition match? can anyone make me feel better, I am just so depressed right now, his peers must surely be thinking he is vulnerable, thats all he needs right now!, we’ll this make him more determined or will he lose more confidence?
Yeah, I was just looking at the Swedish news online and it said in the Gothenburg Post about Rafa’s form looking doubtful for French Open, as he lost today. I was like, WTF?! That’s first I heard of that one-setter.
I dunno, don’t think it matters an awful lot, as it was an exhibition.
Maybe he was thinking about Xisca. I think she’s in town. ;)
what exo are you talking about? didn’t he beat clement?
Apparently he’s supposed to have played a set against a guy called Brian Dabul (ranked 109)from Argentina today, and lost 7-5.
But as I say, I haven’t heard anything else about it.
He beat Clement 6-3 6-3.
besides, murray lost to mathieu at his exo match. i don’t think it’s a big indicator of anything. it’s not a real match, and in this case, just one set (?) for rafa…
and there is no need for Rafa to stress himself to show that he is still unbeatable. He will do it when he really needs to. Why waste energy at exo match. People keep picking him.
People are freaking out about him losing a one-set exho?
Really?
Good thing the scores of his practice sets against hitting partners aren’t recorded and publicized, because I hear he loses those all the time, too. What a slump he must be having.
(I need Roland Garros to start immediately. People’s anxieties/fantasies of doom are reaching levels of the Ridiculous, fast approaching Insane. Shut ‘em up, please, Rafa.)
You are absolutely right, tiemyshoe. I’m not really worried. I think.
Totally agree with you tiemyshoe.I can’t wait for the French Open to commence. There are soo many speculations that needs to be put under rest. I try to read every article written about Rafa and a few of them were titled “on clay Rafa is perfectly relentless”, “nadal just perfect for Paris” etc. All this shud b put to an end and people should stop making judgments and conclusion before the beginning of the championship tournament. They shud stop putting pressure on Rafa and wait for his first match.
Rafa needs to be physically and mentally strong. So let that guy breathe. I am tired with articles which says “will Roger be 4th time lucky”, and him feeling positive with the results at Madrid and also with Djokovic almost beating Rafa which showed that its doable. I can’t wait for Rafa to trash all these speculations/belief or watever of Rog and Nole with his game. I am glad he is not responding to any of these stuffs thru the media.
I agree with all of you
hings are getting crazy ..
My sisters and brother are bothering me all the time
with the idea that Nadal might not win RG this year
and each one of them give me different reasons
it’s annoynig .. they are as nagging as the press !
Wish WE WILL ENJOY Watching Rafa Conquering RG AGAIN !!
Enjoyed all of your comments.
Oh, and don’t worry. The exhibition he lost apparently was disrupted by a rain shower and Rafa thought it best to not risk his health on slippery clay. Humm, a choice between an exhibition win against a no body or a seventh Grand Slam title? Till this hour I am questioning Rafa’s decision… :P