AO: El Classico

Getting up at 2:30am for a tennis match the day before I have a big meeting at work? Only for Rafa and Roger – their history, their class and their excellent tennis. The match started with Federer on fire. He broke his first chance and rode that break until 7th game. They stayed on serve and Federer took the set in a tiebreak. Things then got scarier as Rafa was broken at love to start the 2nd. He broke right back and they stayed on serve until the 6th game. Another break sealed the set for Rafa: 6-2. There was another trade of breaks in the 3rd and it too ended up going to a tiebreak. Federer fought back (and Rafa got a bit nervy) from 1-6 down, but Rafa ended up serving it out: 7-6(5). They both held serve in the 4th until Rafa broke in a hard fought 9th game to give himself the opportunity to serve for the match. It was a tight final game, but Rafa held and wins: 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5),6-4.

Stats:

	Nadal	Federer
Statistics
Aces	4	11
Double Faults	1	5
1st Serve %	77%	64%
1st Serve Points Won	75/109 (69%)	57/86 (66%)
2nd Serve Points Won	20/32 (63%)	27/49 (55%)
Break Points Won	6/16 (38%)	3/10 (30%)
Statistics on Points
Total Service Points Won	95/141 (67%)	84/135 (62%)
Total Return Points Won	51/135 (38%)	46/141 (33%)
Total Points Won	146/276 (53%)	130/276 (47%)
Other Stats
Winners	36	46
Unforced errors	34	63
Net Approaches	5/15 (33%)	35/57 (61%)
Serve Speeds
Fastest Serve Speed	194 KMH	207 KMH
Average 1st Serve Speed	172 KMH	185 KMH
Average 2nd Serve Speed	137 KMH	154 KMH

As it happened blatherings:

I barely woke up in time!

Fed serving to start the match. Rafa tees off on a serve return, Fed smacks a winner: 15-0. Ace: 30-0. Forehand winner: 40-0. Fed into the net, Rafa’s passing shot is wide and Fed loves at hold.

Fault. Deep forehand from Rafa draws and error: 15-0. Let. This time, it’s a fierce shot from Fed that draws an error: 15-15. More deep balls from Fed and Rafa nets a backhand: 15-30. Fault. Fed smashes some short balls from Rafa, but defense keeps him in the point and Fed muffs a forehand: 30-30. Fed’s backhand goes long: 40-30. Fault. Fed smacks a weak second serve return and Rafa’s reply sails long: deuce. Deep forehand out wide gives Fed control of the point and he capitalizes: break point. Fed rips a backhand winner and breaks Rafa for a 2-0 lead.

It’s early, but I feel the need to say: first serves in, please, and hit the darn balls deeper.

Deep winner followed by a drop shot winner: 30-0. Rafa works a rally well, but it ends with a backhand error from Rafa: 40-0. Stunning return of serve winner from Rafa: 40-15. Rafa into the net but he can’t get his volley back over and Fed holds for 3-0.

i can’t possibly imagine that anyone is not watching match between rafa and roger!!! even rethinking dinner:))) #champions

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) January 26, 2012

Aggressive play from Rafa and Fed mishits a backhand: 15-0. Fed goes for a cutesy dropper, but it lands in the net: 30-0. Deep return draws an error: 30-15. For now, the net cord declares its allegiance to Rafa: 40-15. Rafa sets up a backhand, but sends it into the net: 40-30. Deep hitting draws an error from Fed and Rafa’s on the scoreboard: 1-3.

Nice passing shot, Rafa! 0-15. Rafa’s return of serve is well out: 15-15. Rafa’s passing attempt goes into the net: 30-15. Fed controls a point from start to finish: 40-15. Another easy hold for Fed: 4-1.

Huge start from Roger, clean, heavy and attacking with shot and positioning …Rafa will come though, he knows no other way.

— roger rasheed (@roger_rasheed) January 26, 2012

Fed nets a backhand: 30-0. Rafa pulls Fed wide and he replies with a forehand down the line winner: 30-15. Fed nets a forehand: 40-15. Rafa runs back to return a lob, gets there, but butchers the reply: 40-30. With an ace, Rafa holds for 2-4.

On his way in, Fed nets a forehand: 15-0. Deep shots from Fed and Rafa can’t stay ahead of them: 15-15. Rafa works a point well, but then sends a forehand out: 30-15. Fed serves and volleys, but sends the volley into the net: 30-30. Fed sends a forehand wide: 30-40. With a backhand passing shot winner, Rafa breaks to put things back on serve!

I think Fed has played better coming into this match, but I almost think that’s irrelevant when he plays Rafa. #itsallmental #AusOpen

— Rob Koenig (@RobKoenigTennis) January 26, 2012

Forehand winner from Rafa: 15-0. Backhand shank from Fed: 30-0. Deep shots draw an error: 40-0. Another shank and Rafa holds: 4-4.

Rafa sends a backhand long: 30-0. Rafa nets a second serve return: 40-0 (but at least he was stepping in). With an ace (per chair overrule), Fed holds for 5-4.

Rafa sends a racket out for re-string.

Fed sends a backhand return of serve well out: 15-0. Fed sends a backhand out: 30-0. Per Cahill, conditions are cooler, but the courts are still playing medium, medium fast. Fed’s return is out: 40-0. Fault. Love hold for Rafa: 5-5.

Also, per Cahill, Rafa uses a 1.35mm string – one of the thickest you can buy.

Rafa nets a forehand: 30-0. Nice volley of a good passing shot from Rafa: 40-0. Rafa barely gets a serve return back, but Fed flubs the dropper off the floaty shot: 40-15. Fed holds for 6-5 and I’m already out of the running for a signed racket from Ryan Harrison.

Fed into the net, Rafa on the defense, Rafa hits a backhand winner: 15-0. Return of serve winner: 15-15. Forehand winner from Rafa: 30-15. Fed’s serve return sails wide: 40-15. Long that time and Rafa holds. Tiebreak time.

Fault from Fed. Rafa sends a backhand long: 0-1. Deep return from Fed draws an error and he gets a mini-break: 0-2. Fed sends a backhand return out: 1-2. Rafa sets up his shot, but nets his forehand: 1-3. Fed’s serve is called out, he challenges, it’s in, replay the point. Ace: 1-4. Aggressive hitting/play from Rafa: 2-4. Rafa’s serve called in, Fed stops play and challenges. Ball was in: 3-4. Fed into the net and hits a deep winning volley: 3-5. Again: 3-6. Fed nets a backhand: 4-6. Forehand winner from Rafa: 5-6. Fed has another set point, but on his serve. Fault. Rafa sends a backhand out and Fed takes the first set: 7-6(5).

56 minutes; 79% 1st serves in; 71% won on 1st; 75% won on 2nd; 20% receiving points won; 1 ace; 11 UFEs; 10 winners; 2/4 at net; 1/1 bps converted

From their 27 meetings, that was only the third 1st set decided on a TB. Federer won them all.

— Jonathan Overend (@5livetennis) January 26, 2012

Backhand down the line winner from Fed: 0-15. Fed pushes and moves Rafa: 0-30. Aggressive forehand approach shot, but Fed passes: 0-40. Aggressive play from Fed and Rafa can’t get the ball back. He’s broken at love: 0-1.

Hewitt claiming the half the court (the Melbourne half) is actually uphill and thus advantageous….. fed 7-6, 1-0

— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) January 26, 2012

The hell?

Fed into the net and Rafa hits a running forehand passing shot winner: 15-0. Fed sends a backhand wide: 0-30. Fed challenges an out call, but it was out: 0-40. Fault. Rafa breaks back at love: 1-1.

30-15. Fed pushes Rafa deep and draws and error: 30-30. Aggressive play from Rafa and he finishes it with a midcourt forehand that Fed can’t quite get back: 30-40. Fed talking to his camp? Weird. Service winner and Rafa holds for 2-1.

Fed runs Rafa and finishes with a forehand winner: 15-0. Nice second serve and Rafa sends the reply well out: 30-0. Service winner: 40-0. Love hold for Fed: 2-2.

Fed pounces on a short ball: 0-15. Fed sends a backhand well out: 15-15. Deep shot from Fed draws an error: 15-30. Fault. Fed tries to run around to a forehand return and his shot is out: 30-30. Fed hugs the baseline and draws an error: 30-40. Fed sends a forehand well out: deuce. Again: game point. Another forehand out and Rafa holds.

Aggressive play from Rafa and Fed nets a forehand: 0-15. Beautiful return at Fed’s feed as he ran into the net: 0-30. How the hell did Rafa stay in the point and hit a winner off that?? Triple break point. Service winner: 15-40. Fault. Rafa had a shot, but sends the backhand into the doubles alley: 30-40. Backhand passing shot winner and Rafa breaks for a 4-2 lead in the second set.

Crazy point ends with Fed flicking a winner from the net: 0-15. Return of serve is long: 15-15. Rafa nets a forehand: 15-30. Fed nets a backhand return: 30-30. Again: 40-30. Rafa consolidates the break. He leads 5-2.

Fireworks. Rafa puts on jacket to keep warm; Fed leaves the court.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so focused and awake at 5:15am.

— Brodie (@MindTheRacket) January 26, 2012

Shift started at BP for Federer at 2-2; pressed on a forehand, and on another in that game. Rafa out of jail, running like a madman now

— Steve Tignor (@SteveTignor) January 26, 2012

Not sure I have ever seen a running winner CROSSCOURT from such a wide position as in that incredible sixth game. Rafantastic.

— Jonathan Overend (@5livetennis) January 26, 2012

Double fault: 0-15. Fault. Beautifully placed forehand by Fed, Rafa replies, Fed muffs 2nd volley: 0-30. Backhand return of serve winner from inside the baseline from Rafa. Triple set/break point. Rafa breaks at love to take the second set (double checks): 6-2.

32 minutes; 81% 1st serves; 65% won on 1st; 67% on 2nd; 1 ace; 17 UFEs; 15 winners; 36% receive pts won; 3/7 at net; 4/6 bps won

Jim Courier said Rafa was bounding up n down the Rod Laver hallways w headphones on during the fireworks. Great way to stay in the zone!!

— nic (@nic_knack) January 26, 2012

30-0. Fed hits a backhand that’s called out, but the chair overrules and is correct, replay point. Fault. Second serve ace: 40-0. Fed doesn’t really move to a ball at all and Rafa holds at love.

Did Fed’s back get cold and tight during the fireworks break?

Fed sends a forehand out: 0-15. Double fault: 0-30. Double fault: 0-40. Deep ball from Fed draws an error: 15-40. Fault. Rafa nets the second serve return: 30-40. Nice forehand winner from Fed: deuce. Service winner: game point. The net cord shows Rafa some love: deuce. Horrid forehand from Rafa: game point. Fed sets up a shot, but nets it: deuce. This time, the net cord loves Fed: game point. Fed holds: 1-1.

Service winner down the middle: 15-0. Rafa hits behind Fed for a winner: 30-0. Fed sends a forehand serve return well out: 40-0. Fed nets a drop shot attempt and Rafa holds at love for 2-1.

Rafa’s passing shot is wide: 15-0. Ace out wide: 30-0. Ace down the middle: 40-0. Service winner: 2-2.

Forehand winner from Rafa: 15-0. Fed hits some nicely angled balls of his backhand: 15-15. Fed nets a second serve forehand return: 30-15. Fed’s backhand return of serve is just long: 40-15. With a service winner, Rafa holds for 3-2 in the third.

Beautiful angle from Fed: 15-0. Service winner: 30-0. Again: 40-0. Double fault: 40-15. (He should have challenged the first serve call – hawkeye shows it was in.) These guys are amazing. Freaking amazing. Wonderful point ends with the net cord pops Rafa’s ball way up and Fed can’t adjust in time: 40-30. Rafa tries to run around for a forehand return and sends his shot long. Fed holds for 3-3.

Fed sends a backhand well wide: 15-0. Fed digs out a deep wide ball, sends the ball into mid-court and Rafa’s reply is out: 15-15. Fed runs Rafa until he can hit a forehand winner into the open court: 30-15. This time Rafa’s forehand into the open court is long: 30-30. Rafa sends a forehand out: break point. Rafa? Why you hitting your leg like that? Fed goes for a backhand, but it’s just out: deuce. Aggressive play from Fed: break point. Ace down the middle: deuce. Tried to go down the middle again, but it clips the net. Double fault. Service winner out wide: deuce. Fault down the middle. Rafa sends a forehand long: break point. Fault down the middle. Rafa plays short. Fed does not. Fed breaks for a 4-3 lead in the 3rd.

Fed smashes a winner: 15-0. Fed’s forehand is long: 15-15. Double fault: 15-30. Rafa gets his passing shot low to Fed’s forehand: 15-40. Rafa breaks right back! 4-4

Clijsters watching in the stands.

Fed sends a forehand well out: 15-0. Fed sends a forehand long: 30-0. Rafa nets a backhand: 30-15. Hard hitting rally ends with the net cord sending Fed’s ball back into this side of the court: 40-15. Rafa holds for 5-4.

Lleyton just chose Rafa out of the two to fight for his life, in response to Jim’s question.

— nic (@nic_knack) January 26, 2012

Nicely angled backhand that Rafa can’t do anything with: 15-0. Service winner: 30-0. Again: 40-0. Fed sends a forehand out: 40-15. Serve and volley – Fed holds for 5-5.

Rafa pushes Fed back and draws an error: 15-0. Beautiful angled backhand return of serve from Fed and Rafa can’t get it back over: 15-15. Fault. Forehand winner from Fed: 15-30. Fault. Aggressive hitting from Rafa ends with a forehand winner: 30-30. Fed nets a forehand: 40-30. Rafa holds for 6-5.

In @RafaelNadal #Federer rivalry, in best-of-5 set matches, after splitting 1st 2 sets, 3rd set winner is 7-0 in H-to-H. #AusOpen

— Greg Sharko (@SharkoTennis) January 26, 2012

Ace: 15-0. The net cord still loves Rafa: 15-15. What looked like an ace is called a let, but Rafa challenges the call. It was out by millimeters. Second serve. Rafa’s backhand goes into the net: 30-15. Fault. Moving up, Fed sends his forehand into the net: 30-30. Deep, heavy forehand from Rafa draws an error: set point. Fault. Short return of serve and Fed knocks off a winner: deuce. Fault. Rafa’s return of serve is out: game point. Fed holds for 6-6. Another tiebreak…

Fed moves forward, but nets his backhand: 1-0. Smart play by Rafa and he finishes it at net for the mini-break: 2-0. Service winner from Fed: 2-1. Fed’s backhand down the line is just out: 3-1. Fed sends a backhand well wide: 4-1. Beautiful backhand passing shot from Rafa: 5-1. Fault. Fed tees off on a forehand and nets it: 6-1. Beauty of a backhand winner from Fed saves one set point: 6-2. Fault down the middle. Rafa nets a tentative backhand: 6-3. Aggressive play from Fed: 6-4. Service winner: 6-5. 3rd set to Rafa! 7-6(5).

Strong holds from both guys to start the 4th.

Rafa into the net on a short ball and fires off a forehand winner: 0-15. Fed pushes Rafa deep and wide: 15-15. Fed nets a forehand: 15-30. Fed into the net and knocks off a nice volley winner: 30-30. Beautiful cross-court backhand winner from Rafa: 30-40. Service winner: deuce. Ace: game point. Another good serve and crisp volley and Fed holds for 2-1.

Rafa sends a forehand out: 0-15. Service winner: 15-15. Fed sends a backhand return long: 30-15. Forehand return this time: 40-15. Aggressive Rafa holds for 2-2.

When holding 2-1 sets lead (in b-of-5 matches), @RafaelNadal is 8-1 vs #RogerFederer. #AusOpen

— Greg Sharko (@SharkoTennis) January 26, 2012

Fed’s backhand is out: 0-15. Rafa sets up his shot, but nets the backhand: 15-15. Fed nets a forehand: 15-30. Passing shot winner: 15-40. Fault. Service winner: 30-40. Fed into the net, Rafa makes him hit a few volleys, Rafa’s backhand is out: deuce. Ace: game point. Fault. Nice rally ends with a forced error from Rafa. Fed holds for 3-2.

Federer 2-3 on serve…love that nadal camp is passing around a towel for their sweaty palms…

— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) January 26, 2012

Fed sends a backhand well out: 30-0. Forehand passing shot winner: 40-0. With an ace, Rafa holds at love.

Rafa’s shot is out: 15-0. Fed dropshots, Rafa’s lob reply is out: 30-0. Rafa’s forehand is long: 40-0. Backhand return of serve winner: 40-15. Fault. With a forehand down the line winner, Fed holds for 4-3.

Fed’s forehand lands in the doubles alley: 15-0. Amazing point ends with Rafa’s angled volley called out – he challenges, but the call is good: 15-15. Fed again wins the battle of the angles: 15-30. Fed nets a backhand: 30-30. Fed’s backhand return of serve is long: 40-30. Nicely angled backhand return of serve from Fed and he follows it with a backhand winner into the open court: deuce. Fault down the middle. Net cord pops Rafa’s ball up and Fed hits a winner off the floater: break point. Fault. Fed had his shot, but sends the forehand out: deuce. Forehand winner from Rafa: game point. Another and Rafa holds: 4-4.

Another “how the fuck to do they do this stuff” kind of point ends with Rafa’s backhand (from out of position) going just wide: 15-0. Fed’s backhand is out: 15-15. Deep shot from Fed and Rafa’s lob reply is long: 30-15. Rafa pulls Fed out wide and then follows up with a down the line winner into the open court: 30-30. Another aggressive rally from them both ends with Fed netting a backhand: 30-40. Fault. Deep forehand from Fed draws an error: deuce. Beautiful forehand from Fed, but Rafa makes him play one more to win the point: game point. Rafa pulls Rafa Fed out wide to his forehand and gets an error: deuce. Forehand cross-court passing shot winner….on the run: break point. Fault. Fed sends a backhand wide and Rafa breaks for a 5-4 lead in the 4th. Rafa to serve for the final next!

Both players fighting so hard in that game. Hard hitting, lovely angles…goodness I love when they play each other.

15-0. Deep return of serve from Fed followed up by a touch drop shot winner: 15-15. Fed sends a forehand long: 30-15. Rafa misses an easy forehand: 30-30. Fed’s return of serve is out: match point. Rafa’s attempt to thread the needle with a passing shot is just out: deuce. Fault. Rafa sends a forehand long: break point. Weird ass point – net cords, floaty lobs…Fed brain farting…deuce. Excellent return of serve draws an error: break point. Fed nets a backhand return of serve: deuce. Fed sends a backhand well out: match point #2. Fed sends a ball long and Rafa wins: 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4.

26 Jan 2012 | by miri | 62 Comments