Rome: Oh, Daveeed
Photo by AP Photo/Andrew Medichini
Rafa took on his friend and compatriot David Ferrer in the first men’s semifinal match in Rome. You know, I’m not sure I actually like watching matches between these two. They are my two favorite players and I always feel torn. Yes, my main allegiance is to Rafa, but my heart breaks for Daveeed with every loss. I often get the feeling they don’t like playing each other either – both feeling stuck in their assigned rolls (dream crusher/second fiddle). Even with the shaky start Rafa had today, the outcome just about always feels pre-scripted. Any way, Rafa is through to the final: 7-6(6), 6-0.
Stats:
| Nadal | Ferrer | |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics on Serve | ||
| Aces | 2 | 2 |
| Double Faults | 0 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 69% | 72% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 39/52 (75%) | 30/51 (59%) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 11/23 (48%) | 9/20 (45%) |
| Break Points Saved | 9/10 (90%) | 7/11 (64%) |
| Service Games Played | 9 | 9 |
| Statistics on Return | ||
| 1st Return Points Won | 21/51 (41%) | 13/52 (25%) |
| Second Return Points Won | 11/20 (55%) | 12/23 (52%) |
| Break Points Won | 4/11 (36%) | 1/10 (10%) |
| Return Games Played | 9 | 9 |
| Statistics on Points | ||
| Total Service Points Won | 50/75 (67%) | 39/71 (55%) |
| Total Return Points Won | 32/71 (45%) | 25/75 (33%) |
| Total Points Won | 82/146 (56%) | 64/146 (44%) |
| Other Stats | ||
| Winners | 26 | 19 |
| Unforced errors | 26 | 36 |
| Net Approaches | 6/7 (86%) | 5/10 (50%) |
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Go Rafaaaaaa!
So it was Roger and out tonight. I don´t really know what to think right now about tomorrows outcome.
I agree with all of you, that watching Rafa and Daveed is never nice, because we all like them so much.
BUT – nomatter the result of Roger and Novak, Rafa is still going to win tomorrow, if he wants the number two spot back before Roland Garros.
He knows it, we know it, but I just have a feeling, that he will come out tomorrow with confidence, because the last meeting between Novak and him, went Rafas way.
He won in Monte Carlo, eventhough the media seemed only focusing on the fact, that Novak lost his grandfather.
But a win is a win, and for Rafa it meant so much.
Both players will go on court knowing what´s at stake. Novak to defend his title, Rafa to regain the title.
The big question is of course how they both will react to the challenge. It can only be nailbiting again!
I close my eyes and see Rafa against Berdych – that match had it all, and the shotmaking of Rafa, his intensity and high level of play was just amazing.
So Rafa please, let that match slip into your dreams tonight, and when you walk on court tomorrow, show us, that your opponant better be at his very best, because we know, that you will give it all!
I can´t wait, hopefully I will have sweet dreams of victory for you too, and the very best of nice dreams to all you Rafa fans out there!
Rafa Focuse on Your Game tomorrow and Win! Goooooo RAFAAAAAA !!!!!!
well after Nole’s great performance tonight compared to Rafa’s earlier i wonder if Rafa is gonna win tomorrow and was MC a one off? I really dont want Rafa to go to RG at no 3 to be honest.
What does anyone else think?
Didn’t get a chance to see either match yet today but the on fire Rafa of yesterday was magnificent.
The comments I read about the Federer match seemed to say he was playing very poorly, maybe not well..? Please tell me it wasn’t that Djokovic was playing lights out!!!
Rafa yesterday was not Rafa today. He said in his post-game interview (which is not exactly trustworthy in translation) that he couldn’t play well today because he played so well against Tomas. I guess that means he was tired. An odd comment. He said he just hung in there and tried to keep it close until David tired. Well … maybe. It was David’s to lose. It was also very distubing to watch the first set. Very.
The commentaries I’ve read about the Fedvak farce have tried to put a good face on things, but Fed was demolished. Once again, Rome fell to the barbarian. Fed was tired, slow, flatfooted, and without a serve in the first set, and roused only slowly in the second set. Consistently hit long. As one of our friends here said, “Novak looked at Roger like he was gluten.” Djokovic did indeed play as well as I have ever seen him. It was intensely personal; I think Fed is paying for his remarks about adjusting to blue clay and about reclaiming No. 1. Ugly, sad, and embarrassing.
Odd comment indeed. Some sort of excellent play hang over?
Rafa said he couldn’t play well today because he played so well against Tomas? That’s not my understanding when I read the transcript. Could you please tell us what were Rafa’s exact words?
http://www.internazionalibnlditalia.com/News/Tennis/2012/Interview-Transcripts/Nadal-Saturday.aspx
“I think that the quality of tennis in the first set of the game was higher today than in Barcelona and that was my feeling and I had the fantastic match yesterday and so I didn’t play well it was because I couldn’t. His shot was good and aggressive and I did not have time to hit a ball with normal conditions and all the balls that he sent were very aggressive and very difficult.”
I think what Rafa was saying is that he had a great match yesterday against Tomas, but couldn’t play the same way because of David’s aggressive shot making. It had nothing to do with being tired from the Berdych match.
At least that’s my take.
I have looked in vain for the original Spanish transcript. Will probably be available after midnight somewhere. It would be good to know the original words, though I do not read or speak Catalan.
It probably wasn’t in Spanish, but in English. I don’t think the “so” is correct in there, more like it should be a “but” as in, “yesterday was great, but today wasn’t” then explaining why it wasn’t.
“I didn’t play well it was because I couldn’t.” Later he says, “… but today was different [than?] against Berdych and [Ferrer] was attacking from the beginning but I couldn’t hit the ball today I couldn’t and so I was fighting against his backhand but today I didn’t have that chance and if I hit a ball short and he put me in a bad position.”
I’ve said it before and i feel i must repeat it now….. You only play well if your opponent lets you, i guess when i read this comment that that counts for us on ammature level but also for them on pro level and i guess thats what Rafa mend to say here.
And to illustrate how true it can be. Yesterday i played two matches myself against the same opponent, the 1st match we struggled big time, because the opponent played that game that brings my partner and i in big trouble, we where the better players technically spoken and eventually we won but it was so winning ugly. The 2nd match he and i played with a different partner, my partner was better in playing trough his game, he started to make errors and we won 6-1,6-0
Rafa wasn’t impressive today in his win against good friend David. In fact, he should have lost the first set, because David was controlling most rallies. Someone commented earlier that Rafa had no serve, no backhand, and even no forehand in that first set. The spanish newspaper “El Pais” made the commnet that at times Rafa appeared to be a shadow of himself. Despite everything, his competitiveness and fortitude–and luck– earned him the set.After the struggle, Davis was deflated and got bagel in the second set.
Now we know that Novak will be his opponent tomorrow in the final. Instead of just wishing Nadal to win tomorrow, I look at the match objectively, and try to understand how Nadal may win tomorrow.
There are obvious weaknesses in Nadal’s game that player’s try to exploit and attack, but they are not able to sustain long enough to beat him.I feel Djokovic is superior technically in the shot department over Nadal, having more variety and power.So far Nadal has not been able to improve his backhand as much as Novak has improved his forehand over the last few years. When I watch Nadal hit the backhand, I wonder how come he has not been able to improve it so as to make it weapon;he has the weakest backhand of the top 10 players.His backhand is ok crosscourt, hitting it with power and variety, but he’s unable to drive it down the line,pushing the ball most of the time or hitting the slice.Technically, he does not always turn the shoulder probably like Novak, so he can uncoil powerfully and hit with more disguise.He guides the ball too much with his hands only, and many times hits the ball off his shoelaces, resulting in weak shots or long shots.Another big difference that will probably define the match tomorrow is Rafa’s serve against the best returner of the game today( some say best of all times).Novak can neutralize Rafa’s favorite serves,which are the serve dond the T and the slice serve in the ad court.Rafa doesn’t have a good wide serve in the deuce court like Federer, that could prevent Novak from cheating when he stands to receive. Notice how he’s always leaning to the backhand when Nadal is serving in the deuce court.On the opposite side, I don’t understand why Nadal stands so far back to receive even for second serves, especially if his trategy is just to put the ball in play. He needs to be more aggresive or Novak will take control of the point unless his return is deep.Furthermore, the mental edge is definetily with Novak, having beaten him in so many finals that really counted, like the slams.
But our hero is admired for is ability to fight and come through against the odds.He has fewer weapons but can make the best of them.Hope he doesnt run-around the backhand so much and leaves himself exposed against such a good defende as Nole. Ah, if only he could strike that backhand down the line more confidently and surprise his rival, like game number three in Montecarlo.Should be intersting.
Agree totally. I try to remind myself that Rafa as an ATP pro has won 95% of the time he has stepped onto a clay court. I try to imagine that he was trying to conserve everything for tomorrow, and knew that David couldn’t keep up his perfection (that was a close thing, tho). I try to remember that Rafa knows Nole’s game better than anyone else does.
If it were 3 of 5, I’d be more comfortable, but 2 sets out of 3 may not give him time to work into the match — a thing which, in his earlier years, he never had to do.
Maybe, his desire for revenge slaked, Nole will lose some intensity. With Nole, it’s always about what’s going on in his head. I can hope that he’s going to be distracted or complacent. But I doubt it.
Nole has respect for Nadal but thinks he’s not unbeatable.
“Playing Rafa is always a challenge. He’s the best player ever on this surface. But after 2011, I know I can win now,” Djokovic said. “I need to step into the court and take chances and not allow him to move me around.”
Djoker has self-belief now and the confidence that he has beaten Nadal twice in a clay court final. Tomorrow he won’t be distracted by outside events, like in Montecarlo. For Nadal to have lost against him in Montecarlo would have been devastating psychologically. Eight in a row in eight finals aginst the same player would have been a blemish in his career.
Rafa needs to play wigh high intensity from the start,serve well and be aggressive. Poor serving like in Madrid, where he was broken four times in a row and consequently squandered a big lead, is unforgivable. Hope he can serve like in Montecarlo.
All true, Les.
Golly Gee. This is really good news for Djokovich fans.
Wow, kind of depressing, Les, when you enumerate Rafa’s weaknesses. Good thing the “intangibles” (fight, making the best of what he has) have figured so prominently in Rafa’s 10 Gs…
That’s why Rafa has appeal. He’s not a dominating or overwhelming player, even at his best. He makes you wonder “how can he win so much” despite the odds against him. His wins are not easy or seemingly effortless like Federer.One keeps watching him to see how he can come through time and time again.I look at the tactics he uses and the technicals shortcomings versus other top players and it doesn’t seem to amaze me how often he comes through victorious. His heart and competitiveness have carried him far.
Well, I disagree, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Go Rafa! You Can and Will Win Again! Believe Yourself and Play Your Best Game!!! Go Rafaaaaaa!!!
A long and intense first set that was practically decided by Rafa’s drop volley (?) at 6-6 in the Tiebreak! That set alone was worth 3. Might sound callous but I really needed the second set like this!
Another tough tough tough final today! Need to be with colm and confidence (that’s me and Rafa). Vamos Rafa! Here’s to another trophy bite!
Les, i know ur analysis are correct. However, i believe if rafa steps on that court wt the determination he had in MC, it wud be a surprise for me if he loses.
One thing i have noticed wt Djoker is, when you get returns back consistently,he goes off after a while; swinging d two-handed backhand to wide.If also rafa can hit the on the run- down the line forehand, it wud be a plus and a surprise to joker. I think d joker shud be surprised, a different look of rafa form the previous wins in 2011 finals.
Honestly, as a rafafan, i want to believe rafa will win. A loss here will only make MC victory a fluke, i wholeheartedly pray strongly against that.
Go rafa,go!
I totally agree Jummy, its all about how Rafa is feelin the ball but primarily his confidence levels against Novak on the day.. and yes he MUST put pressure on Novaks serve and surprise him, I truly believe that Rafa is mentally stronger, Novak is breakable, Rafa just needs to keep sowing those seeds of doubts!
From what I saw, Djok has to thank Fed’s UEs — 42 to 24 , something.. Otherwise the statistics for both players (Djok and Fed) are the same..
VAMOS RAFA ! Play like you did against Berdych : aggresıve..
*
Federer player terrible. He was not The Federer that we have been seen of late. His serve was 49 percent! You can’t beat Novak with those stats…also around 36 unforced errors! No….the joker, mow supporting actor hadbeasy pick ins.
sorry…now supporting actor.
Suspense..match about to start soon..I hope Rafa’s goes on an aggresive mode from GAME ONE! No letting up against Nole..VAMOS!
Go RAFA!!! Glad Maria Sharapova won ladies. Yes, RAFA, it is your turn to WIN. GOOOOOO RAFAAAAAA!!! Your Fans All Are With You!!! RAFA!!! RAFA !!! GOOOOOO!!!
Men’s final postponed until Monday at noon. Per Tignor and Neil Harman on twitter.
Damn the rain, sick of it this year!
Good Luck Rafa for tomorrow’s final! I will be following your score on my phone and computer. Please stay focused on your game! Have Confidence and Win!!! GO RAFA!!!
I’m a ZOMBIE from staying up last night (Rome and Masia = 6 hour time difference)..hope NO rain delays today..sigh..