Tennis: All Purpose Tennis Thread XII

[kihei]

Nole takes this three-hour match 6-4 in the third. Del Potro played as well as I have ever seen him play on clay, but Nole just wouldn't be denied.

 

[MsMeow]

Last night's Delpo/Nole match is on TSN now

And in a little bit, Nadal/Tsitsipas will start.

 

[kihei]

Hell of a performance by Rafa so far, 6-3, 2-1 with a break and Stefanos playing very well.

 

[MsMeow]

Man. Nobody has the intensity and drive like Rafa.

 

[kihei]

I'm beginning to think that Tsitsipas' father is a royal pain in the ass. One of those parents who is never satisfied.

 

[kihei]

Well, assuming Nole wins against Schwatzman, Sunday's final is going to tell us a lot about who should be favoured going into the French Open. I wouldn't bet against either of them tomorrow.

 

[kihei]

Nole won the first set though Schwartzman played really well, 6-3. In the second set Schwartzman was the better player and deserved to win the tie breaker. He is having a very impressive day and Nole had better raise his game quickly.

 

[Tuggy]

Djokovic takes the 3rd to setup the big matchup tomorrow.

 

[kihei]

A case of experience in big matches counting for a whole lot.

 

[MsMeow]

I'm beginning to think that Tsitsipas' father is a royal pain in the ass. One of those parents who is never satisfied.

What happened?

 

[kihei]

What happened?

Nothing out of the ordinary for tennis parents living through their children. Just sitting in his seat looking angry at each of his son's mistakes, gesturing displeasure, that sort of thing.

Hard not to pick Rafa tomorrow. On current form, I think he is a firm favourite.

 

[MsMeow]

I just tuned in to see Rafa up 4-0. He seems to be hitting with authority.

 

[Maestro84]

Wow Rafa on the verge of bagelling Djoker. Easily the best set he’s played on clay this year. God I wish this version of Rafa showed up in Melbourne instead

 

[kihei]

As good as Rafa was, Nole didn't help with poor play. He seems to be perking up now as the second set progresses, 3-2 on serve.

 

[kihei]

Losing to Tsitsipas in the semis at Madrid obviously was a wake-up call for Rafa and this whole week so far shows how strongly he has responded.

Nole recovers from l0ve-40, though, to keep on serve, 4-3.

 

[kihei]

Nole living dangerously giving up potential break points every service game but he survives again. 5-4.

 

[kihei]

Holy Christ, Nole breaks for the set. Is that a wild turn-around or not?

 

[kihei]

Here's a question I was musing about before Nole broke for the set: As dominant as Rafa has been, could he do this for five sets in the French? I have serious doubts.

 

[kihei]

Third set: Nole gets tentative on too many points and Rafa bulldogs a break, 1-love.

Nole stubbornly keeps forcing drop shots and they are falling into the net, like eight times now.

Rafa has weaponized the service timer which is visible to players in Rome. He makes sure he gets extra seconds of rest before serving.

Nole continues to misplay the simplest of putaways, a sad theme all day.

Rafa earns a second break, 4-1, the end certainly now in sight.

....and he wins it 6-1.

Quite the performance.

 

[Tuggy]

Nadal just cementing his status as favorite going into RG.

 

[kihei]

24 backhand errors, tentative play, wonky overheads, a dozen dumb drop shots, and an inability to win long rallies (25%, 6 for 24, last I noticed), all doomed Nole. So while Nadal now goes into Paris as the favourite, I don't think he is a sure thing at all, even after today, and could wear down in long matches. I'm liking Thiem at the moment, despite his bombing out early in Rome. He should be well rested anyway.

 

[kihei]

Sharp net play helps Karolina Pliskova win her biggest title, 3 and 4 over Konta, Good for her--I like seeing her play well.

 

[MsMeow]

I think nole was probably tired from playing so many long matches.

 

[Hadoop]

Draw out for Lyon and Denis/Felix on opposite sides of the draw. Maybe we can get our first (of hopefully many) finals between them

Not sold on Denis' dirt balling prowess, but if Felix plays the kind of clay court tennis he's capable of there's no reason he can't go deep and possibly even win this FO tuneup.

 

[Tuggy]

Not sold on Denis' dirt balling prowess, but if Felix plays the kind of clay court tennis he's capable of there's no reason he can't go deep and possibly even win this FO tuneup.

Yeah, I'm not sold on Denis on clay.

Felix actually has a nice draw in Lyon. He's fighting inconsistency right now, but if he's in form he could make a run.