The Unofficial 2014 Aussie Open Thread

#26
#26
Wawrinka has really come on the past 2 years. He has belief. He holds the matchup advantage against Berdych 8-5.

I think I take Nadal by default in other half. I saw his match with Nishikori and he could have lost. Dimitrov has the best chance of taking him out of those left in the side.

A potential Nadal-Wawrinka final would be very interesting. Their recent matches have been very close.
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#28
#28
Nadal was lucky to escape Dimitrov. I don't know if that blister is bothering him bad enough to affect his game, or if his mind just wasn't in it. I know Dimitrov is considered one of the up-and-comers, but I saw Nadal make a lot of errors early on (went to bed after the 2nd) with his serve and forehand that you hardly ever see him make (that consistently at least). I think Federer will take him in the semis. Hope I'm wrong though.
 
#29
#29
I am sleepwalking through work today having stayed up to watch both Nadal and Federer's matches. Stupid.

Anyway, the courts are playing fast this year and it is causing Nadal problems. His blister isn't helping matters. Dimitrov was blistering shots in the first set and had a forehand to win the third set. He missed it and the rest is history.

Federer beat the tarnation out of Murray in the first two sets, broke him at 4-4 in the 3rd set and was serving for the match. He instantly reverted back to his form of the past two years and couldn't put Murray away. Fed's confidence shrunk and Murray took it to a tie-breaker. Fed had match points in the tie-breaker and couldn't put it away. Couldn't convert on at least 7 break points in the 4th, but eventually broke and served it out for the win. His style of play is very impressive and capable of winning the title this year IF HE CAN HOLD THAT FORM.

If the doubt creeps in, as surely it will against Nadal, he will lose. My prediction is Nadal in 4 very tight sets. I just hope Federer can display the game he brought to the Murray match when he meets Nadal. A caveat, if Nadal is in top form, he wins regardless. This matchup is past it's expiration date for Federer unless Nadal hiccups.

I see Wawrinka beating Berdych. This may very well be Stan the Man's time to take the hardware.
 
#30
#30
Nadal just hasn't impressed me that much in this tournament. I could see Federer beating him. Of course, we all know that Nadal is Fed's kryptonite. Will be an interesting matchup though.
 
#31
#31
There are no secrets amongst us here on the tennis "forum" regarding where each of us fall on the Federer/Nadal spectrum. I'm a huge Federer apologist and loyalist. I wouldn't dare claim that Federer had a legit shot at beating Nadal anymore unless there was something to hang my hat on.

Federer is playing better than I've seen him play in years. He is absolutely thumping the ball and playing consistently. He is also moving to the net whenever he can and playing really, really well at net. Alls I'm saying is that Fed has a shot. Not that it is likely to happen. That's far more than he's been able to say for at least 2 years.
 
#32
#32
With Wawrinka's win over Berdych, I think we're going to be looking at a Wawrinka v. Federer final come early Saturday or Sunday morning (I can never remember when it is for the Australian Open).
 
#33
#33
volprof said:
Nadal just hasn't impressed me that much in this tournament. I could see Federer beating him. Of course, we all know that Nadal is Fed's kryptonite. Will be an interesting matchup though.
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But this is Nadal's M.O. He rarely breezes through the draw. He usually saves his best stuff for the semis and final.
 
#34
#34
DyronNix said:
I am sleepwalking through work today having stayed up to watch both Nadal and Federer's matches. Stupid.

Anyway, the courts are playing fast this year and it is causing Nadal problems. His blister isn't helping matters. Dimitrov was blistering shots in the first set and had a forehand to win the third set. He missed it and the rest is history.

Federer beat the tarnation out of Murray in the first two sets, broke him at 4-4 in the 3rd set and was serving for the match. He instantly reverted back to his form of the past two years and couldn't put Murray away. Fed's confidence shrunk and Murray took it to a tie-breaker. Fed had match points in the tie-breaker and couldn't put it away. Couldn't convert on at least 7 break points in the 4th, but eventually broke and served it out for the win. His style of play is very impressive and capable of winning the title this year IF HE CAN HOLD THAT FORM.

If the doubt creeps in, as surely it will against Nadal, he will lose. My prediction is Nadal in 4 very tight sets. I just hope Federer can display the game he brought to the Murray match when he meets Nadal. A caveat, if Nadal is in top form, he wins regardless. This matchup is past it's expiration date for Federer unless Nadal hiccups.

I see Wawrinka beating Berdych. This may very well be Stan the Man's time to take the hardware.
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I agree with pretty much all of this. If Nadal is in top form, he wins. No doubt about it. If he continues struggling with the serve -- blisters on your hand are no joke in tennis...I had one in juniors...I don't think I won a game the rest of the tournament after it popped open -- Fed may very well just beat him. Fed is in fine form. His movement is excellent.
 
#35
#35
DyronNix said:
There are no secrets amongst us here on the tennis "forum" regarding where each of us fall on the Federer/Nadal spectrum. I'm a huge Federer apologist and loyalist. I wouldn't dare claim that Federer had a legit shot at beating Nadal anymore unless there was something to hang my hat on.

Federer is playing better than I've seen him play in years. He is absolutely thumping the ball and playing consistently. He is also moving to the net whenever he can and playing really, really well at net. Alls I'm saying is that Fed has a shot. Not that it is likely to happen. That's far more than he's been able to say for at least 2 years.
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Hahaha. Yes, I guess you're either on one side or the other.

I hadn't seen Fed play this tournament until I saw bits and pieces of the Tsonga match and then a good chunk of the Murray match. The first two sets of the Murray match was really really impressive. Federer dictates points with his ruthless, lethal, deadly, otherworldy forehand. He'll crack outright winners with it, or he'll approach the net off it. And like Nadal and many others, he'll run around his backhand to get to it.

The running around part is where the movement component comes in, and he is really moving better than I've seen him since I don't know when. So, his game is there. The components are in place.

That being said, he always struggled with Nadal even when the components were in place. And I think tonight would be no different if Rafa were coming in with a fully functional left hand. Perhaps I'm making too big of a deal out of it, but I don't think I am. The way he served against Dimitrov was not normal, and if he serves that way against Fed, he loses. If he serves -- and plays, generally -- the way he did against Monfils (e.g. normal Nadal), he wins.

Either way, I love that they're playing again in a semi. Fedal matches get me pumped. There's just a certain vibe about them. It always feels important.
 
#36
#36
And biggie ups to Wawrinka. I watched him play in the first or second round and knew he was playing lights out, but I still didn't expect him to take out Djoker, and then on top of that to get back up to take out Berdych, who was in fine form himself.
 
#37
#37
And Ag Rad is my favorite female tennis player. That match against Vika was just virtuouso. She's got all the shots. Cibulkova worked her over pretty good, but I'm chalking that up to a hangover effect. We'll see a lot more of Ag Rad in the future.

And I would like to have sexual relations with Bouchard.
 
#38
#38
I like Ag Rad also but only because she reminds me of the tough girl in high school who skipped class to smoke in the girls' bathroom. She should wear a black leather jacket on court.
 
#42
#42
volprof said:
Shows how much I know. I guess the hand is okay afterall.
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The only thing I learned from the match is the origin of Rafa's blistered palm. He told Courier that his girlfriend wasn't in Melbourne with him. Whoa down with that thing, Rafa.
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#43
#43
Just to spice things up before the Men's final, let's speculate. Two things that I find interesting to speculate about:

1) Federer is obviously in the twilight period of his career at age 32. How many more majors do you think he has in him? And what majors do you think he will win (if applicable)?

2) Nadal will turn 28 during the French, which he should win barring injury. (He should already have another French if not for injury.) How many majors do you think Nadal ultimately ends up with? And, if you want, how many of each major do you think he wins?

Here are my answers:

1) This question really makes me think. I'm torn between none and one. If he does win another, I think it comes at Wimbledon, since that has been his dominant spot. If I was forced to guess though, I say he doesn't win another major.

2) Nadal is well ahead of Federer in route to all-time majors. The only problem is that he's had a history of injuries, and his style of play is much more physical than Federer's. Although ahead of schedule, he may wear down earlier. Nonetheless, I still give Nadal somewhere between four to six majors. I guess I would say he wins five more, to place him at 18. I think he wins (at least) 2 French's, 1 Aussie (this year), and 1-2 (miscellaneous, whether another French or another US/Aussie/Wimbledon).

What say ye?
 
#44
#44
And, of course, my Nadal assumption is assuming he stays relatively healthy for at least the next 2-3 years.
 
#45
#45
DyronNix said:
The only thing I learned from the match is the origin of Rafa's blistered palm. He told Courier that his girlfriend wasn't in Melbourne with him. Whoa down with that thing, Rafa.
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Click to expand...

Did he actually say that?
 
#46
#46
volprof said:
Just to spice things up before the Men's final, let's speculate. Two things that I find interesting to speculate about:

1) Federer is obviously in the twilight period of his career at age 32. How many more majors do you think he has in him? And what majors do you think he will win (if applicable)?

2) Nadal will turn 28 during the French, which he should win barring injury. (He should already have another French if not for injury.) How many majors do you think Nadal ultimately ends up with? And, if you want, how many of each major do you think he wins?

Here are my answers:

1) This question really makes me think. I'm torn between none and one. If he does win another, I think it comes at Wimbledon, since that has been his dominant spot. If I was forced to guess though, I say he doesn't win another major.

2) Nadal is well ahead of Federer in route to all-time majors. The only problem is that he's had a history of injuries, and his style of play is much more physical than Federer's. Although ahead of schedule, he may wear down earlier. Nonetheless, I still give Nadal somewhere between four to six majors. I guess I would say he wins five more, to place him at 18. I think he wins (at least) 2 French's, 1 Aussie (this year), and 1-2 (miscellaneous, whether another French or another US/Aussie/Wimbledon).

What say ye?
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(1)
Roger Federer will not win another major.

(2)
I think Nadal will get 16. I'll assume he wins Aussie. That's 14. I can see him unexpectedly losing the French this year. Djokovic came so close last year to beating him. I think this year he may pull it off. I'll go ahead and give Rafa the 2015 French. He'll still be the best clay court player in the world, and if Djoker wins it this year, he won't be as maniacally motivated to win it in subsequent years. This will be the last French Rafa wins. For his sixteenth, I'm giving him one more Wimbledon. I'm not sure what year, but I think he'll do it. He's gotta be pissed about his early exits the last two years.

So Fed will end up with 17. Rafa will end up with 16. But the general consensus years down the road will be that Rafa is the best player who ever played the game. I actually think it's getting real real hard to make an argument for Federer...and keep a straight face.

Djokovic will end up with 12 majors.

Murray will end up with 4.

I'm not sure anymore if Delpo will get another one, but I'm rooting for him.

An american will win a major in 2020. I don't know his name, but it'll happen.
 
#47
#47
kidbourbon said:
(1)
Roger Federer will not win another major.

(2)
I think Nadal will get 16. I'll assume he wins Aussie. That's 14. I can see him unexpectedly losing the French this year. Djokovic came so close last year to beating him. I think this year he may pull it off. I'll go ahead and give Rafa the 2015 French. He'll still be the best clay court player in the world, and if Djoker wins it this year, he won't be as maniacally motivated to win it in subsequent years. This will be the last French Rafa wins. For his sixteenth, I'm giving him one more Wimbledon. I'm not sure what year, but I think he'll do it. He's gotta be pissed about his early exits the last two years.

So Fed will end up with 17. Rafa will end up with 16. But the general consensus years down the road will be that Rafa is the best player who ever played the game. I actually think it's getting real real hard to make an argument for Federer...and keep a straight face.

Djokovic will end up with 12 majors.

Murray will end up with 4.

I'm not sure anymore if Delpo will get another one, but I'm rooting for him.

An american will win a major in 2020. I don't know his name, but it'll happen.
Click to expand...

I know you guys know more about tennis than I do, but if I'm not mistaken, didn't at least 4-6 of Fed's majors come before the arrival of Nadal? In other words, at least 4-6 came when his stiffest competition was Roddick, Hewitt, and Safin (a laughable list)? The two are close, but one thing that has always impressed me about Nadal, is how he's managed to win 13 already, having steeper competition for more of his career than Federer (Fed, Djoker, Murray). Plus, if I'm also not mistaken, didn't Fed's sole French title come the year Nadal was out? Alas, staying healthy is part of the game though, just as much as one's play, so I don't suppose you can hold that against Fed.
 
#48
#48
Good win from Na Li in the final. Well-earned, even if she never faced anyone in the top 15.
 
#50
#50
I think with his present form, Fred can win another major although it is more unlikely than likely. Especially once he figures out the new stick. But his continued back issues will also have a lot to say about it. Plus, if he gets a little help with the draw or top players are upset before he has to play them that could benefit him as well. Possible, but not likely.

I would like to state for the record how remarkable it is that at 32 Fred is still competing in the semis of majors. Only against one player do you say he has virtually no shot of winning. The haters are taking their shots at him at the twilight of his career because he is capable of getting thwacked on any given day. Fine. But let's revisit Nadal at age 32 to see how he is doing in the majors at that point. Same for Djoker and Murray. In fact, look back over tennis history to see where 32 year old Fred matches up against the greats of the game when they were 32. It is just another factor in what makes him a sports legend.

No idea how many Rafa ends up with. Maybe 13, maybe 23. Who has a true gauge on his health? We've always been led to believe his knees are on the brink and could go at any minute. Truthfully, I think Rafa is like Rain Man and a tennis savant. Quirky as hell and and mental enigma. Instead of card counting, he is a tennis player. That's not meant in disrespect but Nadal just ain't normal.

Who will rise up to challenge him? I agree that the French is not a foregone conclusion for him this year simply based on Novak's past two years' performances there. Take Nadal, Djoker, Fed and Murray out of the picture. Who is there that would make you tune in to watch pro tennis? That's what I'm saying. There's only a couple players out there that could even possibly give the top guys a scare on their best days. The point being that the top of the chain should keep racking up titles in the foreseeable future. Ralph is the top of the chain.

Right now it's Rafa's world, and all the rest are just living in it.
 
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