Well done Fed, the express marches on. Nadal looks a false fav, my 23-1 looking good.
A false fave? Why?
Nadal's h2h record v Federer is very good. 20-9. Won all their games over the past year and won both meetings at the Aussie Open. The only thing that will stop Nadal is that f*cking great blister on his hand.
Did you watch the Dimitrov match? Could have won the 2nd, should have won the third. Both close tiebreaks. Nadal was a tad fortunate and Dimitrov is way off the league of fed, berd and stan. Nishikori ran him close 3-0 but all sets very close. ie Nadal not playing his best tennis. The blister is a huge issue, won't heal before the open is finished. On the palm of his racket hand. Ouch.
Could've, should've...but didn't. The fact is Nadal is a terrible match up for Federer.
I had hope for Fed after the Tsonga match but it all but went after the Murray one. His intensity v Tsonga was pretty high the whole match but against Murray after the 1st set he gradually got pushed back and began rallying instead of playing aggressive. It's been that way for years now and it's not going to get the job done against Rafa. He has to get up the court and stay on the front foot v Nadal but he's getting pushed back and it's only going to end one way.
Nadal seems head and shoulders above the rest at the moment. I think he will surpass Federer's grand slam record although I sincerely hope that he doesn't.
Great hold of serve to win the set for Wawrinka. He has got a great second serve. Wawrinka's doing well. Nadal is dogged though. Interested to see if Wawrinka can maintain the quality. Good to see another player in the finals.
Nadal losing so having a psychological break. Nadal does not like losing. Wawrinka losing the plot a bit, I can understand why he is getting upset but shouldn't lose his concentration. If he does then Nadal's gamesmanship would have worked.
The complaints from Warwinka looking a bit ill judged now. The game was shaping up to be a classic and the atmosphere is just a bit flat now. Wawrinka off the boil a bit in his play. Maybe not how he would have chosen to win a first grand slam. The prize money will make him feel better after a few days, I am sure.
Nadal back in it. Always admire his fighting spirit. Wawrinka too many unforced errors this set. Needs to concentrate on getting the ball back into play.
Comments
Could've, should've...but didn't. The fact is Nadal is a terrible match up for Federer.
I had hope for Fed after the Tsonga match but it all but went after the Murray one. His intensity v Tsonga was pretty high the whole match but against Murray after the 1st set he gradually got pushed back and began rallying instead of playing aggressive. It's been that way for years now and it's not going to get the job done against Rafa. He has to get up the court and stay on the front foot v Nadal but he's getting pushed back and it's only going to end one way.
I don't give Wawrinka much hope in the final. Nadal has a 12-0 h2h against him, although Stan is vastly improved over the past year.
H2H is ridiculous between these two. 12-0 to Nadal and 26-0 in sets.
I think the best Stan can get here is a 3-1 defeat.
Nadal losing so having a psychological break. Nadal does not like losing. Wawrinka losing the plot a bit, I can understand why he is getting upset but shouldn't lose his concentration. If he does then Nadal's gamesmanship would have worked.
This must be bittersweet for Wawrinka, 5-1 up in the second set.