CAMELOT FANTASIES

1st set: Excellent Andy : Awful Rafa
2nd set: Fair Andy:  Rafa close to his best this year on clay after the 1st game
3rd set: Good Andy till 4-2 up: Excellent Rafa  from 2-4 down.

Andy played as well as expected on clay, showed more positive signs, and Rafa was down then up throughout.  Rafa simply looked slow and not able to hit with confidence the first set and Andy was serving very well.  The first game of the second set was critical.  Nadal struggled with a long deuce game, but pulled it out, and Andy was broken the very next game, and the match turned.  If Andy had won that opening game things may have been different.  The other critical point was in the 3rd set when Andy broke Rafa to go up 4-2.  He couldn't hold his advantage and Rafa stormed back to break Andy, and won 5 of the next 6 games to take the match.  If Andy can get a good QF showing at RG, and then at least a final at Queens, I think he might be close at Wimbledon.  But it's still difficult to say for sure.   His serve is still wanting, especially second serve, and first serve consistency throughout the match, going from 80% to 50% between 1st and 2nd sets.  His backhand was quite good against Rafa. His forehand was very good at times, but passive at others.

I'm still not happy with Clay Warrior, as he is making it very hard on himself, at times looking like he forgot how to play and with little confidence, but then at other times playing well with authority, but he's still winning and that's all you can do.  Andy was going to the Nadal backhand time and time again to open up the court.  It's no secret what the players are doing.  Nadal isn't as fast and fit as he was, and they are trying to take advantage of it.  His positioning on the court, from the very deep return of serve, to his favoring his backhand side is making it very difficult for him.   Also, I think Nadal is reluctant to hit out from the start until he is fully warmed up in the match. He might be protecting the back.

Respectfully,
masterclass

1st set: Excellent Andy : Awful Rafa
2nd set: Fair Andy:  Rafa close to his best this year on clay after the 1st game
3rd set: Good Andy till 4-2 up: Excellent Rafa  from 2-4 down.

Andy played as well as expected on clay, showed more positive signs, and Rafa was down then up throughout.  Rafa simply looked slow and not able to hit with confidence the first set and Andy was serving very well.  The first game of the second set was critical.  Nadal struggled with a long deuce game, but pulled it out, and Andy was broken the very next game, and the match turned.  If Andy had won that opening game things may have been different.  The other critical point was in the 3rd set when Andy broke Rafa to go up 4-2.  He couldn't hold his advantage and Rafa stormed back to break Andy, and won 5 of the next 6 games to take the match.  If Andy can get a good QF showing at RG, and then at least a final at Queens, I think he might be close at Wimbledon.  But it's still difficult to say for sure.   His serve is still wanting, especially second serve, and first serve consistency throughout the match, going from 80% to 50% between 1st and 2nd sets.  His backhand was quite good against Rafa. His forehand was very good at times, but passive at others.

I'm still not happy with Clay Warrior, as he is making it very hard on himself, at times looking like he forgot how to play and with little confidence, but then at other times playing well with authority, but he's still winning and that's all you can do.  Andy was going to the Nadal backhand time and time again to open up the court.  It's no secret what the players are doing.  Nadal isn't as fast and fit as he was, and they are trying to take advantage of it.  His positioning on the court, from the very deep return of serve, to his favoring his backhand side is making it very difficult for him.  Also, I think Nadal is reluctant to hit out from the start until he is fully warmed up in the match. He might be protecting the back.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Very interesting insight, and it might explain his cryptic comment the other day, about how people "better get used to it." I couldn't figure out why he was starting so slow, but now it makes sense.

Remember a couple of months ago when he was starting about fast and getting love, one, and two matches, but later on he didn't have any pop on his strokes? Maybe the fast starts were testing his back more than we realized. Maybe, that's why both his demeanor and mindset have changed so dramatically. It could also explain what appeared to be his seemingly cavalier attitude, basically, "It is, what it is." And maybe he is smiling so much and seems so happy regardless is because there's nothing else to do, but to accept the situation.

My random thoughts.

morning general masterclass, princess TT, and the others.


rafa is now the king of comebacks.



I have to agree with general masterclass. he is still not quite himself.


I saw him make some adjustments in the last 2 sets:

1. more pace on the serve and the strokes
2. more willingness to hit his backhand and make it a vital part of the equation
3.returned better
4. better focus
5. more assault minded approach



he just has to keep improving with each match.

order of play for tomorrow:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Scores/schedule.aspx?EventId=416

Maybe not a good time to say it now Lady TT, but on the bright side, Rafa still seems healthy enough for another run at a Roland Garros title.

Congratulations to Novak Djokovic and his team and supporters.  It was a good week in Rome for him. Can he do what he hasn't done yet, and carry that through to Roland Garros?

Condolences to Rafael Nadal, and his fans.  He'll be back.

Respectfully,
masterclass

The draw was very well balanced. No one had a day off in between and both players had to play four 3 setters and one 2 setter. It can't get any more even than this.

Nadal played Simon, Youzhny, Murray, Dimitrov and Nadal. While Nole played Stepanek, Kohlschreiber, Ferrer, Raonic and Nadal to win it. Very well deserved.

It was a very good tournament given that there were only a few withdrawals and the draw panned out evenly for everyone.

Besides, Nadal is the king of clay and no draw is tough for him or so I was told so many times in the past by his fans.

In any case, terrific win by Nole and kudos to Nadal as well. I don't think this has any bearing come RG though. Nole however has seen both sides of the coin so what will it be this time? I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I am glad though RG has a bit more potential this time around than before or at least hope so.

Both Nadal and Nole played two young guns in the semi but only Raonic delivered. I do think Dimitrov was overwhelmed by the occasion as he must have seen the match with Murray just the night before and probably wasn't sure if he was good enough to raise his level to their level and perhaps beat Nadal. So he was basically nervous, very error prone and poor. And the match turned out to be a total washout. I was though pulling for Nadal because I just can't stand the hype of Dimitrov as the next best since the sliced bread by the same old fans.

Nole vs Raonic was really tight especially when he was down a set and found himself in yet another TB in the 2nd. You lose, you lose the match but he played really well to take it. And maybe Raonic got a little tight there too at the thought of beating Nole in straight sets and on clay.

I didn't watch Nole and Raonic  match. because I didn't think it would be good. So, I was surprised to see the actual scoreline. I think Dmitrov probably was a little overwhelmed, but I also think he is trying too hard to deliver on the hype. Sometimes they can derail people with that mess. Dmitrov overplayed and tried to be a showboat. That was his downfall. He never pulled himself together or calmed himself down. He didn't play it smart.

But, for all of the talk about not being Baby Fed. I find that not to be true at all. Everything he does on court resembles Federer, so he can quit acting like he doesn't like the comparison,  because I think he does.

milos is a rising star princess emma.

his best is yet to come.

he is paying his dues right now on the atp tour so to speak.

he does have a bit of a history of getting tight in the clutch moments. winning will take care of that. he has to keep working hard.