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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 3, 2011 10:59:49 GMT -5
Great start from Roger.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 3, 2011 11:01:31 GMT -5
Well, here we are. I can't believe it took over three hours for Murray and Nadal to play three sets, none of which ended in tiebreaks.
The key to Djokovic's success in 2011 against Fed has been his ability to neutralize Roger's weapons, the forehand and serve. Novak's returning is simply on a new level and Roger hasn't managed to get the same number of free points. Rog's game nowadays is very dependent on getting those free points and lacking those it puts so much pressure on his groundstrokes which are, quite frankly, inferior to Novak's. On a faster court, he can use the serve/forehand to hit through the court but he won't be able to do that as easily on clay.
The key for Roger is to play his game and go for it, I think. Don't be discouraged when Novak returns near-impossible shots because you know he will. And don't lapse into Fed-error mode which I think comes on when he gets frustrated or tight. Other players go for less when they feel that way, Roger goes for too much. Roger needs to be mentally tough and persevere or he can't possibly win.
That's a good way to start, with a break.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 3, 2011 11:06:19 GMT -5
I have to agree with you, Lex, that match was completely draining. It was exactly what you didn't want to see - Nadal playing about 50% and Murray never really being able to take his chances when they came. And did they ever come and come. Exactly. They came and went and came and went and came and went ad infinitum.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 3, 2011 11:15:47 GMT -5
Already so much better than the last SF!
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 3, 2011 11:19:45 GMT -5
First dropshot from Fed and that was a great time to play it. Smart, right after a long rally.
It seems Fed believes he'll get more errors from the forehand than the backhand. He's going there a lot.
Novak holds, though. This has already been a more dynamic and interesting match than the Rafa-Murray tilt. I do think Fed is in trouble if he can't come right back out and hold, though.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 3, 2011 11:21:55 GMT -5
Classic JesusFed service game there.
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Post by janie on Jun 3, 2011 11:31:20 GMT -5
uh-oh -- please say the wheels are not coming off already!
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 3, 2011 11:32:33 GMT -5
Well...I'd thought Fed looked sharper in the first few games. That has turned around! Hobak up a break.
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Post by janie on Jun 3, 2011 11:32:47 GMT -5
Oh, well. It was nice while it lasted!
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 3, 2011 11:36:32 GMT -5
And we're back on serve. Great response from Roger.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 3, 2011 11:36:44 GMT -5
JesusFed back!
He is hitting the ball so cleanly.
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Post by janie on Jun 3, 2011 11:37:05 GMT -5
Yay! Fed the Fighter.
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Post by Denise49IQ on Jun 3, 2011 11:37:34 GMT -5
"This is the best I have seen Roger hitting the ball in 2 years" - Sam Smith (British commentator). I have a train to catch in an hour, so will miss the rest of this.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 3, 2011 11:43:37 GMT -5
Roger is connecting with his backhand which is a good sign for him.
I know I don't have to say this, but the first set is going to be crucial.
I might try the backhand of Djokovic instead of the forehand if I were Roger.
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Post by janie on Jun 3, 2011 11:48:45 GMT -5
wow, that was close ...
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 3, 2011 11:49:00 GMT -5
Fed saves two SPs to hold for 5-5.
Gonna depend on how well Fed's first-strike approach holds up.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 3, 2011 11:50:45 GMT -5
Rog using the dropshot to good effect.
Really, if he can't win this set playing this way it is hard to see what he might do better.
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Post by janie on Jun 3, 2011 11:52:52 GMT -5
John McEnroe says Nole is aggravated by the poor footing out there today.
Uh-oh, Nole has angered the French crowd! Never a good idea, even if justified
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 3, 2011 11:56:57 GMT -5
This is a super set -- some great playing by both. I'm dreading Roj doing the drop-serve-to-lose-the-set thing here.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 3, 2011 11:58:19 GMT -5
It wasn't justified. He knows he deserves every time violation he gets. But you know they are only calling it because it's King Fed on the other side of the net.
Nole has been really gracious in this match so far.
Wow, Fed is afire in this twelfth game. Two aces preceded by a thunderous running forehand winner.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 3, 2011 11:59:08 GMT -5
TB really does feel fitting to decide this set.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 3, 2011 11:59:17 GMT -5
Roger hit a backhand at 6,000 mph and then missed a forehand. Ugh. 40-30.
Long return from Nole and now we play for all the marbles. Come on, Rog.
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 3, 2011 12:02:57 GMT -5
Now this is tennis. This is the reason to love it.
Okay, CMB for Fed.
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Post by lexpretend on Jun 3, 2011 12:06:54 GMT -5
Ruh-roh. Two Federror FHs. We hadn't seen that all set.
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 3, 2011 12:06:57 GMT -5
Two bad Fed-error forehands in this t-b
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 3, 2011 12:07:01 GMT -5
Good grief, big serve, big forehand that actually totally wrongfoots Novak which we haven't seen a lot of.
Novak made the decision to hit to the backhand on the return and it pays dividends opening the court for a forehand winner.
NO! Fed-error into the tramlines after a great scramble to get back to level.
And another. That is devastating. He had both of those lined up and ...
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Post by Brinyi on Jun 3, 2011 12:07:38 GMT -5
Heh heh
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 3, 2011 12:08:18 GMT -5
Okay, recovery. Setpoint on Nole's serve.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jun 3, 2011 12:09:01 GMT -5
YESSSSSS!!!!!!
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Post by Grarliner on Jun 3, 2011 12:09:17 GMT -5
That was massive. He's not unbeatable, that's what that means.
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