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Post by lexpretend on Jan 29, 2012 3:47:36 GMT -5
And they're off.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 29, 2012 4:12:02 GMT -5
First break to Rafa, who certainly looks sharper...
Hobak already throwing his racquet on the changeover. Slo-mo replay of Hobak taking off his shirt! Well done BBC.
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 4:39:42 GMT -5
Rafa is trying to give Novak this break back. So many unforced errors from him when Novak wasn't even playing particularly well. Yeah, here it is 4-4. Oh, Rafa...
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 29, 2012 4:40:01 GMT -5
That game went on for so long and was so bad from both. Hobak breaks back.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 29, 2012 4:45:17 GMT -5
Rafa is making such a weird amount of UEs and Hobak isn't even playing well at all.
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 4:46:14 GMT -5
From 0-30 to 40-30 and 5-4 Rafa will lose his serve now. Novak stopped hitting errors, and Rafa started. Bleh
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Post by Denise49IQ on Jan 29, 2012 4:51:11 GMT -5
lol @ the length in some of these rallies. Some very tentative shots.
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 4:51:24 GMT -5
From 40-0 to barely holding, but thank you for holding at all 5-5
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 4:53:20 GMT -5
My frustration comes from the fact that unlike at Wimbledon & US Open, Novak looks beatable and Rafa is throwing away his chances.
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Post by Denise49IQ on Jan 29, 2012 4:54:24 GMT -5
Nice slice, Rafa.
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 4:58:03 GMT -5
Rafa breaks for 6-5 cause he actually played a couple of good points in this one. I have no confidence in him serving it out, but at least itmeans he won't be broken for the set.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 29, 2012 5:00:08 GMT -5
Have Rafa and Nole gotten so good that they've scared each other into playing terribly?
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 5:09:03 GMT -5
Yay for Rafa taking the set! Actualyy deserved to do it. novakd played great in set points.
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 5:09:57 GMT -5
Have Rafa and Nole gotten so good that they've scared each other into playing terribly? Sometimes it truly looks that way. ;D
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 29, 2012 5:30:44 GMT -5
Well that was a fantastic volley for Nole to break. Such length.
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 5:35:22 GMT -5
Novak is playing well now, Rafa can't allow himself to hit the ball short now. 4-1 but its nice to see some backhands dtl from Rafa
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 29, 2012 5:58:37 GMT -5
I have no idea why Pascal Maria let Rafa challenge his own serve being called in?!
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 29, 2012 6:01:56 GMT -5
Oh Nole. Two SPs as you serve for it...misses them and DF on BP
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 6:04:54 GMT -5
I have no idea why Pascal Maria let Rafa challenge his own serve being called in?! I missed it. That's hilarious! Was it in? I guess we're the only ones watching this. What a hilarious St. kim like drop shot that should have cost Rafa the point. Rafa actually breaks saving 2 more set points, but if he loses his serve now it was pointless.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 29, 2012 6:07:16 GMT -5
I have no idea why Pascal Maria let Rafa challenge his own serve being called in?! I missed it. That's hilarious! Was it in? Yes! Rafa only tried to challenge because Nole had hit a clean return winner. He can't claim he was distracted by a call because there wasn't one. Surely you're not allowed to challenge just because your opponent hits a winner?
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 29, 2012 6:11:02 GMT -5
And Rafa DFs on SP?! What is this, SEWTA?
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 6:11:49 GMT -5
I missed it. That's hilarious! Was it in? Yes! Rafa only tried to challenge because Nole had hit a clean return winner. He can't claim he was distracted by a call because there wasn't one. Surely you're not allowed to challenge just because your opponent hits a winner? That's a weird one. Because technically you can question any call, its just unnormal to question your serve being in. Damn you, Rafa!!! Gifting Novak this set on a double fault!!!
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Post by Paean on Jan 29, 2012 6:14:56 GMT -5
Rafa needs to start hitting groundstrokes that pass the service line and the same goes for the returns. Not to mention his pussy second serves. Right now he doesn't deserve to win this match. And frankly he's not even playing like he wants the title.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 29, 2012 6:15:11 GMT -5
Somewhere, Safina is feeling slightly comforted.
The only legit situations you'd challenge your serve being in is if there was a correction/overrule that could have distracted you, surely? Otherwise you're only challenging because your opponent hit a winner. Which shouldn't be allowed for obvious reasons!
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 6:20:06 GMT -5
Rafa needs to start hitting groundstrokes that pass the service line and the same goes for the returns. Not to mention his pussy second serves. Right now he doesn't deserve to win this match. And frankly he's not even playing like he wants the title. Yep, Rafa was hitting much deeper in the 1st set and Novak was making errors. Then it seemed like Rafa forgot what actually helped to cause those errors and decided just to wait for them by hitting those short balls.
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 6:24:47 GMT -5
Hilariously "serving is keeping Rafa in this" is true. His 1st serves that is. You see, Rafa? Even hitting sligtly deeper already gives benefits.
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Post by Paean on Jan 29, 2012 6:34:29 GMT -5
It's frustrating cheering for Rafa if he doesn't take the needed risks. Nole won't go handing the match over.
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Post by Lady on Jan 29, 2012 6:42:00 GMT -5
It's frustrating cheering for Rafa if he doesn't take the needed risks. Nole won't go handing the match over. Exactly. That's why I stopped whining, Novak is playing better now and he's winning. This match is depressing me. It's not enjoyable as they're not playing great, and yet I can't switch it off yet.
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Post by Paean on Jan 29, 2012 6:46:18 GMT -5
I still like Rafa better, I just like how Nole, despite playing defensively/neutrally most of the times, actually steps it up when needed and takes the matters in his own hands. Why Rafa refuses to do so, I don't know, but after 6 straight losses to him, you'd expect he'd come up with different tactics.
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Post by Paean on Jan 29, 2012 6:49:27 GMT -5
Out of pure curiosity, because I have never seen him do that - can Rafa actually hit a flat forehand?
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