This one just starting, and Nalby breaks in the first game for a 1-0 lead.

And now it's 2-1 after trading service holds. (Nalby held, despite only getting 1/6 first serves in.)

Nalbandian consolidates for 2-0, and threatens again at 30-all on Ljubicic's serve, but the Croat bails himself out with a dubious ace and a service winner.

Perhaps Nalbandian can reverse the discouraging trend of their recent H2H by taking advantage of Ljubicic's vulnerability of late. He's certainly been looking sharper with each match, his usual modus operandi (not always successful) of hitting himself into form.

Beautiful curved ball into the corner and Nalbandian has an easy hold to love to go up 3-1. Curiouser and curiouser.

Nalbandian hitting some stunning groundstrokes out there... such a shame he can't play like this more often. He really is making Ljubicic look like the mediocre player he is.

Some good serving from the Croat digs him out of a 0-30 hole. 3-2 Nalbandian.

Nalbandian lets Ljubicic off the hook again, from 0-30 to 40-30, but still leads a break 3-2. Apparently the Croat has called for the trainer, disappointingly.

Did I mention the title of this thread is brilliant?

An on form Nalbandian has real guile but Ljubicic must win this or his mediocrity will be officially confirmed.

Is Ljubjub injured? Hate to see this match decided by a retirement.

Did you see this the other day?

Just me having a little fun . . .

Federwocky

Looks like he just got some massage for his right leg. Probably cramping up a bit.

Nalbandian hits a cleverly disguised drop shot that actually works (!)--sorry, I will never forget his stinker of a drop shot that hit the tape on match point in that farcical tiebreaker against Safin at the USO--and otherwise has another easy hold to love to go up 4-2.

If Ljubicic wins, it'll be because Nalbandian plays poorly, Donut Dave is by far the better player. I'm fed up of the guy polluting the top 10 without contributing to it - get him out of there.

4-2 now to Dave.

Meanwhile, the Federwock (w/ Allegro) goes up a break in the first set of his doubles match.

I did, in fact, though being reminded of it by the thread title was very welcome.

The Nalbandersnatch certainly smells blood in the water, and his excellent returning gives him a double break to serve for the set at 5-2.

Ljubicic threatens at 0-30, but Nalbandian decides he doesn't want to be broken serving for the first set two matches in a row and steadies the ship to take the first set 6-2.

I'm hoping there won't be a retirement, but the Ljubjub is certainly playing up the walking wounded demeanour.

6-2 first set :yikes:

is Ljuby looking like he's actually injured?

Well, his movement (which isn't stellar to begin with) is clearly hampered in some way, but he's soldiering on and looks to be gambling that his upper body will see him through (his serving and some swings on return are formidable as ever).

Nalbandian is made to work a bit on his serve but holds to go 1-all in the second.

Nalbandian has let his level drop somewhat, with some indifferent groundstrokes and careless errors, even as Ljubicic seems to have raised his, but he rallies to fend off a break point to hold for 2-all.

The unforced errors are definitely creeping into Nalbandian's game. Ljubicic holds to 15 to go up 3-2 in the second set. They seem to have swapped their body language as well. Strange.

i'm truly at a loss as to who to cheer for in this match :blink:

Lluby. Until El Rey learns to stop behaving like a complete a-hole, then in such matchups, Lluby it will be.. by default ;)

Instead of applying the pressure at the critical 4-all juncture, Nalbandian plays a sloppy return game and will have to serve to avoid a third set. Ljubicic up 5-4.

Although Ljubo is not exactly clean either in the a-hole department, with all his moaning about Nadal after their French Open semi.
I dislike both players to be honest but Nalbandian is a much better and more gifted player than Ljubicic so I hope that he wins.

Maybe. Bit different to calling women in the crowd whores at Wimbledon, isn't it? Or what he said about henman? I could go on..

Anyway, yes he is a talented player.. bit he definitely is a nasty piece of work more often than lluby or anyone else in the top 20 imo..

In a 0-30 hole, a stunning angled backhand volley at full stretch saves Nalbandian from triple set point. He gets to 30-all but Ljubicic has his first set point at 30-40.

EDIT: And now a sloppy forehand into the net despite being in position has cost Nalbandian the set. Can he pull out a third consecutive three-set victory? Ljubicic is certainly looking the steadier of the two now, a stark contrast from how they started.

.. which Lluby takes.. 6-4

neither particularly pleasant, but Nalbandian is more talented, imo...he has some real skill, Ljubicic seems so mediocre.

Now watch him win :D

One set a piece!!

Okay, Ljubjub pulls back one set. I predicted 2-1 to the Nalbandersnatch, I think, so that's OK --- as long as the donut king repeats his first set performance now.

Federwocky and Allegro won the first set against Hanley/Ullyet, lost the second, went 4-0 up in the 'champion's tie break', and are now back at 4-4. :wacko:

Let's hope Roger and Yves can pull this one out --- would be great to see them going further and knocking out two of the seeds!

5-4 to Hanley/Ullyet though ... looks like a toughie!

lluby is a bogey player for Nalby..

Going by personal taste in terms of play alone, I'd want nalby to win.

So pro Lluby.. he's beaten nalby a fair bit, thumped him on the hard courts last year.

Pro Nalby.. he is the deciding set specialist, these days..

Fed & Yves facing mps!! :yikes:

Double fault on mp..! Back on serve..

Fed aces to make it 9-9!!!

MP to Hanley/Ullyett on their serve ... saved. Back on serve, but still a match point. If anyone is watching this do they know if it's Federer's or Allegro's serve?

2nd MP saved ... :)

Now come on, hold once more and put the pressure on the opponents ...

Federer hit an ace to fend off the second MP, and the Swiss duo wins another point on their serve to get their own MP at 10-9. Interesting.

Nalbandian is in a world of trouble on his own serve in the third.

:clap:

well done. MP to Roger and Yves! :clap:

(Still on serve though)

An ace on Fed's 2nd serve to make it 10-9 to him and Yves!!!

MP saved by Hanley/Ullyett. Nail-biting stuff here. Wish I could see it. :(

Federer/Allegro to serve for the match at 11-10.

Third BP for Ljubicic.

:bow:

And they get the mini-break! :yahoo:

C'mon, Yves, ace it!

:(

saved. 11-11

Oh, Yves.

Another MP against Federer/Allegro now.

12-11 :yikes:

GSM Haley Ulyett :(