Is anyone going to watch this match tonite? I think it starts in 30 minutes on espn2.

Roddick - Nadal is what we all are rooting for.

totally service dominated so far.
3-2 on serve.

Well done, A-Rod! :yahoo:

Now, Roddick-Nadal ... should be a really good match. Very contrasting styles; I'm really not sure who will win. I would like to see Roddick do well, as it may serve to set up a bit of a rivalry for the #2 spot. On the other hand, it would be good for Nadal to set himself up nicely for an exciting clay-court season.

I could imagine that A-Rod can give Rafa trouble, but I can also imagine Rafa slugging it out against him. So I guess we'll have to see.

Nadal hasn't really had any impressive wins in this tournament in terms of the opponents he's faced. But the rest of the way is hard.

Phew-Roddick won...now onto the exciting Roddick vs Rafa match-up. I'd like to see Nadal do it, and I think he can...but I think this match will be a real slog....

wooohoo Andy wins again good win :) now for Rafa in the Semis, will be tough but I think Andy can beat him GOOOOO A Rod

Well this match was very very close. It could've been two TBs for Ljuby.
However I dont see Roddick beating Nadal. I'm sure Rafa will stay 30 feet behind the baseline to return the serves and once he's got it back in, he's literally won the point.
Should be two close sets for Rafa.
BTW did anyone think of what Nadal's topspin forehand will do to Roddick's backhand?? Scary thought.

My guess is that Nadal will beat Andy and win this tournament. I pray he does win.
Vamooooos Rafa! B)

OK two remarks from here:

1. Chet Are you following Tennis or you are just pretending to do so?

Man how should we interpret this remark: "did anyone think of what Nadal's topspin forehand will do to Roddick's backhand?? Scary thought."

This is the main Rafa's weapon but this weapon is effective and makes a huge difference mainly on Clay.
The ball is not bunching so high on hard cort and the (magnificent) topspin FH of Rafa is a great weapon when the ball is bunching high.

Come on when this is not the case the efficacy of this shot is reduced: Ask the list of players who beat Nadal in HC, e.g. ask Youzhny
if this shot is so dangerous in HC.

The real and main weapon of Rafa in HC is physic and his court coverage but tell that the FH topspin will make a difference in itself is just pathetic (Ok coming from you...)

2. Chet, until the semi at the AO, you posted here and elsewhere at least 1000000000000000000000000000000 times that the BH of AROD was improving thanks to Connors lessons:

Now suddenly because (I guess roflmao ) AROD is no more playing FED the progress made by AROD vanished???

You are just a clown unable to have the same opinion of anything for more than a sec :angry: ...

If AROD's BH has improved 2 month ago why it should not be at a good level against Rafa? Ahh yes because Rafa will charge with the heavy FH topspin: Once again, this is a weapon highly effective on clay and a lot less on HC (e.g. have a look at the result of Rafa against Blake on HC clown)

In short I expect a great match because there will be two very different style and way of interpret Tennis on the court: On one side the "metal" Rafa man who will never give up and like long rallies on the other hand a man who will try to short all rallies. I saw AROD having two annoying features on his tTennis: the guy his flatting the ball and we know that Rafa does not like this sort of balls and certainly his serve...Rafa has the advantage of a better court coverage and more of variety from the baseline...

A close call that really I can call at the moment... :rolleyes:

I think the courts are too fast for Nadal. Roddick wiil be Nadal's first opponent that will put him to the "pace" test.

In Miami, my money would have been on Nadal...but not here.

But yes a close call either way.

Agree Tenez. I actually have Roddick down as the favourite by some margin here. He's in a similar mould to a lot of the guys who've beaten Nadal on hard recently and I think Rafa will find it really hard to break. Hopefully this'll turn out to be another wrong prediction though ;)

And TV, calm down man... that was an excellent post from chet. I still see Nadal's topspin causing Roddick's woeful backhand some embarrassment, even if it only is on hard. Unfortunately I don't see many of the points lasting long enough for that to become a key factor...