Although the winner is a foregone conclusion, have to see how well Murray is doing physically.

Andy seems to be the only one in the entire field who can produce some challenge to Rafa Nadal.

Murray breaks first game.

Hi chet. This is the kind of match Murray needs to win easily if he's to sustain his fitness for the later rounds; he's doing alright so far, up 2-1 with a break.

Murray serving at 2-1 up.

Re-Nadal:What about Youzhny Chet???

I would say Fed too.......but obviously you disagree....

Youzhny looked awful today.
And lets not forget that the courts are very similar to clay. Nadal has had a lot of success in this tournament except last year. He's "almost" beaten Federer twice. I dont think Roger's a threat at all.

Only challenger may be Murray.

Nadal will probably breeze past Youzhny. Unlike Berdych and Blake, the Russian only beat Nadal because it coincided with his great form and the Spaniard's iffy form. Now it's Nadal who's in sensational form, while Youzhny lost to Acasuso in Indian Wells and struggled past the qualifier Gabashvili earlier.

As I type, Nadal breaks Mello for a 5-2 lead :clap:

And Murray survives a deuce game to hold. 3-1.

Evening Wise.

Murray should wrap this one up in less than hour hopefully. Already looking forward to the SF showdown against Nadal.

On Chet's past form this means Federer is a dead cert for the title :D

Seriously - I know you don't like the guy, but to dismiss someone who's won the tournament the last two years as "not a threat at all" is a bit of hyperbole.

Youzhny didn't look that bad today-Gabashvilli has been playing very well recently reaching the 3rd round at IW. Plus he had played a R1 match and 3 qualifying matches unlike Youzhny who was playing his 1st match on these courts.......

I also think Haas would be a threat.......

The H2H is 3-3, with Youzhny's three wins coming over a three year period.

Yeah but Gabashvili is playing well above his ranking currently....

Andy..

Federer was very lucky to win in '05. The title should have gone to Nadal but he choked badly in the third set TB. Then his strength ran out.

Last year Federer didn't face any tough opposition in any rounds, unless you want to call a choking Blake and out of sorts Haas stiff competetion.

Federer definitely has his hands ful this year. I reckon he'll win his match tomorrow as Querry is too inexperienced but will go out to either Gasquet or Canas.

Murray now 5-1 up...

Andy, I seem to remember you gleefully seizing on the fact Nadal had been in poor form since Wimbledon 2006. Youzhny's two most recent wins came in the four month playing period before the Spaniard discovered some form at IW, and while the Russian was on a hot streak of his own. Youzhny's only other win came way back in 2004 when Nadal was only 17.

This leads me nicely on to the fact that at the same tender age, in this very tournament, Nadal destroyed Federer 6-3, 6-3. I don't think Federer will reach the final here, but if he did, and came up against Rafa, I know who I'd be putting my money on, and that's the man who's just beaten Mello 7-6, 6-2.

Murray 5-1 up and cruising, while Safin is busy spurning break point opportunities against Lopez.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda Chet.

Bottom line is - "almost" doesn't get the job done. I could sit here and say that Federer "almost" won the French open last year but you'd doubtless scoff at that.

To dismiss the two-time defending champion as no threat is a joke. You know it. I know it. We all know it.

And back to the match this thread was started afor Murray vs Goldstein not Fed vs Nadal.....


Andy takes the first set 6-2

Quite right Wise - your statement that Youzhny only beat Nadal due to his form slump was incorrect. Glad you've confirmed that was the case.

Did Youzhny beat Nadal during his form slump - yes, clearly he did. Is it the only reason he beat him. Plainly not since he'd already beaten the 17 year old Nadal in 2004 (the one that you acknowledge beat Federer in straights that same year)

And I'll take no nonsense about gleefully seizing on the much hyped-Nadals 8 month long run of dodgy results from the people who were doubtless turning cartwheels over Federer's single dodgy result in 8 months just a week or two ago.

*still clinging to the idea this thread could still actually be about it's title roflmao


Murray breaks in the first game of the 2nd set, he then faces a BP at 30-40 on his own serve but saves it. Another BP comes and he can't save it this time 1-1


PErhaps being slightly hypocritical now when I mention that Lopez has just taken the first set off of Safin 7-5

Anyway, much as I'd love to carry on retreading the same old ground with Wise and Chet, I have another early Saturday rise and might try getting more than 2 hours sleep before it this week (thank you Messrs Murray and Haas...)

Night all!

[Addendum: now my neigbours have suddenly started playing house music :angry: ]