Many congrats! A great display of mental fortitude winning the tie-break after he was broken serving for the match...

Now don't lose in the second round of Wimbledon :lol:

Well done Rafa :bow:

Comiserations Fed :D

Well done Rafa :D

Federer was unbelievable in the first set. Okay, Nadal hadn't found his range, but Federer was moving him around the court with brilliant power and precision. Though as suspected, he couldn't keep it up for the duration of the match. His backhand in particular broke down, and he made some sloppy forehand errors at crucial times.

I think Nadal only made about 7 unforced errors from the beginning of the 2nd to the middle of the 4th; he was hitting the ball very consistently, especially his trademark forehand. The immense spin he puts on the ball again troubled Federer (a cause of his numerous unforced errors). And as usual, his defence was outstanding.

This win almost makes up for Venus losing :D ...............but not quite :( roflmao

Do you think that, hypothetically, if fed could maintain his highest level he counld best Rafa playing his best on a clay court? I know it is probably impossible for it to happen, as Fed has never done so before, but without wishing to say Fed WOULD have won if he'd played his best, do you think that Fed COULD beat Rafael ndal on clay if he could maintain that level?

I find this interesting regarding Fed Vs. Nadal matches.

It seems from the evidence of the last two years that, If both players are playing their A game on clay, Fed is the better player by a country mile.

However, and I think this was particularly evident today, it seems impossible in these matches for both players to play their A games at the same time, i.e., If Fed is playing his A game it stops Nadal playing his A game, and vice versa.

However, it also seems Nadal's A game is far easier for him to maintain than Fed's is, and that, albeit a simplified explanation, is really the main factor in why Nadal is getting the better of Roger. Forget all of this stuff about Nadal's topspin killing Fed's backhand, when Fed was at his best in the 1st set he was just stepping in on it!

In other words its much easier to defend consistently than attack consistently on clay .When Federer did attack he either won the point or made an unforced error .
Logically then the thing for Federer to do is to not try for winners too soon .
I still think he can beat Nadal on clay , maybe next year . :rolleyes:
Its a different story on the hardcourts, Federers game is better suited than Nadals but his 6-1 deficit will really affect his confidence from now on .
But he needs a convincing win to stop the rot. Maybe he'll get his revenge at Wimbledon ? :D

A couple of things annoyed me about Nadal, the amount of time he took over certain shots and the amount of noise he makes .

Definitely. I mean he made loads of errors today and threw away soem important points, so if he could play at his best - sure.

I persoanlyl thought Nadal was guilty fo gamesmanship there. there was a point where I expected him to get a time violation but no one bothered. even the commentator said so. And yes the noise was irritating and unnecessary I felt. Sorry but he sounded like a pig!

'Sounded like a Pig 'is right :ok:

A pretty lacklustre match though to put it polite :( ly.

I know Al, I am so dissappointed, not just cos Fed did not win but the manner in which he lost. And it was all a dissappointment. I never really get stressed watching, but this one made me get angry, nervous and frustrated when he went to pot. I felt sorry for him actually, and I have never felt like that about fed before.

I too think he is capable of beating Nadal on clay. When he plays is best he has come so very close there is almost nothing in it. Its gonna happen next time round or very soon. I think he may have been thinking too much out there today.

Hmm. I think he needs to take advice from your sig, Jilly.

I also felt sorry for fed, inside you could just feel his dream snapping and his attempts to contain it came out in that 30-30 point. I hope it doen't become a johnny mac 1984 lendl moment in his career when he knows he could have won if he had been able to play well. His behaviour afterwards was just so sad.

What happened afterwards ? I only saw the highlights on BBC2 .

You are right there Al :D :D

Yes what behaviour ?? I saw all the presentation ?? :huh: :huh:

Haven't seem the game yet, but my thought is that Fed still needs to think about his clay game, while Nadal is more instinctive on that surface and when things get tough your focus goes a bit and the difference between having to think and just doing it makes all the difference.

Like the England rugby team that won everything, they tried to play running rugby, but when things got tough, they relied on the good old boot!

;)