Lets hope its a classic !

Hm. Is it just me, or is the live score at atpmastersseries.tv not running yet?

Mines not working either .

Is there a doubles match on first? :blink:

nothing on my live scores - anyone know if the players are on court yet?

Actually, I meant live stream rather than live score :doh:

There was a doubles match on, but the Bryans won that long ago. :clap:

Not on court yet......about to enter I believe......

OK, live stream seems to be up now ... just trying to start it.

Doesn't look like players are out yet.

Players just walked out.

*crosses fingers and toes and hopes for the unlikely*

Rafa won the toss and elected the receive.

You're so used to that (Tim) :P

Afternoon chet! What's your prediction for this one?

I'm going for a tight first set and an easy second one for Nadal. 7-5, 6-2.

not of late :(

Need to see Roger coming out strong in his first service game. :pray:

Good afternoon wise.

Yes I am too going for a similar scoreline.
maybe 6-4, 6-2 to the raging bull.

Roger really needs to break first to give him some confidence..

and possibly NOT lose his first service game :blink:

Thats unthinkable :tsk:

Federer's first serve is all over the place. Rafa with 2 BPS.
This may be over in double quick time.

*hopes chet predicts something similar*

The writing looked on the wall there for Federer, but he got his best cleaning spray out and held from 15-40 down. He looked edgy and uncomfortable at the start, but facing those break points seemed to spur him into life and he hit some nice shots. Might just be the confidence boost he needs (to make the scoreline respectable :P )

*Sees that he already had*

*suddenly feels there is hope for a Federer win*

Nervous start from Roger; very mixed in this first service game.

However, at least he held serve, fighting off two break points.

Let's see how his returning is holding up against the Nadal serve.

:phew: not the best start there from Fed......

It's on sky sports at the mo, is only scheduled til 2 tho which seems a little odd :blink:

Overall, I'd say Roger's returning is better than in MC. However, his forehand is still misfiring.

Nadal holds to 30.

Again, two break points.

Roger just not getting his first serves in.

:huh: Break points again.

oh dear....... :( :smash:

2-1 Nadal.

This isn't looking good. Roger's serve and forehand still very very patchy --- unless he can tighten it up, this set is going to be over very very quickly. :(

But I'm not giving up hope! :angry:

You can't delay the inevitable. Despite missing out in the first game, Nadal held fairly comfortably and instantly earned himself two more break points on Federer's serve and only needed one. Looks like our predictions were a bit generous chet - this is one way traffic so far.

Same old same old. :wacko:

Yes Wise.
The scoreline in the MC final now seems more respectable that what we may see today.

If Roger can play himself into this, I think he may have a chance at a break back sometime in this set.

But he first needs to find his service games again. If he's solid in those, it will give him more freedom on the return.

Come on, Roger! :pray:

Cant understand this. When Hewitt (whom Federer beats easily) can give Nadal so much trouble, why Federer is struggling so much against the spaniard.

This may be similar to the Rome SF and final for Rafa.
Tough 3 set SF and then a whitewash final.

Nadal looking to break again.

Fed really needs to sort out his first serve stats :blink:

It is sooooo frustrating to watch this.

Federer getting less than half his first serves in at the moment. I don't understand why he doesn't take a little bit of it; obviously his second serve isn't helping him much at the moment.

Another bl**dy break of serve, ffs.

Get your first serves in, you fool! :angry:

I think Fed has a bit of a mental block about Nadal now. I've said in another thread, that I just don't think that Fed believes he can beat Nadal on clay....... :shrug: