Once again another final. Last year all of us had doubts if Rafa could pull it off but this year its a no brainer.
Federer's looked very vulnerable and Rafa's improved leaps and bounds. I'm going out on a limb and predicting a straight set (if not 4) set victory for the Spaniard.

Take a pill and go and lie down. :P

I don't think honestly there is any way today that Nadal can beat Roger on a grass court.He has had really only one dodgy set against Ferrero.He's moving through the gears,and I would fully expect the very threat of Nadal today to bring out the best in him.

Rafa can win,but only if Roger starts to play bad,loses concentration,and maybe that forehand doesn't work.Having said that,this surface makes him super-confident,so I expect him to win in 4,and if he really does hit the heights,then I can see a straight set victory.

An outstadingpost from chetanpv with a cntribution from Barakkus which Im too *bleep*ed to read.

From the very start of thi turnamenrt, i have known that Federer would not win it. A player of his calibre is simply not fit to brewak Borg's record. It's a shame thatthe final has to cement this, but I see Rafael Nadal winning in 4 sets. The superb Spaniard will simply be too muchfor th fading Swiss.

Changing of the guard? Is it that small part of you giving you ideas again?

Anyway, it's a "Chet prediction". Poor Rafa, something goes against him already. He'll have to try even harder to win now with that against him.

And Wise fuelled with whatever he drinks, Looks like you've smoked something bad too, judging by the rank stupidity of your post. Otherwise known as an "outstanding post" in Wise/ Chet world ;)

Has the match already started? I thought live scoring threads were meant for while the match was in progress?

Chet getting in early so no-one can beat him to it :P

vamos rafa

Gd luck Rafa!!! Time for a new champion :ok: May the best man win today (and may he be Spanish :P )

:yahoo: GO FED, GO FED, GO FED :yahoo:

I think this is going to be a good un today - I love seeing these two play - especially if its Fed coming out on top :) I think Fed has the edge and will be crowned Champ - but theres a little nervous pit in my tummy suggesting I am not totally convinced!

Going to be fun flicking from the final to Lewis' win :pray: and back again today though :)

novak would have had rafa yesterday fully fit imo. nadal is not setting the world on fire out there.

having said that it think it was really lame that djokovic retired over a toe blister. can you imagine henman doing that? you'd have to cut his legs off and shoot him several times to make him forfeit a grandslam semi.

and i think that fed will rise to the occasion here. to coin a godawful phrase that greg rusedski keeps using:

federer always finds a way to win.

At SW19, on grass, Federer playing his best tennis will beat Rafa playing his best tennis.

So here's hoping that he wins. He has been the best player in the tournament, so deserves to win.

And for those who think that there think that there should be change for change's sake, well never mind if being the best player in the tournament should count for so little?

So yes, of course may the best man on the day win.. but may the best player in the tournament win.. the Swiss one. :ok:

I honestly don't think you can blame Novak for retiring yesterday. He didn't sleep at all the night before and his foot was bleeding everywhere. Hardly ideal preparation for a semi final against Rafa! He should be commended on starting at all. As for Henman, he would have been extremely out of his depth when you saw the quality of the quarter finals!

Rafa has lost quite a few sets on his way to the final and was lucky to get through . Cant see how Rafa can beat Federer unless he serves badly .After all, Fed can even outplay him on clay by brilliant attacking tennis .On grass, his game has too many weapons for anyone to touch him.
But Im still nervous ... might be something to do with the occasion and Borgs prescence...

That match should have been postponed . Totally unfair to expect Djokovic to play that day.

Borg, Mac and Connors all on the beeb.. :o

Getting a nice reception as they walk onto centre court!! :clap:

Come on Roger - I've just listened to a lot of pundit and peer eulogy, and it's exactly what needs to be aired before the grass maestro graces centre court with his presence :)

If Federer wins the first set, I predict it to be straight sets. If Rafa wins the first, it could be 5. The first set will be crucial.

Roger is usually a good starter, and Rafa a slow starter. Don't need a repeat of last year's first set bagel, but yes, winning the the first set will be a big thing.

Does everyone want a change at RG? ;)

The best player should win. I remember how much everyone got bored of Sampras winning Wimbledon - I always loved him winning, because he was the best player on grass and deserved it.

That's how I feel about Federer on grass, and Nadal on clay are the best on their respective surfaces; I much prefer Federers style on grass, and wouldn't want a changing of guard for Nadals. :shrug:

wow, here it is. this one's for all the marbles.

I wish Rafa would stop holding people up: he knew he was holding the toss up, there. Disappointing, Rafito :rolleyes:

the depth of Nadals groundstrokes never fails to astound me.

agreed. Funnily enough, one of the shots of the tournament for me was one of Rafa's volleys.. against Soderling I think at 2-2 in the final set

Yes, an amazing shot. I was quite surprised at that, having been critical of his volleying capabilities!! :D

Some fabulous tennis already.. :bow: :bow:

at 40-0 that was rafa's game. and he let fed in with a couple of terrible UEs.

:angry:

The Federer serve is working very well at the moment - and also on grass, it's quite unreadable. Maybe not the fastest, but very precise, plenty of spin and opponent can't read it. As Gasquet found out yesterday.

GOT HIM!

this is great.

:angry1: :angry:

First serve especially..

Second serve from both players is looking a bit vulnerable though.. shows how good both players are as returners of serve.

you put the hex on his serve, SaraLess.

Cmon Rog you gotta school this kid! :)

I know, literally as soon as I posted!! :doh:

Fed's points won at the net ratio is looking poor right now.. :unsure:

So.. 3-0 to 3-3.. bit different from the first 6 games from last year..

Rafa gives a chilling warning to those who think that this match is entirely dependent on the performance of Federer. :D

Wise, you're on centre court... you're not in one of your beeb id's right now. :coffee:

Flashes of utter brilliance from both players.

Sampras said he'd "just attack" Nadal; but he proves that his incredible groundstrokes just pass you!

I couldn't care less what board I'm on. Rafa hasn't been given enough respect - his performance in the game where he broke back was sensational. If he can keep that up, it should be a great final.

http://www.freedomyou.com/addiction/caffeine%20addiction.htm

rafa is giving a graphic illustration of why serve volley tennis is dead. come to the net on nearly anything and you get passed.

Second serve, deep return, puts Federer on the back foot...