The schedule of play is out - might as well start the live score thread nice and early. :)

It's semifinals day in Madrid on Saturday, and the matches are:

1.30 pm
Djokovic v Nalbandian

not before 4.00 pm
Federer v Kiefer


Now, how many people predicted those semis when the tournament began?

Nalbandian already putting the pressure on Djokovic's serve - two break points, and four deuces (I think) so far in the first game of the match.

Djoko does well to hold. 1-0.

He's now sent his racquets to be restrung. :blink:

Nalby falls down 0-30 with some sloppy play, but fights back to 30-30. Still a little bit of pressure here on his serve - and he serves an ace. :clap:

He think he's got another ace, but it's called out - he throws his second ball away, so sure is he of his challenge :blink: --- and it's called in by about half a millimetre ...

Nalby holds for 1-1.

Now it's Djoko's turn to be 0-30 down. His second serve gets called a DF, but it's overruled - as a result, he gets two more serves and hits an ace.

But now he's 15-40 down, and Donut Man has two more break points. He gets a look at a second serve - and Djoko tamely dumps the next shot in the net without being under any real pressure from the Argentine's return of serve.

Nalby leads 2-1 with a break. :o

His face looks a bit tired to me (no surprise after playing singles *and* doubles into the semifinals), but his game still looks good, smart and controlled. Djoko needs to stay focussed here if he wants to have a chance.

No one else watching this? Or is everyone glued to the tv?

Ronald McDonald holds to love to lead 3-1.

I want him to win today - I don't think Djoko has enough left in the tank this week (after a long year, and two weeks of tennis) to trouble Fed in the final, while Nalby is on fire. He is matching Djoko's powerful groundstrokes stroke for stroke, and plays tactically perfect, frequently coming to the net to finish off the point.

Hugely impressive. And here he has another two break points on the Djokovic serve. The first saved with many bounces of the ball and a massive serve. The second likewise.

Deuce.

Massive second serve right on the service line; Nalby hits the return into the net. And he S&Vs to hold, doing well to take this game given the pressure Nalby has put on him.

Nalby still ahead 3-2 with a break.

Now it's Nalby's turn to dump a backhand into the net, and he faces break-back point.

His big serve to Djoko's forehand is returned long. Deuce.

Another big first serve. And yet another one, and the Dirty Argentine goes up 4-2.

Both players come up with the big serves when they get under pressure, and Djoko shortens the lead to 4-3, although he has to go via deuce. He will be looking to put pressure on the Argentine again now, to avoid going 5-3 down, which would put him in real danger of losing the first set.

5-4. Nalby serving for the first set.

First set to Nalby . . .

hmm...

:blink: Come on Nole !

Some great play from Dunkin' Dave - he's actually bossing Djoko around the court in places.

2-1 Djokovic, on serve.

superb point there from Dunkin' Dave - Djokovic even applauds (to his credit)

slightly off-topic, but I hope Djokovic isn't taking advice from his buddy Andy Murray on how to grow ludicrous facial hair, and shaves that slightly D'Artagnan effort off. Very foolish.

Yeah, that was a great point. :clap:

Djoko holds to love for once, to make it 4-3. We're getting to the "business end" of this set, and with Djoko serving first the pressure will start resting on Nalbandian.

I agree!

Admittedly, I once sported a similar growth --- but have since seen the error of my ways!

Nalbandian was up 40-0, but now only 40-30, thanks to good returning by Djokovic --- but here is a big first serve, Djoko gets it back into court but Nalby can boss the point and force an error on the next Djoko groundstroke.

Donut Dave levels to 4-4.

Come on Donut Dave! I'd love to see him win this and then trouble Sir Roger in the final.... if Rog can win his semi that is!

It seems de rigeur for the ATP to experiment with dubious facial fuzz at some point :)

I've got to say, despite finding Nalby a slightly odious character, it's really refreshing to see him playing some good tennis.
I've always thought of him as a bit of a comeback king...but Djokovic isn't scared of staying on court for hours on end...

6-5 Djoko. Nalbandian serving to take it to a tie-break.

And he goes 0-30 down ...

Nalbandian survives the first break point of the second set (for either player) and holds to force a tiebreak!

2-0 to Dave...

Looks like DN might win here over ND . . .

4-1 now in the tiebreak.

Make that 4-2, as ND gets back one minibreak.

Nalby hangs on to the next point, though, for a 5-2 lead.

A DF by Djoko gives Nalby four match points in the TB. :yikes:

Unfortunately, I don't have access to the match; only watching the scoreboard.

Three set points now, though, at 6-3.

6-4 7-6 (4)

Lucky break there for Djoko, as a net cord rolls over and Nalby loses one of the set points on his serve ...

Still 6-4 though, MP #3.

And Djoko can't return the big serve - GSM Nalby.

Nalbandian - Kiefer final anyone? :P

Provided that Roger wins, Nalby will have an opportunity to repeat Djoko's feat from Montreal: defeating the top 3 players in a row to win the title.

GSM, Nalby

Back to blathering garbage from Barry "two sets from Sampras" Cowan. The man needs to:

1. get his facts right
2. stop being SO nice about everyone and just be honest

Anyway, roll on Keifer and Fed. Keifer may be showing some flair, but Federer has been looking SO confident, I can't see past a Fat Dave and Darth Fed final.

Very, very interesting!

Roger v Kiwi about to start.

Kiefer to serve.

Break point for Fed in the opening game of the match - but Kiefer saves it.

Kiwi's coming to the net a lot --- both with S&V and when Fed drops the ball a little short. Still this is going to be a tough one for him - a DF sets up another bp for Fed.

Good serve, and Roger's return is long - deuce.

Kiwi does well to hold in the opening game of the match. Now Roger to serve.

His serve is still near impregnable - he holds to love.

I had to go away for a little bit --- and missed Roger breaking Kiefer, it seems. Did anyone see what happened?

PS. I see from the scoreboard that Bjorkmirnyi are in trouble --- serving to stay in the match against Fyrstenberg and Matkowski, who have had a great week so far.

Massive return from Kiefer to create a little bit of intrigue, going from 40-15 to 40-30 ... but Roger doesn't like the idea of having to go via deuce and holds for a 4-2 lead.

Bjorkmirnyi now with three break chances to go 6-5 up. (I should probably post this in the doubles forum, but it's easier this way ...)

Kiefer goes 40-15 up, for two chances to shorten the lead to 4-3. And he does it with some classic S&V, while Bjorkmirnyi waste two of their three break chances ... and the third. They have only made one out of seven break points so far. :yikes: