Berdych has just broken to take a 3-1 lead in the opening set...

Berdych extends the lead to 4-1 with some heavy serving. Nadal hasn't found the range with his groundstrokes yet, whereas Berdych is hitting the ball very cleanly.

I think this one could be a really good match.

Hey LDF :D

Just back at my pc, and was a little surprised to see Berdych 4-1 up! Are you watching the match??

The game where Nadal got broken was sloppy was 30-0 up then made some careless erros!1 Vamos Rafa hang in there

Ooooh the Fed-bashers will not be pleased....

Hey petalp :D

I am indeed...

2 more forehand errors by Nadal put him 0-30 down on his serve!

I expect Nadal to hang in there, even if he loses this first set.

Hmm...Berdych forces Nadal into error after a series of sweetly timed cross-court backhands, and he has 2 break points!

And Berdych breaks on the first opportunity, forcing a forehand error out of Nadal with a deep return.

5-1...

Hey SG.. :D how's things??

Well, those Fed bashers can go and take a running jump! :devil: :)

Besides, this match is about Rafa and Berdych.. the Fedster will hve his place in the sun later on ;)

Nadal has probably lost this set but im still backing him to hang in there and whether the strom

Well, 2 unforced errors (and a poor judgement on the first point, leaving a drifting ball for it only to land in) have helped Nadal get two break points...

Berdych saves the first, pressuring Nadal into a backhand error by rushing the net.

Wow...

LDF, maybe Rafa just hasn't settled and Berdych has come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders?

Sounds a bit like the RG and SW19 finals this year, in that respect.

Maybe Rafa's a slow starter sometimes??

And Berdych saves the second with an easy putaway at the net.

He brings up set point with another venture to the net, though he got lucky with the let cord on his approach!

I'd say that's right - Nadal hasn't yet found his rhythm, particularly on the forehand, whereas Berdych has come out immediately with some beautiful ball-striking.

Berdych has his second set point now...

Hello Nick :) Agreed..Rafa will view any position of deficit as one where he can fight back and win..

Looking at the first set stats, Nadal hit 75% of his first serves, and yet only won 1/3 service games. (So far. Berdych hasn't managed to serve it out yet . . . )

Berdych wasted his 2nd set point by dumping a forehand in the net, but he has a 3rd now...

And he seals the set with a powerful service winner, 6-1.

By the way, I see several unregistered guests following the action on this thread. Feel free to drop a note in the "Guest Book" thread, just to let us know who you are. That's the one place you can post w/o being registered.

(Of course, if you like the site and want to register, that's cool, too. :ok: )

Ooh.. :o

Well, that's put the cat amongst the pigeons, hasn't it.. :blush:

Question to those who are actually watching the match . . .

Nadal, so far is only winning 50% of his first-serve points. Does his serve seem weak today, or is Berdych doing really well on the return of serve?

Nadal serving to start off the 2nd set.

0-15 Berdych is successful at the net yet again, this time playing a calm backhand volley off Nadal's attempted pass.

15-15 The spin on Nadal's serve catches Berdych out, and he barely gets his racquet on the ball (it was a second serve).

30-15 Berdych's return goes marginally qide.

30-30 Berdych's wrong-footing return forces an error out of Nadal.

40-30 Berdych's forehand return goes long.

Deuce #1 Poor backhand by Nadal sails past the baseline...a very uncharacteristic error.

*Challenge*

AD NADAL Berdych incorrectly challenges a call on his forehand (he hooked it just wide).

GAME NADAL Better hitting from Nadal, though Berdych should've got the last forehand back in play.

Berdych is returning serve very well today - he's taking the ball early and hitting it cleanly. :ok:

NIck, I'd read that he didn't serve too well in his last match, so maybe a contination of that? :shrug:

Nadal breaks at the start of the 2nd set - a couple of errors by Berdych, but Nadal has certainly upped his level.

Ah! Well, that will be that then!! :)

Could Berdych be returning early with some flat hitting, in the same way that Blake sometimes does, perhaps??

That's exactly right - it gives Rafa very little time to prepare for his next shot.

Nadal consolidates the break with a comfortable hold. Much better serving there, including his first ace of the match.

Berdych serving at 0-3.

15-0 Nadal pays the price for hitting the ball a little short; Berdych hits an inside-out forehand winner.

30-0 Service winner.

40-0 Another forehand winner by Berdych, this time going behind Nadal.

GAME BERDYCH A very flat forehand from Berdych shoots through the court, causing Nadal to make an error.

Great stuff LDF.. I do like your game summaries! :)

Unfortunately I have to get ready to go out now! Hope you enjoy the rest of the match, look forward to catching up on your commentaries when I get back!!

I think that it might be a late-ish night on the cards :blink:

Have fun petalp :D

Nadal's just held to 15 to take a 4-1 lead. He is placing his serve better in this set, helping him get a few more cheap points. Also, some more unforced errors are creeping into Berdych's game; likely to happen, considering the flatness of his groundstrokes.

Well, hope it continues to be a good contest!

Sounds like Berdych has done his homework and has a bit of a gameplan on the go here :)

Berdych holds to 30, reducing the deficit to 2-4.

The quality of tennis is on the up, with both men producing some great play at times.

Go Nads :D :D :o

Nadal serving at 4-2.

15-0 Nadal's loopy cross-court forehand puts Berdych on the back foot, and his backhand goes wide.

15-15 Double fault.

15-30 Brilliant play by Berdych. He pins Nadal behind the baseline, taking control of the rally. He moves into the net at the right time and plays a lovely drop volley which Nadal cannot reach.

15-40 Berdych's flat backhand shoots through the court, and Nadal completely shanks a forehand (the speed of Berdych's shot didn't allow him to prepare - that's happened on quite a few occasions so far!).

30-40 Nadal saves the first break point with a good first serve out wide.

what about the second bp :yikes:

Deuce #1 Berdych fails to take advantage of a fairly weak second serve, hitting a backhand long on his second shot.

AD NADAL Hmm...somehow, Nadal's forehand creeps over the net (it was slightly mis-hit) and Berdych can't track it down.

GAME NADAL He seals the game with a thumping ace down the T.

5-2 to Nadal.

:yahoo: :yahoo:

Hello to any guests viewing, by the way :)

Berdych serving to stay in the set at 2-5...

15-0 Nadal's return goes just long.

30-0 Good defence by Nadal, but Berdych has too much firepower and wins with a bounce smash.

40-0 Nadal's return goes long again (almost identical to the first point).

GAME BERDYCH Nadal mis-hits a backhand, and it only makes it half-way up the net.