I saw this match live last night, for once I bothered to stay up! roflmao

Youznhy played a brilliant match, he covered so much ground and was hiting the ball beautifully, but I think we saw in the 4th set that Rafa is NOT as mentally tough as everybody thinks. I actually saw a lot of Andy Murray in him as the set and match started to slip from him, he really didn't seem to care until it was way too late!

I'm wondering if players are beginning to figure out ways of playing him. Horna earlier in the tournament also gave Nadal a real scrap remember. And the thing with Rafa is that for a world no.2, his game is pretty one-dimensional, so if things start to go wrong, he struggles to find something different!

I also watched the match :( I think Youznhy prob played the match of his life. Nadal's forehand was ropey from the start, and in the third and final set I think Youznhy spent most of it in the 'Zone' and Nadal's forehand completely fell apart.

It was strange not seeing Nadal as the agressor, and having the game brought to him, and boy was that enforced. seeing him forced way back from the baseline and stretched from end to end, was great play by youzhny. I know Nadal likes a good long rally and to finish of the guy when HE is good and ready, but the thing was Youznhy was a step ahead and dictated far more.

Credit to the Russian but so dissappointed by Nadal's exit. :(

Youznhy did something which always does make Nadal struggle - get the first strike in!

You're right Mo - Rafa's forehand really was off, and the way he plays means that he really needs all his shots to be functioning well.

There was a huge game at 4-5 in the 3rd set, with youzhny managing to come back from 0-40 to save the set and eventually get it to a breaker!

Youzhny and Friedl also knocked out the top-seeded Bryan Bros. in the doubles yesterday. Quite the day for Mikhail.

Wow - I didn't notice that. Well done to Misha indeed! What are your thoughts on Misha v Andy?

I'm going to predict that Roddick will end Youzhny's impressive run.

(Of course, yesterday I predicted that Nadal would do the same.)

Hehe, well you've got to be right sometime ...

I think there are good chances that your prediction comes true. I simply can't see Misha playing another match of the same quality as yesterday, and Roddick's game may give him some trouble as well.

On the other hand, if he's able to reproduce his form from the Nadal match, I'd say he would be capable of taking Roddick out.

What I'm most worried about is both players taking a dip from their recent great form, and Roddick taking out Youzhny in a substandard match. As long as that doesn't happen; I don't much care who wins!

Congrats Mikhail! What a great two weeks this has been for him

:cry: Just as long as Roddick wins now and its not FEDERER :angry:

(But I still love you Rafa :wub: )

Don't hold your breath for a Roddick victory!!!!! roflmao I think he'll get to the finals and get yet another lesson in tennis from the Fed...!!!!

I agree this seems likely. Roddick seems to have improved his overall game though, so perhaps there is a chance he can make it close? I'd really like to see a good match in the final - Wimbledon 2005 was such an anticlimax!

No. Roddick get to the final, and then get a lesson from Blake on who's the US No. 1. :D

Youve been reading too much Dr Sincere, Nick. ;)
I never make predictions, though . Ive a feeling Federer will beat Roddick in 4 in the final .
Dont want to hurt Nadal fans feelings, but its great to have something different than yet another Nadal/Fed final. B)

I would just really like to see it happen for Blake, but I'm not exactly confident that he'll beat Federer. :unsure:

He's got very little hope - Federer is so complete in comparison with Roddick

I agree, although Roddick v Fed has a touch of dejavu about it ;) And their finals have been terrible! I can't see A-Rod beating Fed. Maybe getting a set if he's playing well, but Fed has seen it all before as A-Rod will have no answers to an on song Federer. I'd liek Youzhny to make the final to make it more interesting. Of course it could be dire, but I do think he has played the tournie of his life here, inc the men's doubles, and as I dont; think anyone else in the draw is going to beat Fed, and they have had their chances, it woudl eb deservign for Youzhny to walk off with a RU trophy.

You never know, if Youzhny could play really weel, he coudl make it an exciting final with Fed. Anyone have any ideas how their games would match up?

Youhzny and Fed have met 6 times (1st time 2000, I think) and Fed won every time, the latest encounter being at Dubai this year (SF)

SB, I think that Youzhny's game is sort of similar to Gonzo or Blake. He seems to hit hard and flat, and quite attacking.

It's a good matchup in terms of Fed's game, as he is not the sort that will make Fed feel as if he is hitting against a brick wall (as it must feel like playing Nadal on clay).. Fed would be able to feed off his pace, and his instinctive play would serve him well.

In terms of having the best contest in the final, I'd think that Roddick would be the better player there. There is the added spice of him being American and having the crowd behind him. Having had one of the home favourites beaten in the final last year, I'd think that the crowd would be even more behind A-Rod.. It could get noisy!



I just noticed a stat mentioned by Andy1073 on the beeb site that when Fed wins the first set of a match in a slam, he has a win/ loss ratio of 101-4!!! :yikes:

And he has won the first set against Davydenko 6-1.. so could be ominous..

Yes, maybe you are right. Although I can't see it being the same as last year when Andre made the final. That seemed a more exciting prospect to me.

What a stat! :o Well form where I am sitting, I just dont; see another winne rby Fed. And I want him to win this now, that will be 9 slams in the bag and that record of winning USO and Wimby for is it 4 yrs in a row or 3? :)

I think that it would be the SW19 and USO double for 3 years in a row.. and he would be the first to achieve that.. :bow:

I hope that he gets his 9th slam tomorrow.. that would be just fantastic.. :)

i'm doubtful whether Andy R would put up as good a fight as Andre did last year. But Andy will be fired up, and the opening exchanges would be worth catching. i think that A-Rod will throw the kitchen sink at him as he did in the 2004 SW19 final, and just hope that Fed doesn't come back with the bathtub in return... :D

And Roger has broken Nikolai to go 6-5 up in the second set.. You could probably set your watch by him raising the level of his game...

Federers just broken and will serve for the second set at 6-5
Beat me to it ;)

Hello 'Holiday Al' :)

Ah.. on the money with the Fed Davy match too.. ;)

Looks like you have the fine weather that you were hoping for??

And Fed bags the second set, 7-5.. all good..

Yep, and what a fine way to start the holiday, watching Federer winning his 9th Slam ! :)

Are you following it online ?

s that a smile from Davydenko? No, it's a grimace. Federer toys with him in a lengthy rally, seemingly upping the pace with every forehand before firing a magnificent winner into the corner. A helpless Davydenko crouches down and makes a 'time-out' sign, revealing a previously unknown sense of humour.

Federer is not smiling a few moments later when Davydenko recovers with four straight points to break back. No-one saw that coming.



Commentary from the beeb site.. looks like the game is being played in good spirit :)

I wish that people would ease up on Davydenko!! It's not as if he's some petulant prima donna or something?!!

I'm following it online on the USO site, the beeb site and the USO radio.. except the radio isn't working! :(

I don't/ won't have Sky, as I think is the case with you too.

The radio helps a good deal, when it is working.. :)

Absolutely! ;)

Always good to have things in one's life that are aesthetically pleasing.. such as Fed doing his stuff... when he's in the groove, it's just poetry in motion.. :bow:

And Fed's broken to go 2-1 up..

Yeah, i did try the US .ORG radio but wondered why it wasnt working !
I dont think its on radio five live, but the womens final will be at 1am
and the mens final tomorrow at 9pm .
The Beebs not too bad, theres a bit of suspense waiting for the next score update !

I dont think Ill be hiding under the table like I was in the Wimbledon final! As was Scolios

Yes.. and I doubt that you will be either chain smoking or cracking open the booze to dedstress either! :lol:

:yikes: Nikolai has broken back!!

Sounds like Fed experienced a dip.. 3 UE's in the game where he dropped serve..

A similar story to the 2second set.. so far..

Oh.. and Fed breaks again.. okey dokey..

:yikes: Ill keep a bottle handy just in case !
He hasnt won yet :unsure:

roflmao Yeah that was one of A-Rod's funny moments! roflmao

A Rod strikes me as quite a nice guy actually. He's quite personable, and smiley. I think at first he gave the impression he was a bit of a fool, nto sure how but that is how a lot saw him. Mayeb is was the baseball cap being backwards? roflmao

No I just dont; think A Rod can match Fed's bath tub, and if he manages to Fed will probabaly come back with the power shower and the full sized jacuzzi! roflmao

roflmao Remember that from BB last year

roflmao

Well Fed is serving for the match.. ooh... this is when Fed is at his most vulnerable.. keep that bottle to hand!! roflmao