US Open Day 7 04/09

Thought I would start this thread nice and early.

Today's matches include:

Simon v Del Potro
Young v Chela
Isner v Bogomolov Jr
Nalbandian v Nadal
Ferrer v Mayer
Kunitsyn v Muller
Roddick v Benneteau
Murray v Lopez

We kick off with Nadal v Fat Dave, which once upon a time would have been very exciting. Still, Nadals early form has been very patchy and I don't really know where Nalbandian is at the moment. Worth tuning in to see what's what. Or at least it would be if I didn't have to be at my sons new school for 1st day greeting shenanigans.

Murray/Lopez is the other major match. Probably 3 fairly straightforward for Murray - Lopez is a bit made for him really.

JMDP/Simon should ok for the big guy, though Simon will run around relentlessly all day so he'll have to be patient.

Not much else worth talking about really.

On the womens side..... oh I just don't have the energy to talk about the womens game. Someone else have a go.

Quite an intriguing schedule of play today.

I shall watch Simon v Del Potro for sure. Delpo being the danger man in Murray's draw. I think Simon could prove to be a handful.

If I was a betting man looking for an upset in today's play, I would fancy Benneteau to take out Roddick and for Young to take out Chela.

Got in before me lk!!

Yes I think if I can negotiate television rights again, shall watch Delpo vs Simon.

Poor Nalbandian is nowhere near the player he once was and I think Rafa will demolish him very, very easily. It would certainly have been the potential match of the day a few years ago.

This forum is not very interested in the women's game. I am not either so it's not a critique.....just an observation. I used to post on Centrecourt where you had 100 posts on Women's single and double and about 3 comments on the Federer v Djoko semi.

Anybody knows at what time, by and large, do the Nalb-Nadal and Delpo-SImon matches start today? I won't be home before 8, hope to watch at least one......

JK I think Nalby and Nadal is the latter match tonight.

Nope it's the first match.

D'oh!!

Just been watching Sky Sports News and Murray is 3rd favourite for the title ahead of Federer???

Don't agree with that.

legendkillar wrote:D'oh!!

Just been watching Sky Sports News and Murray is 3rd favourite for the title ahead of Federer???

Don't agree with that.

Given the draw.. possibly.

I'm not confident about Roger getting past JWT - he's looking like a beast at the moment.

It's a shame foe JWT that he's in Nole's half; I really think that if he had been on the other side of the draw he would have made it to the final.

JWT may have the upper hand on Feds, but I would still fancy Rog against Tsonga.

I think he will have his work cut out against Fish though.

Is it just me, or is the top half far, far more interesting and better quality than the bottom..

If Nalby could stay away from the burgers and rediscover his commitment to tennis, this may be a good match. However, this is not the case and I expect a routine match for Rafa.

yeah, nalby's serve is just target practice at the moment.

Well NITB I think the top half 4th Round encounters look tantalizing. Depending how today's matches go, I say the top half looks like a 'draw of death'

noleisthebest wrote:Is it just me, or is the top half far, far more interesting and better quality than the bottom..

Nope. count me in too. Though the Nadal v Nalbandian could hopefully be an interesting one.

LK, today is day 7, can you please amend your title, also it's a good idea to put the date on.

Top half definitely more tricky. I thought that Murray had a pretty horrid looking quarter at first, but the draw has opened out quite nicely. I can't see anyone preventing Rafa for reaching the semis, and not sure that I think either Murray or Del Potro are playing well enough to prevent him reaching the final

First blood to Nalby..

Rafa getting good depth on his groundstrokes...

Nalby is such a talent.. love watching him play when he's on form.

Isn;t the Nadal Nalby match illustrating so well teh difference in this era and the 2003-2007 one. Nalby is so much more talented than Nadal giving him a very hard time with half of Nalby's mobility but will lose today again over the distance.

Completely agree Tenez,

Anyone who's watching this match can see the disparity in talent between the two... unfortunately Rafa will probably grind him down.

Nalby showing that he has around 10 different ways of playing the game; Rafa has just the one style.

What a match this is. Wonderful tennis, mostly from Nalbandian it has to be said. I smell a Nadal break back though...

Danny_1982 wrote:What a match this is. Wonderful tennis, mostly from Nalbandian it has to be said. I smell a Nadal break back though...

Yep, your instincts were right. I felt the break back coming too..

5-5.

Nadal take first set 7-6.

Nalbandian for that drop shot alone deserved the first set. He played some brilliant tennis in that first set.

First set stats. Nalbandian 18 winners and 23 UE's. Nadal 8 winners and 4 UE's. Tells you something about the intent of both players.

legendkillar wrote:First set stats. Nalbandian 18 winners and 23 UE's. Nadal 8 winners and 4 UE's. Tells you something about the intent of both players.

That's how Rafa wins. He is relentless from the back of the court and does not miss.

Rafa playing really well now, Nalby not so much

Nadal has clicked into another gear. Nalby has certainly held his own, but just doesn't have the extra fitness to rely on. Not sure if he has anything else in his amoury to really hurt Nadal.

But frankly how can Cilic receive a time warning and Nadal not?

Tenez wrote:But frankly how can Cilic receive a time warning and Nadal not?

Rusedski asked the same thing before the match commenced. I have to admit the set point Nadal took an age.

Nalby's turned into an UE machine.

What do you expect? A cake eating clown vs a 10 time Grand slam champion.

I think Nalby can only ignore the smell of hot dogs from the stands for a certain amount of time. After a set or so, he just wants to get off court for some fast food.

Did Nadal just get a time violation warning?

Simple_Analyst wrote:What do you expect? A cake eating clown vs a 10 time Grand slam champion.

It appears that the biased and uneducated one has decided to give up his facade of being a sensible poster.

If only Nalbandian just had that extra 10%. Would be a much closer match.

legendkillar wrote:If only Nalbandian just had that extra 10%.

He ate the extra 10% - that's the problem.

JuliusHMarx wrote:

legendkillar wrote:If only Nalbandian just had that extra 10%.

He ate the extra 10% - that's the problem.

It's a bit harsh. He is no Benni McCarthy!

If Tenez had his way they would all be Fat Daves. Fitness training would be banned, dieting would be cheating and the only legitimate way to get fit for tennis would be to play tennis.

No doubting Rafael Nadal has taken his game to a new level in this tournament today and looks more like his old self. Nalbandian started off very well but once Rafa upped his game he just couldn't stay with the champion.

I'm not sure how much of it was Rafa upping his game, and how much was Nalby not being able to sustain his level to be honest CC, but Nadal has looked back to his best today

Nalbandian gets a lifeline. Shall be interesting to see how this set pans out.

Nadal averaging 30 to 35s between points. Coudl he run as much and as quick if he took only 20s? Would his power be as consistent and his shots as precise (though he is not relying on precision anyway)?

Who was this idiot who applauded while Nalbandian was serving on MP? Some are so stupid out there.

Nadal playing himself into form during a slam... Quelle surprise!

Tenez wrote:Who was this idiot who applauded while Nalbandian was serving on MP? Some are so stupid out there.

Fully agree there Tenez. That was shocking.