Dubai 2012 - Semi-finals

Murray v Djoko

Can anyone be sure of the winner?

I'll pick Murray to tease NITB!

Delpo V Federer

Pretty tough one to call. Can Federer again keep Delpo on his toes and force him into errors? The fast conds coudl work for both. I am not sure which way it's going to go.

Ok...Federer cause I like his game.

Looks like we have the same picks! Didn't really notice this article when I was commenting on Soc's

Jeremy_Kyle wrote:Looks like we have the same picks! Didn't really notice this article when I was commenting on Soc's

You are a patient man!

Dubai is indeed lucky to have two such enticing SF's

Fed is my marginal favourite vs. Delpo given that he won recently and has had a week off compared to Delpo's third week on the trot.

However, it is possible, and I hope so, that Delpo is on a sharp upwards curve reminiscent of 2009 which may mean that past form, even recent past form, is not so important.

For me Djoko's got to be the marginal favourite vs. Murray, but it's close and it's good to see that Murray overcame a tricky opponent for him. Murray's serving will be one of the key factors and my worry for Murray is that his 2nd serve was vulnerable in the final set v. Berdych.

It's quite amusing to see that despite the faster conditions, the baseliner, including 2 retrievers are still in the last stages.

Just shows how tough the task is in a slow slam. It seems players have to learn again to be agressive on a fast court.

On teh positive side, we saw SVers and SHBHers get closer to those top baseliners.

How do you think Sod or Gonzo would have played at Dubai ?

I fancy Federer against Delpo. Just think that he's moving too well to get beaten by someone for whom movement can be an issue. I think he'll drop in those short slices which Delpo struggles to get down to.

Djokovic has to be favourite against Murray, and I don't think the result will change a fat lot for him whichever way it goes.... However it is a big match for Murray. He could and perhaps should have beaten him in Melbourne, and came even closer in Rome last year.... But matching him is one thing, beating him is another.

He was right on the baseline for the whole of the Australian open which was great, but against Berdych he retreated to a couple of metres behind it again. I hope that was a one off or he'll get beaten comfortably today.

My favoured final would be Murray v Federer, but I think it will be Djoko Federer.

Tenez wrote: Delpo V Federer

Pretty tough one to call. Can Federer again keep Delpo on his toes and force him into errors? The fast conds coudl work for both. I am not sure which way it's going to go.

Ok...Federer cause I like his game.

Recent observation suggest Del Potro going through a draw like a knife through butter before being smited by Federer.

The Murray v Novak semi is going to be interesting (hopefully).

I’d go for Murray and Federer too.

Although at the moment Djoko’s standard level is still better than Murray’s A level, somehow I think Murray is prepared to dig deeper than Djoko this time. Djoko knows he has many epic battles ahead of him, and I don’t think he fancies a match against Delpo or Fed that much on a court like this.

Federer should win again, it’s very difficult for Delpo to drag Fed out of his comfort zone. He almost can but not yet.

sirfredperry wrote:How do you think Sod or Gonzo would have played at Dubai ?

Gonzo better than SOderling. When it's fast like that, the advantage lies on teh player who has quicker hands. ....most of the time.

It's a shame though that they make them play that late. At 30+ you don;t want to have a late night before playing a final.

On the bright side, this surface allows for shorter rallies.

Tenez - between Murray and Djoko who would you credit with the quicker hands?

Tenez wrote:It's a shame though that they make them play that late. At 30+ you don;t want to have a late night before playing a final.

In Rotterdam it all worked out well. Davy made Federer run like Forrest Gump but Fed came out fresh as a daisy the next day. I'm pretty impressed with Fed's fitness lately, let's hope he can keep it up until september

barrystar wrote:Tenez - between Murray and Djoko who would you credit with the quicker hands?

Tough question Barry.

Djoko takes teh ball earlier, that is a sign of quick hands.

Murray in my view has also very quick hands which can be observed when getting to the net or even by some of the shots but he chooses (by lack of confidence maybe) to rely on it.

close call...not much in it but this match coudl give us more clues.

Come on Andy, vaporize him to atomic particles.

gallery play wrote:

Tenez wrote:It's a shame though that they make them play that late. At 30+ you don;t want to have a late night before playing a final.

In Rotterdam it all worked out well. Davy made Federer run like Forrest Gump but Fed came out fresh as a daisy the next day. I'm pretty impressed with Fed's fitness lately, let's hope he can keep it up until september

Yes...Hope you right but Djoko can make Federer run a bit more than Delpo.

Murray demonstrates that his eye sight isn't very good - that was a poor HE referral.

Murray breaks, 4:2.

Andy gets the first break. it's 4-2

Andy having probs with his knee, limping a little.

Nice thumbs up from Nole in recognition of Andy's shot

now 5-2 to Andy after he saves two break points.

Djoko beeing played around.

Murray trying to hold serve after breaking was a whole story in itself. Initially he was thinking too much about "holding serve immediately after breaking" which was what let him down at the Australian Open. Somehow he was able to get through it after overcoming his uncomfortableness in the first three-quarters of his service game. Having a faster court helped him.

Fight Djoko.

hey, hey first set Andy 6-2 after an awful miss by Djoko at 0-30

Superb play from Andy, 6:2, Djoko broken again.

6-2 first set to Murray. A close three setter would be nice.

Murray is using the double handed fore hand to great effect.

So that's where you all are

If Murray wins this then we know who the real number 1 is.

break_in_the_fifth wrote:If Murray wins this then we know who the real number 1 is.

and not just number 1 but GOAT, too

Ha ha - Murray gets a HE challenge correct. I was thinking he was wasting another call - when it didn't matter.

But Murray should have been given the point, rather than having to play the point again.

Novak's only just gotten into his groove.

Another ace by Andy.
His serve looks a lot sharper today

Andy hits the Net in purpose!!! He is annoying Djoko emotionally.

noleisthebest wrote:

break_in_the_fifth wrote:If Murray wins this then we know who the real number 1 is.

and not just number 1 but GOAT, too

Maybe, depends how much he wins by.

Okay Murray was given the point belatedly. Some good signs from Murray. Correcting some of the "mistakes" he made at the Australian Open.

Djoko is a joke today, or maybe Andy is on some Scotch.

If Murray can keep his "man down" then he will win the match and demonstrate significant progress from the Australian Open. Of course one still needs to recognise that Murray is playing a great player who can "step it up".

Andy breaks again. Time for medical timeout from Djoko.

Nole? What are you doing?
2-0 to Andy in the 2nd set

This is all about Novak's errors so far.

OK, time to start watching the match and supporting my man . COME ON NOLEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Brilliant from Murray. He needs to catch his breath and hold serve!

Andy is pushing him to make those errors, like this superb return over court.

Murray is playing really well. Nole looks like a man who doesn't know what to do.

I am really really sorry Novak. Please don't take it personally but for tactical reasons... I can't believe I'm going to say this. Come on Murray!

3:0