RG Day 4

Federer cruising, the second set lasted 22 minutes. That's short, even by his standard

got to be honest, the guy on the other side of the net isn't up to much is he? Federer playing some decent stuff, lovely winners mixing it up with some ordinary errors. I can see this one being over in about ten more minutes or so...

How does he play? probably well but am not watching...for once.

The French guy probably lacks the experience of those kind of moments.

all over, Federer played well without ever being particularly brilliant, his opponent was pretty ordinary TBH didn't really have a serve which doesn't help; Federer's serving was good in the last two sets at least (didn't see the first).

Federer is looking in good form. The backhand is looking much more tidy.

Ferrer is looking awesome. He is really making Benneteau look very ordinary.

gallery play wrote:Federer cruising, the second set lasted 22 minutes. That's short, even by his standard

I've seen Nadal take almost that long to win a game without going to deuce!

Three sit-downs in there too, meaning I guess he didn't lose many points and the other guy got on with the game.

I like the way Fed has played these first two rounds, seems to be able to hit through the court with much more ease. I can't wait for the Novak match later today, Hanescu shoud be a pretty easy matchup. I think the baker will decide to show up again and dish out at least one set worth of bagels or breadsticks.

bogbrush wrote:

gallery play wrote:Federer cruising, the second set lasted 22 minutes. That's short, even by his standard

I've seen Nadal take almost that long to win a game without going to deuce!

BTW: i'm not watching either but every distinguished tennis forum requires a daily score thread during the slams, so..

Meanwhile Monfils prefers the hard way, like always. He's a break down in the second

Monfils should be so much better than he is. The guy plays sets were no one can touch him in terms of his power and athleticism. Then he goes on a walkabout and can't seem to find the court for a few games. I can't get over all the wasted potential he possesses.

Monfils should be more aggressive really, I think that's his main problem. He has brilliant athletic ability (IMO the best pure athlete on tour if that makes sense) but relies too heavily on it. Also he's guilty of drifting out of matches at times, his second set today was dire and he looked uninterested out there.

Ferrer looked really good today I thought. He's in Federer's quarter right, Can anyone see him pulling something special out of the bag?

MFC it will be a good match if Ferrer and Federer meet. Both are looking in good nick.

Ferrer should be a better draw than the Sod last year in the quarters. Ferrer usually brings the best out of Federer..

Decent start by Hanescu. He's held his first two service games comfortably, Djokovic also holding pretty easily and it's 2-2 in the first set.

Hanescu is serving well. Let's see how long he can keep this up.

Unfortunately Hanescu has now decided not to bother hitting the ball into the court anymore, must have made at least half a dozen UE from 40-0 up in the previous game. Djokovic will cruise through here, Hanescu doesn't have the weapons to hurt the really good players...

It is rather lackluster stuff from Hanescu. Very dissapointing

That's the problem against those physical players. You can compete more or less the first set but difficult to sustain the sharp level for long and then you tire and the mind goes with it. This has clearly been the winning trend for Rafa, Djoko and Murray. Tough first sets then it gets easier. Only those 3 can fight toe to toe between themsleves over the distance.

Then again, have just looked up Hanescu's stats against the top 4.

vs Murray: 0-2, both two set thrashings on clay (his strongest surface)
vs Federer: 0-5, has won one set, on hard, a couple more sets went to tie breaks (three of the matches were best of five)
vs Djokovic (before today): 0-5, he's actually won two sets, including one at RG last year.
vs Nadal: 0-4, all straight set wins, three on clay, one tie break.

Not exactly stellar is it? There's a reason he's never been ranked above 26 in the world, it's because he's simply not good enough to beat the world's best players. It's why I find comments such as "We're witnessing a very special player." from the BBC live text a bit annoying. Beating Hanescu 6-4 6-1 is not "very special", it's fairly standard for a top player, and just what you need early on in a slam.

Hanescu retires at 3-2 in the third set, maybe it was more serious than we first thought. Never a good way to go. And now we get this gem from Sam Smith "The locker room will be taking note of this. No-one wants to face Hanescu in the early rounds and Djokovic has taken him apart today." And these people are paid to say rubbish like this, disappointing...

Who thinks Delpo will win against Djokovic?

I am unsure about it. Djoko has always had a great result against Delpo but on clay and with those balls, on either slow clay or fast clay (~weather), I think Delpo has a very good chance to win actually.

I think he could win Tenez, but probably won't. Just think Djokovic is playing a little too well at the mo for Del Po, who's still on his way back from injury. I think it will be a test though, don't be surprised to see Djokovic dropping a set (or two)

Delpo will blast Djokovic off the court.

Delpo is a far superior clay court player.

I think Delpo will struggle with Djoko's pace....but it shoudl be an interesting match!

Tenez wrote:I think Delpo will struggle with Djoko's pace....but it shoudl be an interesting match!

If Delpo gets his serve and forehand working, he's got too much for Djokovic.

Delpo can punch through Djokovic's defense.

This will be a brilliant match up. I fancy Djokovic in 4.

Delpo can punch through Djokovic's defense..
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Maybe but he never did!

Tenez wrote:Delpo can punch through Djokovic's defense..
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Maybe but he never did!

First time for everything my friend.

Federer had never lost to Delpo or a championship match at US Open until 2009...

Del Po in my mind will be a big scare match for Novak. I also think it will go 4 or 5 very difficult sets. The thing that he can do that Rafa hasn't been able to do lately is hit flat, early, hard, and deep and take time away from Novak's big western grip forehand. Plus he serves so well that it shouldn't be as easy for Novak to constantly break him. However, I think Novak will win, in the past he has done well against del Potro. Right now he is a better player and more in form as Del Po seems to be struggling a bit with physical issues. Although he has looked real good in his first two rounds.

Tenez wrote:Who thinks Delpo will win against Djokovic?

I am unsure about it. Djoko has always had a great result against Delpo but on clay and with those balls, on either slow clay or fast clay (~weather), I think Delpo has a very good chance to win actually.

I for one dont.

Why - Because he recovering from a wrist injury with a near twelve months without playing and this surface and Novaks hard hitting isn't going to be doing it any favours.

However lets hope for a good entertaining match but if Novak is going to lose that unbeaten run I would hope it might be in the final at least.

sonic_boom10 wrote:

Tenez wrote:Delpo can punch through Djokovic's defense..
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Maybe but he never did!

First time for everything my friend.

Federer had never lost to Delpo or a championship match at US Open until 2009...

I actually think it was Djoko that beat Federer in that USO, not Delpo. Well the stupid US schedule rather. It's the tough 3 setters Fed had v Djoko that saw him drop form in set 2 and 5.

Here I have to agree with Tenez, this ridiculous super saturday line up at the US open greatly disadvantages the player who has the night semi. A late night match in the semi requires a player to come back the very next day with just a few hours of rest and play another 5 set match. I would be interested to see the winning percentage of the player who plays first on saturday since they went to this lineup where the men play their semis on saturday and the final on sunday. I don't know if that is the reason he lost, but it certainly did him no favors.

I saw last night the first 2 sets of the Federer v Teixera match and it's quite funny how the French guy reminded me Djokovic. Of course a weaker, shorter version but same game, same running and same shouting while hitting the ball....fortunately for Federer different result than his previousencounters with Djoko.

yeah super saturday is silly, but hey that's the US for you, TV rights rule.

Super Saturday has always been mad. Never understood the point of it.

I refer you to my previous post legendkillar

Murray up in a minute MFC

Super Sat was a stupid thing in the 80s cause tennis was already pretty physical but now it's plain absurd.

It's like giving a 50m head in a 100m race.

But I have the feeling it might be different this year as they just realise it's killing the final prospect!

Tenez, it makes no difference what the players or the fans care for, CBS pays tens of millions to cover the US open in the USA and they want the feature matches to fall on a weekend so that they get the biggest ratings and therefore the biggest advertising revenue possible.

Cannot believe how empty Phillipe Chartier is!

socal1976 wrote:Tenez, it makes no difference what the players or the fans care for, CBS pays tens of millions to cover the US open in the USA and they want the feature matches to fall on a weekend so that they get the biggest ratings and therefore the biggest advertising revenue possible.

Yes but if the finals keep being a damp squib, then the audience will drop and you are also wrong as usual cause the ATP and players can certainly put pressure on the USO. If they decide to boycott it and end up with a Teixera v Granollers Final, you will see the audience! Of course it won;t come to that but the ATP has got some power.

I think it will fill up legendkillar, I expect a few have gone out to grab a bite to eat between matches... Just a few more minutes warm-up, then we're good to go

Murray in 3. Come on Andy.

Murray to serve, here we go...

Hmm not a great start from Murray. Couple of lucky net chords give Bolleli a break point, which Murray saves with an ace. He has to save another, which he does with a heavy serve, before more big serving allows him to hold.

very poor start from Murray, he's doing nothing with the ball and his second DF of the game eventually gives Bolleli the break. More worryingly he seems to be feeling his elbow

Guys, this is day 5