Weeks 3/4 - Australian Open - R5: Andy vs Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Count Zero · Tennis legend

RE: Weeks 3/4 - Australian Open - R5: Andy vs Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Can I relax now?

The knee certainly didn't seem to be bothering Rafa in the first set at all, he was moving incredibly well (too well at times, darn him), so I'm glad Andy won that set fairand square. I thought Andy played really well, the way we know he can and always hope he will. The match finishing early should hopefully prevent the "flat" next match that we have come to dread.

Revenge for USO 09 now please Andy!

-- Edited by Madeline on Tuesday 26th of January 2010 12:11:30 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, the interviews with Laura in Perth and here will show up pretty well.

Really great match from Andy. Generally just the right amount of aggresion, I heard in his post match interview him saying that he thought early on he went for too much, but to me the important thing is he came out with the right mindset.

Was slightly worried early on in the second set when I felt he did dip a bit or in a way just couldn't get going as much as he would like, and he was more just managing to hold in there. Didn't agree with the commentators in that sense that he never dipped, but hey only for a short time, and all's relative. Looked generally much better in the second set post fireworks even though he was immediately broken. At least breaking back so quickly saved us from the commentators going on about it's the fireworks that dun it.

Served really well when it mattered, well served well full stop really and I was actually taken aback by his second serve performance both speed ( average 152 KMH to Rafa's 143 KMH ) when it is usually one of the slowest averages and can sit up too much, and accuracy in placement with only one DF throughout the match.

Gawd, Andy didn't leave me much on my normal twin worries of service and focus smile

Pity Rafa retired but probably wise, and like the commentators I felt there was going to be a fair chance of that if Andy went 3 - 0 up. Maybe he didn't absolutely have to retire at that point, but in the situation was probably wise to not risk any more. I wouldn't hold that against Rafa in any way, he's a great competitor and I hope he's fit again reasonably soon. And it takes nothing away from Andy who went 2 sets up against a pretty fit looking Rafa.

More of the same vs Cilic please smile

And yes, having played 14 sets and 3 games ( though maybe should count an extra set when playing Rafa ) so far to Cilic's 22 sets he should be fresher for that, and bottom half has an extra day between the semi and the final.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 26th of January 2010 01:21:47 PM

S&V · Club Coach

Just woke up to this, great win.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

I'll take what happened all day long. Both at a high level for two sets with Murray coming out on top then Murray gets rest before Thursday.

airsmashers · County player

Really enjoyed the quality of the first two sets and if Andy plays like he did it will take a spectacular effort from Cilic to stop Andy getting to the final.

-- Edited by airsmashers on Tuesday 26th of January 2010 03:15:28 PM

airsmashers · County player

Andy now joins Tim as the only British man in the modern era to reach semi-finals at three different Grand Slam championships

zarrafak · Lower Club Player

With Del Potro and Roddick falling away, that 'tough draw' so far seems to have worked out well for Andy. The match scheduling has also worked out perfectly so far. Either way I can't imagine the Cilic match will be the longest either. Fed vs Davydenko on the other hand could be a real energy sapper, and then probably the same against Djoko.
With 2 and then likely 3 days between matches it's nothing like the match jam in Andy's 2008 US Open run.

-- Edited by zarrafak on Tuesday 26th of January 2010 05:18:24 PM

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

A good performance rather than a great one. First serve percentage slightly lower than I hoped for and 2nd serve looked unconvincing at times. Serve and volley worked well, backhand crosscourt was effective but not as brutal as it has been in the past. A few moments when he let Nadal take control of the points but on the whole he did a reasonable job of dictating the play. Got it together quickly after misfiring on the resumption after the fireworks.

Didn't think either player was quite at the top of their game so it wasn't as amazing a contest as it might have been, though Nadal did pull out some super tennis to fight off those break points deep in the 2nd set.

-- Edited by kundalini on Tuesday 26th of January 2010 05:56:28 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

zarrafak wrote:

With 2 and then likely 3 days between matches it's nothing like the match jam in Andy's 2008 US Open run.

And with the RLA roof, the schedule is really set in stone now. Not at risk to the elements or the US Open folk's inability to move soon enough an important match when they seemed the only ones east of the Mississippi initially unaware that the remnants of a hurricane were heading for New York ( re Andy's semi v Nadal ! ) The US Open schedule is so crap anyway even when the matches are played when they should be.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 26th of January 2010 06:30:36 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

Andy produced a 9/10 performance and will beat Cilic to make the final. I think it could easily be straight sets and thus dare I say it leave him with too much time to prepare for the final. I hope those 2 days off don't prove a hindrance.

indiana · Tennis legend

Love it. I wonder what the ideal preparation time is

Seriously, I partly know what you mean, but we can't have it all ways. I think though he and his team should be able to manage this properly. I'll take a semi win and the leave them to it smile

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 26th of January 2010 08:13:17 PM