Week 35-36: US Open - Hard

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Week 35-36: US Open - Hard

RJA · Hall of fame

steven wrote:
Jan wrote:
Well you can only play (and hopefully beat) the player who's down the other end of the court. Strange things happen somethimes in tournaments, and it's not always the "expected" players who win through. I will be over the proverbial moon (in fact probably over the entire solar system) if Andy wins!
Yes, and always worth remembering that Fed, Rafa & Nole all won their first grand slams against players who hadn't won one themselves ... and indeed haven't won one since - Philippoussis, Puerta and Tsonga!

I don't think that playing Ferrer in the final would in anyway diminish what we all hope is Andy's first slam. He is the fourth seed for crying out loud so if Fed, Rafa and Nole's victories over unseeded players were not diminished it would be ridiculous to suggest that a Murray win against Ferrer would.

-- Edited by RJA on Sunday 9th of September 2012 01:39:46 PM

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Yes, I too will miss the start, as Monday is the one day where I am always out in the evening. I usually get back by about 10.15 so at least be able to see most of the match.

I only hope I can *see* most of it - that depends on whether I can find a livestream that works.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Madeline wrote:
Yes, I too will miss the start, as Monday is the one day where I am always out in the evening. I usually get back by about 10.15 so at least be able to see most of the match.

I only hope I can *see* most of it - that depends on whether I can find a livestream that works.

You could listen to the start of it on the radio as you're making your way home?

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

David Ferrer playing as if he were the world number 255 not the 5th ranked player. Can't get my head around just how bad he's been today. The last break consisted of Novak getting the serve back midcourt then Ferrer dumping a forehand in the net on his first groundstroke time after time.

Novak wins 2-6 6-1 6-4 6-2.

-- Edited by kundalini on Sunday 9th of September 2012 05:22:10 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

RJA wrote:
philwrig wrote:
Obviously wishing for a 4.5 hour epic tomorrow with Ferrer coming out on top.

Actually I really wouldn't want to see that. As desperate as I am to see Andy win a slam I would hate it to happen in a final where one player had been so obviously disadvantaged, especially a player in his first slam final as Ferrer would be.

In an ideal world I would like to see Andy beat a red hot Novak in five sets playing the best tennis of his life, but If I have a choice I'll just take any sort of win to give Andy his first slam. In five years time most people will just forget if it came with a big advantage, similar to when Roddick beat Ferrero for his only slam.

Jan · Hall of fame

Well you can only play (and hopefully beat) the player who's down the other end of the court. Strange things happen somethimes in tournaments, and it's not always the "expected" players who win through. I will be over the proverbial moon (in fact probably over the entire solar system) if Andy wins!

steven · Tennis legend

Jan wrote:
Well you can only play (and hopefully beat) the player who's down the other end of the court. Strange things happen somethimes in tournaments, and it's not always the "expected" players who win through. I will be over the proverbial moon (in fact probably over the entire solar system) if Andy wins!

Yes, and always worth remembering that Fed, Rafa & Nole all won their first grand slams against players who hadn't won one themselves ... and indeed haven't won one since - Philippoussis, Puerta and Tsonga!

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Ferrer putting on a shocking display today, error after error, seems intent on gifting breaks with a series of soft errors. Djokovic hitting some amazing shots with a few careless ones.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

You just have to love the Spanish commentators. Yesterday they were moaning about the game being stopped.

Today they are saying it should never have started yesterday, because if they had begun today at 0-0, Ferrer wouldn't be making so many errors !!

Work that one out.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

One way traffic now. Nole 2 sets to 1 up and a break in the first game of the 4th set.

indiana · Tennis legend

Well that evidently worked out well NOT, Novak winning in about as quick a time today as one could possibly have imagined confuse

Anyway, doubt he's too shattered by his err exertions. Anyway you still go and beat him, Andy

S&V · Club Coach

It starts at 4pm my time but I have taken the day off work, not a chance I could miss it for any reason. Already nervous.

Armchair · County player

Well with classic timing I'm on week one of a course tomorrow evening, agonising just agonising.

I'm glad Andy is playing Nole, because as much as I want Andy to win I want to see the best possible final and a match against Nole will certainly offer that.

And though I want to see Andy win, it's not at any cost like a retiral due to injury or illness. No really , erm nothing like that at all, honestly, I'd hate it...

RJA · Hall of fame

Armchair wrote:
Well with classic timing I'm on week one of a course tomorrow evening, agonising just agonising.

I'm glad Andy is playing Nole, because as much as I want Andy to win I want to see the best possible final and a match against Nole will certainly offer that.

And though I want to see Andy win, it's not at any cost like a retiral due to injury or illness. No really , erm nothing like that at all, honestly, I'd hate it...

I am with you Armchair. I am desperate, and I mean desperate to see Andy win a slam. The prospect of him being the first man in the open era to get to 5 finals and not win one is beyond horrifying. However I also want him to win the 'right way'. Think about it like this, Andy has never once bemoaned that he is playing in a great era, he has never asked for sympathy over the odds that he most over come and has always said that he simply has to work harder and get better in order to take the final step. That is a great attitude that should be an inspiration to any youngster playing the game. If his first win was to come as some kind of fluke what message would that send, work hard? get better? don't bother, just stay where you are and hope for a bit of luck, that one day your rivals would falter. Andy has worked too hard for his maiden slam for it be anything other than a win that no one can question, he deserves it to be really special.

All I ask from him him the final is that he gives his all and plays like he belives he can win, if he plays like he did against Novak in Australia and it isn't enough I can live with it. That match was the proudest I have ever been of Andy, more so than the Olympic final, if he plays like that and loses I will be gutted but proud of him.