ibbi
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Post by ibbi on May 31, 2022 15:31:15 GMT
To me, picking Nadal in these conditions is like believing in God. You just believe, because... The changes that have been introduced to Roland Garros over the last couple of years I would liken to changes in other sports over the years (what the NBA did to Shaq 20 years ago, what baseball has been doing to pitchers for 100 years, etc.) to limit the ability to defend (this after tennis was the one major sport about 20 years ago to really embrace that) obviously most of these decisions (playing in October in 2020, putting a roof on Chatrier, lights so you can have night matches) have not been implemented specifically to take Nadal down (though the different balls they tried using in both 2011 and 2020 certainly were) but add them all together and that's the impact they have. After 13 fucking titles it's tough not to just shrug, and say "Fair enough". Nadal is a great matchup for Djokovic anyway, but on clay under the sun with the ridiculous pop Nadal's topspin gets the matchup is massively neutralized. Under the lights that is largely negated, you add on that Nadal is not serving very well and Djokovic with his return can obviously jump all over that, that he's spraying errors off his backhand side just in general, and that he was pushed to five sets a couple of days ago while Djokovic is yet to drop a set (physically that obviously helps, but he's not dropped a set since the beginning of Rome, he's playing very well) and everything really does point Novak's way. That said, plenty of the same was true when they played here in 2020, and it made no difference. That day you were given a reason to just believe regardless of all logic. Can miracles strike in the same place twice in three years? Rafa already managed one in Melbourne this year, it seems greedy to expect him to pull off another, especially with the fatalistic-ish talk about this maybe being his last rodeo. Anyway, it seems like it'll be something to see  Do not go gentle into that good night, etc. |
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Post by pupdurcs on May 31, 2022 18:09:27 GMT
Welp...I was 100% right that Alcaraz wasn't ready for the 5 set format, losing his quarter-final match to of all people Zverev, who finally records his first victory over a top 10 opponent in a Grand Slam. The breaks definitely need to be pumped on the Alcaraz hype. Great young player, but he is not what Nadal (for example) was at the same age.
As I said, the Nadal/Djokovic quarter final is the defacto final. Whoever wins that, should win the tournament easily.
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Post by themoviesinner on May 31, 2022 18:25:51 GMT
Welp...I was 100% right that Alcaraz wasn't ready for the 5 set format, losing his quarter-final match to of all people Zverev, who finally records his first victory over a top 10 opponent in a Grand Slam. The breaks definitely need to be pumped on the Alcaraz hype. Great young player, but he is not what Nadal (for example) was at the same age. I think Alcaraz played well, but Zverev gave his best Grand Slam performance in a very long time. He was actually very calm and focused for once and reduced his usual boneheaded unforced errors to a minimum. If Zverev plays like this in the semifinal as well he will probably give Nadal/Djokovic a lot of trouble. But I think he will regress to his usual nervous self. |
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Post by pacinoyes on May 31, 2022 21:21:09 GMT
Djoko would stay out there for 24 hours if he had to - he's a major lunatic ......I'm not even talking about playing good tennis - just daring his opponent to last .......greatest returner of all time without question .......1-1 in 2 hours 15 minutes.......yikes
I'm ordering pizza.......
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Post by pupdurcs on May 31, 2022 23:16:30 GMT
Satan  ....I mean, The GOAT defeats the Serb in 4 sets. The only way Djokovic beats Nadal at Roland Garros is if he is injured and/or in terrible form. Correct result. Time for the GOAT to collect slam #22
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ibbi
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Post by ibbi on May 31, 2022 23:17:19 GMT
God is real.
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Post by pupdurcs on May 31, 2022 23:24:16 GMT
To be fair, I thought your pre-match analysis was extremely silly, which is why I didn't comment on it, because expected it to bite you in the ass with the result of the match. Nadal didn't need "God" or a "Miracle " to defeat Djokovic on Phillipe Chartier. He's a fucking 13 time champion of the event. All Nadal needed was his foot/body to not break down. After the match with FAA, he had all the matchplay he needed and remains the greatest claycourt player in the world when fit. Rafa whining about night time conditions is just kidoligy and him being superstitious .He prefers daytime because he's a creature of habit, but when fit he's still the best player in the world on Clay at day, night or in snow. We saw that with the 2020 final. |
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Post by pacinoyes on May 31, 2022 23:30:07 GMT
Pretty much Baldzabulb doing that black magic stuff and fighting off a set point in the 4th to end it - there's just no beating him in this tournament unless you get every break and you ain't getting every break when you commit FIFTY unforced errors  ...... - I never felt Djoko was in control or winning even after the 2nd set tbh ....really can't see Zverev winning a set on him either.... |
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ibbi
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Post by ibbi on May 31, 2022 23:31:33 GMT
To be fair, I thought your pre-match analysis was extremely silly, which is why I didn't comment on it, because expected it to bite you in the ass with the result of the match. Nadal didn't need "God" or a "Miracle " to defeat Djokovic on Phillipe Chartier. He's a fucking 13 time champion of the event. All Nadal needed was his foot/body to not break down. After the match with FAA, he had all the matchplay he needed and remains the greatest claycourt player in the world when fit. Rafa whining about night time conditions is just kidoligy and him being superstitious .He prefers daytime because he's a creature of habit, but when fit he's still the best player in the world on Clay at day, night or in snow. We saw that with the 2020 final.  |
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Post by pupdurcs on May 31, 2022 23:35:58 GMT
To be fair, I thought your pre-match analysis was extremely silly, which is why I didn't comment on it, because expected it to bite you in the ass with the result of the match. Nadal didn't need "God" or a "Miracle " to defeat Djokovic on Phillipe Chartier. He's a fucking 13 time champion of the event. All Nadal needed was his foot/body to not break down. After the match with FAA, he had all the matchplay he needed and remains the greatest claycourt player in the world when fit. Rafa whining about night time conditions is just kidoligy and him being superstitious .He prefers daytime because he's a creature of habit, but when fit he's still the best player in the world on Clay at day, night or in snow. We saw that with the 2020 final. Hey, you built up a theory in your mind and were proven wrong. Shit happens . Djokovic has never beaten a Nadal in top form and fitness at Roland Garros. Nadal was seriously comprimised in both 2015 and 2021. It's actually Djokovic that needs "God" and a miracle to beat Nadal at this event, and that miracle is Nadal usually being injured or in terrible form. No matter the conditions, if Nadal is fit and in good form, he is always the favorite against Djokovic at Roland Garros. It is what is is. |
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ibbi
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Post by ibbi on May 31, 2022 23:50:43 GMT
Hey, you built up a theory in your mind and were proven wrong. Shit happens . Djokovic has never beaten a Nadal in top form and fitness at Roland Garros. Nadal was seriously comprimised in both 2015 and 2021. It's actually Djokovic that needs "God" and a miracle to beat Nadal at this event, and that miracle is Nadal usually being injured or in terrible form. No matter the conditions, if Nadal is fit and in good form, he is always the favorite against Djokovic at Roland Garros. It is what is is. Me and every other rational thinking person on the planet, yes. This is not really something worth arguing about. The only one of his 13 championships comparable to this one was the one in 2020. The rest are irrelevant, because the differences on clay in the day and at night are... Well, night and day As I said before, thinking Nadal was going to win this match, in this year, in these conditions, against this player, after the last match he played because he won championships here in 2005/6/7/8/10/11/12/13/14/17/18/19 is literally the same as believing in god. There is no reason in it. The list of clay matches he's played at night in Rome and Madrid over the years is comparatively small, but you can see how much more he struggled in those conditions clear as day. |
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Post by pupdurcs on Jun 1, 2022 0:03:25 GMT
Hey, you built up a theory in your mind and were proven wrong. Shit happens . Djokovic has never beaten a Nadal in top form and fitness at Roland Garros. Nadal was seriously comprimised in both 2015 and 2021. It's actually Djokovic that needs "God" and a miracle to beat Nadal at this event, and that miracle is Nadal usually being injured or in terrible form. No matter the conditions, if Nadal is fit and in good form, he is always the favorite against Djokovic at Roland Garros. It is what is is. Me and every other rational thinking person on the planet, yes. This is not really something worth arguing about. The only one of his 13 championships comparable to this one was the one in 2020. The rest are irrelevant, because the differences on clay in the day and at night are... Well, night and day As I said before, thinking Nadal was going to win this match, in this year, in these conditions, against this player, after the last match he played because he won championships here in 2005/6/7/8/10/11/12/13/14/17/18/19 is literally the same as believing in god. There is no reason in it. The list of clay matches he's played at night in Rome and Madrid over the years is comparatively small, but you can see how much more he struggled in those conditions clear as day. You aren't taking being wrong very well. People fall for Rafa's superstitious kidoligy every fucking time. He exaggerates how much different conditions at Roland Garros affect his game because he is superstitious. It's the same shit he does with his water bottles. "Rational People" keep falling for it. The conditions on Clay at Roland Garros don't fucking matter. He's now proven that in 2020 and 2022 against the 2nd best player of all-time and the 2nd best clay court player of his generation. The only variable that matters when it comes to Roland Garros for Nadal, is his fitness and form. I already said that after his match with FAA, Rafa was ready for the challenge of Novak and wouldn't have any excuses if he lost. And I was right. |
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ibbi
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Post by ibbi on Jun 1, 2022 0:23:02 GMT
Me and every other rational thinking person on the planet, yes. This is not really something worth arguing about. The only one of his 13 championships comparable to this one was the one in 2020. The rest are irrelevant, because the differences on clay in the day and at night are... Well, night and day As I said before, thinking Nadal was going to win this match, in this year, in these conditions, against this player, after the last match he played because he won championships here in 2005/6/7/8/10/11/12/13/14/17/18/19 is literally the same as believing in god. There is no reason in it. The list of clay matches he's played at night in Rome and Madrid over the years is comparatively small, but you can see how much more he struggled in those conditions clear as day. You aren't taking being wrong very well. People fall for Rafa's superstitious kidoligy every fucking time. He exaggerates how much different conditions at Roland Garros affect his game because he is superstitious. It's the same shit he does with his water bottles. "Rational People" keep falling for it. The conditions on Clay at Roland Garros don't fucking matter. He's now proven that in 2020 and 2022 against the 2nd best player of all-time and the 2nd best clay court player of his generation. The only variable that matters when it comes to Roland Garros for Nadal, is his fitness and form. I already said that after his match with FAA, Rafa was ready for the challenge of Novak and wouldn't have any excuses if he lost. And I was right. I’m actually taking wrong REALLY well, which is exactly why I have no interest in arguing over the logically thought out specifics of something I wrote hours ago that is now completely irrelevant. I know you love talking down to people, but in this is instance you’re not being clever, you’re just being another one of those comically dense superfans that think your hero is god almighty. I didn’t base what I said on press conference answers, I based it on watching him play tennis for 17 years. It’s easy to sit here after the fact and talk about how he’s now proven the conditions don’t matter twice, but I wrote what I wrote before the match when they were 1 and 1 in crappy weather matches here. I know you can make the injury argument for last year, because you’ll choose to believe his kidology when it suits you and not when it doesn’t, but again, he’s played many night matches on clay and he always struggles far more in those conditions. Couple that with the fact that Djokovic is pretty much the untouchable best player in the world after dark too. These things matter. When he overcomes them it’s just further proof of his ridiculous greatness. Nothing about that was easy, nothing about it should have been taken for granted. |
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Post by pupdurcs on Jun 1, 2022 0:26:41 GMT
You aren't taking being wrong very well. People fall for Rafa's superstitious kidoligy every fucking time. He exaggerates how much different conditions at Roland Garros affect his game because he is superstitious. It's the same shit he does with his water bottles. "Rational People" keep falling for it. The conditions on Clay at Roland Garros don't fucking matter. He's now proven that in 2020 and 2022 against the 2nd best player of all-time and the 2nd best clay court player of his generation. The only variable that matters when it comes to Roland Garros for Nadal, is his fitness and form. I already said that after his match with FAA, Rafa was ready for the challenge of Novak and wouldn't have any excuses if he lost. And I was right. I’m actually taking wrong REALLY well, which is exactly why I have no interest in arguing over the logically thought out specifics of something I wrote hours ago that is now completely irrelevant. I know you love talking down to people, but in this is instance you’re not being clever, you’re just being another one of those comically dense superfans that think your hero is god almighty. I didn’t base what I said on press conference answers, I based it on watching him play tennis for 17 years. It’s easy to sit here after the fact and talk about how he’s now proven the conditions don’t matter twice, but I wrote what I wrote before the match when they were 1 and 1 in crappy weather matches here. I know you can make the injury argument for last year, because you’ll choose to believe his kidology when it suits you and not when it doesn’t, but again, he’s played many night matches on clay and he always struggles far more in those conditions. Couple that with the fact that Djokovic is pretty much the untouchable best player in the world after dark too. These things matter. When he overcomes them it’s just further proof of his ridiculous greatness. Nothing about that was easy, nothing about it should have been taken for granted. Meow Appreciate the ad homenim personal insults. All I did was disagree with you. I'm not taking anything for granted. I just thought your pre-match analysis was shit (and I've watched tennis longer than you). Move on and take the L. I don't need a novel telling me why you really weren't wrong. |
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Post by futuretrunks on Jun 1, 2022 0:49:02 GMT
I actually hope Rune wins this whole thing. Rafa winning this tournament this much is too crazy. |
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ibbi
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Post by ibbi on Jun 1, 2022 0:51:26 GMT
I’m actually taking wrong REALLY well, which is exactly why I have no interest in arguing over the logically thought out specifics of something I wrote hours ago that is now completely irrelevant. I know you love talking down to people, but in this is instance you’re not being clever, you’re just being another one of those comically dense superfans that think your hero is god almighty. I didn’t base what I said on press conference answers, I based it on watching him play tennis for 17 years. It’s easy to sit here after the fact and talk about how he’s now proven the conditions don’t matter twice, but I wrote what I wrote before the match when they were 1 and 1 in crappy weather matches here. I know you can make the injury argument for last year, because you’ll choose to believe his kidology when it suits you and not when it doesn’t, but again, he’s played many night matches on clay and he always struggles far more in those conditions. Couple that with the fact that Djokovic is pretty much the untouchable best player in the world after dark too. These things matter. When he overcomes them it’s just further proof of his ridiculous greatness. Nothing about that was easy, nothing about it should have been taken for granted. Meow Appreciate the ad homenim personal insults. All I did was disagree with you. I'm not taking anything for granted. I just thought your pre-match analysis was shit (and I've watched tennis longer than you). Move on and take the L. I don't need a novel telling me why you really weren't wrong. No, you did not just disagree with me, you were being a condescending prick, as is your act, I get it. You’ll deny, of course, but I can read what you wrote clear so I’m just giving it back to you. See here how you’re trying to blow someone off and you still can’t resist the “I’ve watched tennis longer than you” like some kind of child in a dick measuring contest Keep playing the innocence card, I’m sure someone who reads this will go for it. |
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Post by pupdurcs on Jun 1, 2022 0:51:56 GMT
I actually hope Rune wins this whole thing. Rafa winning this tournament this much is too crazy. If Nadal wins this title, he'll have as many French Open titles as Pete Sampras has Grand Slams  . And 20 years ago, Sampras was the consensus tennis GOAT in most circles. Crazy! |
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Post by pupdurcs on Jun 1, 2022 0:53:34 GMT
Meow Appreciate the ad homenim personal insults. All I did was disagree with you. I'm not taking anything for granted. I just thought your pre-match analysis was shit (and I've watched tennis longer than you). Move on and take the L. I don't need a novel telling me why you really weren't wrong. No, you did not just disagree with me, you were being a condescending prick, as is your act, I get it. You’ll deny, of course, but I can read what you wrote clear so I’m just giving it back to you. See here how you’re trying to blow someone off and you still can’t resist the “I’ve watched tennis longer than you” like some kind of child in a dick measuring contest Keep playing the innocence card, I’m sure someone who reads this will go for it. It ain't that deep bro |
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ibbi
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Post by ibbi on Jun 1, 2022 0:55:18 GMT
I actually hope Rune wins this whole thing. Rafa winning this tournament this much is too crazy. It’ll be pretty crazy whoever comes through that bottom half. Pulling for Rune too, but would love to see Cilic get it also and complete the set of finals. If he plays at his best, which is a very big ask to begin with, he’s the one probably most likely to trouble Rafa if he gets there. |
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Post by pupdurcs on Jun 1, 2022 1:01:14 GMT
Rune ain't winning shit . He's talented, and may win slams one day, but he was running on fumes at the end of his 4 set match with Tsitsipas. Had it gone to a 5th, I think he'd have run out of gas and lost to the Greek. I don't think he's physically ready to win the French Open, especially if he has to face Nadal in the final. He needs to develop his strength & stamina a bit more Shit, if somehow Zverev overcomes Nadal in the semis, I think he beats Rune comfortably. Anyway, can't see Nadal losing from this point. He's dialled in and his most dangerous opponents are gone.
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ibbi
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Post by ibbi on Jun 1, 2022 1:03:00 GMT
Pretty much Baldzabulb doing that black magic stuff and fighting off a set point in the 4th to end it - there's just no beating him in this tournament unless you get every break and you ain't getting every break when you commit FIFTY unforced errors ...... - I never felt Djoko was in control or winning even after the 2nd set tbh ....really can't see Zverev winning a set on him either.... The dude just looked gassed at the end. Zverev might piss his pants, but he at least isn’t going to get tired if Rafa gives him the run around like he did to Novak in the first set. |
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Post by themoviesinner on Jun 1, 2022 6:00:42 GMT
The Nadal - Djokovic quarterfinal was very up and down, but a pretty high quality match as well. Nadal in the first set and until 3-0 in the second was scary, playing some of his best tennis in quite some time. Djokovic didn't have any answers. But Nadal, naturally, couldn't keep that high level for long, so Djokovic managed to win the second set in the end. The Serb was atrocious in the third set, despite having the momentum, so Nadal won it easily without doing much. In the fouth set Nadal looked quite sluggish, as he was against Aliassime and it looked like Djokovic had it in the bag, but then he produced one of the biggest chokejobs of a Grand Slam quaterfinal, becoming an unforced error machine while serving for the set. Nadal, with some clutch play in crucial moments, snatched the opportunity and is now on to the semifinal. Can the Spaniard win his #22? Most definitely.  |
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Post by pacinoyes on Jun 1, 2022 15:38:30 GMT
Świątek wins her 33 in a row - if she wins out she'll tie Venus Wlliams for 35 straight since 2000 (there are A LOT longer streaks - mostly held by Navratilova pre-2000s).......where have you gone Ash Barty........ Nadal plays his semi-final match on his 36th B-day against Zverev...... 
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ibbi
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Post by ibbi on Jun 1, 2022 19:01:00 GMT
Nice company the big fella moves into:
THE OPEN ERA SEMI FINAL CLUB
* = played all 4 finals.
**= won all 4.
Rod Laver**
RG68, W68, AO69, US69
Tony Roche
W68, AO69, RG69, US69
Ken Rosewall*
RG68, US68, W70, AO71
Tom Okker
US68, RG69, AO71, W78
Jimmy Connors
AO74, W74, US74, RG79
Vitas Gerulaitis
W77, AO77, US78, RG79
Ivan Lendl*
RG81, US82, AO83, W83
John McEnroe
W77, US78, AO83, RG84
Miloslav Mečíř
US86, RG87, W88, AO89
Stefan Edberg*
AO85, US86, W87, RG89
Boris Becker
W85, US86, RG87, AO91
Jim Courier*
RG91, US90, AO92, W93
Michael Stich
RG91, W91, AO93, US94
Andre Agassi**
RG88, US88, W92, AO95
Pete Sampras
US90, W92, AO93, RG96
Pat Rafter
RG97, US97, W99, AO01
Roger Federer**
W03, AO04, US04, RG05
David Nalbandian
W02, US03, RG04, AO06
Marat Safin
US00, AO02, RG02, W08
Novak Djokovic**
RG07, W07, US07, AO08
Rafael Nadal**
RG05, W06, AO08, US08
Andy Murray*
US08, W09 AO10, RG11
Tomas Berdych
RG10, W10, US12, AO14
Marin Cilic
AO10, US14, W17, RG22
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Post by pupdurcs on Jun 2, 2022 2:44:39 GMT
Like I said, Rune ain't winning shit. Good run for the kid, but he clearly wasn't ready to win a slam, going down to Casper Ruud (who ironically trains out of the Rafa Nadal Academy).
I don't see anyone left in the draw stopping Nadal, unless Zverev plays the match of his life and Nadal physically breaks down.
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Do not go gentle into that good night, etc.
....I mean, The GOAT defeats the Serb in 4 sets. The only way Djokovic beats Nadal at Roland Garros is if he is injured and/or in terrible form. Correct result. Time for the GOAT to collect slam #22
...... - I never felt Djoko was in control or winning even after the 2nd set tbh ....really can't see Zverev winning a set on him either....
. And 20 years ago, Sampras was the consensus tennis GOAT in most circles. Crazy! 