Mana Games

[btaylor]

Beg pardon, Leena...I forgot that Dr. Ivo is your MD of choice...

Did you see my question about Solarisaint's courts, or do just prefer not to answer it?
If so, I'll not bother you about it again...

[Leena]

I have to defend my boy, Ivo.

Richou is excused because I rag on his favorite player on a daily basis. I don't know what to do for the next 2 years.

I keep forgetting about the courts... I've tried them today, and they play well.

[K Z]

oh yeah , Now we can say that there is a little suspens before Roland Garros , federer's still able to beat Nadal , even if Nadal has played the day before a match of more than 4hours
Go roger , U are a great champion , U can do it !

[btaylor]

How strange...

When Roger lost to Rafa in the Australian Open final, no one said "Weary Rafa tops Federer in five set thriller"...even though Rafa and Verdasco had an equal, if not even MORE physically taxing semi the day before than the Madrid semi against Novak..

By the same token, had Nadal beat Federer today, I doubt that the headlines would have read "Weary Nadal turns back Federer in Madrid"...more likely, "Rafa the Great still undefeated on clay"

One of today's headlines read "Federer stuns a 'weary' Nadal"...

When the tables are turned it seems that whenever Rafa loses, it's because he's "weary"...
Conversely, when Federer loses he's "out of sorts" or simply "making too many unforced errors"
(Talk about "favoritism" )

Maybe Rafa should find a way to play that doesn't require "marathon" running "helter-skelter" all over the place... since it "tires" him so...

[manutoo]

btaylor, I watched the 2nd set of the final, and Nadal was clearly tired, missing plenty of backhands he would almost never miss...
But it shows that if Nadal is not as his top, then Fed can beat him almost easily. Hopefully, it'll put a bit of pressure on Nadal shoulders in their next match...

[Togtdyalttai]

In my opinion, this match today means absolutely nothing. Nadal was obviously tired, yes. But the major factor was the altitude. Nadal definitely doesn't like it, and he wasn't playing his best this week at any time really. I know he'll play much better in Roland Garros.

[btaylor]

OK, OK... he was "tired"....but it's good to see that it's possible that he CAN get tired (energizer bunny that he is )
I've watched the very best atheletes in virtually EVERY sport over the years, and I've NEVER, EVER seen ANYONE exert the energy that HE does...

Granted, he's in phenominal physical shape, but so were/are a hellova lot of other great atheletes...and they ALL got/get physically spent more often than HE does....

In so far as tennis goes, virtually ALL of the great champions had the tendency to "play the score", meaning that SOME balls they simply "gave up" on to conserve energy for the NEXT point or game (which is only common sense)...but NOT Nadal...
Like I said before, maybe he should learn to play a less "tiresome" game (ultimately, maybe it was his preferred "style of play" that led to him losing today)
I guess it's more or less a case of "live by the sword, die by the sword"

Most times he appears utterly "cyborgian"...the man's "will" is virtually UNRIVALED...(sometimes I really wonder how he is able to pull it off....)

TOG,
I think it means "absolutely something" to Federer and HIS fans, but then again you did say in YOUR opinion...
It ALSO means a "Masters Series Shield", his 1st title this year, snapping Rafa"s streak twice, AND it's a win against Nadal ON clay, AT home IN Spain...(ALL significant acheivements)
Granted, it may not guarantee a French title, but I'm sure he'll take what he can get...

Speaking of the "altitude", I'm sure most of the players have a surface or whatever conditions that they "don't like" either, but I'm afraid that "that's tennis" (either you make the adjustments or...)

Interesting side note: of the last 3 players to beat Nadal on clay in the last 3 years, 2 of them have had 1 handed backhands...
(Federer & Gaudio)

[sureideas]

Roger is going to beat him this time , no doubt about it.

[K Z]

Well , even if I really like Roger , I think that rafa was just very tired after his match against Novak , It happened two years ago in Hambourg when Roger defeated Nadal 2-6 6-2 6-0 , But He couldn't do anything in the final in Roland Garros .
So of course I hope that Roger will beat him but Frankly , I advice u not to count on it

[TTennisfan]

Roger will win RG, 14 GS same as Sampras go at Wimbledon break that record

[Santiago92]

Well , even if I really like Roger , I think that rafa was just very tired after his match against Novak , It happened two years ago in Hambourg when Roger defeated Nadal 2-6 6-2 6-0 , But He couldn't do anything in the final in Roland Garros .
So of course I hope that Roger will beat him but Frankly , I advice u not to count on it

Federer had 17 break points in the final of RG 2007, he could do something...

[Leena]

Roger is going to beat him this time , no doubt about it.

Lulz. I'm enjoying the Fed fans for the next 2 weeks.

[Togtdyalttai]

Just wait till he loses to Djokovic or whoever and fails to even reach Nadal.

[Leena]

I hope Nole is in Roger's half, so we can have some drama in the 2nd weekend.

[btaylor]

Tog,

The French has yet to be played...
Nothing is 100% guaranteed in sports (I guess Nadal at the FO is as close as it gets ) that's why they play the game...
Maybe you'll get your "wish", maybe not.....