Mana Games

[S.Williamz]

I really doubt Fed can win in Paris...it's just a huge task. He is doubtful to even reach the final, and if he can do that, he has to win 3 sets against Nadal on clay and conditions that favor Nadal more than in Madrid...and I'm sure Nadal elevates his game even more in Paris...Fed really needs a miracle. But it's still not impossible. lol

[btaylor]

No miracle is needed...

If Fed's 1st serve is "on", AND he can convert on a few timely service breaks, it COULD prove very interesting...

Although Nadal was supposedly "tired" in Hamburg and "tired" in Madrid,(whenever he loses he's "tired" ) let's not forget that Federer served much, much better in BOTH of those matches...AND exhibited and executed a better "strategic" as well as more aggressive game plan...

Besides, I don't think it's inconceivable that he COULD win in 4 sets (he's still young enough and in great shape)

He routinely puts Nadal in trouble enough to get multiple break chances (usually 11 or 12) but fails to convert and let's him "off the hook"...

Also a "favorable" draw wouldn't hurt...

And let's not get TOO far ahead of ourselves here, Nadal ALSO has to make the final (though I wouldn't bet against it)

I think even Rafa ain't looking forward to playing Djokovic either before OR in the final...

[manutoo]

I just want to say that in Hamburg, 2 years ago, Nadal wasn't especially tired, but he was clueless against a very dominant Federer, and he tried to be more aggressive but most of his FH attacks landed just a few cm out of the court...
But I think that since then he already learned how to attack when it's needed, and without taking too much risk...

[Leena]

Rafa was aggressive because of physical and mental fatigue. He played an enormous amount of tennis that '07 clay season. He probably wasn't pleased that the ATP forced him to play the tournament in the first place.

Madrid was different. There was probably some fatigue because of the long Djokovic match. And the altitude made playing conditions quicker. Rafa never seemed to find his range all week.

Madrid wasn't a good preview for RG...

[btaylor]

Hi Manu,

I watched a replay of the Madrid final and paid "extra" attention to the 2nd set...
Though I guess it's obvious that Nadal had a tough duel with Novak in the semi's, most of the shots he missed were "only JUST" out by INCHES....and isn't tennis a game of "inches"?
Had he HIT the lines, no doubt Robbie Koenig and co. would have been shouting at the top of their lungs..."BRILLIANT, HOW DOES HE DO IT?!"

No doubt the Nadal "faithful" will attribute those misses to "exhaustion"....Maybe so maybe not...
He kinda looked similarly "confused" about what to do to turn things around as he did in Hamburg...
A LOT of his service return misses in both Hamburg AND Madrid may ALSO have been caused by Federer's 1st serve placement and percentage...

As I stated earlier, the formula for him to beat Nadal at the French really isn't ALL THAT complicated...in other words, "it ain't rocket science, folks"...serve, break serve, play shorter points..

When Roger gets 60% or so of 1st serves in, he wins roughly 80% of the points because he's then able to start the point on HIS OWN terms, however, if he has to hit a 2nd serve, he plays squarely into Rafa's hands, for Nadal then gets to control the points...

If Fed serves well, he can get "cheap" points, he takes "pressure" off of his groundies, and can shorten the points...if not, then Rafa rules with the long rallies...and the "batter the backhand" strategy that he employs so successfully against Fed...

As far as his FO losses to Nadal, the only truly lopsided match was last years final, in the others Federer actually had "chances" (remember those squandered break opportunities and poor serving)

NOW.....whether he can pull it off remains to be seen....

p.s. If Rafa was "tired" also remember that last year Federer also had "mono" (tit for tat )

And Leena...if Rafa was so aggressive in Hamburg it was more likely that he felt he HAD to be, because "hustling around" wasn't getting it done that day...(Roger found his 1st serve THAT day also)...

[K Z]

I don't know about you , But I think that Roger seems very confident , The title he took in Madrid gave him a new reason to believe on his chances in Paris .
I don't know why but I feel this Roland Garros reserving us some surprises , hopefully Roger winner one of them

[Rob4590]

As far as his FO losses to Nadal, the only truly lopsided match was last years final, in the others Federer actually had "chances" (remember those squandered break opportunities and poor serving)

NOW.....whether he can pull it off remains to be seen....

Even the final last year was not actually one sided for the first two sets - Fed had a LOT of break points (especially in the second set) which should have levelled it at 1-1. Trouble was, after every Nadal service game that he failed to convert the break points in, he then got broken himself straight afterwards, so the score appears very overwhelming in Rafa's favour.

I'd love to see Fed win, but it looks as if Rafa is going through the gears, and will be at his very best by the semis and final - and will therefore win the title, purely now on the strength of his mind - he has Roger's number in tight matches / games it appears.

[Roy Patrick]

Rafa looked really good today against Hewitt, I thought he was going to have to work a little harder considering his previous matches. Djokovic is looking pretty good also, but Fed shouldn't be counted out just yet. He did JUST beat Nadal on clay, granted the conditions were different but a win is still a win, especially when he hadn't gotten one off Nadal in about a year and a half. The Djokovic/Federer Semi Final is going to be really interesting.

[Stefan Edberg]

I can only say; Robin Söderling!!!! He will win against Nadal

[Togtdyalttai]

I can only say; Robin Söderling!!!! He will win against Nadal

There's only one Swede that could beat Nadal when he was in his prime at RG: Borg.

[btaylor]

All things being equal, I don't think even Borg at his best (if fast forwarded to the future) would have a ghost of a chance against Nadal at HIS best...

I watched the Pepsi Challenge Series from the 70s and ALL of those players back then INCLUDING Borg (the exception being Connors) were "pushing" the ball compared to today's standards...

No...Nadal is some wierd sort of freakish Frankensteinian Cyborg, especially on clay...

IMO there's "more to this than meets the eye" and instead of "oohing and ahhing" about his freakish stamina and will, I hope I'm still around to read the "tell all" book (if and when it comes out) ...

[manutoo]

I have a very bad news for Nadal and all his fans : in the latest update from today, I already counted that he'll win this Roland Garros (for the Hall of Fame at end of game in the World Tour)... Thus, as Murphy's law says, it is now very likely he'll lose to force me to undo my changes & work more...

[K Z]

Kohlshreiber def. Novak Djokovic : 6-4 6-4 6-4
haha It will be Federer against Nadal this year too .

[Togtdyalttai]

Not so fast, Federer-Mathieu 4-6 6-1

[Richou]

hehe yup its gonna be another federer nadal final, unless gonzo or murray can lose in 9hrs or something and feds semi final retires, thats the only scenario i can seee federer winning. wouldnt that be awesome if that happened