RAONIC!

[Tamthewasp]

Murray has been talked about for years to win a major. He will suffer the similar fate of his country man Tim Henman. The only difference is Henman is more talented. I really thought that maybe since Lendl is coaching him that his offensive baseliner style would rub off I think the problem is mentally he is weak. Murray = Pusher and pushers don't win slams the one offs happen aka Roddick "Journeyman"!

P.S Henman and Murray are from different countrys.

[emate007]

Back on topic: Milos is a beast, and will be #1 within 4 years.

[Corbon]

Murray has been talked about for years to win a major. He will suffer the similar fate of his country man Tim Henman. The only difference is Henman is more talented. I really thought that maybe since Lendl is coaching him that his offensive baseliner style would rub off I think the problem is mentally he is weak. Murray = Pusher and pushers don't win slams the one offs happen aka Roddick "Journeyman"!

P.S Henman and Murray are from different countrys.

And at 24 Murray is already far more successful than Henman was when he retired. Henman more talented? In serve and volley and not winning anything significant maybe.

Edit: Chris Evert, John Lloyd's personal champion pusher, 18 Slams.

[Corbon]

And Tam, it's platonic and not plutonic!

[supinesmokey13]

Back on topic: Milos is a beast, and will be #1 within 4 years.

if he cant beat ferrer he wont in my eyes ferrer is the gatekeeper of the elite it takes a lot to beat ferrer on a good day and milos has not shown he is capable of beating someone who will refuse to go away

[Tamthewasp]

Milos has 1 great thing about him and it has nothing 2 do with hos tennis.
It's in his pants lol.

[Corbon]

Barcelona final was very close but Rafa prevailed (again). And damn, that trophy is huge.

[Otlichno]

Spanish players bending over for Nadal just got on another level.

5 set points in first set, served for the second set. Why I even support Ferrer I do not know.

[supinesmokey13]

Spanish players bending over for Nadal just got on another level.

5 set points in first set, served for the second set. Why I even support Ferrer I do not know.

you mean like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfPRxzC2 ... ure=colike
or this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_CJ5n3K ... ure=colike

rafa is simply a nightmare on clay

[VMoe86]

What happened yesterday in Barcelona was not "bending over": This is what happens when you play some special tennis to get into these positions (having set points or serving for a set), while Nadal still has one gear left. Luck also plays a role sometimes (for example that forehand Nadal mishit on one set point, but it landed inside the court), but usually it is Nadal who steps it up on the big points -- especially on clay.

[Moralspain]

I have to admit that Nadal played very well in Barcelona last week, best level from him this year, if he can keep it up he will "reign" on clay, once again.

[Otlichno]

What happened yesterday in Barcelona was not "bending over": This is what happens when you play some special tennis to get into these positions (having set points or serving for a set), while Nadal still has one gear left. Luck also plays a role sometimes (for example that forehand Nadal mishit on one set point, but it landed inside the court), but usually it is Nadal who steps it up on the big points -- especially on clay.

But that was not the case. Ferrer missing easy backhands and netting sitter forehands was what happened yesterday on the set points and when he served for the set. Nadal was consistent throughout and played better in the second set, but he never suddenly started playing better during those crunch moments. Ferrer just imploded.

[VMoe86]

But that was not the case. Ferrer missing easy backhands and netting sitter forehands was what happened yesterday on the set points and when he served for the set. Nadal was consistent throughout and played better in the second set, but he never suddenly started playing better during those crunch moments. Ferrer just imploded.

I'm neither a fan of Nadal nor Ferrer, so maybe I look at it a bit more objectively. Nadal was more aggressive in these moments.

SP #1: Winner Nadal

SP #2: Nadal aggressive, forcing an error from Ferrer

SP #3: Unforced error Ferrer

SP #4: The above mentioned mishit forehand by Nadal landing in was luck, but from then on Nadal was aggressive and forced an error from Ferrer

SP #5: Ace Nadal

There was not even one sitter forehand he missed here and only one rather easy backhand. And Nadal hit three unforced errors to "set up" the last three set points, because he was more aggressive than before.

When serving for the set at 5-4 in the second set Ferrer missed one sitter (leading to 0:30). At 30:30 Nadal hit a winner to set up his first break point, "saved" by an unforced error from Nadal. The second break point was the result from an error by Ferrer (missed an inside out forehand, not an easy one), but he saved it with a great volley. Next up is an amazing point by Nadal: Basically the rallye is over, Ferrer just has to put away that smash, but he didn't notice that Nadal was sneaking into the direction he chose and with an amazing get Nadal set up a volley winner and a break point. Then Ferrer misses an inside in forehand (not easy) to give back the break.

This happens to so many players against Nadal, not just Ferrer. Saying that someone who fought that well, even after that first set and being down a break early in the second set, was "bending over" is quite disrespectful to him and his opponent.