David Ferrer vs. Rafa Goliath
Joe Ramirez
He played for the L.A. Laker and the L.A. Clippers. At 6'2", he wasn't
big, but was a common size for a point guard. Here's how an old Sports
Illustrated article that I've always remembered described a funny
event at one of his games:
"During a game in Atlanta that year, West used a time-out to chew out
Nixon for mistakes the team had made in falling behind the Hawks. When
play resumed, Hawks Coach Hubie Brown brought 5'8" guard Charlie Criss
in, and over the space of the next several minutes Nixon buried seven
consecutive jumpers to tie the game. The quiet during the ensuing
Atlanta time-out was shattered when one of Nixon's excited female
relatives arose in the stands and thundered, 'Use him, Norman! Use
that chump! They can't put no midget on *my boy*!'"
It's hard to watch Ferrer's valiant struggles against Nadal without
feeling that the encounter, at least on clay, is fundamentally a
mismatch. Ferrer is just too small to summon the firepower to threaten
Rafa on this surface. Almost the classic man vs. boy scenario.
SliceAndDice
Who can, when Rafa plays like this? You would have to bring back peak
Borg or Kuerten from the past to give Rafa a match. He is looking
unbeatable at the moment.
Sakari Lund
I don't know, I still didn't get the feeling he was as good as say,
two years ago. Let's see what Djokovic can do.
Joe Ramirez
At this level, Nadal doesn't just look unbeatable, he *is* unbeatable,
at least by journeymen (first two rounds) and scrappy, underpowered
types (next two rounds). He hasn't faced big hitters who could
conceivably put pressure on him. Djokovic could at least put up a good
struggle if he's playing well. I'd give Djoker a 10-20% chance and
Verdasco about a 5% chance in the final.
felangey
> two years ago. Let's see what Djokovic can do.
I think he's almost as good, but that his clay game won't be as effective as
it once was...its too one dimensional. And he is defo. beatable...just not
by the chumps that he has played so far. Ferrer was shocking, but I think
like Joe says, just inept for the job. I don't know if Djoke can do the
job...he might be able to run him close for sure...but again he doesn't play
big flat hitting against Nadal...which as we have seen is the key.
Nothing has changed my opinion that Nads won't win RG this year, although it
would have been shored by a successful return of the big man Del P by this
point! :)
felangey
>final.<
I'd go with that.
ocean
Fed won't win the FO again. Like Agassi after completing the career
slam never won FO again. Fed won't fluke another FO. Lightning doesn't
strike twice. And the ridiculous good luck Fed needed to fluke the FO
won't happen again.
felangey
> slam never won FO again. Fed won't fluke another FO. Lightning doesn't
> strike twice. And the ridiculous good luck Fed needed to fluke the FO
> won't happen again.
I think he is in with a shout...but thats not what I am saying when I say I
don't think Nadal will win it.
ocean
And forget about Fed winning the CYGS this year. Won't happen.
Actually I believe this Wimbledon will be Fed's last slam win. Just
like Sampras won 3 more slams than the previous GOAT Borg, Fed will
win 3 more slams than the previous GOAT Sampras.
Final tally will be something like this:
Borg: 11 slams
Sampras: 14 slams
Federer: 17 slams
felangey
SliceAndDice
I think Djoker's chances went down to about 1%, based on this
performance. If he manages to get by Verdasco, that is.
Joe Ramirez
Pathetic performance by the Djoker. After this showing, I think his
Serbian water polo superzealous fan (the guy who stands up and raises
his arms after every Djokovic point) is going to go home and burn his
blue cap. :) Is anyone on the planet looking forward to the prospect
of a Nadal-Verdasco final? I would expect that Nadal fans are eagerly
anticipating the *title*, but that's not the same as wanting to watch
the actual match.
felangey
> Nadal-Verdasco final?<
Poodle parlour! :)
SliceAndDice
Makes me wonder if Djoker tanked this match, to avoid facing Rafa.
Carey
I had the same question. One of these days Djoke will surprise us all
again and take another Major. Til then.. yes, yawn. :)
Patrick Kehoe
>
> - Show quoted text -
++ The other way to ponder this: Is Djokovic's serve REALLY that much
of problem right now? I just don't think Djokovic would tank this...
he love Monte Carlo; doesn't he live around there now?
P
SliceAndDice
It wasn't just his serve that was off today. Everything was. And he
played very well against Nalby.
felangey
played very well against Nalby.<
I think we just have to remember that form doesn't usually come from
nowhere. He has had a pretty weak time of it of late. Ok, he wasn't great
today, but this tournament was definitely a bit of an upward curve for him.
Hopefully next time he puts a few more good matches together.
ocean
Nope.
Superdave
Djokovic ? They have the Djokovic killer in Verdasco to take care of him of
course and then he too will "roll for rafa".
"rolling for rafa" is becomming a national pastime now in spain.
Superdave
Let's qualify that. He's *unbeatable* by any spaniard. But, we all know why too.
Superdave
wrote:
>On Apr 17, 11:09�am, Joe Ramirez <josephmrami...@netzero.com> wrote:
nah this has happened before. verdasco wears down djokovic beats him and then
rolls over for rafa.
if djokovic manages to somehow beat verdasco he is worn out dead beat tired and
can't possibly beat rafa the next day.
either way, rafa wins.
i told you this a week ago ! i called every single match !
TT
>
> It's hard to watch Ferrer's valiant struggles against Nadal without
> feeling that the encounter, at least on clay, is fundamentally a
> mismatch. Ferrer is just too small to summon the firepower to threaten
> Rafa on this surface. Almost the classic man vs. boy scenario.
Apparently you've not seen all their previous matches on clay. Ferrer
has been the last opponent I want Nadal to play against.
At Barcelona playing against Ferrer was one of the most brutal clay
court matches I've seen. The result was Rafa getting through but with
blisters and later loss at Rome.
Well they did have many very long and brutal rallies at MC too, which
often ended with a brilliant winner from Nadal. In the beginning of the
match I was wondering that how on earth is Rafa going to get balls past
Ferrer. It appeared that he was able to do it by simply playing better
and more powerful claycourt tennis than no player before him.
I think Ferrer is one of the most difficult clay opponents for
Nadal...top 2-4. I'd rate Djokovic being the most difficult. But Ferrer
is horrible for Rafa's legs.
TT
>
> "rolling for rafa" is becomming a national pastime now in spain.
Not to mention rest of the world. Admit it, Nadal is the best
claycourter you've ever seen
TT
Rafa's lost something like 4 of his last 145 clay matches. Why do you
think Spaniards should beat him?
Superdave
when a national conspiracy negates half the tour and 90% of the clay court
ability on the tour. Sure, I agree with you.
TT
Is Verdasco to Nadal what Davydenko is to Federer?
--
"So the ones who think I only concentrate on Grand Slams are wrong. I
try to win and play well in every tournament. The tough part in
Indian Wells and Miami is that it is best of three and that sort of
knockout tennis is brutal."
Superdave
Because they beat all the best competition by playing remarkably well to like 2
& 3 and then play like shit losing to Rafa 0 & 1. that show they are working
hand in hand to gift rafa the title.
TT
Nadal on form does these kind of numbers to everyone. Ferrer and Ferrero
actually got relatively MORE games against Rafa than Federer did at FO
final.