FO Semi Nadal v Murray

Well a week ago before Murray's injury and Nadal's poor form, it woudl have been a no brainer. A week later and things are very different.

Nadal will certainly exploit that ankle's weakness but as Soderling proved yesterday, you can force Nadal to do the running if you can take the ball early.

I see Nadal winning there...especially if it stays windy.

Nadal is the hot favourite for sure but If his ankle holds up and there is very little wind I think he can give him at least a good match and who knows there could be a surprise?

Nadal will hammer Murray

Forecast Conditions
High Temperatures Low Temperatures Precipitation Wind Speed Tonight
Jun 2
Clear
N/A
56°
From the Northeast 16mph

Fri
Sunny
From the Northeast 17mph

Sat
Partly Cloudy
From the Northeast 14mph

Sun
Rain
From the North 9mph

SO in short more windy tomorrow than today...sadly!

Good news for Nadal's opponent on Sunday though as it;s going to be rainy and cool.

I would love to see this match but I'll be driving down to Reading for the weekend while it's on.......will it be on any Radio stations?

Solerina

The only radio coverage I know of is the
BBCs' Radio 5 Live Solerina

yummymummy wrote:The only radio coverage I know of is the
BBCs' Radio 5 Live Solerina

Thanks Yummy : )

Solerina

nadal in 4 at most

I'd love to see Murray nail him but I can't even see his ankle holding out

Murray will only lose to Nadal in his head.

Nadal will only lose to Murray in his head.

If they both manage to keep their minds clear, then it will be a massive game and a spectacle, lets just hope it entertains as much as nerve-racking for all fans alike.

Should be a cracker and it will make a nice change for me personally as a Murray fan. All through this tournament in his matches he has been strong favourite and that heightens the expectations and increases the pressure. However, tomorrow Rafa is a warm favourite to win so no great disappointment or upset if Andy loses. I expect nothing so anything Andy gets now will be a bonus but would just love Andy to play a match without any mental lapses to give us a good idea how he measures up on clay to the 'King Of Clay'.

Nadal said: the match against Soderling is the key match. And it was. Now he overcame that one relatively easy he won't be worried too much about this match. He knows doesn't even have to play exceptionally well to beat Murray on this surface. Work hard and stay focused, that's all there is to it for Nadal. Murray can hurt Nadal if he plays his best attacking game. But Murray never ever plays his best tennis for 3 consecutive sets.

I agree with Tenez, a few days ago everything looked different, but after Nadal's "key match" and Murray's continuous struggling things are back to normal.

Murray is in the same position as Federer. It's not a foregone conclusion but gosh, it will take a huge effort

Nadal - "He knows doesn't even have to play exceptionally well to beat Murray on this surface"

I doubt if he will be as confident as you are. - Hadn't Murray injured his elbow after taking the
second set fairly easily from him at Monte Carlo on Clay recently Rafa might have been heading home earlier than he expected!

It might be a tall order for Murray (playing on one leg) tomorrow, but if Rafa falls back to his pre Soderling form then nothing is guaranteed.

but if Rafa falls back to his pre Soderling form then nothing is guaranteed.

Absolutely, but i'm afraid that won't happen..

gp

Can I please have the six winning numbers for Saturdays lottery draw

I don't know about this Andy one legged business the man has played quite a bit of tennis since injuring his ankle two rounds ago, it seems proper treatement and the fact that the injury was not as bad as first suspected has helped the situation. In fact, maybe it could help Andy causing him to pull the trigger on his big shots earlier in the match.

Apparently, one of the tendons in his ankle have been strained and I agree I don't think it is too bad. An annoyance more than anything else to Andy but he has been on painkillers to get through the matches. A lot depends on what Andy Murray comes on to court and I'm sure he'd get a massive shot of self-belief if he were to win the first set. I can't see any further than a Nadal win though as Rafa is the 'King Of Clay' whilst Andy ias just getting to grips with the surface.

Craig, I think Nadal will win the match as well but if right now you did a thorough medical examination of all the players on the ATP tour you would find that 80 percent have them have a strained tendon somewhere in their body at this point of the season. He looked fine against Chela in terms of movement. Definetly agree with you that if Andy doesn't win the first set it is all over.

Yes I know all players have strains etc it is just that British press only report Andy's injuries. I wouldn't say it was all over if Andy never won the first set as he has great fighting spirit but do feel Rafa will be just too strong on what is his strongest surface and Andy's weakest.

Yes I know all players have strains etc it is just that British press only report Andy's injuries.

If Nadal had the slightest impediment we would all know about it as he would have convoked all the press around the world for a conference.

Yes Andy has comeback before to erase a deficit but again nadal isn't victor troicki or Richard Gasquet. I think if he loses the first set the drain on his confidence and psyche will be too much to deal with and it will be over in 3 or 4 sets. If he wins the first set, i still think Nadal will be the favorite but it will get a whole lot more interesting.

socal1976 wrote:Yes Andy has comeback before to erase a deficit but again nadal isn't victor troicki or Richard Gasquet. I think if he loses the first set the drain on his confidence and psyche will be too much to deal with and it will be over in 3 or 4 sets. If he wins the first set, i still think Nadal will be the favorite but it will get a whole lot more interesting.

Well in Monte Carlo Andy lost the first set against Rafa and hit back to win the second set so it is possible,

But Why on earth this match is starting at 2pm? A 5 setter might take it easily to 6.30pm, giving the Djoko Federer match only 2 and a half hour of proper light.

I am pretty sure they started the semis at 1pm last year!

Tenez the French open this year has been poorly managed, we have a number of matches that have been started too late. This is the second time they have done this to Djokovic.

It is starting at 1pm (BST) but 2pm local time.

Good luck Andeeee

But I don't think that the wind is going to help him much

The thing is, in regards to Andy's ankle injury, its not so much that it would be painfull its more to do with the confidence Andy puts in it. If you have had an injury like that, it will heal but in your mind you still feel that it may not be strong and try to protect it a little. This means that Andy may not take on or chase a small % of Rafa's shots for fear of injuring it again.

True eirebilly. Confidence is going to be key, especially with Wimbledon in a few weeks. Murray woudl not like to compromise his chance there either.

I dont think there's much wrong with his ankle other than slight twinges, he played a 3hr match with Troiki with no problems and even took the supports off. Lets not blow this up out of proportion.

A slight twinge is enough to make a big difference t this level.

Nadal topspin is goingto send Murray right and left.

In some respects I agree because the pain in Nadal's knees knocked him off course in 2009 before he withdrew from the tour.

I think Nadal's topspin on slower clay, a slight wind and the heat today making the ball lively will all conspire against Murray no matter how good his ankle is feeling. Plus if Nadal gets anywhere near 80-90% form then its going to be very hard for Andy whatever the circumstances given his clay prowess.

Murray simply has to win the 1st set you feel in what could be a torrid afternoon for him. I expect close sets though...

I am going for Murray to roll him in 4

Plus if Nadal gets anywhere near 80-90% form then its going to be very hard for Andy whatever the circumstances given his clay prowess.
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Yes but Nadal is of a fearful species. He is going to be worried of Murray's groundstrokes and it might take him a while to settle.

Agree Nadal is a nervy starter and Murray may well take the first set as Nadal is starting to get into the match...a question of holding on thereafter. But I get the sense that Nadal is happier with himself these past 2-3 days, now he's got to the SF I think some self-pressure has gone. I genuinely dont think he feels the title is his to lose, or that even losing to a world #4 in the SF is a disgrace - in other words I think he'll be relatively relaxed as a whole today, notwithstanding the usual nervy start.

The other thing is that Murray has been talking himself up in the media (which is fine) that he can beat Nadal, etc. That may just give Nadal that extra little bit of motivation too...

Well Andy has started very slowly himself in this tournament falling behind to Troicki, Bolelli and Chela before finding form.

Caledonian he can't afford to do that today, both guys are very emotional players, I can't see andy coming back from a set down against Rafa. Andy is the longshot today and he really needs to start strong and keep Nadal from getting into a good rythymn. He needs the energy and the confidence. I can't wait!

Oh I know that socal. The mental side of the game is Andy's achilles heel at times. Shot wise, talent wise and fighting spirit wise he is definitely a match for anybody.

I think to an extent he lacks mental maturity, he isn't weak, he has a lot of fight in him. I think he just lacks mental focus and discipline, he needs a more even keeled temperament to deal with the pressure of the big, big matches.

Or perhaps he lacks the inner self-belief in himself hence why he is overly cautious at times in matches which cost him. When he applies himself better and attacks more he is unplayable.

Definetly, when he is up against the top guys in a big grandslam he still seems to lack the belief to play anything but passively. He has won a lot of tournaments and big matches but that last barrier he seems to hold on too tight.

Definetly, when he is up against the top guys in a big grandslam he still seems to lack the belief to play anything but passively. He has won a lot of tournaments and big matches but that last barrier he seems to hold on too tight.

nadal in straight.

What I would like to know is why Rafa v Murray is on first. I get the fact that the federer/djokovic meeting is probably the bigger of the 2, however have the organisers forgot that Murray & Nadal were the last 2 to play. Not only that but Novak had a walk through quarter final.

Im not sure it will make a difference...but im just curious, how do they decide the schedule for the semi's?!

ACtually, the winner of this first match has a huge advantage if darkness or rain delay the Fed djoko match it is a certainty that the winner will have to play back to back days and back to back 5 setters.

Beautiful start by andy, he is being real aggressive.

Andy is looking good from the off. Good start.

Both guys making quite a few trips to net in the first two games.

Andy saves BP no hesitation of getting into the court and cranking the forehand good sign. uh oh Break point #2

Should have nailed that volley. First blood Nadal.

Murray broken in the 3rd game,2-1 Nadal