FO Semi Nadal v Murray

First topic message reminder :

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.

wow,,from tht low angle cam,,i could see,,balls coming from nadal bounce really high!

Murray is not very good at hiding his pain!

Soem where saying that the courts play like HC because of a very thin layer of clay on.

To me it's clear that there is more clay on the courts than the previous years. HD and slow motion can show that.

Superb lob!

Very nicely set up with the drop shot. You can tell how windy it is with the clay being blown all over.
Rafa takes it and leads 3-1

And welcome to the board Jahu

murray lost his concentration,,might be his ankle

Double break down now. Andy is playing well but Nadal is too good so far.

Must be ankle, as Murray is really moving with difficulty.

Its not the ankle, Rafa is just a better player. Murray has'nt played that badly its just that Rafa is a clas above so far. There are signs there for Murray that he can put Rafa in trouble though.

The first game was top drawer for Murray, he has it in him. Maybes hes being a bit too aggressive and needs to get into the rhythm.

With Murray's ankle, I believe that adrenaline will only take him so far; regardless of the treatment to date, it IS a signifcant injury for a tennis player. All the more so when Murray relies much more on running than he would need to, were he to be the embodiment of aggression.

A key to a possible victory for him, is to win in three straight sets. BAdal now served for the 1st set at 5-2. As long as he holds one of his next two service games, then it's at least a 4 set match - not good for Murray.

Murray has done very, very well to be in this semi, despite very mediocre play, and it's more a testament to the lack of intitiave and execution by his opponents, then sparkling play from Murray.

Think at this point, it's straight sets for Nadal, though till it's "done," I guess anything "can" happen. But at this point, not looking good for Murray, and the ankle issue on top of this.

Break point for Murray - as I said above, anything "can" happen!

The clay dressing was low at the start of the champs (too low), the organisers put more dressing on through the early days as they knew it was playing too much like HC to start with (many players commented and complained about it).

Anyway, so far we see why Nadal is so formidable to beat on this surface when he's playing anywhere near his capability. But strange errors in that last game from Nadal - he's getting more nervous these days when serving for sets/matches...

Thats what i mean, Murray is showing signs that he can trouble if not beat Nadal. If his ankle was'nt right he would have pulled out long ago. It will of course affect his confidence in it a little but not too much.

Great play from Murray.

Andy battling away very well in this first set. He trailed 1-5 and has hauled it back to 4-5. Hmm interesting.

Seen this sort of first set from Andy a few times before lol.

On a side note, where on this site can i remove the email notifications, its driving me mad. The links in the email dont work

Eirebilly, goto your profile, click preferences, on "Always notify me of replies" click no.
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Ok cheers YI man

Nadal looks tight and isnt being aggressive at all...weird.

The clay dressing was low at the start of the champs (too low), the organisers put more dressing on through the early days as they knew it was playing too much like HC to start with (many players commented and complained about it).
--------------------------

Nope!

It was the same at the beginning. And this is why heavy hitters where at an advantage caused it made it more difficult for the scrappers to run around the court, especially change directions.

Wow Murray with Nadal on the ropes on his favourite surface.

1 hour for a 5/4!!! !terrible! Djoko and Federer must be furious!

Tenez, I'm not arguing with you, even Wilander has commented on more dressing in the latter stages.

Well, Rafa takes the 1st set 6-4 after an hour of play.
Next set is crucial for Andy.

first set conclusion

1.both playing goods,,nadal just a little bit better
2. theres sneakpeak of 'topless' girl

Well played Nadal to win the set but Murray is looking alot more confident. Shame i cant watch too much because the BBC keep throwing that horrible Clair Balding on the screen and the horse racing.

A few stats from the 1st set from Twitter:

Nadal News
62 minutes; 74% 1st serves in; 1 ace; 1 DF; 56% won on 1st serve; 58% won on 2nd; 13 UFEs; 12 winners; 10/16 at net; 2/3 BPs converted.

Even than Andy made life difficult. Rafa had 40-15, but was pulled back and ANdy had break points twice before Nadal finished off the set.

oh,,good man nadal for checking the mark

Twitpics from twitter of the 1st set:
RolandGarros
Nadal hung tough in 1st set v Murray. Not much separating the two men there. http://yfrog.com/h0ynzooj http://yfrog.com/h8lrmrqj

nadal bring his aura (wind) now

That Murray drop shot is living a charmed life right now.

To be honest Nadal is a shadow of his former years self here today...just looks like something is missing from his game, seems to be pushing the ball around. He may come through this match but its not great form today and his head still isnt right somehow.

nadal was pointing at something,,i think his bottles was blown by the wind

lydian so no credit for Andy then?

I think Murray is playing relatively well CC no doubt but I dont think Rafa's loss of form is due to Murray playing great - he's been relatively poor by his own standards most of the event. He's playing with ongoing real tightness and loss of certainty about what to do - seems he's thinking too much about his game and its not flowing as normal. He plays well in pockets but its really lumpy and you dont feel his game is secure/reliable as normal somehow. Maybe I'm being overly critical but having watched him long enough he just seems to be missing something at the moment.
Anyway - I dont mean to discredit Andy who's come on leaps and bounds on the clay this year.

Huge game for Murray now.

Excellent break back by Murray

murray needs to win this set, unfortunately i can't watch the game but from reading about murrays recovery in the first set, he can win this game

Reading BBC live text it sounds like Murray's brain has gone walkabout (again)

I think Murray might not get a better chance to beat Nadal at FO given Nadal's form today - something the commentators agree on.

That forehand by Nadal at 15-40 was simply shocking...

Point taken lydian about Nadal but I think a lot to do with that are these new balls that are being used.

What an important game this is for Murray. He cant afford to give Rafa a chance.

And there it is, another break for Rafa. If he wins this set then i see no way back for Murray.

Fair point CC about the balls - makes for a quicker game and helps the shot makers for sure. You can see Nadal sometimes attacking the ball, but sometimes sitting back, I find it puzzling, maybe its the wind too.

Anyway, enough gripes, its a good match to watch...Murray does Nadal alot of questions and always has done. Still all to play for.

Another big chance for Murray

Murray breaks back, extrodinary stuff.

What a return of serve there. Perfection. Andy MUST hold here.

Good lad !!!!!

I would have thought that Rafa was well used to the balls seing as
how Babolat sponsor him

If Murray holds serve here, Rafa will be under some pressure.