The Tennis Thread - Part 2

[Frico]

ESPN is interviewing Bartoli right now who's trying to hold back tears when talking about leaving the game and how she told her father. "I just felt my body couldn't do it anymore." Pretty clear. Now talking about her Wimbledon win, other hobbies, possibly commentating/coaching and being at peace with her decision.

 

[Frico]

Fed blasts a gorgeous forehand down the line to win it 6-3 in the third.

 

[Frico]

ESPN2 won't be showing Nadal/Dimitrov. Instead it'll air on ESPN3. Pardon my french - but **** that. ESPN2 will repeat it at 11pm though.

For now just going to have to follow the score on the ATP/WTA live app.

 

[Sakuraba]

I'm watching it on ESPN3 on my phone.

Nadal seals the first set with an inside-out forehand that Dimitrov cannot handle. Nadal's forehand is the story of the match thus far. What a weapon it has been in the US Open Series.

 

[Sakuraba]

Both men a little sloppy but Dimitrov isn't serving at a high enough clip.

 

[Frico]

We all know what happend the last time Dimitrov lost a set 6-2 to Nadal.

Not saying we'll get a repeat of that but I do hope he can step it up again.

 

[Sakuraba]

Dimitrov with a strong hold, three winners including an ace. Found some success serving out wide to Nadal's backhand in the deuce court.

 

[Frico]

Six guests! Gotta be a record. Sign up folks!

 

[Sakuraba]

Nadal holds. He is serving about 50/50 to Dimitrov's wings. When he works his backhand he generally wins the point, if he doesn't ace the forehand side because of Dimitrov's positioning to protect his backhand, then Dimitrov has a good chance to win the point.

Both men tossing in a lot of errors.

 

[Sakuraba]

Dimitro holds at love with two aces and a service winner. Finding his serve now and his forehand is quite excellent.

 

[Sakuraba]

Both men trading holds now.

Nadal is starting to zero in on the backhand. In rallies it isn't consistent and it is nonexistent as a return shot for Dimitrov. It hurts to say that, but today's courts are not forgiving to the one-hander

 

[Sakuraba]

Nadal reaches 0-30 here, he seems to work a pattern of hammer backhand-again-stretch him wide on the forehand side-hammer backhand to draw error.

Cahill points out how well he's moving and it is frightening to see him zoom around.

15-30 as Dimitrov reverses the order of play and smacks five or so straight blistered forehands into Nadal's backhand to draw a net ball

 

[Frico]

Rafa broke again right?

 

[Sakuraba]

Dimitrov contributes two doubles and an error after reaching 40-30. The end is near

 

[Frico]

Two doubles? Jeez. Can't afford to do that.

 

[Frico]

4-4. Get it together Grigor!

 

[Sakuraba]

Dimitrov has a break look here as he hits maybe his only good backhands of the match and targets Nadal's backhand himself...

 

[Sakuraba]

Breaks back with a difficult forehand crosscourt pass that he hit on the run deep in the court!

 

[Sakuraba]

Set point for Simitrov off a freaking AWESOME down the line forehand he hit off a Nadal smash! Holy crap

 

[Frico]

5-5.

 

[Sakuraba]

Nadal erases the set point by serving wide to Dimitrov's backhand. It's just too easy a target.

Nadal holds after some Dimitrov errors. He had his opportunities.

 

[Frico]

If this goes three I'll stay up to watch the repeat at 11pm. If not, I'll catch the highlights on youtube.

 

[Sakuraba]

Dimitrov holds for 6-5.

This hasn't been the best Nadal. He's been sloppy and thrown in a lot of uncommon errors. His movement has been amazing though. He just runs around every backhand it seems. Credit Dimitrov for serving better here and making good use of a terrific forehand.

 

[Sakuraba]

Dimitrov takes the second set!

 

[Frico]

We're going three!!!