The Tennis Thread - Part 2

[Sakuraba]

Djokovic misfires on a down the line backhand that was a low percentage shot. Bad. Break point Nadal

Djokovic still cannot tap the T. Djokovic defending from 10ft behind the baseline but Nadal nets a rally ball deuce

Slice serve and volley, Ad Djokovic. Nadal with a crosscourt forehand pass. Kind of took some off and angled it well. Djokovic caught flat footed. Deuce

Second serve and Nadal hits a sharp angle that Djokovic nets. Ad Nadal

Nadal takes a short ball and puts it away for the break

 

[Frico]

Rafa with the break for 2-1 after Nole hits his forehand short and Rafa all over it.

 

[Sakuraba]

That forehand down the line is what forced the short ball from Djokovic.

 

[Sakuraba]

Nadal's defense has been a little better. He's not giving Djokovic any easy balls

 

[Frico]

"Huge amount of people just walked in."

 

[Sakuraba]

Nadal serving to Djokovic's forehand is maybe not the best idea. Djokovic is all over it.

Djokovic gets down to work, sending balls to Nadal's backhand. 0-30

McEnroe predicts at least 10 breaks today

 

[Sakuraba]

Djokovic overcooks a forehand. 15-30 bailed Nadal out

Djokovic missed an opportunity to approach but stays back on his heels and is eaten by a Nadal backhand at his feet. 30-30

Djokovic with another careless forehand. 40-30

Second serve is destroyed crosscourt by a sidestepping Djokovic forehand. Deuce

 

[Frico]

27 shot rally and it's back to game point Rafa.

 

[Frico]

Novak's backhand clips the tape giving Rafa the game for 3-1. Shame as Nole seemed to be constructing the point well.

 

[Sakuraba]

Djokovic is making Nadal play more backhands but Nadal smacks an inside out forehand that is too hot. Ad Nadal

Nadal defends with a slice that Djokovic cannot get under. Hits the tale and sails.

Not a great start for Djokovic

McEnroe points out the missed opportunities to attack the net

 

[Sakuraba]

Down the line backhand is clean for Djokovic. 30-0

Ace up the T. 40-0. Double fault makes it 40-15

Slice serve has Nadal reaching for a ball too far. Djokovic with the easiest hold of the day

3-2 Nadal

 

[Sakuraba]

Novak's backhand clips the tape giving Rafa the game for 3-1. Shame as Nole seemed to be constructing the point well.

He's getting caught in no man's land between the service line and the baseline. McEnroe had it right, he's got to come forward when Nadal is on a rope like that.

 

[Bim]

Have the rallies been short or long so far? I love seeing long points between these two t:

 

[Frico]

Novak just tried my favorite forehand from him and shanked.

 

[Sakuraba]

Nadal with a lot of forehands. 15-0

Service winner makes it 30-0. Djokovic runs around to hit a forehand but semi-shanks it. 40-0

Djokovic backhand hand down the line, then a very good drop shot that Nadal tracks down and hits a sick half volley across the net. Amazing

4-2 nadal

 

[Frico]

Djoker with a beauty of a dropshot but Rafa runs up to it and flicks it past him. 4-2.

 

[Frico]

Have the rallies been short or long so far? I love seeing long points between these two t:

They've been long for the most part but when they end short it's usually due to a Djoker error.

Triple break point Rafa.

 

[Sakuraba]

Djokovic comes forward but hits a bad Sampras-like jumping overhead right at Nadal.

Forehand down the line is LETHAL from Nadal. 0-30

Triple break point. Djokovic's serve coughed up a short ball but Djokovic just kind of pushed it back. Djokovic is out of sorts and Nadal is cleaning up

Djokovic saves one by painting the baseline. Oh wait, challenge says no.

5-2 Nadal

Beatdown thus far

 

[Frico]

At 0-40 Nole hit what looked to be a ripper of a forehand for 15-40 but Rafa challenges and it's out! 5-2 Rafa who'll serve for the first set.

 

[Sakuraba]

I going to predict a Djokovic break of serve here

 

[Frico]

Djokovic comes forward but hits a bad Sampras-like jumping overhead right at Nadal.

Forehand down the line is LETHAL from Nadal. 0-30

Triple break point. Djokovic's serve coughed up a short ball but Djokovic just kind of pushed it back. Djokovic is out of sorts and Nadal is cleaning up

Djokovic saves one by painting the baseline. Oh wait, challenge says no.

5-2 Nadal

Beatdown thus far

Yep.

 

[Frico]

McEnroe after they show Connery on the jumbo tron:

"Someone tell Sean Murray's out."

 

[Bim]

Novak will wake up guys, u know he always does!

 

[Frico]

Novak will wake up guys, u know he always does!

Yeah I'm expecting a (of course) big push in the second set but so far it's been the Rafael Nadal show. t:

 

[Sakuraba]

Djokovic puts a short ball away... after taking him off the court first!

Djokovic with a long backhand.

Biggest forehand of the match from Djokovic is hot hot hot 15-30

Djokovic misses a makeable crosscourt pass! 30-30

Nadal obliterated a forehand after a short Djokovic return. Set point x2

And Djokovic sails a forehand. 6-2 Nadal