Aussie Open: Federer v. Nadal

[sitzlejd 0]

Anybody else looking forward to this more than the Super Bowl? For my money, watching these two play is the definition of rivalry in sports. After Nadal's marathon match in the semis this could be Roger's chance to regain the throne.

[Race4LastPlace 31]

i was thinkin the same thing. I cant stand Nadal, and was pulling for Verdasco in the semi. Hopefully Federer will get his stroke back.

[pantherfan 0]

I was gunnin for Murray as always but I'm gonna have to go with Federer, I think Nadal is too cocky and has a certain arrogance about himself.

[thejackal 46]

Should be a good one. I'm pulling for fed big time.

[coffey77 0]

Roger has got to get back on the horse, or it could be bad for his future.

Look at the past. Lendl over Mac, Mac over Borg, Sampras over Everyone else...

[sitzlejd 0]

Let's see the Super Bowl top that...

[phunky_monkey 6]

Was a top game for sure!

[willsnipe 0]

What a match. So glad to see Nadal come through with the title.

I think Federer's rein has ended.

[Cheesehead 0]

What a match. So glad to see Nadal come through with the title.

I think Federer's rein has ended.

I agree and i think Federer knows it too

[Hidious 0]

Nadal & Federer have together won 15 of the last 16 Majors or something like that (If my memory is correct). These two are dominating the sport outrageously but fortunately for us, it's a wonder to watch. One is pure talent, gracious and fluid, like an artist and without a doubt on of the greatest player of all-time; the other is pure strength, intense, intimidating and indefatigable, often described as "inhuman" by the TV commentator.

I'm a huge tennis fan and i've been watching a lot of tennis for the past years. Rafael Nadal is a phenom, just like Tiger Woods or Michael Phelps. In addition to his obvious athletic skills this kid has a mental toughness you wouldn't even think is possible. He intimidates. I think it takes real skill to "officially" take Federer's number one spot, especially at 22 years old. Seven majors at 22 is huge. Federer is a great champion, he still can beat anyone on the tour any day except ... you know who. I say he will bounce back.

God i love these historic games.

[Hidious 0]

Touching.

[kvnwos 0]

definetly two of the greatest to ever play the sport, both are role models for others who play.

[Law Goalie 147]

The curious thing is that Nadal makes Federer beat himself. The number of unforced errors is always way out of whack, and I suspect it's because Federer has become convinced that he has to hit absolutely perfect shots to score points against Nadal. The problem there, of course, is that Federer squeezes the racket a little too hard and starts to miss, and the ones he does hit, Nadal has the sheer athleticism to run down - and often score winners, because in order to hit a winner Federer has to expose himself to an angle. I don't think this is as much a done-deal as some people believe; I really think that with a tactical game Federer can control the pace and start to find Nadal's few mental and technical weaknesses. As it is, Federer is playing to Nadal's strengths and *still* keeping things unbelievably close.

[brettlynch11 0]

The curious thing is that Nadal makes Federer beat himself. The number of unforced errors is always way out of whack, and I suspect it's because Federer has become convinced that he has to hit absolutely perfect shots to score points against Nadal. The problem there, of course, is that Federer squeezes the racket a little too hard and starts to miss, and the ones he does hit, Nadal has the sheer athleticism to run down - and often score winners, because in order to hit a winner Federer has to expose himself to an angle. I don't think this is as much a done-deal as some people believe; I really think that with a tactical game Federer can control the pace and start to find Nadal's few mental and technical weaknesses. As it is, Federer is playing to Nadal's strengths and *still* keeping things unbelievably close.

As a tennis player, I can say there are two things that really mess with my game. Number one is a lefty, and number two is someone who hits with a ton of top spin deep in the court. Nadal does both of these. No matter what people say, being lefty is a huge advantage, and having his tenacity and speed doesn't hurt either.

[Law Goalie 147]

Spot on. The lefty advantage is huge in tennis, and Nadal's put spin on shots so hard that it actually made Federer whiff on the baseline (I'm thinking on grass, here).

I guess what I'm getting at is that if Federer took a boxer's approach and really trained to do two things - handle a lefty and manage the spin-combat - he'd be able to use his intelligence and pacing to start to expose Nadal's few weaknesses just a little. As it is, he's only exposing Nadal's strengths.

[Hidious 0]

If you ever played tennis, you know how mental this sport is, and that's were the difference is. Nadal does intimidate his opponents; i saw a clip of a sport psychologist analyzing Nadal's every move, especially before the game and between points. Most of them contribute to dominate his opponent mentally and i'm not sure Rafael even knows it, i just think he does it naturally.

Again, his mental toughness is out of this world. He always has the same focused and determined look no matter what and when the moment is important...you know what happens. Winning break point against Nadal is a huge task. He never looses is cool, never breaks down mentally (every other tennis player does that one day or another). What i admire even more is that when the game is over, he goes from a beast to a soft and gentle 22 year old kid. How some of you can call him arrogant is beyond me.

[Law Goalie 147]

That's another thing - Federer's mental game was indefatigable *until* Nadal started to outwork him mentally and physically. After Nadal beat him a couple of times, he started losing very odd matches where he'd let the other player dictate the pace, get frustrated, and self-destruct - exactly what Nadal forces him to do.

[LkptTiger 1]

I still say their final at the last Wimbledon was better...although I was disappointed by the outcome of that match, as well.

[Jason Harris 31]

Speaking of mental toughness, did any of you ever read about Michael Chang's epic match against Ivan Lendl in the 1989 French Open? Lendl was ranked #1 and was a three-time champion going against a 17-year-old Chang in the semis. Lendl won the first two sets and broke serve in the third.

After that, it's fair to say that Chang broke Lendl. I don't mean he broke serve; I mean he broke Lendl's spirit. The match lasted nearly five hours and Chang began to cramp, so he started serving underhanded. He also purposefully played out of position. Lendl became unnerved and began yelling at the umpire. Chang went on to become the youngest winner of a men's Grand Slam.

That was such an impressive display of willpower that he became the player I rooted for, although he never did much after that.

[thejackal 46]

Spot on. The lefty advantage is huge in tennis, and Nadal's put spin on shots so hard that it actually made Federer whiff on the baseline (I'm thinking on grass, here).

I guess what I'm getting at is that if Federer took a boxer's approach and really trained to do two things - handle a lefty and manage the spin-combat - he'd be able to use his intelligence and pacing to start to expose Nadal's few weaknesses just a little. As it is, he's only exposing Nadal's strengths.

Nadal, from a shotmaking point of view, is the worst possible matchup for Federer. Even then I thought he did quite well in rallies during the final. If he served better than 50% first serve and made more break points than something like 4/17, then he could have won.

[brettlynch11 0]

Speaking of mental toughness, did any of you ever read about Michael Chang's epic match against Ivan Lendl in the 1989 French Open? Lendl was ranked #1 and was a three-time champion going against a 17-year-old Chang in the semis. Lendl won the first two sets and broke serve in the third.

After that, it's fair to say that Chang broke Lendl. I don't mean he broke serve; I mean he broke Lendl's spirit. The match lasted nearly five hours and Chang began to cramp, so he started serving underhanded. He also purposefully played out of position. Lendl became unnerved and began yelling at the umpire. Chang went on to become the youngest winner of a men's Grand Slam.

That was such an impressive display of willpower that he became the player I rooted for, although he never did much after that.

Yeah he was returning serve from just behind the service line so he could cut it off instead of chasing it.

Want to talk mental toughness? How about when Sampras was playing and somebody yelled do it for your coach who had recently died (don't remember the name). He started crying uncontrolably on the court and still won the match. I forget the details but thats the general idea of it.