tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2592023703315255188.post2748388767621235675..comments2023-10-31T03:27:30.877-07:00Comments on Tennis from beyond the baseline...: Only Human... Or Maybe NotJodihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09355057648774003889noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2592023703315255188.post-29624770013605046002009-02-02T01:59:00.000-08:002009-02-02T01:59:00.000-08:00James - trust me, I am sad. I wrote that whole spi...James - trust me, I am sad. I wrote that whole spiel before the trophy presentation, when I was still furious about the douche in the crowd. I wept like a small small child for about three hours after the presentation. But I believe Fed can come back. It could be confidence-crushing - or it could be the final blow that makes me realise that he has to straighten up and fly right. And he is one of the greatest champions of our age. I know what he will do. The reason he gave for his tears was that he loves the game so much that losing in such a moving was devastating - and a man who is that moved by the love of a game is not a man who goes gently into that good night.<BR/><BR/>2hander - He did choke. I can't deny it. Rafa just kept his head in that fifth, and Roger didn't. And it wasn't as if Roger didn't have the game to beat Rafa - if he had held on in that first set, then he would have won in four. Same if he had pulled out the breaker in the third. He's got the game - it's just belief. He panics, I think, goes for too much on the serve, and the problems all flow from there. Has he ever had a good serving day against Rafa? I thought it would be Wimbledon, but perhaps this is the one that will shake him up and thus make him shake down. He's certainly not giving up, no matter how much he cries. Mirka won't let him. :)<BR/><BR/>And I quite like the symbolism of him going for fourteen at Roland Garros. It's probably the Slam where he has the least pressure to achieve it, considering Nadal would be such a short odds favourite. And with the pressure squarely on Rafa, then perhaps Roger can finally swing freely...Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09355057648774003889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2592023703315255188.post-58655173388211751912009-02-01T17:41:00.000-08:002009-02-01T17:41:00.000-08:00I am definitely more a fan of Federer fan over Nad...I am definitely more a fan of Federer fan over Nadal, but Nadal is breaking the image of claycourters being allergic to grass! He doesn't want to ruin the Federer Party, he's just doing what he has to do.<BR/><BR/>I know his groundstrokes were less erroneous today, but the bottom line is Federer choked! Four UFEs in 'that break in the 5th', plus a 1st serve %age of 52!! That is not good enough in a Grand Slam final against one such as Nadal - end of!<BR/><BR/>I want Fed to break the record but in the meanwhile it would have to be thru Nadal, unless he gets knocked out earlier...!!2Handerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05694468226012362282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2592023703315255188.post-83546575396383309832009-02-01T17:16:00.000-08:002009-02-01T17:16:00.000-08:00I thought you'd be more upset. Your sorrow doesn'...I thought you'd be more upset. Your sorrow doesn't seem on the level like it was after the Wimbledon epic. <BR/><BR/>I hope Federer's loss isn't confidence-crushing. The Wimbledon defeat was heartbreaking, but this one might shatter his confidence.James Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02647921649013740899noreply@blogger.com