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[oti]

He just dug himself out of a difficult situation with a lovely misdirection and a great net point. Stop the salt.

LITERALLY
THE
SAME
THING
OVER
AND
OVER
AGAIN

 

[greenleaves]

It's over. Fed's rushing is hurting him now.

 

[Sax Russel]

Even worse than expected, I'm impressed.

 

[Deleted member 231381]

Adding the second hand allows the extra strength to deal with that spin. You have more variety and reach with a one-handed backhand, but it's easier to generate more power with two hands.

That, and the topspin drives the ball upwards more quickly and it's much harder to take the ball at shoulder height with a OHBH than a THBH - you can see this by just trying to hit an imaginary ball with either shot and notice how if the imaginary ball you go for is up high, it tends to be your inside arm that helps steer the shot, almost as if it were becoming a forehand.

 

[scarlet]

Nadal should get a time violation warning.


WHAT A VOLLEY

Only one brave brought to do that to him, and then he asked to never be umpire on his future matches. LOL

3 hours of Nadal's matches, probably an hour spent for his superstitious.

 

[Kensuke]

Looks like Federer completely gave up on this set after missing those break points. Not a good sign. Solid first set and then annihilation? Truly a Fedal match.

 

[Omzz]

Why are you hitting the ball like that NOW..

 

[Deleted member 231381]

LITERALLY
THE
SAME
THING
OVER
AND
OVER
AGAIN

Oh, you mean beating Federer.

Yes.

 

[Niraj]

Why are you hitting the ball like that NOW..

Right? lol. Where was the urgency?

 

[oti]

That, and the topspin drives the ball upwards more quickly and it's much harder to take the ball at shoulder height with a OHBH than a THBH - you can see this by just trying to hit an imaginary ball with either shot and notice how if the imaginary ball you go for is up high, it tends to be your inside arm that helps steer the shot, almost as if it were becoming a forehand.

Davydenko destroyed Nadal's top spins with his THBH.

 

[Niraj]

If only you had held...

 

[JBwB]

Keep up this momentum Fed!

 

[Omzz]

Oh so now you wanna break

 

[PedroPanache]

Good break. At least making Rafa work for the set.

 

[Tekniqs]

Fed has the potential to reel off back to back breaks as well....set isn't over

 

[Dispatch]

Why are you hitting the ball like that NOW..

Maybe he's letting Nadal know he's not giving up? Of course, the break signals that, too.

 

[greenleaves]

How nervous must Fed have been if all of a sudden he can hit like this?

 

[FTF]

Hope you're not wasting your energy for nothing in this set now Roger.

 

[Lone_Prodigy]

I should just go to bed.

 

[Deleted member 231381]

Davydenko destroyed Nadal's top spins with his THBH.

Wasn't just the fact he had a 2HBH, Davydenko was incredibly aggressive for a baseliner, he'd often be two steps ahead of the baseline, so he would take Nadal's shot incredibly early before they had the chance to rise. Reminds me of how Nishikori plays.

 

[santi_yo]

We're so lucky to witness these two legends playing finals in 2017.

 

[PedroPanache]

Wow! Fed-Ex special.

 

[Green Yoshi]

Rafa really does look like he hasn't recovered much from his last match.

That's why it is important to stretch the second set even if Roger loses it.

 

[JBwB]

Great defense from Federer in that point.

 

[Deleted member 231381]

Nadal is flattening out a lot of his shots, more than I'm used to. I see why - Federer's been guarding his backhand well and Nadal really needs to push him back - but it makes him look so un-Nadal-ish, it's weird.

 

[Tekniqs]

well shit..don't get tight now!

 

[Lone_Prodigy]

That's why it is important to stretch the second set even if Roger loses it.

Federer is no spring chicken himself. Also his groin is nagging him.

 

[Dispatch]

Now, can Roger get two breaks in a row?

 

[Niraj]

Come on Roger, let's get back on serve

 

[88random]

ahhh thanks for the explanation!

how does Stan deal with it? he's a big hitter right?

Yup. He is stronger than Fed and he can stand farther behind the line so he can hit the ball at the lower point.

 

[PedroPanache]

So, Fed playing a bit looser now and, right now, we've got a huge game here.

 

[MIMIC]

Federer's horrendous shanks always crack me up xD

 

[PedroPanache]

Yeah, solid game for Rafa, but those shanks, man! Those shanks.

 

[Niraj]

Oh well, hopefully he can hold quickly and get into Nadal's next service game.

 

[Deleted member 231381]

Yup. He is stronger than Fed and he can stand farther behind the line so he can hit the ball at the lower point.

also Stan doesn't actually really deal with it. They have a 16-3 head to head and 2 of those were during Nadal's 2015 when he was really in a slump. Stan just happened to have the match of his life in that AO final.

 

[PedroPanache]

also Stan doesn't actually really deal with it. They have a 16-3 head to head and 2 of those were during Nadal's 2015 when he was really in a slump. Stan just happened to have the match of his life in that AO final.

Stan has the match of his life every time he gets to a slam final. His 3 for 3 probably makes Murray weep a little inside.

 

[Leonsito]

Awful set from Roger, as soon as Rafa gets a BP he seems to lose all concentration and confidence.

 

[Niraj]

Alright, one last chance this set. Come on Roger.

 

[MIMIC]

Wonder if Fed breaks back....

 

[Kensuke]

Fed definitely playing looser. Probably because the pressure is mostly off this set. At least he sort of recovered in time for set 3.

edit: lol, tons of unforced errors. uughh, as soon as the pressure was back so did the errors.

 

[88random]

also Stan doesn't actually really deal with it. They have a 16-3 head to head and 2 of those were during Nadal's 2015 when he was really in a slump. Stan just happened to have the match of his life in that AO final.

He can deal with FH to BH, but he has other problems, like movement.

 

[Niraj]

Too solid from Nadal. Best of 3 now.

 

[RastaMentality]

this match is really beautiful.

 

[JBwB]

Nadal takes the set!

Take the third Fed!

 

[FTF]

Welp, 1-1 now. Going to bed but hopefully Roger pulls out the win.

 

[PedroPanache]

RAFA!!!! C'mon!! They've both been up and down. So hoping for a titanic third set with both hitting well.

 

[jett]

Roger getting NADAL'd

 

[oti]

It's ridiculous how much time Nadal takes between points.

 

[PedroPanache]

They really do need to introduce a clock of some sorts.

 

[Kensuke]

Honestly Federer can't allow himself any more screw ups. If he loses this set it really turns into a very typical Fedal match. No way he pulls out a win from 2-1 down in sets.