After a rain delay, tennis is about to resume at Wimbledon's famed Centre Court. Nadal is up two sets to none, but trails Federer (on serve) 5-4 in the third.
Such rain delays have helped Federer in the past, as I believe the announcers mentioned that Roddick was up a set against Roger a number of years ago before it started raining; when play resumed the momentum changed.
With this in mind, can Roger get back in this match, or does Rafa just look WAY too good (picture courtesy ESPN)?
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Nadal...
July 6, 2008 - 13:18 ET by Noel Sheppard...evens it a 5-5. Pressure squarely on Federer now to hold serve!
Federer
July 6, 2008 - 13:22 ET by Noel Sheppard...holds easily after a crucial challenged serve call. 6-5.
NS
July 6, 2008 - 13:24 ET by BlondeRoger can't buy a break.
This is sad.
At least Mary Mush Mouth isn't in the booth.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
B
July 6, 2008 - 13:27 ET by Noel SheppardB,
I don't think it's breaks. Roger has made a lot of unforced errors, especially during breakpoints. He just doesn't look himself today. ns
Agreed, N
July 6, 2008 - 13:30 ET by BlondeWell, now he's looking a little like his old self.
Maybe (just maybe) he can get his head back into the match.
I'd hate to see Nadal beat Roger on his home court, though.
What do you think of the challenges?
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Challenges?
July 6, 2008 - 13:33 ET by Noel SheppardChallenges? Meaning their existence, or the ones Roger has asked for?
Their existance
July 6, 2008 - 13:36 ET by BlondeI haven't watched too much tennis lately, this is the first I've seen them.
I like them, I've seen too many good matches turn on bad calls.
Hope Roger can get his had back on straight. I should be painting, but I'd rather watch the match.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
I love em!
July 6, 2008 - 13:38 ET by Noel SheppardI think it's great. Linesmen and umps shouldn't decide sporting events.
As we've already seen today -- and in that tiebreaker -- these folks make a lot of mistakes. Now they can be quickly reversed.
It's about time!
Agreed.
July 6, 2008 - 13:43 ET by BlondeI just wonder why it took so long.
P.S. Your bike conversation last nite was fascinating reading.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Yeah...
July 6, 2008 - 13:49 ET by Noel Sheppard...that was fun. Biking can be truly awesome. Much more fun than jogging or swimming, although obviously more time consuming.
B
July 6, 2008 - 13:29 ET by Noel SheppardB,
That's the first good breakpoint return of second serve we've seen by Federer all day! ns
Nadal
July 6, 2008 - 13:32 ET by BlondeIs playing all out. Wow.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Roger...
July 6, 2008 - 13:42 ET by Noel Sheppard...moving around the court MUCH MUCH MUCH better now!
Unforced errors...
July 6, 2008 - 13:52 ET by BlondeAnother one, drat!
Danger game.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Waste of space and time...
July 6, 2008 - 13:36 ET by AZTech2020Why don't you leave tennis and all other sports crap to ESPN and their ilk? If we wanted to read about anything "sporting", we'd likely check out the sports pages/sites, not a political commentary site.
Don't read it if you don't like it
July 6, 2008 - 13:38 ET by BlondeWe have a tradition here of Sports Threads on the weekends. Wait until college football kicks off.
GO GATORS!
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
"Wait until college
July 6, 2008 - 13:45 ET by Cureboy675"Wait until college football kicks off"
(whispering to self) "Please, dear God, don't let my Nebraska Cornhuskers be as positively embarassing as they were last year"
See that, Arizona?
July 6, 2008 - 13:48 ET by BlondeAnd it begins....
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Oh I could go on for hours
July 6, 2008 - 14:09 ET by Cureboy675Oh I could go on for hours about Husker football. There's always that fun statistic that when Nebraska's Memorial stadium is sold out on game day (which it always has been since 1962), it becomes the third largest city in Nebraska.
You have no idea. Husker football is a religion in this state. And Tom Osborne is the God (when he retired, people acted like a President had passed away). We don't have anything else in this state. No professional football team, baseball team, hockey team, basketball team, just Husker football.
Three national championships in the 90s. Three Heisman Trophy winners in the last 35 years. And all of that just pissed away in a matter of four short years by that idiotic Athletic Director Steve Pederson and his idiotic choice for head coach Bill Callahan. We had two losing seasons in four years (even though before that we hadn't had a losing season since the 1960s). We had the longest losing streak in 70 years and suffered the biggest blow-out loss EVER. (But at least I'm not bitter)
But at least they are righting the ship. They fired Pederson and Callahan. Brought in Tom Osborne as Athletic Director and hired Bo Pelini as the head coach (even though they should have hired him 4 years ago when they had the chance).
So I predict happier times for Nebraska football, starting this Fall (insert glorious triumphant music)
No worries, Cureboy
July 6, 2008 - 14:17 ET by BlondeWe are all a bit passionate about our teams. I feel your pain, after all, we had to suffer through three years of Ron Zook before the Urban Renewal.
I've driven through Lincoln on Game Day (Oh was that a huge mistake!). And I know intimately about one of those Championships, as you all humiliated my Gators at our first turn in the big dance.
So good luck to you & your Huskers. I'm glad to hear the ship has been righted, I hate it when the great teams have horrible years, and Nebraska has a great football tradition.
And what do you mean you're not bitter? Obama says you are. :)
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Happy Sunday...
July 6, 2008 - 13:39 ET by Noel Sheppard...to you, too!!!
Just for you, AZ
July 6, 2008 - 16:40 ET by UnsaneGo here for your one-stop tennis resource, or should I say, теннис? How about some football? Baseball, anyone? Basketball just ended but there is ALWAYS next season...
:-)
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
----
July 6, 2008 - 13:50 ET by dahliatraversAnd for those on a computer but not near a television set, BBCFiveLive is covering Wimbledon live. [Click on link below then click on "Listen Live" in the upper right corner of the page.]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/
Another tiebreaker?
July 6, 2008 - 14:07 ET by BlondePredictions, Noel?
If it gets to that, I think Roger will will the tiebreaker. But I still think Nadal will win the match. Federer just can't find his consistency today.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Nerves?
July 6, 2008 - 14:24 ET by BlondeFirst the double, then the net?
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
UNBELIEVABLE!!!
July 6, 2008 - 14:31 ET by Noel SheppardGOING TO SET FIVE, BABY!!!
Oh my!
July 6, 2008 - 14:35 ET by BlondeThis is going to be epic, I suspect.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
→ WOW
July 6, 2008 - 14:56 ET by Cool ArrowClash of the Titans.
Borg/McEnroe?
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
Another rain delay! I
July 6, 2008 - 14:58 ET by sinaAnother rain delay!
I almost died during that 4th set tiebreaker
NS,
July 6, 2008 - 15:01 ET by BlondeOkay, I'm changing my prediction since they went to another rain delay, and the game will likely not finish until tomorrow.
Roger wins tomorrow.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
B
July 6, 2008 - 15:16 ET by Noel SheppardB,
I don't know. Youth would be favored by this. Let's hope they resume play today, because I don't want to wait for tomorrow. ns
Me neither, N
July 6, 2008 - 15:20 ET by BlondeHow did you like that 4th set tie-breaker?
Nadal is clearly has the edge in physicality, but I think if Roger has the evening to think himself through it, he'll be in the right frame of mind to overcome Nadal's slight edge.
I think these two are great for the men's game, they clearly have one of those rivalries going that will be spoken of for a long time. Roger wouldn't be as great as he is without Nadal to keep pushing him, IMO.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Nice way...
July 6, 2008 - 15:25 ET by Noel Sheppard...for Roger to start after the third delay.
Why am I rooting for Roger? I always cheer for the underdog unless I have a personal stake.
Thanks for that N,
July 6, 2008 - 15:30 ET by BlondeI just presumed that was it....we were watching a movie.
I just like Roger. The ultimate professional and gentleman.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Roger to me...
July 6, 2008 - 15:36 ET by Noel Sheppard...is the new Bjorn Borg. Gets his job done, does it in a classy fashion, doesn't grandstand or show up his opponents, has great reverence for the game, and is a joy to watch.
These guys...
July 6, 2008 - 15:39 ET by Noel Sheppard...aren't even breathing heavily. How can they be in this kind of shape?
Astoundingly good tennis!
July 6, 2008 - 15:49 ET by Noel SheppardIs this now the best finals match ever?
Drat!
July 6, 2008 - 15:53 ET by UnsaneI work nights. It's a shame I missed it!
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Uns...they're still playing
July 6, 2008 - 15:55 ET by Blonde6 all in the 5th set.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Hard to say,
July 6, 2008 - 15:53 ET by BlondeBut Nadal hasn't lost his serve.
And Roger's not converted 11 (at last count?) break opportunities.
Awesome stuff!
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
UNREAL!
July 6, 2008 - 16:19 ET by BlondeWow, Wow, Wow!
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Amazing!!!
July 6, 2008 - 16:20 ET by Noel SheppardMaybe the best finals match of all time. Congratulations, Gentlemen!!!
EPIC match between 2 classy athletes
July 6, 2008 - 17:19 ET by mom_roxRoger almost had a "Tiger moment", winning the 4th set after being down 2-5 in the tiebreaker. Rafa was simply "en fuego".
Match stats:
Total Points - Roger 204 ... Rafa 209
The stat that killed Roger was 1 of 13 breakpoint conversions.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
Mom
July 6, 2008 - 17:31 ET by Noel SheppardMom,
You know, much as it's too bad Rocco didn't beat Tiger -- for that would have been better for the sport of golf -- this match ending this way was perfect, for we got to see how a real champion responds in defeat, and how a youngster is supposed to behave when he wins the biggest match of his life against one of the greats of the game.
Wonderfully, Roger's only 27 (in August). Rafa's 22. Could this be the start of the kind of friendly, respectful rivalry men's tennis has been looking for for a long, long time?
I certainly hope so. ns
The start? I think we're already in it.
July 6, 2008 - 18:33 ET by mom_roxFederer-Nadal have been ranked 1-2 since July 2005. (Federer's been ranked #1 since Feb 2004.) Their six meetings in Grand Slam finals is already an Open Era record.
Like you said, the sportsmanship is admirable. I can cheer for either one, but I'd like Roger to match Sampras' 14 slams AND win a French Open. Then Rafa can go to town.
... and 20 years from now, we'll see them sitting together in the front row at Centre Court, under a roof and reminiscing about the rain delays.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
Mom
July 6, 2008 - 18:41 ET by Noel SheppardMom,
Understood. My point was now that Nadal has shown he can beat Federer on a fast surface, this rivalry has jumped to a new level.
Forgive me, but I find clay boring as heck. Didn't like playing on it, and don't like watching it. As such, although I really like Rafa, I could never see him as a serious threat to unseed Roger as #1 -- until now.
Men's tennis dramatically changed today, and for the better. Make sense? ns
Love the rallies!
July 6, 2008 - 19:31 ET by mom_roxNo doubt it's gone to a new level. I just hope it's not a complete (sorry for the overused phrase) changing of the guard. We'll see what Uncle Toni has in mind for the U.S. Open.
Like someone else mentioned before, it was boring watching Sampras play. Serve, return error. Serve, return, winner. Ace. repeat as necessary.
Mom
July 6, 2008 - 19:47 ET by Noel SheppardMom,
Exactly. Sampras bored the heck out of me. He's one of the reasons I stopped watching tennis. Compare today's match with what we saw at Wimbledon during Sampras's reign -- no comparison. ns
Personally I loved watching
July 6, 2008 - 20:01 ET by balboaPersonally I loved watching Sampras, esp. against Agassi. His serve was just too good, not to mention the inside-out forehand. But Agassi / Sampras was not as much fun as these two guys because of Nadal. He's quick as a cat and hits winners from way behind the baseline.
Plus, Agassi was good, then wasn't, then was...the rivalry stalled out a couple of times.
I'm got hoarse from
July 7, 2008 - 04:26 ET by kit9I'm got hoarse from screaming in the 5th set! Fantastic match. The level of play was unbelievable. Two warriors battling into the dusk. It was incredible.