At Montreal, Nadal went out in his first match and Federer in his second. Can anyone even remember that happening before?
I think that at the first Masters event of the North America tour most of us expected repeat semifinals featuring the top four of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray.
But just a few days in, and three of the four have been sent packing. Only Nole is still standing.
So with Federer yet to win a Major or Masters in 2011, and Djokovic almost unbeatable, can we pronounce the Nadal and Federer era definitively dead?
Well, in the sense of two players totally dominating a sport, as Roger and Rafa did from 2006-2010, probably, yes, that history making epoch has ended.
It’s been a great run, and in the future we will probably look back and be amazed how long it lasted rather than at how it inevitably faded to an end. We’ll treasure forever the great memories including the incredible Wimbledon, French and Australian Open finals and unique friendship in rivalry .
But in another sense, we can hope that the era still has some legs.
Federer has another Major or two in him, and although we will see more downs than we have been spoiled to experience in the past, there will still be the ups – to savour not just for rarity, but especially for the grit and skill that will be needed to beat younger upstarts.
And Nadal is far from a done force. Provided he can manage his calendar to limit the pounding on his body, we can expect to see a more dosified and focussed Rafa sharpening his game to face the new challenge that is Novak Djokovic. I think we can hope for a minimum of 4 or 5 more good years, highlighted by many great matches with the Serb, as well as a few scorchers still with Roger, Andy and some yet-to-be-discovered young talents.
So for now, I’m putting this Montreal disappointment behind me, and looking forward to see our champs rested and back in the game come Cincinnati and Flushing Meadows.
UPDATE – Result – Rafael Nadal beat Andy Murray 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 to reach his fifth successive Wimbledon final (2009 excluded due to injury)
By the time Rafa takes the court, he will already know whether he will emerge from Wimbledon as No. 1 or No. 2 in the world (if Djokovic beats Tsonga he will take over the top position on Monday, even if Nadal wins the tourney). Regardless, he will be pumped for this one.
Rafael Nadal leads Andy Murray 11-4 in the head to head, including having beaten him twice before on the grass of Wimbledon (both in straight sets). Although Murray is definitely improving, I still think Rafa will make it through, but not without a fight – Nadal in four.
Below are the best links for free TV streams over internet that we could find in our wide scan and evaluation of various sources. We do our best to check these and update these as the games start, so do hit refresh in your browser from time to time.
Wimbledon Semifinals – The Championships – Live TV Streams (Free)
Rafael Nadal vs Andy Murray, Friday, after completion of the other semifinal (Djokovic vs Tsonga, which starts at 1pm – 12 midday local time)
Rafael Nadal should be the clear favourite against Andy Murray to reach yet another Roland Garros Open.
He has a 10-4 lead in the head to head, and won both previous matches on clay. But Rafa will be wary of the Scot, especially given the strong showing from Murray in Montecarlo where Nadal went through in the semis, but lost the second set (2-6) along the way.
Still, Rafa looked great against Robin Soderling, and there is some doubt about Murray’s ankle, so I pick Nadal in three.
Below are the best links for free TV streams over internet that we could find in our wide scan and evaluation of available sources.
Roland Garros – Live Tennis on TV Streams (Free)
Rafael Nadal vs Andy Murray, Friday, 2pm local time (midday GMT)
Option 1 – French Open – Tennis – Live TV - English
The French Open draw is out and Nadal shares one side of the draw with Murray, while Federer and Djokovic are on the other half.
So that’s got to be good news for Rafa, tougher for Roger, and great news for those of us wanting to see the very best tennis in Paris.
Rafa’s biggest hurdles along the way could be Davydenko in the third round, followed by Verdasco and Soderling in a possible replay of the famous quarterfinal of two years ago when the Swede upset Nadal.
Federer on the other hand has a potential banana skin first up in Feliciano Lopez but then easier matches and possibly Wawrinka and Ferrer later in the draw.
Here is who I pick Roger and Rafa will have to face if they are to meet in the final in two weeks time:
Rafael Nadal potential opponents:
First Round: John Isner Second Round: Pablo Andujar Third Round: Nikolay Davydenko Fourth Round: Fernando Verdasco Quarterfinal: Robin Soderling Semifinal: Andy Murray Final: Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer
Roger Federer potential opponents:
First Round: Feliciano Lopez Second Round: Vincent Millot Third Round: Janko Tipsarevic Fourth Round: Stanislas Wawrinka Quarterfinal: David Ferrer Semifinal: Novak Djokovic Final: Rafael Nadal
If all goes to seed we are in for a scintillating last four. Going to be a lot of fun!
The French Open first round kicks off on Sunday May 22nd, and the seedings have already been announced (following the ATP rankings). The draw will come out today and be available here as soon as it is released.
Rafael Nadal will be looking at notching up his sixth Roland Garros title, to equal Bjorn Borg at the very top of the clay major mountain.
He will face tough competition though, most obviously from the seemingly unbeatable Novak Djokovic, but also let’s not count out Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Robin Soderling as possible winners.
According to the tournament website, Rafa practiced yesterday and his back was playing up a little, and he was less than happy with the way he was hitting the ball – let’s hope that the next 3-4 days training and rest will get him in shape.
Roger Federer has been putting in the hours – training on the main court since Monday and feeling comfortable with the surface and new balls. He must benefit from the lighter playing schedule than his other top four colleagues who played tough matches into the semifinal weekend at Rome last week.
This must be the most open Roland Garros in many years.
Who is your pick? I’m of course picking Rafa in the final over Nole, in five sets .
Madrid draw - click to download latest draw from the official website
Rafa and Roger in same half, tough opponents early on.
Well the draw is out and what a hard one it is for our two champions!
Nadal and Federer will have to be ready to play good tennis right from day one.
Here is my pick on seed and form as to who they are likely to have to win in order to meet in the semis and progress to a possible final.
Rafael Nadal – likely Madrid opponents:
First round: bye
Second round: Marcos Baghdatis
Third round: Juan Martin del Potro (or Mikhail Youzhny or Marin Cilic…)
Quarter finals: Jurgen Melzer
Semifinals: Roger Federer
Finals: Novak Djokovic (or Andy Murray)
Roger Federer – likely Madrid opponents:
First round: bye
Second round: Feliciano Lopez
Third round: Fernando Verdasco
Quarter finals: Robin Soderling
Semifinals: Rafael Nadal
Finals: Novak Djokovic (or Andy Murray)
UPDATE – Nadal beat Murray 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 and advances to the final against David Ferrer
Rafael Nadal has a solid 9-4 lead over Andy Murray in the head to head but the Scot has always backed himself on clay. Can he pull off an upset today or will Rafa claim his 26th successive win on clay and continue on his march towards a seventh title?
Below are the best links for free TV streams over internet that we could find in our wide scan and evaluation of available sources.
Monte-Carlo – Rolex Masters – Live Tennis on TV Streams (Free)
Rafael Nadal vs Andy Murray - Not before 3pm (1pm GMT)
Option 1 – Monte-Carlo Masters Series Tennis – Live TV – English
Option 2 – Monte-Carlo Masters Series Tennis – Live TV – Spanish
UDPATE – Match over, Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray to win his second Australian Open title, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. Congratulations Nole!
Novak Djokovic has a 4-3 lead over Andy Murray in the head to head, but the three most recent matches date back to 2008/09 and were won by the Scotsman. This is tough to pick – but I’ll put my neck out and say Djokovic in five…
Rafael Nadal will extend his lead in the ATP rankings, no matter who wins. Murray can climb to 4th above Soderling if he wins. Here are all the possible ATP ranking point combinations for after the tournament:
UPDATE – Match over – Murray came back to beat Ferrer, 4-6, 7-6, 6-1, 7-6
I am sure we’d all, with the notable exception (perhaps) of David Ferrer, expected to see Rafa playing Murray here, but instead the Spanish hopes will rest on the man from Alicante.
David Ferrer has played Andy Murray 5 times before, with the honours split depending on surface – Ferrer won all 3 clay court matches and Murray both hard court ones.
With a “Rafa Slam” or an extension of Fed’s all time Open record at stake, let’s take a look at what each player would have to overcome to reach that Nadal vs Federer final that so many of us are hoping for.
If all goes according to seed, here is how it would go according to the draw (link to full draw here):
Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer
Round 1
Marcos Daniel (96)
Lukas Lacko (99)
- Head to Head
2-0
0-0
Round 2
Daniel Gimeno-Traver (58)
Gilles Simon (41)
- Head to Head
0-0
0-2
Round 3
Feliciano Lopez (32)
Albert Montanes (25)
- Head to Head
6-2
3-1
Round 4
Marin Cilic (15)
Mardy Fish (16)
- Head to Head
0-1
6-1
Quarter Finals
David Ferrer (7)
Andy Roddick (8)
- Head to Head
11-3
20-2
Semifinals
Robin Soderling (4)
Novak Djokovic (3)
- Head to Head
5-2
13-6
Finals
Nadal vs Federer (Head to Head 14-8)
Singles ranking in brackets, Head to head with Nadal or Federer
The main early obstacle for Nadal seems to be the third round where he will face the winner of Marin Cilic or John Isner. Cilic beat Rafa in their only previous meeting.
Federer’s second round match will be a tough one on paper – Gilles Simon beat him in their only earlier encounters, though his form in recent months has not been so predictable.
After that, the semis will probably be where the real work kicks in. Rafa should (on paper) meet Soderling or Murray – two of the best players on hard court over recent years. Federer against Djokovic will also be fascinating.
Let the action begin – and begin it will on Monday 17th January when Roger Federer will play his first round match. He is third on the Rod Laver court, so will probably come on some time after 2pm local time, 1am GMT. Rafael Nadal will have to wait until Tuesday 18th January.
At Montreal, Nadal went out in his first match and Federer in his second. Can anyone even remember that happening before?
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