2012 Australian Open

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Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Jan 27, 2012 11:35 PM
I'll take Maria in straights tonight. I'll take the joker in 4 tomorrow, maybe straights if his legs aren't worn out. That extra day for rafa is a pretty big edge
Jan 27, 2012 11:35pm
DeyDurkie5's avatar

DeyDurkie5

Senior Member

11,324 posts
Jan 27, 2012 11:36 PM
I'll be watching
Jan 27, 2012 11:36pm
H

Hulk Smash

Senior Member

306 posts
Jan 28, 2012 11:05 AM
Azarenka crushes Sharapova 3 and love to win the Aussie and claim the #1 ranking.

In the men's final this if the third consecutive major final featuring The Djoker vs Rafa. Would that be a record for two players meeting in finals? Rafa and Fed never played in three straight. Lendl and Wilander didn't either.
Jan 28, 2012 11:05am
Azubuike24's avatar

Azubuike24

Senior Member

15,933 posts
Jan 28, 2012 2:39 PM
They will set the record tonight, but it Djokovic can someone make it in the French, they might break it over the next year...don't see how anyone is going to stop either player (maybe Roger at Wimbledon) from sweeping the season of finals...
Jan 28, 2012 2:39pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Jan 28, 2012 3:04 PM
Azubuike24;1068565 wrote:They will set the record tonight, but it Djokovic can someone make it in the French, they might break it over the next year...don't see how anyone is going to stop either player (maybe Roger at Wimbledon) from sweeping the season of finals...
Murray and Roger will have a chance at Wimbledon. Also, Rafas knees after the US Open Series heading into the US Open is up for debate.
Jan 28, 2012 3:04pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Jan 29, 2012 2:11 PM
The Joker takes down Rafa in a thrilling 5 setter. Probably one of the top 5, maybe 3 matches Ive ever seen. Agassi - Sampras at the US Open and Roger - Rafa at Wimbledon are the only 2 I for sure have above it.
Jan 29, 2012 2:11pm
DeyDurkie5's avatar

DeyDurkie5

Senior Member

11,324 posts
Jan 29, 2012 2:20 PM
Laley23;1069070 wrote:The Joker takes down Rafa in a thrilling 5 setter. Probably one of the top 5, maybe 3 matches Ive ever seen. Agassi - Sampras at the US Open and Roger - Rafa at Wimbledon are the only 2 I for sure have above it.
I wanted to watch it, but got too drunk at the casino. Woke up to "one of the greatest matches ever" and just put my head down in shame.
Jan 29, 2012 2:20pm
SportsAndLady's avatar

SportsAndLady

Senior Member

35,632 posts
Jan 29, 2012 2:26 PM
DeyDurkie5;1069081 wrote:I wanted to watch it, but got too drunk at the casino. Woke up to "one of the greatest matches ever" and just put my head down in shame.
You call yourself a tennis fan..
Jan 29, 2012 2:26pm
G

gport_tennis

Senior Member

1,796 posts
Jan 29, 2012 4:10 PM
Laley23;1069070 wrote:The Joker takes down Rafa in a thrilling 5 setter. Probably one of the top 5, maybe 3 matches Ive ever seen. Agassi - Sampras at the US Open and Roger - Rafa at Wimbledon are the only 2 I for sure have above it.

The federer-safin match at the aussie a few years back was incredible as well. I got the match recorded.I was wrong in the set amount, but the joker is just out of this world right now. What seperates novak from federer right now is the ability to make nadal hit backhands. This keeps him in control of the point and ultimately in control of the match. Federers style uses the whole court, especially the forehand down the line. Nadal is just able to tee off on that shot and that's where he beats federer
Jan 29, 2012 4:10pm
H

Hulk Smash

Senior Member

306 posts
Jan 29, 2012 5:47 PM
When Rafa was a 17-year-old upstart and Roger was at the peak of his dominance Rafa was already beating Roger and not just on clay. Rafa won 7 of the first 10 with two of the wins on hard courts.
Rafa has always faired well against Roger not just recently.

What separates Novak from Roger is.......................Novak is not Roger.
Rafa used to be presented with a trophy for beating Roger..............................now Novak gets a trophy when he beats Rafa.

I could slow down the server listing great five-setters I've been fortunate enough to watch over the years.
Sampras/Becker at the German Indoor and Tour championship a month or so later in 96
Edberg/Chang 92 US Open semis
Conners/Mac 84 US Open semis
Rafter/Sampras 98 US Open semis
Rafa/Fed Wimbledon finals 07 and 08, Aussie final 09
Rafter/Ivanisevic 01 Wimbledon
The Rafter/Agassi series of semis at Wimbledon and the Aussie were all great

Those are just off the top of my head.
The thing that strikes me as odd is no Lendl/Wilander match comes to mind and I know they played a few epic matches with one another.

Today's final belongs on that list. This match will turn out to be a pivotal point in Rafa's career.
He spent years chasing the top spot once before, does he have the desire to do it again?
We'll find out in the spring.

Add Edberg/Becker French semis 89 and Wimbledon final 90 to the list up above.
Jan 29, 2012 5:47pm