Nadal v Del Potro, Carreno Busta v Anderson; US Open SF Picks And Pans

by Sean Randall | September 8th, 2017, 2:50 pm
  • 128 Comments

We are down to just four at the final Slam of the 2017 season. Rafael Nadal is there, that’s no big surprise, not after his Australian Open run and his results earlier in the year.

Then there’s Juan Martin Del Potro. That is a surprise. The Argentine really hasn’t been much of a factor this season. We’ve seen him get tough draw after tough draw, but never really emerge. That is until now.

And then we have the shockers: Pablo Carreno Busta and Kevin Anderson. Obviously with five of the Top 11 absent someone or someones new are going to get through, and like we saw with the summer surprises at Canada and Cincinnati, that’s what happened here.


So what’s going to happen next?

Pablo Carreno Busta v Kevin Anderson
With his booming serve and heavy groundstrokes, plus a 2-0 edge in their head-to-head, Kevin Anderson comes in as the favorite against Pablo Carreno Busta.

Anderson just beat him a month ago in Canada and once before in 2013 on the clay in Casablanca. And while Carreno Busta hasn’t dropped a set, Anderson has played better players in New York like Sam Querrey and Borna Coric. He also had some nice wins en route to the Washington final against Dominic Thiem and Jack Sock. So he’s playing well.

On the other hand, Carreno Busta was gifted four straight qualifiers to contend with, though phenom Denis Shapovalov was among them, then ousted a hampered Diego Schwartzman. All matches he should have won and won handily, which he did. High marks for that.

But in terms of results, edge to Anderson there.

That said, the court is playing slow this year and someone like Carreno Busta, who moves well and gets a lot of balls back, can take advantage especially against a slower guy like Anderson.

Therefore, the match comes down to Anderson’s serve. If he serves well and avoids long, extended rallies, he’ll win and could win easily, especially if he starts getting a reach on Carreno Busta’s serve.

But if he doesn’t serve well then I think Carreno Busta has a chance.

And also to watch here are the nerves. Who handles the pressure better. Neither has ever been this far before at a Slam. And it’s the biggest match of their careers. Yet I think that edge goes to Carreno Busta who maybe has a better pedigree than Anderson and also who won a crown earlier this year.

Carreno Busta 4-5 years ago was thought of as the next Top 20/Top 10 Spaniard while Anderson was just another player who benefits from being 6-foot-8.

But here we are and someone has to make a first Grand Slam final. I think this could go either way, but I’ll ride the bigger serve of Anderson to get him out of trouble. So in a tight one…
The Pick: Anderson in 5

Rafael Nadal v Juan Martin Del Potro
After some patchy tennis last week, Rafael Nadal has got his game into gear in week two. Of course he hasn’t played anyone of note, but that changes bigly today against Juan Martin Del Potro.

Playing as well as he has in years, Del Potro took the racquet out of Roger Federer’s hands Wednesday night. And after saving those two matchpoints in a thriller Monday over Dominic Thiem, maybe the Gods are with him. After those four wrist surgeries and having been on the edge of retirement, maybe this is redemption.

It would be quite a story.

Today, Nadal is the favorite to win, though. He’s won a ridiculous 14 straight Grand Slam semifinals since his loss to the Argentine in this same round in 2009. And he’s been so consistent in Slams all season. He’s the deserved No. 1 and he leads the tour in match wins.

The court also sets up well for him – it’s not as quick as in years past – and he’s hungry knowing a win here could give him a hammerlock on the No. 1 ranking.

But.

He still hasn’t won a hardcourt title since 2014 Doha and still hasn’t won a hardcourt Slam since the 2013 US Open. And while those things shouldn’t have been a factor playing a Dusan Lajovic or Leonardo Mayer or Andrey Rublev, that’s going to come into play today.

And that’s because Del Potro has beaten him five times (out of 13) winning their last two including at the Rio Olympics last summer. Nadal knows this will be a test, a dangerous one. So it’s a different approach, a different mindset.

To me, the key comes down to Rafa’s groundstrokes and second serve. If his groundies are short, Del Potro – like I felt he did against Federer – will punish them. And same with the second serve.

I think Del Potro shows up. He’s been such a warrior in these types of matches. And he’s done it before. Plus, I think he’ll even have the crowd to feed off of, and that’s big. After saving those matchpoints, beating Federer, this feels like a Delpo title. But it won’t be easy today.
The Pick: Del Potro in 5

Bottom line today is just as we saw all tournament and all summer, expect anything. About the most improbable thing I could see this afternoon is Carreno Busta winning in a blowout and the same for Delpo.

Anderson should be able to get a lot of easy holds and Nadal’s not going to get drubbed again like in 2009. But who knows…


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128 Comments for Nadal v Del Potro, Carreno Busta v Anderson; US Open SF Picks And Pans

skeezer Says:

Picked Delpo also (in the other thread). But disagree one the keys, think it is all about deploys serve…..we’ll see!


skeezer Says:

^Delpo’s


Willow Says:

3, 4, 5, Dont care, as long as Rafa wins, it will be tough as Delpos playing great again, i wonder if the physical side will come into play, and if Delpo will be feeling fatigued, as hes spent longer on court than Rafa, we will see ….


Wog Boy Says:

The only place Rafa is really troubled by big servers is Wimbledon, that has more to do with a grass and him not having grip with ground like he has on HC and CC so doesn’t give him confidence that he can move as quickly as he would like for the second shot.
AA is huge court, pleanty of room for Rafa to position himself wherever and whenever he wants and be ready to strike. You just don’t compare him with 36 years old since his return and defense is far better than 36 years old.
All Rafa has to do to sustain first 3-4 shots by big man and point is his. Nole does excatly that and his return and defense is like Rafa’s, high quality one.
Look only at this year results, this 2017 Nole, imposter Nole, played three times against Delpo, guess what was the score?!


the_mind_reels Says:

Nadal is 3-5 against Del Potro on hardcourts over their careers. Not a great H2H, including having lost the last two. But I agree that it will come down to Del Potro’s serve. If he serves the way he did against Federer, Nadal will cough up short balls, and rallies won’t go past 3-4 shots. On the other hand, if he has a bad serving day and lets Nadal into his games, it may not be a long evening.

May the best man win!


J-Kath Says:

Dinna fash yerselves – Rafa will win.


Willow Says:

Hope so J-Kath, but no complaints from me if he doesnt ….


BBB Says:

I’m surprised there’s no discussion of DelPo’s backhand. Surely Rafa will have seen that feeding the forehand is just an opportunity for Delpo to groove it. Short balls or no, if they’re on Delpo’s backhand side, he’ll have to get comfortable hitting winners from there. He did ok against Fed when he was forced to hit the backhand the odd time, but if there’s real pressure on it over and over again, then it seems to me he’ll either get over his phobia or struggle with rallies.


Daniel Says:

8 games and PCB hasn’t made a single UE. A break up 5-3.


Daniel Says:

PCB has 3 winners to 1 UE and only won 6 points on Anderson serve (but got the break) and the set.

Ok, he is playing solid, but this is what USO is now, a player who is basically just defending in not missing, can’t hardly produce winners can win it?!


Markus Says:

Wow! Super boring match. Errors galore from Anderson. PCB can win this by just standing there.


Daniel Says:

Anderson playing better second set, his Winner / UE ration increased, he is more aggressive, made some return winners as well. Guarantee tiebreak, PCB will serve down 5-6. Anderson needs this breaker. If he loses, will be 0-2 down and PCB will serve first third set. Any bad game and he can lose in straights.

PCB, playing with almost no errors and winners only on passing shots. But high firsts serves in, 76%, as well as he can play.


Daniel Says:

And Anderson break with a winner. Helped by PCB who made a DF on 30-30.

To me, the match is on Anderson racquet, if he controls his aggression and reduce UE and keeps serving above 60% as he is, he wins.


Daniel Says:

Anderson 2-1, hope he closes in 4. He is the more deserving: aggressive, attacking and coming in to finish points.

PCB has only 4 points at net, staying back and going for safe shots all the time. Playing clay court game at USO won’t cut it.


skeezer Says:

This is what USO deserves with a messed up draw they could have avoided.


J-Kath Says:

Willow: Are you staying up for Rafa’s match?


Willow Says:

J-Kath for a while, but im supposed to be going away tomorrow for the weekend, so ill try for a while at least ….


Daniel Says:

Anderson is on fire. PCB just surviving having to save all his games.

Anderson to serve for the match. Let’s see of he’ll feel nerves. It’s gonna be the biggest serve game of his career. But the way he is confident and pumped up I think he will serve big and wrap it.


Daniel Says:

Great anderson wins. And the way hile qon hos last two matches watch out.

He started more tense and made a few errors in beggining but after he settle the math was totally in his racquet.

PCB was brave to withdtand the storm, but Anderson was dictating.


Willow Says:

Congrats Kevin Anderson on his first ever GS final, and a great run by PCB too, have to agree with Markus in that the match was rather dull though ….


skeezer Says:

Kunieda has just take the first set over Hewett.


Daniel Says:

Nadal not seeing good 43% first serves and leaving ball short and DelPo couldn’t capitalize. But at least he is making a run in Nadal’s serve game.

Let’s see how he holds next.


Daniel Says:

2nd straight game DelPo has BP. Time to close.


Berghain Says:

lolz at Delpos forehand – that shot is just insane – point over.


kjb Says:

It’s really too bad that Delpo lost so much of his prime to injury. He is just an awesome player to watch.


Yoda Says:

At least Nadal’s time helps Delpo who’s playing slow as well to rest between points 37 minutes in a 4-3 set


Daniel Says:

DelPo to serve for the set. Nadal confirmed last 2 games easier after having 30-30 in first three.

But DelPo served to love.


Daniel Says:

DelPo’s BH is way better these tourney. He is unleashing cross court.


Daniel Says:

First set in the bag.


Daniel Says:

Nadal changed and going for FH DTL, 4 winners in last 2 games.


Daniel Says:

Nadal defending and making DelPo miss. got an early break.


Van orten Says:

Same old same old


Daniel Says:

Well, this set is gone. DelPo let down and missing a lot and Nadal found away going for FH DTL.

Let’s see is DelPo regroups in time for third set.


Daniel Says:

Jes DelPo. Is it something bothering him? Because as much as Nadal adjusted DelPo’s level dropped completely and his serve bar a few is awful.


JD Says:

seems delpo is only prepared for Nadal’s attack to his backhand. If changes directon, he hardly able to get a clean hits


Van orten Says:

I already miss Federer !!! He would handle nadal serve and short balls way better than delpo is


Daniel Says:

7 straight games for Nadal.

DelPo needs to hold his serve next game! If he loses this match will go quickly and don’t lineup to the potential hype (specially after first set).


Van orten Says:

Game set and match


Daniel Says:

Nadal is playing very aggressive. This is how he should be playing on HC. He has 24 winners and is still early in the set.


Daniel Says:

I mean, take down Federer only to play for 1 set.


Van orten Says:

It was clear from the beginning that if fed finds a way past delpo he is the one to stop nadal . Delpo won and fed went home but delpo has no chance playing like this . No net play no variety … nothing . Nadal playing like always no surprise there . Nadal deserves credit but delpo is not there at all


Van orten Says:

Anderson is the last hope


Van orten Says:

Fed let delpo of the hook and now all who don’t want nadal to win have to suffer hahaha


Daniel Says:

Seems he run out of fumes. his shots lacking pop and he is not moving properly. Probably feeling the effects of lats two matches. And Nadal is not even making him run this much because Nadal is super aggressive shortening points.

He closes a set and can’t win a game anymore. Lost serve already 4 straight times and is facing BP’s now.

Bizarre.


Daniel Says:

Finally after 9 games he is able to hold serve.


el_matador Says:

in the wods of the great dj trump…”sad!”


Markus Says:

This match has deteriorated fast after that thrilling first set. It’s not Nadal’s fault.


Van orten Says:

Wilander will say again nadal can win the next 5 slams in that form etc


JD Says:

Trash talking from Mats, have n’t seen such worse pundit.. JMac fares much better to me in this aspect


Markus Says:

When Nadal is in full flight, you just can’t think of anyone who can beat him.


Daniel Says:

Funny thing is I’ve never seen Nadal plays this fast between points and change overs. He know DelPo likes to take as long as he does and needs more time so he is speeding up the game.

Ultimate irony for a guy who mad this career slowing down the game. So he knows and can play faster, he just don’t want to.


Daniel Says:

Also his second serve return i inside the court. Never seen him return so well second serves, and he is targeting DelPo’s FH fast to not allow him time.


Daniel Says:

Nadal destroying DelPo. I know it takes two to tango. But DelPo is neither serving as he didn’t against Federer nor returning. I mean, Nadal doesn’t have a serve like Federer for DelPo not being able to push him, ba 2 games in first set (the one he had BP and the next he broke) after that he isn’t able to go to deuce in not a single Nadal game.

Very subpar Delpo in every department. Even his FH is off bar a few hammers.

Why take fed down yo have this performance next round. The amount of FH he is netting is unusual


Van orten Says:

Maybe Anderson is on such a high and he pulls off the upset of the century . He just needs to fire 25 plus aces . First serve% up 75 % and hit 80 winners with no unforced errors


Wog Boy Says:

Delpo served 67% against Roger and so far 65% against Rafa. The difference is Rafa is far better returner and big servers are never as comfortable serving against Rafa, Andy, Nole…


Van orten Says:

wait for Federer tooling with delpo in the fall next time they meet . Can’t believe fed lost after seeing today’s performance by del Potro . Yes nadal is strong but this is different energy level .


Daniel Says:

Going out! not worth it anymore. Friday night and still early here in Rio.

Congrats Nadal on his 16th Slam, third USO, finally winning a HC title, and not any, just the most important one of the season and cementing his #1 ranking. 70-80% chance he will finish #1 unless Fed wins Shangai, to maybe challenge him.

He’ll soon have more USO than Djoko and Agassi. The guy stays 3 and half years without a single HC title and suddenly, bam wins USO courtesy to the luckiest draw ever in a Slam.

16-19 and is game on form him. RG next year he will be favorite again. Another Year Edn #1 and he can target WTF to complete his impressive resume.


Markus Says:

These are the two most boring men’s semifinals matches since I can’t even remember when.


Daniel Says:

Versus Fed he had 12 aces and won 81% first points, today he has 7 and 71% points won on first serve, but only 28% on second serves. Even Fed not as great a returner as Nadal, Djoko and Murray tis DelPo is nowhere near the one who played Federer.

He has 40 UE out of 180 pts today. 22,2% of points in errors

Against Fed he had 32 UE in 256 points played. 12,5 % in errors. Big difference.


Van orten Says:

Not nadals fault fed lost to delpo ! It was an easy draw but fed could have made it very difficult for nadal because he was a little in his head . But ifs etc doesn’t help . He lost for a reason to delpo . He was not fit enough and nadal showing brutal fitness at the moment . So no matter how hard the draw only few players can take down nadal anyways . This time everyone felt like comfort zone player though . No one that could possibly threaten him . not his fault !


Markus Says:

…again, not Nadal’s fault.


Wog Boy Says:

Simply because Rafa is far better returner and took it to Delpo and broke him down, didn’t let him play. Roger wasn capable of doing that, Delpo outplayed him in all segments, truth hurts.


Markus Says:

Maybe Nadal will say something really funny again in his interview.


Van orten Says:

Anderson will win !


Markus Says:

Yes, Del Potro outplayed Federer in all segments duing their match. That’s the truth but it does not hurt. It happens. But all that is in the past now, so it’s better to dwell now on how well Nadal played tonight in particular and the whole tournament, so far, in general.


skeezer Says:

Nadals return had very little to do with it. Daniel brought up the stats. Delpo’s serve went downhill. Out of gas.
It was obvious Delpo legs were gone already from previous matches. He was giving up on shots in the first set, and he won that!
This is what you get in a messed up draw, Rafa playing practice partners 5 times in a row. Well rested, he looked like he could play all night long.
Congrats to the Bull, looks like he’ll finally get his A Slam other than Clay since when? How do you say “lucky” in Spanish?


jatin Says:

Amazing level of play by rafa in last 3 sets, delpo game went down quite a bit though.
The standout shot of this match was Rafa’s FH down the line. It was scary.
What a year it has been for Fedal.
It could be 2-2 in slams if Rafa wins the final.
Could anderson do the impossible ?
He can, as he has a huge serve with big forehand which can unsettle rafa. But if rafa continues to play in this form in the finals, he would be very difficult to stop.
Hope to see a good final.


kjb Says:

@Wogboy “Roger wasn capable of doing that, Delpo outplayed him in all segments, truth hurts”

Ya, no shit. It was also pretty obvious that Fed wasn’t at his best physically. He wasn’t even sitting down on most of the breaks on changeovers and between sets. Fed gave Delpo all the credit after the loss. Fed also has a way better record against Delpo than Nadal will ever have.


Wog Boy Says:

“Fed gave Delpo all the credit after the loss.”

I had to laugh on that one, yes he gave him a redit but not before he said that he was tired, not 100%, back problems and in such a bad shape that he didn’t even know if he is going to play, sure he gave him a credit:)


Markus Says:

Wog Boy will always find a way to insinuate something negative about Federer even if Federer is not in the picture anymore. Most often, or should I say always, his opinion does not take other factors into consideratin just so he can denigrate Federer. That’s Wog Boy’s modus operandi and honestly, it has become so commonplace and tiresome. It won’t be Wog Boy anymore if his post does not include a put down on Roger.


Karthick Says:

Vamos Rafa!!!


Wog Boy Says:

Delpo’s serve was 66% compare to 67% against 36 year old with bad back, yes, really went down hill against Rafa:))
Rafa’s return was the difference, particularly second serve return.


BBB Says:

Congrats Nadal fans. I missed the match but sounds like he played well.


kjb Says:

Wogboy was nowhere to be seen until Roger lost. Then he came out from his hole, like the troll he is.


montecarlo Says:

how do you say lucky in spanish?

Federer


skeezer Says:

@Markus
Truth👍
Don’t forget just plain jealous too.


Wog Boy Says:

I was here all the time, anything else, facts hurts, no?


skeezer Says:

“how do you say luckier in Spanish?”
Rafael Nadal


Wog Boy Says:

So many butthurt 36 year old fanatics, I am enjoying this thread so far:)


skeezer Says:

Yep facts hurt. 19. Take heed.


Markus Says:

That’s % first serves that went in. It does not take into consideration other factors like velocity and placement, etc. Wog Boy, you should know better than that. Oh, yes, because it is Wog Boy, he will disegard those just so he can make Federer look bad.


Josh Says:

wow, for having a cupcake draw, Nadal looked great against DelPo.


Markus Says:

Yes, 19! I hope Nadal wins his 16th so he can distance himself further from Wog Boy’s boy’s 12. Then he’ll have two people in his envy list.


Wog Boy Says:

^^^ not according to butthurt fedfanatics.


Wog Boy Says:

^^ this was for Josh


kjb Says:

Hahaha. Anyway, congrats to Rafa fans here on the forum. A deserved final. Its nice to see Fed and Rafa on top and dominating again. Anderson may sneak a tiebreak on Sunday at best, but I think it will be quick and painless win for Rafa and his supporters.


Daniel Says:

AO Nadal is unlucky, hence his 1-3 in finals, but USO he is lucky, this draw and his 2010 draw were a joke (he faced 4 straight Spaniards he owned and Youzh semis) bar Djoko in finals. But even so, that Djoko have never beaten Nadal in any finals before.


Wog Boy Says:

My boy gave birth to little girl named Tara and is now busy breastfeeding her, it’s not nice to drag him into conversation.


skeezer Says:

Re: 11:09. Oh that is why you are here. Now the truth comes out. Expected.


Markus Says:

Wog Boy is obsessed with butts. Why is that? And look how he twists things. There are so many Federer fans here who have been congrayulating Nadal for his excellent game against Del Potro. He can’t seem to read well anymore. Maybe from focusing to much on our butts?


Wog Boy Says:

This:

“There are so many Federer fans here who have been congrayulating Nadal for his excellent game against Del Potro.”

After saying this:

“These are the two most boring men’s semifinals matches since I can’t even remember when.”

Somebody is suffering from split personality.


Markus Says:

Again, WB takes comments out of context. You conveniently omitted that I also said, “…not Nadal’s fault” and in another post @10pm, I said, “When Nadal is in full flight, you just can’t think of anybody who can beat him.” You certainly have a penchant for twisting things and maligning people.


Tennis realist Says:

@skeezer , yeah Federer getting 1 day extra rest at australian open was not lucky? Him Amassing gs left and right in era of Hewit and Rodick was not lucky. Funny is how Fed has to rely on two of his rival going down to win big. When Nadal was on top Fed has to rely on Nadal going down , when Nole was on Top , he had to rely on Nole going down to win. When his grratest rivals were at best he shat his pants.


FedExpress Says:

Just stfu tennis re


FedExpress Says:

Just stfu tennis realist.
Discrediting Feds achievement is your only job?

Yeah, Rafa had a a joke of a draw. But not his fault.

Hope Anderson saves tennis.


skeezer Says:

@12:01
How many times are you going to change your moniker? Same ol same ol.
“Funny is how Fed has to rely on two of his rival going down to win big”
Lol did you see what you wrote?
And what is Rafa doin? He beat 5 practice partners that gave him loads of rest to finally meet a seeded player who was out of gas by playing real players. THAT is lucky. Now he plays….. Who? Lucky. He never faced any of the top 3, cause 2 are injured and a third is old. Luckier still.

“When his grratest rivals were at best he shat his pants.”

So Rafa was not playing his best this year? Please tell me otherwise. At Rafa’s best a 35 yr old man beat him once for GS fnal, and two more masters this year. Oh gee, parden me. He is 3-0 against Rafa in one of Rafa’s best years ever.


skeezer Says:

Congrats to Rafa, he played very well against Delpo. He came to play with lots of gas in his tank. Looks like he’ll finally get that HC title he has not gotten for years.


Okiegal Says:

How do you say luckier in Spanish??? VAMOS!! Lol! Congrats Rafa! Exciting to see you in another finals! Bite the trophy for #16!! 🐂🐂🐂


Margot Says:

Congrats to Rafa Nadal and James Anderson…oops that should be Kevin on this tennis site, James on a cricketing one….;)


Tennis realist Says:

@FedEx truth hurts, doesn’t it? Or we’ve to pretend Roddick and Hewit were mighiest warrior , How many Slams Rafa and Djojovic win by defeating each others ? Hell even Murray , Wawrinka are better than Rorrick and Hewit mugs. Look at list of semifinalist and finalist that Nadal and Nole had to beat to win all slams and look at Fed’s lol. I want to enjoy tennis but these fedfanatic have nerve to call other players lucky when their own Hero is luckiest to face Hewit and Rodick to amass majority of his slams , even later on he has to rely on Nadal going out or Nole dropping form to win his slams. Deep down fedfanatic knows the truth.


Tennis realist Says:

Yeah pretend that Rafa was best at AO with Fed having an extra day of rest. What happend to Fed at his peak? 9-2? Remember? Fed was not at his best when he lost to Nadal but as soo. As Nadal lost Fed wins gs lol. When Djokovic hit the peak Poor Fed had to wait for 5 years to get a slam. How many gs fed was denied when Nole hit the peak? Well, lets pretend that defeating Djokovic, fed and murray is same as defeating Hewit and Rodick. Even Delpo is a better player than Roddick and Hewit the hobbit.


Ven Says:

Too much defensive from few Fed fans, it’s is very simple Delpo not allowed Fed to play his game and Rafa did not allowed Delpo to play his game, I can see Rafa returns are very aggressive especially in 3rd and 4th sets


madmax Says:

Tennis realist Says:
Yeah pretend that Rafa was best at AO with Fed having an extra day of rest. What happend to Fed at his peak? 9-2? Remember? Fed was not at his best when he lost to Nadal but as soo. As Nadal lost Fed wins gs lol. When Djokovic hit the peak Poor Fed had to wait for 5 years to get a slam. How many gs fed was denied when Nole hit the peak? Well, lets pretend that defeating Djokovic, fed and murray is same as defeating Hewit and Rodick. Even Delpo is a better player than Roddick and Hewit the hobbit.

September 9th, 2017 at 4:02 am

Ven Says:
Too much defensive from few Fed fans, it’s is very simple Delpo not allowed Fed to play his game and Rafa did not allowed Delpo to play his game, I can see Rafa returns are very aggressive especially in 3rd and 4th sets

September 9th, 2017 at 4:24 am

Guys,

Give it a rest. You are haters. Yeah. We get it. Get over yourselves.


madmax Says:

Was a match where I knew in the pit of my stomach that Delpo had a very real chance. I took myself back to 2009. Did not think at that time that Delpo would pull off the win, but he did. Always been the dark horse in this tournament. I don’t know one Federer fan who wished Delpo ill, he is the most likeable guy on tour. After what he has been through, he fully deserved his win against Federer, and Federer acknowledged that. It is such a shame that people like you just want Roger to beg, and to crawl everytime he loses, and to do the same when he wins.

19. Feels good.


madmax Says:

Van orten Says:
Not nadals fault fed lost to delpo ! It was an easy draw but fed could have made it very difficult for nadal because he was a little in his head . But ifs etc doesn’t help . He lost for a reason to delpo . He was not fit enough and nadal showing brutal fitness at the moment . So no matter how hard the draw only few players can take down nadal anyways . This time everyone felt like comfort zone player though . No one that could possibly threaten him . not his fault !

September 8th, 2017 at 10:23 pm

Van Orten. I agree. Federer needed to be at the top of his game, he wasn’t against Delpo. I predicted Fed would make it to the QFs and then would be ousted, I thought though that it would be Kyrgios who would have taken Fed out.

The QFs with everything that Fed has achieved this year is still awesome.


Ven Says:

Ha ha Haters, yes I will hate few who underrate someone’s success and tag them lucky


minerva Says:

The folks who comment on this site are hilarious — the level of denial required to consistently downplay just about everything Nadal achieves is epic really in its ridiculousness. Even the title of another article here “Nadal Wears Out Del Potro” — could it be anymore dismissive of the great play displayed by Nadal? If Roger had played and won so handily, you can bet the title of that article would have been much different, and the praise by the same old posters effusive in their praise. How many more Grand Slams more than Nadal does Roger have to have in order for anyone at Fed-X to give Nadal kudos for anything?


Okiegal.... Says:

Thanks Margot!! I won’t lie I’ll be as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs come Sunday. Anderson is playing very well……Rafa will have to wear the big man down.. That would be my strategy. We will see how it plays out…..I’m ready!

I hope Andy stays away from tennis until he’s well…..that’s what it’s gonna take…….Trying to play when not completely well is a big mistake. I wish him a speedy recovery!!


J-Kath Says:

Well done Rafa – sounds like you got Delpo’s measure. Rafa will consolidate his no.1 ranking by beating Anderson in the final. Anderson is applying for US citizenship – maybe the powers that be will be impressed by his apparent success at reaching the final and will speed up the paperwork so he can play for the US in the future.


James Says:

Nadal creates a record for the ages. Wins a slam without ever beating a top 25 ranked player. Never happened before. And that too in a year when the USO courts were slowed to a grinding halt. Its as if the organizers tailored this one to suit him.

That’s some mucho luck.


BBB Says:

I saw Anderson play in the DC finals. Maybe it was an off day, but I just don’t see him having the diversity of shots to beat Rafa. We shall see!


Amit Says:

Roddick is unluckiest tp facw Fed in all his slam finals or else he would be a multiple slam winner… And hewitt was dominating federer until he turned it around.. how conveniently peoplw forget these things.. lolzzz

fed too had to struggle to overcome Nalbandian, Hewitt and Nadal, who all were his nemeses!!! Just like fed used to beat crap out of djoker and djoker had to turn it around to win slams, lolzzz

some people tend to preswnt as if fed was dished out everything on a platter his whole career, lmao :D

if it weren’t for federer being 5 to 6 years older than nadal and djoker, federer would have had a few more drubbing s on these two!!

All know it! But will deny! !

To each his own though!!!

You have a right to believe your playet is better than federer and wipe the floor with him just like fed fans and many others believe that Fed is the single greatest player in history of tennos and none else of the current players can ever defeat him at his confident best, barring nadal on clay..

Some fed fans are arrogant, but thats not to be the reason for trying to scantify feds resume! ! Coz for all we know, he is just too good to be put down by the nobodys out here…


Amit Says:

Rafa is Rafa.. The man I consider next only to Federer… may He win USO… :))) A GREATEST CHAMPION him…

and I love del potro.. hope he wins a few more slams…

Another USO for Rafa is necessary to deafeningly ilence his critics, who always refer to his clay court success as the only reason for terming him as a player with limited all court credential! !!


Amit Says:

^^^ *silence


Markus Says:

There is one argument that’s unequivocal, 19. That’s better than 15 or 16, and there is even no need to mention 12 because it is not even equal to 15. When 15 improves to 19, then we can pick again on the argument. So for now, pray that 15 becomes 16 so it can get closer. Meantime, I’ll content myself with 19. Those below can throw stones but they cannot reach that high up.

19


Markus Says:

Let me speak up for Roddick and Hewitt who were both good when they were playing but have been so maligned here because of their poor record against Federer.

Roddick has a winning recond against Djokovic at 5:4. They are tied at 1 each in majors. He has a 3:7 head to head against Nadal but split their slam matches at 1 apiece. Roddick is 21:3 against Federer and lost all 8 of their majors matches.

Hewitt is 1:6 against Djokovic winning 4 majors against 1 for Hewitt. He is 4:7 against Nadal. Nadal beat him 4 times in slams, all at the French. Hewitt beat Nadal twice at the Australian Open. Federer took all their 8 majors meetings.

So there, Federer never lost to either Hewitt or Roddick in majors. But these two who are made to look bad by Federer naysayers had been able to beat both Nadal and Djokovic in majors. And Roddick even has a winning overall head to head record against Djokovic.


Tennis realist Says:

No genius Roddick and Hewit were not only losing to Federer , they were not even making final consistently and losing to rest of the field. You must be a super high quality of idiot to even compare them to top rivals that Nole and Rafa had to face.Roddick and Hewit were talentless mugs, not even on par with Wawrinka and Del Potro let alone Djokovic , Murray and Federer. Hewit and Roddick were not even 2nd and 3rd and got displaced by Baby rafa, Nole and Murray thats how lil talent they had. Hype it all you want but Rafa had to beat Murray, Djokovic and Fed for almost all of his slams , thats far far superior and tougher than Federer march against his weak era peers.


Giles Says:

Post September 9th 8.42 am. I could have sworn skeezer posted this but I was wrong, it is Markus. Funny how all the fedfans sound the same!


t4t Says:

Cultmembers always sound eerily alike!


t4t Says:

I am sure the cult is praying hard for Anderson to do a Wawrinka AO 14.


skeezer Says:

^surely you meant this:
“Stan Wawrinka wins US OPEN 2016 Final against Novak Djokovic”


J-Kath Says:

Markus:

Andy Murray’s record against Hewitt & Roddick record would have been worth mentioning. AndyM. and Roddick have met 11 times with Murray winning 8 times vs. 3. Murray vs. Hewitt – winner Murray (although not clear how many times they met). Anyways, “Tennis Realist” is significantly right.


t4t Says:

skeezer @ 10:57 am
Nopes, I meant AO 2014. Djokovic isn’t in the final. Did Djokovic traumatize you so much that you see him in the final even when he is NOT playing? Ha ha ha!


t4t Says:

As for the record of the legendary Hewitt against Murray, they met only once and a 19 year old Murray thrashed him. What was Fed’s record before 2003? Fed has enjoyed the weakest era among the big 4: 2003-2007. The other three were then too young. Despite that they gave him more trouble than the legendary Hewitt and Roddick.


Markus Says:

So, using the logic of Tennis realist and the “Weak Era” advocates and applying it to women’s tennis, Serena Williams is not a great tennis player. She is at best only above average because look at the people she beat in getting to her 23 slam titles.

J-Kath, Murray with only 3 majors titles should not even be included in the picture. He is only a couple of steps better than Roddick and Hewitt. I was trying to avoid dragging him in but you brought it up.


skeezer Says:

“Did Djokovic traumatize you so much …..”
No. I am good with 19.
But for surely its apparent from your constant weak attempts at “discounting” Roger Federer it is you that is traumatized by the man, the GOAT.
ROFL.


J-Kath Says:

Markus:

You left him out because his record against Hewitt & Roddick would have spoilt your argument.


t4t Says:

Markus your logic is bad. I did not say your man is average because he beat a weak field. I refuted or rebutted your claim that 19 puts Fed above the other three.Fed is an all time great but to claim he is GOAT because 19>12 or 19> 15 is wrong. Fed had the opportunity to pile up 12 between 2003-2007 when the other 3 were too young and the rest of the field were like minnows compared to his whale. When the other 3 matured, they were able to challenge him whale to whale but they never had his advantage of being the only whale.

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