Murray v Gasquet, Nadal v Del Potro on Wimbledon Manic Monday; X-Notes

by Staff | June 25th, 2011, 10:26 pm
  • 22 Comments

The Big Three in Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer all advanced in radically different matches on Saturday at the All England Club.
ADHEREL
The top-seeded Nadal, in a resumption of the previous day’s match, survived another tiebreak against the dangerous big server Gilles Muller, defeating the Luxembourg resident 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 6-0.

“The third set, two sets to love, I am able to play with less pressure,” said Nadal, who saved two sets points in the first set. “I started to return unbelievable and to play at very high level, I think.”

Djokovic struggled to find his game against an inspired opponent, defeating former Top 10er and No. 32 seed Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.


“Considering my game, I don’t think I’ve played on top, played the way I played in the first two rounds. I was moving really bad. I didn’t feel great on the court,” said Djokovic, who improved to 5-0 career versus Baghdatis. “But all the credit to him for playing well. Couple of points really decided the winner.”

Federer in contrast blew by his former nemesis and No. 28 seed David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

“I thought today was a particularly good performance by my side, on my serve again,” said the self-effacing, humble Swiss. “I think I played a great match.”

Aussie Bernard Tomic led the upset movement on Saturday at Wimbledon, defeating an ailing No. 5 seed Robin Soderling who suffered stomach issues 6-1, 6-4, 7-5. Other upset winners were Poland’s Kubot over No. 9 Gael Monfils in four, and Xavier “X-Man” Malisse breaking the will of No. 11 seed Jurgen “Tuna” Melzer 6-0 in the third.

“I really came in today giving myself a chance,” said Tomic, who next faces Malisse. “I think I played really relaxed in the first set. I didn’t think I could win at the start. But the way I was playing, I was questioning myself. [And] after that first set, it opened up a lot of doors.”

Other Top 10-seeded winners on the day were No. 6 Tomas Berdych straight-setting Alex Bogomolov Jr., No. 7 David Ferrer doing likewise to Slovak Karol Beck, and No. 10 Mardy Fish advancing when opponent Robin Haase retired with injury in the fourth set.

Lower-seeded winners were No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga straight-setting Chile’s Fernando “Gonzo” Gonzalez, No. 24 Juan Martin Del Potro upsetting No. 15 Gilles Simon in straights, No. 18 Mikhail Youzhny upsetting No. 16 Nicolas Almagro in four, and No. 19 Michael Llodra straight-setting Taipei’s Yen-Hsun Lu.

Sunday is a day of rest at Wimbledon, but Monday will feature blockbuster fourth-round matches (4) Andy Murray vs. (17) Richard “Baby Fed” Gasquet, (1) Rafael Nadal vs. (24) Juan Martin Del Potro, rush-and-crush Frenchman (19) Michael Llodra vs. (2) Novak Djokovic, (18) Mikhail Youzhny vs. (3) Roger Federer, (10) Mardy Fish vs. 2010 runner-up (6) Tomas Berdych, Poland’s unseeded Lukasz Kubot vs. unseeded Spaniard Feliciano “F-Lo” Lopez, (7) David Ferrer vs. (12) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and out on Court 18, unseeded Aussie Bernard Tomic vs. unseeded Belgian Xavier “X-Man” Malisse.

TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Watching Novak Djokovic on grass, don’t you get the feeling that his massage-y, topspin groundstrokes that kind of sit up rather than power through the court aren’t good enough to win Wimbledon? He looks like he thinks he’s still at the French trying to hit a heavy topspin ball. Dude needs to learn how to flatten it out a little…The WTA Tournament of Champions, otherwise known as the “Loser Bowl” featuring the six highest-ranked players who won a title during the year but didn’t qualify for the WTA year-end championships, plus two wildcards, will move from Bali to Bulgaria in 2012…the Williams sisters will play the Rogers Cup in Toronto in August…the WTA Texas Tennis Open will debut in Grapevine (suburban Dallas), Tex., the week before the 2011 US Open, featuring Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Melanie Oudin and Julia “Gorgeous” Goerges among other players. Tournament organizers say most tournament matches will be held in the evening and at night to avoid the oppressive Texas heat. Go to the official tournament website and enjoy the message: “Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in D:\Hosting\7086576\html\wp-includes\class-wp-error.php on line 21“…Svetlana Kuznetsova talking to the NYT on accidently drilling Marion Bartoli with a ball during a warm-up in a match in 2006, and Bartoli later saying she did it on purpose: “Of course I apologized right away. Normally where a player warms up is three meters behind the net. She was a half-meter from the net. I hit her because she was very close and maybe doesn’t react to some balls. I still sometimes think, ‘That was for real? I don’t believe this happened.’ You’ve got to be a little crazy to see it that way.”…In her second-round match, world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki made one (1) unforced error…What does Andy Roddick have in common with “Fiery” Fred Stolle and Ken “Muscles” Rosewall? They are the only players in the modern era to be denied three (3) times in the Wimbledon final without capturing the title. Players denied two (2) times are Patrick Rafter, Ivan Lendl and Ilie Nastase…We had a hard time pulling ourselves away from the court where Julia “Gorgeous” Goerges and Maria Kirilenko were playing doubles together…So Rafael Nadal is having trouble with his knee? Say goodbye to seeing Rafa in Austin in two weeks when U.S. Davis Cup hosts Spain.


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22 Comments for Murray v Gasquet, Nadal v Del Potro on Wimbledon Manic Monday; X-Notes

Anna Says:

Geez, a little bit of searching and you would have found that Rafa had a bit of a niggle in the groin area and nothing is wrong with his knee. He said he felt fine on court today. Looking forward to the match with JMDP on Monday. To bad they can’t both win, but since that’s not the case. Vamos Rafa.


Skeezerweezer Says:

Do we really have to wait till Monday? Great lineup of matches….


someone Says:

Yeh, Rafa always calls for the trainer when he’s behind


Humble Rafa Says:

While it true that I call for the trainer while I am losing, I also have 100 niggling injuries in my body.

Niggle in the groin area was not due to tennis. Just saying. Ask Xisca.

Especially, after I lose serve, one of them acts up. It in my head.

I am practicing 6 hours today. After 3 enforced errors in the last match, I couldn’t sleep. No playstation today. 200 backhands and 200 forehands all day.


Michael Says:

Rafa Vs Del Potro must be interesting. I am sure if Del Potro brings his “A” game he can be a threat to Rafa on hard courts. But I doubt whether Potro will be as effective against Rafa on Grass Court. Grass Court is not the bread and butter of Del Potro and he is quite uncomfortable on this surface. His record there speaks for themselves. But yet I give Potro a whiff of a chance against Nadal on Monday. I anticipate atleast a four setter with tight two sets. Nadal might be the ultimate winner but Potro can give a fight is my feeling. On the other wing, Federer will make a mincemeat of Youzhni and Murray Vs Gasquet might be a cliff hanger although I would give the edge to Murray.


Seth Says:

Vamos, Del Potro! Only you can bring balance to the force.


Seth Says:

Well, not only you, but you certainly have an opportunity to.


Kimmi Says:

i can see rafa playing with a lot of slices in this match. flat ball too. topspin wont work.


EdgarCayce Says:

Vamos, Humble Rafa! LOL

Monday’s match picks:

Humble Rafa in 3 sets, 1 set will. be. somewhat. close.

“self-effacing, humble Swiss” in 3.

Super Serb in 3.

Murray in 5. Andy starts slow and loses 1st set, makes a thrilling comeback in set 2, his mind wanders and loses set 4, but Gasquet has his own issues in the 5th and Murray wins.

Bernard Tomic baffles Malisse in 4. (rain delay might be involved)

Berdych in 4.

Tsonga gets it done in 3 or 4. Or, Ferrer outlasts Tsonga in 5.

Kubot in 5. Full 5 minutes of Polish kick dancing follows match point.


margot Says:

EdgarCayce: lol no need to watch now. Ta :)


tqrs Says:

Watching Novak Djokovic on grass, don’t you get the feeling that his massage-y, topspin groundstrokes that kind of sit up rather than power through the court aren’t good enough to win Wimbledon? He looks like he thinks he’s still at the French trying to hit a heavy topspin ball. Dude needs to learn how to flatten it out a little

I thought this advice should go to Nadal? Looks like TX thinks Nole has heavier spin than Nadal? Am i really reading this?


Anna Says:

tqrs – Like Kimmi says, lots of flat balls and lots of slices from Rafa on grass. I’ll just be happy to see a rally or two after Rafa’s last match.

Skeeze – I’m wth you, Monday can’t come soon enough.


EdgarCayce Says:

@ Margot

That’s the absolute worst case scenario for Andy. ;)

I’m not known for getting it right – see my lost continent of Atlantis prediction, lol.


tennisfansince76 Says:

the one thinsgi’ve noticed w/ Nole on grass is he seems a bit stiff. grass is the surface still where the bounce is most unreliable and your strokes have to be very fluid making micro adjustments in split seconds. it seems to me Fed and Rafa are best at this still.


Nina Says:

Nole had a bad day against Baghdatis, that can happen even to the best. He played very good tennis on grass against Anderson and Chardy, give the guy a chance. I’m sure on his next match he will ante up his game. He hasn’t got proper training on grass leading up to Wimbledon, but I’m confident in his chances.


Lou Says:

I think Nole/murray also has a chance to win this tournament only if they can keep their cool.

The game stats till now suggest that all 4 are playing equally well.
http://t.co/Z00m4oz
Djokovic/Murray- What do first week Wimbledon stats indicate: Part 2

Hopefully we have a rocking week ahead.


sheila Says:

hoping delpo somehow upsets nadal. nadal wins this i think it will give him so much confidence he will win the tournament. after delpo he really has no one else. if berdych gets thru hes a mental case & can never beat nadal. so is murray. the ironic thing is they all have the physical game 2win nadal, but they lack the belief. nadal is going 2 win his 11th major although my fantasy mind is hoping federer wins his 17th major


Kimmi Says:

delpo needs to make some noise again. unfortunately it is his worst surface. wrong place i’m afraid.

i still say vamos delpo :)))))


Kimmi Says:

ah, great matches tomorrow..cant watch any of the them live :) I will just have to rely on my recording. Easy, which matches ESPN will give enough air time..obviously serena, venus and fish. they better be good


Kimmi Says:

ah, great matches tomorrow..cant watch any of the them live :) I will just have to rely on my recording. Easy, which matches ESPN will give enough air time..obviously serena, venus and fish. they better be good


Kimmi Says:

ooops! dont know what happened there


The fighter Says:

nadal cums through..wat a relief!!!!!

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