Mocking Rafa doesn't count unless you throw in a little butt pick. Ot at least some water bottle alignment. Just ask le Sod. Though he might want to also ask Robin how that worked out for him at Wimby.

Since I can't see any of this, is Tsonga really complaining about Rafa's time between points? To anyone in authority or just whinging into the air.

Thanks, Latino. I missed that.

Sherlock Amen Brother!!!!!!!

Does Rafa really take more time than he's supposed to? I thought he was quicker the past 2-3 years

Thanks for that lovely post, Tigress. Now that you have explained your general mindset, i take posts like that for what they are: praise to Nadal.

Stars must have aligned right there, cos Jo actually held serve.

Jbrad - Rafa has been slow this match, even by his own slow standards. Doesn't seem to be as bad this set, though. Jo's kvetching --if not the subsequent meltdown--was justified, IMO.

Jo holds at 30 to get to 2-4 in the second set. Nadal won all the points here he was able to put the return in. Unfortunately, that only happened a couple of times. Jo with 2 aces in that game.

Jbrad - they put a clock on Rafa in one of his matches and he came in at anywhere between 35/45 sec. I thought he was doing better to, but honestly, I think we have all just gotten used to the slow rhythm so it SEEMS normal. Which it is, though still actually against the rules. You know, if we are gonna get all technical about it.

Jo, you freakin' idiot. Can you hit anything other than a drop volley? Eh? At least once?

Well played, Mr. X.

I never want to see Jo play Rafa on clay.

What a rally. And Jo gets impatient. Goodness.

This sounds like a nothing win for Rafa against an unimposing opponent playing not very smart tennis. So why all the excessive angst and hoopla atound here? Sounds like spiffing up a routine win into Something Typically Rafa Wonderful (phony). Berdych would probably have smashed Nadal in straight sets.

Stupid non-dropper JoWilly.

"The quality of the drop volley from Tsonga couldn't have been any better."

I want some of what Goodall is smoking. Actually lots of it.

Rafa up one break in second set and TennisTV announcer says that Rafa is in "total control" of the match.

Why is this person so negative?

Rafa is in total control of the tournament, the rest of the 2010 season, the 2012 thru 2017 seasons, the weather in 80% of Europe over the next two months, and the economies of all South American nations (except Paraguay) during the next decade.

C'mon. Give Rafa his due.

Okay sblily. Well the other players are well within their rights to complain. Love Rafa as I do, he doesn't get his own set of time rules.
MSF. You're hilarious this night.

It's a pleasure to watch Rafa playing so well. What a great hold to love : )

Wait till he gets on the clay!

IMO, Rafa was terribly slow at the start of the match. Since Jo complained though, he has started to go faster.
Solid serve game by Nadal to hold at love and go up 5-2 in the second set, closed with an spectacular OH. In one point, Jo got so frustrated after a very long rally, that he just decided to play a WTF DS. Jo is getting passed most of the times he goes to the net. Good passings by Nadal today.

Free Willy will never be free....

Somebody's having a bad day. :)

Gee once in a while it would be nice to credit a player for playing some great shots

Though with the present people on board

Too much to ask for.

Who woulda thought that in 2010, Berdych would be a better fighter than Tsonga.

Berdych played well throughout in the match he played against Rafa at IW, and Tsonga didn't play well against Fed in the SF at the AO.

6-3, 5-2? Really Jo?

Sam Stosur put up a bigger fight.

Two match points for Rafa.

All that jumping surely cannot be doing any good to his knees....please stop any unnecessary moves Rafa...we want your knees healthy.

Rafa truly has some wedgie issues...so much adjusting even just to sit down!

ouch Tennisesq, ouch.

Can you play a match any better than that?

Loved the slow mo of the last point in Rafa's game, looked like they were dancing.
Rafa seems to have speeded up his time interval.

Well the time waster Nadal has a match point

Vamos Rafa outstanding tonight

6-3,6-2

Congrats Rafa the best tennis you have played soo far this season

No one can abuse a short slice like Rafa. Freakin' awesome that fh. And, he finishes in style! Congrats to Rafa fans. He was great. Commies to Jo fans. Putting this together with the performance against Fed in Oz SF...one word...merdelicious.

Played my first tennis with Rafa shoes. Won 6-2 6-0. That says it all. It was the shoes!

I need a strong drink.

Rafa was awesome. Looked *gulp* confident at times.

Wow Rafa played great, much better then against Ferrer. I would have been happy either way but Vamos!! Night folks

What a shot on match point!

*high fives Rafa fans*

That was a more reassuring performance from him, especially considering Jo's form coming in.

Commies to greenhopper and other Jo fans.

Commies just called it Rafa's best performance of the year. Hmph, I don't know about that...

Thank you Ratty for finishing this match before 11!

In honor of Rafa's countenance, Michael Jackson's "Ben" being played at the stadium.

That was the most incredible tennis I have ever witnessed.

I should wear these type of glasses more often.

Yeah, the only downside is now there's at least one more hardcourt match to hose the knees.

Condolences, 'Hopper. :(

And Pspace. And, um, Tigress. :)

Commies to Jo fans, esp GH and Pspace!

Yay fellow Rafa fans!!!!

Hey in awesome news, Dallas and Memphis are in OT, preempting the 30 allotted minutes of Fox Sports Tennis coverage. Why do I even complain anymore? It looks like this may go to another OT...

Jo put all his eggs in Rafa's first service game and it was all downhill from there.

Now the rest of my night is free to watch Red Cliff (International Version).

To anyone who watched: Once Rafa took control of the match, did he stop cheating and serve within the time limits according to the Rules?

Okay, I wasn't imagining it. Jo is indeed wearing pearl earrings. WTF, man? You can't accessorize like a granny and expect to beat Rafa.

Once again, many thanks, Tigress. Lovely.

You are on fire, msf.

And with a good FH passing, Nadal wins, 6-3,6-2.
Congratulations to fellow Nadal fans. That was much better than his last match, but let's be real: it was impossible to play worst, and Jo probably should have broken at least once, if he hadnt made so many wrong decissions on BP. So, there's still a lot of margin for improvement. The FH and the serve were effective (about the serve, Jo isnt the best returner though). Still waiting for the BH. The passing shots were crisp, but Jo should have put away more volleys (the last one is a good example). Still, leaves a much better taste than the ugly thing of yesterday.
Conmiserations to Jo fans. He started well, but he couldnt break and then lost the plot for few games at the end of the 1st set and the start of the second. His biggest problems were not being able to convert any BP and not putting away more volleys, IMO.

Well hail, congrats to Rafa fans...'twas a masterful snuffing out by your guy. Totally deserves all the accolades he gets from this match.

Commies to fellow JoWilly fans, we lost this match at 3all in the first.

Jbrad, come on now. You KNOW you want more Grizzlies basketball! :)

Now, that was an impressive performance by Rafael as he educated Jo-W.

Commies to Jo-Wilf and his fans. Congrats to Rafa for a great match tonight, so much better than yesterday.

The poor sportsmanship from certain quarters knows no bounds. Must be one sad person.

Jo with the Pearl Earrings? lol

Congrats to Nadal's fans and commiseration to JWT's fans. Seems like this tournament is Nadals to win really. I don't see him losing to Roddick or a Verdasco or a Soderling. And a first win in Miami should be good for his confidence.

And I bet Carol just loved watching this match!!!

Rafa will win this tournament. VAMOS RFA

So you guys were saying something about a miracle or a slaughter or something like that?

Um. Yes.

Well done Rafa! Squeeeeeeee!

Commiserations to JWT fans.

*blows a kiss towards Tigress*
Seriously, you are the best. You unstoppable praise of Rafa is greatly appreciated by this fan. Always at your disposition.

msf, may i ask you to take the glasses of and tell me what you thought of the match?

OK, Roddick next. You better not give him the chances you gave Jo, because that guy knows how to take them. He wont put as much pressure in the rallies, but he wont do the same gifts either. And he will be very tough to break, so the ocasional stupid serve games should stay away. It will probably be close, and the confidence in the key points will be important. We'll see about that. I predicted this SF right in my bracket, and picked Roddick. I hope i jinxed him.

Well I have pearl earings I hope that I dont look like a Granny?

Commies to GH.Joe started great.Has to learn to play those big points better.

*checking out the match stats*

8/8 (as in break points saved by Rafa) is a beautiful sight, though it will probably give Jo-Wi nightmares.

The Phoenix Suns would have appreciated the Celtics winning at home against OK and Memphis winning at home against Dallas.

So, of course, the Celtics lose and it looks like Memphis is going down. As the announcers noted, why in H is Memphis not denying Dirk the ball on the inbounds when Memphis knew it had to foul?

Why, oh why?

Now for a nice day of rest, then the semi on Friday and another day of rest before Sunday's final.

The top half guys must play their QF and semi on consecutive days, Thursday and Friday.

Manuel I can always lend you my Rose Coloured Chanel Glasses

Now if anyone deserves to complain about taking too much time, this 5? minute OT has taken almost 30 minutes. Where's Lars Graf when you need him?

Congrats to the Rafalites - despite all the doom and gloom from some quarters, seemed like he played really well - though I am going just by reports, since basketball trumped tennis tonight on Comcast. doh.

Oh, Jo - you really ARE going to be one of those 'one match wonders' aren't you?

(Psst - don't tell, but I LIKE the pearl earring...very pirate-like.)

Miss Highpockets you can come out now

Hee. Went back to read the match call and see some people "no likey" Rafa playing well. When Rafa plays like this, it just seems..funny. :)))

He he, Jbrad. And I bet some of those Mavericks and Grizzlies are standing in the damn key longer then 3 seconds!!!

Mornin'

Who won the first set?

Ok, that was better than i expected, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. By no means is gonna be easy to beat RAndy. That guy is a true fighter.

Interesting match tomorrow with Verd-Berd. Tomas smoked him in IW, but FeVer played like crap of the 3rd degree that day. We'll see. And oh, go Youz:)

Thank G-o-d i have these days free. I would be a zombi if i had to work. That's it from me tonight.
See you tomorrow, everyone.

Goodnight Mr. X. Sweet dreams. :)

So I gather Rafa won in straight sets.

'Night, Mr. x.

Indeed. Andy's always tough. I'd actually be ok with Andy winning the whole thing. It's just nice to see Rafa play a match like that. Save the knees and let's head to the dirt. :)

I didn't even know until tonight that Memphis even had a pro basketball team. Wow I've been living in a tennis vacuum

Amidst all the personal putdowns and innuendo, it's glaringly interesting that no one has been able to answer my very simple factual question: Again:

"Once Rafa took control of the match, did he stop cheating and serve within the time limits according to the Rules?"

Still waiting for an answer.

AA Hi, rafa won 6-3,6-2

Oh yes, indeed - GO YOUZ!!!

(As close as I can get these days to Go Couz! ;-))

Tigress- thank you for putting Rafa fans down in their place. I mean gosh forbid we enjoy his improved play. He was more aggressive and had a much better game plan. But no- we should be sneered down upon and derided. After all- didn't you once say that Rafa fans as a collective have a lower intelligence than fans of some other players. So some patience for us stupid mindless minion like fans. I mean- with my two brain cells I can only focus on one thing at a time. And with just two brain cells I can be easier to be mindles and delusional. ;)

Re Rafa being slow- he was too slow to start imo but he did speed up. Jo's kvetching I think was understandable but it did the deed and speeded things up. Gosh darn I lurve Rafa but I do wish he would speed up his play between points at times and say adios to the butt picks.

I loved his play today. Much better court positioning, looking for winners and a serve and volley!

I did not hold to my promise to not watch the match.

Angel, yes, 6-4, 6-3. If I remember right. Which is never a sure thing.

Tigress, sorry. I'm rewatching the match to calculate the statistics for you. I'm almost through the first set. I'll get right back to you.

From some of the posts I read it sounds like it was far closer. To me Rafa was in control of the mach going by that score.

Carrie you should just scroll and not bite back. I just get bored of reading the same old crap, so for now I will scroll because really I don't care how many weeks such and such has spent at No. 1.

Dang it. I knew it was 6-2. Curses, foiled again.

Brain Fail Sherlock

6-3,6-2

Rafa won 6-3 6-2

Tigress: Why do you ask?

Thursday Order of Play:

WTA - Marion Bartoli vs Venus Williams at 1 PM
ATP - Tomas Berdych vs Fernando Verdasco at 3 PM
ATP - Mikhail Youzhny vs Robin Soderling at 7 PM
WTA - Kim Clijsters vs Justine Henin at 9 PM

Friday Order of Play(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Rafael Nadal vs Andy Roddick at 1 PM
Tomas Berdych or Fernando Verdasco vs Mikhail Youzhny or Robin Soderling at 7 PM

Curses, foiled again and again. Rafa had two 6's, that's all I know. :)

Tigress:

Normally, I would say that the two to five minutes Rafa was taking between serves was deserving of a flogging, then placement in stocks for several days.

However, today, for some strange reason, I found extremely charming Rafa's horrendous flouting of the most central tenets of tennis sportsmanship.

Tigress- yes, the horrible cheating anti-Christ did speed things up. As I said- I do feel that Rafa at times takes too long between points. I don't think it is a nefarious idea of his to cheat borne out of a black soul- I think he just is too inward and OCD. I do understand why folks complain about his time taking but I don't think it is gamesmanship on his part- I think it is from his focus. He should be called out on it- but so should other players.

Commies to Jo's fans. He will rue that 0/8 bp conversion rate.

Mr. X- I do not think Rafa will easily win the tournament and may not get to the semis. But after the poo on a platter of yesterday's match tonight was a welcome surprise. I thought his tennis brain had gone to Mars so it was nice to see

Whew, that was fun! Much improved by Rafa, but hated to see Jo's meltdown. He had so many chances.
For all of the complaints about Rafa's BH, I thought he did manage to find a decent CC BH amongst the horrible slices up the line.

Won't be able to watch Sauce vs Bird tomorrow. Verdasco, try not to get bageled, mkay? I'll keep the standards low after IW.

Carrie: It *was* nice to see Rafa's tennis brain consistently throughout the match. He made smart plays and seemed, dare I say, confident (?) enough to carry through with his game plan. And, he had a really sweet game plan for Jo's serve. Someone did their homework.

Angel, it was the old scenario which happens so often. Tsonga really gave it his all to try to break Rafa, but when he was unable to convert on his break points and Rafa held, it left Jo-Willy ripe for the picking on his own serve game. Rafa broke at love last game of the first set.

With Rafa serving first, Tsonga gave it his all again on the first game of the second set, but to no avail. He got broken the very next game and again when trailing 5-2 to end the match.

Rafa is such an asshat...

good win for Nadal!! WOOO!!
now Venus has to win tommorow and then both favs will be closer to the final. :)

Apart from being a Serial Time waster

RafA saved all his b.points

His b/point stat which is the most important stat of the game was great

Carrie at 1105: Thanks for answering my question, although the 1st paragraph was rather strange.

rafadoc: Sorry, answering questions with questions is a rhetorical trick that's strictly verboten (forbidden).

Yep AM. That tells me that Rafa is getting tougher mentally.

Tigress: I wanted to know why you asked. But, if my response actually left you speechless, well, good for me. :)

Anyway nothing is a given in tennis

I was just pleased to see Rafa come to play and he did

For the people who doubt him or underestimate him ever? do that at your own peril.

Champion players always rise even when their best tennis have left them

The other stat I'm really liking from the Rafa/Jo-Wi match:

4/5 (as in break points converted by Rafa)

Gosh, that felt good. :)

Sblily: Great stat. Rafa's focus and confidence on BP converted and saved on his own serve speaks well to his mentality right now. Hopefully, it continues into the Roddick match.

Tigress- I was just attempting to be funny but it is not going well because I fear it is sounding mean. I don't mean to be mean- just sarcastic and/or facetious but I fear it is just coming out mean.

As for some other comments here- will not take the bait. Some folks will dislike the players that they will dislike. No players are saints and no players are devils- heck, I have even warmed up to Soderling. But trying to argue with people who despise one player or another will not do me any good. Need to remember. I just tend to like players rather than finding things to hate about them- I do think overall tennis has a good lot. Heck, I have even warmed up to Mardy Fish because I think he has matured. I don't know if there is a player that I really dislike- Fish used to be it. Oh wait- Tursunov...yes...dislike him loads. Enjoy your time on the island Dmitry.