here's an idea, john .. Rafa should play only non top 100 players every round through a Slam, get three days off between matches, and medical time out between sets, a plate of cupcakes and a magic carpet ride to the court, it's only fair, no?

Davai, Misha, finish it off!

Wilanders and Cash?!! I knew Hingis and Kourni were playing, but not against Mats and "Pet Keš".

Oh man, much as I do adore the Youzh, I would love Stan to have a moment of glory in a Slam. It's got to suck being in sich an enormous Swiss shadow.

I wonder why I have so many problems with Typepad and rarely at work...

wow seems like pre-fireworks on nadal's match have already started, i skimmed through what i miss since i left round 3pm...
going to make dinner so i'm full and ready for my exercice in the couch watching rafa play lol....

*such* an enormous Swiss shadow

""I think it might - just might - affect his placement, but it clearly hasn't had an awful impact on his first serve percentage """

It did have an impact on his first serve percentage - it was 67%, 63%, 57%, 64% - in the first four matches of UsO 2010. In Wimb 2010 it was consistently close to 70% (68-70%). So the percentages have gone DOWN.

The average MPH has also increased by 3-4 MPH on the first serve, but surprisingly it has decreased by 5 MPH on the second serve (Again comparing Nadal@Wimb vs UsOpen)

It's NOT a dramatic change, as many people insinuate. It's just a matter of hitting flatter and going for his first serve (at the expense of percentage) and then rolling in a safer second serve. I've seen Rafa hit harder serves before too. He just hasn't done it consistently (until now). It's a trade off, for cheap points, and it remains to be seen how this would work against quality returners.

Stan saves a couple of BPs and holds... somehow.

should have been:
I wonder why I have so many problems with Typepad at home and rarely at work...

if I was a Rafa kid Id be praising the heavens for his incredible draw and good luck and keeping quiet and collecting the trophy

Yup, I'd love Stan to pull it off. I bet Roger is watching his match.

ESPN just promo'd Nando-Rafa for 8 o'clock again but they have not mentioned the doubles being moved.

Pam looks terrible.

Poor Stan.

hiya
can Youz put this one to bed?

LOL. Stan misses a shot, cracks his racquet, and then when the ball kid hands it to him, slams it down again for good measure. Crowd boos, code violation, etc.

Come on, Misha, break for it. Davai!

the exhibition has been moved to after Rafa-Nando per the USO site. :)

Double MP

2 MPs
take it here, Misha, I don't want him to serve for it *closed eyes*

the comrades salute

Stan dumps a backhand into the net to give Youzh the match. Congrats to his fans.

Commies to Stan fans, Observer, and anyone else who had him in suicide pool.

Later y'all!

SOKOL!!!!! :))

Heartbreaking loss for Stan.

And Youzh with the salute. *Loves*

what is that salute? racket on the head, made me laugh

Yes! Yes! Yes!

So happy for Misha, good result for him. I can't believe there is a Russian in the last 4 at a Slam. And he gets me through in SP :-)

feel so bad for Stan, commies to all his fans.

The exo has been nixed, 20 minutes until Rafa and the Sauce

Cliffie just loves rolling the "R" in Rafa.

poor poor Stan.... he was heartbroken.

Congrats to Youzhny and his fans!!

Now lets fantasize about a Verdasco-Youzhny match!

I knew I painted myself into a corner in the SP needing to rely on Stan but I really believed I'd beat the draw when he was up 2 sets to 1. Knew I should have picked rafa today and just gotten myself to the finals without a pick left.

Woohoo! Well done Youzh. Commies to Stan fans, good effort even with all the dings on him.
Like someone said upstream, he might have shown up on crutches for the SF.

Nice to see Youzh harness all the craziness and make a run to the SF.

now I'll have a problem with my next pick: Roger or Rafa. Who do I believe will win the whole thing between these 2.

sokol
high fives

Congrats Youz great stuff and well done

Congrats to Sokol as well

AA also will be soo happy

Bad luck Stan I think those lober matches caught up with you.Though you had a good tournament.

oops meant to say "longer matches"

Tim I said this the other night that yes Rafa's draw has opened up but it's not his fault that Berdy messed up and Murray played like an idiot.
I'm repeating this again not as a Rafa fan because I'm not but the truth is the truth.
Rafa got a bit lucky that his toughest opponents went out but he had no control over that.

high fices, yf

and thanks everyone for conrats :-)) I'm just really happy that he came through, there were moments where I thought he woudn't. Really good win for him.

Unfortunate that Stan wasn't 100%, but that's the game, and he gave it a good fight, hoping he's going to recover fast from the injury.

"high fices"="high fives"

GB Will you take extra Drugs pls like ASAP

Honestly LOL!

Coach Boris will probably be smoking Cigars

Stuff the ciggies lol!

So is espn doing the Nadal-Verdasco match after all that? No tennis on any of our espn channels at the moment.

"Rafa's draw has opened up but it's not his fault that Berdy messed up and Murray played like an idiot.
Rafa got a bit lucky that his toughest opponents went out but he had no control over that."

Substiture some of the names and you could be talking about FO 2009!!!

Hi Everyone!

Congrats and Commies to Stan and Youzny fans, How much will Youzny have left?

I had to come and say Vamos and all that to my Rafa!!! 3 sets please! ;)

Bravo Mihail!

Andrew 09/09/2010 at 12:56 PM

Re: Rafa's gain on serve. I happen to think that he also jumps more up/into the air and throws his shoulder more freely after he hits the ball (besides the grip change).

Tim: Find another bone. Like people pointed out to you, it's nobody's fault that Murray didn't make it so far etc

Good tourney for Stan that will stop his rankings slide. Congrats to Youzhny, but he'll need more game than he's shown so far to get to the finals.

Nam 1 Please dont bite back ok

Its not worth it

OK, now the next match

Vamos, Fernando! Hoping for a long 5 setter match, fireworks and all (sorry, AM, now I have a direct interest in this match :-))

Rafa Fans please chill

Dont bite back its not worth it ok

sokol Please keep your wishes to yourself ok lol!

Ssshh.

crazyone, I see the adventage on Fedex AND Nole compared with Nadal or Verdasco and Youzh that they have just one day to rest before the semis and next day the finals

AM, you are a wiser woman than me!!

I will try to rise above it all.

"now I'll have a problem with my next pick: Roger or Rafa. Who do I believe will win the whole thing between these 2."

Pick Rafa. The more the merrier on that bandwagon. We need it to collapse under the weight of its own expectations.

Vamos Rafa!! AM, we still have our deal, right? Rafa wins the USO, Andy wins the AO? If not, I'm vamos-ing Nando! :)

Nam 1 Thats the way

Heather Great minds of course its on

I am a woman of my word

Okay, AM. :) I'm feeling a solid Rafa win tonight.

The rafa fans here seemed perfectly chilled. I think it's interesting that FED fans are asking tim to STFU. Now he's boring everyone.

OK match is starting on time which is nice.

Vamos Mr.Cookiepants. This could be a fantastic match tonight. I'm thinking AO 09.2

I'm going to watch in peace. See you folks later.

You are wise girl AM!

If Rafa winss the USO he cant stay off the hard courts forever as far as I am concerned

He will be the youngest man in the Open Era to get a career slam

Also other stats I wont mention at the moment

I dont want to jinx him.

Oh well everyone is entitled to their opinion on things

enjoy the match guys!!

Remember, one match at a time!!

over and out!

Nam 1 Over and Out to you too LOL!

"Pick Rafa. The more the merrier on that bandwagon. We need it to collapse under the weight of its own expectations."

Lol. :) I'm picking Dasco in 5 tonight. The patented counter-Flunky move.

Regardless of the result, I reckon most tennis fans are hoping for a five-set barn-burner here as per AO 09. Sauce is certainly capable of giving us that, but will he ...

If ESPN thinks that Nando-Rafa is going to go 5 sets they're sadly mistaken. Rafa is going to win straight sets.

Dear Siggy I see you have posted long time no see

AM, we sacrificed our Fab shopping for it, remember? oh tennis gods, forgive me for this Chanel ring please!

Brad saying that if we have a Fedal final on sunday, it will be the most important match in the open era. that's saying ALOT.

I wish ESPN wouldn't hype Rafa-Fed. Every time they do it I get a feeling that it's not going to happen.

John, according to ESPN, the winner of the Fedex/Nole semi is a foregone conclusion. As for the timing, would it be more fair to have the old Super Saturday with the Women's final sandwiched awkwardly in between the two mens' semis?

Christ Almighty, they are already talking about Sunday as the Biggest match of the Open era?!! This hyperbole is positively nauseating.

What is wrong with Verda that they say he's not at 100%?

Looking forward to this. BTW, liked the bull shirt Rafa had on for his interview...even though I'm rocking the falcon. *begrudgingly said*

Lets's see what Fernando has to put up against Destructo Rafa.

Nina You broke our deal remember

I will blame you if he losses ok

At least I am waiting till Novemember till I buy Chanel

Vamos Rafa!!! *feels sick* Wally drawing analogy between Sod finally beating Fed and Fer's chances here. Good times.

USO 2010 the slogan should have been "tournament of hype" I mean really...proclaiming something the best match of the open era when nothing has even been decided to get the two respective parties to Sunday is a bit ridiculous, no?

What are the conditions like?

I dunno if my favorite paramecium can handle a breeze

Tina I agree with you 100%

Who listens to Brad Gilbert anyway lol!

There have been better matches in tennis history to me

"I wish ESPN wouldn't hype Rafa-Fed. Every time they do it I get a feeling that it's not going to happen."

+1

Nam1

I was by no means demeaning Rafa with my post, he like any player can only beat the players who advance, you brought the French Open 2009 up, not me
My post had nothing to do with Roger

Aussiemarg

If you are referring to me with "don't bite back", I'm surprised as I have never posted a negative comment about Rafa on this board.

Pspace Its going to be very cold though

I hope our boy dosent catch a cold

What on earth is this spot with a Lauren Hutton voice-over for? Oh, of course, the mens' quarterfinals of the US Open - silly me.

Heather: I agree

Dianne No not at all ok

Only at TW is luck considered a bad thing ;-).

Hehe.

I could call a guy an a$$hole. No problemo. But, lucky a$$hole...watch out!

izidane: almost bought that shirt the other night but it runs so big. but i liked it too.

Pam is the worst interviewer, she never asks sensible questions.

Verdasco hairs looks either wet or very greasy to me

Damn your jinxing re Fedal, Wally! For the whole start of the tourney, all you could talk about were Rafa's limitations on this surface

Diane, you were totally fine. I think everyone else agrees. No worries. :)

I know i'm addicted shopper! alredy hate myself. you are the brave one, waiting till November! I only have to wait till sunday and hope.(:

wilson75 Also she has the worst "whiny" voice ever lol!

well, spoke too soon (around a couple of hours back before work pulled me right back) - No USO on TSN tonight...guess I'm going to watch some football and SB the Nadal-Verdasco match. VERY happy it isn't Fed playing today :)

Keep the frazzle-quotient low Rafa fans and good luck to both!

Pam, Rafa is trying to get to the semi why will you ask about the career slam at this time.

Nina I mean to say my hubby will be buying me Chanel in November

I am not sutpid and its my birthday

Verdasco is the king of ... the hair gel!

Both plaers are on court

Rafa has a head to head 10-0 over Verdasco

Umpire is carlos Bernados

and a shout out to Bopanna/Aisam for reaching the men's doubles finals! All I am saying is win this one and give peace a chance :)

Well the Youz-Stan match went the distance. Didnt see thematch..hope it was as fgood as teh scoreline suggests.

Now Rafa please go and win the match.

Vamos Rafa.

TMF: can you stream the match on the USOpen.com site?