Master Ace,
Roger can still come back in this set, no?
It's not impossible.
Other than that poor service game where he got broken he's playing better than Rafa, imo.

MA: I will hunt you down if Rafa gets broken serving this set out!

Vamos Rafa!!!!!

2 love holds for Fed. May be a bit too late. He is back to normal now.
This is the game then.

yello fuzzy, for some reason he lost momentum on serve (his serve was in the 20s for most of the 2nd). He seems to have regained it now, but still.

This Rafa kid is so tired, he doesn't even try to chase down that drop shot. He can't even chase down any ball. He will be lucky to win this next game. 5-3.

I'm guessing it's higher than 27% after the game for 5-3, which was decent.

Rafa not running for the drop-shot? WTH?

Fangorina, think poetic license. :)

And of course Wimby tennis rocked in the '90s. You know why.

Seems like this a match of ebbs and flows....

The netcord makes everything go crazy but both players know what to do and Fed wins the point!

0-15:((((( Pls Rafa!!!!!

I know why NP. You are right about Rafa. He is not 100% today.

Carrie...Rafa didn't show any enthusiasm about the match yesterday either..it was all "I am so tired" and how is he going to play today etc..when this matchup has carried tennis for five yrs and is so important for fans..the #1 player can't be a good sport about it even in a presser for us fans.

But he sure will win this, so i guess moot point.

"Rafa not running for the drop-shot? WTH?"

Fangorina, my eyes and brain never fail me.

I think that was the 1st slice from Rafa today.

VAMOS!!!!!!!

Rafael serving to force a deciding set 3-6,5-3

0-15 Roger volley winner cutting off Rafael CC BH passing shot after getting to Rafael FH hit the net and bounced over
Roger 9/12 at net
15-15 Roger I/O FH return wide on 2nd serve
30-15 Roger FH return wide as Rafael served to body - 110 mph
40-15 Roger FH long as Rafael hit CC FH with mphs
Rafael takes the set as his CC BH passing shot was too low as Roger came to net

Roger serving at 6-3,3-6 to start the final set

Sweet inside out fh followed by slice pass.

That was the most pathetic net attempt ever from Fed. Set to Nadal.

Mirroring sets in score and performance from both.

Fed again very generous. Gave another game to Rafa. 6-3. Rafa, it's your time to call the trainer.

GB, if you keep making that face your face will freeze like that :)

Well, fine. If that's all we had to go through for Mirkaland to be over... third set ahoj.

NP: the ATP finals also rocked in the 90's at least five times. :)

2nd BH slice of the match from Rafa wins him the 2nd set 6-3.

Nice. Only fitting that a WTF final should go three sets.

"You are right about Rafa. He is not 100% today."

High-5!

So Rafa takes the 2nd set. Man, this match kinda blows. I expected more.

Fed had better have his serve back now.

Wish it were five sets.

Fed to serve first. 3rd set.
THIS IS IT.

I expected more intensity. Oh well, now maybe both will settle in and swing freely.

A woman at Sky sports is in going for Rafa. I bet ESPN is still going for Fed. I still see this is entirely up to how much generous Fed feels. This Rafa kid is so tired that he can't even open his eyes for the most of time.

Roger...think of something and make the scoreline respectable in the third please. At least a TB? Even Roddick could take the #1 to a TB.

"NP: the ATP finals also rocked in the 90's at least five times. :)"

Hear, hear!

I expect Rafa to win this easily.

Fed's lost his intensity, bigtime.

old man Fed,

P Mac is going for Rafa.

Sighsighsighsigh... it was all looking so good. This is why you stay at the same tension, Fed!

Shut up, McEnroe. What do you know.

Gah - really wish you hadn't missed that Rafa!!

crazyone
it's that kind of Federer confidence that won him so many matches in his career. There is only one player that can beat Roger consistently, Roger's got to know, he can't let 'this' player sink his teeth in the match. A one game lapse in concentration is all Rafa needs

I don't know about anyone else, but the "Is Rafa tired or not" talk is really getting boring. Can't we enjoy the great match?

I think it's a toss up. See saw.

Ladyjulia,
PMac has been singing Rafael praises especially after he got the break in set 2.

Lady julia. Perhaps he could have been enthusiastic in his presser - I see your point and not said anything about being tired. I can't agree with you that he is bad sport - but I know that my opinion is in the minority here.

Roger...show a little passion come on...you are the world #2

A fistpump..some come ons...

allez

Guys, it's Rafa and Rog. Neither is going to go away.

Are they blind? Rafa is dead tired! He is barely chasing down up to 2 balls. Totally giving up many balls. Unless Fed donate his service game and donate some more, I don't see that. 0-1.

Roger holds at 15 capped off by BH winner. Rafael to serve 3-6,6-3,0-1

Fed holds kind of comfortably, but all the real comfort has gone out of it. :/

Pls, pls hold here if you can, Rafa!!!!

the important game is Fed's third service game. That's traditionally where he struggles in final sets...

Sherlock,

Amen!
I was going to say the same thing.
There is no way we can be sure of what these players are thinking, feeling.
Strong hold for Fed. He has the edge now serving first.

Now Rafa being timid again, and PMac will jump back on the Roger bandwagon shamelessly.

0-15:(((

Old man Fed/Puny server Rafa fan,
Rafael groundstrokes have been accurate since the start of set 2 and Rafael did say he was mentally fresh in his presser despite the tried comments.

Carrie...its just my opinion..not the general opinion. You may be right and I may be wrong.

Its just that i thought this means a lot to both players. And Roger is not keeping up his part of the bargain either.

Rafa saves the passing shot correctly that time... Dammit Fed.

what a point! hat's off Rafa

I think it's......The Curse of Ruth!

Roger is a total dumbass at the net...NP, do you have any stronger PG-13 words?

Then a good point and a VAMOS!!!!

Second serve ace? Psht. PSHT!

Is it just me, or is Fed tentative when he comes into the net? Seems like he often misses because he's stuck trying to pick them up off his toes.

Oh Pat Mac just said the same... so my theory must be wrong.

2nd serve ace from Rafa? Now I've seen everything.

Roger, you imbecile.

Rafa is running the old guy all over the court

something has to be done about Federer and the way he moves to his FH side. Can't he do successive sprints to the right and improve his speed in that direction?

this kid rafa is clinically crazy.

Fed threw some amazing ones...

Lots of winners from both guys those first two games. Good stuff.

Nice hold by Rafa!

Well, Rafa had more trouble on his service game than Fed so far. Silver lining silver lining...

Can you guys not hear what PMac is saying? The match is on ESPN2 right now. Or am I the only one who's watching it on the old-fashioned TV?

Rafa sprays that one into the Thames. Huh.

MikeDC: I think his technique on low volleys just isn't very good anymore.

Roger isn't tentative but will say he's got a stutter-step's worth of hesitation. He's chasing down everything Rafa throws at him.

Looks like we're finally getting both of them playing well at the same time.

First set FED IS BACK...

Rafa is so far behind the baseline on the ROS and missing too many returns

Roger holds to love like a champ.

actually he was back the last 3 games but it was a bit too late...

Uber easy game for Fed:(((

See how easy Fed is holding his service games? No trouble what so ever. Another beat down game. As I said, it's totally up to the old man's mood for donation now for Rafa to even take a lead in this 3rd set.

Rafael held at 15 capped off by FH winner DTL followed by Roger holding at love capped off by FH winner. Rafael to serve 3-6,6-3,1-2

ladyjulia, I do, but I'd rather not divulge. I use 'em only when I'm really, really pissed off.

Thanks Sherlock:) I figured we have a third set so how fitting that here we are indeed!

Pls, pls hold here Rafa!

This is one quick Fedal match, 1hr 20 mins and it's 2-1 in the third.

0-15:((( You have to be aggressive Rafa!!!

Roger playing better than Rafa overall so far.

NP,
I am watching the match on my HDTV hearing Cliff and P Mac

NP I'm watching it on the TV too. What about it?

NP: I always mute PMac

Fed, come on, step up the aggression...

Ladyjulia- also- one point that I would like to make is that after Rafa's match it was not known who he would play- and he was asked about the kMurray match mostly. After Roger's match it was known who he would play and he was ased a lot more questions about the upcoming match. If rafa had been asked a few hours after his match when his mind was not just on the match with Murray and where he knew who he would play- perhaps he would have mentioned in a way that you would not have deemed as so negative.

Enough of that though- we will not agree about who was a bad sport and what was appropriate enthusiasm at what time and there is a match on. :)

Roger playing better than Rafa overall, but Rafa seems steadier

Hey, looks like at the end of the 2nd Annacone taught Fed what to do at the net. Lovely.

Mirka seems to be really enjoying the match...nice smiles..

The ROS is key for both right now.

Roger's much better.

Win this friggin pt, Rafa!!! But no, deuce:(((( from 40-15:( Vamos!!

chip-and-charge!

deuce...

Awful error. From 40-15 to deuce. Ugh.

Deuuuuuuuce! Go Rogi! I have nothing else to contribute.

Geez. Back to back awful errors. Dude, clean it up.

BP BP BP BP! Rogi you have a 100% BP record right now, how often are you gonna get to say that?!

Guys, gotcha. Just wondering.

Fed's got a BP.

F!!!! Just watch Fed break on his first opportunity again:((