Nam1, you mean "everyone" in Rafa fans? They all have decided that Rafa would lose to Djoker today. C'mon, have you see Rafa's most recent new and improved serve? I'm sorry did I say "new" and "improved"? I meant to say "back to old" and "puny and slow". oh ha.

Nam 1 Hi!

I am here and my live coverage is just starting

I hope this time Rafa brings out a little boy in hand

First match he came on court alone.I hope the little boy wasnt too upset not many times you get a chance to come out with the no 1 player in the world

Or maybe he is still wating back stage lol!

I'm heading out everybody -- Happy Thanksgiving- -- since I am without Tennis Channel, I will be following the posts all weekend. Enjoy!!!

Hi, Nam1. I don't know where everyone is, and I don't know where Rafa's match is. The doubles must be running long.

CL, if you're there, thanks for the Rutland suggestion -- I have gone that route, love the scenery, but it gets in at 9 pm and my mother can't drive at night so someone else will have to pick me up and it seems a lot to ask for them to go to Rutland (from Woodstock)... sigh, it's endless, the problems that arise when you don't have your own car.

I think Djokovic will either beat or almost beat Nadal. And I want the match to start 'cause I don't have anything else to do!

Jason was just saying this match will be delayed by about ten mins

Cause the doubles match was later than anticipated

Oh everyone's leaving work and I'm still here for another hour and a half.....booo

I am here too. I was just intently watching the scoreboard and hoping the match wouldn't go to three sets... got my wish so Nole and Rafa should be up shortly.

hope you found it @work :)

coffee check,
something sweet to eat w it check
chocolate supplies close in case of emergency check
brandy check

I think I'm ready...

alex: If Murray is playing tennis for crowd support and not titles, he better retire right now.

I wonder if Kylie will be here for Rafa's match

Just showing the end Of Rafa's match with Roddick and the camera's showed her standing up and clapping when Nadal finally won the match

GB are you around

Just post me a Frazzle and I know you are here ok

Hi, AM. Kylie Minogue?

Oka players are in the tunnel waiting to come out

Novak is first of course

Rafa probably still doing Jumping Jacks somewhere

players walking out the hallway now.

Jeez, we still don't have streams.

Kristy Indeed.Probably get free tickets lol! she was there with her currnent flame

Rafa-Fed finals still outnumber semis multi-fold. We've seen them a lot and more recently than those semis, which now are a distant memory. Semis now most likely means that Nadal finishes second. Which in turn means that he'll lose to Djoker or Berdych. Which in turn means that he'll get a bit less points. Fed needs all the possible help in order to overtake #1.

AM, I could watch it live on Tennis Channel, but the one TV that's got it is in the room that's too far from the WiFi router. It's more fun watching and being here simultaneously. I'll give it a go via stream, then switch to the TV if I must.

Hey Rafa remembered to bring the child on court with him today lol!

Tina

Well whatever works well for you

Steve Ulrich will be the chair umpire for Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

Novak chasing the errant coin... they redo the toss

Umpire is Steve Urlich

Hurry up Rafa also try to win in 2 I have a manicure today ok

Okay the coin went amiss and they had to do another toss

Novak will serve

hey everyone

As usual I am reduced to jelly legs before Rafa's match; hiding out at work; what's the point of going home , I will just hide behind my sofa between swigs of alcohol..

I dont know what to think for this match; Rafa did win the ONE match I begged for. Am I greedy to want more?

I love this tune by the Stones

Gimme Shelter is one of my favs

I have seen them performed this live too

Yay!

Does anyone know if the match is being broadcast online?

anyone have a stream that works? fromsport streams stop every couple of mins. :(

Ludicrous to suggest that muzz would be trying to win titles for that, and I certainly wasn't suggesting it. My point was that having your home crowd shout more loudly for the foreigner than for you must be something of a disencentive. If cheering doesn't have some kind of an influence, even on someone as apparently insular as muzz, then what the heck, why bother having fans? Whay do all these tennis commentators talk of 'home crowds' etc. if they have no potential bearing on outcomes.

My comment was not, as you'll have noticed, just about muzz, but London and England. Seems like they could do with some scrutiny too.

and by the way, wilson, it's not an excuse. Fed was effortlessly great and would have had every chance of beating an on-song muzz last night.

Sorry I have live coverage here in Sydney

I was actually trying to offer another possible explanation for hanah's observation that muzz seemed to look so nonchalant both during and after his defeat last night, without his normal outburts of anger.

streaming are ridiculously lousy today. It's either choppy or dead.

This will be the 23rd time these 2 players will go toe to toe says Jason

Hmmmm Nole serving to Rafa's f/hand good tactics

Tuulia,
This one is working for me so far (knocks wood three times)
http://tinyurl.com/34jxwtc

alex: I'm sure if Murray was playing Rafa there would be a similar crowd response. Even Murray acknowledged that he would get crowd support than Roger. Wasn't the crowd heavily in his favour during the match against Soderling?

Great 2nd serve by Nole there

Nole with love service game

And lousy ROS continues by Rafa. Geez. 3 blown ROS and easy service hold by Djoker.

lol, AM.
At least you don't have to listen to Ted Robinson and Shrias.

Thanks Steve for the over rule that 1st serve of Rafa's was good

Arun I miss my Doug

I am getting sick and tired of Jason and Robbie quite frankly lol!

Rafa use the kicker serve out wide pls

Yes wilson, probably right about rafa. But gee, if the home player can't get more support than (no disrespect) Robin Soderling, you have to ask what on earth's going on?!!

Yes, compare muzz's performance (with rapturous support) against sod with his performance (with underwhelming support) against fed, and you have very strong support for my point. But don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting there isn't much more to it than crowd support, just that it could well have been A factor.

Flip Head look what happened with the serve down the middle

Remember the good lefty serve you were in the right side of the court as well

It's looking like another heart attack inducing serving performance by Rafa :( BP for Nole

and the pattern continues. Mighty struggle on every service game by Rafa followed or preceed by easy service game by an opponent. now ad out.

Good 2nd serve Rafa with slice and kicker

Well done Rafa

The streams are pathetic today. I think I'm going to go to a movie (possibly a Godard film in Manhattan if I can face the subway). I can't think of any other way to get out of my grumpiness.

Enjoy the tennis ... go Rafa, go Nole.

Tense moments for Rafa and all us fans.

Going to be a mighty slugfest!

well, two screens on here ... manchester united/glasgow rangers and rafa/djoker.

I'm not going anywhere soon:)

Arun I miss Doug Adler

I am getting sick and tired of Robbie and Jason quite frankly lol!

Hello thats when you use the tee serve

Thanks Rafa!

nice ace from Rafa!

Hi Everybody!

But he holds! for now anyway...

Maradonna is fully using his daily free courtside seat. Now he's on Rafa's box. How does that feel, Djoker? Perhaps, a stab in the back?

Thats when to use the tee serve Rafa

Another good 1st serve and he holds

He always likes to use the tee serve on big points

Kristy & anyone looking for a decent stream, try this:

http://www.fromsport.com/v-0/10/174/v-117561.html

thanks @work :)
I get "connecting to channel" every once in a while in the middle of screen, but mostly working fine, seen several points already, big improvement on fromsport streams

8 serves and only 1 returned in play. Geez. just horrible ROS.

another love service game for Djokovich

Kristy: I'm on a fromsport.com stream and it's been fine so far.

Just Horsen Hi!

Nole yet to drop a point on his 2 service games well done

alex: If Murray's worrying about crowd support then he's more mentally weak than I thought. It shouldn't be an issue. I just think that on the big occasions like yesterday and at the GS he gets very tight and so doesn't play well.

Nadal is not going for his UsOpen money serves (out wide on deuce and down the middle on the ad court) which have a lot of pace and go to the fh of his opponent. He has to change this up against Djokovic, coz Nole will murder Rafa's safe backhand serves..

now that was a beautiful point...

Well played Nole with the b/hand down the line and then comes in with the volley

AJDE DJOKO!!!

Nole being very vocal early on, so much for those who were thinking his mind was going to be on DC. He wants to win every point! :)

Thats the way Rafa good anticpiation at teh net and good foot speed too,

Nole going for the opposite effect as MAndy as he's already yelling at himself.

88mph BH passing shot from Rafa.

..for once in my life I actually like Nole's kit better then those circus colors Rafa has on.

wilson -
... and nothing better at adding to/intensifying a 'big occasion' than a big crowd ...
On mental weakness, muzz perhaps IS weaker than you thought. I have no doubt personally (first serve aside, although he seems to be able to beat even the best with little over 50% 1st serves in) that the mentla aspect is muzz's achilles heel. I just don't know what's going on in his psyche a lot of the time, with these turbulent mood swings, moodiness, self-flagellation etc.. I would hope that his new coach is someone who will be adept in that department because his actual game isn't lacking to win slams.

Now this is pretty good tennis. No turkeys being served atm.

Nole seems to have found his serve.

Does anyone know who won the davis cup for men last year?

nice footwork from Rafa there to draw the error from Nole.

Rafa makes Nole pay for those 2 mediocre approach shots. 1 BP for the Spaniard.

AO Open: it was Spain, I believe.

AO Open, the Spaniards.

Come on Rafa keep pushing

Vamos Rafa you recovered soo well on that f/hand

Ad to Rafa!

Pfft shank what the hell Rafa?

Please

Rafa third time lucky with b/point

UGHHHH!!! Damn!

Vamos Rafa

Great at the net

Rafa breaks!!!!!!!

Ugh, there's that dumbass DS again. Dumbass!!!!!!!

Rafa breaks by a luck then promptly call for a trainer for re-taping. Take that, Djoker!

Thanks just horsen and NP

hi y'all, this match is going to be a goodie, which way is the question?
i wanna nap , i spent the better part of the afternoon watching japanese anime with eng subs yeah!
as usual rafa and nole bringing the drama in ,four games in...ha!

well well well look who break, and first too...well at least nole forces him to be agressive and on his toes from the get go!!

Nadal with the first break, on the third chance. Djokovic BH DS, pickup, bouncing ball rally - you'd bet on Nadal there. Nadal leads 3-2, with a break.

arghh...having stream troubles.

Great reflexes at the net by Rafa

Ok Rafa just consolidate this break

I have a manicure appt later remember

Hmmmm just great down 30 love on your serve

oh boy, here we go again....HOLD RAFA HOLD!

yay! 15-30 now.

Thanks for the good thinking wide serve Rafa

and about to give it back real fast 0-30...
and a good serve to get at 15!

Bravo Djoko!

Thanks for the match calls NP. I had to get out to work and cannot watch this.

Great execution by Nole there with that b/hand down the line

Just great to watch