What will it take for Nadal to smash a racket and be rude at the pressers?

Losing at Roland Garros – to Murray?

Just like Nadal was to Federer in taking over the No. 1 rank, snapping the Wimbledon streak, denying No.14, cutting short the No. 1 straight weeks etc. etc. Murray is to Nadal.

Difference is Nadal has been able to win on grass before Nadal’s ‘Nadal’ showed up. While Murray winning at Roland Garros may still be ways off, grass and hard court threat may have already arrived – big time.

The calendar Slam Nadal denied Federer may be close to happening for Nadal this year. With Federer fading fast, it may be Nadal’s time to receive from Murray what he delivered to Federer.

If Murray keeps this up, Nadal may be forced back into his backyard on clay to achieve whatever else he wants from now on. All other avenues may get closed up forever, with that last avenue constantly under attack.

Freaking point is this: For Nadal to burst into a racket smashing, rude talking clown, despite Uncle Tony and company’s influence, couple of things need to happen:

-Murray needs to turn into a Federer’s ’Djokovic’. His declaration to take over the No. 1 rank by year-end is a good start. He also now needs to start impersonating and taking shots at Nadal and his entourage.

-Get into Nadal’s head just like Nadal did with Federer’s. The best way to get there is to push and possibly beat Nadal on clay. A five setter, something no one has been able to take Nadal to here, will be ideal – even in a loss.

In short, just duplicate exactly what it took Nadal to play mind games with Federer.

Granted the age difference is missing, but the mileage on Nadal’s odometer may be able to close that gap as much as it’s reasonable to expect.

The first embarrassment at the presser from Nadal, to me, came after he lost to Del Potro. He had that look on his face for the first time in a PC pointing to his being uncomfortable.

Nadal has been very tactful so far after his losses, but that may be more a product of far lesser expectations than any gracious BS. Other than the two Wimbledon losses, Nadal knows he lost most of his matches because of reasons not related his game and talent – even to Federer (Hamburg?).

But now that the expectation burden is loaded, any losses specially on clay and specially to Murray (the next thing to happen to tennis), will bring out the real Nadal.

It may not be as violent and obvious as Federer’s but it will leave no doubt of what Nadal is truly feeling, despite the facade.

‘Incentivising’ Xisca to pull a ‘Mirka’ on Nadal might not hurt.

What needs to happen for someone to climb the players’ box again?

-Federer winning No. 14 at 2010 US Open? Or is that two year mark set by Sampras holy?

-Nadal winning calendar Slam at this year’s US Open.

-Djokovic winning another Slam to remove that ‘one Slam wonder’ label? May not be happening for a decade though, if at all.

-Murray winning Wimbledon?

-Safin winning a match?

-Roddick gets ‘stimulated’ to do the wrong thing?

-Stepanek breaking his back with that ‘worm’ BS?

-Serana’s undergarments bursting into shreds unable to handle the pressure?

Who has the fewest friends on the tour?

Nadal’s Clock is Ticking. From Imaginaryband. Thanks.

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Nadal’s Clock is Ticking

It was only one match, but after watching The Monte Carlo Masters semi I got a funny feeling that Nadal can’t dominate clay the way he has done, any more. Like TP said… could this year be the wake-up call for Nadal that Federer got twice in Wimbledon?

Murray is not a clay-court specialist, most would agree, and he wasn’t serving at full tilt. He also made quite a lot of unforced errors, particularly in the first set in the wind, yet in the second set he still caused major troubles that Nadal should be quite worried about if he wants Roland Garros.

I reckon a lot of it comes down to concentration and patience, on this surface particularly, and Murray showed he had both in spades during the final set. I’m not particularly a fan of Murray, but I enjoy seeing the true quality of tennis when players are able to put emotions aside. Watching Federer play recently has been so disappointing along those particular lines. If Murray had been afraid, daunted by Nadal’s “never say die” attitude, his history on this surface and “the aura”, then he would not have come so close. When he walks on a court, Murray appears to treat ALL opponents histories’ as irrelevant, and he’s right – they are – in the moment. He doesn’t fear anyone, or he certainly covers it well.

The amount of times anyone else would have given up hope in that last set, yet Murray kept coming at Nadal…and beating him from the baseline, or wherever else they wandered to. Nadal fans will say, “yes but Nadal won” – of course, but this was a first and important step into Nadal’s territory by Murray. Nadal has nowhere to run once Murray can beat him on clay… which by the way, he clearly believes he can. And we have seen from the Murray/Federer recent history that Murray can “get your number” and once he’s dialled, you’re in trouble.

Today Murray fought back from a set down, and a break down, and match points down WHILST RECEIVING, against the greatest clay courter ever. Last time Federer went a first set down on clay against Nadal, he barely pieced together a couple more service games in the match. So Murray achieved a massive feat, and he earned respect with that.

I believe Murray is mentally equally as strong as Nadal, and that takes away Nadal’s single biggest weapon when those two play. Clay or not, it doesn’t matter. However Murray still needs to beat everyone ELSE on clay to get to finals. That’s probably his biggest hurdle. But Murray will beat Nadal on clay and that day may be sooner than Nadal would like.

Are you listening Federer?

Right idea, wrong technique, fine location.

Which sport has the least rationale for existing.

What will Nadal do to snuff out Djokovic in the final?

With Djokovic’s track record – tire him out? Duh!!!

With the relentless attack on his opponent’s backhand being the staple of Nadal’s arsenal, this match however could very well see Nadal spraying the forehand on both wings almost equally.

Objective: To further deplete the fuel reserves already running low after two straight three setters against Verdasco and Wawrinka. Although heat has been Djokovic’s main enemy in the past, this match could provide that heat from a whole new side: backside.

Watch for Djokovic to go through boot camp for nothing. Djokovic has already achieved his biggest goal here – warding off Murray from taking over the rank. Winning was not even on the table.

But given his showing thus far, this season, win over Verdasco and a come from behind against Stan should feel pretty good.

Djokovic is now second in line on the tour to possess a backhand that has the potential of forcing Nadal to engage his backhand. He can even do it with that high bouncing top spin ball from Nadal better than Federer, mainly due to his two handed grip, I think.

Barcelona draw.

Click here.

Nadal interview: Murray.

Nadal vs Murray: End of TB.

Photos.

Nadal vs Djokovic final at Monte-Carlo.

Nadal defeated Murray in straight sets but did he leave the door open in the end? Sure he did!!!!!!

Add the relief on Nadal’s face after that last point and you know how conscious he is of Murray now. He knew he may have just won the title.

Taking Nadal to a tie-break on clay today is as good as taking a set off. With just what two points away from levelling the match, Murray should be mighty encouraged with his showing against the No. 1 in-form Nadal – on clay.

Besides, Murray was not only able to squeeze four break point opportunities against the raging bull, he actually converted two of them.

Murray has Nadal’s attention now – on clay. Nadal was taken past the two hour mark to maybe offer an opening to Djokovic in the finals.

Djokovic may not be the hot favorite coming in, but his last two matches may have sharpened him just enough to at least push Nadal to a deciding set if not win it, given the emotional win Nadal had over Murray.

Besides, that rank transfer is still not done. This is where Djokovic, at least on paper, has a better chance of achieving more than Murray to keep hopes of keeping his ‘rank save’ mode still alive.

Additionally that racket change excuse used extensively at the AO and beyond may now be turning into a weapon, given the comfort level it must have reached now.

Win over Nadal would be that much-needed booster Djokovic missed when he failed to reach No. 2 three times already. With Murray’s tie break and the last two matches when Djokovic had to win after dropping a set, Djokovic should feel emboldened.

Still it’s a long shot for obvious reasons. But there may be signs for this final to not turn into a lopsided encounter many expected before the start of the tournament.

That’s the most you can ask for in this age of the raging bull on clay.

Brooklyn Decker gets some clown to marry her.

Who is bagging whom here?

Here are some Brooklyn Decker photos for jokers just emerging from under that rock.

I think there must be a flood of business card from divorce lawyers on the porch already.

How stupid, insecure and a show off  clown do you have to be to be buying a cow like this when you had all the privileges when renting?

I can think of only one reason: Either Brooklyn’s ultimatum to tie the knot or lose it forever – or just plain stupidity on Roddick’s part.

Both tennis marriages this week – Fed’s and Roddick’s – appear to lack the basic ingredient - ’real’ love – that brings two kids together. While love may have been part of the initial parcel, the kicker to act this way was clouded with stuff not even remotely resembling the magic potion.

Roddick was starting to play well again this season. Although he has just one title this year – one more than Federer – he has reached a semi or a final at all except one event he has played in this season. And he has played at six tournaments loaded with big dogs.

That’s a marked improvement, sometimes even showing glimpses of a 2003 Roddick. To now mess that up with a freaking marriage that appears doomed even before the exchange of vows, just because you got an ultimatum, shows how big of a pussy you are.

Both Roddick and Federer are going to look back at this time in their life as a clean benchmark of their vertical drop in the rankings. It may not happen right away, but that’s only because the seed takes time to grow into a tree and not because of anything they did.

Besides, you are just 26, 27. Who freaking gets married at that age even if you a janitor these days? And you are not even half way through your tennis career with mountain of evidence showing how severely a marriage impacts a tennis career.

You can bet Nadal, Djokovic and Murray are running out to buy additional rubber for the third wrapping to stamp out any chance of this happening to them ever. But with what happened to Becker, you can never say no these days.

Hope Roddick doesn’t attempt to match Federer with a baby. Or has it already happened making this not any different from what Federer is going through?

As a human being you always hope for your fellow to thrive but with these knucklehead moves sometimes are just asking for it.