*Official* Tennis Thread

[Burgey]

Does anyone really give Cilic a chance here?

 

[OverratedSanity]

Nope. Can't really see anyone except federer posing a challenge to him in the rest of the tournament either.

 

[harsh.ag]

Cue 4 set win for Cilic.

 

[StephenZA]

I am unsure of the draw and when they may meet... but it feels an almost inevitable Nadal/Federer clash for the title; same as last year, as all the pretenders fall away. See what happens when Federer plays Berdych.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Atleast last year we had some of the others in the top 10 put up a huge fight. The Nadal-Dimitrov semi and Federer's 5 setters against Nishikori and Stan were excellent. I don't mind a Fed-Nadal final if they're actually challenged. But this just feels a bit hollow.

 

[StephenZA]

Does anyone really give Cilic a chance here?

I am unsure of the draw and when they may meet... but it feels an almost inevitable Nadal/Federer clash for the title; same as last year, as all the pretenders fall away. See what happens when Federer plays Berdych.

Cue 4 set win for Cilic.

So be it...

 

[vcs]

Atleast last year we had some of the others in the top 10 put up a huge fight. The Nadal-Dimitrov semi and Federer's 5 setters against Nishikori and Stan were excellent. I don't mind a Fed-Nadal final if they're actually challenged. But this just feels a bit hollow.

Berdych is in good form and don't write off Chung just yet. I know it's Berdych and his long history of rolling over against top 4 opponents QF onwards, but still. He's actually beaten Fed in Slams a couple of times as well.

 

[StephenZA]

This has turned into an unexpectedly good match......

 

[harsh.ag]

Dang Cilic missed his shot there.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Had to win that

 

[vcs]

Cilic winning tight sets against someone as mentally tough as Nadal was always going to be a big ask. His chance of winning was to have a great day, and hope for Nadal to have a subpar one, and to blow him away with big, flat hitting. Obviously it didn't pan out like that.

He's done well to keep it close thus far. Expect Nadal to pull away and win in 4 now.

 

[harsh.ag]

Cilic winning tight sets against someone as mentally tough as Nadal was always going to be a big ask. His chance of winning was to have a great day, and hope for Nadal to have a subpar one, and to blow him away with big, flat hitting. Obviously it didn't pan out like that.

He's done well to keep it close thus far. Expect Nadal to pull away and win in 4 now.

Well done.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Cilic has outplayed Nadal for most of this match tbh. Obviously though ,Nadal finding a way to win despite being inferior is nothing new.

 

[vcs]

Didn't expect this. Still, it's Nadal, yadda yadda. He finds a way.

 

[vcs]

Well, that's a big turnaround by Cilic. Getting to serve first in the fifth is also an important advantage.

 

[Burgey]

So when I flicked over and saw Nadal having an injury time out, I figured it was one of those strategic ones the players often go for when their opponent is on a roll, but he seems to be genuinely struggling with his lateral movement.

 

[harsh.ag]

Will be difficult for Nadal to get back into this. Sad.

 

[StephenZA]

Sad end to what was becoming a great match....

 

[vcs]

Nadal might have been conserving energy towards the end of the fourth hoping to come back strongly in the fifth, but I'm sure getting broken at the end wouldn't have been part of the plan. And the MTO might be a concern as well. Momentum definitely with Cilic at this point. Never write Nadal off though..

 

[harsh.ag]

Well this sucks.