2017 Australian Open

[bksballer89]

Not an easy first set for Serena

 

[cezero]

first time watching her this tournament, and serena's 2nd serve is about as weak as i've ever seen it.

 

[nuraman00]

What's Nadal's career record against Fed on fast hard courts? By my count it's something like 2-4 or 2-5 depending on how one counts.

I know there was quite a bit of talk about how fast the courts were playing compared to past years the few first few days, and it looked like it was playing just as fast for Fed's last two matches. If Nadal plays like he did against Alex Zverev, I think the Fed we've seen for the last two rounds would probably beat him.

Honestly, I think Stan scares me a little more than Nadal at this point.

I don't know how you'd consider the AO courts in the past, but Nadal is 3-0 against FED at the AO (2009, 2012, 2014).

 

[nuraman00]

I like watching Thiem.

 

[bksballer89]

Man Thiem got some pop on his serve. Goffin had triple set point and Thiem erased it with great surfing.

5-5

 

[Smart]

I don't know how you'd consider the AO courts in the past, but Nadal is 3-0 against FED at the AO (2009, 2012, 2014).

By most accounts, it's playing much faster this year than in the past. I generally do not consider the AO to be a fast court.

 

[nuraman00]

 

[Smart]

Man Thiem got some pop on his serve. Goffin had triple set point and Thiem erased it with great surfing.

5-5

Back to back 140 MPH serves isn't something you see very often from people who can move as well as Thiem. He's also hit a 110 MPH forehand and a 106 MPH backhand this match.

People are sleeping on Thiem because he ran out of gas at the end of last year, but he's still the #8 player just approaching his prime years and he has a ton of weapons. I think he has to be #5 on the list of guys most likely to win (behind Fed, Nadal, Stan, and Raonic in some order).

 

[bksballer89]

Back to back 140 MPH serves isn't something you see very often from people who can move as well as Thiem. He's also hit a 110 MPH forehand and a 106 MPH backhand this match.

People are sleeping on Thiem because he ran out of gas at the end of last year, but he's still the #8 player just approaching his prime years and he has a ton of weapons. I think he has to be #5 on the list of guys most likely to win (behind Fed, Nadal, Stan, and Raonic in some order).

Didn't realize he was so young. Thought he was closer to Goffin age

 

[bksballer89]

Real good stuff from both players

 

[bksballer89]

Goffin wins the 2nd set in a tiebreak.

Best of 3 now. Good match

 

[bksballer89]

Goffin wins the 2nd set in a tiebreak.

Best of 3 now. Good match

Wow Goffin really took over after winning the 2nd set. Up a set and a break now

 

[bksballer89]

Really disappointing last 2 sets from Thiem.

 

[nuraman00]

This was the kind of match FED needed to win, to show whether he has a shot at advancing far.

Outside of Mischa Zverev and Raonic, almost everyone left in the draw will win points from the baseline.

So FED had to prove he could beat someone with a similar style, in Nishikori, to show where his game was at.

This was a very good match, as well as result.

 

[nuraman00]

Really disappointing last 2 sets from Thiem.

Agree.

 

[Old Lion]

Really disappointing last 2 sets from Thiem.

Thought he was in better shape than that. He flat out ran out of gas.

 

[Old Lion]

first time watching her this tournament, and serena's 2nd serve is about as weak as i've ever seen it.

Watch out her next match. Konta will give her a match regardless of how well Serena plays.

 

[Old Lion]

Thought he was in better shape than that. He flat out ran out of gas.

Another thought, maybe if he took a little off his shots he would have more left in these 5 setters. Every serve does not need to be 140 and every shot 100+

 

[bksballer89]

Thought he was in better shape than that. He flat out ran out of gas.

Another thought, maybe if he took a little off his shots he would have more left in these 5 setters. Every serve does not need to be 140 and every shot 100+

Yea that was bad. But I agree with your point. In those first 2 sets he was hitting everything with so much power behind it. Hopefully he will learn.

 

[bksballer89]

I heard during the Rafa/Monfils match that Fed is now the favorite to win the tournament.