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Hamburg Final Live

Live calling the Federer-Nadal rematch. This is the one clay court where Federer has been able to beat Nadal, in last year’s final. But Nadal should be fresher this year, and highly motivated to win the one clay-court Masters Series tournament that has so far eluded him.

Good morning, all. Anybody have predictions? I don’t know what kind of shape Nadal is in, but if he’s at, say, 70% or higher he wins. Lower and Federer should be able to take it. He’s barely broken a sweat all week.

So far there’s nothing to report another than this week’s highlights accompanied by generic trance music. They just showed that backwards-running lob Rafa hit late in the third set yesterday, though…And the announcers have reminded me that both Nadal and Djokovic were both very frank about feeling honored to have taken part in such a great match. Djokovic also said it was probably the best he’s ever played on clay (I agree), and also that Nadal is the best defensive player in the history of the sport (probably true?). Nice for the two to honor the match, although Djokovic couldn’t resist sour grapes entirely, referring to the part that “luck” played in the match. Maybe he’s taking a lead from Serena Williams’ press conferences?…

Fed and Nadal are both on court now. Rafa’s knees are like jack-rabbits, as usual. Federer is customarily cool. Rafa wins the toss and will receive. They both looked pretty relaxed up at net…Here we go…

Fed serving at 0-0: Rafa moving Fed wide to his forehand, 15-15. A Rafa error off a net-cord, and Fed forehand winner for 40-15. Nadal angles off a backhand winner out of nowhere, 40-30. Fed dispatches a shortball with ease. The serve, forehand combination he’ll want to make good on all night.

Rafa serving at 0-1: Nadal backhand a little short. Federer punishes it, 0-15. Rafa gives up a cheap forehand error for 0-30. A very good wide serve from Rafa but an even better return deep in the opposite corner, and Fed completely out-maneuvers Rafa with a backhand down the line. Three break points. Nadal saves one with a solid rally, Fed eventually over-hitting. Two more. And Rafa double-faults to hand over the break. Great start for Federer, but we all know–and he knows–it won’t be this easy for long.

Federer at 2-0: Down-the-line forehand winner, 15-0. Long rally, and a Fed backhand error, 15-15. Federer into the net, passed by the backhand, 15-30. Federer in again on a better approach, Nadal floating it long, 30-30. And an ace for game point. Federer’s looking really sharp. Which is my way of jinxing him. Net’s a forehand off a high ball. Deuce. Cheap backhand error from Nadal, though. Federer’s Ad. Federer approaches up the dead middle of the court, which seems to freeze Nadal for a moment–less angle to work with on the pass–not a bad idea.

Rafa at 0-3: Same score as yesterday. Let’s see if Rafa gives us a similar response…Nervy backhand for 0-15. Rafa keeps good length on the forehand, 15-15. Second serve says “Punish me”. Federer obliges. 15-30. Defense-to-offense, except Rafa still looks fairly timid on the kill shot. Good enough to force the error, though. 30-30. Moves Federer out wide to the right again, 40-30. They’re both using that same tactic: Federer to go for winners, and Rafa trying to force errors. It’s working for both. Rafa holds.

Fed at 3-1: Nadal getting his high-bouncing clay game together, but he hits one too short and Federer finds a gorgeous angle on the backhand, 15-0. Rafa answers with a more prosaic, but equally effective backhand pass, 15-15. Federer’s backhand looks very strong. Puts one just wide down the line, though. Slight question about the call, but it was an ambitious shot, struck without much time, and he missed it. 15-30. Another unforced error from Nadal for 30-30. And a missed return gives Federer game point. Trying to step in, Federer mis-times the forehand. Deuce. Beautiful clay forehand from Rafa, catches Fed running around the backhand. Break point. But Federer erases it with a smart approach, and irretrievable volley. And a pair of aces for the hold.

Nadal serving at 1-4: Fed comes in and knocks off the volley, 0-15. Nadal not hitting with enough conviction, allows Federer to come in again, 0-30. He’s basically allowing Federer to do what he wants. To good there, though, period. Perfect, unreturnable forehand from Federer. 0-40. And Rafa frames one to give up the game. His presence is barely felt out there right now.

Federer at 5-1: Continuing to step in, a mis-timed forehand. But then a service winner or 15-15. Nadal has him on his back foot off the return, and presses the advantage by coming in and finishing the point with a swinging volley winner. But Federer answers with another ball placed exactly where he wants deep to Rafa’s backhand corner, drawing the error. Rafa still hitting too tepidly. Set point. Federer maybe a little over-eager. Tries to end the set on a swinging, but misses wide. Rafa’s turn to dictate. Classic Rafa forehand. Break point. Fed comes in but can’t control the volley. One break back.

Nadal serving at 2-5: Rafa is being treated for some kind of tightening around where the hamstring meats the glut. The trainer tells him taping won’t do anything; all he can do is try to stretch it out. Nadal is clearly worrying about Roland Garros. He doesn’t want to jeopardize his condition there…Rafa goes back out…Butchers a forehand for 0-15. Federer goes for too much on the return, 15-15. Great defense from Nadal off the backhand, and a nice forehand winner to hopefully stoke his confidence. 30-15. Fed’s return comes in too fast, too heavy, too deep. Rafa can’t control it, 30-30. Rafa unforced error. Set point. Erased by an inside-out forehand winner. Deuce. A couple more deep, pacey forehands give him game point. Perfect serve out wide followed by an unreachable forehand down the line. Rafa is ponying up big-time. But Fed still gets to serve for it.

Fed at 5-3: Rafa all over the court now, runs down a Federer forehand and hits the winner. 0-15. Fed nets a backhand after a tricky rally, 0-30. Slight mis-hit off the return gives Rafa a decent angle, but Fed puts it away. Another good, serve and he steps in for another winner. 30-30. Nadal gives him a short ball, and Fed makes a mess of it. Break point to go back on serve. Federer looking timid now. He lets Nadal have his way with him, setting up an inside-out forehand winner that you could see coming about four shots in advance. Federer must have seen it coming too. He seems to be re-experiencing all the clay-court trauma he’s experienced at Rafa’s hands in the past. Rafa still needs to hold to stay in the set…

Rafa serving at 4-5: Rafa in charge now, but amazing low slice from Federer to recover. 0-15. A very good drop shot from Fed, good, dipping response cross court. Rafa gets there and Fed can’t quite keep it in the court. 15-15. Rafa running forehand pass. 30-15. He’ll hit that all day. Fed knows it. Nice, sneak-serve up the T, to Federer’s forehand. 40-15. Nadal in a winning position for th inside-out forehand but he dumps it into the net. 40-30. A very clay point, unsurprisingly won by Rafa. All even.

Fed at 5-5: Good serve. 15-0. Federer at net, pushes up on the volley, Nadal punishes the forehand pass. 15-15. Another good serve for 30-15. Rafa down-the-line forehand winner. Federer about thirty feet away. 30-30. Rafa out of position, knows he has to absolutely drill the cross-court backhand in order not to get burned on Federer’s response, and he’s up to it. Gets the error a few shots later for break point. And Federer gives up the break on his cheapest error of the match–off the forehand, no less. Rafa breaks for the third time in a row. Unbelievable, but, then again, not.

Nadal serving for it at 6-5: Federer can’t find the court. 15-0. Good serve, but goes for too much angle on the backhand follow-up. 15-15. Return error. 30-15. Another Fed error gives Rafa two set points. Another missed return gives Rafa the set!

Federer has to be hating himself right now. Rafa looked like an animal unchanged after that massage. Was the muscle tightness that severe, and the massage that beneficial? Rafa had already gotten the first break back before the time-out, but the following five games were basically a rout. What do you guys think? Can Fed recover from this? Will Rafa’s cramp possibly return?

Federer serving at 5-7, 0-0: Early 0-30 hole. But he gets to hit a winning overhead. 15-30. Rafa was all wound up to club a forehand when my stream went out. At least it didn’t happen late in the last set…Can’t say I’m too surprised Rafa got the break.

Nadal at 7-5, 1-0: Nice offensive approach from Federer; he doesn’t even have to hit the volley. 0-15. Federer tries to step in again but finds the net–those shots were landing right where he wanted them to a half hour ago. 15-15. Nadal just misses the pass, giving Federer 15-30. Federer into net again, smart placement on the volley giving him two break points. A weighty Federer forehand puts just enough pressure on Nadal’s backhand. The break.

Fed at 5-7, 1-1: A Rafa winner for 0-15. Nadal really surprised him there going inside-out. 0-30. Solid approach from Federer and perfect positioning. Nothing Rafa could do. 15-30. Very surpising drop shot there from Rafa, with perfect placement, and Federer can’t quite keep it down. 15-40. Aces away the first break point. One more. And as a good as another ace, easy put away off the first ball for deuce. Another great serve, and Rafa can’t put the return in play. Game to Federer. His serve got him out of trouble there, and momentum has officially settled. Rafa knows he’s going to have to work for this now, and Federer knows there’s hope. Remember we still don’t know how much Rafa has left physically. He doesn’t want this to go three.

Nadal at 7-5, 1-2: AMS announcer proudly analyzing the reactions of a spaced-out eight year-old…Federer asserting himself again. Backhand winner for 0-15. Federer runs around his backhand practically to outside the doubles alley and gets away with it. 0-30. A little too cocky trying to control a slice from too deep and too wide. 15-30. Federer hits high-bouncing deep ball, and Rafa smothers it. Two break points. A vicious twenty-stroke rally, and Fed takes the game.

Federer at 5-7, 3-1: Edberg on that point. Spins the second serve out wide. Plenty of time to get to net, and plenty of court in which to delicately place the volley. 15-0. Rafa error for 30-0. Hail mary forehand for a net-cord that gives Federer the point. And he takes the game.

Rafa at 7-5, 1-4: What a crazy match…Good time for an ace. 15-0. Federer’s turn for defense-to-offense. Breath-taking, I have to admit. 15-15. Service winner. Good sign that Nadal still has confidence. He’s getting out-worked on the long points, but getting it done on serve. Nets a forehand for 40-30. Nadal gets to boss a point. He holds.

Federer at 5-7, 4-2: One break means so little against Rafa on clay…Federer approaches against a low-slung missile off Nadal’s backhand. No control. 0-15. Inside-out forehand drive for 15-15. Rock solid offense from Federer. The fore-court is his friend right. 30-15. Fed loses control of the forehand, 30-30. Sick forehand angle, and the whole court to hit the volley into. Nalbandianesque there. Into the net again, but misses a routine volley. Deuce. Rafa pushes the return long. Game point again for Federer. Shank off the return.

Rafa serving at 7-5, 2-5: Rafa forces the error. 15-0. Rafa moving the ball around well until he inexplicably nets a backhand. 15-15. Frame a forehand. Federer can smell it. Fed goes for the line behind Rafa, but misses. 30-30. Second-serve ace just catching the line. Whoa. And a return error lets Nadal hang on in the set.

Federer serving for it at 5-7, 5-3: Federer forehand just long. 0-15. Ace out wide. Dipping forehand pass on the run from way back. The less often seen down the line variety. 15-30. Federer pulls the trigger immediately and misses. Two break points. More kick on that second serve than Rafa expected, and he can’t do enough with the return. Fed saves the other break point at the net. Deuce. Fed camps out on his own forehand on the return. Makes good. Break point. Impossible cross-court backhand pass from Rafa. He’s done it.

Rafa at 7-5, 4-5: So far this match is actually eclipsing yesterday’s semi in terms of drama. The quality’s been a bit streakier, though, almost as if they know each other so well that they’re both being affected in advance by what they know each other are capable of bringing…Rafa panics a little, having to hit a second pass. 0-15. Return error, 15-15. Rafa maybe slightly mis-hit that one, and it landed on the line. 30-15. All Rafa, dictating behind the serve. 40-15. Federer just hanging in that rally with a couple loopers on the baseline, then steps in and over-cooks the forehand. Game to Nadal.

Fed at 5-7, 5-5: Good defensive lob from Rafa resets the point. And he’s up to the pass. 0-15. Nadal on the offensive, Federer defending well, and then a Rafa drop shot leads to a net exchange that Rafa just manages to win. 0-30. Federer forehand error, for 0-40. Fault call, corrected. Ace for Federer. Another huge serve that Rafa can’t tame. Two erased. One to go. Another monster serve from Federer. We’re at deuce. And Rafa pushes a forehand long. Game point, Federer. Perfect, Sampras-esque volley winner. I’ll say it again: unbelievable.

Rafa at 7-5, 5-6: Double-fault from Nadal. 0-15. Makes up for it with a service winner. 15-15. Federer mis-hit lands just barely misses the baseline. 30-15. Picking on Federer’s backhand, then virtually hands him a forehand winner, but Federer doesn’t want it. 40-15. You’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me defense from Federer, but Nadal stays the course. He holds. We’re in a tiebreak.

Tiebreak: Fed serves first, and Nadal scoops up a low Federer slice, planting the inside-out winner right on the baseline. Mini-break. Another inch-perfect Rafa forehand to the same corner. 2-0, Rafa. Fed hits a not-so-good drop shot, and Rafa thinks too much on it, pulls it wide. Back on serve. And a whipping forehand from Federer. We’re even again at, 2-2. Fed’s forehand again.

Nadal now at 2-3 in the breaker: Great serve out side, but Federer angles his return and keeps it low. Rafa can’t keep it down. 2-4. Another great serve, another better, low-slice return.

Federer now at 5-2 in the breaker: Federer fans starting whooping a bit early there. Nadal passing shot winner. 5-3. Another questionable Federer drop shot, but Nadal blows it again. Or maybe that was a wily play, testing Rafa’s nerves at the right time.

Rafa at 3-6: A heavy return gets it done. Set to Federer! I hope Nadal isn’t worn out in the next set, because this match is all-on right now. Doesn’t get more dramatic.

My stream died again…and I just saw an incredible point with another great defensive lob from Rafa. But Federer stayed in it.

Fed at 5-7, 7-6, 0-1: 40-30. He holds.

Rafa at 7-5, 6-7, 1-1: Good drop shot from Rafa. Fed with a very good lob response but Rafa, slams the backhand overhead behind Fed’s ankles. No play on that. 15-0. Federer out-maneuvers Rafa from the baseline. If you’re going to give up the whole court, you need to make sure there’s no response. 15-15. Federer out of position, Rafa forces the error. 30-15. Double-fault from Rafa. 30-30. Big point? Good defense from Fed, but gradually worn down. Game point. Too good from Rafa. Two forehands struck with pace, spin (duh), and nearly on the line behind Federer. Game to Rafa, and one feels that both are near their best right now, rather than the trading off that’s been the rule throughout most of the match. Not that I’m complaining…

Fed at 5-7, 7-6, 1-2: Sensible approach from Federer. 15-0. Another, but Rafa up to the pass. 15-15. Serve, forehand combination from Fed. 30-15. Fed errs for 30-30. I thought Rafa gave up too much court there, but Federer let him off the hook a little and he surprised him with the angle and pace of his cross-court forehand. Break point. The classic problem for Federer there: trying to hit down on a heavy ball with a one-handed backhand. The break for Rafa.

Nadal at 7-5,6-7, 3-1: Rafa quickly to 30-15. Rafa draws the looping mid-court ball and drills it away for the winner. Game points. Game to Rafa.

Fed at 5-7, 7-6, 4-1: It’s going to take something special from Federer now. And how much more could he possibly have, mentally? This feels like the fifth set. A Rafa winner and dejected body language from Fed. A Federer error, and more dejected body language. 0-30. Rafa’s return called long, but Federer’s not sure about the call. He looks too gracious right now, but the umpire calls the ball out. 15-30. Federer makes Nadal hit two overheads but the result is the same. Break points for Nadal. Good serve and an easy put away for Federer. If he still wants it, the time is now. He still wants it–and Rafa guilty of under-estimating him there. Gave him the forehand opening and he took it. But at deuce he steps in and misses. Break point again for Rafa. Awesome point from Federer, controlling the fore-court again. Deuce. Rafa in absolute winning position, instead of slamming it, he hits an awful, jumping drop volley to hand Federer the Ad. Federer takes it.

Rafa at 7-5, 6-7, 4-2: He’s still got the break, but Rafa really let Fed off the hook there…Nadal misses a forehand wide. 0-15. Federer demonstrates what Rafa should have done on that flubbed drop-volley: he slams the hell out of the ball. 0-30. Rafa re-asserts himself with two monster forehands, flatter than usual. 15-30. And another huge forehand for 30-30. Fed telegraphed the approach and hit too short on the way in. Guess what happened? Game point Rafa. Nadal just long down the line. Deuce. Federer steps in and takes control. Break point. Wide serve, forehand into the open court. Deuce. Serve right on the line. Federer not sure. Over-ruled. They’ll replay the point at second serve. Federer in control–open court–but just wide on the backhand. Nadal’s Ad. Another crucial mistake from Federer, not doing enough with the approach off a short ball, and giving himself a much more difficult volley as a consequence. Rafa holds.

Federer at 5-7, 7-6, 2-5: Real chances lost for both, now, but the difference is, of course, that Rafa is already up a break…Rafa goes for an angle on the return and misses. 15-0. Rafa with a perfect top-spin lob off the backhand. 15-15. A Nadal mis-hit catches the baseline. 15-30. Powerful approach from Federer. Rafa scrambling. 30-30. A vicious backhand from Federer draws blood. Game point. And a winner gives him the game.

Nadal serving for the title, 7-5, 6-7, 5-3: Rafa half-volleys a deep return, then gets a net-cord on a hail-mary forehand, scoops it up short, but Rafa finds an even shorter angle. 15-0. Return into the top of the net. 30-0. Cross-court pass winner, for three championship points. Backhand angle winner. Rafa’s done it!

Nadal, 7-5, 6-7, 6-3.

Hugely redemptive win for Nadal after the early loss in Rome. Taken together with yesterday’s three-set win over an inspired Djokovic, this is one of the best efforts of Rafa’s career. For Federer, there’s about a million reasons why this will be a hard loss to swallow. He’ll put a positive spin on it, talk about all his chances and what not. And he does have a point, but will any of it matter in a best-of-five set match? Federer better hope Nadal draws Djokovic in Paris. But even if he does, he’ll have a day to recover there. And the surface there is more to Rafa’s liking. Roland Garros looks a sure-thing for Nadal.

Opinions?

Live blogging will be back for key Roland Garros matches. Most certainly the final.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 18th, 2008 at 4:56 am and is filed under Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Live Blogging, AMS Hamburg, French Open. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.