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Post by mooncreek on Jun 4, 2011 18:17:47 GMT
If Roger wins tomorrow, everything goes all crazy because Rafa then would have to worry about Roger passing him for #2 come Wimbledon. Roger only has quarterfinal points to defend there and would likely be the #3 seed at Wimbledon if Novak has the #1 ranking (Rafa should be the #1 seed), making a Federer/Nadal semi a very real possibility.
I had done a breakdown for someone when it came to those two and assuming Roger made the semis here on the other thread, so it is stressful times for Rafa.
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Post by acre on Jun 4, 2011 18:30:36 GMT
I just love this quote off the FO site (sadly I can't seem to c/p it, so you get my jumbled take):
"As is the wont of these two gentlemen champions, -afael Nadal and -oge- Fede-e- spent thei- last p-ess confe-ences befo-e Sunday's showdown p-aising thei- opponent".
To me this epitomizes the both of them, and is a big pa-t of why I am such a fan. I know Nadal is always humble, it seems to help him, and Fed is not always quite this g-acious about othe- opponents(though IMO he's almost always classy) but boy do they looove each othe- as tennis playe-s and competito-s!
Now is the site up to date with the legends doubles? Looks like it's only 4th -ound on the scheduled match line-up ... it's Sat, not a lot of time left. But acco-ding to them Fab-ice is still in it, and Ivo/Stich a-en't listed, so I guess they lost that matchup? Well, must have, unless the site is waaay behind.
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Post by GrandSlamGuru on Jun 4, 2011 20:34:45 GMT
A WSJ reporter wrote a nice piece about tomorrow's final. He's the guy who tweeted the following after the semis: Federer's press conference should be amazing, if you like hearing someone say "HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW?" in five languages.
And my other favorite: Dear Rafa, I took care of the kid and sent him to the sitter. Just me and you, for old times' sake. Love, Rog
Here's the article: on.wsj.com/iVBiAh |
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Post by chocula on Jun 4, 2011 21:47:43 GMT
Federer sure did have that strut after he won against Djokovic. I've never seen it before, and it was FANTASTIC! I could almost hear the "Stayin' Alive" theme song in the background. I'm on Team Rafa, so I'm conditioned to root against Roger, but seeing Djokovic being taken down a notch, by Roger nonetheless, was great.
I wonder if Federer's primal yell was directed at Djokovic's mom who once said about him "The king is dead, long live the king!"
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Post by oopssorry on Jun 4, 2011 23:59:26 GMT
Remember the Wimbledon folks tend to seed with emotion not stats - I'd be stunned if Rafa isn't seeded #1....
Love those WSJ quotes (and boy, I rarely say that).
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Post by chocula on Jun 5, 2011 0:53:39 GMT
Actually, there IS a formula for Wimbledon seeds on the men's side. It's a weighted combination of rank, and the last two year's performance on grass. They take the player's entry ATP points (the week before Wimby) and add:
1) ADD 100% points earned for ALL grass court tournaments in the past 12 months.
2)ADD 75% points earned for BEST grass court tournament in the 12 months before that. www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A70123088Because I'm a big nerd, here is the "Seeding Boost" above their ranking points that the top three players will get as of now. (This will change depending on their performances at the Wimbledon tune-ups.) Rafa should get a boost of 2045 points Djokovic should get a boost of 1010 points Federer should get a boost of 2010 points So even if Rafa drops to #2 because Federer wins tomorrow, Rafa still has enough grass court points to more than make up the difference between him and Djokovic. So barring some kind of Wimby shenanigans, Rafa should be seeded #1, Djokovic #2 and Federer #3. For the women, it's all a big mystery. Personally, I think the seeders are the same as the court schedulers. In other words, it's based on some subjective measure that never seems to benefit the Williams sisters. Seriously, I'll lose my mind if someone like Kirilenko is seeded above Serena. ETA: Using the Men's formula, Serena should get a 3500 point boost which would place her somewhere between the 4th and 8th seed. |
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Post by oopssorry on Jun 5, 2011 1:50:07 GMT
Thanks, chocula. I have glanced past all this information in the past but do remember the lengthy conversation last year (or the year before?). Yes - it's just the women. I think the men have been fairly clean-cut so I haven't thought about it at all. And was therefore transposing my Serena info to the men.
That said, it almost plays out formula-wise as it would by emotion. Except for the fact that Djoko would get the boost to #2, even given his lack of victories there up against the other two. So count me as hoping for some of those "Wimbledon shenanigans".
This should 'learn' me from spouting off so confidently before checking my info. Good thing I'm doing a lot better job fighting against notions of justifiable patriarchy (ARGH!!!) on my friend's facebook page!
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Post by falafaclese on Jun 5, 2011 2:58:58 GMT
For the women, it's all a big mystery. Personally, I think the seeders are the same as the court schedulers. In other words, it's based on some subjective measure that never seems to benefit the Williams sisters. Seriously, I'll lose my mind if someone like Kirilenko is seeded above Serena. ETA: Using the Men's formula, Serena should get a 3500 point boost which would place her somewhere between the 4th and 8th seed. I'm still a little bitter about 2009 when Sharapova got that huge bump from 60 rank up to the 24 seed even though she had crashed out in the second round the year before and the fourth round the year before that. Given that, if Venus plays this year and doesn't get seeded considering she had a quarterfinal finish last year, and a runner-up finish the year before, I cry foul. |
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Jun 5, 2011 12:34:50 GMT
Anyone else wake up as nervous as me this morning? Yes, I'm rooting for Roger but a good match going either way would please me to pieces. Of course, I say that now. Who knows what I'll be hoping for as the match goes on.
Thank you, chocula for posting that info about the seeding for Wimbledon. It makes sense--they had to do something to account for the lack of grass court tournaments. I dunno what they're going to do about the Williams sisters this year. Serena won't have played for a full year but she's coming in as the Champion. Venus really isn't playing anything but the Slams now. My little opinion? Seed them exactly where the bonus points put them and no lower. Don't worry about the injuries and let them play up to their seed. They've proven over their history that they deserve that.
eta: oh goodness. John Mac is making it worse because I don't disagree with him--if Roger could pull this off today it would erase any doubt for a lot of people that he's the GOAT.
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Post by skyz on Jun 5, 2011 13:29:10 GMT
Interesting start. I'm happy with either winning but am leaning more towards Roger. I agree that if he wins against Rafa he will be the GOAT without dispute.
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Post by oopssorry on Jun 5, 2011 13:49:31 GMT
I have been nervous for two days. Very happy to see that Roger seems not to have been. Trying not to be completely annoyed by JMac. Ted is indeed the saving grace: how strange.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Jun 5, 2011 13:55:20 GMT
And Mary made the point that Roger is feeling calmer because this is the first French final facing Rafa after he's won it. Okay, duh, but I hadn't even thought of that and she's absolutely right.
Win or lose, here's the thing that I love about how Roger is playing lately: he's finishing his points. In previous years he would hit what he thought was a winner and he'd sit back and admire it. Now he hits the beauty but gets back in position for it to come back. And I thank Djokovic for that. When it was against the guy he liked, Rafa, he just couldn't be bothered. Against Djokovic? He was going to make damn sure that point was won no matter how many winners he had to hit.
eta: Oh no! Did not want to see that break! But happily surprised to hear all those "Rafa" chants at break point. Roger playing so well has made the Rafa fans get vocal.
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Post by skyz on Jun 5, 2011 13:55:27 GMT
Rafa's serve has been quite weak this clay court season. The French are loving Roger right now, chanting his name, and what not. I wonder though, if Roger wins, when the chorus of Rafa not being in his prime years will rise up and that it doesn't mean as much because of that.
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Jun 5, 2011 14:07:32 GMT
Match getting scary. Please don't get scary.
NO! NO NO NO NO!!!!
Oh man, and don't show the NetJets ad NOW!
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Post by GrandSlamGuru on Jun 5, 2011 14:07:30 GMT
I know that many folks are tired of this matchup, but I absolutely adore this rivalry. Wonderful tennis.
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