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Post by roseha on Jul 9, 2008 2:45:22 GMT
Oh I felt much worse after Wimbledon. I knew ahead of time how hard it was going to be to derail Rafa in Paris, though it turned out much worse than anyone imagined. I think Roger just wasn't prepared for how bad it would feel to lose at Wimbledon - and he was really playing well right up to the final - plus he has now lost 3 slams in a row for the first time - I think - since he started winning them. Plus he just seemed so openly devastated himself.
And you can't discount the fact that he really could have won this match, and that's got to be terribly hard to deal with when you come all the way back and still lose. I really, really hope he will win the USO but if not I do believe he'll come back sooner rather than later and win slams again. But it's frustrating and sad for him and his fans right now.
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Post by chestylarue on Jul 9, 2008 4:55:33 GMT
In an odd way- and in a way that actually makes me think that this rivalry really is so special- is that I think the only person who can empathize the best with how bad Roger feels right now is Rafa.
Last year's lost was really hard for Rafa - and he admitted it was the hardest lost he ever had. He cried for a half hour after the match and had not cried before then since he was about 14.
Seems to be the same with Roger this year.
It seems the only ones who can really appreciate the situations they are in is the person who puts them in that situation. I think in an odd way that is really neat. Rafa and Roger seem best to appreciate the situation the other has been in. Yes- Roger is more talented and has more grand slams- but even with Nole nipping at their heels- I think the two have been in an odd and unique situation with one another. They have already played each other in gs finals more than any other male pair in the Open era.
It is unique to find two rivals who seem to respect and like each other so much. And I don't think it takes from the rivalry- I think it adds to it.
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minty
1st Round
Posts: 37
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Post by minty on Jul 9, 2008 12:13:07 GMT
I think as hard as this was for Roger, it would have been even worse for Rafa had he lost. You can say that Feds had chances to win, and he certainly did, but Rafa had championship points! He was two sets up, break points in the 3rd, 5-2 in the 4th set tiebreak on his serve. If he had lost I feel like it may have destroyed him for a time. As you say chesty, he felt bad enough last year. I was so relieved that he managed to win.
And astonished too - not only had he just seen his chances fall away to wrap it up in the 4th, but he was serving second in the 5th and whenever he had break chances on Federer's serve, Roger would pull out an unstoppable ace. His mental will to keep going was astonishing.
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Post by obsidianmagi on Jul 9, 2008 19:31:59 GMT
I think the lost at Wimbledon was harder for Roger than the FO. He has plenty of time to win that but does not even have to win it to be considered the greatest ever IMHO. Five in a row at W would set a very high bar and make the sixth even greater. Now with the broken set he has to start all over again, lol.
I am a Federer fan and Rafa still needs to win on hard courts, AO or USO to to be mentioned in the same category. BTW they slowed that grass down quite a bit this year even with the lack of rain.
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Post by boringmember on Jul 9, 2008 20:19:09 GMT
I am having tennis withdrawal! Maybe I'll have to go play.
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Post by admin on Jul 9, 2008 22:13:59 GMT
I know! The next Masters event can't come soon enough.
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sumik
1st Round
Posts: 11
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Post by sumik on Jul 10, 2008 3:41:08 GMT
I'm having withdrawal too - but an odd sports channel (that I never knew I got) has an ATP tournament on tv next week. (R.I.?)
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Post by roseha on Jul 10, 2008 3:50:36 GMT
Who's being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year? That should be going on during the Rhode Island grass event. (Newport?)
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lt
Semi Finals
Posts: 3,223
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Post by lt on Jul 10, 2008 20:21:00 GMT
Michael Chang, Mark McCormack (dead), Eugene Scott (dead).
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Post by boringmember on Jul 10, 2008 20:48:04 GMT
I'm having withdrawal too - but an odd sports channel (that I never knew I got) has an ATP tournament on tv next week. (R.I.?) What channel? When? I'm like a junkie looking for my fix . Um, is it weird that I am wondering what Roger Federer is doing this week and how he's coping?
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ajra
1st Round
Posts: 26
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Post by ajra on Jul 11, 2008 1:24:29 GMT
Withdrawal? So I guess this means y'all aren't watching WTT? The Lobsters vs. Kastles are on now. Serena and her mixed doubles partner lost their set 5-2; her singles set will be played last. I was going to ask wasn't Gimlestob supposed to be suspended for this match?
In other news, Thomas Blake needs to lose the dreds. And these crappy announcers should be ashamed that they have called him James Blake at least twice each.
I completely agree.
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