2013 French Open F: Nadal vs. Ferrer

[tented]

Nadal leads the series 19-4

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=N409&oId=F401

Rafa has won the last 8 clay meetings. The 2013 Madrid and Rome Quarters were 3 sets while the final in Acapulco was straight sets.

Who knew? And who wins?

vs.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Nadal in 4. Their matches have a trajectory that is known to anyone who watches tennis. It is up to David to change it but this is Rafa's house.

By the way, Ferrer added some points and Nadal can only defend what is, so is David passing Rafa after RG?

 

[rafanoy1992]

tented, don't forget to vote this time.

As for the predictions: Rafael Nadal in three sets. The first set will determine if this match will be competitive. I think Ferrer will be a little bit nervous because it is Rafa and it is his first slam final. As for Nadal, he will still have that adrenaline that he got from winning against Djokovic.

Let's hope Ferrer wins more than five games this year!

---

Nadal in 4. Their matches have a trajectory that is known to anyone who watches tennis. It is up to David to change it but this is Rafa's house.

By the way, Ferrer added some points and Nadal can only defend what is, so is David passing Rafa after RG?

Yup, Ferrer will past Nadal in the rankings this upcoming Monday.

 

[tented]

By the way, Ferrer added some points and Nadal can only defend what is, so is David passing Rafa after RG?

Yes. Ironically, even if Rafa defends the title, he'll go back to No. 5, because of the points Ferrer has gained by reaching the final.

tented, don't forget to vote this time.

As for the predictions: Rafael Nadal in three sets. The first set will determine if this match will be competitive. I think Ferrer will be a little bit nervous because it is Rafa and it is his first slam final. As for Nadal, he will still have that adrenaline that he got from winning against Djokovic.

Let's hope Ferrer wins more than five games this year!

I voted for Rafa in 3, for the same reasons you gave.

 

[rafanoy1992]

By the way, Ferrer added some points and Nadal can only defend what is, so is David passing Rafa after RG?

Yes. Ironically, even if Rafa defends the title, he'll go back to No. 5, because of the points Ferrer has gained by reaching the final.

tented, don't forget to vote this time.

As for the predictions: Rafael Nadal in three sets. The first set will determine if this match will be competitive. I think Ferrer will be a little bit nervous because it is Rafa and it is his first slam final. As for Nadal, he will still have that adrenaline that he got from winning against Djokovic.

Let's hope Ferrer wins more than five games this year!

I voted for Rafa in 3, for the same reasons you gave.

The great news is after this tournament, Nadal is only defending 45 points for the rest of the year! Also, here's another interesting fact: If Nadal wins this Sunday, and Wimbledon he will go back as the number two player in the world! How crazy is that?!

 

[calitennis127]

Wow, Ferrer is SOOOOOOO old. I can't believe he has made it this far in yet ANOTHER tournament with his 31-year-old body being unable to recover without 3 weeks off.

Miami? And now this? Who would have thought?

I am surprised Ryan Harrison or Tomic didn't make it further than Ferrer given that they are so much younger.

This is just shocking. Man oh man.

 

[huntingyou]

Who knew? And who wins?

I tipped Ferrer in the final when the draw came out......some people had a hard time seeing Ferrer get by Federer but that match never happened. (I wish it did)

 

[herios]

Who knew?

Quite many, apparently. I checked the odds at the betting houses and this final was towards most betters were leaning.

 

[tented]

Who knew? And who wins?

I tipped Ferrer in the final when the draw came out......some people had a hard time seeing Ferrer get by Federer but that match never happened. (I wish it did)

Well done to predict Ferrer to go all the way to the final, but do you really think he could have taken down Federer?

 

[tented]

Who knew?

Quite many, apparently. I checked the odds at the betting houses and this final was towards most betters were leaning.

Do you mean in terms of who would win between Tsonga and Ferrer once it was known they were in the SF? Or odds were for Ferrer before the tournament even began? I don't check betting sites, so I have no clue what goes on there.

 

[tennisville]

I definately know what I wont watch on sunday

 

[herios]

Who knew?

Quite many, apparently. I checked the odds at the betting houses and this final was towards most betters were leaning.

Do you mean in terms of who would win between Tsonga and Ferrer once it was known they were in the SF? Or odds were for Ferrer before the tournament even began? I don't check betting sites, so I have no clue what goes on there.

I checked them last night. The majority of betters indicated a Rafa win over Nole and David over JWT.

 

[huntingyou]

Who knew? And who wins?

I tipped Ferrer in the final when the draw came out......some people had a hard time seeing Ferrer get by Federer but that match never happened. (I wish it did)

Well done to predict Ferrer to go all the way to the final, but do you really think he could have taken down Federer?

One is moving up as far as form while the other has been slipping down quickly. Ferrer is actually a better player that he ever was and at RG this year I felt he had excellent chances against Federer. He just doesn't grind, he attacks well with his IO forehand, returns incredible well and lately has developed the ability to change direction with his backhand more consistently.

I mean, Federer lost against Niki............it's just not the same Federer and this is the worst I have ever seeing him since ever

 

[tented]

Who knew?

Quite many, apparently. I checked the odds at the betting houses and this final was towards most betters were leaning.

Do you mean in terms of who would win between Tsonga and Ferrer once it was known they were in the SF? Or odds were for Ferrer before the tournament even began? I don't check betting sites, so I have no clue what goes on there.

I checked them last night. The majority of betters indicated a Rafa win over Nole and David over JWT.

Gotcha. Thanks, Herios.

 

[tented]

Who knew? And who wins?

I tipped Ferrer in the final when the draw came out......some people had a hard time seeing Ferrer get by Federer but that match never happened. (I wish it did)

Well done to predict Ferrer to go all the way to the final, but do you really think he could have taken down Federer?

One is moving up as far as form while the other has been slipping down quickly. Ferrer is actually a better player that he ever was and at RG this year I felt he had excellent chances against Federer. He just doesn't grind, he attacks well with his IO forehand, returns incredible well and lately has developed the ability to change direction with his backhand more consistently.

I mean, Federer lost against Niki............it's just not the same Federer and this is the worst I have ever seeing him since ever

I didn't see all of the Ferrer/Tsonga match, but what I did see impressed me. If that's the way he's been playing, it's no accident he made it to the final without dropping a set.

I also noticed his net points at the end of the match: 17/22 (77%). With numbers like that, combined with his effective ROS, I could see him beating this current form of Federer. As you say, even Nishikori has done it recently. (And I know that, like me, you genuinely appreciate Federer; you're not knocking him because you don't like him.)

With Ferrer, I also wonder how much of a psychological block there is to beat Federer. Does he have the belief after so many loses? Nevertheless, I agree with you that it would have been interesting to see.

 

[shawnbm]

I definately know what I wont watch on sunday

I am sort of the same way. This, for me, was the worst final I could have envisioned when I saw who had made it to the QFs--with the supposition that either Nole or Rafa would be in the final. I would have preferred Fed, Tsonga, Almagro, and then Ferrer.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I think people are being harsh on the match. Their last two clay court meetings have been pretty entertaining, with the Rome match being a particularly good display of clay court tennis.

With that said, unless Nadal is physically exhausted, the outcome won't be in doubt. However, Ferrer is someone who can physically challenge him. He will track down balls, defend, and even make Nadal move quite a lot. If he keeps hitting his backhand as well as he's been doing all clay court season, in addition to his great inside out forehand, he will make Nadal move, which is his only chance of winning this match.

If Rafa's physically up for it, and is hitting his ground strokes as sharp as he was against Novak, he wins this in straights. I'll go with 4 sets, to be safe.

 

[Iona16]

I think people are being harsh on the match. Their last two clay court meetings have been pretty entertaining, with the Rome match being a particularly good display of clay court tennis.

With that said, unless Nadal is physically exhausted, the outcome won't be in doubt. However, Ferrer is someone who can physically challenge him. He will track down balls, defend, and even make Nadal move quite a lot. If he keeps hitting his backhand as well as he's been doing all clay court season, in addition to his great inside out forehand, he will make Nadal move, which is his only chance of winning this match.

If Rafa's physically up for it, and is hitting his ground strokes as sharp as he was against Novak, he wins this in straights. I'll go with 4 sets, to be safe.

Agree 100%

Acapulco was a blowout but their other clay meetings this year have been close. I'm going with Rafa in 3 or 4.

Ferrer is my 3rd favourite player after Murray and Nadal so I would not be too disappointed if he were to win. Still backing Rafa 100% though.

 

[Moxie]

I think people are being harsh on the match. Their last two clay court meetings have been pretty entertaining, with the Rome match being a particularly good display of clay court tennis.

With that said, unless Nadal is physically exhausted, the outcome won't be in doubt. However, Ferrer is someone who can physically challenge him. He will track down balls, defend, and even make Nadal move quite a lot. If he keeps hitting his backhand as well as he's been doing all clay court season, in addition to his great inside out forehand, he will make Nadal move, which is his only chance of winning this match.

If Rafa's physically up for it, and is hitting his ground strokes as sharp as he was against Novak, he wins this in straights. I'll go with 4 sets, to be safe.

Agree 100%

Acapulco was a blowout but their other clay meetings this year have been close. I'm going with Rafa in 3 or 4.

Ferrer is my 3rd favourite player after Murray and Nadal so I would not be too disappointed if he were to win. Still backing Rafa 100% though.

My theory about Acapulco was that Ferrer was trying a new tactic, and got skunked. The last 2 matches between them were much more characteristic of Ferrer's play, and he was much closer. I'm thrilled for Ferrer to get this milestone, but I still think it's a mountain to climb v. Nadal. His game is Rafa-lite. That's why he doesn't beat him on clay. Unless today's match took too much out of Nadal, physically/emotionally, Nadal in 3 or 4. But Ferrer has nothing to lose. This is almost certain to be the highlight of his career. He will leave blood, sweat and tears on the court.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Moxie.....agree with everything you said about David in the final
I will go with Rafa in 4 sets.