US OPEN 2011, SEMI-FINAL; Relentless Rafa outshoots Andy 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-3

Not to be sadly, but your day will come
Only one of seven to make 4 GS semis can,t be bad another british record
keep your pecker up everyone
night

Big shame for the first 2 sets, Andy didn't play quite well in those 2 sets but IMO Rafa didn't play too well back then (apart from some great shots from both of them of course).
Andy really did put a great effort in the 3rd set, you just have to admire him for fighting and not giving it up! He's showed again that he can beat Nadal with his game when he's on fire. In the 4th set he was just too tired not to make those errors.

Have a nice rest Andy, then Davis Cup in front of your own people, it will be great! But please don't beat us, poor Hungarians too much...

pabbers wrote:

jaydu wrote:THE REAL SADDNESS IS I THAUGHT ANDY PLAYED AS WELL AS HE HAS DONE IN A LONG TIME, AND WOULD HAVE BEETEN JUST ABOUT AYONE ELSE THERE TONIGHT

Agree but it was another case of playing himself as well as the oppo. Very sad for him.

BTW, have PM'd you.

andy is unique to tennis no other player is under the kind of scrutiny ady is , rafa could have lost tonight and no one would bat an eye lid , but we just know hpw andy losing will be reported
oh and cant see your PM sure you sent it to me ?

Sigh - I really hoped (after the satisfaction of seeing Fed go out to Nole) that I might wake up to good news.

But to reach the semis of all 4 slams I'm a year is a tremendous achievement - we all wanted him to go one better but his time will come.

Sleep is overrated.
Back up, at work—still trying to get over those big points.

Maza1987 wrote:Sleep is overrated.
Back up, at work—still trying to get over those big points.

For the longest time - I am wide awake (but I dare say not functioning!) at 5-5:30 ... I was actually watching in bed for the first game of the first set and then woke up maybe a few games later as I'd fallen asleep on the remote and now have button imprints!

I had my first day at Journo school and lots to drink at the social after - so was more than a little dopey! (well ... more than usual!)...

What happened to Andy's hip?

RFS wrote:

Maza1987 wrote:Sleep is overrated.
Back up, at work—still trying to get over those big points.

For the longest time - I am wide awake (but I dare say not functioning!) at 5-5:30 ... I was actually watching in bed for the first game of the first set and then woke up maybe a few games later as I'd fallen asleep on the remote and now have button imprints!

I had my first day at Journo school and lots to drink at the social after - so was more than a little dopey! (well ... more than usual!)...

What happened to Andy's hip?

No idea (us open site still have not published interviews), he started clutching at it in the final set. Didn't affect his play though.

Hope he's ok for Davis Cup.

Maza1987 wrote:

RFS wrote:

Maza1987 wrote:Sleep is overrated.
Back up, at work—still trying to get over those big points.

For the longest time - I am wide awake (but I dare say not functioning!) at 5-5:30 ... I was actually watching in bed for the first game of the first set and then woke up maybe a few games later as I'd fallen asleep on the remote and now have button imprints!

I had my first day at Journo school and lots to drink at the social after - so was more than a little dopey! (well ... more than usual!)...

What happened to Andy's hip?

No idea (us open site still have not published interviews), he started clutching at it in the final set. Didn't affect his play though.

Hope he's ok for Davis Cup.

Well quite.

Went to bed half way into the second set because I couldn't stand to see Andy being beaten again - not only by Nadal but by himself. I really do believe his time will come - he is just too good not to win a Major but he has to get his head sorted out - perhaps a permanent coach would help him to do that or maybe he does need a sports physchologist. I just hope this loss doesn't have the same effect as the loss at the AO - that he can put it behind him and move on quickly. Perhaps the Davis Cup will help him to do that. I really hope that Nadal wins the final - if Djokovic wins he will be unbearable!

Alis wrote:Went to bed half way into the second set because I couldn't stand to see Andy being beaten again - not only by Nadal but by himself. I really do believe his time will come - he is just too good not to win a Major but he has to get his head sorted out - perhaps a permanent coach would help him to do that or maybe he does need a sports physchologist. I just hope this loss doesn't have the same effect as the loss at the AO - that he can put it behind him and move on quickly. Perhaps the Davis Cup will help him to do that. I really hope that Nadal wins the final - if Djokovic wins he will be unbearable!

I certainly agree - I can't see that it will do him any harm and I'm kinda glad I missed that part because he can be so much better than that.

[quote="jaydu"]

pabbers wrote:

jaydu wrote:THE REAL SADDNESS IS I THAUGHT ANDY PLAYED AS WELL AS HE HAS DONE IN A LONG TIME, AND WOULD HAVE BEETEN JUST ABOUT AYONE ELSE THERE TONIGHT

Agree but it was another case of playing himself as well as the oppo. Very sad for him.

BTW, have PM'd you.

andy is unique to tennis no other player is under the kind of scrutiny ady is , rafa could have lost tonight and no one would bat an eye lid , but we just know hpw andy losing will be reported
oh and cant see your PM sure you sent it to me ?[/quote]

Strange - I'll go check and send again if not.........

Just checked and you've replied thanks!

Great game from Andy, winning more of the points and some stunning shots. Nadal is just so very tough and got some balls back that no other player would have made. I'm not upset this time because he did play well, it was just not good enough, Nadal was playing his best, the best I have seen in a while. So chin up Andy we are all behind you. Onwards and upwards

Rafa is such a tough match-up for Andy right now. Andy knows that his normal game won't be successful against Rafa so he has to be more aggressive - yet that style of play is harder for him, leading to errors.

Hopefully next year Andy won't be drawn in the same half as Rafa in all of the slams. Think he's got a much better chance against Nole.

Very sad for Andy that he couldn't find a way past Rafa in the Semi.


I expected to miss the match last night because I was at work and didn't get home until nearly midnight. So, I was shocked to see that they were only into the 2nd set. Equally surprised to see that Nole had fought back from 0-2 to beat Fedex in 5 sets to make it to the Final.

Knowing that Andy does sometimes get off to a slow start I guess I wasn't too alarmed that Rafa was 1-0 up. When it was 2-0 to the Spaniard I hoped, along with some of the other posters on here, that perhaps Andy could "do a Nole" and come back to win it in 5 sets.

And he really did fight to win that 3rd set.

But beating Rafa in 5 sets is a tough ask ......... and too much for Andy who couldn't keep up the standard of play needed in the 4th set.

Kudos to Rafa - he came out with a game plan and made it happen.
For Andy it's another post-match analysis that won't be a happy one.

He's got the talent, technique and the physical fitness to win a Slam.
But he has to get past what's really holding him back which is a having a ruthless mindset that doesn't falter until he's holding up the trophy.

I hope he's alright physically and I hope (somewhat selfishly I admit) that he is OK to play Davis Cup. I rather think he will because, as happened back in July, getting back out on a tennis court pronto, in front of a supportive GB crowd, might be the best thing to lift his spirits.

Andy played much more agressively taking lots of chances ergo more errors but at least he tried something different. His forays to the net reaped dividends I wish he had done it more often. He is getting closer but may never pass that final hurdle of believing he can win rather than hoping. I hope he can find someone who can and will help him achieve that, he so deserves a grand slam. Onwards and upwards Andy, we all believe in you and support you through thick and thin. See you next week at Braehead.

Had a distrubed night with teething Matthewmoo so had a couple of quick checks on the score. Was elated when he got the 3rd but so deflated when the 4th ran away.

Belief is everything, Nole & Nadal have it in spades but I'm afraid Andy doesnt. It is the mental side of things that let his awesome talent down. A coach is needed quickly & perhaps sports psycologist (sp?) - what he has done up to now has not gotten him over that final line so he needs to change it.

Another selfish one hoping he can play DC but I'm a bit 50/50 on whether he will be there. Despite everything, I will still cheer loudly & congratulate him on his fantastic achievements

pabbers wrote:Just read the report on the BBC website and yet again, Andy is talking about having to get physically stronger.........I'm almost ready to give up (I won't of course and neither must he). He was banging his feet early in the match. But (against my better judgment) I'm inclined to agree with what Rusedski said about this in the Haase match and that is, that when you are NERVOUS, your feet won't move as quickly as you'd like. I feel certain IMHO that this is Andy's problem - so yet again - he needs to get MENTALLY, not physically stronger. He's one of the, if not THE most physically fit and strong players out there. *Sigh*. Could someone lend me a brick wall to bang either his or my head against please?

Here - help yourself, but I need it too, we'll have to take turns!

Re DC - I just watched his interview on the ATP site and he is definitely going to go, even talks about flying straight there from NY.

Madeline
Here - help yourself, but I need it too, we'll have to take turns!

Re DC - I just watched his interview on the ATP site and he is definitely going to go, even talks about flying straight there from NY



I could kiss you but cant find a kissing graphic! He said that? (does little happy dance & goes off to practise loud cheering....)

Aussie Andy wrote:
Ah, well, maybe my hopes will materialize and Andy will win the Australian Open (where there is presumably less pressure, where he already has reached the final twice, and where I can watch his match on TV instead of following livescores).

Will you be going to the AO next year? You guys are great at giving Andy much needed support!!

Aussie Andy wrote:I get so mad seeing all the nasty comments in news articles. I'll have to stop reading them.

Well, best of luck with the Davis Cup.

Ah, well, maybe my hopes will materialize and Andy will win the Australian Open (where there is presumably less pressure, where he already has reached the final twice, and where I can watch his match on TV instead of following livescores).

I think the Australian Open is his best chance of a slam - the high bouncing surface suits his game. Also he tends to start the year very strongly, whilst Rafa historically has tended to take longer to reach peak form throughout a year. Avoiding Rafa would be a major bonus.

Not sure when Andy will win his first slam but I still believe it will happen one day. In the meantime, I hope Andy plays great tennis in the other events too and gets to play the top players in these - wins there could then build confidence for the slam matches.

Madeline wrote:

pabbers wrote:Just read the report on the BBC website and yet again, Andy is talking about having to get physically stronger.........I'm almost ready to give up (I won't of course and neither must he). He was banging his feet early in the match. But (against my better judgment) I'm inclined to agree with what Rusedski said about this in the Haase match and that is, that when you are NERVOUS, your feet won't move as quickly as you'd like. I feel certain IMHO that this is Andy's problem - so yet again - he needs to get MENTALLY, not physically stronger. He's one of the, if not THE most physically fit and strong players out there. *Sigh*. Could someone lend me a brick wall to bang either his or my head against please?

Here - help yourself, but I need it too, we'll have to take turns!

Totally agree with you, Pat - can I take a turn on that wall too?