WTF Day 5: Keeping the Dream Alive

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

Well here we go again.

First of all, here is some required reading.

That really is not fair. Murray has about the same chance of beating Roger as he does Novak. What a ridiculous accusation.

ATP BACKSPIN just wants to remind readers it correctly predicted the result. Yes, sometimes it does get the call correct. Unbelievable, eh? Yes, the Italians won in three. It was a strange scoreline, too, the Italian’s prevailing 6-4, 1-6, 10-5. Honestly, though, let’s ignore the scoreline. The Italians finished a great and very entertaining year on a high. They ran everything down, swung from the hip and just had a ball. Seemingly for no reason, Fognini even pulled the umpire’s sock down. He didn’t get a warning or anything. They even finished with a flashy winner down the line, though it was Bolelli’s forehand. Thank you to the Italian 5th seeds for a wonderful year. They brightened up the ATP doubles world.

The Bryans keep their dream alive. With a 6-7[5], 7-6[5], 16-14 win over 4th seeds Murray/Peers they can still be the world number ones. This was the best doubles match this BACKSPINNER has seen in many a year. Murray/Peers had chances to take the first set up 5-3 and were utterly solid on serve until they had to serve for it. They outclassed the Bryans for the first set but then the Americans raised their level. The top seeds were twice down a mini-break in that second set breaker. They also had set points in the second set. The third set lasted 20 minutes and had all kinds of drama. This was an incredible match with every player giving everything. Botched smashes, long rallies, drop shots and exquisite lobs were all par for the course. Up 7-2 in the champions breaker, the 4th seeds choked away their lead and had at least four match points saved. They also saved a flurry of set points. Peers particularly missed a few sitters, including one you or I could have put away on match point. I can’t do this match justice but it was mind-blowing. The highlights package could be an hour long.

Friday in the singles, Ferrer will go set-less. Nadal is one of those moods where he’s tearing everything asunder. There is just no way to pick Ferrer here. He won’t mend his broken pride. He got placed in a group he was always going to struggle in. And struggle he has. Nadal takes it but maybe there will be a close set. Wawrinka is going to win. It will go three and I think Wawrinka is just starting to heat up. Murray will play all right but he looks a little out of sorts. It will be an all-Swiss clash to decide who faces the winner of the battle between the last two number ones.



Ashe/Smith: FEDERER D. NISHIKORI
...Up a set and 4-1, Roger Federer was cruising. But then disaster struck. Kei reeled off five games in a row to take it and send it into a 3rd. Federer, with his no-shave November contribution looks like a grizzled warrior. Here he was the real thing. Then Federer, after surviving a couple of break points, got 4-1 up in the third set. Again Kei dragged it back. But Federer knows better than anyone how to forget what just happened. It is a vitally important skill. Sharapova is one of the best in the business in that area. Federer clung on to record a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 victory. The win gave Berdych hope, though he would need to beat Djokovic in two. In the match some of the stats seemed strange. Federer ran 2397 metres whilst Kei ran just 2272. Kei hit 13 forehand winners to Fed’s nine and ten backhand winner to eight. In his semi-final Federer has to improve on the 12 break points he faced. Kei converted five of those. The Swiss star must also win more than 30 per cent of second serve points. His 6 of 6 on break points is fantastic. Repeat that and hit 9 aces like he did in this match and he should be fine. The 33-35 mark on winners to errors is poor. The other important thing is to put the match away, especially if you’re up 4-1 in back to back sets. Kei can head into the offseason proud of his efforts here. He will definitely be a factor in Australia where he has made some deep runs previously.
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McEnroe/Fleming: DJOKOVIC D. BERDYCH
...Djokovic won 6-3, 7-5. He goes through to face Rafa. It’s so frustrating that Berdych does nothing when it really matters. He choked against Wawrinka in that semi-final in Melbourne. He couldn’t even push Djokovic to a breaker despite a big serve. Forget three sets whenever Berdych plays somebody else in the top ten. Yes, Djokovic played well but when Is Berdych going to get it together? It’s another awful performance from one of the world’s best players. This guy should have more slams than Cilic. Time and again he does the same stupid things that Kvitova does. So much wasted talent and firepower. It’s just maddening. He did nothing this whole group stage. One measly set off Nishikori. It’s unendingly poor. The only time he never beats anybody decent is when they’re broken like Nadal in Melbourne this year. And he almost blew that fourth set, too. He frequently talks about how he wants to beat the big guys. Well, then do it. Let’s see it.
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Please do go and visit WTA BACKSPIN . See you tomorrow!

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