2012 Live Commentary

Match starting in a couple of hours. I cannot wait.

Damn!

Nadal needs to find backhand and serve rhythm early and win the first set. Almost a MUST win set for him. Can't wait.

According the Wiki Djokovic's already won in 3 over... Murray :eek:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_Open_Men%27s_Singles_champions

Is the final gonna be indoors under the roof? That would be huge for Nole, it wouldn't be as oppressively hot then, right?

Is the final gonna be indoors under the roof? That would be huge for Nole, it wouldn't be as oppressively hot then, right?

It would be in the evening if it's at 7:30 Melbourne time, so I don't think heat will be an issue.

Do what must be done. Do not hesitate, show no mercy.

Nr. 11 is waiting for you, Rafa!

Roof is closed

I am so excited for this match.

It would be in the evening if it's at 7:30 Melbourne time, so I don't think heat will be an issue.

It's 7.00pm in Melbourne now and the current temp is 34 degrees celsius.

Sexy.

Have a feeling Nadal prepared like a dog for this final. I expect MTF to get a heart attack after the match is over. Nadal will surprise us :D.

I'm hoping for the third set level from the USO, and that for 5 sets :banana:

Would instantly topple Wimbledon '08 if that were to happen

I heard on tv that the roof will be open.

I heard on tv that the roof will be open.

It's def closed

Fuck, this just got real.

Coverage has begun

AMazing ceremony. Got goosebumps.

The tennis players live and breathe by the sport, but so do the fans.

Love ittt !!!!

dodgy music though

Oh BBC :facepalm:

Showing H2H Fedal... says that Federer won Wimbledon 08

According the Wiki Djokovic's already won in 3 over... Murray :eek:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_Open_Men%27s_Singles_champions

Haha, I just read that as well. Hilarious scoreline.

Roofs just been reopened, but may be closed again if it rains

Roofs just been reopened, but may be closed again if it rains

Closed roof a big plus for Djokovic, but in the interests of a true final atmosphere I hope the rain stays away.

Novak is pretty classy, you're supposed to make you dislike you Novak!

Djokovic serving first?

watch nadal getting broken at 4-5

May the best doper win.

Djokovic in 4.

Closed roof a big plus for Djokovic, but in the interests of a true final atmosphere I hope the rain stays away.


It gets slower under the roof, like Wimbledon. Who that helps depends on Djokovic's energy levels I guess.

Wind not really a factor at all today.

May the best doper win.

Shh... ;)

Call the first set. I'm saying 6-4 for the Djoker

Cmon Nole :yeah:

Everyone at the BBC is picking Nadal :facepalm:

Jezus

Here we go.

The closed roof benefits Nole, but the heat befefits Nadal (if those breathing Nole problems are true). Let's see how it goes. VAMOS RAFA!!!

Vamos Rafa!!!!

15-30

Djokvovic missing a few but it doesn't look good for Rafa already.

dtl fh for nadal is key.

The closed roof benefits Nole, but the heat befefits Nadal (if those breading Nole problems are true). Let's see how it goes. VAMOS RAFA!!!

I hope Nole opens the bakery at some point.

Nole not letting Rafito touch the ball there.

so it begins...

Djokovic looking dead. Which means he's fine.

Rafa is so rusty at the beginning ...

Very nice second serve.

What a good kick-serve

Djokovic looking dead. Which means he's fine.

:rolleyes::ras::p

good hold from Djokovic, looking a little sluggish, but a fine hold from 15-30
Now break him :cool:

Come on then let's see what happens. Nadal in 4.

Clear that Nadal will tire before Nole, Rafa already running from side to side with Djokovic standing still

Rafa Sampras :eek:

ace :yeah:

depthovic.

Great serving Rafa!

Rafa serving well so far.

Ivo/Milos/Pete/John Nadal

Hmm so far Rafa is not showing Djokovic anything new.

Djokvovic missing a few but it doesn't look good for Rafa already.

What? Why?

great hold :D

love hold for Nadal? :(

Horrible returning from Djoko.

uso '10-esque serving from nadal....interesting.

Djokovic already with 5 horrible errors. But it's early still

That slice will be key for rafa, just to mix it up and draw the error from the Novak BH.

Slice em to death :rocker2:

too many errors already :(

Piggy looks desperate :haha:

Vamos Nadal!!!! He's zoning :sport:

Come on, Nole.

Rafa is looking intent tonight. Great signs early on. 0-30

wow....great stuff from nadal.

That's right, Nadal needs to go down the line pretty often. Nole is in for a nasty long night.

Nadal is gonna win this people. Damn it.

FFS Nole hit it to the BH :(

Nole can't handle Rafa's serve. Struggling with his service games. He's stiff. So far, Nadal came out firing .

Who's the umpire?

FHDTL, first of many I hope. Don't let them vanish like at Wimbledon.

rafa starting to challenge like federer :lol:

nvm, it's same old Pascal. My goodness, how many slam finals has he umpired already??

What a second serve

And so the failed challenges begin...

nadal's ros is too short....as usual.

Nole really aggressive today.

I like it :cool:

Cmon Novak
what happened to his First Serves :(

Nole surviving but not got much of a first serve going right now. 2 great forehands; 2-1

Not bad Djoker, not bad

Nole can't get a 1st serve in.

:yeah:

Terrible play from Rafa at 0-30. Moonballing backhands of 2nd serves.

Djokovic F/H coming together there. More of that, please.

Tony not happy so far :superlol:

Djokovic living dangerously with some UEs but still managing to hold

as long as he executes Nadal will not find an answer

Early leads in return games going to waste.

Great aggressive forehands from Nole in the first few games.

Nadal not looking bad either. Djokovic needs to get the return to Nadal's backhand to get the upper hand in the rally

all time great 3 games

But Nole can resist even though he is playing well.

Fed has no chance against these two especially at slams. He's not that powerful/physical like these two. I also think he has less fire than these two?. Murray can get to the level of these guys as well.

Nadal looks wired, unlike Novak

Good challenge

lol epic challenge

Good challenge.:lol:

so driunk but goddamn it i am watching this. nole needs 1st set

Djokovic: Challenge Master

Hawkeyeovic

nice hooker, dtl combo from nadal.

GOATdal :worship:

Poor Nole already injured his ankles.

Great rally and Nadal out baselining Novak with his BH!

nice rally

damn it.deeper if u must lob

Nole starting already :haha:

lol, Djokovic down already :lol:

I hope Nole won't get injured! tape your ankles!

Ouch.. ouch ouch ouch that looks jarring.

USO2010 serving from Rafa.

Djokovic almost rolled his ankle there

Oh no Djokovic is hurt! Well I guess that's it then, Nadal's got this in the bag. Tough luck for Nole!

:rolleyes:

Nadal playing to Djokovic's strengths. Really a bad match up this.

good smash Rafa :yeah:

It's funny how after every long rally Djokovic is simulating injury :lol:

Seriously the surface will be too physical for Nole to win on this time round. And Djokovic really did jarr his ankle there, it wasn't pretty and I imagine it frikking hurt.

Djokovic better get the towel ready

Hi, Vika!

Nadal is playing well and people thought Djoker was going to steamroll him.

Rafa having easier games. Let's see how Nole handles his game.

nole seems tired

vika is there watching :hearts:

nadal is playing a very intelligent match so far.....nothing like the macho slugfest at uso '11.

Both players serving well.

nadal is playing a very intelligent match so far.....nothing like the macho slugfest at uso '11.

Let's see how intelligent he looks when he's serving at *4-5

Just make more UEs Rafa ... :-))

Nadal definitely taking more chances but he isn't finding targets as much as necessary to win

Rafa too good.

Any ball that remotely sucks, Nadal's gonna absolutely ATTACK with that fh.

That's the way Rafa - agresiveness

Inside out forehand flattened out - this will win Rafa a lot of points. Even Djoko can't get to it mid court.

FFS Nole

It's funny how after every long rally Djokovic is simulating injury :lol:

the mind games begins :)

Let's go Rafa, let's go!!!

I hope the Djoker is ok. He's a shadow of the guy who beat Muzza.

How much energy Nadal spent on one stroke??

Nole butchers that floating backhand, thirty all.

Djoker has started off so sluggish :(

djokovic not moving well ATM. let's see if he will get better as the match progresses.

Good. That's it.

Djokovic playing like crap at the moment...

Nadal hitting the balls to the middle of the court, Djokovic's only baseline weakness, right MTF? :p

Nadal getting in every return game.

Nole not playing well in the rallies...

NADAL, what defense!!!!

Djoker has started off so sluggish :(

Well what do you expect really after the semi finals?

Vika is there to give Nole a snickers and a coke.

Insane NAAADDDDDAAALLLL :worship:

True greatness

Great point from rafa, Novak didn't handle his advantage well

unreal get from nadal. he is really pumped to win this one.

Nole making a mess of that volley.

nadal really focused on his depth.

Oh wow

Ha ha!

Nole should stay away from the net

That's how he beat Roger. Making him hit few more shots and he got a winner.

bp

boo :(

nole retire if you are sick please don't strain your body :sad:

:facepalm:

No Rafa, no, awful return.

Rafa :o
what was it ?

lol nice return

Nole is playing crap :(

Nole 2011 where art thou ?

Rafa :o Silly me, this game went to deuce, he can't win it.

Federer-esque BH return on break point there :lol:

Hmmm, Rafa on baseline for 2nd serve? That's a first.

Come on Rafa. 2 Good points in a row.

Nole is serving better than against Murray- that's the only positive.

break him Rafa !

Nole is not really hitting the angles at the moment with the BH.

Nole isn't playing well at all. 1.0.

Novak:facepalm:Rafa doesn't need any help from you.:rolleyes:

they are already bathing in sweat. Nadal so pumped-up, might burn

Unreal backhands Nadal!!! Bets i've seen it since 2009!

Nadal KILLING that backhand :worship:

yes!...now break!

Nadal is sick !

Nole should have put him away, too indecisive an eventually rafa stole control of the point. BP

Nadal's bh showing similarly good form as it did against Roger, which is of course what's required. Against Berdych too he was able to take it this confidently and quite early.

:facepalm:

Lotsa errors from Nole.

Every rally went to Rafa so afar.He's the aggressor on court.:yeah:

lol, Nadal out BHing Djokovic :lol:

Djokovic BH has betrayed him like 6-7 times already. Not a good sign

these hot, humid conditions don't suit nole

Rafa breaks! SI SI SI!!!! Vamos Rafa!

Rafa breaks, sloppy UE from Nole.

Vamoossssss! BABY :D

Djokovic's backhand leaking errors... Not good for him in this matchup

and here comes the break :D

Poor Nole. There goes the set.

Nole is playing totally shit :lol:

Nadal is on his way folks. Djoker is not up for it today.

well, he was down a break in the first two sets of the USOpen too :D

But Djokovic looks out of sorts and slow today...Mugray :(

djokovic is not moving well. he is either dead man walking or needs a set to overcome the stifness.

Vamos Rafa! Now hold please!!!

but will nadal consolidate?....that is the question.

Bad miss from Djokovic and Rafa wins a close game against Djokovic! Progress!

Djokovic histrionics ensue.

Great stuff from Nadal, keeping Djokovic on his feet. Rain, anyone?

Consolidate!!!

Really poor dtl bh, not getting over the ball properly at all. Looks too weak at the moment to generate through this court really which is one of the big reasons why it's unlikely he'll win this final.

nole is gonna resume shirtless

I prefer the black shirt anyway.

Ninja shirt !

We have replaced Djokovic's backhand with Federer's. Let's see if anyone notices.

Yep. Djoker is gassed.. Just like I told everyone he would be.

these aussie linespeople are a fucking disgrace!

No wonder Nadul is winning, Nole making tons of errors. :lol:

nole retire if you are sick please don't strain your body :sad:

these hot, humid conditions don't suit nole

And the excuses begin...

Shocking UE from Rafa there.

Just like that, Nole !

Nadal beating Djokovic is the worst of all worlds- if Murray would have limped out of that 5 setter, Nadal would have been the heavy favorite, but he would have not got the psychological boost of breaking his losing streak against Djokovic. Come on Nole.

Djokovic :lol:

Nole is playing so fucking shit. :lol:

This Djokovic is only at like 70%... aint gonna cut it against Nadal

errorkovic

nole needs to wake up...and fast.

heavy legs on nole

Rafa really came out firing.

Djokovic is really gassed here. Missing all ground strokes now. If Nadal doesnt beat him today, he wont beat him anywhere

No wonder Nadul is winning, Nole making tons of errors. :lol:

Is that Nadal's problem or Djokovic's?

Djokovic needs to call a strategic MTO if he loses this first set.

Come on, Nole!

Nole a tease.

See how much Nole is struggling to be truly effectively aggressive on this court against such a fierce defender. It's suffocating at the moment for Nole.

Error after error. Hello slam number 11 for Nadal. If Nole can't beat him then hello to slams 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18.

yay drop shots.

Jezus Christ Nadal!

BP out of nowhere

Djokovic needs to call a strategic MTO if he loses this first set.

he needs his magic plums

Tight game from Rafa.

Clutch 1 2 combo from Rafa.

Balls!!!!

Great save with the forehand there

Break back!

Rafa taking it down the line.

Nole is playing so fucking shit. :lol:

Do you ever say anything positive, you vile twat?

Fuckin Nadal.. Can't you serve like a damn MAN for once. Instead of a WTA player

damn you djokovic if you allow the death of tennis

Yep. Djoker is gassed.. Just like I told everyone he would be.

Stating the obvious?:lol:

Nole :facepalm:

:facepalm:

Nole Nole

Why are they going for the towel after every single point?

Tight rally from both there.

Nadal kicking ass

Djokovic can't hit a single inside out forehand

When djokovic finds himself he is going destroy Nadul again :lol:

Lol. I wonder if Nole is pressing because he knows he hasn't recovered enough to truly be patient and make this a war.

Nole's forehand...