[ReturnWinner]

Congrats Hewitt, his hard work with Roche is paying off.

[Merton]

Originally Posted by Merton

The bolded part is so true, that is what bothers me about excuses in general.

As for this match, Nadal won easily in the final in Rome after having a long match against Davydenko in the semifinal. Besides, Nadal won easily against Youzhny in Paris when Youzhny had an exhausting match against Haas the previous day. I don't recall Nadal fans saying on that occassion "oh, a piece of good luck for Rafa, Youzhny is normally a bad matchup for him"

[quote=l_mac;6404803]

That provides conclusive proof that my memory is not good Furthermore, it shows that the posters mentioned noted Nadal's tiredness as a fact, not as an excuse. Still, out of curiosity, I looked at how the press covered the two results. Here is Reuters on the Paris result:

Nadal crushes Youzhny's Shanghai dreams
By Patrick Vignal

PARIS (Reuters) - World number two Rafael Nadal shattered Mikhail Youzhny's Masters Cup dreams by crushing the Russian 6-4 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters Series tournament on Friday.

Youzhny, one of several players battling this week in Paris for the two remaining spots at the Nov. 11-18 season finale in Shanghai featuring the world's top eight, survived two match points but was outpowered by the muscular Spaniard.

Nadal, appearing at the $2.45-million indoor event for the first time, sealed victory with a backhand winner after 93 minutes to set up a semi-final meeting with Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.

The unseeded Baghdatis had earlier ended Spaniard Tommy Robredo's Shanghai hopes with a 6-4 6-4 win.

Neither Youzhny nor Robredo can now finish in the top eight of the ATP Race to win a ticket to China.

Baghdatis still stands an outside chance but will qualify only if he wins the title and neither Frenchman Richard Gasquet nor Briton Andy Murray, who face each other in the quarter-finals later on Friday, make the final.

Argentine David Nalbandian, who dropped out of the hunt for tickets to Shanghai on Thursday despite his third-round victory over world number one Roger Federer, advanced to the semi-finals but was made to work for his win.

The unseeded Nalbandian, who had beaten Federer already in the Madrid Masters final late last month, needed three sets and nearly as many hours to down Spain's David Ferrer 7-6 6-7 6-2 in a ferocious contest featuring thrilling rallies.

Fifth seed Ferrer, who has already qualified for Shanghai, matched his opponent's power and determination for two sets but then ran out of steam and Nalbandian wrapped it up with an ace to set-up a semi-final against Murray or Gasquet.
Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/worldO...30302620071102

Here is Chennai's result:

Tired Nadal routed by Youzhny in Chennai final
By N.Ananthanarayanan

CHENNAI, India (Reuters) - Exhausted world number two Rafael Nadal suffered a setback before this month's Australian Open after he was thrashed 6-0 6-1 by Mikhail Youzhny in the Chennai Open final on Sunday.

The Spaniard looked stiff from the start against fourth seed Youzhny, clearly showing the effect of his marathon four-hour semi-final win over compatriot Carlos Moya the previous day.

Nadal called for medical attention trailing 4-1 in the second set and then went through the motions as Youzhny completed his fourth career title win with ease, disappointing a large holiday crowd cheering the Spaniard.

"There was less than 24 hours for recovery," Nadal told reporters, allaying any injury concerns ahead of the year's first grand slam.

A gracious Youzhny said: "This victory is a present from Rafa to me. I didn't win today, Rafa just lost the match because he couldn't move well."

Youzhny, the world number 19, produced an array of superb forehand shots to race through the first set in just over 20 minutes as Nadal made many unforced errors.

Although the Spaniard took a vitamin tablet during the break between the sets, it appeared to have no effect as Youzhny against broke his rival in the fourth game before going 4-1 up.

The trainer stretched Nadal's right leg before the player returned to the court to complete the match, Youzhny serving out to secure victory in under one hour.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/sport...L8154420080106

[Chris Seahorse]

So far...

1) Andreev for 2 poor performances particularly against Johansson - easily the worst tennis performance of the year.
2) Hewitt for 2 big upset defeats and the quotes regarding the heat rule.

But this honor will be won at the Australian Open not before.

[Marek.]

Hewitt for not backing his talk up.

MUG

[sawan66278]

Originally Posted by KaxMisha

In general, I agree. As for the highlighted part - well, yes and no. He obviously was tired, but even if both Youzhny and Nadal are 100 % on hardcourt, Youzhny wins. Youzhny's problem is that he is very streaky, but when he is on, he is one of the best players on hardcourt. The part that bugs me about the "Nadal was tired" excuse is the implication most fans (not you!) put into it - namely that he would have won, had he been 100 %. The truth is, against Youzhny playing the way he did, Nadal still would have gotten comprehensively beaten. However, he certainly would not have won only 26 % of the points played. So yes, tiredness was a factor, but I believe its importance is greatly overstated by many Nadal fans. The scoreline would have been more competeitive, but the outcome would most likely have been the same anyway.

I love Rafa...but no excuses. Perhaps Misha would not have looked quite as good if he were playing a Rafa who was actually giving him some difficult shots to deal with. Misha may have lost, he may have won: we'll never know. In any event, no excuse for Rafa to lose 6-0, 6-1. Captain Claymerica obviously has never heard about, I don't know, coming to net to try to make your opponent beat you...and saving your body, all the while practicing your volleys for the upcoming AO.

Rafa would be the clear winner if not for, as you stated, the Andreev loss to Tojo...a man WELL past his prime. However, given Lleyton's comments, his "influence" over the changing court surface of the AO, and his TWO losses to players outside the top 30---the man to beat at this moment.

[KaxMisha]

Originally Posted by Merton

That provides conclusive proof that my memory is not good Furthermore, it shows that the posters mentioned noted Nadal's tiredness as a fact, not as an excuse. Still, out of curiosity, I looked at how the press covered the two results. Here is Reuters on the Paris result:

Nadal crushes Youzhny's Shanghai dreams
By Patrick Vignal

PARIS (Reuters) - World number two Rafael Nadal shattered Mikhail Youzhny's Masters Cup dreams by crushing the Russian 6-4 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters Series tournament on Friday.

Youzhny, one of several players battling this week in Paris for the two remaining spots at the Nov. 11-18 season finale in Shanghai featuring the world's top eight, survived two match points but was outpowered by the muscular Spaniard.

Nadal, appearing at the $2.45-million indoor event for the first time, sealed victory with a backhand winner after 93 minutes to set up a semi-final meeting with Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.

The unseeded Baghdatis had earlier ended Spaniard Tommy Robredo's Shanghai hopes with a 6-4 6-4 win.

Neither Youzhny nor Robredo can now finish in the top eight of the ATP Race to win a ticket to China.

Baghdatis still stands an outside chance but will qualify only if he wins the title and neither Frenchman Richard Gasquet nor Briton Andy Murray, who face each other in the quarter-finals later on Friday, make the final.

Argentine David Nalbandian, who dropped out of the hunt for tickets to Shanghai on Thursday despite his third-round victory over world number one Roger Federer, advanced to the semi-finals but was made to work for his win.

The unseeded Nalbandian, who had beaten Federer already in the Madrid Masters final late last month, needed three sets and nearly as many hours to down Spain's David Ferrer 7-6 6-7 6-2 in a ferocious contest featuring thrilling rallies.

Fifth seed Ferrer, who has already qualified for Shanghai, matched his opponent's power and determination for two sets but then ran out of steam and Nalbandian wrapped it up with an ace to set-up a semi-final against Murray or Gasquet.
Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/worldO...30302620071102

Here is Chennai's result:

Tired Nadal routed by Youzhny in Chennai final
By N.Ananthanarayanan

CHENNAI, India (Reuters) - Exhausted world number two Rafael Nadal suffered a setback before this month's Australian Open after he was thrashed 6-0 6-1 by Mikhail Youzhny in the Chennai Open final on Sunday.

The Spaniard looked stiff from the start against fourth seed Youzhny, clearly showing the effect of his marathon four-hour semi-final win over compatriot Carlos Moya the previous day.

Nadal called for medical attention trailing 4-1 in the second set and then went through the motions as Youzhny completed his fourth career title win with ease, disappointing a large holiday crowd cheering the Spaniard.

"There was less than 24 hours for recovery," Nadal told reporters, allaying any injury concerns ahead of the year's first grand slam.

A gracious Youzhny said: "This victory is a present from Rafa to me. I didn't win today, Rafa just lost the match because he couldn't move well."

Youzhny, the world number 19, produced an array of superb forehand shots to race through the first set in just over 20 minutes as Nadal made many unforced errors.

Although the Spaniard took a vitamin tablet during the break between the sets, it appeared to have no effect as Youzhny against broke his rival in the fourth game before going 4-1 up.

The trainer stretched Nadal's right leg before the player returned to the court to complete the match, Youzhny serving out to secure victory in under one hour.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/sport...L8154420080106

Hahahahah! That's hilarious! But then again, you just know an idiot has written this when you read things like "[Youzhny] was outpowered by the muscular Spaniard". Nadal overpowered Youzhny? :retard: Oh man! I mean, one would hope that the person to whom they assign to write articles on tennis at least knows something about the sport.

[Renaud]

Minar

[VolandriFan]

Hewitt- Complaining about the surface he pushed for and approved.

[scarecrows]

Minar just made history

[Björki]

Originally Posted by scarecrows

Minar just made history

second this.

[The Pro]

Originally Posted by KaxMisha

Hahahahah! That's hilarious! But then again, you just no an idiot has written this when you read things like "[Youzhny] was outpowered by the muscular Spaniard". Nadal overpowered Youzhny? :retard: Oh man! I mean, one would hope that the person to whom they assign to write articles on tennis at least know something about the sport.

Nadal overpowering Youznhy

[leng jai]

Ljuba Truba.

[tennisgal_001]

Minar for losing to King Oscar on hard

[Jaap]

Has to be Minar.

[supertommyhaas]

ivan ljubicic clown loosing to robin haase in the first round in ao, jees his an awful player