AO Order of Play Friday 1/30/09 Day 12

[luvs10s]

Congrats Rafa, awww poor Fernando.

[elisat]

Unbelievable match. Both played incredible points. Well done to both. I hope Rafa can recover on time for the match with Federer and that, at least, we have a good match.

[zinfandel]

and Rafa finds some energy to sign stuff for the fans

[aedra1119]

Fernando made only 4 DFs in the whole match but 2 in the final game. What a shame.

[Jillz]

What a sad way for the match to end...

I thought I would miss the match, but got home after dinner to see that they are still slugging it out in the 5th! I can only imagine what I missed out in the earlier sets!

[GVGirl]

WOW!! What a match!

Sad ending especially with level of play produced.

Vamos Rafa!

Naderer final! Should be fun!

[morct]

WOW!! What a match!

Sad ending especially with level of play produced.

Vamos Rafa!

Naderer final! Should be fun!

Hopefully Rafa will have a good recovery from today.

[Scotty]

I can't wait to watch the rest of this match. I woke up with Nadal serving at 4-5 in the first set, and watched through the first tiebreak. But after being up for all of the previous night's match, I forced myself to turn it off and go back to sleep. Given that the match went on for anothe FOUR HOURS, it was the right choice.

Congrats to both on what sounds like an extremely high quality match.

[Foxykhat]

I disagree... Rafa's gonna bring it no matter what, and fitness won't be an issue with a day off.

Thanks Beau. I did not watch the match but I'm catch up by reading this thread, and I'm amazed at people thinking this is in the bag for Roger.

Rafa will bring it as per usual and with the day off he should be okay. Only might be an issue if the sets are long (meaning tiebreakers) and if it possibly go the same length as this.

Foxy

[missinandre]

Wow. Nadal and Verdasco. Wow.

Got up at 3:30am to watch and simply was NOT disappointed. Now here I am...watching it again because I missed the last few games of the last set because I had to get my kids off to school but I feel a need to see it

Wow. I'll be watch Verdasco!

[mmmm8]

Q. When you hit a great shot, and you open your palm, what do you mean by this?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Nothing. Is just something that I have with my friend. Is just like hi, you know. But only one special thing I have with one friend that is here with me. The same like do this (clenching fist). Just one thing more. To have motivation and be all the time 100% in the match.

He says he didn't realize before the match that Federer played yesterday and now feels bad that Rafa won't be 100% for the final.


Rafa said he started crying at 0-40.

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/...ews/index.html

[mmmm8]

Q. Tomorrow night the winner takes the No. 1 ranking. Do you feel you're the best player on the tour at the moment?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, if we are fighting for this spot, that says everything, no?

.......

Q. You talk about how special Grand Slams are to tennis players. What would it mean for you tomorrow if you win?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, you know, to win tomorrow and to be No. 1 in the world, then, I don't know, I'll go and buy chocolate cake (smiling).

This would be my present for myself, that, yes, I can eat that chocolate cake.

Q. Your coach has said you've changed your diet in the last year. What sort of changes have you made?

DINARA SAFINA: Well, it's a diet, just what I can eat, what I cannot eat. Basically that's all.

Q. So very little chocolate cake?
DINARA SAFINA: No, I don't eat chocolate at all. That's just if I deserve it.

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/...288584359.html

[tinamarie]

very nice interviews from both Rafa and fernando.
It sure sounds like an incredible match. Unfortunatly, I missed it because I had class all day, but my room mate kept texting me the scores. I was rooting for Rafa (when he took the third, I actually clenched my fist... just a spontaneous reaction, unfortunatly the girl sitting behind me saw it and now thinks I am completly weird ), but congratulations to Verdasco as well! I honestly never expected him to show such a great fight. I thought once he would get to the semis and play Rafa, he would be overwhelmed by the situation and falter. Hopefully, he can keep it up.

[morct]

very nice interviews from both Rafa and fernando.
It sure sounds like an incredible match. Unfortunatly, I missed it because I had class all day, but my room mate kept texting me the scores. I was rooting for Rafa (when he took the third, I actually clenched my fist... just a spontaneous reaction, unfortunatly the girl sitting behind me saw it and now thinks I am completly weird ), but congratulations to Verdasco as well! I honestly never expected him to show such a great fight. I thought once he would get to the semis and play Rafa, he would be overwhelmed by the situation and falter. Hopefully, he can keep it up.

I let out a few yelps while I was watching the first set at the gym and got the same reaction.

[Drop-shot]

Meanwhile, back at the Jacuzzi, Roger browses through the champagne brochure...

If this goes 5 sets there is no way either one of these guys can beat Roger. They will be totally exhausted (and it looks it is going that way)

So mad at the schedule. So unfair.