I would love to see Raonic send Nadal running with that forehand and the angles he is able to create.

He can do it...but it's going to be tough.

Wow!
Ferrer and Lopez still grinding it out....

aaand the agony is over! Ferrer grinds Deliciano into fine clay powder...7:6, 6:7, 6:4...

Yes I am surprised Ferrer tends to struggle versus Lopez. He might find it harder to get past Raonic.

I would really like to see Raonic in the final. I think he can dispatch Ferrer if he stays focused.

Nadal Tipsarevic next.

tipsarevic's arsenal not bad but still limited, hence predictable. He really gets the max out of himself, esp on the serve.

not watching...logging now.

I'm not watching either, just having a peek now and then

It's ridiculous what Nadal can retrieve nowadays. He is player better year in year out...despite his knees getting worse of course.

Oh, don't get me started on those knees ....

Ahh.. finally some time for tennis and talking about tennis

Saw the Murray-Raonic's scoreline. And I am not surprised at this at all. How many points can Murray win playing a tactical drop shot. In the end it becomes predictable. Raonic is one good upcoming player. His backhand his some what weaker and movement somewhat slow, but he does make up very well with that Serve and Forehand. Can suffer mental glitches, but that is expected from a young player when facing a top ranker.

Next test for him is Ferrer. A tough test. He has all weapons to beat Ferrer, only he needs to get them firing. Raonic must win it in 2. If it goes into the 3rd, Ferrer will take it in the end.

Nadal's bakchand is surprisingly average bearing in mind he's right-handed.

Saw the Murray-Raonic's scoreline. And I am not surprised at this at all. How many points can Murray win playing a tactical drop shot.
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Say that to Banbro!

I am sure you would have loved that match. Murray played well actually but Raonic was firing on all cylinders. He had at least 2 aces (or winning serve) per service game which left Murray with added pressure on his serve.

Tipsarevic is such a choker....

why? what happened?

From what I saw he was fighting pretty well with his rather small size and small weapons.

I expect the second set to be tighter....if he holds that first game!!

@nitb

Nadal's bakchand is surprisingly average bearing in mind he's right-handed.
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He can't change the direction of the ball off the backhand wing easily. All he does it wack cross court as hard as he can, mostly a make-or-break shot. At times, taking the ball late and from far behind the baseline, he can draw amazing angles on the passing the volleyer. But generally its not the most threatening shot. He rarely gets a good DTL backhand.

He had 0: 40 on Nadal's serve and blew it away collossally...trying to be clever by playing to Nadal's forehand

He can't change the direction of the ball off the backhand wing easily. All he does it wack cross court as hard as he can, mostly a make-or-break shot.
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Very true.

His BH has improved though. he is much more agressive with it than it was just 2 years ago.

Tipsarevic looking like a top 60 player at the moment. Nothing on offer.

I actually don't mean agressive, but better pace and depth than then.

I'm having Nole withdrawal symptoms

Tipsarevic breaks

Djoko will pretty ready for Madrid and Rome.