I hope Rafa will not be intimidated by the Berdych's serve :)

nadal 6-4 7-6 6-3

Rafa 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4

If Rafa can get past El Sod, he can get past Berdy.

With all due respect to Berdych, The Nadal - Murray match should have been in the finals... though this one's so intriguing if only for the fact that Tomas already beat the 2nd & 3rd best player in the world today.
Berdych will fight, but ONLY Rafa can beat himself in this finals!
Nadal - 6/4, 7/5, 6/3

Rafa 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.

Berdych 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(4), 7-6(6)

Really, ts38, do you think if Nadal wins the first set 6-1 he will lose the next three?

I'm going with the underdog. Berdych may not be have a good record against Nadal in recent times but he's playing the best tennis of his career. He also has weapons (big serve and groundstrokes) to trouble Nadal on grass. He has defeated the No. 2 and No. 3 player in the world so his confidence is sky high. But this is a Wimbledon grand final and I'm sure there will be nerves.

Prediction Berdych in 4: 6-4 5-7 7-6 (9) 6-2
I think if it goes to a 5th set then Nadal will take it.

Nadal 7-6, 6-4, 6-3..

Rafa 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

Rafa 6-4, 7-6, 6-4

rafa 6-3 7-5 6-4

anything can happen in the tiebreak but i go with berdych
4-6,7-5,7-6(8),7-6(7)

Rafa: 7-6, 7-6, 6-2

I was actually thinking more of Berdych when I made that prediction. It's his first major final and I could see the pressure getting to him at the start, but then find his rhythm (even against Nadal). I never said I was good at this, but I can just see him getting blown away before hitting his stride.

nadal in 4: 6-4,3-6,7-5,7-6

VAMOS!!!

Rafa in 3...Vamos Rafa! Go get your Championship Trophy..:)

Well I hope all the expert picks are right; I never make predictions on Rafa's matches, there is no point as I always think he is going to win.

Vienen a ganar!!

VAMOS RAFA!

Nadal 6-4 1-6 7-5 7-5

berdych will win
6-4 6-4 5-0 ret.

book it.

My heart and mind say Berdych, but I'm not going to pick against Nadal again..

I hope I'm wrong, Berdych really deserves this:
Nadal 3-6 6-4 3-6 7-6 6-3

lol, was waiting for this :P , now that ATR has given his pred, rafa surely is gona win :)

too bad ur heart and mind are always wrong when u predict against rafa...pathetic hater!

atr - if rafa wins, can you please piss off?

Why sud ATR leave? he is Rafa lucky charm.

Thanks ATR! Now i am dead sure that Rafa will win:-)

ATR.. always happy to see your comment.. book it!!

I want to see someone biting something!!

Vamos Rafa!!!!!!!!!!

I hear there is a lot of wind. For those that picked rafa in 4 sets I would amend it to 3. Then I would give berdych a maximum of 9 games.

Then let the wind blow harder :-))

ts38, you are allowed to make any prediction you like :)
I suspect that the scorelines for each set will be very close ...both players are hot right now. I think Nadal will win.

oohh yeah!!! my first and second sets are both correct. rafa please make sure you take the 3rd set 6-4 thank you!

homos looking good

altho in order for it to be 6-4, Nadal will have to break for the match

oh i hope homos gets it right on !! vamos rafa and vamos homos!

ricky golden racket in trble if homos gets it totally right? :P

homos 3 points away

but now game point for Tomas

ricky get that racket out of storage...it's calling out to me :-)

hahaha it's mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Straight sets!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Homos, CONGRATULATIONS!


VAMOS!!!!!

and homos will be our first US Open guest expert

and/or the Toronto Masters

I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT RAFA IS BITING ANOTHER WIMBLEDON TROPHY THIS YEAR!

WHAT A CHAMPION - RAFA YOU ARE THE GREATEST!


VAMOS!!!!!!!!

homos, that was amazing. Congratulations!!

Congratulations homos! I thought Rafa in 3 too, but must admit I thought Berdie would put up tougher resistance in first two. Way to go!

Patrick McEnroe also predicted the score exactly correct

Oh homos congrats!!
great job friend..

i think i won 2nd place :-(

congrats homos. :-)

Wow, homos, congratulations! The exact score! :)

hats off to homos. Can't believe the ever trembling homos on the prediction deparment has nailed it.

My turn to ask you homos, please predict the USOpen result? hehe

Congrats !!!

woohooooo!! RAFA THE GREAT ..congrats to all rafa fans , our hero is the BEST !

by the way homos' prediction was AWESOME but i think the golden racket should remain with ricky becoz we all knew the outcome of this match , ricky's tsonga in 5 ws very very tough to call as tso was an underdog aswell. true homos also deserves an award but i think the golden racket shud still stay with ricky, what do u guys think??? :)

vamosrafa you backstabber...i'm crossing you off my xmas list :-)

thanks everyone!! pheonix: if vamosrafa didn't stab me in the back, i'd let you hold the golden racket for being runner up :)

whoa raindrops!!! no need to rub it in lol. actually, you are spot on, my initial feeling was to predit a 4-5 set win with 1 or 2 TBs but then i thought i always doubt rafa and feel ashame after he proves me wrong so i went with more thought and less doubt this time...thought about how the breaks of serves might pan out. very happy to have got it spot on..yay!

btw i meant to say i don't really mind what people decide..ricky can keep racket. i just find the whole prediction thing fun.

Excerpt from the Daily Mail interview:

The Czech said: 'It was a great two weeks for me but he was really strong today. He has shown in the last few months that he is really the champion and he deserves to win today.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-1291918/WIMBLEDON-2010 -Rafael-Nadal-clinches-second-SW19-crown-ruthless-world-No-1-dispatche s-Tomas-Berdych-straight-sets.html#ixzz0sjf3Y27k

I just realized I had the same score prediction as that of vmk1!!!.............. almost perfect!!!
CONGRATULATIONS !!!

@homos, hahaahhah... i aksed for opinoions ,no? :P i think u deserve the racket but i give the slightest of edges to Ricky ,lol...but if others think u deserve it then we can hand it over to you..

everything aside, i am glad u view this prediction thing from the best possible view/approach , i.e extracting as much fun as possible, that is what this competiton brings forth :D vamos homos and vamos rafa !!! :D

will miss tennis and rafa till toronto :(

vamos vamos vamos vamos vamos VAAAAMOS..........WOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

VAMOS RAFA!!!! And congrats to homos, great score you picked there. Perfect!

But I really want to extend my thanks to atr. I came here before the match seeking confidence and was still really nervous despite all the positviity here - until I read atr's prediction. HE'S ALWAYS WRONG! I thought, now Rafa is sure to win!

7000 pts in 3 months....crazy no???

:)

VAMOS!!

Hey Rafans, we need to go out for a tapas crawl.

I just read on Rafa's website that he was offering two tickets for Spain/Paraguay in partnership with Kia Motors, all you had to do was say why you are a fan.

Hey McQ, congrats. Thought I had the golden racket in the bag. But alas the order was wrong. Dont we deserve a consolation at least!!

vmk1- yup!... but homos deserves the "prize"! McEnroe guessed it right also!

....... we'll hit it someday!

where's NNY?

phoenix,

I am here! I have been celebrating Rafa's great win! Congratulations to my dear homos predicting the score exactly right! What a glorious day! I have been walking around with the biggest smile on my face! So much emotion!

Now the past can finally be put to rest! Our wonderful Rafa can be a peace, because he has truly wiped out the sadness and pain of last year. This time last year I was in despair, wondering if Rafa would ever come back to us. Well, he has come back better than ever! My heart is so full right now. If I could wish for one thing, it would be that time would just stand still so that this moment may never end.

I have lived long enough and been through enough to know that these moments are special, a time to be treasure and cherished and committed to our memories for always. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders at last. It's all the sadness and grief I have felt for Rafa as I watched him struggle so valiantly for months and months to come back. To see that smile on his face, the happiness in his eyes.

Now, in this moment, all is right with the world. Thank you Rafa for giving me the privilege of watching you on this road to redemption, to glory to a win for the ages. We don't always get to rewrite a chapter in our lives, to undo hurt and pain. Rafa was given this opportunity and he has shared it with all of us.

I wouldn't want to be any other place than here, with my faithful, dedicated Rafa fans. To all of you - homos, phoenix, nadline, McQ, monalysa, sib69, vamosrafa, clayking, ed, Raindrops, fan4tennis wherever you are and anyone I left out - I love you all!!! :)

To isabeau -

How could I leave you of all people out? My hero, my rock, my strength and the best psychic and tennis expert of them all! You always knew! Though so many so-called experts picked Sod to take out Rafa in the quarterfinals, you kept the faith and helped me remain strong. One match at a time, we got through it!

I don't know that I have ever cried after a semifinal victory, but when I got up early and watched the match on NBC's livestream and then realized that it was already over and saw that Rafa won, I broke down and cried! Rafa looked like he was tearing up, too. That was the biggest hurdle of all for him.

Thank you doesn't seem to be enough for someone with your generous heart. I know that tonight I will sleep like a baby! I could only hope that Rafa would get back both his titles. Now that it's a reality, I am on a cloud from which I don't want to come down.

Rafa, I love you more than I can say. You are a true hero and a great champion, a man among men! I love everyone here! Rafa is BACK!!!

hey NNY, good to see you and mannyy many congrats, rafa did it :D :D soo happy !!
relaxation time for us and our champuion, hopefully he gets good treatment on his right knee and gets ready 100% for toronto,cincy and the BIGGY (US OPEN)!

vamos!

congrats to all the nadal fans, it was a phenomenal display of tennis. Btw,berdychs gonna be a HUGE threat for the USO,as the faster hard courts suit his game perfectly,and he has improved a lot. Murray and Djokovic are getting their forms back as well. Gulbis is going to be a threat to. We are in for a very interesting NA hard court swing.

right on tj, and andy roddic is also always a major threat at Us open.

@vamosrafa
roddick isnt going to win the USO. He just isnt good enough. He is Federer's bunny and no matter how well he plays and how bad fed plays,federer always seems to come thru due to having the mental edge. Also,the younger generation of players like Gulbis,Berdych,Cilic,Tsonga etc serve almost as big as he does,but are far better off the ground. I also cant see him beating Nadal in best of 5. Plus,his form hasnt been great and his form has to be good for him to do well at the USO.

I wouldn't want to be any other place than here, with my faithful, dedicated Rafa fans. To all of you - homos, phoenix, nadline, McQ, monalysa, sib69, vamosrafa, clayking, ed, Raindrops, fan4tennis wherever you are and anyone I left out - I love you all!!! :)

Nativenewyorker , 7/5/10 6:42 AM


Let's all go out for a tapas crawl, we never, never ever lost faith in Rafa, we just wanted him to get better so that he could achieve what we all knew he was capable of. I hope Roger comes back fit so that their rivalry will continue, I have to say that the Roger element was missing yesterday, somehow it didn't have the feel of a final, but I must congratulate Berdych on reaching his first GS final, he is no longer a journey man. It mus be hard to keep travelling on the tour and getting nowhere.

"I must congratulate Berdych on reaching his first GS final, he is no longer a journey man. It mus be hard to keep travelling on the tour and getting nowhere."...........cool Nadline...........I concur!

Hi NNY!!!!! Yeah, I can see that youre as happy as I am!! I knew that our Rafa would do us proud......never gave up on my Rafa.................like I always say he hardly ever disappoints!! I just want him to be well rested and healthy! I also wish the same for Roger Federer, I hope he can recuperate nicely and continue to be part of this wonderful world of tennis!!!

VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wouldn't want to be any other place than here, with my faithful, dedicated Rafa fans. To all of you - homos, phoenix, nadline, McQ, monalysa, sib69, vamosrafa, clayking, ed, Raindrops, fan4tennis wherever you are and anyone I left out - I love you all!!! :)

Nativenewyorker , 7/5/10 6:42 AM

i just read this. thanks NNY, you've really put a smile on my face. it's great to be celebrating with you too :)

NNY - It's GREAT to be a member of the "Rafa : The One Man Spanish Armada" Congress!........... Always be fierce in support of our champion!
VAMOS!

NNY: I would also like to thank TT for creating this forum where we can all share our passion for tennis - and in particular Ricky and Cheryl for constantly providing the stimulation for animated discussions on the merits, or otherwise, of our favourite players.

ed: I'll second that and, although this is primarily a site for Rafa fans, at least, because of the way the site is laid out, there is the space to discuss other players too.

deuce,

did i detect a hint of sarcasm (now this word is getting to be my fav) in your last post? :-)

i am just curious to know what the contents (topics/comments) of this site last year when Rafa was really down. i assume that it's all Federer and his fans.

When I first came on TT a few years ago there were loads of Fedfans here who would jump on anyone and dump on them a ton of bricks if they so much as praised any other player especially Rafa, or did not completely agree that Fed was simply to be worshipped. I was dumped on many times big time.

As time went on and Rafa was proving to be more formidable a player than they would like to admit and he was continuously chincking Fed's armour, the Fedfans began to retreat, and now that Fed is going through a bad patch, they seem to have completey disappeared, leaving the playground to Rafans, who never deserted Rafa in his down time.

So I wouldn't say that this is a Rafa site at all, I would say that it is a Fedal site because any thread that is not about those two doesn't get much support as far as postings go. There was a time when any thread, no matter what the subject was, quickly turned into a Federer/Nadal fight.

phoenix: no sarcasm at all! Just my objective opinion, I think there are far more Rafa fans on here than Fed and I see that continuing because Rafa is now at his peak and Fed is on the decline. Just my subjective opinion this time. That's not to say that I don't think Fed could pick up a couple of slams but it's going to be increasingly difficult for him to raise his game at crucial moments. It's just an age thing!

@nadline...i remember those funny times..............have had some epic discussion with torres9 here...lol

Wimbledon finals was so boring this year (although am a die hard Rafa fan). Almost felt like the old times when Fed used to dominate everything and made things so boring. You knew the result and the number of sets of the match even before it began.

It is absolutely critical that Fed picks up his game to challenge Rafa. Tennis still needs thier rivalry to survive. If not Fed, then someone else probabaly Delpo. The game needs a top rivalry to survive else it will get boring like 2004-2006.

atul, I hear what you say, but Roger was able to amass all his titles largely because of lack of competition and because of those titles he is now being mooted as the GOAT, don't you think that Rafa needs space to enable him to get into the GOAT discussion as well?

I don't agree that Rafa is going to dominate like anything to the extent that Roger did, because there is a lot of competition around, and he has to be on his toes to rise above it. Having watched the the SF against Murray and the Final again and again, I don't agree that they were boring at all, it seemed so at the time because they were won in straight sets, also when you think how Rafa had to work hard to win the 2nd and 3rd rounds, you couldn't possibly say that he had it easy, not at all.

Perhaps Gulbis might step up to make the new rivalry, they would make a very attractive pair at the top.

....And if Roger managed to show up at the final, he will be annihilated by Rafa with scoreline like 6-1 6-1 6-0, that would be more boring and my cause death to some lunatics lolz.

winning any slam with any level of competition is awfully tough, fed fully deserves his 16 slams. He had some tough competition in his time 03-06 but speaking on relative terms it is TRUE that rafael's compeition is much mor fierce so we shud do justice and not assume that if nadal is to become as great as fed, he needs to dominate the same way, that doesnt make sense. Circusmtances shud always be considered..

TT, I'm not moaning, but could you explain why the poll for the winner of Wimbledon 2010 is still open?

Raindrops...lol

But seriously, the present level of competition was not too great. Maybe Delpo back might make things interesting for next year.

the problem with the competition is that besides federer and nadal, is thatall the players are hindered in some way. Murray and Djokovic are simply headcases. They are far too inconsistent to constantly challenge for the main titles,and they have fewer excuses than Federer,due to their age(young) and talent(off the charts.) Del Potro is just far too injury prone. Gulbis hasnt even matured properly, and Tsonga is ALWAYS injured. So the reality of this is,that while the competetion is good,they are all just inconsistent and/or injury prone.

tj600: Andy is really injury prone too, damn wrist always seems to give trouble at crucial times eg last year's USOpen and he has ongoing problem with his knee, split patella.
In fact, thinking about it, don't all sportspeople get injuries at times in their careers? While I was watching the Winter Olympics I thought, crikey these guys get even more injuries than tennis players!

@deuce
yes,but andy isnt as injury prone as some of the other guys on tour. Everyone gets injuries at some point though. (but some people have more than others.) For eg,Federer rarely gets injured,but he has had a few in his career.(eg back injury) Djokovic is probably the only guy on tour I know thats never had any sort of physical injury in his career. (altho he has breathing issues. )

Bearing in mind Federer is on his way to having played 900 matches (88 of which were finals) on the ATP tour, it is incredible he has remained injury free for almost all of that time and has never retired during a match.

As tj600 points out Djkovic's has health problems but is rarely if ever injured. At the end of last year I was struck by how fit Djokovic was (in spite of having played more matches than anyone else) at a time when most of the other top 20 or so players were falling like nine-pins and the late season tourneys were plagued by multiple retirements.

Like tj I wouldn't have said Andy is particularly susceptible to injury, apart from the wrist problem which crops up from time to time: and he seems to manage the knee issue pretty well. When he was a puny teenager one never knew whether he would last out the match, but now I would say he is amongst the fittest in the top 20.

PS: We have to remember that injuries are sometimes cited by players to enable them to withdraw gracefully from their committment to play a particular tournament without incurring a fine :-)

If Clayking were around no doubt he would also have pointed out 20% of Fed's 88 finals were played against Rafa. All of those while they were No.1 and No.2 in the world.

Deuce: I wonder if you ever happened to read this:
http://www.sportingo.com/tennis/a11091_back-psychos-couch-andy- murray-after-his-australian-open-failure

Cheers for that ed. I would agree completely with the shrink, Gary Kwok, Andy's focus is a weak spot, you still see it time and again in matches, he'll get a game break and then just give it away. His blooming body language is also very negative at times. Perhaps he could employ Mr Kwok? Don't think that's a very Scottish thing to do though!

djokovic has nt had any major injury issues but he retired against nadal in Rg 06 qtr final citing a back pain and it took some time to get it healed.