Roddy is playing like he doesn't plan to let anybody come between him the title he most wants to win. His decision not to go to Bejing (which has taken its toll mentally and physically on Nadal, Federer, Djokovic etc) looks like it just could pay off.

the draw is what is paying off, and now he gets a banged-up Djoker. He should win this before getting mauled by Federer, who will recover from his Andreev match by taking out Muller in almost no time.

Serbia will be behind Novak.Go Nole!

I said a while back that Novak's form had slipped. Someone told me I was talking shite, can't remember who. Anyway... clearly I have been proven correct. I'm picking A-Rod for this one... and boy will I be supporting him! Even tho Novak does make me smile, Roddick's comments cracked me up!! Did any one else see the press conference?? Also heard that Novak got upset when Andy started taking the piss outta his ball bouncing... is Novak like David Brent from the Office?? can't take a joke...hehe

Dear kaitepai,

your comment about Novak's form is strange statement. Who only won match against Nadal recently? Who also won bronze medal on Beijing Olympic game? Or who lost recently against Victor Troicki or Del Portro and who is most arrogant player among pros? When you answer to my questions than we can discuss about your support for A-Rod.

So A-Rod is the most arrogant player among the pros. Duly noted. I don't see how this is relevant info though. You don't have to date him, right?

he wants to date his girlfriend :). Radbon, I'm with you on this one.

I'm not exactly an A-Rod supporter. If the Djoker wins that'll be perfectly fine with me. But I just don't see what his alleged arrogance has to do with anything. It's the ATP. They don't get any extra points for being dear little boys. The reverse is true actually. The media, for instance, reinforces "bad behavior".

radbon: first of all kaitepal's comment is perfectly valid. Novak is still a lethal opponent that all the others have to be playing their best to beat but he has slipped from the form which took him to No.3 in 2007 and his GS in Feb this year. This is a statistical fact, not a subjective opinion. A rapid rise to fame can give a false illusion. It is the staying power that counts.
re: Roddick. If you read back through some of the comments posted on this site you will find that we are impressed by how A-Rod has pulled himself together after a bad start to the year and his stellar performance to date at the USO.

If you are just looking for a slanging match there is a very good forum at Eurosport you can take part in.

RickyDimon, looks like you were right about Fed taking out Muller.

kaitiepal: just had to put in my two pennies worth! Re: the Haircut. It makes me think of those kitsch hedgehog shaped brushes that people have for cleaning your shoes on when you enter their home.

RickyDimon: It is not the walk in the part that we all anticipated. By rights Roger should be tucked up in bed by now. Not facing a 3rd set tie-break!

Ed - thanks for that, I wasn't looking forward to explaining myself. Novaks form is NOT what it was before the clay court season - I didn't say he sucked or had no show, I said he isn't as good as he was then. Its just a fact, mate. And Ed again explained my support for A-Rod, hes playing great now. Thats all the counts. And like Andy said... Novaks battling cramp, pains, strains, sprains, fractures, anthrax, bird flu, the common cold, and SARs right now...

I think Andy is a tad cocky on court but a very very very nice guy off court. Hes very honest- some pple mistake this for arrogance. Novak is just a tad cocky.

Anyone hear my gorgeous Roger say he wanted Andy to win? haha what a crack up!

OH and Ed the haircut - I think I've said this b4 but Djok's hair looks like a lego mans. U know, how you can pull it off and stick it back on... its unfortuante hair.

Rog had a battle on his hands 2day he did well to finish it in three. That guy reminded me of Ivo. But kinda better.

Nadi, ed, anyone? did you watch the fed-muller match? Just wondering if it was a tight as the scores seem to suggest but I read somewhere that it only lasted 2.26hrs. How did fed play? was he back to his old, clinical self? My hunch is that he'll take the uso, Nole being my next pick for the crown. Of cause i'd like rafa to win but I can't see him even getting past the semis.

KTP - Nole's hair is a thesis subject on its own. I was in Japan once and saw those lovely quaint rustic huts in the country, with thatch roofs... yes, that's what his hair reminds me of. he actually looks a lot like my ex husband, incuding the hair. ain't nothing you can do about it.

Hi all. Overslept and nearly missed the A-R/Nole match!! Tuned in at the beginning of 4th set. A's 1:2 down. Looks like Nole (wearing his poisonous snake suit) has got the upper hand and is outwitting AR in the long rallies. Andy Pandy is having to rely on Aces to survive but he is not going to give up easily.

re: Fed match. Only saw the final set but he was not looking very impressive. He blamed his performance on the weather yet again! Muller came very close to taking him out but missed his chances in both tie-breaks.

Whoops they are into a tie-break

oh no, feel bad for ARod - he skipped olym and now knocked out in QF. Still, I like Nole's game too. Well done to both men, anyway. Sorry for Andy's loss.

katiepal: Not surprised Roger wanted A-Rod to win. He knows how to play him. He would much prefer to see him on the other side of the net than Djokovic in the SR.
Do you really think Popeye will overpower Nadal?

Re. Fed - played average on the easy points, brillant on the hard ones. Hit some absolutely amazing shots, hit some terrible ones. Only 19 UE tho so thats great. If he had served well he wudnt have ever been troubled on serve, and as it was he hardly was anyway. Muller played amazing- only 1 of the set points Fed dropped was his own fault, the rest were big serves or big serves combined with great volleys. So all in all he played fine, but he'll have to kick it up a notch against Djokovic. So I wouldn't say I'm over the moon with the way he played, but I'm pretty satisfied. Thank god hes still got that semi final streak - what a record!

Poor A-Rod, those 2 double faults let him down bad. He deserved a 5th set altho Novak deserved to win. He was back to his aussie open form all of a sudden!!! And injury free, what a suprise. Anyone else catch his little comments after the match?? He got booed.... the crowd are def gonna be fully on Roger's side after that!!

that was an interview that will not soon be forgotten!

Ugh.

A-Rod and the Djoker both need PR help.
Stat.

A pity it didn't go to 5 sets. The momentum might have swung towards AR. I didn't want to see Nole lose but i wanted A-Rod to win. I so dislike the way he, ND, celebrates. Those aggressive facial expressions, chest beating, and war cries. He's won a game of tennis for goodness sake - not a bloody war. But maybe if you have grown up in a war zone as he did, that's what it feels like.

His popularity has dipped sharply - for all the reason we have previously mentioned - and I agree with you, Federer will have 23,000 (minus the Eastern bloc fans) on his side. But he will have to find his top form to beat Nole. Both are so desperately hungry to win this one that we will either have a repeat of the RG when Roger imploded, or Wimbledon which brought out the best tennis in both men.

I promissed not to talk about Pandora stuff, but there are some utterly pricks here that are trying to lecture everyone else on nice manners. Well we in Serbia experienced your laser guided bomb democracy and it would be nice if you STFU already.

tenstar, ed said it best: Rog played average on the easy points and brillant on the hard ones.
Posmatrac, I understand that you're a passionate Djoker supporter, but this is TENNIS Talk.

Nadi: it was actually kaitiepal who so neatly summed up Federer's performance.

Nadi: well done for reprimanding posmatrac for being out of order. I am surprised this one got through without censorship. Just what does the acronym STFU stand for? If it is offensive dont bother to explain!

Southern Tenant Farmers Union. Not offensive at all.

Thanks nadi, yeah think it was from kait. I was at work and wanted to know. Posmatrac, try not not get angry. Take the comments with a pinch of salt or just explain why you disagree. Like nadi said, this is tennistalk and not western/Serbia policy talk. What you raise is very sensitive and not appropriate for this forum. I doubt people here had any involvement in those decisions anyway so it's not fair attack people randomly. We have a lot of fun talking tennis and superficial things and it would be great for you to join in if you want.
Nadi, I love your STFU interpretation! That's classic!