i'm still trying to figure out how melzer made it this far.

nole in 3 or 4. he's the better player. c'mon nole! best of luck!

I would like to say Nole in 3, but seeing how it has been in previous matches, I think it's gonna be nole in 4, most likely dropping the second set yet again

homos - well Melzer was favored in 3 of his 4 matches

so your question is "how did he beat Ferrer?" And yes, that is a good question.

Dont be surprised if Melzer takes this in 4 to 5 sets

This quarter of the draw has the least attention!....... Melzer might be the BIG FO surprise... though Novak is playing better than his last tournaments.
I'll go with Novak in 4!

melzer can win this....nole will need to play better than he has off late to reach semis!!!

@isabeau77

surprise has happened last evening ....surprises dont happen that often :P

Mani4tennis- who said djokovic losing will be a suprise? I won't be suprized as djokovic has not been playing that well. He has dropped sets against players he shouldn't have. I mean how on earth did ginepri manage to get a set off him. Melzer on the other hand as been playing great.

Comon Melzer!

if novak plays the way he did in the last two sets against ginepri, I say novak in 3

i agreed that if novak play at his potential then it would be in straight sets ... but but if he becomes lil bit relaxed then it will be a good cracker 2 watch !!

it is almost funny how the weather conditions have been in favor of Nole...if it was hot and sunny by now Nole would have been in real trouble with his breathing problems and his allergies...this way he has been handed two great favors: easy draw and rain and humidity...so, I think Nole will beat Melzer fairly easy...if I am right, now with Fedex out Nole also has the chance of becoming No 1 if he wins FO...he is to act as a big fighter from now on...things are really getting complicated....

No, natashao he can't.
Since Fed reached QF it is not possible for Nole to be No1 even if he win FO.
One round earlier...Fed out... it would be possible (theoretically ...)
So if Nole win... Fed will be still No1...
But with Rafa in SF... it will be veeeeeeery dificult :-(
BTW... so don't be confuse when you see Fed fans cheering for Nole in near future...
Melzer will go out in 3, maybe 4, if Nole decides to take vacation during sec. set, like he use to do lately...
But even SF... it is good tournament for Nole... even now he is earning new points...
So.... AJDE NOLEEEEEEE..... Rafa is waiting for you!!!! Anyway he wouldn't be dissapointed to meet Almagro... but chances for that are astronomically minimal.

zare,

and don't be surprised too that there may some fed fans show support to Rafa also because we both so loud with our support to Robin against Roger yesterday ha.ha.

Hope both our guys make it through at their matches today and may the best player win comes SF.

Good luck to Nole.

Vamos Rafa !!!

I hope that Nole will pass Melzer without problem. And then.... WOW... ofcourse I will cheer for Nole... but it will be beautiful match... between two great players and friends.... and two great sportsmen...
It will be pure enjoy... Rafa is HUGE favorite but Nole knows how to take set from Rafa... if he is fit and healthy at least he will test him... ( OK. maybe a little...)
We shall see... I have hopes for Nole... but when I see Rafa plays, I am afraid :-(
So Nole you have to be better then EVER!!!
But... still... there is Melzer. Maybe I should slow dawn.
What is important... there is some BEAUTIFUL tennis waiting for us.
Let the best man win!!!

Why is everyone counting Almagro out of the tournament? Nadal is heavy favorite but remember how Almagro tested him only few weeks ago. Let's see how the matches go. A number of things can happen. Also, Nole is favorite on paper but I wouldn;t be surprised if Meltzer wins against all odds. Having said that... C'MON NOLEEE!!! :)))

ajde noleee..

I do hope you're right Zare. There have been rather more disappointing matches than good matches in this RG.

Nole generally advances without much fanfare. But, he seems to be short of fans.Vamos Nole.

Hmmmm...2:1 for Nole.... but on both Nole's services Melzer had a break point chance.

zare, if Nole and Rafa meet in semis I just hope they don't "kill each other" like they did last year in Madrid...it took months for both to recover after that match mentally and physically...Nole just seems so determined when he plays Rafa and he tends to use all weapons from his arsenal...it sure would be a great match...but, it is yet early to speak about it...

There's the first set for Novak.

Well first set for Nole... two to go :-)

how is he playing, guys? can't watch at work. i see decent stats for now, but do we think he will take a nap in set 2?

This is not good... it seems he's gonna take sec. set :-)
What.... all streams are gone?!?

It was tooo early.... serving for second set ...and 15 :40 :-(

yeah Nole! not surrendering a break even when he has one to spare :)

okay zare, we're in the semis!

Nole is playing solidly. Won the 2nd 6:2.....nice one Nole now lets finish it of in the 3rd ;-)

YEEEEAAAAAH.... 6:2... second set... here we go....
IN THREE...

good stuff nole, keep going!

break for Nole.....go,go,go...!!!

ajde,ajde,ajde,ajde,ajde,ajde,ajde,ajde,ajde....AJDEEEEE NOLE!!!!
2:0... after some trouble... but still solid

Solid is right. But is Rafa gonna keep his end of the bargain?

C'mon Noleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

wooow...I didn't watch Rafa... it was 3:0 for Almagro???
but it seems that Rafa is back...

1st serve % dropping. And those DFs have to go dammit.

...and Melzer broke back!!!

is it only me...or the crowd is cheering for Melzer???

they were cheering for Nole earlier. they just wanna see a contest i guess..

good on ya for this spurt of renewed motivation, Jurgen, but Nole aint losing to you now....

oh ok, slightly later nap

What I like...on every important point first service is in!!!
15:30 ... melzer had a few amazing points.... woops 15:40...
AJDE NOLE....

OHHH NOLE...not again.... think a little about our nerves!!!

Melzer service 0:30 ...ajde nole break back!!!

goodness gracious what a time to start playing like an amateur

Knowing Nole... he wont even try to take now...5:2...
We go in fourth set

i stopped watching and switched to Rafa.

...and Melzer got third one... 2:1 for Nole...

and Rafa wins the TB convincingly.

its the serve with Nole..i've been watching the match a little but mainly focussing on the score, and ive noticed a definite drop in first and second service %ages. and of course 7 DFs in 3 sets for someone who was ranked #2 this year? disgraceful.

does anyone think he will lose this?

stu isn't it now the fashion for Nole to lose one set? I'm sure he will pull off the win.

Of course Nole will win... but I am watching Rafa Almago match on Tv and Nole on my Apple... Tennis that Rafa and Almagro are playing is 10 classes higher, I have to admit.

omg 0:40.,....he is killing me!

me too, watching the rafa match but tracking scoreboard for nole

Ajde Nole...you see who is watching you...Kusturica and Dr Nele Karajlic are in the first row. :)))

watching rafa on TV, watching livestream of Nole on comp....his serve has gone to sh...Thanks Tod Martin ;-)
I am worried as to what may happen if this goes to 5th, anything is possible....Must hold this game!

how long has this game been going for????

after 7 deuces ....c'mon Nole!!!!
8 deuces... second Marlboro...third cafe...
FINNALLYYYYYYYY Nole holds...!!!

2 sets to love, I don't care if they are tie-breaks, win ugly if necessary, just win the match.

VAMOS!

now he needs to break....stretch out the game....last thing he needs is to have to fight to hold again ....

this is most likely going to the 5th.

carrie-nadline is spamming :)

Sorry , wrong thread @nadline , 6/2/10 6:53 PM

Hehe...nadline... we understand :))))

T/B. Already not starting well. Common Nole close it out here or you'll be tired.

and nadline, the win ugly if necessary applies to Nole as well...

How goes the tie break?

zare, what's happening to Joker?

2:2

5th set.

Adje Nole!

Over. 5th set now.

Here we go in 5th.... Nole find some strength ... go to toilette... change your shirt...
DO SOMETHING!!!!!

AJDE NOLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! c'mon you;re better than this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

partially reminds me of 2007 wimby qfs against baghdatis..
djoko boy came from 0-6 down in the tiebreaks to win the tiebreak..
sad djokoboy could not do it this time around..
but melzer is playing amazingly..

OMG, nole in GRAVe trble...needs ur prayers nole fans..

his serve is killing him .. wouldn't be surprised if meltzer runs through the 5th.

djokoboy does NOT have the serve of 2007 to pull him through the tight tie breaks like it used to.... ;-(((((((((( I'm just about ready to take a sedative and watch the 5th. that's the only way I'll stay sane!

bianca, im not sure he's much better than this anymore...

stu, i think all these things are mental. he has the huge game, but his mental/emotional aspect is completely on the opposite side. he needs to address those asap.

Come on Novak ... 5 setters are so last year. But you can do it.

the thing is melzer had an even lower % of 1st serves in in the 4th, nole,s was 59% and melzer;s was even lower ( i think below 50%) and yet novak is still struggling...unforced errors pretty even between 'em, while melzer had 6 more winners...

Rafa serving for the match.

hahaha "5 setters are so last year"

at least Rafa won ;-)))) now C'mon Noleeeeeeeeee!!! Ajdeeeeeeeee

Finally a good hold. Are you up now, big guy?

3:2 AJDE NOLE BREAK HIM!!!!

he is surviving so far and they are slugging each other.

nice net game by Joker...

Woohooo...break him here Joko!!!

Adjeeeee !!!

how long has this match going on??

melzer hanging by a thread!!

i think Nole will pull this one out...

alerrtt alerrrtt Nole 15-40

Novak ... please don't let Melzer win.

brilliantly done nole......NOW HOLD!!!

MELZER'S BH is so similar to bellucci's!!!

this match is now touching 4 hrs..
and it is deuce in 5th set at 4-4

I can't believe the breakpoint stat of Melzer 23/3? It tells that he is playing good in creating those breakpoints but he is playing poor at the same time for converting 3 out of 23.

Joko is undepressure again for breakpoint # 24.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

nole gone hysterical!!!

That was ON the line.

melzer had his chance....he played the crappiest volley!!!

nole deserves to win...melzer just choking!!!

amazing match..
the fightback of his life from melzer, despite the poorest shot ever on the matchpoint that can take you to your first ever semis in grand slams..
one of the biggest meltdowns ever by djokovic, despite the amazing fight of 5th set and specially the last game..

NOLE GRACIOUS AS EVER.........my fav after rafa....long live nole!!!

Sad.

Djokovic gone, Vamos Melzer.

I still believe that the pass landed on the line...

nole look for an early retirement from tennis, that's my sincere advice to you.

sorry zare and Djokovic fans. Nole didn't make it to SF, a supposed date with Nadal.

What an upset!!...cant believe this.........upset after upset..........this is destined for a Rafa/Sod final.....................BLOCKBUSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK...all congrats to Melzer!!!
btw....really... THAT BALL WAS IN!!!!... but that's tennis.
It was nice match... big drama... what can we do...

Heartbreaking. How he lost it after being two sets to love up is beyond me. Bernades should be kicked out for that. Worst, worst decision i've EVER seen an umpire make.

Well, the trend of Djokovic losing heartbreakers during the clay court season continues. I hope he can regroup soon. Till then Vamos Rafa!

All these upsets is giving me the jitters.

melzer will pay for what he did to nole......rafa will make sure he beats him bad...lol

VAMOS!!!!

...and here we goooo.... AJDE JELENA!!!!
...tennis fan till the end!!!

If things go ths way Murray and Djoko mght be booted out of the top 10 sooner than they think

vmk, I think you are being a little bit hasty here, Murray and Djoko are not in form at the moment, but they have more class than most, so I'm don't think they will be booted out of the top 10 any time soon.

Great fighting spirit MELZER!........... hope he gives Rafa a good match!

Nole and Murray are too good to be booted out of top ten. They can fight back, believe me! In fact I know they will remain in the top four for a long long time.

Commies to Nole; at least he gains some ranking points over last year's results. Rest well and prepares for the grass season.

Congrats to Melzer for the win, at age 29 reaching his first slam SF, he must be feeling very happy.

I don't understand why they won't use hawkeye on claycourts, this business about looking at where the ball landed is ridiculous. The technology is there, why not use it to present any arguments. Winning a tennis match could depend on the narrowest of margins, so why faf around with the mark on the ground, that is if they get the right mark.

The other thing is, after the umpire has made the decision, he doesn't rub the mark out so that it doesn't get confused with another ball. Tennis needs to have more cut and dried rules and cut out things like the foot fault, which cannot be over-ruled because the umpire cannot see that far, and the player cannot object, because they only have the line judge's word for it.

Dang, I missed those last few games. So sorry for Nole... Melzer deserves a huge congrats.

nadline, don't they use hawkeye in some of the other clay tourneys? Am I imagining things or didn't they use it in Madrid for example? In any case, I agree with you: sometimes it is hard to call a ball based on those marks.

No they don't use hawkeye to settle the score on claycourts, the commentators sometimes use it just to show if it was in or out, but it's not shown on the court, only TV viewers can see it. Today Mats Wilander said it's an age old tradition with clay courts to look at the mark.

luckystar, he doesnt really win that many ranking points considering he missed madrid and (was possibly overcautious at) belgrade in order to perform well here. i think he gains 360 for QF - 90 last year = 270 points. And he loses 205 + 360 for belgrade + madrid = 565 points. My numbers may be slightly off but the net result is that he has LOST points.

I am true Novak fan, I am very sad at the moment. Novak is better player, but Melzer was good enough today to beat him. We have to be honest Novak is not playing the best tennis at the moment and Rafa would destroy him in semifinal. Novak desperatly needs his serve back. It will come, I am sure. I hope that he will recover from this loss in short time and be healthy and fit for the rest of the season. Personally, this loss hurts less than Madrid 09 semifinal, in that match Nole played like he was from the other planet, but still Nadal won. That was the toughest loss for me and I think for Novak, too. Nole we love you, off to Wimby now and let the fortune be with you.

points that he is losing now are negligible to the prospect of losing points in the second half of the year as he collected quite a bit since cincinnati 2009. i always repeat that since he changed wilson for head his game is not at the level than can cause any significant damage to the top players or higher ranked in form players. punishing ground-strokes and powerful service game that we saw during AO 2008 are just vague past. i really hope i am wrong but i can see this trend continuing.

agree, rfzr. he's become a complete head case after he dropped his head.

I wasn't that interested in tennis since fed wins everything untill a player with great ability named Djokovic came to challenge him and he really did. At 21, he had five consecutive GS semis (from 2007 french to 2008 french) and I thought this guy will be the next big thing.

Great players normally in a GS even if they lose the first 2 sets will comeback against some low ranked players and Novak never did that. I was convincing myself that maybe his health is not allowing him to play five long sets and hence he needs to finish the job in three or the max four. But losing from 2 sets and a break to some 29yr old low ranked player is beyond accpetable even if the opponent played great tennis.

May be it is HEAD or lets say it is HEAD bcos he never was the same player again. He can't win against Fed/Nad/Rod/Sod/Cilic/Haas/Verdasco/Hewitt/Tsonga/davy etc. If he reaches anything beyond 2nd or 3rd rd in Wimbledon that will be great achievement.

Poor guy he has unbelieveable talent but worst mind (giving up his childhood dream of becoming like sampras when he changed to HEAD). I hope he drops out of top 10 soon and get treated like low ranked players and hopefully that will invigorate his spirits in 2011. If not he is as his detractors wants us to believe will be a one slam wonder.

Infact we the fans are more to be pitied here as we spend all time and energy hoping that he will do justice to his talent and ardent/loyal fans.................

He really let us down (forever)................

Satish relax. Unless Nole drops out of the top ten and disappears like Safin did, there is no reason to be overly worried.

He needs to take some drastic measures though. The serve needs to be fixed or there is less chance of him doing well on the faster courts. I hope we see the Novak of old at least at some part of his career,or else it would be a crying shame and another wasted career.

i am devastated! quite simply.........

comedic gold from stu in this thread. Just reading it now for the first time.

This has the early edge for Tennistalk Comment of the Year:

stu , 6/2/10 5:10 PM: "okay zare, we're in the semis!"

Nole has all the skills... he only needs to upgrade his physical strength... really really too bad he should lose this way...

nole looked devastated in his interview.....he looked dejected.......thts not the nole im used to seeing...i hope he comes back stronger...sort out everything that's hurting him

VAMOS NOLE!!!

All credit to Melzer for digging out of a hole, but I really hoped Djokovic would win this. He's been completely ignored and relegated to a lower tier in the minds of the tournament organizers and pundits, which is very unfortunate. Hopefully he'll come back much stronger for the grass season.

Kelli is right. Djokovic has been wounded by being cold-shouldered for the greater part of this year. The exhuberance that made his matches so watchable has deserted him. Yesterday one could see the sheer agony in his eyes when he sensed the match slipping away and yet he kept fighting to the bitter end - producing some vintage Nole rallies on the way. Melzer must still be wondering how he pulled out that win. All credit to him for holding his nerve in that final set.

still devastated ...........

Ricky, I also said
"good on ya for this spurt of renewed motivation, Jurgen, but Nole aint losing to you now...."
which is even more hilarious in retrospect.

let the hard court tournaments come in....nole and murray will be back again!!

My God, I was biting my nails and switching to Rafa's match just so I can stay sane, if at all possible :))). I still think THAT point in the last game was stolen from him and thus the game, and maybe even the match. Why was the point given to Melzer? Why wasn't it repeated? However, Nole shouldn't have allowed his match to depend on such a point. He should have solved it much earlier. He should have won it prior to that fatal game. He had his chances. He just let his guard down and this is what happened. I hope this is a great experience which he is going to learn from. There was plenty of chances for him to move closer to the net and finish the point off. But no, he stays a metre or two behind the base line and sure enough, wastes so much of his energy.

I am very, very sorry but hopefully, he'll get some rest and come back strong on grass.

sathisht79,
I understand your frustration at the moment, but don't let him down. He can still beat any of those players you mentioned. And remember, Federer lost as well. That is sport and that is life. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

At the end, CONGRATS to Melzer (who is not that low ranked btw.) for increadible tournament. His contest with Rafa will be great to watch.

And finally, I will repeat what Zare said: "AJDE JELENAAAA!!! :)) All the way!!! "

stu - hahahah I missed that one. Kind of like me the Del Potro-Federer US Open final live blog!

"He's been completely ignored and relegated to a lower tier in the minds of the tournament organizers and pundits, which is very unfortunate."

that's actually not that bad as it looks. that should be a huge motivation factor for him, bring on nole of AO 2008 and everybody will start paying attention again. he has not been able to achieve that so far in 2010 and had some pretty mediocre results for his old standards. i, as his huge fan relegated him to the lower tier, not to mention people who run the tennis business: "produce some good results baby and will love you again!". sounds harsh but that's the way it is unfortunately.