7th time's a charm. C'mon Mardy!

what are the official odds on this? Is Fish favored?

Sounds fishy!

Nadal is favored. But I think most people expect Fish to win.

and what do you think, Ricky?

no way fish is winning this.

Please, please Ricky. Dont tell us what you think :-)

I want to know what Ricky thinks! Isn't he in Cincy now watching it all up close and personal?

All I will say is that Rafa will have to raise his level of play quite a bit over his effort against Verdasco. He will need to serve better, cut down on the forehand ue's and just play better overall.

Vaaaaaaammmmmmmooooooooossssssssssss!

there is no way most people think fish would win.rafa is the favorite and he'l likely win but yes fish is very dangerous and he is in with a good chance,esp here in cincy where rafa aint comfortable and fish produces his best

It's Rafa all the way.................................................

Vamos!!!!

No way Rafa will give this one to Fish...he fought hard yesterday and he is not giving up now! Fish beware: this is RAFA we are talking about!

VAMOOOOOOOOOOOS!!!

If he plays like he played with Nando.... Fish will go on easily... but somehow... I am sure that Rafa will dig deep and today he WILL raise he lvl of game.
Lot of time he did that... deeper in tournament... better game!!!
I want finale one more time... Nole and Rafa!

Rafa was a bit slow yesterday so he was giving Nando too much time on the ball which enabed him to attack Rafa more because he hit the ball after he knew where Rafa was going next. If Rafa quickens the pace, Fish will drown.

Nando could also read where Rafa's shots were heading so he was ready for them.

Last year I read Fish's interview in Cincy and he was saying how he always insists on playing during the day...So the tournament complies with Fish's wishes?! And where is Rafa in that picture? Does he have any say? I can't believe they put Rafa's match at 1pm. He played three and a half hours yesterday and he played doubles last night...and who says Rafa preferences at tournaments are considered? This is just so unfair to put him to play early match...

Don't worry, natashao.....................improves his endurance....

Fish will win, probably in straights. Based on what I have seen and based on Nadal playing 4 hours a day earlier.

I think Rafa should be OK under the hot sun. Anyway the weather at NY is also hot and humid, might as well get used to it. Rafa is strong and tough enough to deal with the heat. I think if Rafa can raise his level he's able to deal with Fish, though I expect a tough fight like their Wimbledon match.

Nadline stated on TT that Rafa doesn't like night matches.
I can only think that the reason for this is that he doesn't like alternate night and day matches as that can be disruptive (as it is clearly an advantage to play only in the night time).
And that's probably the best he could hope for when there are other players that can pick n choose as well.
Best let old man Fed take all of them, probably needs them more at this stage of his career anyway, I suppose...

Shouldn't Rafa be tired today after playing about a combined 5 hours in the heat and humidity yesterday? I mean tiredness is always one of the Rafans' normal excuses. I guess they're waiting for after the match to use it this time as the burnt fingers already have been used.

Rafa should be tired Numero,
The Days of him recovering from such baseline exertions maybe over & he will have to adapt accordingly.
It doesn't matter that he's only 25, he's been on the tour playing at the highest level for 10 years!
The saying `The Star that shines most brightly...` is starting to spring to mind with regularity when I see him play nowadays...

For heaven sake.... he WILL be tired!!!!!!
Really tired... not an excuse numero... and remember... I am not Rafan!!!
C'mon man ...give a little honesty to your posts!

Ok, I honestly thought he would've pulled out of doubles after that dreadful match with Verdasco, but I see he didn't. What the hell was Rafa thinking, seriously? Mardy Fish is not one to be taken lightly these days, and Rafa should know better by now. I seriously hope this match will be nothing like the one from yesterday. That was not for the faint of heart!!!! I want this to be competitive and I wanna see Rafa raise the level of his game, because despite being a fan, I'm not too thrilled with him right now, and I know he can do far better than this. We'll see what happens.

Okay, to all true and honest Nole fans out there (not the raggedy ones who copy Fedfans' hatred of Rafa and the fake ones like numero)........are you ready to rumble??????

http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/6876482/tennis-rafael-nadal-s truggles-involve-more-novak-djokovic

Your guy, Nole, has been given fair warning............2012 is the OK Corral, that's when the throwdown happens! 2011 is a given, it has been your guy's year........congratulations, enjoy your time in the sun.

But 2012..............whoopee, all bets are off, rumble it will..................and if Andy decides to show up, who knows................he may benefit from the scraps or the whole enchilada if Nole and Rafa KO each other in the process..........

Be afraid................be very afraid..........

I am not afraid... I am thrilled to see next season...
It will be ultimate challenge for Novak... but 2011 was already incredible, so why not 2012?
And if Novak get No2... No3 rankings... so what? Nobody will throw me out of my house, my paintings shall be still in galleries... my son will grow... what's the big deal???
If Andy decides... he can go on without scarps of Nole and Rafa... he can earn his points and trophies. But I must admit, year by year I am more and more suspicious about his chances.
OK...that's my two cents thinking... who knows... we will see...
So point is that we should be happy to witness such season... I am.
If you are afraid... well, what can I tell you ...
Any way...thanks for congratz :)

My dear zare, fear is not part of a Rafan's vocabulary....................we are eternally optimistic! Even when Rafa is playing like crap, we remain optimistic...........Vamos!!

I am looking forward to 2012....................stay away from Japanense restaurants, eh Rafa? You have a date with destiny!

I agree :)

No offence meant to any Japanese Rafans out there.....................

Where are those Nadal fan-spamers lol

rafa will lose tonight.

one step backward is two steps forward.

let's enjoy the match.

Vamos Champ........................you are simply the best!!!!!! Better than all the rest...........na, na, na, na, na, na, na.....................

raghav.. enjoy the match if he plays well right? Look at the abysmal play..Anyways as you said I too am expecting him to lose..but what troubles me is not the loss but his body language ..I really miss the killer instinct and fighting spirit..Just cannot bear to watch this passive body language . It almost looks as if he doesnt want to be on court

I'd turned off the TV. Can't watch it anymore..its terrible beyond words. its not the losing part but like Sanju said.. it's the body language and overall mood. I've been watching Rafa for 7 years now but today, I just can't...

Agree martine75..I mean fans are supposed to encourage their player..but why did Rafa attain most fans in the first place? Its for the dogged resistance and mental fight and killer instinct..isnt it? But when throughout this year one heard defeatist statements , negative statements and passive body language..its very dfficult to take..he talks a lot in his interviews but sad part is most of it is either philosophical or negative..

Sorry Rafans..but I somwhow am begining to lose interest in him..I know I shouldnt but negative body language and talk totally puts me off and definately not when you fav tennis player indulges in it at alarming regularity day in and day out.

I don't know what you people are expecting of Rafa, with where he is in his life. For such a young man, he has accomplished everything he possibly could (slams, gold medals, records). I hate to compare him, but Rafa, just like Roger, have been at the top of the sport- and probably realize they don't NEED to have that killer instinct any more. It is very good for the sport to evolve and move away from such prominent figures like Rafa & Roger, and towards Nole, Raonic, Fish, etc.

Nole is hungry, he's driven, and he's now tasted what it feels like to be at the top- and he wants more of it (reminds me of a young Rafa & Roger). He has that new motivation to keep going for maybe a year, two years.

I don't know about losing interest in Rafa because he doesn't win every point or every match. Players go through these patches or they play a bad match or two but that doesn't mean they've given up. I know he is not playing well at the moment but you can't do that all the time.

Rafa does tend to talk too negative, maybe if he was more positive in his outlook he'll have more confidence in his game.

I actually hope Rafa loses this.........................no shame in losing to Fish, finalist here last year, top 10 player..............I want those burns on Rafa's fingers to heal and they are not going to heal with the stress of long matches. He needs to reach New york in top shape phyisically................

I am not worried at all if Mardy takes this.............

Never seen Rafa like this, guys :(

just because he stops winning, i will stop supporting him.
win or lose, nadal all the way.
if he continues to be like this next year, then he has all the right in the world to quit and we fans should honor that. there's more to life than tennis and he knows better than that (football? haha)

I will always be his hardcore fan, has been for 7 years and will be for a very very long time. Tonight its just a little tough for my head.. however just switched the TV back on and I see him fighting.. so I am good again, even if he lose this.. as long as he shows like he wants to be there.

Congratulations Mardy, well deserved....................

Vamos Rafa...........on to New York!! Hope those fingers heal quickly.

You will never lose me.............win or lose, you are still the best for me!!

Sooo sorry all u lovely Rafa fans but not entirely unexpected given the way Mardy's been playing :(

exactly nadline what I am saying..its ok to lose..but please cut that negative talks day in and day out..as said earlier..wat u talk..ur mind gets same signals..wonder how the ex No 1, current world No 2 has never had a psychologist tell him this basic principle..

i just miss the fighting mental beast Rafa on court..that hurts me most

Thank you deucy....................speaking for myself, I am not sorry Rafa went out at this stage. Credit to Mardy, he took his chances, unlike Verdasco yesterday. Havig said all that, I am still optimistic about Rafa...............I do not buy into some Rafans' pessimism about his game................Rafa's been through worse, 2009 was a lot worse than 2011 for Rafa.................he will be back!!!

expected one. Nothing more than routine.

Mardy won this match fair and square. He was the better player today and executed when he needed to. He was the better server, was more aggressive, and didn't get tight when he faced those couple of break points against his serve. As for Rafa, I love him, he's my favorite player, but I'm definitely not gonna sit here and pretend everything is fine and dandy with him and his camp, knowing full well that it isn't. Something's got to change, and no one, especially his fans, should have to wait until 2012 to see him play his very best again. As of now, I definitely don't expect him to win the U.S. Open, as he most likely won't, given the current situation he's in.

Sorry if I sound somewhat harsh or critical in any way. I just want Rafa to snap out of it, because I know, along with so many others, that he can do better. I'll be certainly praying that he will.

Gee Rafa.......................you have DEMANDING fans!!!! They mean well, and want the best for you....................

Vamos!!!!!

well, what to say...we have been there before...we Rafa fans did what we could: we believed in him, we were here cheering for him, we will always be here for him...as Ricky says, if we were to be objective it was expected to see him losing today...but we love him no matter what...and we will believe in him and his comeback...we must believe that he will shine again...and how can anyone think of quitting Rafa? Even if I wanted to I couldn't...he is part of my life, he is part of our everyday routine...when I work hard I take a break to read about Rafa, to read posts on tennistalk...I don't think I could live without it...for sure I wouldn't be able to enjoy the life so much without our Rafa in it...so I decide to think Rafa will be back to his winning streak...I know he will...

VAMOS RAFA!!!

Rafaisthebest, as for me, I'm definitely not trying to be demanding of Rafa, I'm just frustrated. It seems like it's always something with Rafa and I just want all the distractions and injuries to be over with. As with any fan, I want the best for him, and I'm hoping things will turn around soon.

Ricky is right. This was to be expected, given how well Fish is playing now and how Rafa is so out of form. Cincy is not a tournament that has been good for Rafa in the past and there was no reason to think it would be different now.

Fish deserved the win. He played smart, aggressive tennis to win and even Rafa told him at net - well played! I think Fish has a good shot at Murray in the semis. He's playing that well.

The concern I have for Rafa going into the USO, is that this will be the least amount of match play he has had. He did at least get some much need time on court in Cincy and now it's up to him and Uncle Toni to practice and work on his game.
I will always believe in and support Rafa. He needs his fans behind him now more than ever. It's easy to be a fan when Rafa's winning, but a true fan will be there for the losses too.

I am out all day tomorrow so won't mind missing the tennis. Rafa will take stock and do what he has to do to defend his USO title. I don't know if this is anything to do with it, but when Roig is in attendance, Rafa doesn't seem to do as well, because he is always on duty for the stretch of the season and this has always been Rafa's worst stretch.

Rafa has to be more positive about his ambitions. All that talk about to repeat what I did last year is impossible is no good, he should be trying hard to repeat it. As for being down about Djoko's freight train, I think that's another mistake he is making, being down about losing to Djoko 5 times in a row is not going to make the situation better, just accept t and move on.

However, his sore fingers must have had some part to play as well.


Vamos Rafa

http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/6876482/tennis-rafael-nadal-strug gles-involve-more-novak-djokovic

Sorry if I came across as critical, djd247365.....................certainly not my intention. I do not want to speak for Rafa so I have copied the above link for you to read, hopefully you will get some insight into Rafa's mindset right now.

Please consider the following as you process the just ended match:
1. Mardy played a damn good match, he is no slouch: he is s bona fide top 10 player
2. Rafa played at least 5 hours tennis yesterday, including doubles play, most of which was played at midday during the heat, no rest in between, he had to come and play an in-form Mardy during the midday heat the following day. He is human, that has got to affect him;
3. I actually thought he played better today than he did against Verdasco.....tennis is like that. In my opinion, he played well against Dodig and lost, played pants against Verdsaco and won!......
4. This is a slow road to recovery for Rafa and what I like are the noises coming from him. He knows where his game is, he knows what he needs to do.

Listening to him I get the impression that this is a very aware young man who has got his head tightly screwed on his shoulders.

I am just asking that you listen to Rafa............maybe you won't get that despondent..........

Federer completely outclassed by Berdych..

Fed couldnt even beat an injured Berdych.

Sloppy play again

Both Fed and Rafa in tatters before US Open. It would be great if both battered men before the US Open contest the US Open final.

Fed loses big points now..I guess nearly 820 points..as he won 1000 last year..atleast that will ensure Rafas No 2 ranking safe

RIFB/NNY/Natashao/nadline : great to see your optimism in Rafa intact always..Even after 2 horrible tournaments you have high hopes for USO.

I dont know why I am not optimistic as the negative statements and body language and forever underplaying himself simply gets to me.I think thats a bad bad psyche to carry as it will seep into the subconscious mind the more he keeps uttering those..

Not sure if the difference is you 4 are ladies and I am a guy..hence maybe u still can be more tolerant towards him and I cannot :-)

But yes I am a huge fan of Rfa and I want the mental beast with killer grit back..I just cant bear to see this passive version on court.

Sanju, remember Rafa lost to Baggy in the quarters in Cincy last year.........and he went on to win USO. Now, I am not saying he will win USO this year but I am just saying put his loss to Mardy in perspective.....................

I think maybe you're comparing Rafa's performances to Nole's, which is wrong imho. If you do that you are guaranteed to be disappointed. I think what you need to do is look at Rafa's game in isolation then take it from there. I think this is Rafa's approach and this is the sensible approach imo.

If you are not optimistic it should be because you do not see Rafa improving his form. If that is the case, what can I say?

Having said that, I think something is going on with Rafa that is affecting his mental concentration.. He knows what it is. We probably will not know until 10 - 20 years from now when he pens another memoir!

I am more concerned that the burns on his fingers may disturb his game rebuilding........but that is life, Rafa cannot live in a cocoon, life has a way of interrupting plans!

Rafa is losing games because his game is loose............he is dropping serves, not capitalising on break-points, not closing out matches, his forehand is misfiring, his backhand is misfiring.........it's a wonder he has won any matches at all!! The point I am making is that it is clear why Rafa is losing and guess what? If I know it, you bet he does too! and then some..............

He will be back.............................

sanju, I am sure the mental beast with killer instincts will wake up at USO...Rafa was not playing well here and he knew he would need much more energy and much better game to beat Fish today...considering that he defended the points from last year, knowing that his burnt fingers bother him and given his four hour play yesterday, I don't think he wanted to kill himself on the court today especially when USO is just around the corner...I wish him a good rest and fruitful upcoming practice days with Uncle Toni and we will see...who knows, he may bring joy to our lives sooner than we think...:)

@rafaisthebest, you're right, and I appreciate you taking the time to explain your thoughts and feelings on this issue. I have no doubt he'll figure it all out at some point soon, and put all the pieces of the puzzle together again. Besides, I wanna see him lifting those big trophies again. I respect his nemesis Djokovic too, I just don't want him snagging all the big titles like he's doing now, lol.

sanju,

As far as Rafa being down on himself, what about Fed? He never talks himself down, always seems to think he can beat anybody, is still on top, doing well, playing great. Well, how is that working for him these days? He's not winning. He lost to Tsonga again in the third round at Montreal and now he is out in the quarterfinals to Berdych. These are his worst results in some time in the warmup tournaments before the USO.

I don't think that is Rafa's problem now. That loss at Wimbledon had to be like a dagger in his heart. It took longer for his foot to heal and he didn't have much time to practice before Montreal. Then he came in and had a tough loss to Dodig. He was never going to do well at Cincy. It's never been a good tournament for him. I did see some improvements in his game, but he can't play at a high level consistently now.

I am not blindly optimistic. I realize that this will be the least amount of match practice Rafa has had going into the USO. I just want those blisters on his fingers to heal, the foot at 100% and Rafa having some good practice sessions with Uncle Toni to do what he can to be ready for the USO. Then we will see.

This is going to take time for Rafa to work out. It won't happen overnight. Five tough losses to Nole have taken their toll. We do know that results in the warmup tournaments for the USO are not necessarily an indicator of how a player will perform at the USO. I believe in Rafa and hope to see him do well!

Well said NNY. We all can see that Rafa is not in any good form and like RISB mentioned, with almost every part of his game not working well, he still managed to stay at no.2, in rankings and in race points, and that tells me precisely that it is Rafa's fighting spirit and his killer instinct and never say die attitude that's sustaining him!! Why are some of you doubting Rafa's competitive spirit??

He's going through a rough patch in his career now because of so many unfortunate things happening to him this year. As he mentioned, he needs time to work on his game and it's not unreasonable for him to spend time this year on that and then comes back strong in 2012. It's not possible to make much improvement in his game this year, as he spends some time recovering from injuries. He'll try his best as always during the USO, whether he wins it or not, we shouldn't be too worried about it. Rafa is still very much interested in playing tennis and that to me is most important.

As for his negative body language or mentality, well I think he's trying very hard to lower everyone's expectations of him. He knows his own conditions better than anyone of us including the media, so he's trying to tell us not to expect too much from him or not to be disappointed if he doesn't perform up to our expectations. This may be his way of reducing some pressure from himself. Whatever he says during his interviews or press conferences, he still goes out there to play tennis and fight hard for the win, give him credit and give him support for his efforts.

In today's match, he's definitely not playing well by his usual standard but from what I saw, he's still fighting hard out there. Fish is a very consistent player this summer and I'm not surprised that he beat Rafa here. Give Fish some credit, for he really played well here, good attacking tennis and playing at a consistently good level.

If Rafa keeps saying he is tired then eventually the mental imagery will reinforce the physical aspects of his game , this is how Sampras felt towards the end of his career. Contrast this Federers more positive outlook which sometimes borders ridiculousness, will on the longer run, help him and probably outlast Nadal from number of years on tour standpoint. I wouldnt be surprised if they retired around the same time.