Friday, November 27, 2009

Live - Nadal v Djokovic

LATEST UPDATES (all times GMT)

606: DEBATE

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By Chris Bevan

Nadal 1-2 *Djokovic
Oh dear. More problems for Nadal, who is chasing this game from the start and seems to be on the backfoot on his serve. Another forehand droops into the net to leave him 15-40 down and his misery is completed by a double fault. Three games so far, three breaks.
* Denotes NEXT server

Get involved on 606
From slashermcguirk on 606: "the thing about Nadal-Djokovic head to head is majority of matches are on clay. outside of clay there matches are very close (actually on clay they are really close too but Nadal obviously has edge there on everybody). On hard court you would probably fancy Djokovic most of the time."

*Nadal 1-1 Djokovic
Mind you, Djoko's hardly flying on serve either - he kicks off with a double fault and a rasping Rafa return leaves him at 0-30. It doesn't get better for the Serb either... he plonks a forehand into the net on the next point and faces three break points. He saves the first with a backhand volley and the second with an ace - but another forehand into the net at 30-40 means we are a break apiece after two games of this first set.
* Denotes NEXT server

Nadal 0-1 *Djokovic
Hmmm. Not the start Nadal or his legion of fans wanted - Djokovic hits a couple of stunning inside-out forehand winners to set up a break point and, when Nadal puts his own forehand in the net, Djoko has broken him in the very first game.
* Denotes NEXT server

1429: We're about to get started. Nadal will serve first.

BBC Sport's Piers Newbery Tweeting from the O2 Arena: "My money here is on Nadal, strangely. He's fresher and desperate to show some form. My tipping form is about 51% - do I make the semis?"

Get involved on 606
From benny007 on 606: "Come on Novak! I'd like to see him in the finals, especially if he does his infamous impressions!! But a part of me wants to see Rafa win at least one set. Just to prove he's not really lost it all..."

1425: Nadal and Djokovic have met 20 times before - with the Spaniard prevailing on 14 occasions. He's not firing on all cylinders at the moment, though, as I'm sure you've noticed. But, having said that, Djoko is hardly full of beans himself either. Who will win this one then? Your guess is as good as mine but I'm going for Djoko in two...

1420: While the players warm up, I'll remind you lot how to get involved today. Tweet me on Twitter, text me via 81111, or drop me a line on 606. I'm waiting...

1416: Did you know that you can listen to commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra? You do now - just click on the link on the top right of your screen and you're away.

1415: Here's Rafa too. "I've got nothing to lose," he says. He hasn't won so much as a set here this week... time to change that, surely?

1413: Here's Djoko, now in his pre-match interview. How's he feeling? "I'm trying not to think about the exhaustion I am feeling, and hope to take my chances in this match." Hmmm, not great then. You might remember that the Serb was practically out on his feet after losing to Robin Soderling on Wednesday.

1410: It's as simple as this: Robin Soderling is already through. Rafael Nadal is definitely out. Novak Djokovic needs to beat Nadal in today's first match and hope Soderling beats Nikolay Davydenko later on. Any other outcome, and Davydenko joins Soderling (and Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro) in the semi-finals.

1405 GMT: Afternoon folks. So, is your brain still fried from last night's extraordinary events at the O2? Thought so - mine too. Here's the good news then: The shakedown in Group B today is an awfully lot easier to understand (and explain), even for an idiot like me.


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