Aus Tennis Open 2014

Opens the door for Nadal, as the biggest obstacle for him has been removed.

But Nadal hasn't been in great form. Federer is playing better than he has in a long time. Murray, hasn't seen him play since the surgery. He may appear otherwise, but is one tenacious character.

So it not a done deal by any means.

If Nadal does win it, he will become the only player in the Open era to have won each grand slam twice. That would be some achievement, considering so many fine and great players have not even managed all four once.

It's Rafa's now. Even if Fed beats the Scot he doesn't have the mindset to beat Rafa any more.

And Stan has already played his final.

Yes, logic does dictate that. But who would have thought that Nadal would get bounced out at first round at Wimbledon last year....

What a pounding his hand has taken....must be painful to grip the racket, pound those forehands....with this....the things these guys go through...

Even non-Tennisy me had a few glances at the Stan performance last night. He was in fine form, but the Joker just didn't seem himself.

And agree with MrK. Stan will be a shell of a man in his next game.

Stan has taken Djokovic to long five setters twice before in slams. A bad matchup for Nole.

Many dont like him but Djokovic is gracious in defeat. Much more than Fed or Nadal

Absolutely!

He is very gracious in defeat.

I've never found Rafa or Fed not to be gracious in defeat. 

Stan should beat Berdych I guess but he's no hope against Rafa.

But with Nadal I don't feel it is genuine. It is almost scripted with what he says in defeat.

His English isn't great to be fair.

Rafa now has golden chance to get this and then the French. That will get him to 15.

If he does, the media, the past players and so on, will anoint him as the GOAT, as he has dominated Fed throughout his career.

But no guarantees. Even last French, he almost lost to Djokovic.

Nadal down 1 4 in the first set. Looks in trouble

And loses the first set

Nadal just not his usual self. The blister clearly affecting him. Esp where it is on the hand. I think he's gone

Anthony_Gonzales wrote:Nadal just not his usual self. The blister clearly affecting him. Esp where it is on the hand. I think he's gone

Rafa wins second set.

Espn3 comms seem to hate Nadal with a passion. Counting seconds every time.

Dimitrov showing why so many are frustrated by his inability to convert talent into results.

I would have thought banging Sharapova is a "result" by any definition.

True that.

Rafa saves set point in the 3rd as Mr Sharapova shanks one badly.

And he chokes again on set point - this time on his serve in the tie breaker.

Rafa steals the 3rd set.

Yay

Rafa has a break in the 4th. 

All over.

Been a strange match. Nadal needs to seriously up his game for the SF if he gets through this one...which looks like he will.

The blister is an issue. He says he can't feel the racket grip properly with his hand taped up