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Nadal has his nerve, telling Berdych "You are a bad person." after Berdych withstood him and the Madrid crowd in yesterday's quarterfinal match.
I watched this match twice to see what went on. First, I saw Berdych with an attitude Federer needs when playing Nadal, almost Connors like in his me against the crowd. But I did not see him do anything out of line. He did imitate (mock) Nadal's running jump after a great shot to set up match point, but Nadal had just done this two points before when he set up set point.
And, is not Nadal's act wearing thin, starting with the bravado at the coin flip. This is not boxing or wrestling. Then the sprint to the baseline. Give me a break. Then the tedious arrangement of his water bottles like an obsessive old person who must keep his home just so in order to find things.
Most importantly, he regularly exceeds the time limit on his serves as he adjust everything. Can't he find some underwear that fits him? And I think this is one of the things that upsets Federer. But Berdych seemed impervious to Nadal's fidgeting even when the ref warned Nadal to quit holding up his hand when Berdych was serving.
The only thing Berdych did that was at all inflammatory was hold up his finger to his lips AFTER he won the match. Yes, this was a message to the crowd, but it did not affect the match and I thought it was almost perfect as a way of silencing them. After all, he had taken Rafael's best and hit through him when it mattered.
As for Roger, I think he could do the same thing if he were the younger or outsider with nothing to lose, if he played like he did in 2004. He seems to play not to lose against Nadal at crucial times. Berdych even missed a couple of crucial shots in the tie breaker and did not let them bother him. This is what Federer does against everyone but Nadal.
Robin Pratt, Ph.D.
Oak Ridge, NC USA
I watched this match twice to see what went on. First, I saw Berdych with an attitude Federer needs when playing Nadal, almost Connors like in his me against the crowd. But I did not see him do anything out of line. He did imitate (mock) Nadal's running jump after a great shot to set up match point, but Nadal had just done this two points before when he set up set point.
And, is not Nadal's act wearing thin, starting with the bravado at the coin flip. This is not boxing or wrestling. Then the sprint to the baseline. Give me a break. Then the tedious arrangement of his water bottles like an obsessive old person who must keep his home just so in order to find things.
Most importantly, he regularly exceeds the time limit on his serves as he adjust everything. Can't he find some underwear that fits him? And I think this is one of the things that upsets Federer. But Berdych seemed impervious to Nadal's fidgeting even when the ref warned Nadal to quit holding up his hand when Berdych was serving.
The only thing Berdych did that was at all inflammatory was hold up his finger to his lips AFTER he won the match. Yes, this was a message to the crowd, but it did not affect the match and I thought it was almost perfect as a way of silencing them. After all, he had taken Rafael's best and hit through him when it mattered.
As for Roger, I think he could do the same thing if he were the younger or outsider with nothing to lose, if he played like he did in 2004. He seems to play not to lose against Nadal at crucial times. Berdych even missed a couple of crucial shots in the tie breaker and did not let them bother him. This is what Federer does against everyone but Nadal.
Robin Pratt, Ph.D.
Oak Ridge, NC USA
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