AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREDICTIONS (MSS)

[DRII]

Australian semi: DRII (Nakamura) over Nito (Bucci) in four sets.

I don't recall everything specifically, but it was a very tough match with me getting one break in sets 1,3,4 and Nito winning the second in a tie break.

I remember going in feeling Nito might be a little vulnerable due to some of his score lines in previous matches. I've never beaten Nito but always had extremely close scores in sim, not in MS where he easily over powers me.

I tried to take more risks with returns and it paid off, putting me on offense earlier in the point. I was able to get a break in the first set. It seems that Nito's shots were not penetrating as much as usual.

In the second we both were holding serve and got to the tiebreaker. Nito was being more aggressive and pushing me around. In the middle of the tiebreaker with nito up 3-0, the game freezes. It probably happened on my end, we've had rough weather lately and it seems to affect my internet; usually nito and I have a good connection. I connect back on and nito is understandably bewildered and a little upset, he was using Bucci whose main advantage is high endurance and my player was starting to tire. So after a little back and forth and brief explanation (all positive) we resume. Nito wins the tiebreaker 7-2.

In the third and fourth sets, I try to be aggressive and take my chances and mix up my serving eventually taking each set with one break.

[nitoflament]

No hard feelings! you played very well and deserved the victory! no more to say! Good luck my friend!

[DRII]

Final: DRII (Nakamura) over Lonamer (Rogers) 6-4,1-6,6-3,7-6. Very up and down match. For my money lonamer is the best player out here but I was able to pull this one out, also my first win over him. I came in confident but felt my serve was a little off. The first set I was aggressive on return and it paid off with one break. The second was all lonamer, playing the way I am used to him playing, I had no chance while he broke me twice. In the third I took more chances and took the set with one break, I was picking on his backhand side with heavy top spin or deep slices. In the fourth it was anybody's set, we both had break points against us but made it to a tiebreaker where I returned well and won it 7-2. Like i said, lonamer is the best and deserves to be a multiple slam winner, I was just lucky and benefited more from horrible conditions (bad connection).

[riley108]

congrats DRII you've been playing great of late, i'm really surprised lonamer used rogers considering he uses lopez very well, but hey you desrve it man your risking game has come a long way over the past month, keep it up buddy see u on the xbox and see you on ts4 ps3 lovers... unlucky lonamer

[AUSSIE_FABS]

I was going for you so I could say lost to champion

[DRII]

congrats DRII you've been playing great of late, i'm really surprised lonamer used rogers considering he uses lopez very well, but hey you desrve it man your risking game has come a long way over the past month, keep it up buddy see u on the xbox and see you on ts4 ps3 lovers... unlucky lonamer

Thanks Riley, yea I agree both nito and lonamer used different players from usual. If either had used their normal players it would have been way more difficult if not impossible.

[riley108]

DRII it may of been more difficult but not impossible, stop underestimating your ability to play, your an awesome player,

[Q. Reese]

Final: DRII (Nakamura) over Lonamer (Rogers) 6-4,1-6,6-3,7-6. Very up and down match. For my money lonamer is the best player out here but I was able to pull this one out, also my first win over him. I came in confident but felt my serve was a little off. The first set I was aggressive on return and it paid off with one break. The second was all lonamer, playing the way I am used to him playing, I had no chance while he broke me twice. In the third I took more chances and took the set with one break, I was picking on his backhand side with heavy top spin or deep slices. In the fourth it was anybody's set, we both had break points against us but made it to a tiebreaker where I returned well and won it 7-2. Like i said, lonamer is the best and deserves to be a multiple slam winner, I was just lucky and benefited more from horrible conditions (bad connection).

Congrats. I have been looking at the tour a lot. Now, it seems like you guys will have competition of a different type!! Top Spin 4 . . . a new opponent.