lob

most tennis pundits regard this match between rafa and nole in this year's hamburg masters as the year's best ATP 3-set match. of course, i haven't seen any of this coz of our cable shift back in may! this match had everything a claycourt drama can offer: both players exchanging aggressive baseline attacks, mixing shots between rally, winning points on perfectly struck lobs, drive volleys and baseline winners. although i didn't see any winners coming from a drop shot coz both rafa and nole are very quick movers, the whole match produced spectacular shots with both players playing well. the final score - 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, in rafa's favor. he also went on to win his first hamburg shield, completing his collection of the 3 masters tournaments played on clay.

although most players like this hamburg masters tourney, it'll lose its masters status next year, following the major overhaul that will take effect starting january 2009.