Madrid Crisis Center, Day 6

By Rosangel Valenti, TW Contributing Editor

Buenas dias. Here is today's post for you to use in discussing the tennis going on, in either Madrid or Zurich. As always, we'd be grateful if you could  keep the subject of your deliberations focused on tennis - after it's all over, it's OK to go reasonably off-topic.

Instead of observing, as was the case yesterday while suffering from a cold (Nadal, Murray and Federer all looked in very strong form, and each outclassed his opponent yesterday), I'll be back taking pictures today, having tracked down something pharmaceutical to suppress the symptoms. I also can't miss this chance: I've realised that I'll get closer to TMF than I ever have been before. I've photographed him multiple times, but never from such a prime position. I hope that the results will turn out to be a treat for his many fans in TW once this week is all over and I've had time to compile a web gallery from the pictures.

Yesterday someone asked (in the comments section) what I thought about the model ballgirls. To be honest, I haven't thought much about them at all, except when they are positioned at the end of the net closest to me, in which case they may obscure a photographer's view of the players. Mostly they seem to do a good enough job, only being brought out for the marquee matches, of course. I'll see if I can capture some shots of them today.

Match of the Day

The most interesting of today's two semifinals looks like being the first of the two, between the world number two, Roger Federer, and the number four, Andy Murray. It's only a few weeks since the two met in the US Open final, which Federer won in straight sets. On that occasion Federer evened out his head-to-head with Murray at two apiece; until then Murray had been one of very few active players with a leading record against Federer. Whoever wins today will of course lead their head-to-head.

The second match features the world number one, Rafael Nadal, against number 16, Gilles Simon. If Nadal wins today, he will have secured the year-end number one spot, so he should be highly focused. Simon is appearing in his second Masters Series semifinal, and has been in good form for much of 2008. He''s in the running to appear in Shanghai. He has not beaten Nadal in two attempts, though when they met in Melbourne in January he came very close to claiming the first set.

The odds must surely be on a final between Nadal and Federer.

Player of the Day

In a way he's also the player of the week. Of course, I mean Gilles Simon, who has saved multiple match points in arriving at this stage of the tournament, and who survived a third-set tiebreaker against Novak Djokovic's nemesis, Ivo Karlovic, some time after midnight. It was a more interesting match than I'd expected, featuring multiple breaks of serve. Karlovic put away some fine volleys; Simon never gave up even when he fell behind.

Enjoy today's tennis. I know I will.