ATP Masters 1000: Rome

Well, it's Rome.

And no, not all roads lead there, they lead to Roland Garros.

So what can this tournament bring us?

Hopefully Federer will have recovered from his silent ban and will join the party in Bella Italia: sun, blue sky, gelato, scooters...that fuzzy warm world of carelessness...

Italy seems to be one of the few places refusing to be weighed down with world's gloomy prospects.

It's the land of Fabio Fognini for crying out loud!

Everything somehow looks eeeeeasy ....especially for Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka - one look at the draw...

http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2016/416/mds.pdf





Viva Italia!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AbMD-Thhph4

I can see that the draw in Rome is not nearly as nice for Nadal as Madrid was!

I am about 99% sure the Madrid draw was rigged....not rigged enough though it seems!

Of course it was rigged...like so many, many times before.

And now that Fedal era is settng down like a sunset, it all doesn't look so traumatic any more.

Everything's kind of mellowed with Nadal finally becoming beatable!

All in all, we have had ten very exciting years as fans.

Would be cool to see/hear Nadal sing "I Did It My Way" in karaoke!

yes it was quite a good 10 years.

Order of play out:




http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2016/416/op.pdf

Match of The Day:

Dolgopolov-Thiem
&
Dimitrov-Zverev

I reckon if Dimi loses today he'll implode as a player.

Federer's practice session in Rome...

Are you there? lucky you!

No...
But it would be nice to go.

I've come to a funny stage now where I'd rather be playing on all those courts myself than watching others. 

noleisthebest wrote:No...
But it would be nice to go.

I've come to a funny stage now where I'd rather be playing on all those courts myself than watching others. 

Just tuned in...wow!

I forgot how magical tennis Rome is..beautiful luminous evening light and the crowd full of people looking like Fellini's support cast...

Dolgo and Thiem - the main actors - providing dolce tennis...

Rightfully, Kuku amd Coric are boring fresh air on some Z court...hehe

Gulbis and Karlovic are into their third set, Earnie a break up.

I am glad they have a nice faithful crowd.

Earnie has not evolved...not sure whether that's good or bad.

Zverev and Dimi are going to have a mighty battle on central court, but I'll stay with these two old "friends" till they finish.

We don't get many chances to see a smiling winning Gulbis these days...

And Zverev beats Dimi with ease.

Baby Fed is done.

How things have changed since that Queens 2008 when he wore all black, bandana, locks...rushed forward...

Then came the Era of Bicep and everyone had to double their fitness.

Rasheed ruined first Tsonga then Dimi...

Ah well...

Life moves on....

But strange how Dimi suddenly looks old. As old as Fed.

Will be cool to see how Fed deals with Zverev, I love watchng him take on new generations...this must be his 4th one (?)

Zverev smashed Dimi. He's gone even further backwards! What is going on!>

luvsports! wrote:Zverev smashed Dimi. He's gone even further backwards! What is going on!>

Yes, I saw the last set and it is purely mental. Nothing else.

Dimi has still great shots but his mind is all over the place.

Zverev is certainly a serious future danger to all those road runners.

Tenez wrote:

luvsports! wrote:Zverev smashed Dimi. He's gone even further backwards! What is going on!>

Yes, I saw the last set and  it is purely mental. Nothing else.

Dimi has still great shots but his mind is all over the place.

Zverev is certainly a serious future danger to all those road runners.  

Agreed.

Dimi has got the mental strength of a wet blanket! It's pathetic. Similar to Gulbis and Janowicz, just going to fade away quite spectacularly.

Metaphorically speaking, Dimi's tennis is in no man's land.

He needs to make his mind up.

I admire Earne's perseverance with his tennis career. He is one of few rare characters on tour who is playing  for pure love of tennis.

No cash, no glory.

On the other side of the net, Pouille is a better and braver player. There is something exciting and  posititive about him.

I really liked his coach, too.

I wish they could both win.

Gulbis showing his ugly side trying to unsettle Pouille's serve by walking away and taking ages to settle in receiving position. 

Really glad Bernardes gave him time violation warning.

Shame as Gulbis did succeed in upsetting Pouille's rhythm and managed to break back.

ALLEZ LUCAS!

Bravo Lucas!

A win from a set and a break down. Wonderful result and clay season.

I am surprised Federer has not played yet.....His back is probably not 100% yet!

Good win over Zverev, 6-3 7-5. Thiem next. Very tough draw.

Zverev dodn't turn to be much of a challenge today, his serving was below his standard, at best he was a very poor man's Djokovic.

I don't think Thiem will bother him much either.

The only tough player for him in the draw is  Nole in the semi.

Nole looks a bit tired.
Probably still hung over from Madrid.

I did not see but I felt Djoko wanted to tank.....I don't think he will last long in Rome.

Mmmmm...that did cross my mind, but doubt it.

He was just tired/flat and probably unadjusted, but definitely wanted to win.

Of course, the eye is on the big prize in Paris.

Bongiorno a tutti!

It's a sunny day, birds are singing and we are having a fabulous day of tennis in Rome.

There isn't a bad match in the schedule but my pick is:  Nadal-Kyrgios

Andiamo!!!

Federer trying to fly but unfortunately not so easy on clay.
He still needs to put a bit of work in in order to win.

Still, must be satisfying to see he can toy with the new generation.

Lovely day.

I have never seen Fed standing so far back on the return. I assume this is to ease his mouvement and make it less rush which certainly woudl put more stress on his back.

Fed missed the FH (and the BP) he really shouldn't have.

I can see Ljubicic's input...not sure I like it. Hopefully, just an experiment for clay.

Tenez wrote:Lovely day.

I have never seen Fed standing so far back on the return. I assume this is to ease his mouvement and make it less rush which certainly woudl put more stress on his back.

Yes...he is also taking his FH a bit later than before.
Looks like Ljubicic's idea was to work further on fitness and baseline endurance.
It's a reasonable idea bearing in mind who his main rival is and knowing Federer he will just add it to the existing arsenal.

It will probably all come together in Wimbledon.

I don't think it is a Ljubo decision more of a back induced strategy.

There is not much Federer can do at that level with a stiff back. I am amazed he is doing that well if anything.

I think regardless of stiff back his FH's looking more "modern" than ever.
Different from last year.

He played the same in Monte Carlo.

And despite everything he should've won this match. (off to the gym, assuming Fed wil lose this)
You can see the lack of confidence creeping in from no match play.

But I like how does not stop him roaring around the court.

I shamefully admit that I put another £20 on Thiem to win when he was at 3.0.

Tenez wrote:I shamefully admit that I put another £20 on Thiem to win when he was at 3.0.

wow...Nadal broken to love in the opening game on clay by Kyrgios.

Tenez wrote:wow...Nadal broken to love in the opening game on clay by Kyrgios.

Tuning in...5:6, Kyr serving...

Pouille doing well against Ferrer!

It's strange to see a nervous Nadal.

It's a thin line between confidence and fear with him.

Something wrong with Ferrer this year. Looks like 34 is definitely like hitting the wall for a tennis player.

noleisthebest wrote:It's strange to see a nervous Nadal.

It's a thin line between confidence and fear with him.

He has always been nervous and full of fear until the match point was over.

Only when he leads 61 5/2 does he relax and shows confidence.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:It's strange to see a nervous Nadal.

It's a thin line between confidence and fear with him.

He has always been nervous and full of fear until the match point was over.

Only when he leads 61 5/2 does he relax and shows confidence.

Yes, but never openly like now.
Always had that "king of clay" strut as a bluff and didn't choke serving sets out.

Pouille throught to last 16!

Are we seeing the end of Ferru?

Nadal has no choice but rely on Kyrgios to tire and give him all those UEs or easy balls for fake winners.

not so long ago you coudl have put your house on Nadal to win the next 2 sets.....nowadays it's not guaranteed.

Tenez wrote:not so long ago you coudl have put your house on Nadal to win the next 2 sets.....nowadays it's not guaranteed.

No..especially as Kyrgios does not have the panic gene...but he seems to be in some kind of discomfort.
Not sure whether it's real, though!

Tenez wrote:Something wrong with Ferrer this year. Looks like 34 is definitely like hitting the wall for a tennis player.

2 years away from his peak Ferrer, wait till he's 36.

So happy with Nadal's performance and win, wowowow !!!

But he did not play nearly as well as various Nishimura in Barca.

Lol....Samsung texting messing around.

Nadal/Djoko are playing today.

A tough one to call.

We know on normal circumstances Djoko would win this one comfy. However he is tired and has struggled v robert and Bellu. Nadal will sniff that blood and will want to seize that opportunity to plant a seed in Djoko's mind before the FO.

Against anyone else, Djoko may have not given 100% today and not minded losing. But against Nadal he will fight to the last breath.

Should be an interesting match.

I will favour Nadal overall as Djoko will refuse to go on the long rallies and will have to pull many great shots to avoid the running....and we know usually what happens in such circumstances.