ATP 500/250: Barcelona, Bucharest

Yes, that's the same Ramos Fed demolished on C1 in Wimbledon last year, remember?
He only managed to pull off one decent BHDTL shot in that entire match...

noleisthebest wrote:Yes, that's the same Ramos Fed demolished on C1 in Wimbledon last year, remember?
He only managed to pull off one decent BHDTL shot in that entire match...

No...had forgotten about it. He certainly looks more at ease on clay than on grass.

He certainly does...Now who will it be Raonic or Robredo in the 3rd?

Can't believe no links for that match, either....

Rao could have won a bit more easily if he had not squandered tons of BPs.

I am however less hopeful on Rao's chance tomorrow than I was this am.

And you wish comes true, it's Nadal - Raonic in the SF tomorrow.

Three sets against Robredo don't sound that good, though, only managed to scrape thorugh in the 3rd set TB.
I don't know how he is serving, but Robredo can't be that great a returner.
Paire is less known for his serve and did great against Nadal in the first set today.

Will be interesting what Raonic can do. I have no idea what to expect, really.

He should be motivated to do well and get that serve going.

Tenez wrote:Rao could have won a bit more easily if he had not squandered tons of BPs.

I am however less hopeful on Rao's chance tomorrow than I was this am.

Did you manage to see the match, I couldn't find any links...

Bercelona SF:

12.30
Almagro - Kohlschreiber
15.00
Raonic-Nadal


Bucharest SF:

11.00
Rosol-Simon
13.30
F.Mayer-GG Lopez

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:Rao could have won a bit more easily if he had not squandered tons of BPs.

I am however less hopeful on Rao's chance tomorrow than I was this am.

Did you manage to see the match, I couldn't find any links...

Nope. frustrating!

Well, I really enjoyed that first Nadal- Paire set today and am glad I could see it.

The rest I just saw bits of, and it was pretty bland and boring.

Flair is very rare to come by on the tour these days, sadly.

I am getting tired of base-line power and its monotony, and doesn't get more monotonous and more obvious than when you get two players on clay just unable to put each other (and us) out of misery....

Dolgopolov is great fun to watch on clay.

wow, nitb, it looks like your Rosol is on fire. He may yet get a seeding for RG and/or Wimbledon if he continues like this.

summerblues wrote:wow, nitb, it looks like your Rosol is on fire. He may yet get a seeding for RG and/or Wimbledon if he continues like this.

Didn't see the match, but am happy for Rosol the Great, whose services to tennis we must never forget!

It seems that his recent wins for the Czechs in Davis Cup helped him with confidence, and the opposite can be said for Simon who has been struggling on clay this season, also starting from his two losses against Argentina. I hope he is not carrying some injury as he has not played up to his highest standards recently.


I saw Rosol play on clay (some smaller tournaments) after Wimbledon last summer, his game works OK there, remember him losing a tight match to Phau.

I would love to see him being drawn against Nadal again, ideally in Wimbledon!

what's happening in Barca? Is it raining?

Tenez wrote:what's happening in Barca? Is it raining?

Just was going to ask the same question, can't find anything even on the official website....but it must be the weather, they did say it was going to be bad every day this week so good job they managed to play all those matches yesterday.
Hope it starts soon.

Weather/match-playing update coming at 3 PM.

Have got to go ....shopping for a 2nd hand car....Don't like the idea.....

Tenez wrote:Have got to go ....shopping for a 2nd hand car....Don't like the idea.....

Have fun

In Barcelona, apparently rainstorm to clear soon and play to start then.

Ta-daaa!


both semis starting at the same time,

come on Rao, come on Kholi

Milos looking so much better without that silly bandana!

Finally sat down to watch the match...Nadal serving for the 1st set...and he serves it out!

Raonic looks too slow to be rallying from the BL with Nadal, plus his BH on the run is not that good. He panics too much.


I hope he calms down and focuses better in the 2nd.

Raonic having to wait to start serving because the score-board is flashing lights and colours like a disco laser-show....and nets the first serve...losing the point as he rallies pointlessly.
I really don't get Raonic, what goes through his brain!!!!First serve non-existant atm..

Come on Milos!!!!!

Ahh break in the 1st game of 2nd set. I don't think Rao now has much heart to keep the fight on. He will fold I believe.

Raonic goes for pure power with his serve and less placement, and Nadal receives those like a piece of cake...

At last some proper 3 shot points from him, he must hold serve now, saves 2 BPs....but not the 3rd as he nets his trademark sitter mid-court FH....again!

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Ahh break in the 1st game of 2nd set. I don't think Rao now has much heart to keep the fight on. He will fold I believe.

I hope not....it's about time he grew up as a player. What has he got to lose?

Andrew Castle makes me sick!

I must say, Nadal pulling off some great passing-shots from all kinds of positions today...
This is it for Raonic. Looks physically spent and red in the face from having to run and hit on the run all the time.
You can see he can't wait to get off that court, feeling the heat big time.

I do hope he holds serve here. If nothing else, then for his confidence.

But it doesn't happen. He nets another forehand on deuce and then gets passed by Nadal. 0:3.

He has absolutely nothing with which to trouble Nadal right now: no serve, no confidence, forehand gone, backhand average, movement slow and heavy.

I can't believe it, Nadal must be standing at least 5m behind the BL on Raonic's serve...but it works as he breaks Raonic for the 3rd time in the set and is serving for the match and.....bagel.

And 2nd set bagel it is, that's really bad for Raonic... Rosol would've put up a much better fight

Speaking of Rosol, we now have the final pairs for:

Bucharest 2PM UK time

Rosol - GG Lopez

Barcelona (time not out yet)

Almagro-Nadal

noleisthebest wrote:Andrew Castle makes me sick!

Can you hear him talk from Nadal's @ss?

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Andrew Castle makes me sick!

Can you hear him talk from Nadal's @ss?

How did you guess...he is simply awful!!!! He even started working out tactics for Nadal how to beat Djokovic... while commentating on Nadal-Raonic match....

Barcelona final at 3 PM.

I don't even know if I want to watch another Almagro choke-fest...Rosol-GG Lopez will probably be a lot more fun!

Rosol - GG Lopez started. Excange or early breaks at the start. Come on Rossy!!!!!!!

the nadal slayer takes the first set 6-3!!!

and breaks again for a 1-0 lead come on!

3-0 now!

good hold! 4-0!

I've got powercut and can't watch the match. Should be fixed soon. Good job the phone's still reliable
How's Rossy doing? Has he done it?

GAME SET MATCH ROSOL! 6-3 6-2 WAHOOOO

YEEEEAH, Rosssssssssy!!!!!!
So happy for him.

His confidence will be sky high after this, wouldn't it be magical if he was drawn against Nadal in Wimbledon... you know...like Mahut and Isner were two years in a row.

Almagro - Nadal starting....ok, then....VAMOS NICOOOOOOOO

noleisthebest wrote:YEEEEAH, Rosssssssssy!!!!!!
So happy for him.

His confidence will be sky high after this, wouldn't it be magical if he was drawn against Nadal in Wimbledon... you know...like Mahut and Isner were two years in a row.

I think this Wimby match experience helped him on this big occasion today for both of them.

I saw a couple of game and he certainly was hitting very hard!

Tenez wrote:I saw a couple of game and he certainly was hitting very hard!

I watched a bit of his match yesterday and that was exactly what I was thinking - he is hitting that ball so hard. Almost 28, and reaching his career high.

Nadal trying to break up Alma's form.

wow almagro breaks rafa again, 3-0!

And my power is back on, YIPEEEEE

inevitable comeback, 3-1

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:YEEEEAH, Rosssssssssy!!!!!!
So happy for him.

His confidence will be sky high after this, wouldn't it be magical if he was drawn against Nadal in Wimbledon... you know...like Mahut and Isner were two years in a row.

I think this Wimby match experience helped him on this big occasion today for both of them.

I saw a couple of game and he certainly was hitting very hard!

That's him in a nutshell: all or nothing!

I can't believe that moonball landed on the line for 3:2....

6-3 6-0 anyone?

Almagro's brain is just thick, thick fog....but he somehow manages to scramble a hold, GO NICOOOOOOOO

Nole would've won this set half an hour ago...

I can't believe I'm sayin' it, but Almagro could do with a bit of ball-pushing here