ATP Masters 1000: Rome

QF Day, starting at 11.00 AM UK time:

Chardy-Raonic (both surprise qf-ists, will be an interesting one, a great chance for Chardy to make a good result breakthrough in a  big tournament)

Dimitrov-Haas (battle of SBHs, again both surprise qf-ists, impressive win from Dimi, coming back from a set down against Berdych, Haas, 36, defying all retirement well-wishers...Can we actually call Dimi - Baby Haas as he is a lot more similar to him than Federer?)

Djokovic-Ferrer (should be a manageable one for Nole if he plays fully focused and does not drag this one out)

Nadal-Murray (match of the day. Both players in a similar tennis cross-road situation, will give us a good idea where both stand before RG. If Youzhny was able to take a set off Nadal yesterday, I see no reason why Murray can't beat Nadal today as he will definitely lack no motivation)

Yes interesting match today. Rao will have a chance to go back to number 9 (I don't think he is a surprised QF though as he is the seeded player).

Dimi has a chance to get closer to enter top 10!..btw what happened to Harisson? We don't see him nowadays? injured?

Djoko should depress Ferrer!

And Nadal Murray should be quite interesting. The one with the thicker blood should win!

Interesting comment from Nole about why he struggled in the first set against Kohlschreiber last night:

"I was trying to spin the ball too much and the court wasn’t getting that necessary bounce that I was looking for, but then I started to be a little bit more aggressive and open up the court. It worked well.
.........
Ferrer has  had an incredible career overall, but especially on clay. It’s going to be a big challenge and we’ll see where my game is."

I am assuming, being the night session, plus with all the wind/humidity, the court was not as high-bouncing as Nole wanted it, which suited Kholi.

I am glad Nole switched to flatter hitting, as he is so much more watchable in that mode.

Which then gives us more hope for Murray tonight, and explains why Nadal is losing sets in Rome.

Watching two SBH-ers play is just so natural and human; there is no room for bashing, pointless energy sapping, it's just pure tennis...as it's meant to be!

Haas's BH is sharper than Dimi's.
Dimi's scrambling is paying off atm, but it's going to cost him in the long run. He is simply too big for it.
It's a fly in the ointment in his game.

I think Dimi's shots are usually not sharp/precise enough..but that's something he will improve with time...it's already ok compared to others.

Dimi's got all the shots, but the game is chaos.

Haas is showing his age. Three sets against Stan yesterday obviously took a lot out of him.
He is a tough cookie, though, a foxy player, and it wouldn't surprise me if he pulled off another comeback today.

noleisthebest wrote:Dimi's got all the shots, but the game is chaos.

Haas is showing his age. Three sets against Stan yesterday obviously took a lot out of him.
He is a tough cookie, though, a foxy player, and it wouldn't surprise me if he pulled off another comeback today.

....but sadly not today as he retires. Shame.
At least Dimi will be fresh for Murray tomorrow  

It would be cool to have Dimi vs Murray and Raonic vs Nole SF tomorrow and see where the new guard is at the moment.

It's exciting they both made it to the semis of a big tournament.

At the same time very disappointing to have Giraldo, Thiem, Paire and Nishi all injured.

Another thing that's making my blood boil is this draw rigging, they are clustering all the talent in one quarter as far away as possible from Nadal.
Happened both in Madrid and Rome.

Did you see Racheed throwing Dmi's birthday cake in Dimi's face?...on court just a few moments ago?

No, I didn't.
That's such an Australian thing to do...

I did see a picture of Murray giving him a haircut in a salon, though:



In this one he's even got that same funny/silly smile again!!!!

http://37.media.tumblr.com/0d3f5c978ff6a61daa8926592ca7c4e3/tumblr_n5hrvwuA7w1qb2wsio1_1280.jpg

How old is Dimi now?
I need to update that "young guns" thread...
Where do we draw the line for young, 24?

Nole time

First set goes to Nole 7:5, failing to serve it out at 5:3.
I didn't see much of it, bar the last few points and Ferrer calling the umpire a liar at the end of it....

Watched Ivanovic-Navaro instead, lovely SBH from Navaro, quality tennis, nice match, no grunting at all, breath of fresh air in WTA.

Hope Nole ends this for two sets.

Ferrer is hitting the ball as hard as Nole, first class grinder, ultra fit, and seemingly stronger than ever, but really monotonous tennis.

Tennis wise, not a lot to look forward to this weekend except not seeing Nadal bite the trophy....

With Ferrer moaning about the drizzle and asking about the forecast in the changeover, Nole's put the foot on the gas and finally started shortening the points!   

...but Ferrer grinds the errors out and breaks  

Ferrer breaks.. looks to take this set.

Gloves are off and tennis much better!

I love it when they say Giocco Djokovic!

One set all....
Ferrer has really perfected his game: he is as fit and strong as he can possibly be, and he can hit back hard till hell freezes over.
I am assuming Nole is going to go back to the grinding mode himself until he secures a break or two.

Yes but the commentator was saying rightly that he needs to topspin too much and that means he loses some pace whereas Djoko has easier power...but having said that he can certainly make the most of it.

Well, who is stopping him from hitting flatter like Nishi and have more easy power himself?
That's not his game, he simply doesn't have the talent.
He is 32 and actually still peaking!!!!
Says everything about this era...

Nole breaks with a nice FH winner.
Now please DO NOT MESS the next game and serve the wretched match out!!!!!  

Becker watching Nole like a hawk after he double-faults on the MP, trying to work out what's going on in his mind....

Nole trying to get the crowd involved after the 38 shot rally to gain some extra breathing time. Very smart!...and in line with today's delaying tactics.

Very close match! quite watchable despite the same boring rallies.

And it's giocco, set, match Gioccovic  

Tenez wrote:Nole trying to get the crowd involved after the 38 shot rally to gain some extra breathing time. Very smart!...and in line with today's delaying tactics.

Very close match! quite watchable despite the same boring rallies.

Well observed

Ferrer is tougher to beat than Nadal at the moment.

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:Nole trying to get the crowd involved after the 38 shot rally to gain some extra breathing time. Very smart!...and in line with today's delaying tactics.

Very close match! quite watchable despite the same boring rallies.

Well observed

Ferrer is tougher to beat than Nadal at the moment.

Yes....His balls are a bit harder to attack than nadal....Nadal's just come too short nowadays.

What do you think about tonight's match?
I reckon 50/50

Nadal was quite funny after Simon match:


Reporter’s question: "We’re not used to see you struggling so much."
Nadal (smiling): "So get used to it."

He then elaborated:

"With the years that's the normal thing. Everybody suffers. That's part of the sport.
At this age, Borg was doing other things. It's not possible to win for 10 years with easy scores and easy matches. At the same time, I'm sure I can do much better than I am doing."

I believe Ferrer's loss secures #4 seeding for Fed at French.......   Good Job Djokovic! Two more!

Go Murray!!

I forgot about that!
To have been a fly on Federer's wall during this match...although he probably didn't watch it. He seems to be completely smitten with the baby boys! Little children are so cute and lovely, they must be so refreshing and relaxing for him right now.

A double bravo for Nole, then!  

noleisthebest wrote:What do you think about tonight's match?
I reckon 50/50

I'll say Murray! but more because I want to.

Come on Andeeeeeee!!!!!!!  

Exellent start from Murray. He's got a perfect game for Nadal: fit enough to rally ad nauseum but wasting about 75% less energy than Nadal by pushing/retrieving/slicing the balls back effortlessly, sucking out life put of Nadal.
He is doing the opposite from Nishi, a bit like Simon on steroids.
Nadal looking worried and slightly confused.

GO ANDEEEE!   

Am I seeing the score right? wow.

Shame it wasn't a bagel!

Nadal playing so scared....He has just attempted a plan B for the first time ever: he took the zip off his moon-balls and started just pushing them, not even women play that these days....  

Nadal has hit Z E R O winners in the entire set.....

Where is everyone?
Come out from behind the sofas....it's OK, we're winning!

Happy times for tennis world

truffin1 wrote:Am I seeing the score right? wow.

What are American commentators saying?
Anyone heard from Agassi?  

Nadal back in his full zippy mode.
Murray hitting back hard and well. Not intimidated in the least, much to Nadal's annoyance.
Nadal celebrating advantage point like he's won Wimbledon....he is really desperate...the crowd couldn't care less and not getting sucked in...minus a few screaming invisible women....

lol.. I'm out and just watching score on my phone...   if Murray pulls this off, I'm watching the replay...

Agassi--lol.........   he's destroyed his reputation in two ways- an admitted drug cheat, and backing as Goat a drug cheat who even with that- doesn't have the Goat resume....smh

Nadal breaks. Hope Murray can weather this juice onslaught and continue his game.
Come on Andy, break back!   

Murray stops the rot and holds serve, 1:3.
Excellent news, he has not " smiled" even once!

Murray has steadied the ship, 2:4, it's just one break of serve.
Nadal not only having rigged draws these days, but his own fans instead of linesmen...

What happened? Just returning to my screen.....Was it Nadal playing that bad in the 1st set?

He did, he was scared stiff.
Murray was just retrieving everything he threw at him with ease. And he did not throw a lot, plenty of short, weak moonballs, he only turned the bicep on in the second set, but Murray responded with his own muscles, minus the moonballs.
Just one break separates them.

ok we have a 3rd set....3rd in a row for Nadal!

Nadal look fresher and more energised now than at the beginning of the match...that juice is quite something!