ATP Masters 1000: Rome

Poor Gillou...at least he is able to drain Nadal a bit.
Looks like Tursunov is playing well again!
4:1 up against Berdych.

oh dear..Simon wasting 3 BPs at 4 all 2nd set!

I couldn't watch any more after the first few games, it's just too traumatising.
I'm only keeping an eye on the score, he's come back from 0:3 in the 2nd, I thought he was a goner after losing the TB.
Tursunov managed to blow his 1st lead, but was ok in the 2nd when I had a look. Barely anyone in the stands for that match...

Simon is another one more talented than Nadal.

Nadal delaying tactics upsetting Simon.

It's hard not to be more talented than Nadal...

The crowd once again, very much behind Simon!

noleisthebest wrote:It's hard not to be more talented than Nadal...

Good point. This is what I keep saying!

Tenez wrote:The crowd once again, very much behind Simon!

I'll summon all my courage and get out from behind the sofa, gulp!

BRAVO GILLOU!!!!

That was a cool Borg fan in the crowd   

YESSS!!!!

I admit, I hid behind the sofa again after Nadal drew to 2:2 in the TB   

Allez Gillou! I fancy the upset. Gilou like Nadal are really tough after 2 sets!

Yes, Gillou is tough as old boots.
I just hope he is able to hang in there physically, but the good thing he will have drained a lot of Nadal's tank as well.
It's just being able to keep composure and not make any unnecessary misses like that sitter FH at 2:0 in the TB.

Nadal moonballing like crazy...what a contrast with Simon's flat FH/.

I'll remain behind the sofa

What a beast this Nadal. Just moonballing back everything. SO much margin, yet enough pace....so unfair.

You see Frederick, more than the height, the guns are even more unfair. They allow power and safety....whereas Simon has to hit flat and risky!

Tenez wrote:What a beast this Nadal. Just moonballing back everything. SO much margin, yet enough pace....so unfair.

You see Frederick, more than the height, the guns are even more unfair. They allow power and safety....whereas Simon has to hit flat and risky!

Hence my comment from the beginning of the match...

noleisthebest wrote:I really hate Nadal's asphyxiating tennis. It's rotten to the core.
He is at it against Simon big time: millions of ultra-juiced, safe, mid-court moon-balls. Where is Nishi to eat them all up!
I just want Simon to somehow become a superman and blast every shot of his with three times as much power.

I'm assuming Nadal must be taking time between the points...has he been warned?

Well Nadal is the fitter of the two. Simon hit twice as many winners as Nadal...but that wasn't enough.

Over 50 winners for Simon, 20 something for Nadal.....Yes Nadal , you know the one with the best FH of all time!  

noleisthebest wrote:I'm assuming Nadal must be taking time between the points...has he been warned?

Once...and Simon complained a lot.

I watched the last game...after three long sets Nadal looked fresh as a daisy.
The thing that fries my brain is the people who look at me like I'm some nutter when I say he is doped up to his eyeballs....

Nadal only one match away from playing The Smiling Scot now!

That could be the one to fire Murray up and get him out of this current rut. Maybe.

I am certainly hoping for that encounter.,,,,,unless it's Murray v Youzhny of course which I would prefer.

I have just counted, and there are 5 SBHs left in the draw, if Fed hadn't stuffed up yesterday that would've been 6!
Not bad...

Stan-Haas starting.
Not expecting an upset, but will be interesting to see how Stan's fragile confidence handles Haas's cool competitiveness.
I can't make my mind up which one is fitter, despite Tommy being 6 years older.

Haas, the poor man's Federer, is showing so much more game and style than Stan, pushing him far behind the baseline...

After a double-fault, Stan saves the set point by S&V-ing on his 2nd serve, cool!
He sure ain't lacking guts!

Stan takes the first set 7:5.

...and loses the next 2! I knew he was going to be a one off wonder....even though I like the guy very much!

I am not surprised. Haas is a crafty player.
Not quite for scrap metal just yet, rotla!

Murray's game on clay is uglier than Granollers's.

This has got to be one of the ugliest moments of gamesmanship I've seen in a while...
Ivanovic serving for the match in horrible swirly wind, struggling with her toss and the sun, 30:30, the crowd just died down chanting her name...tosses the ball and Sharapova lifts both her arms in the air to quieten the already quiet crowd...of all the people, she had the cheek to ask anyone to be quiet!
I think she is going to combust if she loses this match. It's the battle of the babes

GO ANA!!!!!!!

And Anna's done it, take that Shutapova!

Murray nicks the first set in the TB.

And it's the ABN time....

DAVAI MISHA!!!

Dr Misha breaks back for 5:5   

Tie-break!
Matches against Nadal should be best of one   

I am bravely sipping the coffee behind the sofa hoping Misha is doing well in that TB. Is he?

Oh dear....for rafa who has so much margins for error to lose v a SHBH under such strong wind is absolute mediocrity. The guy has of course less talent than Youzhny. Being 10 times, fitter, moving twice as well, having so much power from both wings, yet to lose v old Youzhny....appauling!

YESSSSSS!!!!!!

Tenez wrote:Oh dear....for rafa who has so much margins for error to lose v a SHBH under such strong wind is absolute mediocrity. The guy has of course less talent than Youzhny. Being 10 times, fitter, moving twice as well, having so much power from both wings, yet to lose v old Youzhny....appauling!

While I was watching before the TB, I thought Youzhny's BH was dealing well with Nadal's balls, both the "normal" and the moon-balls, particularly impressed with those wide CC ones.
Didn't seem rushed and the wind actually did him favour by giving him more time.
Well done, Misha!

Do you think last night's match will have affected his endurance for today even a little bit?

Can youzhny hold 4 mores times?  

That sounds good!
I'm still behind the sofa, surfing Ebay atm...

Just saw the score...looks like it's tough out there!  

noleisthebest wrote:Just saw the score...looks like it's tough out there!  

Nadal is a very difficult opponent for any SHBH on clay, the matchups are just too heavily favoring Nadal.

Some golden era of clay competition Nadal has to play against these days or ever...smh....   Right Andre- it's amazing how he's separated himself from these guys----on clay..

So...after (is it 3 years now?) we are finally having a Nadal-Murray match.
Anyone excited?

Certainly Nadal constantly being stretched by guys he should annihilate has to catch up to him, right?  Even though he won the last two sets going away- to keep getting stretched to three sets much be damaging his confidence even more.   Sadly- there really aren't very many great clay courters or at least the best ones keep getting knocked out early-- but it just seems like Nadal is there for the picking.    I hope Djoko stays healthy and doesn't get upset. Hard to see how this Nadal can beat Djoko.

While Federer certainly has a great excuse and more important happenings is what did it---  it is a shame he wasn't able to have a proper clay season so far as this was a great chance for him to do some amazing things..

I'd better start watching Nole, just saw he lost the first set!

IDEMO MAJSTOREEE!!!!

I don't know what happened in the first set, but that was one very good Nole in the 2nd and 3rd.
I didn't see any evidence of arm trouble, which is good esp as Ferrer The Humble Terrier awaits fresh and eager tomorrow.

Murray on his match against Nadal tomorrow:

"I'd love to play against him.
It will be a great match for me with the French Open just around the corner, because I'll see exactly where my game's at and what I need to improve. I haven't played him for a long time, regardless of the last time on clay. I didn't play him at all when Ivan Lendl was coaching me. Both of our games will have changed in the last three years."

And for those who are missing Federer...here's a portrait of an artist:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/Charity/Federer-Portrait-Charity.aspx