Rome Masters - Day 4 Thread (R4)

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 4:43 am

First topic message reminder :

Here's the mens line-up today - Federer is on late shift.

CENTRALE Start 12:00 noon
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) v [14] Juan Monaco (ARG) ...Djokovic owns a house in Monte Carlo...today he'll own Monaco too
Marcel Granollers (ESP) v [2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) ...lets hope Nadal knocks out Mr Tumbleweed...as soon as possible

Not Before 9:00 PM
[3] Roger Federer (SUI) v Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) ...a close 1st set but after that plain sailing...Juan Carlos will not be King today

SUPERTENNIS ARENA Start 11:00 am
[6] David Ferrer (ESP) v [11] Gilles Simon (FRA) ...battle of the Metronomic Counterpunchers...except Ferrer will be more clockwork
[16] Richard Gasquet (FRA) v [4] Andy Murray (GBR) ...interesting match-up. Gasquet doesnt like playing Murray. He wont today either.

Not before 7:00 PM
[10] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) v [5] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) ...Battle of the Sluggers! JMDP in 2 tight sets.

PIETRANGELI Start 11:00 am
[7] Tomas Berdych (CZE) v [12] Nicolas Almagro (ESP) ...Return of the Grudge! Berdych to prevail in 3...and not shake hands at the end!
Andreas Seppi (ITA) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) ...Seppi will give a good match but Stan will get the gladiatorial thumbs DOWN at the end!

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:06 pm

I miffed BP with FH. 2nd with a BH error. Doh

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:07 pm

Agree there lydian. He is generating much more pace and accuracy off the BH side. So much credit has to go to Annacone for re-invigorating it.

Ferrero is not letting up. While I admire the courage to go for it, sometimes controlled aggression is better than all out aggression.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:08 pm

Wow. The FH is sizzling!

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:10 pm

Nice FHs from Ferrero.

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 4:10 pm

Breaks. Fed looking very strong here! No weaknesses in his game now...
When Fed plays like this he takes so much time away from the opponents, they get rushed and make errors.
But often you see Fed so strong out of the blocks in 1st sets and then starts to "calm down" abit and make some errors...can Fed keep this early sprint up...can Ferrero keep plugging away?

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:12 pm

Ferrero there clever. Starting to mix it up a bit now and seen that everything flat against Federer will not work. Another BP.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:12 pm

That return deserved the break. Didn't do enough with the BH.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:13 pm

It looks like Tsonga is taking Del Potro apart.

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:13 pm

Beautiful DTL BH and consolidation. Cool

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 4:14 pm

Match is closer than the 5-2 score but there we are. Fed playing very well indeed...cant see Ferrero unlocking the door here unless Fed's form slips.

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:14 pm

Nore Staat wrote:It looks like Tsonga is taking Del Potro apart.

He has his left knee bandaged and taped. Sad

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:14 pm

Federer holds. Ferrero pushed him there a bit. Still enjoyable and life in this set yet.

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:15 pm

lydian wrote:Match is closer than the 5-2 score but there we are. Fed playing very well indeed...cant see Ferrero unlocking the door here unless Fed's form slips.

Fed 25/42 Ferrero 17/42 points.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:15 pm

Tsonga wins 6-4 6-1 against Del Potro but there is something strange with Del Potros stats:
Del Potro: first serve percentage win
first set 54%
second set 38%

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:15 pm

Stinging FHs from Federer.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:16 pm

Jesus wept. The FH is killing Ferrero Sad

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:17 pm

Jesus wept. The FH is killing Ferrero Sad

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 4:17 pm

You know I'm not sure Federer has ever been this good in the past...I firmly believe he's in the form of his career now and the past few months.

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:17 pm

Nice dropper. 2 SPs.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:19 pm

Just wow. Don't think I have seen Federer so comfortable on Clay.

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:20 pm

Watching Federer's BH, I can imagine how Lydian plays. Wink

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:20 pm

legendkillarV2 wrote:Just wow. Don't think I have seen Federer so comfortable on Clay.

Wait till Nadal shows up. Laugh

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:21 pm

lydian wrote:You know I'm not sure Federer has ever been this good in the past...I firmly believe he's in the form of his career now and the past few months.

I think he will still get steam-rollered by Nadal at the French if they meet, but maybe Federer will mount a proper challenge to regain his Wimbledon title.

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:22 pm

Nore Staat wrote:Tsonga wins 6-4 6-1 against Del Potro but there is something strange with Del Potros stats:
Del Potro: first serve percentage win
first set 54%
second set 38%

That knee looked dodgy from the start. Crying or Very sad

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 4:22 pm

Oh I agree there NS...being in the form of his career doesnt mean much when he's never beaten Nadal at the French in any form before.

That game from Fed took 51 secs....thats ridiculous!

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:23 pm

laverfan wrote:
legendkillarV2 wrote:Just wow. Don't think I have seen Federer so comfortable on Clay.

Wait till Nadal shows up.

Wait til the Nadal slaters show up Laugh

by bogbrush Thu May 17, 2012 4:24 pm

I think Fed just looks comfortable, but the match up problems with Nadal won't go away.

I can see him troubling Djokovic though.

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:27 pm

BH hit over the head and a winner.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:28 pm

laverfan wrote:
Nore Staat wrote:Tsonga wins 6-4 6-1 against Del Potro but there is something strange with Del Potros stats:
Del Potro: first serve percentage win
first set 54%
second set 38%

That knee looked dodgy from the start.

Maybe he should rest and recover, skip the french and focus on Wimbledon, the Olympics and US Open. On a separate matter with the way Federer is playing - he could be favorite to lift the Olympic gold ...

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:32 pm

Federer is just crashing every short ball. I cannot fault Ferrero at all. He is still fighting and still going for his shots.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:34 pm

Federer's game is sharp tonight. The serve, FH, BH, slice, squash shot, drop shot. Can't find fault thus far.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:35 pm

Only 4 winners from Ferrero, yet his play deserves much more. Federer's defence is like granite!

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 4:35 pm

I believe that Federer has never taken the ball this early before. He's making mincemeat of Ferrero here.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:37 pm

Physically you see why it takes a Nadal or Djokovic to compete against Federer on this form.

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:40 pm

Admire Ferrero. He played fantastic tennis at USO 2011.

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 4:40 pm

The question is whether this is a purple patch in this match or can carry it through the match, and tournament.

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 4:41 pm

Yeah LK.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:42 pm

Ferrero is so doing the right thing, but it is not enough Laugh

Glad he is still in this 2nd set though.

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 4:42 pm

lydian wrote:The question is whether this is a purple patch in this match or can carry it through the match, and tournament.

Good days, bad days, and so it goes...

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:46 pm

Ferrero must've walked under a ladder Laugh

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 4:50 pm

Barry Barry Barry Cowan you do talk crap

Barry: Surprised Federer went down the line with FH.

Barry that is because it has worked all match you Muppet!

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 4:52 pm

The mosquito is buzzing at Federer's ankles. Oh that BH he just missed at 30-30!

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 4:55 pm

Fed will want to break here at 5-4 for an early shower.

by LuvSports! Thu May 17, 2012 5:01 pm

break point ferrero Sad

by LuvSports! Thu May 17, 2012 5:02 pm

and he breaks ohhhcraapp

by luciusmann Thu May 17, 2012 5:03 pm

Needless loss of the second set here by Fed, this sort of performance drop reminds me of what happened in the French Open last year, 5-2 up and and a missed drop shot and suddenly Fed goes off the boil.

by Guest Thu May 17, 2012 5:03 pm

Well done Ferrero!

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 5:04 pm

2nd set isnt lost yet!

Does Ferrero have the cojones to pull out the 2nd...

by lydian Thu May 17, 2012 5:05 pm

30-30...come on Ferrero, make this interesting!

by **laverfan** Thu May 17, 2012 5:06 pm

Ferrero will pull it.

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