Rome Masters - Day 5 thread (QF)

[lydian]

First topic message reminder :

Some great matches:

CENTRALE
Not Before 1:30 PM
[7] Tomas Berdych (CZE) v [2] Rafael Nadal (ESP)...Nadal will clip the BerdMan's feathers today, straights 7-5 6-4 type score.

Not Before 4:00 PM
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) ...Nole to tame Ali today to prove "he's the greatest!", similar score to Rafa

Not Before 9:00 PM
Roger Federer (SUI) v Andreas Seppi (ITA) ...The Swiss will roll over the plucky Italian...6-2 6-2

SUPERTENNIS ARENA 12:00 noon
[6] David Ferrer (ESP) v [16] Richard Gasquet (FRA) ...Reeshard will have woken up today stiffer than David Cameron's shirt collars, Ferret will destroy him with metronomic precision! 6-4 6-2

[bogbrush]

That forehand is something to behold. Liquid power.

[Guest]

This feels like a fight between a guy with a knife and a guy with a machine gun.

[Guest]

Yeah the FH looks razor sharp, like the old days.

[lydian]

You kind of feel this match is almost too easy for Fed considering he's got Djokovic tomorrow...

[bogbrush]

This feels like a fight between a guy with a knife and a guy with a machine gun.

And they're 50 yards apart.

[lydian]

Fed making up for the rain delay here. The hot shower beckons.

[CaledonianCraig]

Very impressive from Roger tonight. Looking in great shape in many departments. As well as Seppi has competed one feels the big test will come for Roger Federer tomorrow. Shame this match has been drawn out so late because of the weather as I feel it lessens his chances tomorrow against Djokovic.

[bogbrush]

Rubbish forecasting from Lydian. Miles out with Ferrer / Gasket.

[Guest]

Haha that was cool camera work. The camera man showed the 'Fed' part of the Fedex sign and then immediately panned up to Federer walking onto court.

[laverfan]

6-1, 6-2.

[laverfan]

54 minutes. Super-Fed.

[lydian]

lol...I know BB, I need to work on it

Great win for the maestro. I agree the real test lies ahead though.
Blimey Castle is looking a bit craggy and grey!

[kemet]

Clinical stuff from Roger, although he relaxed slightly toward the end of the first set and had to stave off break points in his first service game of the second.

He is going to have to be even more clinical against Djoko tomorrow.

[Henman Bill]

I can't believe I went away for about 20 minutes not even knowing the players were on court about to start and missed a whole set!

[CaledonianCraig]

Blimey Castle is looking a bit craggy and grey!

Must be all that Strictly Come Dancing he done.

[Henman Bill]

Anyway, saw the second set. You know Djokovic-Federer should be on first since it's potentially more competitive and more likely to need more rest. Meh.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Seppi had his clock cleaned, his meat beat, his yolk poked, just wasn't gonna test Federer after his 3rd round humdinger, Roger obviously loves these conditions.

[Tropicalfruiter]

Rubbish forecasting from Lydian. Miles out with Ferrer / Gasket.

[JuliusHMarx]

Am I right in saying that with Fed in the semis, Nadal has to win the tournament to get back to No. 2?

[Guest]

Yep



emancipator - universal tennis expert

[bogbrush]

Yes. And he will.

I think Fed will just fancy beating Djokovic if he can and making his run on #1 a bit more likely. If he won tomorrow and loses to Rafa he'd still gain 1250 points on Djokovic.

[laverfan]

BB... Federer has gained points by getting past R16.

Lydian... you were off a bit with the 6-2, 6-2 Federer v Seppi scoreline. You need to work hard on that SHBH of yours.

[lydian]

lol I know LF...an utter disgrace

[Guest]

Yes. And he will.

I think Fed will just fancy beating Djokovic if he can and making his run on #1 a bit more likely. If he won tomorrow and loses to Rafa he'd still gain 1250 points on Djokovic.

Good point. That would be a huge point swing in Roger's favour and would blow open the race to number one.

[lydian]

I really do believe Fed will beat Nole tomorrow.
Fed 2012 > Fed 2011
Nole 2012 < Nole 2011

He may even give Nadal a run on Sunday too...or put it this way Fed is going to take some stopping this week.

[Guest]

Federer looks at ease and more so looking like he is enjoying his tennis. Can we really look past a Federer/Nadal clash?

[User 774433]

Well Djokovic can potentially beat Federer if he plays great tennis.
Still see Fed has marginal favourite there though.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Djokovic needs to up his game if he doesn't wanna be dictated tomorrow, can easily see Federer pushing him around if Novaks serve is below 60%, still I think Novak is in better condition than he was in MC and Madrid. 7-5 in the 3rd.

[Guest]

I am with Federer JM. I agree Djokovic looks in good nick compared to MC, but me bones are telling me that Federer to go through in 3.

[Guest]

I foresee a three set battle.

[Jahu]

7:5 6:4 for Fed.

[LuvSports!]

7:5 6:4 for Fed.

'Tomorrow Fed will do the usual 20 min first set and win it, then lose second set in equally 20 min and win the third one 7:5.'

this says otherwise

[User 774433]

I think Fed will win in 3, 7-6 in final set tiebreak!

[LuvSports!]

it will be interesting to see what mindset feds has.
Will he go for it 100% even if he is losing and maybe save himself for RG, by going for his shots even more.

Or will he try and dig deep and really go for the win, not just against novak but even against rafa. I just hope he doesn't expend too much energy ahead of RG.

[Jahu]

Ok, I chaanged my mind again, 4:6, 6:3, 6:4.

[CaledonianCraig]

Well there is over a week for Roger to recover from his exertions before the French Open but I worry about being able to play Djokovic so soon after the Seppi match. Not ideal.

[invisiblecoolers]

Fed either winning in straights or Djoko winning it, I dont think so Fed will do it in 3, Djoko is stronger at final set verdict match.

[Jahu]

He's at 8pm, 22h rest

[bogbrush]

He's ok for tomorrow, Seppi was a light workout. The bigger issue is the 2nd semi final gets a bad time.

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