Rome Masters 1000 match thread

[lydian]

First topic message reminder :

So off we go again and Madrid isn't even done yet!

The home of gladiatorial sport sees the leading claycourters lock battle once again to the wonderful tree-lined backdrop. Rome Masters has been going since 1930 and seen many illustrious winners down the years including, some may not know, the current coach of Stanislas Wawrinka - Magnus Norman back in 2000 who beat none other than Gustavo Kuerten.



Can Nadal win his 7th title? Can Novak win his 3rd? Can Andy break his clay final duck? Can Roger get to another final...he's never won in Rome although held MPs in 2006.

It seems Rome always gives us great matches and interesting player arguments too!

Here's the interactive draw:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?EventId=416&Year=2013

[laverfan]

evening peeps.

Is it also a coincidence that his 1st and 2nd serve is so erratic and plunderable when his hip gives him the jip ? (if 2 &1/2 years of intermittent back niggles could be attributable to this problem)

His service action may well work better on hard court in terms of speed, but on grass and clay, its more open to abuse. Mac said he needs to stand more sideways on to get more flex into the serve and disguise it too. Trouble is I think it would slow a bit, but his toss up is suspect and too many 1st serves into the bottom of the net show that something is wrong. Opening up his action may well ease the pressure on the hip, it does get a lot of compression and expansion on the serve.

Maybe its a combination of the surface and wrong action for his build that has prolonged the injury too.

Just dipping my toes in the ocean of speculation, but will he play SW19? Nadal went out for months to get to the position he is now, knees a lot healthier and playing some of his best tennis.

Welcome to v2, Jubba! Are you related in anyway to Jubbahey/StoneyIsle?

Are you referring to RF or AM?

[The Special Juan]

Not as good as JJ's "HOW MANY TIMES!?" but still a thoroughly entertaining meltdown from Troicki.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=165r4mM9edc&feature=youtu.be

[The Special Juan]

To me, DelPo doesn't look too fit. I wonder whether it's a lack of matches over the past month or two or he's nursing a physical injury.

[The Special Juan]

It's starting to get away from DelPo now. Paire's played as well as I've ever seen him play.

[The Special Juan]

Well done Benoit I hope whatever's plaguing DelPo is sorted out for the FO.

[socal1976]

What I am about to go to work and Gulbis on fire, Ernie is such a talent.

[The Special Juan]

Whoa, Kohli withdraws with vertigo????

[The Special Juan]

Oh sorry, ignore that. I thought they meant "fear of heights", not dizziness

[The Special Juan]

JJ's playing well again. The big serve followed by a dropshot is predictable but ruthless if played correctly.

[The Special Juan]

(Assuming Gasquet and Federer win)

The quarter finals!!

Berdych v Djokovic
Nadal v Ferrer
Federer v Gasquet
and... err.... Granollers v Paire

[JubbaIsle]

Welcome to v2, Jubba! Are you related in anyway to Jubbahey/StoneyIsle?

Are you referring to RF or AM?

Aah, you've rumbled me Laverfan darn it, I wonder what gave me away LOL.....I was talking about Murray as to your question, not Federer.

I still think Andy may be a doubt at SW19 if he's serious about getting his back in order, it depends how it plays in practice against his experience over the last 24 months, has it got worse...better or just the same amount of pain when it flares up? Latterly its manageable, the rest its a choice between trying it or leaving it.

[CaledonianCraig]

Jubba I am confident it will be managable once he is off clay. The slowness of the surface means Andy has to put extra effort and action onto his forehands unlike on other surfaces and I'd say this is causing the injury to be so intermittent.

[The Special Juan]

Although hard done by with the ball bouncing on Gasquet's side, Janowicz is cheating by shouting when he hits the ball. If I was Gasquet I'd complain.

[invisiblecoolers]

Can't wait for Federer vs. Simon, both on pathetic form before this tournament.

[LuvSports!]

great win for JJ! feds or simon next!

[Silver]

Janowicz vs Fed would be quite the match, good win for JJ today. Even if his behaviour was a bit, er, questionable...

Edit: Federer clearly wants to do some sightseeing tomorrow morning, yet again not exactly hanging around. Easy first set.

[bogbrush]

Fed bullying the pusher here.

[invisiblecoolers]

Fed bullying the pusher here.

Simon at the worst of his form and Fed's form has improved considerably, but I hope it lasts in the 2nd set.

[Guest]

Can people update on the fed match please. I'm in a far flung location being furiously attacked by mosquitoes, with only my (very expensive) mobile 3G Internet to keep me company

[invisiblecoolers]

What I am very impressed is Fed's backhand slice, its on fire.

[invisiblecoolers]

Now its the forehand thats doing the slice magic, Fed should really believe his backhand slice and use it more against Nadal and Djokovic.

[invisiblecoolers]

Can people update on the fed match please. I'm in a far flung location being furiously attacked by mosquitoes, with only my (very expensive) mobile 3G Internet to keep me company

Fed on fire so far, 6-1 and 1-0 with a break. His backhand slices or dropping like venom and Simon just don't have any answers.

[invisiblecoolers]

2-1 to Fed on 2nd set.

[Guest]

Thx ic

Now I think I'll use my special emancipatior powers to destroy all these mosquitoes a total destruction.



emancipator

[Henman Bill]

What a draw for Federer, of the 7 remaining opponents, the hardest 4 are in the other half!!

[Henman Bill]

Never won Rome in his career and will never have a better chance. I think he can beat Jancowiz. Obviously Rafa or Djokovic in the final is a tricky ask.

He didn't play well against Djokovic last year (was it?) and although the sets were competitive it was straight sets.

[invisiblecoolers]

Thx ic

Now I think I'll use my special emancipatior powers to destroy all these mosquitoes a total destruction.



emancipator

A very entertaining match from Fed after a real long time, its sad you could not watch it.

[invisiblecoolers]

What a draw for Federer, of the 7 remaining opponents, the hardest 4 are in the other half!!

I hope Fed maximize it and add Rome to his CV.

[invisiblecoolers]

Fed losing his focus, twice on his serve from 40-0 it came to to 40-40 to scrap it, anyways Fed leading 4-2 in the 2nd set .

[CAS]

this is where you have to take Head 2 heads with a pinch of salt, Federer doesn't get to play Murray on clay where you feel he would have the advantage. Its a match up I'm really curious about, Federer always brings the best out of Muzza

[kingraf]

How well is Roger playing? I have the score, but i dont have live feed.

[CAS]

How well is Roger playing? I have the score, but i dont have live feed.

very very well, its all out attack with a mixture of disgusting slices and torturous drop shots. Beautiful.

[Jeremy_Kyle]

Fed's looking quite similar to Morrissey in his new hairstyle, did anybody notice?

[JuliusHMarx]

Fed's looking quite similar to Morrissey in his new hairstyle, did anybody notice?

Heaven knows he's miserable now?

[Guest]

this is where you have to take Head 2 heads with a pinch of salt, Federer doesn't get to play Murray on clay where you feel he would have the advantage. Its a match up I'm really curious about, Federer always brings the best out of Muzza

I was hoping we'd get to see Fed v Murray in Rome.

I know who I'd put my money on even at this stage of their careers.

Sounds like Fed is moving better than he has been recently. When federer is moving freely he really is something else.

[invisiblecoolers]

Fed finally breaks after 5 break point oppurtunities to go 5-2 up in the 2nd set, he gonna serve for the set and match.

[Henman Bill]

Simon outclassed. Sometimes playing OK, but also some dumps into the net that he shouldn'e be doing. While Federer is serving well, good depth, power and accuracy, not too many errors. Smooth performance.

[CAS]

this is special, never write him off. Making Simon look like a little boy. Best since Cincy 2012, Simon was laughing at the end

[invisiblecoolers]

Serves the matchpoint with an Ace, resembled a bit of prime Fed.

[lags72]

I make that a total of six games dropped over his first two rounds combined.

Not a bad effort ...........

[Silver]

Point to prove after Madrid, and he's certainly come out firing. Classy performance

[kingraf]

Must say, its when Federer begins to lose matches having played like this the previous day that he needs to start contemplating retirement.

Caught the end, and it was as good as any perfomance he put out vs Simon.

[invisiblecoolers]

Must say, its when Federer begins to lose matches having played like this the previous day that he needs to start contemplating retirement.

Caught the end, and it was as good as any perfomance he put out vs Simon.

Vs. Simon he always played Sheez barring this one, so its time he puts on forward for Simon and he did with gratitude.

[The Special Juan]

Fed's looking quite similar to Morrissey in his new hairstyle, did anybody notice?

Heaven knows he's miserable now?

Nah, he won't Panic.

[Chydremion]

Federer moving faster again now he's dropped the weight of his hair.

[invisiblecoolers]

Fed's looking quite similar to Morrissey in his new hairstyle, did anybody notice?

Heaven knows he's miserable now?

Nah, he won't Panic.

I hope Fed comes in with a Cap on, who ever his hairstylist is deserves a lengthy ban for his work.

[The Special Juan]

It's not as bad as Agassi's mullet, surely?

[JuliusHMarx]

Fed's looking quite similar to Morrissey in his new hairstyle, did anybody notice?

Heaven knows he's miserable now?

Nah, he won't Panic.

I hope Fed comes in with a Cap on, who ever his hairstylist is deserves a lengthy ban for his work.

Hang the barber, hang the barber, hang the barber

[Henman Bill]

I want to see someone go for the shirt rip and fail to rip it open properly and keep trying before giving up. I wonder if the likes or Djoklovic and Jancowicz practiced rippinng shirts in their hotel room to be sure it wouldn't go badly. Now that would be sad.

[kingraf]

HB- I promise you, spray on shirts are the easiest things to rip. They are These guys could probably break them scratching their belly buttons, though I must say something about the JJ rip seemed very planned... That and the fact that he could barely rip through the shirt makes me think he is basically a 6'8 version of the unlikeable people I spend my afternoons at the gym with.

[Sponsored content]