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

[CAS]

Did Rafa have only a 2nd serve there? It was a really slow first serve and he was given a 2nd time violation just before

[invisiblecoolers]

The last point of 2nd set was fantastic and breath taking, good part of the 2nd set is that David will serve first in the 3rd.

[kingraf]

Apparently Nadal only practises 50 minutes a day, down from 2 hours. Could explain the serving problems.

[The Special Juan]

I think you're being a bit negative about Djokovic. Technically he isn't 26 until next week Seriously though, I'd be surprised if that ankle was above 70% right. I've had a look at footage of him rolling it last week and it looks bad, regardless of what he says or does. The FO may come too soon for him to be at 100% fitness (but you'd still expect a QF at the very least) so, like Murray, Wimbledon has to be his priority. Has he announced if he's playing between the FO and Wimbledon?

[invisiblecoolers]

The competition is going for the bragging rights of Spanish Bull Tag, for the moment Ferrer winning it, I can't believe my eyes for the speed Ferrer generates to run towards the run to cover all the drop volleys.

[invisiblecoolers]

Nadal saves 2 break points, come on Daveed.

[Danny_1982]

Has Ferrer been on the weights at the gym?

He usually lacks firepower but he's firing winners past Rafa regularly here. Fantastic match.

[invisiblecoolers]

Finally David is playing smarter with more variety with drops, down the line and varied serves.

[invisiblecoolers]

Bravo Ferrer, great volley but just falls out.

[The Special Juan]

Massive game. Following a tennis match via the live scores is somewhat more thrilling than watching it live.

[CAS]

to be honest, Im always on edge after every Nadal match that he is going to say his knees have been bad again. If he loses this, I fear it will come out in the press conference. I hope he is still all good though and its just Ferrer's great play.

[invisiblecoolers]

The fight is over now, Nadal breaks, good try once again Ferrer.

[kingraf]

With Nadal 2013 you get the sense that even when he isnt quite all there, the minute it becomes a dog fight, there is only one winner. Sadly for Daveed, he only knows the dog fight way of playing.

[invisiblecoolers]

With Nadal 2013 you get the sense that even when he isnt quite all there, the minute it becomes a dog fight, there is only one winner. Sadly for Daveed, he only knows the dog fight way of playing.

So you still back Nadal is in prime and this version of Nadal is the better on clay than 2008 Nadal

[kingraf]

I said 2010 Nadal was peak Nadal. This version still has only lost twice. Vs thirty-three wins.

[invisiblecoolers]

I said 2010 Nadal was peak Nadal. This version still has only lost twice. Vs thirty-three wins.

I can't believe you guys have to do so much to defend your argument, its either Nadal won all those slams in a weak era or the current Nadal is not at his best, it can't be either way.

[Silver]

Pretty easy final set, but Nadal was still out on court for a fair while there. If he's involved in another war with Berdych this time, it could accumulate.

Wasn't Rome 2010 the last time the top four failed to win a tournament that they all entered? This year, we've already had IW and Madrid where that record's been threatened, and if Federer comes a cropper tonight then there'll be another chance for the pack to put in dent in their dominance.

[kingraf]

The current Nadal is yet to play in a Slam. The current Nadal is 7-1 vs top 10. The current Nadal has five titles, seven finals. Two of them Masters. Currently 33-2. Lets look at the stats to date, for comparison, shall we?

Titles
2013- 5
2008- 2

Wins
2013- 34
2008- 34
defeats
2013- 2
2008- 6

Win %
2013- 94
2008- 85

You use a "Race to London", and the 2008 Nadal is just in front, having played a slam and an extra MS1000

Most of his magic came from Roland Garros until the Olympics. Lets wait until the USO before we laugh at the notion

[kingraf]

Silver- Nadal won Rome 2010. He completed the "Clay Slam" that year. I think the last tournament might have been Miaimi 2010, when Roddick won. Not sure though

[invisiblecoolers]

Most of his magic came from Roland Garros until the Olympics. Lets wait until the USO before we laugh at the notion

Fair points, lets wait till USO

[Silver]

Silver- Nadal won Rome 2010. He completed the "Clay Slam" that year. I think the last tournament might have been Miaimi 2010, when Roddick won. Not sure though

Hmm thanks kingraf. It's been quite some time, either way. Maybe cracks are starting to appear at the top? Novak in particular has been out before the SF stage at three of his last four tournaments, which is very unlike him.

[lags72]

.... Roll up Roll up for tonight's big show.......

- This time last year he had only just moved inside the top Top 200 but suddenly he's ranked 24, having beaten the reigning US Open Champion
- in this tournament alone he has claimed the scalps of two established Top 10 ten players
- but now he faces the biggest test of his career so far

It's youth, strength and firepower versus guile, subtlety and experience ; new blood versus the ageing warrior

Ladies & Gentlemen, I give you : Jerzy Janowicz versus Roger Federer

Let battle commence !

[Josiah Maiestas]

Wondering did Nadal and Ferrer play today? Because...

[Henman Bill]

Federer's reaction speed really helps him deal with raw pace...anyone watching?

[Henman Bill]

janowicz started well

[lags72]

Just the live scoreboard for me.

Not many folk on the forum tonight it seems ........

[Henman Bill]

just you and I

[Henman Bill]

I predict Federer 2-0 first set in a tiebreak.

[Silver]

I'm in, boyos. Sorry to crash the party! JJ serving like a monster at the moment.

[lags72]

Sounds like JJ is gonna take some taming .......

[Jahu]

Fed has chosen to Ace tonight, as the only weapon.

[Henman Bill]

Janowicz is serving faster, but Federer serving more aces.

Looked like Federer's served was called out there, but Janowicz had a look and called it in. Is that how it was? Good sportsmanship I think.

[Henman Bill]

only weapon! is Jahu a WUM?

[Silver]

He looks good lags, but being wrongfooted by Federer quite a bit. Fed looking very solid on serve and smacking the tar out of the ball off the ground - their average groundstroke speeds are the same after seven games. Still, JJ's serving out of a tree and is dangerous.

[Jahu]

Henman, don't be silly

[Jahu]

TB could be leathal for Fed

[CAS]

Janowicz absolutely leathering the ball, but Federer is staying calm. This is similar to his matches with Raonic both racing through their service games except for one almost hiccup from Rog. Janowicz is less patient, he plays his return games like people think Milos should, all out taking risks because he has faith in his serve

[bogbrush]

The way Federer stays on the baseline to handle super-fast flat hits is as supernatural as ever.

The timing and eye to do this is unreal.

[Silver]

That's two half-volley baseline pickups by Fed in the same game, unreal. JJ must be wondering what kind of return he needs to hit to win the point.

Edit: Great minds, BB?

[Henman Bill]

Sometimes we've seen Federer initially struggle to get a read on big servers...then , later in a match, it can click. He is suddenly all over even big first serves. I doubt he's played Janowicz before so it could take longer to read him but somehow, sometimes, he figures it out. Let's see if that happens later in the match.

[invisiblecoolers]

just you and I

ADD ME.

[Jahu]

Fed slicing & dicing finally.

[CAS]

15-30 here we go..

[Jahu]

The taming of the serve with shbh is magic.

[Jahu]

Set 1 to Fed

[Silver]

Set point. And taken, great set of tennis by Federer.

Is there a better forehand in the game than Fed's, even now?

[CAS]

Boom! JJ a bit rash with some shots going for winners when they are not on. When they start going in its amazing but when they dont...

[bogbrush]

Very nice.

[Henman Bill]

I think Rafa has the best forehand in the game due to consistency, although there's not much in it. Rafa's not as pretty but could be more effective.

Janco erratic there. Some of his shots very good, others a bit wild. Federer more solid. Federer not hitting many UEs in this tournament but wonder if he would be able to continue that against Rafa.

[Jahu]

Second set a quick one 6:3

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