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

[invisiblecoolers]

Cool calm and collective is the approach Fed followed on the 1st set and takes it exactly as planned.

[Jahu]

2bp for Jan and brakes

[CAS]

erm....wow

[invisiblecoolers]

JJ's return is more stunning than his service and he takes a game of him.

[Jahu]

Fastest ever loss of seve from Fed

[Henman Bill]

We're used to 1 minute service games from Federer. he normally wins them though.

[lags72]

The set was even all the way and then suddenly was gone in a flash.

Were those Fed's first break points ?

[Henman Bill]

I think Janowics has the balls to serve out the set if it comes to it but I wonder if he might be vulnerable to losing the break earlier on. Federer is starting to read the serve slightly better and looks calm.

[Silver]

Yeah, you could be right there HB (re: forehands). Some real flash-bang stuff going on here, lightning quick pace of play.

[Jahu]

If Fed brakes back, i think its all over.

[Jahu]

No patience from JJ now, either serve or quick UE.

[Henman Bill]

The Pole's second serves have been really impressive for me. They've been pretty big. Some of them seem as fast as Rog's first deliveries.

[Silver]

Yeah, the stat given earlier was average speed being 184kph, which is huge. He gets some good kick on 'em too.

[CAS]

JJ must be so stressful to play, Isner, Karlovic, Raonic are stressful because you feel pressure to not make mistakes but JJ just goes all out on the return where you are at his mercy if they start going in

[lags72]

Certainly impressive to be staying with Federer given the chasm of relative experience between the two .....?

[lags72]

So who's favourite if this goes to a decider .... ?

[Henman Bill]

A classic 1-minute service hold special from Federer there. Quite a big game coming up here.

[Silver]

Yup, nine years worth of pro experience is the difference. He's doing very well so far, serving consistently and that's all he needs to do in this set. Fed just had one very loose game and that was enough.

JJ seems like a man for the big stage?

[CAS]

I'm going for a tiebreak

[Silver]

I'm gonna go with 6-4 to JJ in the decider. He's just serving so well, but it could all change...

[Henman Bill]

let's see set 2 over first. not over yet. zooming through the last few games though.

[Jahu]

Who ever brakes first in third bags it.

[lags72]

When someone serves as big as this it really can become a lottery. It's pretty much how Rafa dropped the opening two sets to Isner at RG, but here in a Bo3 it can quickly slip away before you have chance to turn things around .......

[Silver]

JJ's serve versus Federer's slice at the moment.

[CAS]

When someone serves as big as this it really can become a lottery. It's pretty much how Rafa dropped the opening two sets to Isner at RG, but here in a Bo3 it can quickly slip away before you have chance to turn things around .......

I remember Rafa saying he relaxed in the fifth set because he knew Isner couldn't win it on a tiebreak

[Jahu]

Oh yes, Fedelicious

[Silver]

Well, he's had a set point, but now in danger of being broken...

And Fed does it. Yeesh.

[Jahu]

TB?

[Silver]

let's see set 2 over first. not over yet. zooming through the last few games though.

Good call, that man

[Henman Bill]

JJ's big second serves finally caught up with him. Not saying it was the wrong strategy because the big second serves won him a lot of points earlier on. But maybe should have held back there after the first double fault.

He needs first serves now, more than before. If not, will be interesting to see how big he goes on the second after the 2-3 DFs in the last game.

[Jahu]

MP Fed

[Jahu]

TB damn it

[Silver]

Excellent hold, fair play to save 2 MPs.

[CAS]

Fed is better at returning 1st serves than he is 2nd serves, comparatively.

[Jahu]

What a return down the line

[Jahu]

Nearly there 4:1

[Silver]

Fed looks like zen personified at the moment, even moreso than usual.

[CAS]

228kph returned on the line

http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/15900000/federer-smile-roger-federer-15959473-640-480.jpg

[Jahu]

Oh man nuclear rockets from Fed FH

[Jahu]

GSM GSM YUHUUU

[bogbrush]

Fed looks like zen personified at the moment, even moreso than usual.

Fed

[Silver]

That was clinical by Federer, an impressive display of neutralisation more than anything else. Pretty watertight match from him, JJ played very well but a Federer in great form is too much for pretty much anyone.

Actually a highly entertaining match between arguably the two form players at Rome, good stuff!

[Henman Bill]

Fed please same W/UE ratio against Rafa!

[Chydremion]

Match only lasted 1 hour and 25 minutes, pretty quick stuff. Good for Fed.

[laverfan]

A Fedal final is perhaps on the cards - repeat of Rome 2006 perhaps?

[laverfan]

Match only lasted 1 hour and 25 minutes, pretty quick stuff. Good for Fed.

Fed - game 1 min 22 secs.
Jerzy - game 1 min 19 secs.

[Henman Bill]

Janowicz was good I thought. He does in ability look a cut above other big servers like Karlovic, Isner and maybe a cut above some of the other youngsters of similar age (Tomic maybe).

That point in the tiebreak at 1-4 and that drop volley at 5-6 was really good from him.

ALso interestinng to see his success indoor at Paris and now on clay. One to watch at Wimbledon with this game?

[lags72]

Job done. He does have an outstanding TB record after all.

So with around ten years of youth on his side JJ threw everything he had at the old man but still it wasn't enough to take him out. Was Fed showing showing nerves of steel in this one ....?

[CAS]

he is the next generation crusher, Raonic, Tomic, Goffin and Janowicz halted. Getting Dimitrov on Wimbledon centre court will be special, passing of the torch on the cards

[laverfan]

Janowicz's nervousness (and elbow issue) is a strange one, even though he was serving at 220+ km/h.

Should have had the second set.

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