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

[Silver]

In fairness lags, Federer did play very well and gave away relatively few opportunities. 26-13 winners to UEs is a good show from him, he looked very calm and composed even when a break down. He seems to be quite confident in his game at the moment?

6-4, 7-6 in 85 minutes - isn't that how long the first set of the USO final took last year?

[Jahu]

Fed was calm, maybe to relaxed in some important points, but he looked best so far of this 2013.

[lags72]

I guess when it comes to the business end you can't help but suddenly remember just who it is on the other side of the net .........

[CAS]

I didn't think he looked as good off the ground as he did in his previous two matches but he probably had no rhythm

[laverfan]

6-4, 7-6 in 85 minutes - isn't that how long the first set of the USO final took last year?

87 minutes - 22 points in TB 12-10.

http://2012.usopen.org/en_US/scores/stats/day21/1701ms.html

[Henman Bill]

Yes, Federer is having a poor year. This has been a better week for him.

In the race to London, Federer is 11th. If he reaches the final here he should move to 6th.

[Henman Bill]

Sort of went as I predicted earlier, straight sets with one a tiebreak. Although I did actually predict a tiebreak for set 1 as I recall.

[laverfan]

Looking forward to Federer when he is Haas's age.

[Henman Bill]

Thanks for your polite and knowledgeable company all. I'm checking out now. Maybe see you again for the final.

[Silver]

6-4, 7-6 in 85 minutes - isn't that how long the first set of the USO final took last year?

87 minutes - 22 points in TB 12-10.

http://2012.usopen.org/en_US/scores/stats/day21/1701ms.html

Thanks, LF

Night HB, take it easy.

[invisiblecoolers]

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.

Oops I just went for a coffee thinking JJ had 2nd set in pockets and I could gear up for the final set, when I came back Fed was signing autograph in the camera,my reaction was Waaa? did JJ retire? only to read the score Fed won the 2nd in Tie breaker.

Berdych certainly don't have anything to stop Rafa in clay, Fed if he plays this level should see through Paire ,so interesting days ahead.

[lags72]

Looking forward to Federer when he is Haas's age.

Not sure there are any parallels to be drawn there laverfan.

Federer already has many hundreds more matches on the clock than Haas, even though still around three years younger. Plus, I doubt he will be playing at that sort of age anyway.

[invisiblecoolers]

Looking forward to Federer when he is Haas's age.

Not sure there are any parallels to be drawn there laverfan.

Federer already has many hundreds more matches on the clock than Haas, even though still around three years younger. Plus, I doubt he will be playing at that sort of age anyway.

I guess next year most likely the last, he will give one big go next year and call it off either at Basel or WTF.

[lags72]

Thanks for the stats btw Silver. Double the winners to UE's does sound like a very solid performance.

[lags72]

invisible - I actually think that if he could somehow conjure up another Slam this year then he might well call time at the end of the season.

He keeps assuring us that he enjoys the tour as much as ever ( and I guess we have to believe it ?) but I really don't want to see him taking regular losses to guys well outside the top 30 in the way Sampras did.

[invisiblecoolers]

Interesting topic for you guys, pls visit https://www.606v2.com/t44234-jerzyjanowicz-thinks-djokovic-is-false-and-likes-to-showoff for JJ's view on Djokovic and Federer.

[Silver]

Thanks for the stats btw Silver. Double the winners to UE's does sound like a very solid performance.

Janowicz not bad either, 29-26. No wonder the match flew by so quickly, way more winners than errors overall!

[summerblues]

Looking forward to Federer when he is Haas's age.

I expect he will still be playing at that age - barring any injuries or other major surprises. He has been very consistently saying he expects to be around at least for Rio and he seems to be very happy with where he is at.

[summerblues]

Berdych certainly don't have anything to stop Rafa in clay, Fed if he plays this level should see through Paire ,so interesting days ahead.

Indeed. Rafa vs Roger would be intriguing. Unless I am mistaken, it would be their first meeting on clay and I am hopeful that Roger's game will match up really well against Rafa's, especially on this surface.

[invisiblecoolers]

it would be their first meeting on clay and I am hopeful that Roger's game will match up really well against Rafa's, especially on this surface.

I don't get this point

[summerblues]

I don't get this point

What I was trying to say (in a roundabout way perhaps) was that - as much as I would love Roger to meet and beat Rafa - we have seen that movie too many times and we know how it will all end. In fact, we may have seen it enough to make it not so interesting anymore (mind you, if they do play, I will still hope against all hope that Rog wins).

[bogbrush]

It's a great match, it just ends up with a high bouncing ball to the SHBH, which makes the plays a bit too predictable, not to mention the result.

Actually, I think Berdbrain has a realistic chance to take the top 3 out.

[LuvSports!]

good highlights of the djoko, berdych match
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW-JVzTR6DA

JJ feds match https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xfOtobpn_E

and the rafa ferrer match https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C9l_ciKGJQ

[lags72]

........................................

Actually, I think Berdbrain has a realistic chance to take the top 3 out.

He certainly has - IF he can carry on where he left off in those last two sets v Djoko .......

But I would put it much more in the 'possible' than 'probable' category

[break_in_the_fifth]

Thanks luvsports.

[invisiblecoolers]

Shame on you Berdych, Bet365 made a mistake of giving 12 odds for Berdych to win the 1st game thinking Rafa serving first, it happened Berdych Served first and I bet 100 dollars on it, it would have been tricky had Berdych won it but fortunately for Bet 365 Nadal won it, shame on you Berdych I could have made a fortune out of you had you served the 1st game out.

[invisiblecoolers]

Just checked the cancelled my bet as void eventhough Berdych lost it, so I got my money back Fair play Bet365.

[LuvSports!]

IC you don';t want to mess with Ray Winston, he will eat your liver!

[break_in_the_fifth]

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

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

Maybe in the past though I can't think of one, right now no.

[CAS]

okay lets all just pack up and go home, this is ridiculous from Rafa

[break_in_the_fifth]

Can't get a good stream right now. Is Nadal at least hitting more winners than Berdych?

[CAS]

he is yeah, he hit 3 amazing winners in 1 game to go up *4-1 one was a forehand down the line off a smash

[invisiblecoolers]

IC you don';t want to mess with Ray Winston, he will eat your liver!

Who is he? the owner of Bet365?

Btw another bet was atleast 4 games each player in the first set, since Berdych as serving first it looked easy win, I seriously didn't expect him to lose two of his service so early in the first set, again nice odds by Bet365 as they thought Rafa is serving first, I don't know whether they will consider that one as a void as well, but for my luck Berdych played a popper today and yet lucky enough to get these bets void

[michael_o]

Nadal's greatest ever set of tennis?

[CAS]

6-2 - 2 winners to 11 winners, 4 UEs to 3 UEs. Rafa Rampant

[invisiblecoolers]

Berdych finally woke up but Rafa not in a mood to compromise anything.

[invisiblecoolers]

Rafa in GOD mode now, only thing Berdych can hope for is serve those big one's and some how hold his serve.

[The Special Juan]

Attaboy Rafa, do him in. IC, Ray Winstone is a Cockney actor who always plays the "hard man". He's in the Bet365 adverts as a floating head.

[invisiblecoolers]

Attaboy Rafa, do him in. IC, Ray Winstone is a Cockney actor who always plays the "hard man". He's in the Bet365 adverts as a floating head.

Oh

Btw who thinks 2nd set might reach tie breaker stage?

[invisiblecoolers]

Are we the only two watching TSJ?

[Josiah Maiestas]

People actually think Berdych is a tennis player? That's the funniest thing i've ever heard, no wonder Djokovic let him win yesterday, feeling sorry for him

[invisiblecoolers]

Game set and Match Rafa, as expected the match was utter one sided, with Rafa in full flow Berd stood no chance.

[LuvSports!]

nope

[Josiah Maiestas]

Federer woulda beaten this Berd that turned up

[invisiblecoolers]

Federer woulda beaten this Berd that turned up

Benoit Paire would have beaten this Berdych, indeed Granolla Bar would have won this Berd that turned up, people rightly should ask for refund considering they would have paid for Djoko-Rafa semi encounter.

[The Special Juan]

Are we the only two watching TSJ?

It's on Sky Sports 3 or 4 and I only have 1 and 2. I am (was) following the live scores.

[invisiblecoolers]

Are we the only two watching TSJ?

It's on Sky Sports 3 or 4 and I only have 1 and 2. I am (was) following the live scores.

You are one of those lucky guy then.

[LuvSports!]

IC you don';t want to mess with Ray Winston, he will eat your liver!

Who is he? the owner of Bet365?

Btw another bet was atleast 4 games each player in the first set, since Berdych as serving first it looked easy win, I seriously didn't expect him to lose two of his service so early in the first set, again nice odds by Bet365 as they thought Rafa is serving first, I don't know whether they will consider that one as a void as well, but for my luck Berdych played a popper today and yet lucky enough to get these bets void

yes IC, hardman actor Ray Winstone is also the owner of bet 365...

[CAS]

yeah I feel robbed from a Djokovic vs Nadal match, wanted to see where Rafa truly was in his game mentally. Only Novak makes him doubt

[invisiblecoolers]

yeah I feel robbed from a Djokovic vs Nadal match, wanted to see where Rafa truly was in his game mentally. Only Novak makes him doubt

Believe me this enocunter is real bad for Rafa, after some great matches he had such a non-show coz of the opponent, may be Berd was too tired physically as well as mentally after Djoko game. If the Fed of the first 3 matches in the tournament turns up today and tomorrow we would have a tight contest in the finals.

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