Rome Masters 2016

by **laverfan** Sat 7 May - 15:12

First topic message reminder :

What a draw!

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/scores/current/rome/416/draws

by LuvSports! Fri 13 May - 12:24

Nore Staat wrote:
socal1976 wrote: ... Thiem is going to be a future RG champ if he doesn't get hurt. He has so much weight on every shot and that kick serve blows up off the court, I hope he doesn't hurt his back with that thing because it corkscrews into the court and then just blows up. Best kick serve of anyone not named Isner or who isn't a pituitary freak.
Is Dominic Thiem (22 years & 8 months) modelling his game after Nadal - does he have high top spin ground stroke like a Nadal. I assume the kick serve requires a lot of top spin - but the method of getting top spin on the serve would be different from getting top spin on the forehand.

It is my belief the first thing to go with Djokovic will be his sliding ability on all surfaces. I have always marvelled how long he has been able to maintain it. He seems to spend a lot of his time on the edges of his trainers.

Just because he has heavy spin on the fh, does not mean he is like Nadal. Is Sock like Nadal? He hits 2nd highest amount of rpm.
Thiem is much more like Stan than anyone else. Also he has a shbh.

by Guest Fri 13 May - 13:27

Andy's draw what a touch. Monaco/Poullie next potentially. Rome success would be superb!

by Born Slippy Fri 13 May - 13:28

Monaco has withdraw I believe so it's Pouille through to the SF.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 13 May - 13:37

legendkillarV2 wrote:Andy's draw what a touch. Monaco/Poullie next potentially. Rome success would be superb!

Opened right up - no doubt. However, even if it had been tougher lets remember the tough draw he had in Madrid and still reached the Final. At present on clay only Djokovic and Nadal are in better form.

by Guest Fri 13 May - 13:38

FOGGGGNNNNNNIIINNNNIIII!

by Mad for Chelsea Fri 13 May - 13:48

Murray broken to love in the first game as Goffin picks up where he left off last night, but breaks back with a couple of crunching backhands. Better serving and he leads 2-1. Excellent tennis from both so far considering the tricky conditions, looks very windy out there.

by Mad for Chelsea Fri 13 May - 13:54

Goffin's biggest problem is going to be protecting that second serve. It's not very good, and Murray loves to step in on that return and punch it away. There's not much wrong with the rest of his game.

by Mad for Chelsea Fri 13 May - 14:05

Excellent set of tennis from Murray 6-1, not much Goffin could do, hasn't played badly, but Murray too good.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 13 May - 14:05

Murray seals the first set 6-1. Hard hitting and aggressive.

by Jermaine2015 Fri 13 May - 14:06

Mark Petchy's embarrassing commentary knows no bounds. Making out Murray's backhand is the greatest shot in the history of tennis...

by banbrotam Fri 13 May - 14:09

Jermaine2015 wrote:Mark Petchy's embarrassing commentary knows no bounds. Making out Murray's backhand is the greatest shot in the history of tennis...

Petch is an enthusiast who goes OTT about all the great players, probably because he realises what it takes to be that good

On song, Murray's DBH isn't far off been one of the best - so don't see that as particularly OTT.

by Guest Fri 13 May - 14:10

I'd sooner Petchey than that buffoon Cowan!

by Haddie-nuff Fri 13 May - 14:38

Think yourself lucky we have not got Andrew Castle .. Shocked

and spare me Annabel Croft Rolling Eyes

by Mad for Chelsea Fri 13 May - 15:08

fairplay to Goffin, terrific scrapping from him, breaking Murray's serve three times this set. Problem is his serve is still making no impact, and Murray's broken him four times.

Murray about to have a second chance to serve for the match at 6-5.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 13 May - 15:13

Andy Murray wraps up a place in the Rome Masters semi-final beating David Goffin 6-1 7-5.

by Mad for Chelsea Fri 13 May - 15:13

and this time Murray finds the big first serves to see it out comfortably.

good fight from Goffin, and in general a very good match considering the (very windy) conditions.

Murray marches on, in his last 7 tournaments on clay he's reached the semis or better 6 times, the only exception when he pulled out of Rome last year Very Happy

by Mad for Chelsea Fri 13 May - 15:30

Nadal against Djokovic next up, could be an interesting one, Djokovic doesn't really like the wind much...

by Haddie-nuff Fri 13 May - 15:37

It wouldn't be Andy though would it unless we had a few tantrums Rolling Eyes

by sportslover Fri 13 May - 15:42

Good match with Goffin considering the conditions and as Andy said one minute it was clay then a couple of minutes later with the wind it turned into a hard court, making it difficult for both players. Didn't see David's match with Berdych but either Tomas was suffering from something or David played his best ever tennis. Either way it will not have done Berdychs confidence any good.

Next up Rafa v Novak, will it be 14/2 (13/2 the last fifteen matches) or 13/3 to Novak.

Beware of long extended rallies!

by LuvSports! Fri 13 May - 16:21

Rafa a break up. 4/3.

by LuvSports! Fri 13 May - 16:39

Now 6-5 down,

by CaledonianCraig Fri 13 May - 16:50

Epic set that. Djokovic nicks it 7-5. He just played the business end of that set that much sharper. Rafa needs a good start to this second set or this could end quickly.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 13 May - 17:00

Imperative now that Rafa has broken at the start of the second set that he serves well. Service holds and he may force another break of serve himself. Djokovic leads 7-5 0-2.

by kingraf Fri 13 May - 17:01

rafa with the early break. fully expect to see him having lost in straights when I come back from the gym

by CaledonianCraig Fri 13 May - 17:03

Trainer out for Rafa. Seems to be a problem with the sole of his left foot.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 13 May - 17:05

Seems to be on top of foot. Rafa heard saying it is numb and can't feel his toes but he will soldier on minus strapping that had been around the ankle of that foot.

by Guest Fri 13 May - 17:06

sportslover wrote:
Next up Rafa v Novak, will it be 14/2 (13/2 the last fifteen matches) or 13/3 to Novak.

Beware of long extended rallies!

Careful. That's a myth. Wink

by Guest Fri 13 May - 17:10

Djokovic getting really irritated. Big come down from the ecstatic emotion from the end of the first set.

by Guest Fri 13 May - 17:22

Nadal has to hold it together. Crucial stage of the set.

by kingraf Fri 13 May - 17:42

Nadal's missed FIVE set points on his own serve.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 13 May - 17:43

And when the chips were down Djoko summons up a break. He is just playing the big points better. Djoko leads 7-5 5-5.

by kingraf Fri 13 May - 17:44

5-5

by Guest Fri 13 May - 17:45

You feel Nadal has to hang tough here and go for it in a TB. Djokovic looks a bit physically jaded.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 13 May - 17:47

legendkillarV2 wrote:You feel Nadal has to hang tough here and go for it in a TB. Djokovic looks a bit physically jaded.

I agree. Novak has employed the drop shot a heck of a lot in this tournament - a sure-fire weapon that says 'I am knackered and can do without these long rallies'.

by Guest Fri 13 May - 17:48

Djokovic has won ten out of the last eleven matches against Nadal.
Djokovic has won 21 sets out of the last 25 sets played against Nadal.

by Guest Fri 13 May - 17:49

CaledonianCraig wrote:
legendkillarV2 wrote:You feel Nadal has to hang tough here and go for it in a TB. Djokovic looks a bit physically jaded.

I agree. Novak has employed the drop shot a heck of a lot in this tournament - a sure-fire weapon that says 'I am knackered and can do without these long rallies'.

Plus he hasn't been serving well. Nadals FH still letting him down when he really needs it.

by kingraf Fri 13 May - 17:49

CaledonianCraig wrote:
legendkillarV2 wrote:You feel Nadal has to hang tough here and go for it in a TB. Djokovic looks a bit physically jaded.

I agree. Novak has employed the drop shot a heck of a lot in this tournament - a sure-fire weapon that says 'I am knackered and can do without these long rallies'.

Ja but he'll probably break Nadal here and it wont matter

by bogbrush Fri 13 May - 17:50

"Djokovic looks knackered"

Yes, that is usually so telling....... Cool

by Guest Fri 13 May - 17:51

Even though it's been 2 sets, feels like the 4th set of a BO5!

by CaledonianCraig Fri 13 May - 17:51

Nadal holds to love and it is tie-break time.

by Jahu Fri 13 May - 17:52

Come on Rafa, demolish him.

by Guest Fri 13 May - 17:54

bogbrush wrote:"Djokovic looks knackered"

Yes, that is usually so telling.......

I am sure Faust will be here to condem you for that!

by Jahu Fri 13 May - 17:58

Rafa giving away this match with some silly UEs.

by Guest Fri 13 May - 18:00

Somewhere lydian is telling kids to give up on the Nadal FH and embrace the Murray FH.

by Jahu Fri 13 May - 18:01

So no one tells kids about Djoko FH? Whistle

by Jahu Fri 13 May - 18:02

Djoko takes it, poor from Nadal.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 13 May - 18:04

Djokovic wins 7-5 7-6. Cracking match that. Rafa getting closer though - two very tight sets. He just needs to play the big points better. Nothing for him to be downhearted about. Novak's toughness shines through again.

by Guest Fri 13 May - 18:05

Djokovic has won eleven out of the last twelve matches against Nadal.
Djokovic has won 22 out of the last 26 sets played against Nadal.

by Guest Fri 13 May - 18:07

I am exhausted after watching that. There is a smug defiant demeanour about Djokovic. Makes me want to punch that blockhead!

Seriously though some good play from both players at times.

by lydian Fri 13 May - 18:09

legendkillarV2 wrote:Somewhere lydian is telling kids to give up on the Nadal FH and embrace the Murray FH.

Never!!!

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