Rome Masters - Day 4 Thread (R4)

[lydian]

Here's the mens line-up today - Federer is on late shift.

CENTRALE Start 12:00 noon
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) v [14] Juan Monaco (ARG) ...Djokovic owns a house in Monte Carlo...today he'll own Monaco too
Marcel Granollers (ESP) v [2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) ...lets hope Nadal knocks out Mr Tumbleweed...as soon as possible

Not Before 9:00 PM
[3] Roger Federer (SUI) v Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) ...a close 1st set but after that plain sailing...Juan Carlos will not be King today

SUPERTENNIS ARENA Start 11:00 am
[6] David Ferrer (ESP) v [11] Gilles Simon (FRA) ...battle of the Metronomic Counterpunchers...except Ferrer will be more clockwork
[16] Richard Gasquet (FRA) v [4] Andy Murray (GBR) ...interesting match-up. Gasquet doesnt like playing Murray. He wont today either.

Not before 7:00 PM
[10] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) v [5] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) ...Battle of the Sluggers! JMDP in 2 tight sets.

PIETRANGELI Start 11:00 am
[7] Tomas Berdych (CZE) v [12] Nicolas Almagro (ESP) ...Return of the Grudge! Berdych to prevail in 3...and not shake hands at the end!
Andreas Seppi (ITA) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) ...Seppi will give a good match but Stan will get the gladiatorial thumbs DOWN at the end!

[reckoner]

Nice job lydian... agree with all your picks - but will pick Simon over Ferrer, Tsonga over JMDP and Seppi over Stan juuuussst to be different!

[lydian]

Good picks...yeah I saw those as finely balanced also. And you never know what frame of mind Rodge might be into...if he doesnt want to face Djokovic in the semis he may want to 'pull' one today or tomorrow.

[reckoner]

Thanks lydian - we'll see what happens, it gets interesting from the QFs on right?

I dunno - it's mainly armchair analysts that say this sort of thing about Fed - I don't think he goes into a tournament thinking I'll throw it in the QF. I think he has more integrity than that.

[lydian]

lol...PPS

Yes, tomorrow onwards we get "business end". I would agree about Federer in general...but he's got to be feeling that hip you feel and Juan-Carlos is no mug on clay so will have him moving around today...guess we'll see if he's up for a Djokovic fight in due course. But if he loses today you know where you heard it first!

[barrystar]

Thanks lydian - we'll see what happens, it gets interesting from the QFs on right?

I dunno - it's mainly armchair analysts that say this sort of thing about Fed - I don't think he goes into a tournament thinking I'll throw it in the QF. I think he has more integrity than that.

I think that's true of nearly all of them frankly - however, I think that they have a difference in their 'do-or-die' attitude between some tournaments and matches. They might take a risk to play in a slam which they would not do in an ATP 250. Fed and Djoko will both want to win the SF if they get there for sure - their careers so far are testament to their desire to win lots of matches. Fed will not be calculating that it's better to lose because Djoko has a better chance of beating Nadal - he does not think like that and he cannot afford to. However, if Fed gets behind in the match he might lose his fight quicker than he would at a slam. We'll have to wait and see.

[lydian]

By the way Ferrero and Federer havent played since mid-2007! The H2H is 9-3 but with Fed winning the last 7. Hard to see beyond straights really.

Berdy is 5-4, on serve.
Djokovic and Monaco about to start.

[lydian]

Berdy is half-way there...1st set taken 7-6.

Djo/Monaco...2-2...and 20 minutes taken so a close match so far. So far.

[lydian]

Monaco breaks for 3-2!

[reckoner]

that's not in the script...

[lydian]

Monaco 5-3

[barrystar]

Nor was the advantage set point, which Djoko successfully defended. It must be horrible for lower ranked players when they fail to convert a set-point on serve against one of the big guys - all those "that's why he's there and I'm here" thoughts would be waiting to pour in - although he's got himself another.

[barrystar]

... and converted, well done indeed that man.

[lags72]

Well well

Does Juan The Man have it in him to do something similar for one more set ...??

Methinks not.

[djlovesyou]

Djokovic to boycott Rome next year due to the mistake of allowing it to be windy and the clay being just too orange.

Poor thing.

[prostaff85]

Good sportsmanship from Djoko...

[reckoner]

Well as Nole is uberpatriotic and such a maths whizz I'm sure this is all part of the plan...

[Henman Bill]

He could have given that racket to someone in the crowd who could have sold it or got years of use out of it. Djokovic's racket destructions are just not convincing for me, more petty than justified anger.

Well I assume if Djokovic actually loses this match the Federer tank would be no longer an option. Still, Djokoivc probably still marginal favourite at this stage.

[lags72]

I'd somehow forgotten that Monaco is currently ranked 15.

Impressive, especially considering that as recently as last October he was down at 43 ; and the fact that he is now only one spot away from his career best 14, which was as far back as 2008

[barrystar]

I'd somehow forgotten that Monaco is currently ranked 15.

Impressive, especially considering that as recently as last October he was down at 43 ; and the fact that he is now only one spot away from his career best 14, which was as far back as 2008

Yes, and he knows his way around a clay court.

[Guest]

Djokovic has a few more gears in his gear box than Monaco ... let's see whether the match swings ... Djoko double breaks Monaco to go a break up in the second set.

[reckoner]

Normal service has been resumed...

[barrystar]

Normal service has been resumed...

Djoko is making up in Court time for having had a foreshortened week in Madrid no?

[reckoner]

aha - so dropping that set was just a way to get extra practice! Nole is unbelievable, cunning like fox!

[lydian]

I always thought back in 08/09 that Monaco ('Pico') would go on to greater heights but then his game seemed to fall back...good to see him climbing the rankings again, and if he still loses today he's given the #1 seed a run for his money.

[lags72]

There's the break and, curtains for Monaco - sadly for him. You don't often get those chances against Nole .....

[lydian]

Indeed lags. Played well though...good to see him doing relatively well after that sprained ankle at Monte Carlo.

[lags72]

Andy in the (expected) scrap here with Reeshard ......

[lydian]

Yeah lags...he served for 1st set at 5-4, Reeshard promptly broke back.
Murray now with BP at 5-5

[lydian]

and wow....its 5-5 and they've played 1hr 11mins!

[lydian]

1hr 16...and counting...6-5 to Gasket.

[lydian]

Marcel "Tumbleweed" Granola and Nadal about to start...lets hope Nadal doesnt take 1hr16 between each point, lol.

[lags72]

Well the local spectators are at least getting value for their ticket money.

Unlike so many Federer matches (when he usually only books the court for one hour) ; although maybe he's in for a longer stretch tonight vs. JCF .....??

[kemet]

Murray's forehand has improved. It seems like he has flattened it out.

[reckoner]

Marcel "Tumbleweed" Granola and Nadal about to start...lets hope Nadal doesnt take 1hr16 between each point, lol.

lol lydian nah this should be a quick one...

[bogbrush]

Marcel "Tumbleweed" Granola and Nadal about to start...lets hope Nadal doesnt take 1hr16 between each point, lol.

Probably the only way this will take over 90 minutes! lol

[reckoner]

So Murray up a set but down a break in the 2nd - topsy turvy. Does look like Reeeeshard is putting up sterner opposition than usual?

[bogbrush]

Not watching, but I refect on what complete @r$e@che it must be to be emotionally invested in Murray.

[reckoner]

Totally, must be a rollercoaster ride!

[reckoner]

Oh dear 5-2 to Gasquet in the second, expect Murray is coiling up for the pounce in the third.

[barrystar]

Not watching, but the stats are telling a familiar tale of woe for Murray. Low 1st serve%, losing more than half his 2nd serves.

Don't get me wrong, Murray is damn good, but if only he could get a good consistent serve he'd be a different level of player.

In relation to his serve, I think in particular it's his inability to find a form of 2nd serve which works for him that's the problem - it must put soo much pressure on his 1st serve, which we know can be very good. The poor 2nd serve means that the top 3 (and others) know his game is resting on a knife edge and he'll give them a look at his 2nd serve sooner or later. What a mental a well as physical disadvantage that must be.

[reckoner]

Meanwhile Granola getting crunched on Centrale and Stan the Man 5-0 up in the 1st set breaker.

[bogbrush]

Murray depresses me. In fact, watching him is obviously awful but even typing this note about him is pulling me down.

For Gods sake man will you please try to look like you have some joy to your game? You could start by trying to win by doing something else than living off an opponents errors.

EDIT: better 4th game here.

[reckoner]

Murray's 1st serve % in the 3rd set? 38% (!)

[bogbrush]

And he's #4!!

Tells you a lot about what scores points in the game today.

[reckoner]

Sheeesh tell me about it. It's unconscionable.

[bogbrush]

Got to give Castle his due, he's finding positives out of thin air.

[lydian]

Aye he's a charismatic one that young wee Murray! Reeshard seems to be putting up a fight today though....whats up with him? lol

As you say reckoner Granola Tumbleweed (GT) getting crunched, I saw the score a while back and it was 1-0 to Granola and deuce on Nadal's first service game...I thought "aye aye...whats this then?" (no, I'm not a policeman)...clearly Tumbleweed has hardly won a point since as its 6-1, 3-0! GT putting up measly, or muesli?, defence here.

[Haddie-nuff]

[lydian]

...was that thin air, or thin hair?

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