Rome Masters - Day 4 Thread (R4)

[lydian]

First topic message reminder :

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!

[laverfan]

I miffed BP with FH. 2nd with a BH error.

[Guest]

Agree there lydian. He is generating much more pace and accuracy off the BH side. So much credit has to go to Annacone for re-invigorating it.

Ferrero is not letting up. While I admire the courage to go for it, sometimes controlled aggression is better than all out aggression.

[Guest]

Wow. The FH is sizzling!

[laverfan]

Nice FHs from Ferrero.

[lydian]

Breaks. Fed looking very strong here! No weaknesses in his game now...
When Fed plays like this he takes so much time away from the opponents, they get rushed and make errors.
But often you see Fed so strong out of the blocks in 1st sets and then starts to "calm down" abit and make some errors...can Fed keep this early sprint up...can Ferrero keep plugging away?

[Guest]

Ferrero there clever. Starting to mix it up a bit now and seen that everything flat against Federer will not work. Another BP.

[Guest]

That return deserved the break. Didn't do enough with the BH.

[Guest]

It looks like Tsonga is taking Del Potro apart.

[laverfan]

Beautiful DTL BH and consolidation.

[lydian]

Match is closer than the 5-2 score but there we are. Fed playing very well indeed...cant see Ferrero unlocking the door here unless Fed's form slips.

[laverfan]

It looks like Tsonga is taking Del Potro apart.

He has his left knee bandaged and taped.

[Guest]

Federer holds. Ferrero pushed him there a bit. Still enjoyable and life in this set yet.

[laverfan]

Match is closer than the 5-2 score but there we are. Fed playing very well indeed...cant see Ferrero unlocking the door here unless Fed's form slips.

Fed 25/42 Ferrero 17/42 points.

[Guest]

Tsonga wins 6-4 6-1 against Del Potro but there is something strange with Del Potros stats:
Del Potro: first serve percentage win
first set 54%
second set 38%

[laverfan]

Stinging FHs from Federer.

[Guest]

Jesus wept. The FH is killing Ferrero

[Guest]

Jesus wept. The FH is killing Ferrero

[lydian]

You know I'm not sure Federer has ever been this good in the past...I firmly believe he's in the form of his career now and the past few months.

[laverfan]

Nice dropper. 2 SPs.

[Guest]

Just wow. Don't think I have seen Federer so comfortable on Clay.

[laverfan]

Watching Federer's BH, I can imagine how Lydian plays.

[laverfan]

Just wow. Don't think I have seen Federer so comfortable on Clay.

Wait till Nadal shows up.

[Guest]

You know I'm not sure Federer has ever been this good in the past...I firmly believe he's in the form of his career now and the past few months.

I think he will still get steam-rollered by Nadal at the French if they meet, but maybe Federer will mount a proper challenge to regain his Wimbledon title.

[laverfan]

Tsonga wins 6-4 6-1 against Del Potro but there is something strange with Del Potros stats:
Del Potro: first serve percentage win
first set 54%
second set 38%

That knee looked dodgy from the start.

[lydian]

Oh I agree there NS...being in the form of his career doesnt mean much when he's never beaten Nadal at the French in any form before.

That game from Fed took 51 secs....thats ridiculous!

[Guest]

Just wow. Don't think I have seen Federer so comfortable on Clay.

Wait till Nadal shows up.

Wait til the Nadal slaters show up

[bogbrush]

I think Fed just looks comfortable, but the match up problems with Nadal won't go away.

I can see him troubling Djokovic though.

[laverfan]

BH hit over the head and a winner.

[Guest]

Tsonga wins 6-4 6-1 against Del Potro but there is something strange with Del Potros stats:
Del Potro: first serve percentage win
first set 54%
second set 38%

That knee looked dodgy from the start.

Maybe he should rest and recover, skip the french and focus on Wimbledon, the Olympics and US Open. On a separate matter with the way Federer is playing - he could be favorite to lift the Olympic gold ...

[Guest]

Federer is just crashing every short ball. I cannot fault Ferrero at all. He is still fighting and still going for his shots.

[Guest]

Federer's game is sharp tonight. The serve, FH, BH, slice, squash shot, drop shot. Can't find fault thus far.

[Guest]

Only 4 winners from Ferrero, yet his play deserves much more. Federer's defence is like granite!

[lydian]

I believe that Federer has never taken the ball this early before. He's making mincemeat of Ferrero here.

[Guest]

Physically you see why it takes a Nadal or Djokovic to compete against Federer on this form.

[laverfan]

Admire Ferrero. He played fantastic tennis at USO 2011.

[lydian]

The question is whether this is a purple patch in this match or can carry it through the match, and tournament.

[lydian]

Yeah LK.

[Guest]

Ferrero is so doing the right thing, but it is not enough

Glad he is still in this 2nd set though.

[laverfan]

The question is whether this is a purple patch in this match or can carry it through the match, and tournament.

Good days, bad days, and so it goes...

[Guest]

Ferrero must've walked under a ladder

[Guest]

Barry Barry Barry Cowan you do talk crap

Barry: Surprised Federer went down the line with FH.

Barry that is because it has worked all match you Muppet!

[lydian]

The mosquito is buzzing at Federer's ankles. Oh that BH he just missed at 30-30!

[lydian]

Fed will want to break here at 5-4 for an early shower.

[LuvSports!]

break point ferrero

[LuvSports!]

and he breaks ohhhcraapp

[luciusmann]

Needless loss of the second set here by Fed, this sort of performance drop reminds me of what happened in the French Open last year, 5-2 up and and a missed drop shot and suddenly Fed goes off the boil.

[Guest]

Well done Ferrero!

[lydian]

2nd set isnt lost yet!

Does Ferrero have the cojones to pull out the 2nd...

[lydian]

30-30...come on Ferrero, make this interesting!

[laverfan]

Ferrero will pull it.

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