Rome Masters - Day 6 thread (SF)

[lydian]

First topic message reminder :

So, Federer didnt hang about in giving Seppi his much earned nights rest.
Great matches tomorrow...arguably the best 4 men on clay this year in the semis.
The order of play tomorrow...

Court CENTRALE

Not Before 4:00 PM
[6] David Ferrer (ESP) v [2] Rafael Nadal (ESP)
Nadal is moving up the gears and Ferrer is already in overdrive. Some cracking shots today by Rafa shows his confidence is starting to rocket. I fully expect Ferrer to be overtaken 6-4, 6-3.

Not Before 8:00 PM
[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) v [3] Roger Federer (SUI)
Their first meet up since that epic USO SF last year...will it come down to 1-2 shots again?
Well both men are showing great form...but I expect the Swiss to roll over Novak after the maestro sprints out of the blocks early on. Djokovic doesnt like the ball coming at him so early and I think more than Nadal is vulnerable to being rushed. I'm expecting Federer to tear through the first set catching Novak cold. Novak wakes up and stretches the 2nd to a TB which Federer edges...6-3, 7-6 (if Novak can sneak the 2nd then I think he'll win the 3rd fairly routinely 6-3 but I'm firmly of the view that Fed will win, probability 80%).

Cant wait!!!

[lydian]

Fed finally gets in a 1st serve at BP!

[luciusmann]

Yup, unless Fed can turn things around in the second set then Djokovic will win this.

The only good thing seems to be that the Italians in the tennis court are rooting for Fed!

[Haddie-nuff]

This match had such prospects so far its a bit disappointing from Roger.
Her needs to move up a gear .. come on Roger

[lydian]

Nole is starting to turn into a machine here...this could get ugly.

[Guest]

Federer just not finding his length. Federer just not doing enough with the FH up the line. Been the theme of the match so far.

[lydian]

Agree LK...wheere art thou Mr Federer of this week so far? You have to feel he's tight tonight...he's got to show mental resolve here, and quick!
Novak playing really well now.

[luciusmann]

I think it's fair to say that Fed wouldnt stand a chance (going on what I seen so far) if he got to the final and faced Nadal. Djokovic on the other hand is looking good for defending this title....which would be quite something!

[Guest]

If I was a Fed fan I would be tearing what little hair I have left out.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Tell you what...Nadal is in trouble tomorrow. Novak is very up n down but he loves this court/

[lydian]

wooahhh...BH starting to click?

[Guest]

Jesus wept at that FH.

[Guest]

37% serves and 19 UE's!! Murray-esq

[lydian]

The Nadal of today is...the Nadal who faced Berdych will be a stern test for Nole...who knows which one will turn up tomorrow after today.
Fed's stats not good...39% 1st serves, 19 UE's.
I feel he's mentally shrunk in this match...it can be the only reason after such imperious form - albeit it against people who havent pushed him like this...its almost like he's had it too easy so far and now he's ran into a wall.

[Henman Bill]

I thought Federer actually raised his game against Djokovic last year, even in matches he lost. Not today though.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Problem was Federer played an injured/tired Seppi in his last match and won without being pushed in the slightest..

[Guest]

Problem was Federer played an injured/tired Seppi in his last match and won without being pushed in the slightest..

But least he had a FH yesterday.

[luciusmann]

OMG, another break point for Djokovic and the second set has only just started.

[Guest]

Fed's first serve % is killing him

[Guest]

The FH is showing life in it yet.

[luciusmann]

Fed really needs to keep his serve more comfortably, otherwise @ any point in this set, it'll be curtains for him.

[lydian]

Scrapes through that game.
No aces so far...no fluidity...he's just not in this match yet some how.

[User 774433]

I want 3 sets!

[lydian]

Hmmm, dare I say I'm disappointed in Federer tonight...this wasnt supposed to be this easy - he's almost being rolled over here.

[luciusmann]

I'm pretty sure if Fed somehow gets a break in this set he'll relax and play better....until that point happens his game is going to be positively limp...

[User 774433]

:limp:

[reckoner]

Oh dear Fed is on the way out...

[Guest]

Fed needs a red bull!

[Incrediblexman]

I think maybe the amount of tennis he has played recently may have caught up with him. He needs to be close to 100% against Djokovic and Nadal in order to stand a chance of winning. There are worrying signs however this might be the effect Djoko/Nadal have on him. He is trying to go for too much on his first serve and missing a lot and is making a few too many forehand errors as well. We'll see if Djoko and Nadal are still a level ahead when it comes to the slams before we come to any conclusions.

[luciusmann]

Fed is settling in better....but I don't see how he's going to get a break, can only see this match going one way even if it gets stretched to 3 sets.

[Henman Bill]

JM, are you saying that it was too easy for him last round? NOt sure I agree with that, better to have an esy match and be ready physically.

[lydian]

Its like he doesnt seem to have any patience in the ralleys and just wants to pull the trigger each point...this is like how he's mentally affected playing Nadal, i.e. feeling he needs to go for broke really early. Perhaps he feels he cant outralley Novak in extended play so needs to just go for it...

But that said...Novak is playing very well. Federer digging in though...good to see.

[Guest]

Feds is playing like a slob. Just looks dead on his feet and not up for the fight.

[Guest]

Good points Incredible.

A loss here wont mean too much. Fed probably is a little tired from the last two weeks.

[Henman Bill]

I'm not convinced that Federer can blame the 2 weeks of tennis for this defeat. Remember:

---Before Madrid he had a massive rest, didn't play for ages.
---I bet if you checked he played less minutes this week and last than your average slam - he's normally OK at the end of a slam.
---His last 2 matches here he coasted: should have helped him physically.

I reckon just a simple case of an off day or mental pressure maybe.

However, I could be wrong, it will be interesting to see what he says after the match about it.

[lydian]

I dont agree emancipator. I think a loss in this way to Novak tonight WILL affect him...he hasnt played that much tennis, nor been particularly pished to long gruelling matches either. Up to last night he;s been in imperious form for ages...then he runs into Novak and the wheels seem to start coming off. I think this would knock his confidence a fair degree going into RG.

However...this match could still turn, you just never know with tennis.

[Guest]

I don't agree emancipator.

Djokovic is not playing well and yet is all over him!

Worrying signs.

[summerblues]

Torn here. On one hand always want to see Fed win on the other hand would love to see this Nole play top flight Rafa tomorrow. My theory is that Nole would win, perhaps even comfortably, but would like to see that theory tested.

[Incrediblexman]

It must be a factor as in the last two weeks he has played 4+ days in a row twice. Federer did mention he was in pain after Madrid so it seems as if he has a niggling minor injury. I am concious that he is playing badly and we have seen this against Djoko and Nadal before when he is under pressure and is making errors all over the place. Considering the two factors I am not expecting him to win tonight and I did not before the match started.

[Guest]

I dont think its the amount of tennis per se. Just the quick turnover after a long layoff; he's probably a little sore. Plus in his mind he may already feel that he has done enough in the clay court season hence there isn't as much urgency for him in this one.

[luciusmann]

Fed seems to be getting himself pumped up now....hopefully that's a good sign...!

[Guest]

Even if Federer bags the 2nd, I still fancy Djokovic.

[luciusmann]

I agree with you there LK.

This game has the slight feel of the second half of the match Fed had with Tsonga @ Wimbledon last year, Fed is getting close but is not generating those break point chances, which might help turn the tide

[Incrediblexman]

Federer doesn't seem that up for this. Not good.

[luciusmann]

Djokovic is producing the best shots, I'm sure this will be 2 sets and that's all.

[Guest]

If Federer had taken the 1st set I might have felt differently. He started poorly and I think by the time he clicks into gear Djokovic would've found his game.

[lydian]

To me emanc. there is a sense of urgency from him, almost too much urgency...but he's being stifled by it. Its almost like he's being beaten by himself as well as Djokovic.

[luciusmann]

Curtains for Fed.

I don't expect things to change for Fed, he hasn't created a single break point chance.

[Jahu]

Fed's FH totally out of sync tonight.

[Guest]

That BP has been the story. The FH has elluded Federer today.

[lydian]

Weird form from Nadal and Federer today....

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