2024 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Rome, Italy - Masters 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

Play will restart 6.45 local time

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Matteo who got into the main draw, due to a withdrawal has now withdrawn from the main draw, ( due to illness)
IN: Wolf ( LL will play against Napolitano)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Play has now restarted after rain delay

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Diego Schwartzman loses his first round match against Aussie Vukic 62 62, his last match in the Italian Open before he retires early next year
Diego's was R/U in 2020 to Djokovic,, he defeated Nadal in the QFs 62 75, which was his first win against Rafa in 10 attempts.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rain again matches suspended

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

All remaining matches have been cancelled there will be an updated re-schedule for tomorrow
Per favore, procurati un tetto sullo stadio principale, Grazie!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Seems like Rublev is better, he thanked all the doctors at "Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Zarzuela, in Madrid for getting him healthy.
Tomorrow he'll hit the practice courts in Rome, according to the schedule there

 

[kskate2]

Order of Play, Thursday, May 9, 2024

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

One match that has caught my attention is Tomas Machac the Czech player, Front actually altered of how good a striker of the ball he is, does his game translate on clay? he is playing my somewhat erratic at times Italian youngster Matteo Arnaldi, who likes to take the ball on.
Interesting match up
Rafa playing his first round match against the Q Bergs, I have watched Rafa in practice via video's at Rome, lets see how his practice matches measures up playing his first round match, I will be suprised if Rafa has trouble in this match up.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

A couple of Nadal- clay stats before his match, his match just started.
He is 111-1 in opening matches on clay ( only loss in Rome 2008 to Ferrero)
H never lost back to back matches on clay
BTW Zizou Bergs, Rafa's opponent, was the R/U in the Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar @ATP Challenger tournament in 2022 at the Nadal Academy

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa's serve has let him down big time so far in this match 2 DFs in his service game and Bergs who has come out swinging and nothing to lose will serve for the 1st set 5-4
BTW Bergs has quite a good 1st serve.
Bergs with a love service game wins the 1st set 64,from 1-3, 0-30 down winning the 1st set 64
Wake Up Rafa! ( Rafa had 3 W and 16 UFE in that 1st set), Rafa also playing too short.

 

[Fiero425]

Woke up early in time to see Nadal blow a lead in the 1st set vs some kid IDK, BERGS from Belgium! He looked bad doing it too; UFE's, a missed dropshot, & a double fault on set point! At the start of the 2nd, looks as if a fan collapsed! Nadal's ranting w/ his team while there's a stoppage in play! Funny seeing Nadal pacing about nervously while the kid is sitting down, resting his eyes, & meditating!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa's match is suspended due to a spectator been ill in the stands
Bergs asks for a trainer at the next change over as he has stomach pain
Match has restarted

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rome Update: some late withdrawals
OUT: Humbert, Machac
IN: Shang ( LL gets a first round bye, will play against Napolitano or Wolf
Mayot ( LL will play against Arnaldi.

Oh well there goes the match I was interested in Machac v Arnaldi.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Trainer out for Bergs, who had requested it in the next changeover, pains in stomach, Rafa leads 3-0 2nd set
Play has restarted
Bergs has great reflexes at the net pick up a volley from his shoe laces, Rafa was down love 30 in his service game managed to hold now leads 5-2 2nd set

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa faced a BP while serving for the 2nd set finally won 6-3 his serve to me is still a worry,
Rafa will have to take the 'scenic route' to win the match,

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa love 40 on his serve and finally manages to hold, huge, Rafa 4-2 3rd set,

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa with a comeback win over Q Bergs 46 63 64, almost 3 hours, to reach the 2nd round against Hurkacz ( Saturday), BTW Rafa and Hurkacz have never faced each other.

 

[Moxie]

Rafa with a comeback win over Q Bergs 46 63 64, almost 3 hours, to reach the 2nd round against Hurkacz ( Saturday), BTW Rafa and Hurkacz have never faced each other.

Well, that wasn't especially convincing, but Bergs had a lot of clay wins under his belt of late, although mostly in challengers.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well, that wasn't especially convincing, but Bergs had a lot of clay wins under his belt of late, although mostly in challengers.

I think Rafa played better in his practice matches quite frankly yes Bergs has had a lot of matches lately on clay in challengers, he has also been a R/U at a tournament at Rafa''s academy.

Rafa was lucky to get his match in, rain has arrived all matches have been suspended