Internazionali BNL d'Italia - ATP 1000 - May 11th to May 18th

[Riotbeard]

THis does make me feel better about the gravity of Novak's Hiccup. Sorry Rafa fans, he is incapable of building momentum this year (so far!)

 

[Kieran]

Can't do much about that, a snippy forehand winner down the line...

 

[brokenshoelace]

Problem against Simon is that aggressive hitting is not always the answer because he counter-punches so well and feeds off pace, but he can also dispose of garbage balls and create his own. Unique blend.

 

[Kieran]

oh! You f****** dunce!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

OMG Rafa???? at the net

This is just Agony to Watch

 

[brokenshoelace]

The moment he lined up that drive volley I knew he was missing. When you're not feeling good, let the ball bounce.

 

[Kieran]

Simon hasn't got a hair out of place, the fecker!

I always love Rafa's effort, even when he's playing crap, he's so honest and hardworking...

 

[Front242]

Problem against Simon is that aggressive hitting is not always the answer because he counter-punches so well and feeds off pace, but he can also dispose of garbage balls and create his own. Unique blend.

Yeah, he's given Federer all kinds of trouble in the past. Had to laugh when I heard Navratilova say before their last match: "Roger never has any trouble with Simon". Again, as much as I liked watching her as a player, that's a glaring example that she's clueless.

 

[Kieran]

All he needs to do now is serve it out... :clap :clap

 

[brokenshoelace]

This is the first stretch of the match where it feels like Nadal is playing marginally better than Simon (I missed the first set, to be fair), but you just know he's not going to coast to victory with that sort of serving.

 

[brokenshoelace]

All he needs to do now is serve it out... :clap :clap

If only...

 

[Kieran]

Rafa makes tying his shoelaces look like an industrious effort-filled thing...

 

[Tennis Miller]

He'll do better at RG than Rome. Best of three can be like a penalty shoot out sometimes, but best of five gives a better player time to work their way into the match - and their opponent gets too much time to think, and become nervous.

But Roger needs to get busy in practice...

K, the fitness and consistency is just no longer there for the slams. The 5-setter vs Nole at the 2011 USO was the perfect example --play 2 good sets, rest/tank/shank/eat/pray/love for 2 more, then hope the 5th works out. It ALMOST worked then, but that was ages ago and the inconsistency has gotten much worse since then.

Watch the clock when he plays. It's like an infomercial for "90 Minute Fed" (or Fed90x?):

"IF YOU LOVE EXCELLENT TENNIS, BUT DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO WATCH IT FOR FOUR OR FIVE HOURS, TRY 90-MINUTE FED. HE CAN GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TMF STUFF FOR 90 MINUTES, BUT NOT A MINUTE MORE. THEN YOU CAN GET BACK TO YOUR DAY. CALL NOW!"


Cheers
TM

 

[brokenshoelace]

Despite missing that pass, Nadal was hitting his backhand better in that rally.

 

[brokenshoelace]

He'll do better at RG than Rome. Best of three can be like a penalty shoot out sometimes, but best of five gives a better player time to work their way into the match - and their opponent gets too much time to think, and become nervous.

But Roger needs to get busy in practice...

K, the fitness and consistency is just no longer there for the slams. The 5-setter vs Nole at the 2012 USO was the perfect example --play 2 good sets, rest/tank/shank/eat/pray/love for 2 more, then hope the 5th works out. It ALMOST worked then, but that was 20 months ago and the inconsistency has gotten much worse since then.

Watch the clock when he plays. It's like an infomercial for "90 Minute Fed" (or Fed90x?):

"IF YOU LOVE EXCELLENT TENNIS, BUT DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO WATCH IT FOR FOUR OR FIVE HOURS, TRY 90-MINUTE FED. HE CAN GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TMF STUFF FOR 90 MINUTES, BUT NOT A MINUTE MORE. THEN YOU CAN GET BACK TO YOUR DAY. CALL NOW!"


Cheers
TM

It was in fact in 2011. So it has been more than 20 months.

 

[Front242]

50 winners for Simon to 27 for Nadal. cali must be loving this.

 

[shawnbm]

I am just tuning in again here and am stunned to learn we are in a third set! What has happened???

 

[brokenshoelace]

Can't believe Rafa still hasn't picked up on the fact that Simon struggles with a low slice to his backhand. That's what won him that last rally as Simon was forced to just roll his backhand in instead of hitting it with pace, giving Rafa the ascendancy in the rally.

 

[Tennis Miller]

He'll do better at RG than Rome. Best of three can be like a penalty shoot out sometimes, but best of five gives a better player time to work their way into the match - and their opponent gets too much time to think, and become nervous.

But Roger needs to get busy in practice...

K, the fitness and consistency is just no longer there for the slams. The 5-setter vs Nole at the 2011 USO was the perfect example --play 2 good sets, rest/tank/shank/eat/pray/love for 2 more, then hope the 5th works out. It ALMOST worked then, but that was ages ago and the inconsistency has gotten much worse since then.

Watch the clock when he plays. It's like an infomercial for "90 Minute Fed" (or Fed90x?):

"IF YOU LOVE EXCELLENT TENNIS, BUT DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO WATCH IT FOR FOUR OR FIVE HOURS, TRY 90-MINUTE FED. HE CAN GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TMF STUFF FOR 90 MINUTES, BUT NOT A MINUTE MORE. THEN YOU CAN GET BACK TO YOUR DAY. CALL NOW!"


Cheers
TM

It was in fact in 2011. So it has been more than 20 months.

THANKS--CORRECTED

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal definitely moving him around more now.