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

[herios]

Oh well. At least Roger gets to be with his family. This also means that in order to warm up properly for the French Open he either has to enter Nice as a wildcard (unlikely?) or do it the hard way, which is hope to play into form during the early rounds.

Are you kidding? Roger will not enter a tournament in the week before Grand Slam.
He will go home be there for a week and come to RG by Wednesday or Thursday of
next week and start hitting with other players. He is not JMDP or Isner to even think
of such scheduling.

However, one has to seriously downgrade his chances of winning FO (even
if Rafa losses along the way) considering that he has played only one match
(and lost that too) in the five week period before FO.

Finally, if Ferrer reaches SF or better in Rome, Roger's seeding will be #5 at RG
which will further complicate his situation at RG.

I don't think it's possible to downgrade his RG chances enough. He has no chance even if Rafa is eaten by a marlin on one of those fishing outings. When was the last time Roger played high quality tennis for more than 90 mins? Look at his losses this year, there's a pattern. He pretty much has one TMF set in him a match, then the decline is palpable if the match goes on past an hour and a half. It's time to accept the New Reality. "90 Minute Fed" isn't going to cut it at the slams!

Cheers
TM

TM, many will not agree with you, but I am not one of them. Some still think Roger is having pretty good chances, right behind Nadal and Djokovic.
I have posted several weeks ago, right after MC outcome, how the odd makers were assessing the favorites order this year in RG, as being:
Nadal,
Djokovic,
Wawrinka,
Federer

in this order. I remember that tented, Iona and moxie said Federer should be ahead of wawrinka.
But their odds were not even close. I will double check this list after Rome, to see how they line up.
The pattern you have mentioned within one match how his game is fluctuating, is rather obvious.
He still plays at a high level at times, but he seem unable to sustain it.
I don't think he will make the finals at RG, a SF would be a very good result for him there, still a step up from last year.

 

[kskate2]

Oh well. At least Roger gets to be with his family. This also means that in order to warm up properly for the French Open he either has to enter Nice as a wildcard (unlikely?) or do it the hard way, which is hope to play into form during the early rounds.

Are you kidding? Roger will not enter a tournament in the week before Grand Slam.
He will go home be there for a week and come to RG by Wednesday or Thursday of
next week and start hitting with other players. He is not JMDP or Isner to even think
of such scheduling.

However, one has to seriously downgrade his chances of winning FO (even
if Rafa losses along the way) considering that he has played only one match
(and lost that too) in the five week period before FO.

Finally, if Ferrer reaches SF or better in Rome, Roger's seeding will be #5 at RG
which will further complicate his situation at RG.

Remember, he did get to the finals of MC. So he's not completely unprepared going to RG.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Oh well. At least Roger gets to be with his family. This also means that in order to warm up properly for the French Open he either has to enter Nice as a wildcard (unlikely?) or do it the hard way, which is hope to play into form during the early rounds.

Are you kidding? Roger will not enter a tournament in the week before Grand Slam.
He will go home be there for a week and come to RG by Wednesday or Thursday of
next week and start hitting with other players. He is not JMDP or Isner to even think
of such scheduling.

However, one has to seriously downgrade his chances of winning FO (even
if Rafa losses along the way) considering that he has played only one match
(and lost that too) in the five week period before FO.

Finally, if Ferrer reaches SF or better in Rome, Roger's seeding will be #5 at RG
which will further complicate his situation at RG.

I don't think it's possible to downgrade his RG chances enough. He has no chance even if Rafa is eaten by a marlin on one of those fishing outings. When was the last time Roger played high quality tennis for more than 90 mins? Look at his losses this year, there's a pattern. He pretty much has one TMF set in him a match, then the decline is palpable if the match goes on past an hour and a half. It's time to accept the New Reality. "90 Minute Fed" isn't going to cut it at the slams!

Cheers
TM

That is somewhat true. He seem to win the first set and then does not maintain the
aggressive play and takes the feet off the gas and loses the second set. Then he also
typically goes a break (or two down) early in the third. This seems to be his pattern.

Having said all that, I expect a decent run (QF or better, most probably just an SF)
from him at RG.

 

[Kieran]

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...

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

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...

He is too busy with "doubles", got no time for singles.

 

[Kieran]

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...

He is too busy with "doubles", got no time for singles.

Roger fans never make excuses, so I don't believe this...

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

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...

He is too busy with "doubles", got no time for singles.

Roger fans never make excuses, so I don't believe this...

Like Sgt. O'Neill in Platoon said " Excuses are like a holes, everybody got one"

 

[Front242]

^ Could've sworn Clint said something similar to that too. No idea which film.

Edit: "It's my opinion Callahan that you would be best serving
the department at this time by getting off the streets."
"Well, sir, opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one."

^ The Dead Pool (1988)

 

[Front242]

Some shot and angle there by Simon.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

^ Could've sworn Clint said something similar to that too. No idea which film.

Edit: "It's my opinion Callahan that you would be best serving
the department at this time by getting off the streets."
"Well, sir, opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one."

^ The Dead Pool (1988)

Platoon, 1986. Clint stole it! (or the scriptwriter)


Simon playing too far back and he has no chance of taking time away from Rafa the way he is playing, like Kei did. So, should be good target practice for Rafa today.

 

[Front242]

Nice pass. That mishit landing on the line was hilariously lucky.

 

[Front242]

Yeah, standing miles behind the baseline makes for some ugly tennis imo.

 

[Kieran]

Looks very dark and gloomy out there...

 

[Front242]

Another amazing angle by Simon. Impressive.

 

[Front242]

Another magical angle. What a way to get the break back!

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_tJzInUOxM[/video]

 

[Kieran]

I thought they only get 20 seconds between points? Just came up on the screen that Simon is taking 23, on average... :nono

 

[Front242]

^ That can't be the case 'cos he's not the one who got the warning!

 

[Kieran]

^ That can't be the case 'cos he's not the one who got the warning!

Well, Rafa's averaging 29 seconds, but surely the rule is just as broke when you're averaging even 21, as 29? Rafa got warned? I missed that. According to the stats, so should Simon be warned, no?

 

[Front242]

It's 25 seconds, not 20 is the allowed limit.