Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Rome - ATP Masters 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rafa's on pretty early tomorrow. I rather wish he had the slot after Djokovic. He's Spanish, after all, and noon is early for him. Time to get a W over Zverev! Wonder how Tsitsipas will fare against Djoker?

That is 2 matches in a row....Rafa does not like early matches...............Revenge Time Rafa!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just looked at the entry list for Lyon....the Austrian is not there? though he could accept a WC if needed.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Nadal

" When you lose 6-3 3-0 you must keep going,otherwise you go in the shower within five minutes.I can fail with my racket,but not with my head.That's the game,trying to fight even if it looks impossible."

 

[the AntiPusher]

Plus we'll never know his true potential given his very unlucky demise at the height of his prime when he reached number 4, surpassing Murray only to get a very bad dose of mono and never be seen again. He played plenty of good matches after that too. Was brilliant against Federer at RG 2010 and proved it was no fluke getting to a 2nd straight French Open final. Finally, he absolutely destroyed Berdych 6-1 6-0 in the SF at Bastad 2011 and prime Ferrer (who was no slouch on clay) 6-2 6-2 in the final before he had to quit. He doesn't deserve to be mentioned alongside Zverev.

He had some game Front. I will give him that .. When I think of next best thing. I'm thinking Stan, Murray, Del Porto or even Samurai was near that top ten level. I never saw Robin as a real threat all day he had some good run at a few tournaments and he did make a grand slam final. Ferrer, JoWillieTs, Monfils , Berdych and others stayed the next tier level. Robin NEVER did for an extended period of time.

 

[Fiero425]

He had some game Front. I will give him that .. When I think of next best thing. I'm thinking Stan, Murray, Del Porto or even Samurai was near that top ten level. I never saw Robin as a real threat all day he had some good run at a few tournaments and he did make a grand slam final. Ferrer, JoWillieTs, Monfils , Berdych and others stayed the next tier level. Robin NEVER did for an extended period of time.

Dude, how can you forget Robin made consecutive FO finals; losing to Fed and Nadal in '09 & '10 respectively??? I still say Roger owes him a house for taking out Rafa for him in '09!

 

[the AntiPusher]

Dude, how can you forget Robin made consecutive FO finals; losing to Fed and Nadal in '09 & '10 respectively??? I still say Roger owes him a house for taking out Rafa for him in '09!

Dude. I stand corrected..Robin defeated Roger in the 2010 RG qtrs ..I guess my memory gets foggy with him..my baad Bro

 

[Fiero425]

Dude. I stand corrected..Robin defeated Roger in the 2010 RG qtrs ..I guess my memory gets foggy with him..my baad Bro

Beating Fed wasn't the point of my post! Robin made 2 major finals; '09-10 RG's! Most players never make one and he went thru Fedal in consecutive years! That's why all due respect should be paid! Robin even completed the triple when Rafa lost all 3 of his RR matches at the '09 YEC IIRC!

 

[Moxie]

He had some game Front. I will give him that .. When I think of next best thing. I'm thinking Stan, Murray, Del Porto or even Samurai was near that top ten level. I never saw Robin as a real threat all day he had some good run at a few tournaments and he did make a grand slam final. Ferrer, JoWillieTs, Monfils , Berdych and others stayed the next tier level. Robin NEVER did for an extended period of time.

No, Front is right about Soderling, in many ways. Nevermind Fiero's post that you got this from, which was all over the place, and wrong in a lot of ways. Bjorn Borg pegged Soderling as a future #1 when he was pretty young. The talent was there, but not the head. It finally came together for him a bit late, (25?) when he took the then biggest scalp in tennis, and still the upset heard round the world. And he didn't fold. He made the final, and got to #8 in the world by EOY, eventually getting to #4. And he upset Roger in the other biggest match of his career, the following year, to make the final again, and lose to Nadal. 14 months later, mono ended his career. Front is correct that it's impossible to gauge what Soderling might have done, otherwise. The window in which he showed his potential was small, but, rather like Del Potro, there's a what if attached.

 

[Moxie]

Nadal

" When you lose 6-3 3-0 you must keep going,otherwise you go in the shower within five minutes.I can fail with my racket,but not with my head.That's the game,trying to fight even if it looks impossible."

The Nadal philosophy in a nutshell. In '09, he was interviewed for Spanish TV during his injury layoff, in August that year. The interviewer asked him, citing his already then great escapes, what he thinks when he looks at the scoreboard and he's down. Rafa said, "I think I'm gonna lose." And he laughed. But this was a little disingenuous. None of us thinks he plays the scoreboard. He plays the next point, and he keeps believing that, if he's still on the court, he has a chance. Some folks, like @Fiero425, complain that Nadal's tennis is "ugly," while at the same time complaining that the also rans aren't valiant enough. It seems like he'd have at least one thing to admire about Nadal's game.

 

[napo]

Rafa's on pretty early tomorrow. I rather wish he had the slot after Djokovic. He's Spanish, after all, and noon is early for him. Time to get a W over Zverev! Wonder how Tsitsipas will fare against Djoker?

Two delicious ones to watch!
I would not wonder if the young guns win, at least at no slams they should step up more frequently, it’s time.

 

[napo]

The Nadal philosophy in a nutshell. In '09, he was interviewed for Spanish TV during his injury layoff, in August that year. The interviewer asked him, citing his already then great escapes, what he thinks when he looks at the scoreboard and he's down. Rafa said, "I think I'm gonna lose." And he laughed. But this was a little disingenuous. None of us thinks he plays the scoreboard. He plays the next point, and he keeps believing that, if he's still on the court, he has a chance. Some folks, like @Fiero425, complain that Nadal's tennis is "ugly," while at the same time complaining that the also rans aren't valiant enough. It seems like he'd have at least one thing to admire about Nadal's game.

Agree, that's one thing that you have to admire in Rafa’s game. But that doesn't mean Fiero is wrong. He had some “ugly” parts too, like I think everyone have.
For me for example, the time extensions from the very beginning, even before the coin toss, are hard to watch. Make opponents wait between first and second serve in crucial situations, because he “isn’t ready yet” and fist pumping on easy UFE, are other ones. It’s mostly inside the rules, but there are unwritten laws too, you know.

 

[Moxie]

Agree, that's one thing that you have to admire in Rafa’s game. But that doesn't mean Fiero is wrong. He had some “ugly” parts too, like I think everyone have.
For me for example, the time extensions from the very beginning, even before the coin toss, are hard to watch. Make opponents wait between first and second serve in crucial situations, because he “isn’t ready yet” and fist pumping on easy UFE, are other ones. It’s mostly inside the rules, but there are unwritten laws too, you know.

Fiero has his opinion, and that's what it is...an opinion. The notion that Nadal is the only one who fist-pumps at others' UFEs , etc, is laughable. Do you watch tennis? They pump themselves up when they gain advantage, and they all do it. As to slow play, Nadal is slow. He gets made a lot of fun of for being methodical about his various habits, while being praised for being the most focused player on tour. Well, you don't get to have it both ways. The rituals are about internal focus. If they were external and for gamesmanship, I think they would backfire on him, at least on occasion. Sometimes genius is a little eccentric.

 

[the AntiPusher]

You can't change Fiero's destain for Rafa..it's like trying to change the mind of a jilted ex lover, it's useless..

More importantly, Rafa has another early start time. That's less that a 24 recovery time from his 3 plus encounter vs Sharpo. That's may take a toll on his body and how he responds.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Fiero has his opinion, and that's what it is...an opinion. The notion that Nadal is the only one who fist-pumps at others' UFEs , etc, is laughable. Do you watch tennis? They pump themselves up when they gain advantage, and they all do it. As to slow play, Nadal is slow. He gets made a lot of fun of for being methodical about his various habits, while being praised for being the most focused player on tour. Well, you don't get to have it both ways. The rituals are about internal focus. If they were external and for gamesmanship, I think they would backfire on him, at least on occasion. Sometimes genius is a little eccentric.

Most players have their own 'gamesmanship' in one way shape or form....what about when Novak used to bounce the ball about 20 times before he served lol! at least he has cut than down to singles figures now.Usually a person will 'hone in on' a player that do not like and pick their every fault according to them

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

You can't change Fiero's destain for Rafa..it's like trying to change the mind of a jilted ex lover, it's useless..

More importantly, Rafa has another early start time. That's less that a 24 recovery time from his 3 plus encounter vs Sharpo. That's may take a toll on his body and how he responds.

Yep,that is his choice he does not like Rafa,though when I recently said I did not like a player for their play and attitude,I got attacked,honestly we cannot all like the same players.Agree I feel it is unfair for the 2nd time in a row that Rafa gets the same time slot,apparently he complained the first time to deaf ears.

 

[napo]

Fiero has his opinion, and that's what it is...an opinion. The notion that Nadal is the only one who fist-pumps at others' UFEs , etc, is laughable. Do you watch tennis? They pump themselves up when they gain advantage, and they all do it. As to slow play, Nadal is slow. He gets made a lot of fun of for being methodical about his various habits, while being praised for being the most focused player on tour. Well, you don't get to have it both ways. The rituals are about internal focus. If they were external and for gamesmanship, I think they would backfire on him, at least on occasion. Sometimes genius is a little eccentric.

Of course that’s all opinions, like your ones too. I didn’t wrote Rafa is the only one with fist pumping on UFE, with him, however, it is pronounced.
I don’t buy it’s just internal focus, it’s kind of part of psychological warfare that worked well for him, but I wouldn’t call it gamesmanship, if you are the better player, you have to handle this kind of behaviour and beat him despite of that. Only few can do this frequently.
Almost nobody on clay, but it happens more often.

 

[napo]

You can't change Fiero's destain for Rafa..it's like trying to change the mind of a jilted ex lover, it's useless..

More importantly, Rafa has another early start time. That's less that a 24 recovery time from his 3 plus encounter vs Sharpo. That's may take a toll on his body and how he responds.

Alexander has even less time to recover, his 3 setter against Kei wasn’t easy either. Took almost 3 hours.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I am watching 2 matches at present (split screens)

American Opelka has a great kicker serve which he uses perfectly on the clay he won the 1st set 75 over Delbonis.
Opelka d Delbonis 75 76(2) his kicker serve was an advantage in the t/break which he won with ease.
Opelka will play the winner of Nadal v Zverev in the s/finals.

 

[napo]

Wowsers Opelka in the semis.

 

[napo]

Nadal - Zverev became a real match right now, after slow start.