Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Rome - ATP Masters 1000

[Fiero425]

Good service hold from my youngster Sinner who was facing 3BPs now 5 all
Rafa you had your chance to win the first set 64.....

Three more BP's at 5-6! Can Rafa break to close it out? Not yet!

 

[the AntiPusher]

Good service hold from my youngster Sinner who was facing 3BPs now 5 all
Rafa you had your chance to win the first set 64.....

I see why Rafa likes practicing with young Sinner..he is the truth.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Mama Mia with set point No 7 Rafa wins the first set 75

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I see why Rafa likes practicing with young Sinner..he is the truth.

My youngster is the real deal...........

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Three more BP's at 5-6! Can Rafa break to close it out? Not yet!

Yes he can only took 7.....age is a wonder!

 

[Jelenafan]

Doesn't look like it will matter much either way. He had said that his ambition this year was to get out of the first round at the French, but even that's starting to look like a pipe dream. The draw will hardly notice he was ever there, most likely.

It matters if you’re one of the other top 4 seeds and you're slated to meet him in the SF’s , or a top 8 player and slated to meet him in the qtrs. As in potentially opening up that side as he's expected to crash and burn.

Of course i use potentially because draws at Majors take a life of their own and crazy things occur unexpectedly.

. They are, as a group and individuals, singular in tennis history. I'm a baseball and Angels fan

You are killing me...As a SF Giants fan I will NEVER get over the 2002 World Series against your Angels when the Giants were ahead 3 games to 2 with a big lead and somehow Dusty Baker not only relieved Ortiz but had the gall to give him the gameball and of course the baseball gods punished him for his hubris......

But I'm not bitter.

 

[the AntiPusher]

My youngster is the real deal...........

Miss Margaret you have some good offsprings

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Miss Margaret you have some good offspring

About time lol! we have been in the tennis wilderness for sometime,Italian tennis is looking fine.

 

[the AntiPusher]

It matters if you’re one of the other top 4 seeds and you're slated to meet him in the SF’s , or a top 8 player and slated to meet him in the qtrs. As in potentially opening up that side as he's expected to crash and burn.

Of course i use potentially because draws at Majors take a life of their own and crazy things occur unexpectedly.

You are killing me...As a SF Giants fan I will NEVER get over the 2002 World Series against your Angels when the Giants were ahead 3 games to 2 with a big lead and somehow Dusty Baker not only relieved Ortiz but had the gall to give him the gameball and of course the baseball gods punished him for his hubris......

But I'm not bitter.

Wasn't that the playoffs when Barry Bonds was hitting like 670 plus they were not pitching to him . Greatest hitter ever IMO.
Dont get me started on Dusty's poor pitching management..

 

[the AntiPusher]

Mp..Game Set Match. Bring on Sharpo, Tsits, Sacha. We take on all next Generation Challengers

 

[Moxie]

Great match, very fine Sinner, but Rafa got it done in straights.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Orgoglioso di te Jannik

Phew Rafa....you make us suffer at times

Fine shot making by both players. Rafa's level in those last few games in the 2nd set were a good level.

Rafa will play Dennis S next.

 

[don_fabio]

Very entertaining match with some great shots and grueling exchanges. Sinner is my favourite guy amongst all the youngsters. He deserved at least a set today and made Nadal run for his money. Rafa's level is on the rise now.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Very entertaining match with some great shots and grueling exchanges. Sinner is my favourite guy amongst all the youngsters. He deserved at least a set today and made Nadal run for his money. Rafa's level is on the rise now.

Though last couple of games Rafa upped his level in the 2nd set....good to see,great exchanges between Jannik and Rafa.

 

[Front242]

Very entertaining match with some great shots and grueling exchanges. Sinner is my favourite guy amongst all the youngsters. He deserved at least a set today and made Nadal run for his money. Rafa's level is on the rise now.

Hands down the best of the younger players. Must watch the highlights later as I went for a walk to clear the head after work.
So Nadal was the winner and the opponent was Sinner. They even made a movie about them

 

[don_fabio]

Though last couple of games Rafa upped his level in the 2nd set....good to see,great exchanges between Jannik and Rafa.

Definitely much better Rafa than last couple of weeks. He was spraying errors every time I watched him, but not today. Very solid, especially by the end of the match. FH much better today. Serve seems to be the weakness, is it due to back, don't know.

I wish Sinner adds a bit more variety in his game, like mixing up a pace with a BH slice. Dropshot is good, he even saved a match point with it. Also BHDTL was doable in a few important points, but he opted to play crosscourt (again).

Also net game needs improving, Rafa so much better there in those situations when they exchange shots after dropshot.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Definitely much better Rafa than last couple of weeks. He was spraying errors every time I watched him, but not today. Very solid, especially by the end of the match. FH much better today. Serve seems to be the weakness, is it due to back, don't know.

I wish Sinner adds a bit more variety in his game, like mixing up a pace with a BH slice. Dropshot is good, he even saved a match point with it. Also BHDTL was doable in a few important points, but he opted to play crosscourt (again).

Also net game needs improving, Rafa so much better there in those situations when they exchange shots after dropshot.

Sinner hits 90 percent of his BH CC..I knew Rafa would begin connection on his DTL FH

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Definitely much better Rafa than last couple of weeks. He was spraying errors every time I watched him, but not today. Very solid, especially by the end of the match. FH much better today. Serve seems to be the weakness, is it due to back, don't know.

I wish Sinner adds a bit more variety in his game, like mixing up a pace with a BH slice. Dropshot is good, he even saved a match point with it. Also BHDTL was doable in a few important points, but he opted to play crosscourt (again).

Also net game needs improving, Rafa so much better there in those situations when they exchange shots after dropshot.

I also think with Jannik,I know his team is working on,is his serve,he is a tall young man and should be able to get more zip on it,his 2nd serve at times is wayward,though he is young and has plenty of time to improve in that area.
Yep agree his transition to the net is also an area for improvement.
The one area that has always impressed me with Jannik at age 19 is his composure on court....

 

[Fiero425]

Wasn't that the playoffs when Barry Bonds was hitting like 670 plus they were not pitching to him . Greatest hitter ever IMO.
Dont get me started on Dusty's poor pitching management..

I was digusted with the Angels and Scioscia in particular walking Bonds in the 1st inning with no men on base! That was gutless! They were still down and should've lost the Series, but I haven't paid much attention to baseball since; believe it or not! I barely kept up with my 2 baseball teams here in Chicago when they won their respective World Series! The Cubs I didn't watch at all and saw at least half of the White Sox when they won in '05; (being a South-sider)!

 

[Fiero425]

I also think with Jannik,I know his team is working on,is his serve,he is a tall young man and should be able to get more zip on it,his 2nd serve at times is wayward,though he is young and has plenty of time to improve in that area.
Yep agree his transition to the net is also an area for improvement.

I taught tennis "way back when" and instructing the serve was my specialty! It's a confidence thing really! You can have the worst technique and have a very effective serve while someone with the best technique can have bad outings if they aren't "feeling it!" I never sweated my serving; the one good thing that never really broke down in my game! I think it had to do with my long arms and being able to "really" reach up to hit the ball at the apex of my swing! If in a real groove, esp. playing indoors, I might go 1st serves on the 2nd attempt and make it! I felt confident enough to bet my doubles partner I'd not only ace them twice, but tell them what side I was hitting the ball! With indoor tennis I felt invincible and won more tourney matches under those conditions; or lack thereof! It's hard to believe these top pros have serving issues! It has to be nerves IMO because they wouldn't get thru the ranks playing the way they do when losing against top flight competition! It's worse on the women's side where they specialize in breaking serve, but the real breakdown is in their technique and lack of confidence to "go for it!"