Istanbul Open -ATP 250 - Apr. 27 to May 4

[Denis]

Yeah Scwartzman is making too many UE's now.

Looks like a WTA scoreline.

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Kv3vKL58Y[/video]

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

No breaks so far. Roger goes up 5-4 with two good DTL backhands in a row.
Schwartzman is so quick.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Roger with a BP/MP...Diego takes care of it with a killer DTL backhand.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Roger with two more BP/MPs...Roger gets it.

Istanbul crowd is happy about it, some were actually praying.

Diego should improve his ranking. He is better than his ranking. I like his play.

Roger should seriously question some things. With this level, he is not going to see the next round in Madrid. He has to decide how he has to play on clay.

 

[britbox]

^ and the Nadal brigade worry about a Fedal meeting on clay! It's a a Rafa +1.

 

[Front242]

Haven't seen any of this tournament but from reading people's comments it seems Roger somewhat abandoned his more aggressive play and started patiently rallying here on the baseline. Wondering why?!

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Haven't seen any of this tournament but from reading people's comments it seems Roger somewhat abandoned his more aggressive play and started patiently rallying here on the baseline. Wondering why?!

Front, from what I have seen so far, anyone with a little bit of power prevents Roger from playing his attacking game and pins him at the back where he has looked totally uncomfortable. His groundies are short and not doing any damage. Lacks muscle that is needed on clay.

 

[Front242]

^ Not a good sign but actually it's been like that for quite a while really. Del Potro used give him fits. Gulbis did last year. Ernie's form is pure crap now so that's likely one less to worry about anyway but plenty of others who can beat him I guess these days. Roger needs to chow down some more chicken and rice.

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqoFbL6T8Q0[/video]

 

[Front242]

Schwartzman sure is a speedy little dude and played some great drop shots there. I like his game too and so does Roger. Nice show of respect at the net at the end.

 

[Moxie]

^ and the Nadal brigade worry about a Fedal meeting on clay! It's a a Rafa +1.

I haven't seen any Rafa fans chewing their nails over that potential meeting, but GSM was touting it on the Madrid thread. Personally, if they meet, I wouldn't have been worried even without today's match.

 

[Federberg]

I would be very surprised if Roger does much at RG. It's all gravy to me. I just want him to get into a decent rhythm so he can attack the grass court season

 

[GameSetAndMath]

^ and the Nadal brigade worry about a Fedal meeting on clay! It's a a Rafa +1.

I haven't seen any Rafa fans chewing their nails over that potential meeting, but GSM was touting it on the Madrid thread. Personally, if they meet, I wouldn't have been worried even without today's match.

I am chewing nails after the Istanbul matches. If Roger loses to current version of Rafa, even on clay, that would be a shame. :cover

 

[Front242]

^ Agreed. An embarrassment.

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80wtCysFD0c[/video]

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AUcj4CnDEQ[/video]

 

[Moxie]

What happened to Dimitrov...anyone see? I guess I could check out Pavlik's video.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Roger-Cuevas it is. It is going to be a tough one.

 

[Puppet Master]

Roger is lacking power for clay. Power is never an issue when the court is faster because he plays attacking tennis , cuts angles, goes to the net, the ball jumps off the court etc...But on clay, when he is stuck on the baseline, it is clear as day to see anyone more physical than him will overpower him. Is it too late for him to get more power training?

It's never too late to add a little firepower to your game, but that probably isn't even on his mind. Is he stuck in 2005 or what? In that period he could really hit a scorching forehand winner even on clay, but that was 10 years ago. Something needs to change, the guy hits a flat forehand and it still falls short. :cover