Rio Open ATP 500 Clay

[Fiero425]

David Ferrer vs. Fabio Fognini!

Ferrer leads the H2H 7-0.

Their last meeting was the Buenos Aries final last year and Ferrer won 3 and 4. That was Ferrer's only title last year. And now he's already going for his second for this year.

Let's go Ferrer!

In the old days, there was no rhyme or reason at times when one player owned another! You understood when Borg turned it around with Connors, never losing to his buddy, Vitas Gerulaitis, or the Bagel Twins (Solomon & Dibbs); that made sense! Around the same time Laver was at the end of his career, well "past it" in '75, but he could still work the nerves of the #1 player in the world, Arthur Ashe! That was unfathomable for most tennis experts! What can be said about today's players who allow themselves to be owned; lock, stock, and barrel? Berdych may have turned the corner on Nadal, but I doubt it! Let's hope Fabio can complete the hat trick and finish off this tourney in style! Ferrer is just as mindess as Tomas, just whacking away with little purpose but to endure and win by attrition! :clap

 

[Federberg]

Well it's good to see you posting again Moxie and I missed you:heart:

Thanks, Billie.

Welcome back Moxie! Feels like the last time I chatted to you I was in Salvador!

 

[Mile]

Nadal have some time to get back in form, but his situation look level or two bellow last year, so FO will be real test this year.

 

[auto-pilot]

But will Nadal have to be in form to win Roland Garros?
I've seen Nadal in really messy form in the 1st week of Roland Garros (2011, 2013) and still take the title.
I'm thinking Roland Garros is not a real test, but a luxury for Nadal.

And which did Nadal play better at, Rio 2014 or Rio 2015?
Nadal faced match-points in the 2014 Rio semi-final versus a guy nowhere near as good as Fognini.
Nadal also lost to Almagro last year at Barcelona.....and still only dropped 2 sets at Roland Garros :laydownlaughing

 

[mrzz]

Ferrer x Fognini:

If the referee is Bernardes, I'll root for the referee. Otherwise, I'll root for an armed robbery on court. It is Rio, after all.

 

[nehmeth]

Ferrer x Fognini:

If the referee is Bernardes, I'll root for the referee. Otherwise, I'll root for an armed robbery on court. It is Rio, after all.

:snicker

Too good.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I don't know what the big deal is, Nadal has always sucked on clay.

 

[Federberg]

I don't know what the big deal is, Nadal has always sucked on clay.

:clap good one!

 

[Billie]

While there are reasons to be a bit concerned if you are a Nadal fan, I don't think panic mode should be applied yet. After all he is going deeper in each tournament that he entered so far and frankly the humidity and late finish of his 1/4 match didn't help.

 

[Carol]

I don't know what the big deal is, Nadal has always sucked on clay.

The big deal is just made for the non Rafa's fans :snicker
This is a Deja Vu when he lost against Zeballos I remember to read the same comments even worse, it seems that everytime that he lose the bad omens become as a general rule
Rafa has not had a good start, first losing against Berdych (who lost the next match) then playing very inconsistent in Rio and losing against Fog (who probably is going to lose today) but the most important thing is that Rafa is the first one to know that he is not playing well and has to improve his game, his movements, his confidence. He went through that before and he will find the way like he did before.
Now let's go to focus on the final, it's going to be very interesting watching a very happy and motived Fog after his yesterday result and Ferru giving him a hard time

 

[El Dude]

I think you are exactly right, Billie. If the Concern-o-meter is:

5: Panic Now!
4: Serious concern
3: Moderate concern
2: Mild concern
1: Twinge of something

I'd say Rafa's rating is around 2, maybe 2.5.

 

[herios]

I was not at home yesterday, nor checked the results.
Wow, good job by F3!!!
:clap
He deserves this time the "fabulous" adjective, although he is the most unpredictable player on tour.
Until this week, Fabio was 1-3, on Tour, the only win being against Schwartzman, and now suddenly this stunner.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I agree with Billie re: not panicking yet.

So far, his current level of play is reminding me of last season at a similar stage, after he returned from his AO back injury. I thought it took him a lot of time to rediscover his form and he looked physically fragile. His movement and timing were off. It took him a while (I'd argue it took him too long) to get back into shape. It literally happened in the second week of the French Open, and that was in June.

Ironically, I thought the most comfortable Nadal looked in terms of movement and how he was hitting the ball was...Wimbledon. Go figure. Unfortunately, he got injured shortly thereafter and it's been downhill since then.

 

[Carol]

Like I have said......I was right

 

[herios]

I think you are exactly right, Billie. If the Concern-o-meter is:

5: Panic Now!
4: Serious concern
3: Moderate concern
2: Mild concern
1: Twinge of something

I'd say Rafa's rating is around 2, maybe 2.5.

Regarding the eventual "slippage", you mentioned it not a long time before and I also happen to agree with your idea that at his age, going on 29, Rafa should be compared to his peer Roger and not the less than elite players who now more and more peak later than usual, towards the late twenties.
And because Roger at that age, 28-29 (back in 2010) started to show the first serious signs oif weakness, I think it will make sense to monitor Rafa this season, if he will have less good of performances like Roger had 5 years ago.
And while still too early to draw a firm conclusion, Rafa already is slipping comparing to 2014, in all 3 events he entered: Doha, AO and Rio he lost points compared to last year, exiting earlier.

Last year he skipped Buenos Aires, this year he plays an extra event, which is positive, because is a 250 event and will serve him well to get his mojo going.

 

[herios]

murray goes abouve rafa in the world rank charts.

Murray may not belong in big four, but he sure does in top three, at least at the moment.

Just a reminder, in the race to London, the top 3, as of now:
1. Djokovic
2.Wawrinka
3. Murray

Fedal duo has a slow start to this season (they are not in the top 10), we shall see when they catch-up.

 

[El Dude]

I think you are exactly right, Billie. If the Concern-o-meter is:

5: Panic Now!
4: Serious concern
3: Moderate concern
2: Mild concern
1: Twinge of something

I'd say Rafa's rating is around 2, maybe 2.5.

Regarding the eventual "slippage", you mentioned it not a long time before and I also happen to agree with your idea that at his age, going on 29, Rafa should be compared to his peer Roger and not the less than elite players who now more and more peak later than usual, towards the late twenties.
And because Roger at that age, 28-29 (back in 2010) started to show the first serious signs oif weakness, I think it will make sense to monitor Rafa this season, if he will have less good of performances like Roger had 5 years ago.
And while still too early to draw a firm conclusion, Rafa already is slipping comparing to 2014, in all 3 events he entered: Doha, AO and Rio he lost points compared to last year, exiting earlier.

Last year he skipped Buenos Aires, this year he plays an extra event, which is positive, because is a 250 event and will serve him well to get his mojo going.

Yes, all true. I still think that the chances of him winning a Slam this year are very good - that he remains the favorite in Roland Garros and probably #2 in US Open (although that's a long way away). But again, it is going to be harder and harder for him to reach his level.

As for the "Late Peaking Theory," I think this may be more true for second tier talents. I don't know exactly why this is, but it seems that elites peak more in the 22-27 range while lesser talents peak more in the 25-29 range. I'll have to do a study about that.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Which Fabio will turn up for the final? that is the million dollar question

Fabio would have to be one of the most unprofessional tennis players I have encountered,his attitude on court is appalling.When I attended the Apia International,Sydney,he turned to his box and said 'when can we get to Melbourne'.In saying that he has the weapons to defeat Ferrer in the final.

 

[Front242]

7-0 h2h to Ferrer. I realize h2hs mean little based on current form but that said, it'll be 8-0 soon.

 

[Front242]

Haven't watched any tennis since the AO but I think I'll watch this later just to see the inevitable Fognini emotional meltdown. Tutti frutti f**kachella!