Rio Open: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (ATP 500)

[I.Haychew]

F3 just played one of the worst sets of tennis that I've ever seen. Verdasco takes the first set 6-1.

 

[I.Haychew]

Verdasco wins in two.

Final:
Schwartzman vs. Verdasco

 

[Moxie]

I stopped watching after the first, mostly to do other things, but a bit in disgust. Fognini got booed by the crowd.

 

[I.Haychew]

[QUOTE="Moxie, post: 328848, member: 17"
Fognini got booed by the crowd.[/QUOTE]

And rightfully so. F3 was terrible.

 

[Moxie]

For sure. He started sluggish and got broken out of the gate. But then he seemed to lose interest, and when he goes off the boil, it can get ugly and it did. What a mysterious guy. Seems he made the 2nd competitive, though.

 

[I.Haychew]

Seems he made the 2nd competitive, though.

Kind of, but not really. Not to take anything away from Verdasco (He did what he needed to do to win.), but the match was never in doubt. Low quality from both guys.
If only Verdasco could serve...

 

[Moxie]

2 headcases. Verdasco's 2nd serve is woeful.

 

[Federberg]

didn't watch the final. Seemed like surrender from Verdasco though

 

[Moxie]

didn't watch the final. Seemed like surrender from Verdasco though

It wasn't. Verdasco's serve was AWOL, and Schwartzman was very sturdy. Someone said DS might be the Ferrer of his generation. That's not a bad comparison I don't think. Funnily enough, they play each other first round in Acapulco this week coming up...on HCs. I still don't favor Verdasco, after the way he looked today, but you never know when his head and power game will show up.

 

[mrzz]

It wasn't. Verdasco's serve was AWOL, and Schwartzman was very sturdy. Someone said DS might be the Ferrer of his generation. That's not a bad comparison I don't think. Funnily enough, they play each other first round in Acapulco this week coming up...on HCs. I still don't favor Verdasco, after the way he looked today, but you never know when his head and power game will show up.

Haven't watched it, but I have seen a lot of Schwartzman playing. The Ferrer comparison is good in one sense, which is that feel of "Duracell bunny" that never stops running, but the parallel stops there I think. DS is not a typical clay courter in the sense that he turns defense in to offense way earlier than the typical dirt baller. I would not be surprised to find out that his hard court record is better than his clay record. He has a decent touch at the net, too. Actually, whenever I see people talking about "talent" (and in 99% of the cases I utterly disagree), I always shake my head and think of guys like Schwartzman: he is smaller than most, weaker than most, and actually is not even particularly fast... so, there is a guy that obviously wins out of his technical skills (and the big Argentinian heart too, sure), but you never see anyone praising his talent...

 

[Moxie]

Haven't watched it, but I have seen a lot of Schwartzman playing. The Ferrer comparison is good in one sense, which is that feel of "Duracell bunny" that never stops running, but the parallel stops there I think. DS is not a typical clay courter in the sense that he turns defense in to offense way earlier than the typical dirt baller. I would not be surprised to find out that his hard court record is better than his clay record. He has a decent touch at the net, too. Actually, whenever I see people talking about "talent" (and in 99% of the cases I utterly disagree), I always shake my head and think of guys like Schwartzman: he is smaller than most, weaker than most, and actually is not even particularly fast... so, there is a guy that obviously wins out of his technical skills (and the big Argentinian heart too, sure), but you never see anyone praising his talent...

But remember that Ferrer isn't just a clay player, either, and that was not my point. Ferrer had a lot of great results on HCs. Both are on the smaller side, but both have solid technical skills. (Ferrer perhaps under appreciated for his service placement and inside-out FH.) And both solid mentally and with heart, yes.

 

[mrzz]

You are right about Ferrer. Even if my post seemed otherwise, I am quite aware that he is not "just" a clay courter. Anyway, Schwartzman is quite smaller than Ferrer...

 

[Andy22]

D.Schwartznan won Rio title, but the final would have been way better if the awesome thiem was in it.

 

[Moxie]

D.Schwartznan won Rio title, but the final would have been way better if the awesome thiem was in it.

Yes, but he lost 2 rounds back. You need to get over that.

 

[Andy22]

ok over it but thiem going to bounce back in mexico next week.

 

[Moxie]

I thought you were a Nadal man.

 

[Andy22]

I thought you were a Nadal man.

I I'm man nadal going to win Mexico, thiem makes the final, losing a Nadal.

 

[MartyB]

But remember that Ferrer isn't just a clay player, either, and that was not my point. Ferrer had a lot of great results on HCs. Both are on the smaller side, but both have solid technical skills. (Ferrer perhaps under appreciated for his service placement and inside-out FH.) And both solid mentally and with heart, yes.

Diego's comparison to Ferrer is inevitable I guess. I just love watching the guy play. He's fearless, smart, great skills and a nice return of serve and he will stand up to whatever opponent he's facing with guile and everything he's got. I respect him a great deal. He's more than a guy playing up to his potential as some might say due to his stature. I saw him play a few years back at the Open and I came away with great admiration and respect. He's not the guy that most talk about to step up against the "big 4" (is there a big 4 anymore lol) but I have a hunch he's on way into the top 15 or 10 by the end of the year depending on his clay court results. I would not want to play this guy on clay. And as others have stated he has had some nice results on the hard courts as well. I'm a fan.