Rome Masters 2013 (Internazionali BNL d'Italia)

[Murat Baslamisli]

^ you have to acknowledge, while Mastoor's certainty that it's a fabrication is a bit surprising, that most of the reports on the quote aren't from the biggest sources. no agency picked it up as far as i know. i don't recall Fed or Novak being asked about it either.

not saying that it can't have happened, and since i don't speak czech i also can't re-trace possible origins in that direction, but as strongly as he supposably worded all this, you'd think that this would have more repercussions, no?

Sure Mastoor can be right, but I have not heard anyone anywhere refute it ever since it came out. I have read it on multiple sources however, so...
As far as repercussions, I don't think Nole or Roger would take it serious enough to reply...They have more patience than me.
Again, I have only one issue. RESPECT. If it turns out he never said those things and he never disrespected anyone, I am more than willing to do a 180 on the issue and give the kid a shot. You can go 3 forums back and you won't find me speak this strongly about any other player. This one quote really rubbed me the wrong way.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

^ as for repercussions - i wouldn't expect Roger or Novak to chastise him - but for pro journalists to report on it, ask them and JJ about it, such things. none of that happened, afaik.

 

[isabelle]

Congrats to Paire for his 1st MS's semi
Good job Benoit

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I haven't had much opportunity to watch the tennis recently, but I did see Janowicz play yesterday. While I don't like what the guy may have said, he does have game. And if you're going to break through the stranglehold at the top you need a little bit of spitefulness in your attitude. Too much "respect" and you will always be under someone's heal. Respect the players that have retired, beat the ones who are still playing.

Novak is looking very tuned in today. Some very good points from Berdych and outstanding play from his opponent.

Can't you respect and beat at the same time?:huh:

 

[Didi]

Berdych clawed his way back into the match and takes the 2nd set 7-5 after being down 2-5. What a comeback but I think Novak will prevail at the end. But still, it's something Berdych can build on from. He's a joy to watch when he really believes he can beat the best. Something he lacked over the years.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I haven't had much opportunity to watch the tennis recently, but I did see Janowicz play yesterday. While I don't like what the guy may have said, he does have game. And if you're going to break through the stranglehold at the top you need a little bit of spitefulness in your attitude. Too much "respect" and you will always be under someone's heal. Respect the players that have retired, beat the ones who are still playing.

Novak is looking very tuned in today. Some very good points from Berdych and outstanding play from his opponent.

Can't you respect and beat at the same time?:huh:

What I've gleaned from your reactions to his alleged words, is a level of respect even deference, that is not healthy for a player to have against someone who is still playing.

In 2011, when Djokovic broke through and began regularly beating fedal, the press asked him, "Why not sooner?" His response was "Too much respect." *

So yeah, there has to be a place where you have to drop your level of deference for another player, even if they happen to be a living legend... or you may always remain on the losing end of the h2h.

* http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1118353-novak-djokovic-and-cbs-60-minutes-interview-top-6-revealing-comments/page/6

No deference, just respect the game, its history and the people that made it possible for you to step on a court and make good money playing a game you love. Rafa, from day one, was respectful of Roger, and respectfully beat the crap out of him ever since...Roger was very respectful of Pete, and still is, but he stepped on the court and pulled off an unlikely win...It is possible to respect without deference. Maybe Nole was not able to, but that does not mean it cannot be done.

 

[Didi]

Terrific stuff from T-Berd, 3-1 up in the final set. Can Djokovic dig himself out of it? Great match.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Berdych clawed his way back into the match and takes the 2nd set 7-5 after being down 2-5. What a comeback but I think Novak will prevail at the end. But still, it's something Berdych can build on from. He's a joy to watch when he really believes he can beat the best. Something he lacked over the years.

Great effort by TB.. This seems like one of those days with Berdych is tired of playing like Andy Dufresne(Shawshank) against the big 4 other than Federer.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

Berd up a break now? dunno, for some reason, i'd completely forgotten to check the scores. i'd like to say work kept me too busy, but my posting history proves otherwise.

 

[Didi]

Great effort by TB.. This seems like one of those days with Berdych is tired of playing like Andy Dufresne(Shawshank) against the big 4 other than Federer.

Nice analogy.

Berdych up 5-3 and will serve for the match in a couple of minutes. I still got my money on Djokovic. He's simply a master of digging himself out of the biggest holes.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

two points from the upset, 15-30 on Nole's serve now.

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Berd up a break now? dunno, for some reason, i'd completely forgotten to check the scores. i'd like to say work kept me too busy, but my posting history proves otherwise.

Up a break and dominating. Novak is playing 15 feet behind the baseline and Tomas is pulling him from one side to the other.

ouch. even with the h2h as it is, i had a feeling that Berd might make this one closer. i think for the particular match-up, clay is a rather good surface for him, and the balls have seemed to travel rather fast in Rome this year.

let's see if he can keep his act together here and serve it out.

 

[shawnbm]

Nole saved one match point

 

[the AntiPusher]

Andy Dufresne has escaped from Shawshank.. Great win by Berdych

 

[shawnbm]

Now saves the second. Tomas still serving 40-30

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Djokovic saves three match points, unreal we are at deuce.

 

[shawnbm]

Berdych completes the best comeback in his career and takes down the world number one! Wow! He played so very well; he displayed me' tal fortitude today.

 

[brokenshoelace]

lol, the way Berdych caught fire was beyond a joke. There's really nothing you can do when someone starts serving like that and fire out inside out forehands at will like that. Seriously, almost every forehand that Berdych hit -- even the rally ones -- had Djokovic stretching down on his backhand side. Obviously, Novak will rightly feel he should have won when he was up 5-2 in the second, but really Berdych's level from that moment on was preposterous.

 

[El Dude]

Wow, good for Tomas. Man, Djokovic is tough - almost coming back from 0-40. There's no one quite like him.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

Nole fended off three match points, from 40-0, but from deuce it was just two more points.

weirdly enough, Novak has apparently Killed Tomas' second serves, even/especially in the third set. won 74% of those points. however, when the 1st went in, it was a whooping 92% for the Berd.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Wow, what a shocker! Berdych beats Djokovic after Nole served for the match! We might see a Federer-Nadal finals match-up after all!

 

[El Dude]

I'd really love to see Berdych play like that against Rafa. That would be an interesting match.