Tennis Frontier

Tag: rome

  • Djokovic Topples Nadal in Rome

    Djokovic Topples Nadal in Rome

    Novak Djokovic

    Novak Djokovic overcame a slow and sloppy start to take down his arch-rival Rafael Nadal at the Internazional BNL d’Italia today in Rome, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. This is his third title overall in the Italian capital, and the second at the direct expense of Nadal, who was the defending champion.

    The first set saw both players a bit tentative, but Nadal got the first break in the third game, and then again in game five to race ahead to a 4-1 lead. Djokovic got one break back in the next game for 2-4, held quickly, and nearly broke Nadal again at 4-3, but the Spaniard fought him off for the hold, and eventually served the set out. Djokovic had 17 unforced errors for the set to Nadal’s 8.

    The rest of the match saw a better level from both, and the momentum swung back and forth a few times, though it was the Serbian who found a very high level and rarely saw it drop again. In the second set, Djokovic broke Nadal in his first service game with a laser-like passing shot, and raced quickly to 3-0. In the fifth game of the set, Nadal broke his opponent to put the set back on serve, but was immediately handed the break back by Djokovic, which was all the lead he needed for the remainder of the set.

    The world No. 2 broke the No. 1 again in the first game of the deciding set, but Nadal battled for the break back in the sixth game of the set, only to be broken once again in his next service game. With Nadal serving at 3-5, Djokovic broke yet again to regain the Italian title, and move himself within 650 rankings points of taking back the No. 1 spot from Nadal.

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    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

  • Serena Williams Defends in Rome

    Serena Williams Defends in Rome

    Serena Williams

    World No. 1 Serena Williams defended her title at the Internazionale BNL d’Italia, defeating an injured Sara Errani 6-3, 6-0.

    Williams broke the Italian No. 1 in her first service game, but Errani broke back in the seventh, to the delight of the wildly partisan Rome crowd, who were hoping to have their first female champion since 1950. In the next game, Errani came up lame, and Serena got the break back. The Italian was taken off the court by the trainer for treatment. A short while later, she jogged out onto the court with her left thigh strapped, but Serena served the set out.

    In the second set, it became clear that the injury was definitely impairing the Italian’s movement, and there was nothing to do but hang on for the sake of honor while the American served the set out, which she won at love. Serena’s celebration was subdued, given her injured opponent. Errani couldn’t contain her tears in her speech to her fans at the trophy presentation.

    It ended up being a double disappointment for the Italians today, as Errani and her partner, Roberta Vinci, also of Italy, were forced to retire from the doubles final due to Errani’s injury, and the win went to Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik, 4-0 by retirement.

    For Williams, this is her third title in the Italian capital, having won in 2002 and again last year. In both of those years, Serena went on to win the French Open, which begins next week, and where she will go in as the favorite.

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    Photo credit (Creative Commons License): Yann Caradec

  • Roger Federer Arrives in Italy for the Rome Masters

    Roger Federer Arrives in Italy for the Rome Masters

    Roger Federer on red clay - 01

    Roger Federer has confirmed his arrival in Italy via Twitter to the delight of his fans.

    The 17-time Major winner had withdrawn from the Madrid Masters to spend time with his family following the birth of twin sons Lenny and Leo.

    His agent Tony Godsick previously said the former world No. 1 would make a last minute decision to play the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Following Federer’s arrival in Italy, this now looks almost certain. His scheduled opening match is a second round clash with Jeremy Chardy.

  • “For the 7th Time, Nadal is the King of Rome” (From: Gazzetta dello Sport)

    “For the 7th Time, Nadal is the King of Rome” (From: Gazzetta dello Sport)

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    Translated from: “Tennis. Internazionali Bnl. Nadal è per la 7ª volta re di Roma” (Gazzetta.it, May 19, 2013)

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    The Spaniard has conquered the Rome Open for the 7th time in his career, winning for the 20th time over Roger Federer. For the Swiss, it was his 111th final, and his 1100th career match.  For Nadal, it was his 2nd win of the season in a MS1000 on the red dirt.

    What more can you want, if you’re biting the cup, than just to have mangled Roger Federer?

    Nadal doesn’t change the script, even as he hefts his 7th trophy of the Internazionale Bnl di Roma (2005-07, 2009-10, 2012-13,) his 6th title of the season, and the 24th MS 1000 title of his career.

    It now appears that the naysayers were right, and the two can’t meet before a hypothetical SF in RG.

    RAFA IS BACK:  Thanks to this win, secured in barely 1 hr. 9 min., Nadal firmly asserts his assault on the race for the season.  The Mallorcan’s results are 8 finals in 8 tournaments, 6 victories, and, as of Monday, the #4 ranking.  If it’s not the best Rafa of old, very little is lacking.  Most impressive has been the arc of his improvement over the week, from the near upset by the Estonian Gulbis, to the physical and technical dominance in the final.

    IT WASN’T ROGER:  Federer, although he was imposing in successive victories over Janowicz and Paire, he was suddenly faced with the Mallorcan fury, same as in IW, but amplified by the surface friendly to, and beloved of the Spaniard.  Result:  anyone who was hoping for a dream match for their 30th meeting began to rethink it after only a few minutes.  Under the heavy blows and pressure from Nadal, the Swiss player began to make too many mistakes, ending with 32 UFEs (to Nadal’s 8,) and 6 break points conceded.  When he finally broke back, at 1-5 in the 2nd set, it was already too late.

    NOW, TO PARIS:  Rome finishes with a match that pales in comparison to their 2006 final, won by the Spaniard in the 5th set, after having nullified 2 match points by Federer.  “I won’t always win, and for that reason I’m enjoying the moment,” said Nadal.  “It’s a dream for me, what is happening now.”

    “Today I didn’t hit the ball well,” said Federer.  “Beating him at RG would be very difficult, but Djokovic did it in MC.  If you want to win, you have to be perfectly prepared.  Obviously, I have a better chance on cement.”

     

  • Nadal defeats Federer in Italian Open Final

    Nadal defeats Federer in Italian Open Final

    Rafael Nadal (5) defeated Roger Federer (2) in the final of the Italian Open, 6-1, 6-3.

    It was the pair’s 30th meeting. Nadal now leads the head-to-head 20-10.

    Click here to discuss the Federer/Nadal match, and more with fellow tennis fans on our discussion boards.

  • Serena Williams wins in Rome

    Serena Williams wins in Rome

    Serena Williams (1) beat Victoria Azarenka (3) in the final of the Italian Open, 6-1, 6-3.

    Click here to discuss the Williams/Azarenka match, and more with fellow tennis fans on our discussion boards.

  • Fedal It Is!

    Fedal It Is!

    Roger Federer (2) and Rafael Nadal (5) both won their semifinal matches today at the Italian Open, setting the stage for their first encounter in Rome since their legendary 2006 final.

    The King of Clay Rafael Nadal beat the Czech Tomas Berdych (6), 6-2, 6-4.

    Federer, the Swiss Master, beat the young Frenchman Benoit Paire, 7-6(5), 6-4.

    The final will take place on Sunday, May 18, at 4:00 P.M. local time.

    Click here to discuss the Federer/Nadal match, and more with fellow tennis fans on our discussion boards.

  • Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka Advance To Italian Open Final

    Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka Advance To Italian Open Final

    It took just over an hour for Serena Williams (1) to eliminate the qualifier Simona Halep, 6-3, 6-0, in order to advance to the Italian Open Women’s Final.

    Victoria Azarenka (3) then defeated the Italian Sara Errani (7),  6-0, 7-5 , thus squelching Italy’s last chance to have one of their own make it to the final.

    The final will take place on Sunday, May 18, at 1:30 P.M. local time.

    Click here to discuss the Williams/Azarenka match, and more with fellow tennis fans on our discussion boards.

  • “Sharapova Retires, Errani in the Semi-finals v. Azarenka” (From: Gazzetta dello Sport)

    “Sharapova Retires, Errani in the Semi-finals v. Azarenka” (From: Gazzetta dello Sport)

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    Translated from: “Tennis, Internazionali Roma: Sharapova si ritira, Errani in semifinale con Azarenka” (Gazzetta.it, May 17, 2013)

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    Masha is out of the Rome Open with physical issues; Sara will face the Bielo-Russian.  

    Serena overwhelming.

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    Maria Sharapova retired out of the Internazionale BNL d’Italia with a physical problem.  The announcement, made around 11:20am (local time) opens the way for Sara Errani to the semi-finals, a first in her career.  This was the first surprising result from the Foro Italico today.  Errani will meet the ex-number one, Vika Azarenka, who beat Samantha Stosur in 3 sets (6-4, 1-6, 6-3).

    Surprise:  In a tournament full of retirements (Andy Murray being the most notable), no one expected that the 2012 Women’s champion would be among them.  The Russian seemed in perfect form in her first 2 matches, winning 6-2, 6-2 against the Spaniard Muguruza, and 6-2, 6-1 against the US player Stephens.  Errani got the news after breakfast, and was understandably surprised, before reorganizing her schedule and pre-match routine.  In the end, she arranged to spend the afternoon with family.

    [The following is a transcription of the Errani interview on the video featured on the link below.  I didn’t translate the first video, or twitters, as they would have been originally in English, anyway.  But do watch the charming Errani in her native Italian.  This is what she said:]

    Errani:

    Yes, I’m lucky, but I have to stay calm.  It would have been great to have played a match against her [Sharapova] today.  I don’t understand exactly why she couldn’t play, but for me the tournament goes on.  I have to stay concentrated, calm, to be ready for tomorrow.  It’s not bad to have a day off to get back to a little bit of form.

    Yes, the ranking matters, the #5 is a big accomplishment for me.  In terms of being “in form,” the “form” changes from one day to the next.  One day you can be in excellent shape, and two days later you might feel not so great, so it’s not like “form” lasts so much time, at a clip.

    I’m happy because this year I’ve been consistent.  So many great matches, so many great results, so many positives for me.

    For sure they’re really strong players [Stosur and Azarenka].  That goes without saying.  Stosur is so strong on clay, and Azarenka is strong everywhere.  So we’ll see who I play against.  I’ll talk with my team when I know who the opponent is.  [Translator’s note:  The opponent will be Azarenka.]

    [Re: memories]  I came here [Rome] as a little girl and I wanted to ask the players for their autographs, but I was too shy.  I remember getting close to some of the players, but I never had the nerve to ask.

    I remember [Vince] Spadea, actually, because he was one of the ones I managed to ask.  (Laughter.)  One of the strongest memories; that one stays with me because I finally had the nerve to ask for an autograph.  I don’t remember any others. I don’t remember.  I had a poster of Mary Pierce (that I dragged around.)

    Maybe one of my biggest memories is when I played Hingis after the qualifiers on Campo Centrale.  I lost 6-1, 6-0, but that was one of my clearest early memories at the Foro Italico.

     

  • Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Order of Play, Saturday, May 18

    Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Order of Play, Saturday, May 18

    CENTRALE – Start 12:00 noon

    [1] Serena Williams (USA) v [Q] Simona Halep (ROU)

    Not Before 2:00 P.M.
    Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v [7] Sara Errani (ITA)

    Not Before 4:00 P.M.
    [5] Rafael Nadal (ESP) v [6] Tomas Berdych (CZE)

    Not Before 8:00 P.M.
    Roger Federer (SUI) v Benoit Paire (FRA)

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    Click here to discuss the Nadal/Berdych match, and more with fellow tennis fans on our discussion boards.

    Click here to discuss the Federer/Paire match, and more with fellow tennis fans on our discussion boards.

    Click here to discuss the Williams/Halep match, and more with fellow tennis fans our discussion boards.

    Click here to discuss the Azarenka/Errani match, and more with fellow tennis fans our discussion boards.