Internazionali BNL d'Italia - ATP 1000 - May 11th to May 18th

[Murat B.]

Rafa finally realized he cannot avoid Murray forever

Seriously though, they have not even played once when Lendl was coaching Murray. It is time.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa finally realized he cannot avoid Murray forever

Seriously though, they have not even played once when Lendl was coaching Murray. It is time.

It will be hilarious if Murray happens to be the unnamed player.

 

[Fiero425]

Rafa finally realized he cannot avoid Murray forever

Seriously though, they have not even played once when Lendl was coaching Murray. It is time.

It will be hilarious if Murray happens to be the unnamed player.

Well he has fallen to #8 in the world! :nono

 

[Kieran]

I think Rafa must have been jetlagged from last night. I'm still not watching, but that's some gazump right there, for the last two sets... :clap

 

[kskate2]

In other action, Dimi gets the break in the decider 4-2

 

[zalvar]

Rafa vs. Murray after a couple of years woo hoo.

 

[kskate2]

Berd DF, makes that a double break lead 5-2. Dimi serves for the match

 

[Moxie]

Speaking of babies Murat, where is Xisca? Are they having problems? Is that why Nadal's game is in the crapper?

I was going to say I'd heard nothing about that, either, except murmurs of speculation amongst fans, but just as the match ended, they showed Rafa's mom and dad on camera, with a half-visible black-haired woman between them. I'm pretty sure that was Maria Francisca.

So the problem is Rafa.

 

[Riotbeard]

Did rafa improve or youzny absolutely fall apart? Am working so just watching scorelines.

 

[kskate2]

Bye Bye Berdy... Dimi closes him out 6-2 in the decider.

Dimi has a finger wag too. Is it global now? :snigger

 

[Murat B.]

Good job Grigor. In Madrid , he lost to Bird in the third, this week, he wins in the third. Direct improvement. He keeps getting wins over people ranked higher than him, he will gain more confidence.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I love Rafa-Murray matches. I hate Rafa-Murray clay matches. Expect a complete slopfest from both.

 

[kskate2]

Speaking of babies Murat, where is Xisca? Are they having problems? Is that why Nadal's game is in the crapper?

I was going to say I'd heard nothing about that, either, except murmurs of speculation amongst fans, but just as the match ended, they showed Rafa's mom and dad on camera, with a half-visible black-haired woman between them. I'm pretty sure that was Maria Francisca.

So the problem is Rafa.

Apparently so.

 

[Moxie]

Did rafa improve or youzny absolutely fall apart? Am working so just watching scorelines.

This is my question. I couldn't take it anymore and took off after Rafa held in the first game of the third, figuring I'd come back hopefully to find Rafa up a break. Instead, Youzhny holding just to avoid the bagel. I'm guessing more of the good doctor fading more than Rafa upping his game?

 

[Rose]

I love Rafa-Murray matches. I hate Rafa-Murray clay matches. Expect a complete slopfest from both.

Be careful about what you wish for because you might just get that complete slopfest from both!

 

[zalvar]

Did rafa improve or youzny absolutely fall apart? Am working so just watching scorelines.

This is my question. I couldn't take it anymore and took off after Rafa held in the first game of the third, figuring I'd come back hopefully to find Rafa up a break. Instead, Youzhny holding just to avoid the bagel. I'm guessing more of the good doctor fading more than Rafa upping his game?

It was both. Rafa started being more aggressive and it caused Mikhail to miss a lot.

 

[Murat B.]

Looks like David is kicking ass and taking names. Gulbis is off or what?

 

[Kirijax]

Wow. An actual Nadal-Murray match? When was the last time this happened? Can't even remember. Go Andy!

 

[Iona16]

Wow. An actual Nadal-Murray match? When was the last time this happened? Can't even remember. Go Andy!

Tokyo 2011.

 

[Front242]

I love Rafa-Murray matches. I hate Rafa-Murray clay matches. Expect a complete slopfest from both.

I walked home from the gym with a thought in my mind that Murray will win Rome. Based on absolutely nothing other than the fact that historically he's played his best on clay (eventhough he lost) here in 2011 against Djokovic and he surely has to see holes in the draw now with Federer out, Nadal playing like tripe and Djokovic still very much up in the air with the wrist. Going by Nadal's form it's not that outlandish actually that Murray could beat him, even on clay.