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

[kskate2]

Tommy has retired after one set. Dimi is through to the SF's

 

[Riotbeard]

Finally, we get to see Nadal/Murray....

Honestly, I thought I would have been a bit more excited. I guess it's been their form. Should be a good match nonetheless!

Honestly, I am getting ready to be underwhelmed, as neither has really played well in quite a while.

This is my guess. Most likely someone will lose instead of one player winning...

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Tommy has retired after one set. Dimi is through to the SF's

Crap. I guess this is the way it is going to be for Haas until he hangs them up. I just don't see him having an injury free full season. And this will wear him down mentally too.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Tommy has retired after one set. Dimi is through to the SF's

Crap. I guess this is the way it is going to be for Haas until he hangs them up. I just don't see him having an injury free full season. And this will wear him down mentally too.

Why did Haas retire from the match, what's his injury

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

^No clue.

 

[nehmeth]

Tommy has retired after one set. Dimi is through to the SF's

Crap. I guess this is the way it is going to be for Haas until he hangs them up. I just don't see him having an injury free full season. And this will wear him down mentally too.

Why did Haas retire from the match, what's his injury

Other than the perennial brain cramp, I'm wondering if it's his shoulder again.

No official word why yet: http://www.iol.co.za/sport/tennis/injured-haas-retires-in-rome-1.1689711#.U3YZxVhdWjQ

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

"Right shoulder" says the ATP site.

 

[nehmeth]

^^^ I figured as much.

Screech and Farquaad are hammering away out there and it's just the first game. Good quality from both at the outset.

I see Coach "Puffy" sitting behind Vajda.

 

[nehmeth]

Ferrer sure knows his way around the red stuff... wicked good drop shot. 15-30 for Novak

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Go Nole ! And it's got nothing to do with Roger keeping the 4th. seed for RG if David loses...really...

 

[nehmeth]

Go Nole ! And it's got nothing to do with Roger keeping the 4th. seed for RG if David loses...really...

Novak's over-cooking some shots, but it's nice to see him going for them. Seems to be having a little trouble taking charge of the baseline, as David is really attacking the ball. Not sure how long he can keep that up though.

-- nice to see day matches without red tornados blowing across the court --

 

[nehmeth]

... And the break!

Then Novak gets down 0-40

 

[Moxie]

Which he might get right back. Vamos, David!

 

[Moxie]

What a point! This is going to be a long one.

 

[nehmeth]

Whew! Consolidates for 5-2.

 

[Moxie]

Great escape from Djoker.

 

[Denis]

Good stuff, nice netplay again.

 

[Denis]

Yeah, nice to see both Kohl and Youzhney in decent form today. They made both matches interesting...

I still can't believe he took a set from Rafa. He should have been bulldozered. Rafa was really struggling with his serve.

I think Rafa is improving but he's still suffering horrendous concentration lapses, and he's serving woefully. But...he's improving, which is better than him just going away. Whether he's improving quick enough for Paris, is the big question. I think he'll be fine, but he needs to tighten up so many parts of his game...

I'm as optimistic as you, which means that I am actually not seeing any improvements. He looked genuinely bewildered after the first set, never ever seen that before. But Rafa is a fighter. If there ever was a player you are not calling a match on before the last point is played, its Rafa. So I'll just wait and see what happens at RG. I prefer him to make it to the finals though. Both in Rome and RG. I'd like Novak to work on their h2h.

In fairness, that would always be my attitude too. I wouldn't be looking for the Unknown Soldier to take out Rafa's rivals, no matter if it's clay, grass or hards. There's no point in pursuing mediocrity, even as a fan. I prefer to watch great achievements, great finals, great players playing at the highest level.

I wasn't hoping Nole would lose in Oz, because I wanted Rafa to beat him there. You obviously feel the same about Rafa in Paris. And why not, eh? It's not us who has to play, we just get the benefit of watching great tennis...

Well, yes, to an extent. There is the no 1 position too which makes me happy if Rafa loses early and I have other favorites I definitely prefer over Rafa. But a tourney win gets a little extra spark if you defeat a big opponent like Rafa in the final.

 

[nehmeth]

Good stuff, nice netplay again.

You really want me to say it don't you?!!

Okay - working with Becker, I have noticed a marked improvement in his net play, his approaches and yes the half volleys and overheads too.

 

[Moxie]

There's the break back.