Today I’m cheering Kei Nishikori in his ATP Rome Masters first round match against Gael Monfils. A few thoughts the early Rome action. Let’s do it kinda bullet form to make it easier to read (and write) – I’ll call it “My Take On Tennis: (date)” Verdasco beat Raonic 6-4 6-4 yesterday after “trash-talking” him last time they played. He basically said that Raonic is all serve and if he could play him on clay it would be a different story. I think that was a really stupid thing to say, although it does make for decent publicity, because Raonic …
Tsonga
Federer and Nadal on adjacent practice courts. Please put them on a match court as well! At the time of writing Afro Murray has just lost the first set to Bellucci and we’re seeing how Murray’s passive playing style can be a problem against guys who can control the court like Bellucci can when he is on his game. Lot of tennis left though of course. Side note: I think Murray is trying to grow his hair enough to have dreadlocks and become Rastamurray. On another court the two giant mega hitters, Tsonga and Soderling is battling it out and …
ATP Masters in Madrid is under way and we have already seen Roddick and Fish crash out of the tournament. Roddick looked completely lost on the red stuff against Italian qualifier Cipolla and although he showed some fighting spirit he lost in three sets and it seems like he just cannot wait to get this part of the season over with. Fish lost to Big John Isner in a three-set serve-fest. Isner won two tie-breaks and could hopefully turn the tide with a good showing in Madrid. Sam Querrey is having a completely miserable season and crashed out to Michael …
After a rain-filled yesterday, the matches today have been of extremely high class. Some highlights and thoughts: I am happy short Italian Fognini beat Monfils after that darkness debacle. They should have stopped at 4-4. You can’t play if you can’t see the ball. But Monfils got the crowd all wired up and they started booing at Fognini for every point he won. It was a weird match that ended with Fognini winning the 5th set 9-7 the next day. The Ukrainian junior Dolgopolov is a great talent and a very skilled clay court player. I am not that surprised …