Benvenuto a Roma Ragazzi (Rome AMS 2007 thread)

[arwen21]

happiness said:

No comments indeed Emma

THE SAME HERE!!! I SIMPLY CANNOT UNDERSTAND!!!

[Patxy]

... ... ... ...

Davydenko Defeats Safin In Rome
By Tennis Week
05/09/2007

Marat Safin's sagging spirits and cracked confidence seemed to shrink the Rome stadium to the size of a sandbox. Spraying shots beyond the lines and into the net at key moments in today's second-round clash with compatriot Nikolay Davydenko, an increasingly disillusioned Safin finally gave into his inclination to hit big in the 11th game of the second set.

Belting a ball out of the stadium in frustration, Safin walked back behind the baseline and then nearly beat the chair umpire to the inevitable pronouncement.

"Warning Mr. Safin, I know that already..." Safin muttered.

There was a certain sense of fatalism Safin's play in the final stages of his 7-6(4), 7-5, setback to the fourth-seeded Davydenko. It was as if Safin had seen this script before, was well aware of how the final act would play out and felt almost powerless to stop it.

On his best day, Safin can still summon the type of tennis to beat the world's best players. The problem is when he's not at his best, Safin can lose to anyone and with each mounting loss his confidence continues to dissipate in the dust. Safin has not won back to back matches since reaching the Las Vegas semifinals in March and believes his diminished confidence empowers opponents.

"They see you are not playing 100 percent and you're not feeling well on the courts, so there's a good chance for them to beat me. And every time I lose the confidence is not there," Safin said after beating American Amer Delic, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the opening round. "It has kind of put me in a difficult position because, especially on clay, it's very tough to play without confidence because you have to run a lot and make sure you play all the balls. It's tough, because the courts start to look small and the ball very small."

The ball may have looked about as big as a BB to Safin on pivotal points. He generated 11 break-point chances, but converted only three times. In contrast, the typically-efficient Davydenko cashed in on four of his eight break-point opportunities. Safin broke to open the match, but could not sustain the break.

Davydenko, whose normally unerring backhand suffered through some hit and miss patches in the first set, rallied to take the tiebreak.

Neither player was particularly sharp for sustained stretches: Safin committed 51 unforced errors and Davydenko made 47. Both frequently found the net trying to change direction and hit shots down the line. Safin served for the second at 5-4, but quickly got down double break point. He saved the first attacking the net and got away with a drop shot on the second when Davydenko's drop shot reply danced on top of the net briefly before stumbling back to his side of the court. Two points later, Safin had a set point and got a good look at his most reliable shot — the backhand — but perhaps out of respect for Davydenko's speed, Safin rushed the shot and slapped a flat two-hander into the net.

That shot was really Safin's last stand. Davydenko broke back and won the final three games to seize the match and take a 3-2 lead in his head-to-head series with Safin. All four of their prior matches went the four-set distance, but today Safin looked like a man lacking the belief in longer rallies.

The problem Safin faces against a quick counter-puncher like Davydenko on dirt is he can't count on grinding down a player who is usually more consistent, yet Safin lacks the confidence necessary to step up and hit bold shots and biting returns.

Increasingly, Safin's first-serve percentage has become the key stat in his matches. Connecting on just 51 percent of his first serves against Davydenko was not good enough and Safin will have to elevate that percentage substantially to break out of his current slump.

www.sportsmediainc.net/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=16932&bannerregion=

[Alya10]

frensje said:

This is waiting for you in Hamburg, Maratik!!!!!!!!!

oops I bet get out of your way then, or I might get hit by accident ;D

[lau]

fancy said:

but anyways am happy this coach seems to be much better than peter i can see marat's level elevating .. good luck next time marat :S

That´s supposed to be ironic, right? I mean....,. you mean Peter, like Peter Lundgren.....

[davis]

ROGER LOST

26 46 against Volandri ;D

And Andy Roddick went down 06 46 against Chela. What a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[maribrasil]

lau said:

fancy said:

but anyways am happy this coach seems to be much better than peter i can see marat's level elevating .. good luck next time marat :S

That´s supposed to be ironic, right? I mean....,. you mean Peter, like Peter Lundgren.....

That's what I thought too, Lau...Peter is a great coach. IMO what's happening to Marat has nothing to do with his coach, it's something that only himself can solve.

[syaz]

yayy
kolya finally pulled through and defeated potito starace 46 62 75
a tough match wasnt at his best
but a win is a win! DAVAI KOLYA!

[maryb]

Chin up big yin. You had your chances in the Davydenko match. Don't let them go next time. I'd have been really pissed off if you'd gone down 6-1 6-1 without a fight. The unforced errors were pretty high - on both sides though. Tut tut.

A bit more practice on the slide into a volley wouldn't go amiss on the old clay courts ... roll on Hamburg, and keep the heid!

PS Is this a new thang? Beat the umpire to a code of conduct warning? ;D

[Mrs. Fabregas]

Results from today, Mat 10 2007!

Singles
3th round

Chela (ARG) d. (3) Roddick (USA) 60 64 ;D
(WC) Volandri (ITA) d. (1) Federer (Sui) 62 64
(6) Gonzalez (CHI) d. (Q) Massu (CHI) 67 (4) 63 64
(12) Berdych (CZE) d. Acasuso (Arg) 61 62
(4) Davydenko (RUS) d. (WC) Starace (ITA) 46 62 75 ;D
(7) Robredo (ESP) d. Simon (FRA) 62 62 ;D
(5) Djokovic (SRB) d. Baghdatis (CYP) 62 75 ;D
(2) Nadal (ESP) d. (15) Youzhny (RUS) 62 62 Mixed feelings here

Doubles
2nd round

(6) Santoro (FRA)/Ziminijc (SRB) b. Aspelin (SWE)/Fisher (AUS) 46 62 10-7
(3) Damm (CZE)/Paes (IND) b. Blake (USA)/Fish (USA) rit.

[Mrs. Fabregas]

OOP for tomorrow, May 11 2007


Centre Court

start at 1 pm::
(7) Robredo (ESP) vs (4) Davydenko (RUS)
followed by (WC) Volandri (ITA) vs (12) Berdych (CZE)
followed by (5) Djokovic (SRB) vs (2) Nadal (ESP)

Not before 8.30 pm:
Chela (ARG) vs (6) Gonzalez (CHI)
followed by (4) Knowles (BAH)/Nestor (CAN) vs (5) Hanley (AUS)/Ullyett (ZIM)

Pietrangeli Stadium

start at 2.30 pm:
(8) Pavel (ROU)/Waske (GER) vs (3) Damm (CZE)/Paes (IND)
followed by (6) Santoro (FRA)/Zimonjic (SRB) vs Ljubicic (CRO)/Thomas (USA) or (2) Bjorkman (SWE)/Mirnyi (BLR)
followed by (1) B Bryan (USA)/ M Bryan (USA) vs Moya (ESP)/Nadal (ESP) - TBA

[iman]

wow i cant believe federer lost!!!! shocked!!!

[jenhatter06]

frensje said:

(1) B Bryan (USA)/ M Bryan (USA) vs Moya (ESP)/Nadal (ESP) - TBA

why in heavens is this not televised??? so unfair ... i would pay to see it ;D

[CADjReine]

Hi, jenhatter and all , thanks for formatting the daily schedules..very easy to read..Its been a very exciting week for Marat fans...Salut! Marat..

[CADjReine]

Hi, jenhatter and all , thanks for formatting the daily schedule..very easy to read..Its been a very exciting week for Marat fans...Salut! Marat..

[Sammy]

Mr Safin, what is it you're trying to prove?
If it is the fact that we get upset each time you lose, than it's done, congrats !
Now get back to winning please, we've had enough !

*BTW, still luv ya big yin

And PIPO VOLANDRI !!!!!! How in heaven could he do that !!!! WOW !! I'm happy for him !! defeating the n°1 player in his country !! Niiice