2015 Internazionali BNL d\'Italia…ATP 1000…Rome, Italy

[stroke]

Stan, very impressive, too good.

[lobndropshot]

no giant sand dial!

[stotty]

I have been timing Nadal between points against Wawrinka and sometimes he is taking 35 to 40 seconds on the bigger points. The tiebreak was ridiculous...35 seconds between points minimum he was taking to serve. It\\\'s taking ages to get through this match. Only twice had he delivered his serve within 20 seconds so far....

Bring on the BIG white clock...

[stotty]

Nadal v Federer

I am hoping for a Nadal v Federer semi final. Nadal is vulnerable right now and Federer might finally have a chance to beat his old foe. It\'s been a long time since they\'ve had a good ding dong.

[stroke]

Serena\'s elbow was hurt. It must have been real bad for her to withdraw.

[klacr]

I agree on the Murray walk over.

Should have gone on court and taken a beating. Hate to see walkovers.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Spineless Andy Murray…grow a pair

Quarterfinals set for tomorrow...

Djokovic-Nishikori
Ferrer-Goffin*
Nadal-Wawrinka
Federer-Berdych

Who ya got and why?

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Goffin by virtue of a WO from Andy Murray. WO = Wimp Out. If you can walk…you can play. Take the beating and move on. You are cheating the paying customer. You are cheating your opponent. It is your job. Really bad form…spineless wimp.

[don_budge]

Backhand Attention...

Fed, man he looked good today vs Anderson. Similar match up with Berdych. And then we can watch his backhand get some attention from Nadal.

This tournament is all about that moment…if it gets to that. Berdych has something to say about it…but the question is as usual…will he?

[klacr]

Novak, just because he contains his errors better. I think Kei has a more dynamic game. This is a good matchup. Murray just beat Kei and his more dynamic game last week in the final. Probably somewhat of a preview of this upcoming match.

Ferrer, it is hard to see Goffin beating Ferrer here unless Ferrer\\\'s level is not where it usually is.

Nadal, I just kind of like his game on clay. He is always totally engaged but he may even be more engaged here.

Fed, man he looked good today vs Anderson. Similar match up with Berdych. And then we can watch his backhand get some attention from Nadal.

Good picks and reasoning stroke. I like it.

I just think Djokovic is playing at too high a level, and when he\'s not, he still manages to be better than them. Just can\'t hop on that Nishikori bandwagon. Holding back.

Ferrer is a beast. Although this may seem like one-way traffic on paper,knowing Goffin\'s game, this could be an entertaining match. Too middle weights battling and constructing points. Has potential to be popcorn worthy...or Ferrer just grinds him down and it\'s a slow agonizing death by 1000 paper cuts.

Wawrinka not lighting the world on fire this season. Nadal gaining confidence with every match. Nadal is the favorite as a man with his record and acumen on the terre battue should. But hoping Wawrinka battles Nadal hard to weaken him for Federer.

Federer vs. Berdych. This match-up is difficult for me. To be honest, Federer vs. Nadal is a much more juicy match-up than Berdych-Nadal. I\'d love to see Berdych in semis but think it will be tough ask for my Tberd to beat arguably the two best clay players of the last decade back to back.

My heart will always root for Berdych, my brain is telling me Federer. And yes, Federer did look good...for the first 16 games. At 6-3, 5-2 and up two breaks of serve Federer decides to go on what the Aussies call a \"walk about\" and blows two service games until he regains composure and wins 7-5. This type of mental lapse drives me bonkers. But considereing I\'m a devout Berdych fan, I\'m used to it

Berdych Stats: -Berdych is 14-2 on the year in tie-breaks in 2015.
-9 Quarterfinals or better in 9 tournaments this year.
-This will be the second clay court meeting between Federer
and Berdych in nine years.
-Berdych is 30-0 against players outside top 10 in 2015.
-If Berdych beats Federer, it means Nadal will not have a top
four seed at Roland Garros.

Just some delicious food for thought.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stroke]

Quarterfinals set for tomorrow...

Djokovic-Nishikori
Ferrer-Goffin
Nadal-Wawrinka
Federer-Berdych

Who ya got and why?

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Novak, just because he contains his errors better. I think Kei has a more dynamic game. This is a good matchup. Murray just beat Kei and his more dynamic game last week in the final. Probably somewhat of a preview of this upcoming match.

Ferrer, it is hard to see Goffin beating Ferrer here unless Ferrer\'s level is not where it usually is.

Nadal, I just kind of like his game on clay. He is always totally engaged but he may even be more engaged here.

Fed, man he looked good today vs Anderson. Similar match up with Berdych. And then we can watch his backhand get some attention from Nadal.

[klacr]

Quarterfinals set for tomorrow...

Djokovic-Nishikori
Ferrer-Goffin
Nadal-Wawrinka
Federer-Berdych

Who ya got and why?

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[klacr]

Thanks Geoff. Some things are best left to the imagination. She looks much better with hair down and street clothes.

Back to the tennis though...

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[GeoffWilliams]

The Italian Open. Certainly one of the most recognizable tournaments on the tour. Players doing battle within the Foro Italico like the gladiators of old. Court Centrale and Pietrangeli with some nice scenery.

And when in Rome...

As this is the Italian Open, may Italian players are given the time on the sho court. Sure, you can have your Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi. I\\\\\\\'ll even throw in Sara Errani. But for me, it\\\\\\\'s all about Flavia Pennetta. We all need a little Flavia Pennetta in our lives don\\\\\\\'t we? I know I need mine. Flavia Flavia Flavia. Call me

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Camel toe penetta.

[klacr]

The Italian Open. Certainly one of the most recognizable tournaments on the tour. Players doing battle within the Foro Italico like the gladiators of old. Court Centrale and Pietrangeli with some nice scenery.

And when in Rome...

As this is the Italian Open, may Italian players are given the time on the sho court. Sure, you can have your Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi. I\'ll even throw in Sara Errani. But for me, it\'s all about Flavia Pennetta. We all need a little Flavia Pennetta in our lives don\'t we? I know I need mine. Flavia Flavia Flavia. Call me

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

The Draw...

I did not war to go back and edit. Can you guess why not?

http://www.atpworldtour.com/share/event-draws.aspx?year=2015&eventid=416