ROME Masters. September 14-20th 2020

[cazza99]

Rome masters.

Draw - https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current/rome/416/draws

oop for Monday - https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current/rome/416/daily-schedule

Dan 3rd on Grandstand (1st match starts at 10.00 am UK time.)

[Jane]

Dan on court now and is 1 - 3 down to Hurkacz. C'mon Dan!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

[Jane]

Lost the first set 3 - 6 :sad: Come on Dan :thumbup:

[JAMES4578]

Pity first set went away from Dan and now down early break in 2nd, come on! Evans has found clay challenging mind you.

[Sallydaisy]

2nd set and Hurkacz breaks immediately for 1-0 but Dan broke back so it's on serve at 1-1.
C'mon Dan!!!
*15-0

and a hold to love to lead 2-1 in the 2nd set.

[Sallydaisy]

I do like having Mark Petchey on commentary!
(not sure who's with him on this event, it was Tim in NYC).

[exislander]

I do like having Mark Petchey on commentary!
(not sure who's with him on this event, it was Tim in NYC).

I think it is Nick Lester today.

[Sallydaisy]

Hold and hold with Dan still a bit ahead 3-2.

[Sallydaisy]

Dan now having a bit of fun out there ...
Hurkacz now *0-30, 15-30, 30-30, *30-40 and a chance for Dan to break ...

And break our boy does!!!
:superman:

Dan to serve at *4-2

[Sallydaisy]

Kyle Edmund will play Q Marco Cecchinato in the first round in Rome.

[Sallydaisy]

Hurkacz serving to stay in the 2nd set at *2-5.

Hurkacz reminds me of Andy Murray the way he wanders round the court.

Dan to serve for the 2nd set *5-3.

*30-0, 30-15, 30-30, 40-30, deuce, Ad Dan, And that's 1 set all.
Hurkacz might have picked up an injury.

[Jane]

One set all (got it right this time, Sally :big grin:)

[JAMES4578]

Dan certainly turned it around and Hurkacz may be have an issue, Evans break up in 3rd at 1-0. Did not last,Hurkacz now up 2-1 but taking injury timeout.

[Jan]

Come on Dan!

[JAMES4578]

Unfortunately breaks exchanged again and 3 all, come on Dan!

[themass15]

Dan certainly making a meal of this one

[Jan]

:nailbiter:

[Jane]

:crying::crying: Dan lost

[Sallydaisy]

Darn it ... Hubert Hurkacz d Dan Evans 6-3 3-6 7-5
:sad:

Ah well, he's still in the Doubles partnering Dimitrov.

[JAMES4578]

A missed opportunity really though some impressive play from Hurkacz at the end , oh well hopefully can Dan make some progress on clay this year.

[Sallydaisy]

British players in action on Tuesday 15th September in Rome.
:GBflag:

Court 4
J.Murray/N.Skupski vs Peers/Venus at 9:00 UK time (11am in Rome)
Salisbury/Ram vs Sonego/Vavassori follows
Evans/Dimitrov vs Gonzalez/Schwartzman follows

Pietrangeli
Kyle Edmund vs (Q) Marco Cecchinato not before 17:00 UK time

[Sallydaisy]

OOP for Tuesday 15th September
https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current/rome/416/daily-schedule?day=4

[RosieBear]

Shame Dan got edged out. But given that was his first match on the dirt, unlike Hurkacz who's played in, I thought he did well.

Over the moon to see Kei back, nobody plays quite like him. Please let the poor guy stay fit and healthy.

[JAMES4578]

Kyle a set up on Cecchinato 6-3 (the Italian out of top 100 and had to qualify), 1-2 in 2nd though play suspended on centre due to rain. Earlier straightforward wins for Shapovalov and Rublev. Though Di Minaur out to qualifier Koepfer.

Play now suspended on Pietrangeli at 3 all, Kyle for the most part seems to be controlling matters so far and the more solid.


Cecchinato certainly playing better on resumption and takes 2nd on Breaker (9-7), a few crucial errors from Kyle though- hopefully regroups in 3rd!

[Sallydaisy]

Kyle into a tie -break for the 2nd set.
Going with serve, Kyle serving at *4-5

[Sallydaisy]

The Italian is serving for the match *6-5,
and there's a mini break for Kyle
6-6
7-7
Italian serving for the 2nd set *8-7, and takes it.

[RosieBear]

Gah. The Italian quicker out of the blocks upon resumption than he was at the start of the match. Hope Kyle can find another gear and clinch the decider.

[exislander]

Kyle loses tie-break 7-9 - so on to set 3.

[Sallydaisy]

1set all, Kyle to serve first.

[Hawkeye]

The Italian is serving for the match *6-5,
and there's a mini break for Kyle
6-6
7-7
Italian serving for the 2nd set *8-7, and takes it.
As you like to point out mistakes... :big grin:

[JAMES4578]

Not going to plan as The Italian goes up 2-0 in decider and seems to be more energised at the moment-come on Kyle!

[Sallydaisy]

As you like to point out mistakes... :big grin:
:raspberry:

I was more worried that I was posting in the wrong thread!!!

[JAMES4578]

Technical issue on Prime at the moment but going away from Kyle, double break down at 4-1.

[Jane]

Greg Rusedski says there is a power cut in the tv compound in Rome

[Sallydaisy]

Scoreboard stuck with Cecchiato 3-1, and Ad

[JAMES4578]

It is 5-2 to Cecchinato (the app is fine anyway), Kyle out as well as loses 3rd 6-2. Meanwhile Wawrinka has lost 1st to Musetti 6-0!

[Sallydaisy]

Ah, the Italian is now serving for the MATCH at 5-2.

And wins. So, that's all the Brits out of Rome.
:sad:

[Jane]

Kyle lost the third set 2 - 6. What an awful day for the Brits. :crying: :crying:

[RosieBear]

What a shame that got away from Kyle. Think he'd have done it in straights without the interruption. Rain delays always tend to favour the trailing player, who resumes feeling like luck is on their side :sad:

[RosieBear]

Stan goes out, rounding off a disappointing day :sad: but well done Musetti, only 18 and very impressive even if Stan not at his best :clap:

[JAMES4578]

Yes big win for the 18 year old Musetti puts out Wawrinka 6-0,7-6 (7-2)! Thought Stan might turn it around when he broke back in 2nd but great breaker from the Italian qualifier who displayed some great shotmaking, even if Wawrinka was below par.

[Sallydaisy]

A few surprises in Rome ... and good news for the Italian 'local' players.
;)

Sinner (ITA) d Tsisipas (GRE) 6'1, 6'7, 6'2
Berretini (ITA) d Coria (ARG)
Travaglia (ITA) d Coric (CRO)

However, Djokovic (on return to play following his default at the USO) d Caruso (ITA) so that's one less cornetto to sing about.

[JAMES4578]

Cecchinato now out as well, no comeback against Krajinovic as he went down 6-4,6-1, whilst Dimitrov has routed Nishioka 6-1,6-0. Was surprised Cilic won so easily against Goffin 6-2,6-2 earlier. Carreno Busta could only win 2 games from Nadal tonight, had hoped that would be a bit more of a contest.

[Alis]

The players who have been practising on clay clearly have an advantage over those who played the US Open.

[cazza99]

Nole misbehaving again https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/sep/19/novak-djokovic-smashes-racket-italian-open-tennis

[exislander]

Diego has been a set and a break up against Rafa but now 5-5.

[cazza99]

And Diego has broken Rafa againa and is serving for the match at 6-5

[exislander]

Well done Diego!!!! 6-2 7-5.

[RosieBear]

Amazing win for Diego. So pleased he got it done second time of asking. He really deserved it - he had Rafa on a string out there :clap:

[cazza99]

Well done Diego. But it was Rafa's first tournament back.

[cazza99]

oop for Sunday - https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current/rome/416/daily-schedule?day=9

Djokovic vs Rudd - not before 1.00 pm

Shapovalov vs Schwartzman - not before 6.00 pm

[JAMES4578]

Great performance from Diego, he had Nadal flumoxxed most of the time though could never be sure Nadal would not turn it around. Certainly deserved the win, well done :cheer::cheer: Yes it was Rafa's first tournament back but he has had more time to practice on the clay than most. Still in terms of the French it may not be too significant. Djokovic will certainly fancy chance to take Rome title,even if he was not brilliant today and had a few frustrations! He will take on Casper Rudd in semis whilst Diego will take on Shapovalov who beat Dimitrov 6-2 in 3rd.

[HoopGirl]

Great match between Nadal and Diego. Diego was Amazing!
He shows how self belief and focus can get there in the end!
Like you James I was surprised that Nadal wasn’t more on form as he’s had heaps of time practicing on clay.

[JAMES4578]

Djokovic as expected through to the final with a 7-5,6-3 win over Casper Rudd. However some great play from Rudd in the first and Djokovic had to improve his level, however once Rudd gailed to take the set points at 5-4 felt the tide would likely turn. Shapovalov and Schwartzman will play after Pliskova/ Vondrousova from 6 PM onwards.

[cazza99]

oop for Monday. - https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current/rome/416/daily-schedule?day=10

Halep vs Pliskova 1.30 pm

Djokovic vs Shapovalov or Schwartzman not before 4.00 pm

[Sallydaisy]

Denis and Diego locked at 1 set apiece in their Semi-Final.
Denis has a break to serve at *4-3 but Diego is coming at him for a break back!
*0-15, 0-30, 15-30, 15-40 ... *30-40 (still a break back point).
Deuce ...
Ad to Diego
... and 4-4. Shapo will be kicking himself for that. He'd have been 1 game from the match!

C'mon Denis!!!

[Sallydaisy]

Now Denis has Ad against the Diego serve. No-one wants to hold their own!
:lol:

[Sallydaisy]

And Denis duly breaks ... and will serve for the match at *5-4.
Not holding my breath!

[Sallydaisy]

Denis:
*0-15
15-15
15-30
15-40 .....

and 5-5.

[JAMES4578]

Diego breaks to 15, 6th break in 10 games! Can he now get the moimentum, some excting play laterally but both players struggling for consistency on serve.

Surprise Schwartzman holds for 6-5, up to Shapovalov now!

[Sallydaisy]

Shapo now has to hold to stay in the match ... and take it to a tie-break.

[JAMES4578]

Dennis holds easily so a TB to decide it!

[Sallydaisy]

:lol:
Tie-break!!!
Diego serving first and there's an immediate BREAK!!!
*0-1 Denis breaks
1-1* Diego breaks
2-1* and again ... oh Denis!!!
*3-1
*3-2
4-2*
:lol:

[Sallydaisy]

Denis just dropped a serve.
1 to go and it's a must hold now at the business end of the match.

[Sallydaisy]

Diego serving at *4-3, I've lost track of whether he's a break up or just on serve!

No matter, Denis wins the point ...
*4-4
*5-4
6-4* Diego has 2 match points.

GSM Diego!!! 6'4, 5'7, 7'6(4)

[JAMES4578]

A gruelling contest with such ebbs and flows- a bit of everything and some drama even if the quality ws not always high. Well done Diego, had to be gutsy to come through! Dennis though will feel he missed a real chance. https://www.atptour.com/en/news/schwartzman-shapovalov-rome-2020-sf

[RosieBear]

First masters final :bravo: Diego. Really pleased for him, he deserves it after beating Rafa. Think Novak will be a bridge too far, but should be a fun rally-filled final with those two retrievers up against each other.

[JAMES4578]

Hopefully Diego can recovers well to give a good account of himself and it will at least be entertaining final, if Djokovic on form though will be tough. Apparently rain expected tomorrow.

[RosieBear]

Perfect start from Diego, breaks Novak in the first game. He's back as underdog again and playing freely. Hope it stays that way.

[RosieBear]

Diego now 3-0. Double break. Novak looking as flummoxed as Rafa was the other night. They're so used to asserting their game they don't know what to do with this little Argentinan upstart. Teeming down and Novak blaming the rain, wants to stop - but it's raining at both ends of the court. Think it's more Diego's brilliance that's the problem!

[JAMES4578]

Certainly amazing start from Diego, however loses one of the breaks on a double- come on!


Now 4-3 Djokovic, Diego gave a bit away and Novak stronger now- needs to hold here!


A few crucial points but Djokovic saves bp at 5 all and takes the first 7-5 with some tension from Schwartzman towards the end, feel it will be tough to mount a comeback now.


Diego kept fighting and even had early break in 2nd but Djokovic was a step ahead takes the title 7-5,6-3 and a record 36th Masters, well done! Match not quite what I was hoping and particularly after the start, however it still it was an entertaining battle right to the end.


May not have been conclusive but had Schwartzman held for 4-0 in first match would have taken on a different feel, still Diego done so well this tournament, great stuff!

[RosieBear]

Novak wins 7-5 6-3 :clap: An uphill battle for Diego from the moment Novak clawed back the breaks in the first, but still a competitive match with plenty of intelligent rallies. Enjoyed it.