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Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2012: What Roger Federer’s Loss Means for His Future

wpid 144795731 crop 650x4402 Internazionali BNL dItalia 2012: What Roger Federers Loss Means for His Future

Julian Finney/Getty Images

Roger Federer’s loss to Novak Djokovic in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia semi-final on Saturday could be viewed as a rare loss on Federer’s stellar resume, but it is more than that.

Federer’s loss to Djovokic helps pass his torch to today’s younger players and shows Federer has taken a step back.

The tennis world has enjoyed Federer’s presence on the major circuit since his 2003 victory at Wimbledon. He has had an incredible run, winning 16 majors, 838 matches and 74 career titles.

Federer’s descent has been slow but sure.

Let’s take a look at what this loss means for Federer’s future and what we can expect from the Swiss legend.

What the Loss Means

Overall, the loss shows Federer’s failing endurance. Younger players have caught up to Federer enough in the skills department that they can run his worn legs ragged, if need be.

When asked about the loss, Federer told ESPN.com, “Overall, I wasn’t playing quite good enough. I’ve played a lot of tennis in the last few weeks. Novak was looking fresh, he was better tonight. He really put pressure on me.”

Federer’s aware of his current state. Djokovic ran him all over the court, and Rafael Nadal has done the same thing, several times, in recent years.

Federer is not going to ride off into the night after this loss. He will be back, but this loss points to his obvious decline.

Granted, Federer has played a ton of tennis. He needs a break more than younger players, but tournament settings do not allow that to happen.

Federer is still the world’s No. 3 player, and he will stay that way barring a terrible defeat, but the gap has closed.

Federer used to be invincible. That was bound to end sometime, and it has.

How to Move Forward

This was not a loss at a major, but any loss is disheartening for a major sports star.

Is Federer still capable of winning a major?

A. Yes B. No Submit Vote vote to see results

Is Federer still capable of winning a major?

A. Yes

78.9%

B. No

21.1%

Total votes: 19

Federer will be able to move forward. He will need to rely on his craftiness in future matches, and he must attempt to stay stationery.

Federer had won 14 of his 24 career matches against Djokovic prior to this match. Djokovic was just in better shape on Saturday.

The Swiss tennis icon is not necessarily a worse player than he used to be. He is just different.

Every athlete has to adjust their style as their age progresses. Federer will be no different if he wants to remain relevant.

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Fernando Gonzalez vs Cilic 2008 Australian Open 1/3

チリの英雄、フェルナンド・ゴンザレスのショット集です。
Video Rating: 4 / 5

2012 Rome Masters Final: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal Match Delayed

wpid 144785136 crop 650x440 2012 Rome Masters Final: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal Match Delayed

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Rafael Nadal were scheduled to play the championship match of the 2012 Rome Masters on Sunday. However, their match will now be played on Monday due to weather conditions, according to ATPWorldTour.com:

Persistent rain in Rome means the highly anticipated final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will now be played Monday at 12noon CEST/6am EDT.

According to Weathernetwork.com’s reports for Rome, Italy, rain is expected Sunday overnight and Monday morning. Monday afternoon is also expected to have scattered showers so perhaps Monday’s match will be delayed even further.

There are times when a player could use a delay to rest and recover. However, I don’t think either Nadal or Djokovic needed an extra day’s rest in preparation as both players had reasonably straight forward draws to the final and both had plenty of pre-tournament rest following quick exits from Madrid.

At stake in the final is a coveted Masters title, 1000 ranking points—600 go to the runner-up—and in many people’s eyes, the title of favorite heading into the 2012 French Open. Rain in the region also prevented ATP Nice from going through it’s schedule on Sunday.

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Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic: Updates on Rome Masters 2012 Final

wpid 143253181 crop 650x440 Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic: Updates on Rome Masters 2012 Final

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Once again Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are facing off in the finals and its the third time of the 2012 season. Here, we the the two face-off in the Italian Open Final but according to the tournament website the match has been delayed.

UPDATE 2:42 EST

According to Steph Trudel of Masters 1000′s and the tournament website the match between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic has been postponed to Monday:

OFFICIAL:DJOKOVIC v NADAL FINAL tomorrow at 12h00

— Steph Trudel (@TrudelSteph) May 20, 2012

On a brighter note, the fans reacted in a rather humorous manner.

wpid IOF original original Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic: Updates on Rome Masters 2012 Final Photo Credit: Rob Koenig, ATP World Tour

To that end, here’s to hoping the weather holds off tomorrow and both competitors still bring their A-game in the battle for much needed momentum heading into the French Open.

UPDATE 2:22 EST

Tournament website now saying the match is closer to beginning. Let’s hope it stands this time as the rain hasn’t been too nice as we await another Nadal vs. Djokovic duel. And the anticipation grows.

UPDATE 1:40 EST

Tournament website is back to a regular rain delay. The anxiety awaiting this match is growing.

UPDATE 1:34 EST

It appears we are getting near the opening serve. According to the tournament website, the match is expected to begin sooner than later.

For the sake of this epic matchup in a non-grand slam tournament, let’s hope we see Nadal vs. Djokovic soon because the French Open’s No. 1 seed is on the line.

Djokovic took the Australian Open to open the new year but Nadal avenged himself in Monaco last month. With the French Open on the horizon, the Italian Open winner gains the slight upper-hand heading in.

Clay court success pertains more so to Rafael Nadal as he’s been more dominant on it than anyone, but Novak Djokovic has endured his fair share as well.

With six French Open victories in the last seven years (won previous two), Nadal has done well on clay again. He won in Monaco and then Barcelona, but was upset in Madrid for his first three clay competitions of the year.

Djokovic on the other hand, lost to Nadal in Monaco and was also upset in Madrid. Still, Novak made a strong response in Italy as he defeated Roger Federer earlier in the tournament.

All that said, check back often for updates on the match between two of the best men’s tennis has to offer.

John Rozum on Twitter.

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Robin Soderling and the 2012 French Open: What’s the Low-Down?

wpid 117086247 crop 650x440 Robin Soderling and the 2012 French Open: Whats the Low Down?

Soderling’s last Grand Slam appearance was at Wimbledon 2011.
Clive Mason/Getty Images

Robin Soderling is currently ranked 56th in the world. However, that is a ranking that promises to sink fast if the Swede does not overcome his battle with mono in the near future.

Soderling, a quality player on tour who peaked as the World No. 4 in 2010, has not contested a tour-level match since ATP Bastad last July. In that tournament Soderling looked devastating and he destroyed both Tomas Berdych and David Ferrer in the late rounds of the event by a combined 24 games won to just five lost.

Soderling’s illness has definitely diluted the talent on tour and he appears incredibly unlikely to make an appearance in the 2012 French Open. Presently there is no official announcement as to whether he will play at Roland Garros, but in my opinion it certainly does not look good.

His homepage does not address the issue, a recent article on Tennis-X.com has questioned if his 2012 season is over, and many reputable sportsbooks (ie. bet365) are not offering betting lines on the Swedish star in the futures market for the upcoming clay-court Slam. As a counterpoint, some sportsbooks are offering lines, which means that some haven’t closed the book on his clay court season. At least not yet.

According to the article at Tennis-X.com, Soderling will be holding a press conference on Monday, May 21 to address the media. He will undoubtedly face questions about his future. Perhaps fans of the two-time French Open finalist, the only player to date to beat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, will then know what to expect from the Swede.

Personally I would be shocked to see Soderling in the French Open draw and—even if he was in the draw—I would be floored to see him make it to the Round of 16.

By the end of June 2012, Soderling, should he remain idle, will only have 250 ranking points to his credit, the ranking points he received for dismissing the competition in Bastad last year. For those that aren’t aware with what that implies, 250 ranking points should be good for a ranking of about 200th on tour.

By the end of July 2012 Soderling will not have any ranking points to his credit if he does not return to the tour. While he does promise to be an impact player upon his healthy return, Soderling will be 28 years old this summer.

That could still leave him a few good years on tour but you have to wonder if the battle with mono may have cost him some of the best tennis of his career as he looked poised to challenge for tour titles prior to his illness.

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Federer no permitirá que el Mundial le distraiga en Wimbledon

El tenista suizo Roger Federer espera que el Mundial no le impida defender el título en Wimbledon. Por su parte, Serena Williams se prepara para hacer reverencias, en lugar de entrenar. Leer más : actualidad.rt.com actualidad.rt.com
Video Rating: 0 / 5

Rafael Nadal Will Be Put to the Test in Italian Open Final

wpid 144785053 crop 650x4401 Rafael Nadal Will Be Put to the Test in Italian Open Final

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Rafael Nadal is going to have his hands full in the Italian Open Final match versus either Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic.

Nadal has looked more like himself at the Italian Open on the traditional red clay surface after struggling on the blue clay at the Madrid Open last weekend. That being said, though, he has still looked a bit stiff compared to his usual dominant self, and he struggled with his backhand in his semifinal matchup against David Ferrer.

No matter how well he has played up to this point, the next match will determine his status heading into the French Open later this month.

Both Djokovic and Federer have the game to beat Nadal.

You wouldn’t know that Federer’s favorite surface is grass by the way he’s played in the last couple of tournaments. After winning the Madrid Open last week, Federer has handled his opponents so far in the Italian Open, though Nadal fans would be sure to point out that it was against inferior competition.

Federer’s strong ground game will be a tough matchup for Nadal right now, and if he continues to struggle with his backhand, it could be a match he would like to forget after it’s all said and done.

Djokovic has only lost four matches all year long—the same number of losses as Nadal. He is always a tough opponent, and since his early exit at Madrid, he is out to prove his dominance once again.

Whoever wins the semifinal match, whether it be Federer or Djokovic, will be a tough test for Nadal. The matches between these three men are always exciting and full of excellent play on both sides, and they possess the best talent the world has to offer.

Follow @JesseReed78

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Internazionali BNL D’Italia 2012: Rafael Nadal Will Cruise to Title Win

wpid 144728327 crop 650x440 Internazionali BNL DItalia 2012: Rafael Nadal Will Cruise to Title Win

Julian Finney/Getty Images

It’s tough to pick against Rafael Nadal in any instance, but it’s nearly impossible to pick against him when he’s playing on clay.

Yes, even if his opponent is Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic.

Who will win it all?

Federer Nadal Djokovic Submit Vote vote to see results

Who will win it all?

Federer

Nadal

Djokovic

Total votes: 0

Nadal has moved on to the final round of the Rome Masters Final, and he did so in impressive fashion by beating David Ferrer 7-6 (8/6), 6-0 in a semifinal match that he ultimately controlled.

Ferrer worked hard in the first set to push Nadal to a tiebreaker, but Nadal roared back in the second set to put on an incredible performance. Here’s a take on said second set via Eurosport.com:

The second set had no such drama, as Nadal simply blew his increasingly error-prone adversary away. It was virtually flawless stuff from the clay-court legend, who won 32 of 48 second-set points.

Like I said, it’s nearly impossible to pick against Nadal when he’s on clay, and that’s exactly why I’m picking him to cruise to a title win in Rome.

wpid 144670793 crop 340x2341 Internazionali BNL DItalia 2012: Rafael Nadal Will Cruise to Title Win Julian Finney/Getty Images

To be fair, both Federer and Djokovic are more-than-qualified opponents and we know both players are able to beat Nadal—consider that Djokovic and Fed are one and two in the ATP World Rankings respectively. Federer has obviously had his fair share of feuds with Nadal, and we all know that Djokovic has had his number as of late.

wpid 144746596 crop 340x2341 Internazionali BNL DItalia 2012: Rafael Nadal Will Cruise to Title Win Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

It would seem as if Nadal would be at a disadvantage then, and he would, if it weren’t for that one simple factor: the Clay.

Aside from the blue clay that plagued many players at the Madrid Open, there is very little Nadal can’t do when he’s playing on clay.

wpid 144785019 crop 340x234 Internazionali BNL DItalia 2012: Rafael Nadal Will Cruise to Title Win Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

He’s nearly unstoppable, as he proved in his incredible second set against Ferrer, and he’ll have the advantage of an easy semifinal, especially if Djokovic and Federer beat each other up in theirs.

Everything is lined up very nicely for Nadal. He’s looking good, he’s playing on clay, and there’s a chance whichever opponent he faces will have had to fight through a grueling semifinal.

Nadal for the win? It’s hard to pick against.

wpid follow me c5 Internazionali BNL DItalia 2012: Rafael Nadal Will Cruise to Title Win

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Federer vs Nadal AO 2009 highlights (part1)

VAAMOOOOOOOOSS!!!
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Rome 2012: Rafael Nadal Beats David Ferrer, Books His Place in the Final

wpid 144784434 crop 650x440 Rome 2012: Rafael Nadal Beats David Ferrer, Books His Place in the Final

Julian Finney/Getty Images

The score read 7-6 (6), 6-0 once the two-hour-plus battle between Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer had ended.

But it doesn’t quite do the match justice. In my preview of the two semis, I envisioned Rafa winning in straights, as he simply does everything a bit better.

Today, that wasn’t quite true—in the first set, at least.

David Ferrer started the match boldly, hitting big, going for Nadal’s backhand and opening up the court with inside-out forehands.

He earned seven break points in the second game of the match, but could not convert a single one of them.

Nadal’s lefty serve helped him in this regard. On most break points and on many game points, he will serve from the add court.

He utilized that advantage to great effect today, drawing his opponent out off the court with his slice serve.

It wasn’t until the tiebreak that Ferrer won a point off Nadal’s first serve from the add court. At that point, he had won every second or so from the deuce court.

Nevertheless, Ferrer got his break at 2-1, but Nadal broke right back to 2-3. And so it went to the tie-break; Nadal had converted his lone break point of the set and Ferrer had converted just one of 10.

Ferrer had played better for most of the set and set the tone for the tiebreak as well. But an ill-advised drop shot didn’t clear the net and Nadal got the mini-break back.

wpid 144784554 crop 340x234 Rome 2012: Rafael Nadal Beats David Ferrer, Books His Place in the Final Julian Finney/Getty Images

A backhand in the net gave Nadal a mini-break, but Ferrer got back.

A few times earlier in the set, Ferrer had some bad misses from the net, and at 6-6 that cost him as he floated a volley to high. Nadal sprinted to it and flicked a backhand cross-court.

Where did it land? On the line.

Set-point. Ferrer sent a forehand long and went into a tailspin.

He handed Nadal a 2-0 lead in the second by virtue of four consecutive errors, two forehands he narrowly overplaced and two bad errors.

Another easy hold for Nadal and another few errors from Ferrer and he was down 0-3, 0-40.

That’s when he regained a bit of his momentum, fending off five break points in the game.

But to no avail. Nadal broke him again.

When a Ferrer forehand on the back line was called long at 15-0 in the next game—before the umpire corrected the ball and had the ball be replayed—Ferrer threw his racquet in frustration.

Not a single thing went his way. And everything went Nadal’s way.

The second set was not as much about Nadal raising his level to new heights (he made eight winners to six unforced errors in that set), but more about Ferrer caving in as so many opponents before him have done against the king of clay.

wpid 144729012 crop 340x234 Rome 2012: Rafael Nadal Beats David Ferrer, Books His Place in the Final Julian Finney/Getty Images

When you don’t take your chances as Ferrer didn’t in the first, you feel like you’ve already lost the match.

Nadal looked ominous on the forehand, played the big points better and battled through stretches of too many unforced errors and a well-playing opponent.

I’ve only seen highlights from the Nadal-Berdych quarterfinal. But if Nadal’s level from this match is any indication, Nadal is not quite as untouchable as I thought.

He was attackable throughout the match by deep balls to his backhand and the open court on his forehand side. Ferrer did a great job at exploiting Nadal’s second serve, especially in the first set.

At times, Ferrer used the Djokovic game plan to great effect. Had he edged out the first, then who knows.

Nadal will still be the favourite tomorrow against either Federer or Djokovic (read the preview for that match here).

But judging by today’s level from Nadal, both the Djoker and the Fed will have a decent chance against him.

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