Hi guys, I was not going to make a post today as this is my working weekend, but I feel like I let you down when I miss a match post. So I decided to make a quick one. Not that I ever make a quick one. I always say I will but then end up...
Hi guys, I was not going to make a post today as this is my working weekend, but I feel like I let you down when I miss a match post. So I decided to make a quick one. Not that I ever make a quick one. I always say I will but then end up making a detailed post. I guess I just like doing things right if I’m gonna do them. Roger was scheduled to play last today, which meant that Djokovic had already lost 6-2, 5-7, 4-6 to Berdych before he went on court. I was really surprised about this result, given that Djokovic was 6-2, 5-2 up and served for the match at 5-3 in the second set. Unreal. One of my readers remarked that Djokovic would tank Rome to save energy for the French Open. But I thought that was unrealistic given that Djokovic lost in his first match in Madrid and had already beaten Nadal in the Monte Carlo final.
It’s not like he had already played a lot of tennis in the clay season. I don’t think this was a tank. Why would he go up 6-2, 5-2 just to lose the match? It would make no sense. From what I hear Berdych hit the zone at that point and started hitting the lines. Djokovic became defensive and waited for Brdych to miss, but that never happened. Well we all know how destructive Berdych can be when he enters the zone. He becomes extremely difficult to stop. He is like a juggernaut that removes everything in his way. And I don’t believe for one second that Djokovic would not have given 100% effort knowing that he would have another shot at Nadal before the French Open. I was really disappointed by this result because I desperately wanted to see him beat Nadal again. Not only for Roger’s sake but for the sake of Nadal losing.
The match stats have been top notch all week
Anyway the fact that Roger went on court last meant he already knew that he would probably have to face Nadal in the final should he go that far. I wondered whether it would affect his mental state against Janowicz. But I don’t think it did at all. Roger ended up beating Janowicz 6-4, 7-6(2). It was the first time I had a look at Janowicz and he was pretty impressive. The fact that Roger got the job done in straight sets showed me that he was 100% focused out there. At 4-4 in the first set Roger held serve to love, and then proceeded to break in the next game to claim that first set. In the second set Janawicz hit right back though, as he broke Roger to 15 with a scorching forehand return winner in the opening ame. He was back in the match and he consolidated in the next game to take a 2-0 lead. Janowicz then held serve until 5-4 where he served for the second set.
He couldn’t close the deal though as Roger played a classic clay court point to break serve. Roger was back in the second set and in control of the match once more. He then had match point on Janaowicz’s serve at 6-5 but missed an easy return off a Janowicz second serve. It was tie break time. Roger’s highly underrated return game then came to the fore as he broke Janowicz several times to win the breaker 7-2. It was another clinical display from Roger against what I thought was a pretty impressive young talent. Janowicz has a big serve but at the same time a good all court game, and he moves well for a tall guy too. I think he has a promising future. Anyway it was nice to see Roger school him after he called Roger arrogant. Clearly the youngster still needs to learn his place, even though he seemed in awe of Roger before and after the match.
In awe of greatness
Roger now plays Paire, who has been the surprise of this event. Paire easily disposed of Granollers in the quarters, and if you remember he was Roger’s first round opponent in Melbourne this year. That was the only time I saw him play and he looked pretty decent, even though Roger pretty much destroyed him. Roger looks to be back in similar form, and as long he is not worried about facing Nadal in the final this should be another straight set win. And I don’t think he
score: 1
about 4 hours ago