It was an easy day at the office for Novak Djokovic who progressed seamlessly into the second round of the Australian Open after defeating Paolo Lorenzi 6-2, 6-0, 6-0.
It was the perfect start for the Serbian world number one who won a record number of Masters 1000 titles, prize money and walked away with a 70-6 record for 2011.
Confidence oozed out of Djokovic and rang alarm bells for anyone thinking that the Serbian might not be able to have a blinding 2012 as well. Read more
Posted in Australian Open, Novak Djokovic, Paolo Lorenzi
Rafael Nadal has secured his position at the top of the rankings for another week by making it into the semis in Rome after beating Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-3 today.
With long time girlfriend Xisca Perello in the stands supporting her man, Rafa broke Cilic early for a 2-0 lead in a match that he should not have been playing. Apparently Uncle Toni told L’Equipe that he had recommended his nephew withdraw from Rome due to his fever prior to playing his third round match against Feliciano Lopez. His stubborn charge seems intent on defending his number one ranking and beating Djokovic for some confidence ahead of Roland Garros, hopefully not at the cost of hit longer term fitness for the next two months. Read more
Rafael Nadal has discussed his horror debut in Rome against the brilliant Paolo Lorenzi and his comments seem to be in agreement with some of his fans – oh well it can’t possibly get worse!
It seems the Spanish wonder kid is a but tired, perhaps the side effect of trying to squeeze an extra tournament (Barcelona) into the clay court season, but he’s looking forward to a good tournament leading up to Roland Garros next week. Read more
Posted in Media, Paolo Lorenzi, Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros, Rome
Paolo Lorenzi put on a brilliant show in Rome today. The home grown hero, who at 29 has struggled to put a mark on the ATP circuit, showed other players on the circuit just how far Rafael Nadal, the King of Clay, is from being in full flight. Nadal worked hard, really hard, and looked exhausted from beginning to end but eventually won 6-7, 6-4, 6-0
On his beloved red dirt, even when his knees had seen better days in 2009, Rafa has always been a superior clay court player. Lorenzi commendably went for broke against the world number one and he made him work for a third round position showing that he too has some great clay court abilities. At one point he won seven consecutive points, a number which Juan Carlos Ferrero struggled to get from a much stingier Nadal last season. Read more
Robin Soderling
‘s 6-1, 7-5 win over Paolo Lorenzi in just 1 hour 14 minutes could have been a lot faster if he hadn’t lost his way in the second set. The match was all Soderling. Even though Soderling doesn’t have the best feel at the net and definitely doesn’t have the best agility on a clay court he look dominant throughout the match, pummeling his forehand hard and flat and controlling the direction of pace. In the first set there was nothing his Italian opponent could do. Read more
Posted in Paolo Lorenzi, Robin Soderling, Rome
