Familiar foes Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych will meet again on Friday in Rome. Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori are also aiming for a spot in the semifinals.
(6) Tomas Berdych vs. (2) Roger Federer
Federer and Berdych will be facing each other for the 20th time in their careers when they do battle in the quarterfinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Friday. The head-to-head series stands at 13-6 in favor of Federer, who most recently prevailed 6-4, 6-0 earlier this season in Indian Wells. After losing two in a row to Berdych in 2012 and 2013, the Swiss has managed to get the job done on two straight occasions. The two players have squared off only once on clay in the last nine years, with Federer improving to 3-0 lifetime against Berdych on the slow stuff after scoring a 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory in the 2012 Madrid final (blue clay).
Berdych just barely managed to book his spot in the last eight as he outlasted Fabio Fognini 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(2) on Thursday. The fifth-ranked Czech preceded that thriller with a more routine defeat of Italian wild card Matteo Donati. Berdych is now 32-8 on the year and has reached at least the quarterfinals in all nine of his tournaments. Federer decided to play in Rome after losing early in Madrid to Nick Kyrgios and so far it appears to be a good decision. The world No. 2 did not drop a set while taking out Pablo Cuevas and Kevin Anderson, although he gave back two breaks against Anderson in their second frame. Federer should be able to continue his winning ways against a familiar opponent who spent two hours and 34 minutes on court in round three.
Pick: Federer in 2
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(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (5) Kei Nishikori
Djokovic got a minor scare from Thomaz Bellucci during third-round action on Thursday but he pulled out a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 victory to earn a place in the Rome quarterfinals. The top-ranked Serb has won all three of the Masters 1000 events in which he has participated this season: Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte-Carlo. He then skipped Madrid for some rest before getting back in gear this week with wins so far over Bellucci and Nicolas Almagro–who also took a set before going down 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3.
Up next for Djokovic is a sixth career meeting with Nishikori, who has advanced with straight-set defeats of Jiri Vesely and Viktor Troicki. The head-to-head series stands at 3-2 in favor of Djokovic, who won their only previous clay-court encounter 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 at the 2010 French Open. They most recently faced each other last fall in the semifinals of the year-end championship, with Djokovic getting the job done 6-1, 3-6, 6-0. While the top seed has been far from dominant through two matches in Rome, Nishikori showed some vulnerability against both Vesely and Troicki. The No. 5 seed will make this competitive, but Djokovic will be determined to seal the deal in two following a pair of three-setters.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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Both will be good matches. Eager to see 🙂
Hoping both Berdych and Nishi to upset but doubt either will happen:-)
This is one time I am rooting for both Fed and Novak. Reason: both Berdy and Nishikori need to lose to improve Rafa’s chances of going up to #4 in the rankings.
Allez Fed!
Idemo Nole!
C’mon Fed! Tar and feather the Big Bird…………..
Allez Fed! Berdy down, Nishi to go………..
Vamos Rafa! We want Fedal!
And what if Rafa loses to Fed? Can you stomach that?
If Rafa loses to Fed playing with hunger and aggression, yes I can stomach it. What I cannot stomach is a repeat of the Madrid final, where he capitulated meekly.
I cannot stomach a Rafa loss to Fed (:-
Relax, if Rafa meets Fed, he will beat him.
Nishikori playing like an idiot at the moment, which I like………
#LoseBabyLose
NIshi is not playing well at all. He’s had his chances, but can’t seem to get it together.
For myself, I am not looking ahead to a semi with Rafa and Fed. Rafa has to play Stan first. He has to get there.
What I can’t stomach is Rafa losing to the likes of Fognini, Verdasco and Raonic. I can’t stomach Rafa losing those kinds of matches where he was in a position to win. Playing like he wasn’t even there. I also can’t stomach seeing Rafa lose the way he did to Murray.
If Rafa plays his best, then that’s all I can ask. As long as he is competing, that’s the most important thing.
But it’s premature to look ahead to the semis. I am not taking anything for granted.
if Rafa plays his best nobody poses a threat to him…the problem is he is not…but we can sure hope he will continue with the upward progression…
I agree NNY…I was really hiurt when Rafa lost to Roanic esp when he had so many looks…it just really pissed me off!!! I hope he steps up to the plate toplay Stan bcos most of the players always like to take it to Rafa…..so he better come prepared for Stan! Vamos Rafa!
You mean the Bird could not even win a set?!!! Well, at least Kei won a set even if he will lose!
What a match to look forward to if Rafa wins to set up a clash with Roger?! The last time Rafa did not keep up his end of the bargain and lost ot Roanic…..hope he does not repeat!!!!! I would not be able to not Stan it….lol!!!
Nishikori Out. Well done Novak!
Now #4 ranking at RG is in Rafa’s hands, all he has to do is win Rome.
What happens if he does not win Rome…..he loses the ranking still?
If Rafa does not win Rome i.e. he is a finalist he defends last year’s finalist points, does not add any and he stays at #7. Kei has already added points because he did not play Rome last year. Can’t remember how far Berdy went last year but if Rafa wins the title he will add enough points to leap-frog both Kei and Berdy.
Nadal can beat Fed, Fed is not much of a clay player these days. but after watching his match against Murray at Madirs, I doubt he will beat Djokovic.Time will tell.
Never was compared to Nadal and Djokovic.
They crunched the numbers over at VB and it does confirm that in order to get the #4 ranking back, Rafa must win Rome and Nishi must not make the finals!
Now it’s up to Rafa! One match at a time!
I am getting nervous with some looking ahead to a possible meeting between Rafa and Fed. I know we can’t ignore the possibility that they will meet, but my mind for now is on the task at hand. Rafa first must deal with Stan.
Oh Come on what makes you so nervous about a Federr Nadal match? Nadal will use the same tactics that have worked for him so often. target Federer’s weak single handed backhand repeat x 1000. Game set and match. Federer hasn’t worked out a way to overcome these tactics in 10 years how will he find a solution for this strategy now?
Roger has beaten Rafa sometimes, esp when Rafa was exhausted or on very fast surface etc. If they meet this week Rafa can’t afford an off day.
Has nothing to do with Fed. Spoken like a true Fedole fan (i.e., either a Fedfan or an ex-pat fed fan jumping on the Nole bandwagon).
Listen, if Rafa can lose twice to Fognini on clay and Murray on clay, on any given day, anyone is a threat. Yes. Even Federer.
Sure even CryBaby still in a supposed funk for deserting his family is a threat.
Basically Rafa is a threat to himself. The consistency just isn’t there day in day out. Hasn’t been in almost two years.
Federer will still find a way to lose, no matter how poorly Nadal is playing.
We can only hope.
You guys are making my head spin and hurt!
Sharapova about to win her match, Then rafa will come. Gosh ! this is so late
sigh two break points saved by stan already… deuce….stan unable to find first serves…BREAK RAFA, NOW!
great return and excellent drop shot….third chance now..
COME ON! Finally rafa decides to change the direction of the ball to go down the line with his forehand in response to a powerful off forehand by stan .
perfect start!
POOR !! ARRGGHHHH why cannot you be consistent now rafa! :/
phew…avoids the break! 2-2… nobody out there??!!
Im here, did not realise it had started!! Rafa missing out on break point chances, never a good sign!
You’re on the wrong thread @vamosrafa…….