Unless he is felled once again by physical problems, Roger Federer will take the court against Alexander Zverev on Wednesday in Rome. Second-round action also features a battle between fellow Spaniards David Ferrer and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
(3) Roger Federer vs. Alexander Zverev
There will be a 15-year age gap when Federer and Zverev go head-to-head for the first time in their careers in round two of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Wednesday. The 34-year-old Federer has already withdrawn from four tournaments this season–Rotterdam and Dubai because of a knee injury, Miami due to illness, and Madrid last week as a result of a back issue. Speculation is running rampant that Federer may not be able to play in Rome or–if he does suit up–will be less than 100 percent. By his standards, the second-ranked Swiss is a relatively disappointing 31-15 at this event and is still in search of his first title.
Zverev gave himself a shot at the 17-time Grand Slam champion by crushing Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-4 on Monday. The 19-year-old German is 17-11 for the season with semifinal showings in Montpellier and Munich in addition to a fourth-round performance in Indian Wells. He is an impressive 7-3 so far during this European clay-court swing. Zverev is capable of taking matters into his own hands with his heavy-hitting game, but the result of this one will likely be predicated almost entirely on Federer’s health. If the third seed is 100 percent, he should be able to shake off some rust and add much-needed matches to his schedule in advance of the French Open.
Pick: Federer in 3
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Guillermo Garcia-Lopez vs. (9) David Ferrer
It will be an all-Spanish affair when Ferrer and Garcia-Lopez square off for the ninth time in their careers and for the second time in as many weeks on Wednesday evening. Ferrer is dominating the head-to-head series 9-1 and has won eight in a row at his countryman’s expense after prevailing 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the Madrid opening round. The 34-year-old is 5-0 against Garcia-Lopez on clay, with his only setback coming on the grass courts of Wimbledon in 2005 via a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(7) decision.
Ferrer was at a home-court disadvantage in his opener on Tuesday, but he managed to scrape past Italy’s own Filippo Volandri 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. This is just the world No. 9’s second tournament of the clay-court swing, because withdrew from Monte-Carlo citing a calf injury. Garcia-Lopez is an even 13-13 for his 2016 campaign following a 6-1, 7-6(2) victory over Fabio Fognini on Monday. The 32-year-old is 0-8 in his last eight matches against top-10 opponents and 0-11 in his last 11 efforts against players in the current top 10. Ferrer got better and better as his contest with Volandri progressed and he should parlay that momentum into a more routine defeat of Garcia-Lopez this time around.
Pick: Ferrer in 2
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who ya got?
Well ill go with fed… He would have withdrawn by now if he wasn’t fit
David in the second one. Will get better with the more he plays
I love the kid! He sure is something! However, I don’t think he is ready to beat Fed even if the Swiss appears rusty…Zverev does not have mental strength to stay in the match playing consistently well…and Fed will just not allow him to play his game because he is so experienced and…well, because he is RF…but the kid might still steal a set…which will be accomplishment on its own… 🙂
Hope for Ferry to win in straights…he is not playing well, though…
If Fed is okay, then he should get the win over Zverev in 3 sets.
I expect Ferrer to play better against GGL. He should win in 2 sets.
Fed in two and ferrer in two. But zverev is one tricky first opponent for Roger.
Fed might withdraw again. That’s why they’re giving him an early slot. So the night session isn’t disturbed. He hasn’t done his pre-tournament presser yet and only did a light hit yesterday.
I was honestly surprised Fed got an early match schedule, with the heat etc. Fed likes night matches! I wish Rafa was playing at noon..,
Uhm…NO. He doesn’t. He’s good with both. I’ve never known Fed to struggle with heat. He doesn’t train in Dubai for no reason. He’s given night sessions usually, for ratings. That’s it.
I disagree…I think Fed has always preferred night sessions…I recall him deliberately dragging out the start of the second set with Davidenko because of the sun…anyway, I am used to watching Rafa during the day…Fed usually has one day session during the tournament and that’s it…Rafa prefers playing in the sun…
a lot of interesting matches today…it will be fun to watch! Novak should have played first because his match with Robert (???) is the only dull and boring match scheduled for today and it will be over within an hour…
That is factually incorrect because his match with Davydenko was in the early evening, right before sunset. Nor did he drag the match out. There is nothing to disagree. What you’re saying is simply not true. Fed has said loads of times now that conditions are much faster during the day. And pretty much anyone can tell that’s true. How about you show me one match that Roger lost because of the heat? And he plays more than a fair share of day sessions unless it’s the USO.
It’s amazing how people don’t actually watch him play but are quick to encourage falsehoods about him. The only time I’ve ever seen Roger uncomfortable with the conditions is when it gets too dark and there’s no lighting.
I never said he was bothered with the heat! I don’t really care! I know he always preferred to play night sessions but if you do not think so I respect that! However, it’s not going to change my opinion on the subject!
Good luck, today! I actually love Federer and there is no need to jump on me for saying that he preferred to play in the nice cool night sessions loaded with his fans instead of having the empty seats at noon! But that’s just me…
As usual, the regulars here know more about tennis and federer than even his own supposed fans.
The Swiss also revealed he had used a toilet break to his advantage at the end of the first set after Davydenko had broken him twice to take the initiative.
‘I was having problems with the sun in my eyes also in the opening set,’ Federer said.
‘I was waiting for it to move. I never use my toilet breaks so I thought I will use it and I hoped that maybe in that time the sun would move maybe one centimetre, maybe three.
Fed also plays most of his matches at night to conserve energy throughout tournaments.
Fedfan has once again blessed us all with a visit despite his claim of an excessively demanding career which can only mean one thing….
HAPPY ST ROGERS DAY EVERYBODY!!!
just consider night high humidity would be dangerous for Roger’s back and plus will be raining from afternoon so playing early is only chance to have favourable playing conditions…
go with Fed in 3 and improving Ferru in 2
Hawkeye BSing again. He was gone for exactly two minutes which us hardly a drag and is the alotted time between two sets and yes, sunsets are tricky while serving. It has nothing to do with being able or unable to handle heat. Obviously did not watch the match.
Roger admitted to gamesmanship, something that fedfans always accuse Rafa of falsely spreading lies that Roger is above it all.
Just more lies of their own.
Pot and kettle. Nothing new.
Happy St. Roger’s Day!!!
It is irrelevant what Roger admits or does not admit to if he does not exceed normal time.
Even assuming he intended to take a leaf out of Nadal’s book, punctuality seems to be a little too well-etched in his personality for him to default on it.
No it’s commonly accepted that it was gamesmanship stretching over the limit of what is considered good sportsmanship.
Even though considered a peRFect sportsman from his religiously devout fans, it’s far from the truth. Many examples of him cursing umpires, breaking racquets and telling fans to shut up none of which Rafa has ever done.
That said, HAPPY ST ROGERS SAY!!!
Doesn’t matter what is or isn’t commonly accepted if it did not materialise in fact. Hope it helps. But I’m guessing, given the general and deliberate ignorance, it won’t.
How about you point out what is, according to you, the grammatical error?
You have been mixing your meds and drinking again havent you fedfan.
Understandable coping mechanisms dealing with Feds aging and associated injuries.
So basically nothing. Expected. I was right in not indulging you and your BS lately. I’m done here.
Promises promises.
Also, conditions are much slower and colder(not good for the back) at night than during the day. I doubt very much that he prefers night sessions.
@ Fedfan,
BTW the reason why I was surprised to see Fed play at noon is that I find Fed vs Zverev much more interesting to watch than some of the night matches so I would expect it to be scheduled in the prime time! That’s it! The last thing on my mind was to speculate that Fed struggles under heat?! Do you really think I care? All I care is to be able to watch the young star playing the old star! And I will hardly be able to watch it due to the early schedule…
enjoy the match!
Okay. Maybe I misunderstood what you were getting at. Sorry. I think for most players their preference of timing will depend on the surface.
Yeah I think the scheduling was because he was still not sure of playing. Even I only found out today morning when I checked sites for livescores.
I have a Fedfan here with me (she works in Italy BTW!) and she is saying that the only way to get spectators to watch tennis this early in the day was to put Fed on the court 🙂 The stands are almost full!
I really hope Fed wins this in 2!
Go Maestro!
natashao2013 (AT 10:25 AM),
Empty seats:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiM1EGrUYAAhUkQ.jpg
Oh my, that dropper off the return was unbelievable from Roger. Been a while since I saw him play.
WOW! Magic point! Fed playing great! Break for Maestro! This means Fed wins the first set!
Way to go, Fed!
Roger playing his service games with such ease…no tension, no sweating, no nerves…I wish Rafa could do the same…
Great showing for Fed! He looks strong out there. He is outwitting and outplaying the kid…it’s good for Zverev though to see how it looks like playing the legend…
Zverev doesn’t look all that fit to me. Remember watching Nadal in 2005 and being amazed how fit he was at just 19.
agreed…
i just hope you aren’t comparing Zverev with Nadal. Don’t you? Or do you?
Roger needs to start returning less conservatively on BPs. Zverev finding a bit off rhythm off his serve.
Roger mis-timing his BH quite a bit. Looks a little stiff to me. FH working well though.
What Fed lacks in speed and agility is more than compensated for by his wily tactics and outwitting Zev Minor.
true indeed..
One loose game from Fed and he brings Zverev back into the match…Zverev is finding the rhythm and playing more steadily that in the first set but he is also assisted with Fed’s uncharacteristic errors…
Roger needs to win this in 2…as the match gets longer Fed will be forced to run and work harder which is not good for his first match after a long lay off…but his first serve is amazing…his second serve is strong as well…that’s such an advantage…
He’s probably thinking about all the higher ranked players Zev has scalped recently. Enough to make even the likes of Fed quail 🙂
and the kid is not giving up… 🙂
Zverev has a great feel for the ball. Hoping Roger can hold here though. Don’t want my first match in months to be a loss. :/
Zev must be near the top of the league for BPs saved over the past couple of years.
A little impatient from Roger again. No one blows break points better than he does. Was in complete control of the point there. It’s almost an art form now