Rafael Nadal is the master of the clay court. On Sunday (May 3), he defeated Novak Djokovic, 7-6 (2), 6-2 at the Rome Masters. This is his fourth Rome Masters title, his third clay-court title in three weeks and his 30th consecutive win on clay. It seems defeating Nadal on clay is next to impossible these days.

Djokovic took the Rome Masters title last year and had a chance to take it again after he defeated Roger Federer on Saturday (May 2) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. This now makes Federer’s title drought extended to seven months. That’s got to hurt.
Since Djokovic …read more

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are facing each other today (May 2) at the Rome Masters and their match has been halted due to a rain delay. Swiss second seed Federer was leading 6-4 2-1 when the match had to be stopped.

Djokovic’s focus was interrupted when someone in the stands whistled just as he was about to serve a crucial point. I hope they found out who it was and booted that jerk out of there!!
Rafael Nadal will play against Chilean 12th seed Fernando Gonzalez later today. If Nadal defeats him, the winner of the Federer/Djokovic match will …read more

This was my prediction! Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all have advanced into the Rome Masters semifinals. Nadal defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3. Federer defeated Mischa Zverev 7-6 (3), 6-2 and Djokovic defeated Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-4. Next meeting: Federer against Djokovic today, May 2nd.

Djokovic and Federer both like the fast clay court, so it should be a great match.
“I think both of us like it, so it’s going to be interesting,” Djokovic said. “I feel quite confident playing here. Each match I play, I feel more comfortable moving on the court and just playing my …read more

Well, the Rome Masters finally saw a complete match played after several of the tour’s top players withdrew because of injuries. Novak Djokovic came from a set down (4-6, 6-3, 6-3) to beat Stanislas Wawrinka in the Rome Masters final.
The victory was Djoko’s 10th career title It also puts him 310 points behind second-ranked Rafael Nadal. The top two have been set in stone for so long; are we about to see some shake ‘n bake at the top?

(Image: Newscom)
Novak Djokovic hoists his trophy after winning the Rome Masters.
Dinara Safina capped a dream run at the German Open with a …read more

Apparently Rafa was only the first in a string of toppled giants. Roger Federer lost a tightly-contested two-set match to Radek Stepanek in the Rome Masters quarterfinals 7-6(4), 7-6(7). I don’t know which type of loss is harder: the one where you get completely blown off the court or the one where you’re so incredibly close but can’t finish off the few vital points that would have swung the match in your favor. Either way a loss is still a loss and an exit from a tournament and that’s what Federer did in Rome.
Who’s going to win Rome now? Hercules …read more

When in Rome…don’t do as Rafael Nadal did. Rafa lost 7-5, 6-1 to Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round of the Rome Masters, a tournament Rafa has won the last three years.
Bummer, dude. I’m not sure if I expected Rafa to sweep all the clay court tournaments this season or not. I never really thought that far ahead; all I knew was that he was on a roll. And I’m sure there are going to be some brainless nitwits out there who say Rafa has lost his mojo. Losing his second match in 105 on clay? It’s a slump!! …read more

Rafa had a valid point when he said the clay court season was jammed into a tight time frame. I feel like I’ve just wrapped up one tournament, take a breath and then turn around and realize we’re already halfway through the next tournament. And I’m just writing about it!
So Roger Federer passed another clay test – actually at this point, it doesn’t really matter what surface it is although everything seems to be that much more of an accomplishment when it’s done on clay. Federer faced Guillermo Canas, a player he has traditionally had trouble with – to the …read more