Rome R3: Federer def. Stepanek 6-4, 6-1

wondeRFul second set from Roger :woohoo: Fed is looking better than MC, managing his forehand well and playing smart tennis as well, serve could improve, one revenge done, next revenge Simon? :devil:

Best performance from Fed since AO
Today he actually played some clay court tennis and used his brain
Will be an interesting SF against Djoko

Second set was great. Though his 1st serve % for the match was horrendous. Can't read too much into this. I thought Steps looked very tired out there, did not play well at all.

Stats :

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/7353/fedste.jpg

Healed back Fed into the final:yeah:

Stepa sucks,that's all.

Whats this trophy celebration about?

Very clever display by Fed. Not forcing too much , BH solid . The only problem was the 1st serve.
Only 43% .
Gr8 second set , BH clicked so well.
If he increases his 1st serve %, I don't seen anyone apart Nadal who will beat him here.

Nadal is going to slaughter Federer playing like this, Djokovic could also rip Federer apart. I think Djokovic has an honest chanse to beat a slightly tired Nadal in the final on these fast clay courts.

wondeRFul second set from Roger :woohoo: Fed is looking better than MC, managing his forehand well and playing smart tennis as well, serve could improve, one revenge done, next revenge Simon? :devil:

never in doubt general habibko. who will be the next victim?

When volleying isn't working, Stepanek doesn't have a plan B.

Stepa sucks,that's all.
already shitted your pants in advance to sunday?

already shitted your pants in advance to sunday?
:haha: you kidding me? Fed is only good enough to get to the semi. ;)

wondeRFul second set from Roger :woohoo: Fed is looking better than MC, managing his forehand well and playing smart tennis as well, serve could improve, one revenge done, next revenge Simon? :devil:

Good performance but again flashes of the past reminded me of how Roger won't play this well against a Murray, Novak or Nadal.

Some vintage stuff from Federer in that second set. Backhand constantly forcing Stepanek to volley up if not hitting outright winners. Silly forehand errors kept to a minimum. If Federer can keep this level of play, use it to build on, increase confidence, and get that 1st serve % up he can definitely make the final.

http://images.paraorkut.com/img/funnypics/images/o/owned_boxer-12248.jpg

Goat eats the worm, om nom nom.

Solid game from Roger :worship: No worm dance :devil:

Goat eats the worm, om nom nom.

:haha:

Stepa sucks,that's all.

Said it again on fast court :p

good revenge for last year's fluke

1st serve is still shit. Needs to get it back ASAP.

This is what seems like a pathetic performance from Steps.

Fed will follow this decent and uplifting performance with a error fest to go out against Simon, mark my words.

good revenge for last year's fluke


Steps played a high risk game last year and got away with it. Fed was more consistent this time around and Steps may have been lacking a little in his belief after the 1st set.

that makes all the difference.

Fed will follow this decent and uplifting performance with a error fest to go out against Simon, mark my words.

let Simon win his match first, he is already trailing :lol:

Simon will definitely test Fed from the baseline much more than today, it will be a great warmup towards a Djokovic semis if he overcame Simon, or maybe Zverev :rolleyes:

surprisingly easy for clubfed.

stepa had other plans maybe

This is what seems like a pathetic performance from Steps.

Yes. The game he played serving at 4-5 in the first: :tape:. From that point on, he played the match like it was an exho. On one point he even ran straight to his chair after hitting a weak approach (ie before Federer even passed him).

If you come to the net every damn point you might as well just fall to the ground on your way there.

That said, Federer is playing better for sure. Forehand is definitely looking better. First serve % not so good. And it remains to be seen how he'll do when faced with an orthodox new generation baseliner.

Quarterfinals look good for him: Zverev is a newbie and Simon looks out of sorts. But I'd favor Djokovic in a semi if he gets past Pony.

:)

Fed will follow this decent and uplifting performance with a error fest to go out against Simon, mark my words.

Epic fail. Gigantic fail.

:o

easy enough. I still stand by my words... Djoko will take him out (that is, Federer'll win one more match) :devil:

Fed will follow this decent and uplifting performance with a error fest to go out against Simon, mark my words.

Simon lost

Nadal is in deep shit now old Fed is back

1st serve % is still bad.

easy enough. I still stand by my words... Djoko will take him out (that is, Federer'll win one more match) :devil:nobody cares about your stupid predictions anyway

1st serve % is still bad.

if that was the only negative thing you could find, then Roger was truly awesome :worship:

more of the same Fed, make the final :rocker2:

if that was the only negative thing you could find, then Roger was truly awesome :worship:

:rocker2:

Its his 2nd match so he gets more leeway. ;)

Awful from Stepanek, he even managed to make Federer BH looking awesome. Well, looks like there is an improvement at Rogers game: he realized that his strokes are not as they used to be and finally started to play with more patience not forcing wild winners on every shot. On clay that is a smart move. However, we couldn't see his behavior in tight situations, Radek did not provide much resistance or pressure (except when Fed served for the first set).

Fed will follow this decent and uplifting performance with a error fest to go out against Simon, mark my words.

Marked. :shrug:

Nice, but I think those long punding groundstrokes of Micha will cause him trouble....

Nadal is in deep shit now old Fed is back

:worship:

nobody cares about your stupid predictions anyway

:haha:

if that was the only negative thing you could find, then Roger was truly awesome :worship:

more of the same Fed, make the final :rocker2:

Believe me now?

Believe me now?

there is a difference between hoping he makes the final and being absolutely sure he will make it, I'm still in hope, but I wouldn't bet my money on it based on recent performances, the possible match with a solid Djokovic will be the moment of truth for Roger.

there is a difference between hoping he makes the final and being absolutely sure he will make it, I'm still in hope, but I wouldn't bet my money on it based on recent performances, the possible match with a solid Djokovic will be the moment of truth for Roger.

Spot on, Zverev game suits him even more and it should be an easy win. On the other hand Djokovic is a different story.

Spot on, Zverev game suits him even more and it should be an easy win. On the other hand Djokovic is a different story.

Should be fun.

Hopefully Roger will use this to build on. Nothing special here, but 1 more winner then unforced errors is unusual for him.

Highlights for those interested ;)

Stepanek's 0*-5 30*-0 point in the 2nd set was amazing it has to be said and Roger's BH's DTL were :hearts:

z51lc1I2NcA

Stepa sucks,that's all.
If you've ever needed a compass to tell which way the wind shines, then you are already well informed about nonsense. Nonsense is an early 20th Century literary technique, which employs enlightening witticisms and vivid analogies and overblown metaphors and well-placed digits of pi in order to convey a sense of wistful romantic nostalgia and pizza within 20 minutes or your money back. It also tosses in some nouns and adjamectives and really spongebob, that's got to be your stupidest idea ever.

This is what seems like a pathetic performance from Steps.
This Radikolous shouldn't be allowed to use up good oxygen.

Fed will follow this decent and uplifting performance with a error fest to go out against Simon, mark my words.
Eat your words. :lol:

easy enough. I still stand by my words... Djoko will take him out (that is, Federer'll win one more match) :devil:
Might happen, might not happen. Federer has never lost to Djokovic on clay. If Federer plays at the level he did against Stepanek, surely he will come out on top.

Some flashes of JesusFed, but Radek played two matches and a doubles match yersterday. Still has to improve his first serve and those floated returns on second serve :help:

If Federer plays at the level he did against Stepanek, surely he will come out on top.

Especially since Djoker didn't look great in the Robredo match, it was that Robredo played horribly.

1st serve % is still bad.

Fed's 1st serve % has been bad all year. He won't win a slam without improving it!

that was pretty good, well done :)

If you've ever needed a compass to tell which way the wind shines, then you are already well informed about nonsense. Nonsense is an early 20th Century literary technique, which employs enlightening witticisms and vivid analogies and overblown metaphors and well-placed digits of pi in order to convey a sense of wistful romantic nostalgia and pizza within 20 minutes or your money back. It also tosses in some nouns and adjamectives and really spongebob, that's got to be your stupidest idea ever.


This Radikolous shouldn't be allowed to use up good oxygen.


Eat your words. :lol:


Might happen, might not happen. Federer has never lost to Djokovic on clay. If Federer plays at the level he did against Stepanek, surely he will come out on top.

Roger that :cool:

Go Roger :angel:Win the title plssssssssssssssss:worship:

Excellent second set by Fed....the first had a few hic-ups especially when he lost his serve at 5-3..but then Radek lost his to give him the set but lots of positives in the second set especially his serve....however, Nadal still looks terrific!

Hingisova:wavey:

nobody cares about your stupid predictions anyway
x2

Nadal is going to slaughter Federer playing like this, Djokovic could also rip Federer apart. I think Djokovic has an honest chanse to beat a slightly tired Nadal in the final on these fast clay courts.

Nobody beat Federer, only Federer can beat Federer.

If you've ever needed a compass to tell which way the wind shines, then you are already well informed about nonsense. Nonsense is an early 20th Century literary technique, which employs enlightening witticisms and vivid analogies and overblown metaphors and well-placed digits of pi in order to convey a sense of wistful romantic nostalgia and pizza within 20 minutes or your money back. It also tosses in some nouns and adjamectives and really spongebob, that's got to be your stupidest idea ever.


This Radikolous shouldn't be allowed to use up good oxygen.


Eat your words. :lol:


Might happen, might not happen. Federer has never lost to Djokovic on clay. If Federer plays at the level he did against Stepanek, surely he will come out on top.

:retard:

If there's someone who's just wasting oxygen right now, this person is called Roger "mr. Mirka Ono" Frauderer, who can't beat Wawrinka on clay and who has delivered to Nadull at least two titles any other decent player wouldn't have.

Get a clue, gloryhunter fanboy. It's time for you to jump ship. Frauderer is a mental weakling, can't even beat his pigeons anymore.

Hopp Rogi :bounce: :D

:retard:

If there's someone who's just wasting oxygen right now, this person is called Roger "mr. Mirka Ono" Frauderer, who can't beat Wawrinka on clay and who has delivered to Nadull at least two titles any other decent player wouldn't have.

Get a clue, gloryhunter fanboy. It's time for you to jump ship. Frauderer is a mental weakling, can't even beat his pigeons anymore.


If that's your comment on Roger after today's match, surely you think Stepanek should be put out of his misery :angel:

If it wasn't for "Frauderer", your beloved "Nadull" may be a Wimbledon tri-champion by now. Think about that and enjoy things as they are.

Federer glad to see him disposing of Stepanek easily :bigclap:

Federer glad to see him disposing of Stepanek easily :bigclap:

;) - didn't see this match of course - La Palma telly isn't that good, and besides that, I have better things to do on Paradise Island - but it's rather good to see that Roger dealt out a breadstick. It's been a while!
Sorry, Steps. :p

;) - didn't see this match of course - La Palma telly isn't that good, and besides that, I have better things to do on Paradise Island - but it's rather good to see that Roger dealt out a breadstick. It's been a while!
Sorry, Steps. :p

Karin:hug: I want a fedal final, it's been sooooooo long since the last one ;)

Vintage stuff in the second set from Roger, his 1st % serve wasn't good, but the rest of the game was pretty pretty solid, haven't seen him using his BH that well this year ;)

Make the final Fed

Fed will grind Joko like Dijana s anxiety meds

Karin:hug: I want a fedal final, it's been sooooooo long since the last one ;)

Ali :hug: me too. And I wouldn´t care who wins...

Sexy :(.

congratuations habibko;):p

Ali :hug: me too. And I wouldn´t care who wins...

thirded ;)

congratuations habibko;):p

:woohoo: :banana:

thanks dear :hug: let's hope for more of the same today and for the rest of 2009 :devil:

Nobody beat Federer, only Federer can beat Federer.

Like a simple-minded child beating his head against the wall out of frustration.

Shakey dakey... shake 'n bake.

Federer is playing well but still has had a very nice draw. an out of sorts karlovic, a tired looking stepanek and zverev in the quarters, he will just lose to novak in the semis and then people will start bashing him again.

if that was the only negative thing you could find, then Roger was truly awesome :worship:

more of the same Fed, make the final :rocker2:

I wouldn't hype Federer too much, it's only one match against a player who has no game on clay at all, similar to Karlovic.

I wouldn't hype Federer too much, it's only one match against a player who has no game on clay at all, similar to Karlovic.

:lol:

Stepanek has beaten many good players on clay (including Federer) and reached a Masters Series final. Admittedly losing in straights to Boredo is a horrid result, but it's still not bad going making the final.

i think this match was a turning point in federer's career... and... inside this, we will come to understand how much mojo stepanek has channelled into federer's game through simply sharing a space with four corners in Rome...

remember, you read it here first people...