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© Tonelli/Zimmer

Roger unable to beat Rafa on clay

27.04.2008 | Tennis

Today’s finalists of the Monte Carlo Masters were identical to 2006 and 2007: Roger met his closest rival in the rankings, Rafael Nadal. Unfortunately Roger was once again unable to steal the title from the Spaniard, losing 5-7, 5-7.

 

“It seems to be the same here every year. But I have to be satisfied with my performance as I was almost eliminated early in the tournament,” Roger said. He had narrowly escaped a defeat from Spain’s Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo.

 

After a series of breaks and re-breaks in the first set Roger came into the second all guns blazing, attacking the net and managing to hold serve after breaking in the first game. He made his point clearer by breaking to love in the third and by the end of the fourth game had allowed his opponent only four points. However, Nadal did not give up and as Roger’s level of play declined he won the next five games. Our star managed to level at 5-5 but Nadal wrapped it up after one hour and 43 minutes when Roger sent a backhand long, his 44th unforced error.

 

It is Nadal’s 24th career-title and his 19th on clay. This had only been achieved in the years 1911 to 1914 by New Zealand’s Anthony Wilding.

 

Next up for Roger is the “Internazionali BNL d'Italia” in Rome, starting on May 5th.

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Tilou
05/04/2008 | 05:51 PM
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***Fans
Here are extracts from a very interesting article (found it on Tennisplanet)
(...) "I know I can win the French Open. I know I have the game. I'm a natural on clay. And I'm very close to Pete's record. It's such an interesting time for me. I'm c
TonyN
05/04/2008 | 05:50 PM
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Hi Tilou, yeah Rod Laver, as well as (separately) Ken Rosewall. Both were just exhibitions, not Grand Slam finals, and they were nearing the end of their careers. I was just a kid, but for some reason Rosewall’s backhand has stuck most in my mind -- it wa
TonyN
05/04/2008 | 05:44 PM
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Some tennis history. Ken Rosewall was a worse foil to the great Rod Laver’s ambition to win Roland Garros than Rafa has so far been to Roger. Sure, in 1962 Laver did win his first French championship title on Roland Garros as an amateur, when the event wa
ivanaj
05/04/2008 | 02:27 PM
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GOOD LUCK IN ROME!S' ljebavlju...Ivana
AmberR
05/04/2008 | 10:18 AM
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Nadal and Federer - What Monte Carlo's final means

5/4/08 4:29 AM | Cheryl Murray

Fast forward to Monte Carlo 2008. The same questions lingered; maybe this would be the year that Federer would break through.........

The Swiss world number one con
Kentvs
05/04/2008 | 07:44 AM
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Hey Roger, I followed all your matches in Montecarlo and I noticed that you came from less to more along the championship, you are getting better and better on clay and now I know you can beat Rafa even on clay. You are a very intelligent player and I am
numeide
05/04/2008 | 01:28 AM
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Non importase non hai battuto Rafa sei comunque il migliore. Sei stato capace di arrivare in finale e di battere Nabandian. A Roma andrà meglio, vedrai, puoi vincere. Ciao Tanti auguri
Tilou
05/03/2008 | 11:37 PM
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Hello JEUX-SET-MATCH,

Yes, unfortunately Djoko is in Roger’s half in Rome, so he could meet Roger in the semi again. I was hoping he would be in Rafa’s half this time, but no such luck. Let’s hope Djoko gets beaten before the semi. If Nalbandian is
JEUX-SET-MATCH
05/03/2008 | 11:03 PM
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Hello Tilou. I looked at the Rome draws and our Roger could meet Djoko in semi-final if I read this draw correctly.
Tilou
05/03/2008 | 10:55 PM
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Hello Briliantroger,

I am happy that you liked the video also. It seems to have reconciled me with the AO 2008. I still felt some pain about the way it ended. But in this video, all the great scores that Roger got against many difficult opponents ar
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