Still no title in Rome

Roger Federer has just lost an extremely close match to Radek Stepanek, 7-6(4) 7-6(7), in the quarterfinals of the ATP Master Series in Rome, Italy.
Both players never faced a break point as each comfortably held serve in the opening set. While Federer served very well--he won all points when his first serve went in--Stepanek matched him in that area and was increasingly becoming more effective in preventing the top seed from getting any rhythm. This much was clear in the tiebreak where Federer struggled to make any headway into the Czech's serve.

Things became especially bleak for the Swiss in the second set when Stepanek broke early on to race to a 3-0 lead. But the champion's heart in Federer enabled him to claw back to 3-4--much to the delight of the highly partisan crowd--and force another tiebreak. There, Federer won a long and terrific rally to go up 4-1. But when Federer was on the verge of forcing a deciding set at 6-5 his game fell apart once again to allow the 27th ranked Stepanek to eventually triumph over the world number one for only the second time.

Thus ended Federer's quest for a title at Rome this year. Just when he had a golden opportunity to bag the crown for the first time given three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal's exit in the second round!

But as in the case of the Spaniard, Federer will at least have more time to rest and prepare for the next ATP Masters Series which is in Hamburg and commences this coming Sunday. Federer is defending champion in that tournament and has won the title there four times.
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Federer topples Karlovic

Top ranked Roger Federer continued his relentless march toward a first title at the ATP Masters Series in Rome after overcoming the tour's tallest player, Ivo Karlovic, in straight sets 7-6(4) 6-3.

The Swiss at first struggled with Karlovic's big serve and failed to convert a few break points in the first set before prevailing in the tiebreak. Afterwards Federer appeared to pick up on his opponent's serve and began to relax, breaking the Croat's serve in the fifth game of the second set. He fittingly clinched victory on another break of serve.

Overall, Federer played an excellent match hitting 27 winners to just nine unforced errors. He also lost only a total of ten points on serve throughout the match. As expected Karlovic who towers over everyone else in the tour at 6'10" managed to fire twelve aces past the Federer but that ultimately wasn't of any help as he failed to get past the top seed.

Federer will next face Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic who earlier fought back to defeat qualifier Luis Horna 6-4 1-6 6-3.
Photo credit: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images

Federer Express dispatches Cañas

World number one Roger Federer subdued nemesis Guillermo Cañas in straight sets 6-3 6-3 to earn a spot in the third round of the ATP Masters Series in Rome.

Facing the 30th ranked Cañas for the first time on clay, Federer was clearly the better-adjusted of the two after breaking the Argentine's serve in the sixth game of the opening set. He repeated the feat in the seventh game of the second set but only after fending off a break point on his previous service game. He then went on to seal a convincing victory on his second match point after quickly going up 0-40 as Cañas served to stay in the match.

Federer put in one of his better performances on clay during the one-hour and 24-minute match. The two-time finalist at Rome fired 34 winners past the struggling Cañas, who had only ten winners, and, despite putting in just 54% of his first serves, surrendered a total of twelve points on serve.

Previously, Cañas was one of the few players on the tour with a winning record against the Swiss. With this latest victory by Federer, the two are now tied with three wins each.

While I was gone...

I haven't posted in nearly two months, having been out of the country for a month's vacation. Before that, I was busy wrapping up things at work so that I could pass them on to whoever would be taking up my duties while I was gone.

Now that I'm back, quite a lot has happened since that last post about both Federer and Nadal getting into the finals at Monte Carlo:

• Nothing new at that finals as Nadal won his third straight title at Monte Carlo 4-6 4-6.
  
• Yet another honor was bestowed on Federer: he was named by TIME magazine as one of 100 most influential people in the world today. According to the magazine, these are the men and women "whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world". The write-up about Federer who was classified under "Heroes and Pioneers" was penned by no less than tennis legend Rod Laver.
• Then the Rome AMS was not kind at all to Federer when he lost in the third round to Filippo Volandri in straight sets 2-6 4-6. Oh well.
• Federer unexpectedly split with Tony Roche, his part-time coach for two-and-a-half years, blaming a "lack of communication"--and not his recent slump--for the decision. Federer has stated that he intends to go it alone until at least Wimbledon this year.
• Finally Federer made a very crucial breakthrough at the Hamburg AMS where he defeated Nadal at the finals to win a fourth title there. More importantly, he halted the clay court specialist's winning streak on clay at 81 matches! Way to go, Roger! Federer had a very poor start at the match, dropping the first set 1-6 before he came back in the second winning it 6-2. Better still, he won the deciding third set 6-0, another bagel from the prolific Federer's Bakery--and on Nadal's beloved clay no less! Loved the exciting rally with Nadal serving during the third set at 0-3, 15-0. One could see how much the win meant to him when he let out an almighty roar to celebrate match point. I also loved the scene where Mirka came down to courtside to congratulate her man. So sweet!