[Sirocco11]

(Original post by cab12)
Looking forward to seeing this blue clay in Madrid this week. Wander if there will be a big difference in terms of how visible the ball is? You never know we may soon have the French Open on blue clay.

Ugh, hope not. And judging from most of the players' reactions it's not very popular so far. It looks like a hard court rather than clay and I don't really see the point in changing the colour aside from novelty.

[cab12]

Federer is a set down now and it is very tight in the second. I like Raonic and he is a really good future player but COME ON FED!!!!

[Zhy]

Federer now leads the H2H 3-0 with Sampras.

[Rakas21]

Fed wins.

Given that we are on clay i would expect Nadal to win but i think that Federer could well be in the final.

[Kado]

Nadal loses 63, 36, 75 to Verdasco after serving for the match twice. Oops.

I think this blue clay has the potential to throw up a few more surprises, neither Djokovic or Federer looked overly comfortable on it in their first games. Could be an interesting tournament.

[Zhy]

Great win by Dasco. Will now lose to Berdych in QF.

[Hood_Man]

For once I'm gutted Fed wasn't on Nadal's side of the draw, he still has to go through Djokovic if he's going to win here.

Saying that, I just want to see him carry on with that lovely serve and volley action he's got going this week

[Kado]

According to the BBC both Djokovic and Nadal have threatened to boycott the event next year if they do not return to traditional clay.

It certainly doesn't seem like a very popular move from the organisers!

Also Federer will become world #2 if he wins this tournament now.

[member592149]

(Original post by Kado)
According to the BBC both Djokovic and Nadal have threatened to boycott the event next year if they do not return to traditional clay.

It certainly doesn't seem like a very popular move from the organisers!

Also Federer will become world #2 if he wins this tournament now.

That would sure make the RG draw exciting. I'd love to see Federer vs Murray and Rafa vs Djokovic in the semi's!

[Zhy]

(Original post by Kado)
According to the BBC both Djokovic and Nadal have threatened to boycott the event next year if they do not return to traditional clay.

It certainly doesn't seem like a very popular move from the organisers!

Also Federer will become world #2 if he wins this tournament now.

I hope they do. Then Fred can pick up another clay MS. Ion Tiriac is the true GOAT.



Tiriac should dye the clay a pinkish-red, make the outer edges and the lines green and make the ballgirls dress in black.

[Katharos703]

Hopefully Federer wins the tournement!

[internet tough guy]

(Original post by Kado)
Nadal loses 63, 36, 75 to Verdasco after serving for the match twice. Oops.

I think this blue clay has the potential to throw up a few more surprises, neither Djokovic or Federer looked overly comfortable on it in their first games. Could be an interesting tournament.

strange to see nadal lose so early even on this blue clay, out of the top 3, he looked the best in the 1st round, winning 6-2 6-2 (or something like that) which compares to federer and djokovic who both dropped a set

[Rakas21]

Certainly a shocking result from Nadal and Federer looks like he could well pounce (he is only defending a R3 result in Rome as well).

Fed took 58 minutes to demolish Gasquet today so in fine form as is Del potro.

Looks to me like a Federer vs Del potro final again which would i think be the 4th this year.

[Michael XYZ]

I didn't watch the match so tell me, what was the issue with Nadal?

I understand he didn't like the blue clay and neither do most BUT he was also quite a bit ahead so it's still a poor performance or just a one-off?

[Zhy]

(Original post by Michael XYZ)
I didn't watch the match so tell me, what was the issue with Nadal?

I understand he didn't like the blue clay and neither do most BUT he was also quite a bit ahead so it's still a poor performance or just a one-off?

Nadal is in decline. In a perfect world, they would raise the net 2 metres, use bigger balls and allow on-court coaching and special ball-boys that could wipe your butt for you after every point.

If he loses early in Rome then it would imply that it isn't just the blue clay that is the problem.

I really hope Tiriac gets his fluorescent balls on blue clay wish. A tournament without Nadal, what a privilege!!

[Rakas21]

Interestingly Del Potro it turns out has not lost a single on clay this year.

[Kado]

Djokovic loses 76, 63 to Janko Tipsarvic, this blue clay sure is making it interesting! Del Potro is looking the most comfortable on this surface.
When was the last time neither Nadal nor Djokovic were in a final?

[internet tough guy]

(Original post by Kado)
Djokovic loses 76, 63 to Janko Tipsarvic, this blue clay sure is making it interesting! Del Potro is looking the most comfortable on this surface.
When was the last time neither Nadal nor Djokovic were in a final?

indian wells a couple months back

[Zhy]

Another title for Federer with a massive asterisk beside it.

[Sirocco11]

Both Ion Tiriac and Santana have admitted to problems with the court and with both Nadal and Djokovic out before the semi-finals they could well be looking at a tournament without either of them next year if they uphold their intention to boycott the tournament. I haven't heard a single positive thing about the court among several players and it does appear that it is too slippery even for the best movers on the tour. Disastrous first year on the blue clay.

Would love for Delpo to win the whole thing now but looks like it is Federer's to lose.