Ernests Gulbis d 1 Roger Federer - 26 61 75
And don't let that 3rd set score fool you - it really wasn't that close. Gulbis had match points in three different games and it wasn't Federer who wiped them away it was the I-can't-believe-this-is-happening nerves of Gulbis, who finally clinched the win on his 7th attempt.
I wrote a couple weeks ago at the beginning of the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 that I didn't understand Roger's decision to skip it. So what happens? He catches up with the boys during their 4th week on clay and runs up against an up-and-comer that has been getting his feel on the clay with decent results in MC and Barcelona.
Many people thought he skipped MC because he needs to pace himself. Or rest. From what? He is a 28 year-old athlete who rested himself into some serious trouble today. We are nearly to May and Roger has played a 17 whopping matches. In fact, since his win at the Australian Open in January his win/loss record is 3/3.
Roger's run of sour play in Masters 1000 events is now extended to 4 straight without a quarterfinal showing. He failed to get to the quarters in the last Masters 1000 of '09 in Paris and now the 1st three of 2010. One must look as far back as 2001 for the last time Roger has been so fruitless at the Masters 1000 level.
Certainly Roger will be thankful that he entered the doubles in Rome, if for no other reason than to get more time in competition. He is teamed with Yves Allegro this week and they have already won their first match but a 2nd round encounter with the #4 seeds looms.
His loss is also good news for the tournament director in Estoril as he will surely show up there to gain some confidence. Which should work - he'll be a very big fish in a very little pond indeed.
Take heart Federer fans - all is not lost... he still has plenty of time to ready himself for a title defense run at Roland Garros. And Gulbis and the others will know that Federer is an entirely different beast in a best-of-5 match. (Though it seemed Gulbis would have gutted out a nice 4 set win today.)
Roger's loss today will fuel the debate that he only cares about the Slams. Poppycock. You will never (ever) convince me that he didn't come to Rome to win it. As proud as Roger is there is NO WAY he places himself in any draw not wanting to be the last man standing. You need further proof? Why would a man who doesn't 'care' about Rome have his parents in the stands for an opening round match? Exactly. Case closed.
The bottom line is Roger needs to realize that he is no longer the player that can take long breaks and show up for big tournaments and expect to win them. That use to work well for him but that time seems to have passed. He needs to understand that he has to be out there playing tennis and grinding out matches - practice courts just ain't gonna cut it anymore.
Photo: Getty Images/Reuters
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