Rome: Draw is Out! link
here

It seems a fair draw for the top two. Well, even if I guess FED has a more difficult one ...Still we do not know where will be Canas (still qualifier :yikes: :yikes: ) will be in this draw.

BTW here the program of the first round of the qualifications:

5-May:

From 12: Luzzi (ITA) b. Vliegen (BEL) 62 57 76 (6)
Canas (ARG) c. Di Mauro (ITA)
Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) c. Sanguinetti (ITA)
Seppi (ITA) c. Spadea (Usa)

Campo 5
FROM 12: Kunitsyn (RUS) b. Mirnyi (BLR) 64 57 62
Fognini (ITA) b. Del Potro (ARG) 64 rit.
Galvani (ITA) c. Karlovic (CRO)
Montanes (ESP) c. Hanescu (ROU)

Campo 4
FROM 12: Gabashvili (RUS) b. Tipsarevic (SRB) 64 75
Serra (FRA) b. Fabbiano (ITA) 62 62
Massu (CIL) c. Falla (COL)

Campo 3
FROM 12: Hernandez (ESP) b. A.Martin (ESP) 62 61
Delic (USA) b. Horna (PER) 75 36 64
Llodra (FRA) c. Russell (USA)

Why have they done the draw so early?

And why for the men but not for the women? :(

Italian..You never know roflmao roflmao

Just kidding...

But still, I am from the Italian part of Switzerland I know what I am talking about...Future is just uncertainty power 2 in Italy roflmao roflmao

All roads lead to Rome--but some are tougher than others. B)

The draw is out.

Projected R16 match-ups:

===
Federer v Gasquet
Berdych (Wawrinka?) v Ljubicic / Acasuso
-
Roddick (Gaudio?) v Ferrer / Chela
Blake v Gonzalez (Tursunov?)
--
Robredo (Hewitt?) v Murray / Melzer / Simon
Ferrero v Davydenko / Safin / Qualifier :P
-
Djokovic v Haas / Moya / Baghdatis
Youzhny v Nadal
===

For those who are curious, Henman would meet Federer in the second round--if he even gets past, oh, some Spaniard named Almagro. =P Unlucky lad.

And yes, Nadal is on course to meet Youzhny and Djokovic. I think he'll manage it, though the latter concerns me more than the former, but both of these guys look to be in-form given their runs in Estoril and Munich which make it a trickier proposition even than usual. Meeting Gasquet so early might give Federer a hard time (especially with Gasquet being match-tough from Estoril) but MC 2005 will continue to be a one-off almost certainly.

Cañas is up a set and a break in his first qualifying match. He can certainly be a factor but his fitness seems suspect lately.

Live for the moment type of people are they TV? roflmao

"I know let's just put the men's draw together today for a laugh" :lol:

Decent enough draw for Murray, lets hope he's fit :ok:

Federer vs Almagro :) .. on clay..
Looks like a toughie for Fed..

at some point federer has to beat nadal on clay, right?? umm right?? :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:

and i think you're being way too generous including safin and hewitt in the quarters...

Nadal is in trouble, he has youzny, djokovic in his quarter.

Probably, although it's the third round/R16 not the QFs. Hewitt seems to do all right for himself when returning from an absence, and Robredo can be vulnerable at times so I figured I'd allow for that option. And if you'll notice I gave an unknown qualifier even odds to advance past Safin and Davydenko. ;)

Also apologies to TV as I hadn't seen his thread lurking in another section, although I hope I made this one worthwhile with some projections.

maybe it might be time for nadal to issue a chilling warning to all... roflmao roflmao roflmao

My mate mediter will take care of that. :D

If it was anyone except Nadal, I'd say he had a tough draw...but pretty sure Rafa will be sending warnings so chilling he'll freeze the opposition ;)

Both draws seem pretty fair-be interested to see how Almagro fairs, and where/if Canas features (pretty sure he will!)

if federer wants to stop the bleeding, he really needs to pull things around at rome :pray: :pray:

He can do all he needs, £50 says he will meet Canas in his draw. The cake titles days are over, surely.

it would be great to see someone like ferrer have a breakout.

and gaudio is a player with suspect form as of late too. wonder if he could put something together.

possibly, but me thinks the canas 'scrape' has healed :D

There is nothing to heal Canas is just better.

I cant open the link - can anyone post the draw please?

I've merged the two threads about the Rome draw in to one, and moved it in to the future tournaments forum! :)

Its in pdf therefore impossible to post.

not to worry, I found it elsewhere - but thanks :)

liam will be pleased to see bolelli was given a WC into rome :P

me too! :D

*goes to check if might meet Safin in early rounds :yikes: *

I reckon if Fed reaches the final in Rome, takes a set of Nadal and makes it close, he won't be too unhappy. I'm sure he would like to win the final, but it's not the main thing on his mind right now.

Tbh, he might be more upset in a way if Nadal doesn't make the final here. I think he wants the practice.

:yahoo: hewitts playing! hes gonna get matchfit ready for wimbledon!

I cant find the draw anywhere! Wont load for me on the Rome website, can anyone tell me who Tim is playing please?

He plays Valencia champ Almagro in round 1( eek :yikes: ), and then Federer in round 2. Looking grim for tiger tim............

I'm loving my rhyme :lol:

Almagro first round, then Federer if he gets through. Very bad draw for the Tiger unfortunately :(

Oh my gosh!! theres hardly much point in him even going :huh: He only just got in as a last direct acceptance and he has to get to round 3 at least to defend ranking points. yet hes got almangro first up then fed 2nd round, dear oh dear this is upsetting for us Henman fans :(

I know, I was really disappointed for Tim when I saw the draw. Doesn't look too good...

Still, you never know! He could surprise us all...

Oof, I only just saw that Henman made the cut because Nalbandian has pulled out. I knew I was missing a name in the draw.

With Nalbandian's semi points (where last year he was two points from besting Federer in a third-set tiebreaker) dropping off entirely, he will tumble several rungs into the lower Top 20. He's certainly hastening his decline into irrelevancy.

Speaking of Argentines, Cañas took out Serra 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to earn a spot into the main draw.

It's strange to have to reconsider predictions for a Masters event depending on where a qualifier will be placed. :wacko: He has two openings in Federer's section, where he can cause mischief and invite no end of speculation, and one in Nadal's section, where he can do likewise. Still there are three in Davydenko's quarter, including one which would include an opening match against Safin, and one in Roddick's quarter; in fact he if lands in either of these last two he probably has to be seen as a strong contender to reach the QFs, if fitness isn't still a question (especially having just now played a drawn-out three-setter).

Cañas has landed in the bottom half of the draw, so a rematch with Federer isn't in the cards in all probability. He was placed opposite Melzer in Davydenko's quarter, setting up a potential second-round meeting with Murray, who will only have just returned from injury and has yet to play a match on clay this season; it probably doesn't bode well for the Scot. There is potential for a SF against Nadal in a rematch of last week's Barcelona final, but there are several other good players in that section who will have something to say about it, including Melzer himself.

As a curious sidenote, it appears that the much-anticipated clash between Federer and Nadal has been moved up to the first round rather than the final! ... in doubles. Federer/Wawrinka take on Nadal/Moya tomorrow. :blink:

I am soooooooo peeeeed off Federer didnt get canas aaarrrrrggg. Personally, the draw is fixed.

This is a very nice one indeed.. :yikes: Fed versus Rafa the first day on double :yikes: ..It will be funny for sure: I really hope to see Wawrinka back to his previous (quite high) standards ( I really hope he will be at his top for Wimbledon: Last year he did a great run at SW19, so let's hope) . For sure the double will be funny this afternoon.. :rolleyes:

If you dont mind, I am hating it!

cant believe Tims luck - but its to be expected with him falling down rankings, not playing much... I am in danger of writing this year off for Tim - feels very bleak at the moment.

Like Sara says - maybe he will surprise us all - but if he does - I dont think it will be during this tourney :(

so tim plays one of the very best clay court players in the world for the right to play the best player in the universe. excellent.

ah, the joys of being a henman fan.

i don't know why he bothers going to rome, i really don't. has he ever won a match there, lol?

oh well, here's hoping kids.

just checked the records for rome. apparently tim has won matches there. which means his ranking will plummet next week. again. perfect.

hey Flame :hug:

when you put it like that, I feel even worse! oh well hun, keep it crossed anyway....