Looks like a great day of R4 matches today!!

Robredo already quick out of the blocks, 5-1 up against Volandri..

Morning petalp. Looks like I'll be able to watch the matches after all today. We had a test drive booked, but Mrs. Tribble isn't feeling well, so we've decided to cancel.

Robredo now serving for the set at 5-2. Looks like I overestimated Volandri when I thought he'd give the Spaniard a good match.

'morning MJT :)

Yes, I'd have thought that Volandri would be troubling Robredo more.. but it's early days yet.. maybe Volandri is just not a morning person? :shrug:

30-30 now on the Robredo serve.

Also, we should remember that Hewitt lost the first set 6-1 yesterday ... nothing's over yet.

Are you watching the match, petalp? I'm watching Serena v Safina instead at the moment, although that isn't particularly competitive either. At least Roger should be on court quickly. :clap:

roflmao

Volandri has won quite a few meetings against Robredo, as far as I remember, so maybe there's still hope for a competitive match. We'll see.

mjt I'm watching the Serena match too.. :)

The courts look to be playing quite quickly, which ought to bode well for the Fedster later on. Re: Serena, Safina, maybe Safina is not a morning person either!!

Robredo already a break up in the second set!! :blink:

Come on Filippo, make a game of it!!

It seems to be a fairly high bounce though, don't you think?

I'm not entirely sure what's best for Roger on clay. I guess the conditions in Hamburg, where it's quite cool, and maybe just a little bit damp (but not the Swamp they've had here on a few occasions) suited him pretty well.

Robredo already up a break in the second.

Safina is having a bit of a Marat performance, isn't she? Complete with Russian muttering. :P

She hasn't broken any racquets yet, though, and has just managed to break back.

Volandri isn't so fortunate, and is now 2-0 down.

PS. I don't see Marat being a morning person ... maybe it runs in the family :P

Off-topic: there seems to be a girl's match currently on involving a girl called *Kalashnikova*! How great would it be if she became a tennis professional, eh? The fun we could have in live-scoring threads! :P

Indeed!! roflmao

Robredo now a double break up against Volandri, leads 3-0 in second set..

Interestingly, the guy who invented the Kalashnikov rifle, who is named Kalashnikov, is still alive. I don't think there's any relation though, seeing as though the girl is Georgian. Maybe Kalashnikov is a common name?

It seems that he never made any money off his rifle, and is living on a state pension. However, apparently he is now selling Kalashnikov vodka, and has recently acquired some shares in a German umbrella company in return for the permission to use his name. :wacko:

So much for a Volandri v Roger re-match.

The last (and only) time Robredo took a set off Roger was in 2002. So somehow I don't see him troubling Roger too much. Of course, Fed first has to get through his match with Youzhny --- whom he's also never lost to. Let's hope this isn't the first time - go Roger!

Seems like Volandri managed to recover one break while I wasn't paying attention. Robredo's still serving for the set at 5-4 though.

Volandri has break point to stay in the set! :o

Well mjt, I never knew that!! :D

Volandri is fighting back well!! 5-5 now in the second set..

Fed and Youzhny now.. B)

Robredo takes the second set to lead Volandri 2-0.. long way back for Filippo, but I guess if Hewitt can do it.. :shrug:

Yeah, but with Hewitt you get the feeling that he doesn't enjoy winning a match unless he's had to come back from two or at least one set down. :D

Not sure Filippo is made of the same stuff.

Hm. 0-30 on Roger's first service game.

Hard to judge by two points, but he doesn't look all that sharp yet --- will probably take a while to wake up. Shanked forehand into the net sets up two break points for Misha. :yikes:

I'd say probably not...

And he's a break down in the third set already.

Misha takes the second with an amazing return. Roger down 0-1 with a break. :yikes:

Not quite the start from Fed I would have liked to see. However, I guess while he won't underestimate Youzhny, he knows that he will have plenty of time to come back.

Youzhny breaks in the first game of the match!

Well, early days :)

I hadn't been aware that Federer is currently closing on Johnny Mac's record of consecutive straight set wins in slams..

I'd just take a win over Youzhny, regardless of any sets dropped (i.e. not drop 3 of the things! :lol: )

Make that two breaks. Guess it'll be Robredo who goes through to the QF stage.

Oh dear, the kind of records they come up with. :wacko:

When did Mac set that record? I don't think he ever won a slam title without dropping a set, did he, so he must have set it over two tournaments, right?

Fed beginning to wake up, judging by that rally.

Mac set the record in 1984 during his annus mirabilus, as they say.. :)

Well, as already said a normal run-of-the-mill win would do just fine.

Fed's backhand is looking good.. as is Youzhny's too..

Ah, nice to watch 2 players who can actually play backhands the way that they should be!

Robredo beats Volandri easily 6-2, 7-6, 6-1..

That backhand down the line didn't work out --- breakpoint saved by Youzhny.

Here's another one, though. Go, Roger!

Fed breaks back, as expected. 3-3 now, on serve. Let's hope Fed stays focused. His serve looks good here, producing two good first serves to go 30-0 up.

Youzhny's first serve deserts him and Roger takes a break point at the second time of asking.

3-3, back on serve :)

Fed looked slightly embarassed by that one point he lost in that service game. He's looking much sharper now though.

Don't want to tempt fate here, but Fed seems to be hitting the ball really well yet again, much better than he ever did at RG last year..

.. so I won't.. he's playing rubbish! :lol:

Youzhny needs to sustain the high level that he had in the first 4 games of the match to stay in this contest..

Hm, Fed not as sharp in that return game as I would like to see; quite a few errors off both wings, weren't there?

And now he's again loose in his own service game. :angry:

Yip.. I spoke too soon in my previous posting..

Don't know, when he's on his game he looks fantastic :)

Just sometimes a little too casual.. keeps all of those Fed fans on their toes..

Mrs Tribble just came out with 'Federer wins because he's made of cheese. That's his secret.' :wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:

From 0-30 down, he tightens up and holds convincingly.

I think that he's not quite on his toes as much as he might be in another match - while he has tremendous respect for Youzhny, he also knows from experience that he will have opportunities, particularly in a best-of-five. He'll do what he needs to win, but not necessarily any more.

15-30 now while Youzhny's serving to stay in the set. 30-30. Go Fed!

Federers on ? :huh: Im rushing away to watch

Nice rally there, ey? Fed holds to make it 6-5, and keep the pressure on Youzhny. Misha must hold serve to force the tiebreak.

I think that both players are playing pretty well..

If Fed does move up a gear or two, then I do doubt if Misha can stay with him

Excellent point from Roger to hold serve, 6-5..

Did anyone read yesterday's live report on the RG website?

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/art...0774679500.html

The guy is clearly having wayyyyy too much fun; he seems to enjoy referring to Djokovic as the Djoker, the Dj-Riddler, Dj-Catwoman, ... :wacko: :D