The most exciting thing to happen so far seems to be Mahut going out to Wildcard Gil in Estoril.

Donald Young won another main round match (against a qualifier).

In Valencia, Horna went out against Zvereva and Monfils took out Gonzalez.

Things are likely to get more exciting tomorrow ...

The first win of the day goes to up and comer Eduardo Schwank 6-2 2-0 before Christophe Rochus retired....

Safin up against JCF in Valencia

*draws swords with SG* :devil:

Safin breaks :o :yahoo:

Safin takes the first set :yahoo: :yahoo:

And Karlovic just retired from his match and Estoril having just lost the first set. I *think* that means that Fed is up next :unsure:

any video link?

Not that I know of, sorry Tenez :shrug:

Did Rochus retire? :shrug:

no - i don't think they've played yet. just checked the schedule and they're up at 15.45......

Ferrero serving for the second set ... but Safin gets two break points!

And he holds for 4-5 ... now up 30-15 to in his service game.

Go Marat! :clap:

I know - it looked for a second there like Marat was going to have one of his "oh my god, i'm winning" nervous breakdowns, but he seems to have got over it :pray:

Ferrero leads 6-5. Marat to hold serve to take this to a tiebreak.

Fed & Davydenko up next in Estoril.

:pray:

that's interesting - does that mean there is currently no time difference between the UK and Portugal? :unsure:

I think Portugal is always on the same time as the UK?

Safin loses the second set. :(

really??? shows how much i pay attention :blush: I figured that as Portugal is mainland Europe it would be an hour ahead..... :unsure:

and I *really* hope Safin can stay calm in this third set - maybe his Davis Cup victory will have given him confidence :pray:

Rochus fighting for his first service game against the Fed.

Davy was 2-0 down against Melzer, but the Austrian failed to consolidate the break. Kolya is now serving to make it 2-2.

Fed has had 6 break points already, but hasn't been able to convert any of them.

He used to be pretty good on the important points, but over the last year, his BP conversion rate has been pretty poor. Remember the FO final last year? :yikes:

Kolya now one game away from the set at 5-3.

Kolya takes the first set with another break. :clap:

Fed-Rochus at 3-3.

3 BPs for Marat :pray:

:dancer1:

Marat breaks to go 4-3 up in the 3rd set :chesire:

oooh - fed gets broken :yikes:

Rochus breaks Fed. :yikes: :doh:

C'mon Roger, break back.


Please? :pray:

Safin serving for the match

:peek:

If Fed loses this, should I personally fly to Portugal to give him a slap?

O Rochus has given Fed trouble before, of course - I remember they had a close one in Halle in 2006. But back then, Fed was able to make the most of opportunities like the ones he created early in this set.

:(

Rochus now serving for the set. :yikes:

Two match points for Marat! And he takes it! :yahoo: :clap: :bigwave:

Davydenko is showing Fed how it should be done, leading Melzer 6-3 3-0 after recovering from an early break. :clap:

well the H2H is 5-0 in Fed's favour - although like you said, Halle in 2006 was a pretty close one. Also at IW in 2006 Rochus got a set off him......The others were in 2005 and were all fairly easy straight sets victories. :shrug:

:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

Marat won

:flash:

Fed goes up 0-15 on Rochus's serve ... two points for Rochus, 30-15 :yikes: ... Now 30-30 ... set point Rochus :yikes: :yikes: :yikes:

And Rochus takes the first set. :ban:

Meanwhile, Davydenko breaks again for a 4-0 lead.

I bl**dy hope that this wakes Roger up. :doh:

Bagel alert in the Davydenko match ... Melzer serving at 0-5.

perhaps you should book those plane tickets MJT??? :unsure:

Bagel point!

Saved by Melzer. Now, can he hold?

:unsure:

Melzer wins a game for a change.

So does Roger ...

From the stats, it looks as if the difference is in his second serves - they are not effective enough against Rochus, and he's not making enough first serves (50%). And, of course, the failure to convert on any of his 6 break chances (4 alone in Rochus's first service game, iirc).

Another break point wasted ...

Kolya wrapped up his win with a breadstick for Melzer, btw.

what set are we in? Does Fed look like he needs to be slapped?
Yaaay Marat S.

And yet another one ... Rochus holds for 2-2.

I'm getting really annoyed. It's a good thing I've got to go in a moment, or I'd end up smashing something.