Did anyone see this match? Seems Roddick really dominated, but it couldn't have just been his serve. His first serve percentage was 36! :o

Did he look really good? Did Hanescu look really bad?

could A-Rod be a threat on clay this year

Watched this match I must be the biggest A Rid fan on the board BUT Han didnt play great at all espcially his bachand was a nightmare! but It is the best I have seen Roddick hit the ball in a long long tine I really hope he can play to a good level and hopefulyl beat Baghadatis tomoorow but will be tough..

I'm wondering if the clay courts in Rome are playing more like a harder court? The big servers all seem to be doing well (Ivan L excepted).

They are playing quicker and apprently always have done it is Pete Sampras one clay court title was in Rome!!!

Ah.. thanks Ark.. that figures..:)

I enjoyed Tursunov's blog about clay courts btw, and how he wasn't keen on the slower ones..

He's due to play Fed, isn't he? Shame he isn't still blogging on the ATP site :)

Ah, just checked the site, and Tursunov was due to play Fed, but got knocked out in the first round.

Hope he didn't get too much clay in his pants..

Looked like Roddick was off to a good start today, too. Anyone have an update on the match?

First set 6-3 Baghdatis, but Roddick 5-1 up in the second (Baggy serving at deuce)

If Roddick wins, how do we see a Rusedski v Roddick match going???

Baggy dfs at set point, second set 6-1 A-Rod

Not as good as start for Roddick as I thought. The scoreboard on my Yahoo home page said that the first set went 6-3 to Roddick. :wacko:

Anyway . . . seems he's turned it around at the moment.

The other American in action, Ginepri, seems to be doing a little better in the second set against Monfils, after getting blasted 1-6 in the first, its on serve 5-4 now in the second.

Baghdatis breaks in the first game of the third set.

Now 2-0 to Baggy.

And Ginepri has a set point at 30-40 and . . . . . converts it.

Roddick breaks back to even it at 2-2 in the decider.

Roddick breaks back for 2-2

3-2 ARod

Roddick breaks in game six. 4-2

In the Ginepri match, Robbie has a break point to go up in the third set there, but misses out. Still on serve.

4 games in a row for Andy.

Make that 5 in a row . . .

3 mps Roddick

And it's all over - good win for Roddick, but surely Rusedski will be too much for him in round three :D ;)

Meanwhile, Ginepri is still fighting away. He's had a lot of deuces and a couple break points against Monfils' serve this set, but still on serve 3-3.

And quickly he finds himself 0-40 down on his own serve.

15-40

30-40

Deuce

Monfils gets the first break of the decider and will serve for the match at 5-4.

Monfils wins.

Now Federer is thrashing Starcace, 2 points away from taking the set. 5-1

Safin leads Ramirez Hidalgo 2-0 at deuce on Ruben's serve.

...with now a bp

Great win for A Rod earlier :) really happy to see my fave player back in form and Baghdatis is dangerous!!! Federer though looks to be on fire out there!

Safin breaks to lead 3-0.

That point from Safin should be play of the week.

Well, he had a set point at 5-1, but now it's 5-3.

Safin will serve for a bagel! :yikes:

Federer takes the 1st set :blink:

Honestly, Safin looks on fire! :yikes:

Safin bagels Ramirez Hidalgo :bow:

RH wins his first game of the match :o ;)