WTA / ATP TENNIS FROM ROME BY GLOBAL CHICK FOR 10SBALLS_COM

Written by: Global Chick on 16th May 2015

WTA / ATP TENNIS FROM ROME BY GLOBAL CHICK FOR 10SBALLS_COM

epa04749966 Daria Gavrilova of Russia reacts during her quarter final match against Christina McHale of the USA at the Italian Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 15 May 2015. EPA/CLAUDIO ONORATI |

Gladiators & Gladiatrices – Global Chick’s Run Down In Rome

We are almost at the end of the final (big) push for preparation for the French Open, so let’s cast a gentle eye over those warriors left standing.

We have seen Andimus Murrimus exit stage left, after racking up an impressive 10 wins on clay as he heads to Paris unbeaten on the dirt. This was swiftly followed by Serena, Warrior Princess who again quite wisely decided that perhaps further injuring herself and denying herself a chance to make a decent run on Roland Garros.

Simona Halep of Romania returns the ball to Venus Williams of USA during their third round match of the Italian Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 14 May 2015. EPA/MAURIZIO BRAMBATTI

But who is left? Well ladies first. We were lucky enough to have a natter with Simona Halep after her surprise first round exit in Madrid, where she was defending final points. She has more than made up for it in Rome as she surpassed her run to just the third round, where she handed Carla Suarez Navarro a walk-over. This time around Halep has been ruthless in her progress this year, and faces the much-liked Spaniard once more. This should be a corker of a match. Suarez Navarro had a battle and a half against Genie Bouchard before sailing past a flat Petra Kvitova. Their head to head is nice and close, with the Spaniard owning the wins on the dirt.

On the flip side is Maria Sharapova, who is finally hitting her stride after an injury picked up this spring. Ironically she faces Daria Gavrilova, who shoved her unceremoniously out of Miami, but since then Sharapova had struggled with a leg injury that ruled her out of a home Fed Cup tie in Sochi, and sent her packing out of Stuttgart in her opening round. In Madrid, she revealed that she had finally been able to get back into her training routine and with straight sets wins, she is looking pretty solid at the moment, while qualifier Gavrilova has scrapped her way past Ana Ivanovic in the second round, past a resurgent Timea Bacsinszky and she will probably fancy her chances to push Sharapova again.

Rafael Nadal of Spain in action agiainst Marsel Ilhan of Turkey during their second round match for the Italian Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2015. EPA/MAURIZIO BRAMBATTI

Ok we can’t avoid talking about the gladiators can we? Of course the big news is that Rafael Nadal will now head to Paris with another loss on his hands, after being edged out in straight sets by Stan Wawrinka in the quarter-final. The “other” Swiss has had a turbulent time of late, admitting that his confidence was shaky before a statement released about the deterioration of his marriage was met with a fairly terse response from his estranged wife! Yet somehow on Friday it all finally came together for him as he looks to face Roger Federer in the semi-final, probably a little more confident in the knowledge that his only two wins over his compatriot have been on the dirt. He has had more than his fair share of losses to Federer on the dirt too, but if he brings his A-game, this should be a good match.

And what of (Commodus) Novak Djokovic and his showdown with the Spaniard? David Ferrer just keeps doing what he does best and battles his way through the draws while all the drama is focused elsewhere, and Djokovic has looked a tad rusty from time to time, dropping sets with reckless abandon throughout. The chances are he will out grind the grinder, and will lift his level when he counts, and there is an argument that he’s better to get the rust out here than in Paris.

We still would pick Djokovic to be crowned empress of Rome, and we’d tip Halep to take the top honours on the women’s side, but there’s still a couple of battles in the Colosseum to go. But really, ask yourselves… are you not entertained?

Topics: 10sballs_com, Atp, global chick, Italian Open, Rome tennis, Wta

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10sBalls_com says:

May 16, 2015 at 9:39 am

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OleBlowHard says:

May 16, 2015 at 11:19 am

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ichliebekurde says:

May 16, 2015 at 1:40 pm

RT @TennisNewsOne: WTA / ATP TENNIS FROM ROME BY GLOBAL CHICK FOR 10SBALLS_COM http://t.co/dr5t57UTqS #tennis