Date: 5/12/2011
Result: Rome R3, Richard Gasquet def. Roger Federer
Why it matters:
- This is so much more about Gasquet than Federer (though we’ll talk about him soon). Richard has the talent to be a top 5 player and maybe higher. He just has never come close to having the mentality. His previous win over Federer was so impressive at the time, but it has become evident that Gasquet just didn’t know pressure at that point. The minute expectation came into the equation, Gasquet became a shadow of who he could’ve or should’ve been. But fortunately he’s young and maybe still has time to be that special player. The biggest test will come in Paris in two weeks, where he has always crumbled. This win is a big step, but it happened in Rome, not France. I’m not saying Gasquet needs to win the title at Roland Garros, but making a run and putting at least one big win on the board could be a springboard towards another top 10 run.
- I refuse to sound like a broken record about Federer’s losses, and I don’t think I would’ve made this the featured match if it wasn’t for the Gasquet factor. But, Federer just isn’t going to win consistently anymore and he’s got to stop making silly excuses and strange soundbytes that make him seem delusional about the state of play. He ruled the game either as a clear #1 or close 2nd to Nadal for 7 years. That’s remarkable. So his attitude about these losses and insistence that he’s essentially the same as he ever was just sounds sad. Federer can continue to be a great champion even if he’s not winning very often, but he won’t be one if he refuses to accept his losses for what they are.
Honorable Mentions:
- Rome R3, Francesca Schiavone def. Daniela Hantuchova – 36 62 75 – Schiavone really wanted this. She wasn’t playing her best and Hantuchova was playing some of her best clay court tennis and hitting her spots. But a long 11.5 months after becoming a massive superstar in her country by winning Roland Garros, she has the chance to perform in front of her own crowd and seems determined to make the most of it. Fortunately for Schiavone, the flair and passion she plays with is stereotypically part of the Italian personality, so the Roman crowd roared with an equal flair and passion to carry Schiavone through. If Schiavone and the crowd can keep this symbiotic relationship going, it may take the Italian already to the title.
-Rome R3, Maria Sharapova def. Shahar Peer – 62 62 – Sharapova just owns Peer. Their H2H is completely one-sided, and Sharapova proved it wasn’t a fluke. Sharapova seems to be able to play a great match on any given day, but it’s the consistency of wins that is so hard to come by. The way she’s begun in Rome, though, makes one wonder if Sharapova is ready to reclaim her spot at the top of the game. Peer lost to a more talented player, but her ability to grind out wins has been shockingly absent this year. She’ll need to find that ability if she’s going to make a run at either Grand Slam coming soon.
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