Aiming for No. 1, Djokovic claims first Masters Series clay crown

Novak stops doing imitations because of negative connotations

FROM THE ITALIAN OPEN IN ROME – With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer knocked out early in this tournament, all eyes were on Novak Djokovic to win the presti gious Masters Series event of Rome. In his 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win over Stanislas Wawrinka in the final, Djokovic proved again that he plays his best tennis in pressure situations, even though he says it’s not easy.

“I knew that he's a difficult player to play against on this surface, because if you look at his history of the results, he made his best results on this surface,” Djokovic said about his opponent. “So he's a specialist, and he didn't have anything to lose. But I tried to stay focused all the time, because the role of the favorite in these kind of big matches is not easy to cope with.”

Djokovic lacked any initiative at the start of the match, seemingly wanting to see what Wawrinka could come up with. The No. 24 Swiss was playing excellent attacking tennis in the opening set, and his backhand was especially lethal. Djokovic was challenged to control the heavy balls coming off his opponent’s one-hander, and it wasn’t until he dropped the first set that the Serb started to take more of the offensive himself, attacking the net and playing more on top of the baseline.

Wawrinka became more erratic as the match progressed and, after Djokovic won the second set and broke his opponent in the first game of the third set, the No. 3 cruised to victory. “In the end, I did what I needed to do,” the Serb said. “Even though I won in three sets, I think I'm happy in general with my performance in this tournament.”

Wawrinka said he felt Djokovic’ change of tactics was what changed the match. “I was starting very well. The first set I was playing very well. I was always before him; I was pushing him. But I think it change his game and he was coming more in at the net. In the second and the third set he was serving very well, too.”

The unseeded Swiss will now take a massive leap in the rankings, moving up from his current career high No. 24 to No. 10. “Yeah, of course I'm a little surprised, because in one week playing the final in Masters Series, and to be 24 and then Top 10 after the week is a big jump for me,” Wawrinka said. It's the first time that two Swiss have been in the Top 10.

DJOKOVIC ‘ACCIDENTLY’ SPEAKS OF GETTING TO NO. 1

Djokovic now moves within 310 points of No. 2 Nadal in the rankings. He has a quarterfinal to defend in Hamburg next week, whereas Nadal was last year’s finalist in the German seaport.

“I was aiming for Rome and for Roland Garros as my two priorities in this clay-court season,” Djokovic said. “But, of course, Hamburg is next week, so I'll try to do the best that I can there. Try to recover in these two or three days.”

Djokovic went on to say that his win in Rome gives him even more confidence to do well at future major tournaments and that his current season has been a dream so far. “But I want to co ntinue. I want to finish the year as the No. 1.” After a second or two, he quickly smiled, and added “in the [2008 ATP Race].”

Of course, if he does finish No. 1 in the race at year’s end, it’s more than likely that he’ll grab the top spot in the rankings, too.

Normally, there’s nothing wrong with stating one’s ambitions to become the world’s best player, but Djokovic must have been aware that with his constant talk about wanting to become No. 1 someday, and with earlier statements from his parents saying Nole is already better than Federer, he is considered by many fans to be arrogant.

“I've been very satisfied [with my season] so far, and that's what I will try to keep on doing,” Djokovic said. “Being consistent on the major events with the results, that's the important thing if I really want to stay on the top.”

NOLE SAYS NO MORE IMITATIONS

During the prize ceremony, Djokovic was asked if he could perform some of his well-known imitations on court for the Italian fans, but he declined.

“I just don't want to continue doing it, because this is not what I do best,” he said. “What I do best win on the court. That's what I'll try to do in the next 10, 15 years. But imitations, I did it because I'm having fun doing it, and I'm not making fun of anybody. I'm just trying to bring a positive energy and enjoyment and a little laugh, little smiles, and that's it. But I heard that some of the players and people started to talk about my imitations [in] negative terms. That's what I don't l ike, so I'll stop.”

Federer and shaky backhand crash to Stepanek

Roger: 'I would be a bit more worried if I were to lose against a guy who would just be playing real clay court tennis'

FROM THE ITALIAN OPEN IN ROME – After winning his first title of the season in Estoril and playing some outstanding tennis in reaching the Monte-Carlo final last month, Roger Federer seemed to be getting back on track after a disappointing start to the season. But a shocking 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) loss to the chipping and charging Radek Stepanek on clay proves the No. 1 is still vulnerable in 2008.

“There is no better win than to beat No. 1 player in the world, in front of full crowd,” Stepanek said. “That's amazing feeling.”

Federer was in control of the match in the first set, not losing a single point on his first serve. However, he never created a break point, because Stepanek was serving outstanding and backing it up frequently with solid volleying. The Czech hit six aces in the opening set, and a multitude of service winners.

Federer took an early lead in the tiebreak, but at 4-all, Stepanek attacked his serve with some powerful groundstrokes before finishing off with a backhand volley. The Czech then coolly produced a service winner and an ace to win the opening set, and all of a sudden, Federer was behind.

“I struggled to return and he definitely did serve well when he had to, especially throughout the first set,” reflected Federer. “Maybe in the tiebreak on my serve on both deuce sides let me down, and I let him back in the match that way. I think that one hurt me in the first set.”

Stepanek got off to a sloppy start in his opening service game of the second set, but he saved two break points with another big serve and a crisp forehand volley.

From the next game onwards, Federer’s backhand started to become a liability. He completely shanked two of them back-to-back to fall behind a break. “It happens all the time,” said Federer. “Something I've been trying to get rid of for 10 years. Still not today.”

When he shanked another one serving at 0-3, the crowd started to whistle in displeasure.

Nonetheless, Federer had the Italian fans completely in his corner. They supported him as one of their own players, with passion, and a certain disrespect towards his opponent. When Stepanek had the umpire come down to check a ball mark, he was heavily booed. After a winner from the Czech, there were a lot more sighs of disappointment than there was appreciation.

Despite enjoying the crowd support, Federer failed to play himself into form. He broke Stepanek back at 4-2, when the Czech got noticeably tight, but the Swiss then immediately dropped his following service game.

Federer was given another lifeline when Stepanek failed to close out the match on his serve at 5-3, and when the No. 1 raced out to a 4-1 lead in the tiebreak with a double mini-break, he seemed to be steadily on his way to unravel this opponent.

But Stepanek clawed back to even at 5-all after two excellent serves and two missed backhands from Federer. He then saved a set point at 5-6, as another big delivery set up an easy forehand putaway. On 7-all, Stepanek attacked Federer’s second serve with a powerful backhand down the line, which forced the Swiss into a backhand error. Stepanek sealed the win in style, with another service winner down the tee.

“After getting sort of back on even terms, it was just a big disappointment to be broken yet again,” Federer said. “And then having to break him again, I guess it just used up too many lives. I think I missed plenty of opportunities throughout the match. I think I led in both breakers with a mini-break, and usually when I have the lead, you know, I don't let it go, so it's quite disappointing. I wish I could have played better, you know, and I played so poorly on the big points. It's a tough loss.”

Federer will now head to Hamburg, where he is defending his sole clay court title of 2007. He beat Rafael Nadal in last year’s final, who was completely worn out from winning in Monte Carlo, Rome and Barcelona by the time they met. Federer doesn’t know what the loss against Stepanek will do to his confidence level heading into the last big tune-up event for Roland Garros.

“I can't tell you right now 10 minutes after the match,” Federer said. “But this wasn't really a clay court match. I think I would be a bit more worried if I were to lose against a guy who would just be playing real clay court tennis.”

The Czech will face No. 3 Novak Djokovic, who caught a break when Nicolas Almagro retired down 6-1, 1-0. Andy Roddick gutted out a tough 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) win over Tommy Robredo and will face Stanislas Wawrinka, who took out James Blake 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-1.

Packed clay-court schedule has its toll on Nadal

Injured Rafa loses to Ferrero; lashes out at De Villiers

FROM THE ITALIAN OPEN IN ROME – After complaining about the cramped up clay-court season this year for several weeks now, Rafael Nadal has now shown that he indeed can not run forever, going down to Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-1 in his first appearance of the week. The Spaniard was heavily troubled by a foot injury he sustained during a heavy recent schedule. Rafa won back-to-back titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona these past two weeks.

“I feel special right now,” said Ferrero, after handing Nadal only his second loss in the last three years on clay. “It's true that I didn't have, you know, this special feelings since long time ago.”

Ferrero said he didn’t feel that the fact Nadal was playing injured took anything away from his win. “I think, you know, he play as good as he can with the injury and everything. You know, at the end I play a little bit better than him. I don't know if it was big reason to don't play at his best level, the injury.”

Nadal said his foot problems arose after winning the Barcelona crown in a three-set battle over countryman David Ferrer on Sunday. “When I wake up for 6:00 [on Monday morning] for come [to Rome], I put the foot on the floor and I can’t put the foot on the floor.”

He continued saying he came close to not playing against Ferrero at all. “Today in the morning when I wake up I say it’s impossible play. I was in the doctor’s, like yesterday and before yesterday, and they put special protection. They put some cream, anesthetic cream, something like this, for didn’t feel the same pain.”

The three-time defending Roland Garros champion stated he was never able to put his foot flat on the ground against Ferrero today, more balancing on the side of it to avoid the pain. “I always went like this because I scared, no? I can’t put my legs on the floor with my power. I can’t put the ball long, so every time I play very short because I don’t have power in the legs. So especially if you are playing Masters Series and you are not 100%, it’s impossible win the matches, no?”

In hindsight, it can be said that playing Barcelona in between the Masters Series events of Monte-Carlo, Rome, and Hamburg next week was not a wise thing to do for Nadal. But then again, the event in Spain is as close as it gets to a home tournament for Nadal, who lives in Mallorca but spends a lot of time in the city. Also, Nadal knows he earns his bread and butter on dirt, and he wouldn’t be ranked No. 2 if it weren’t for the clay circuit he completely dominates.

“So, you know, the calendar is impossible,” Nadal said yet again. “Last week in Barcelona everybody is talking about how you feel about the calendar and everything. I said, 'For me going to be impossible four weeks in a row playing well, no?' They told me, ‘Yes, but you have already two playing very well’. I said, ‘In a few days you going to see why it’s impossible, and disappointing they going to see. Finally they see it’s impossible, no?”

NADAL CAN’T UNDERSTAND DE VILLIERS

Nadal was asked if he had taken the matter up with ATP CEO Etienne de Villiers, but was stone cold in his reply. “I don’t have nothing to speak with this man, no? Not more. … Lose more time trying to fight for nothing, it’s very stupid. Last year I have lose a lot of time trying to understand why he doing these things, and he’s impossible to understand.”

Nadal said he hopes the injury will subside before Hamburg next week, as he’s still fully intending to travel to Germany. “Because two Masters Series without play in the best conditions on clay going to kill me, no?”

His early exit in Rome costs Rafa almost 500 points, and he has 350 more to defend in Hamburg next week, where he lost in last year’s final to Roger Federer. If he fails to show up there, Novak Djokovic will breath down his neck very strongly for the No. 2 position. Djokovic was 1,200 points behind Nadal in this week’s rankings, and has a quarterfinal showing to defend in both Rome and Hamburg.

Roddick cruises over Fish

Federer 'in the groove' after caning Cañas

FROM THE ITALIAN OPEN IN ROME – It doesn't happen too often that Andy Roddick drops only five games in a dominant performance on clay. But, then again, he doesn't have to face a fellow American on dirt that frequently either. In his first clay-court match of the season, Roddick routed Mardy Fish 6-1, 6-4 in the second round of the Italian Open.

"I feel pretty good," Roddick said. "I've been training at home, but it's never really the same as an actual tournament atmosphere, especially coming from American clay courts and coming over here. It's a little bit different. So it's good to be able to get through the first [round], so at least you're getting some matches in."

Roddick raced out to a 5-0 lead in just 15 minutes, as he was defensively solid from the backcourt while Fish was putting his attacking ground strokes anywhere but between the lines.

However, Fish built up some momentum in the first couple of games in the second set. Leading 2-1, the Indian Wells finalist connected on three aggressive forehands to create a break point, but then shanked one to blow the opportunity. A horrendous service game at 30-all – featuring a double fault, two forehand misses and a netted backhand – cost Fish the set and the match. After winning their first clash, Fish has now lost eight straight matches against Roddick.

"I played pretty solid," Roddick stated. "Mardy is an attacking player, and if he was going to attack, [I wanted to] make him do it from deep in the court, and I was able to do that.

After Sam Querrey's surprising run to the quarterfinals in Monte Carlo - which included wins over respected clay-courters Carlos Moya and Richard Gasquet - Roddick could equal that run in Rome this week, if he wins his next match.

"I think we're all surprised that [Querrey] did that well," Roddick said. "He has some bigger swings than I do. He has pretty loose strokes and big windups. Outside of serving the ball hard, I don't really think we're that similar as far as the way we play."

Roddick may never adapt well to the clay unless he finds some more pop on his ground strokes and gets his topspin to bite. Plus, he doesn't move that well side-to-side. Major clay-court success would require a near-complete makeover of his technique with longer backswings, and it's too late for that to happen. Besides, Andy does not take clay seriously enough to start altering his shots.

"I enjoy the challenge of clay," Roddick said. "It's obviously probably my toughest surface, so that makes the wins that I do get that much more satisfying. What do I dislike? Obviously it's slower. It takes away a lot of my weapons which isn't fun."

CAÑAS CAN'T TROUBLE FEDERER AGAIN

Little over a year ago, Guillermo Cañas registered two consecutive upset wins over Roger Federer at Indian Wells and Miami. Federer then humbled the Argentine indoors in Madrid in the fall 6-0, 6-3 and today tied their head-to-head series at 3-all after defeating the former No. 8 on his favorite surface 6-3, 6-3.

"The draw was tough," Federer said. "We've had some tough ones in the past so I knew it was going to go difficult."

Federer was the dominant player throughout the encounter. The No. 1 nearly lost his service game at 2-3 in the second set on Cañas' only break point of the match, but a low backhand volley from the Swiss, which clipped the net cord, fell over for a winner.

Federer claimed the decisive break in the following game, when Cañas overhit a forehand in an enthralling rally, in which both players exchanged lobs.

"I played well," Federer added. "I felt like I was in the groove right away again from [Monte-Carlo]. I think the week off did me well, but I practiced hard as well. So things are good and I'm very happy with the result."

Federer was hitting more than a few drop shots against Cañas, a shot he used sparingly before this season. He executed perfectly, as Cañas didn't even make a run for them on most occasions. Federer is expanding his tactics under new coach Jose Higueras.

"My Davis Cup captain, Severin [Luthi], watched the match yesterday and he saw that it worked very well against him because he stands really far back," Federer explained. "We all know that. That's no secret he plays far from behind the court. I tried one [drop shot] and it worked and I tried two, so I said, 'Okay, I'll do a few more,' and it worked even better. It's something you go with the momentum. Not every player gives you the opportunity to do it, but he definitely did. I think it was the right plan, because I won all the points except one."

In some other notable results, Gilles Simon stopped Jo Tsonga 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(6); Fernando Verdasco took out Carlo Moya 6-3, 6-4; Fernando Gonzalez outlasted Janko Tipsarevic 3-6, 7-6(0), 7-6(6) and Ivo Karlovic beat Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6(4), 6-2.

Davydenko breaks big-match roadblock

Finally beats marquee players in top event

FROM THE SONY ERICSSON OPEN IN MIAMI – For the past three years, Nikolay Davydenko has been a near lock for reaching the quarterfinals or semis at majors and Masters Series events. However, he's been an even safer bet to lose those big matches, as he has never gone past the semis at a Slam (he's 0-5 in those), and had only once reached the final of a MS tournament before Miami. Davydenko won the Paris Indoors Masters in 2006, but neither Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal were competing and the Russian beat unheralded Slovak Dominik Hrbaty in the final.

Davydenko deserves full respect for winning in Miami though, as the Sony Ericsson Open is unofficially considered ‘the fifth Slam’, and all the tour’s stars were present in South Florida. The No. 4 posted his first win in six meetings over Andy Roddick – who had just beaten Roger Federer – in the semis, and overpowered Rafael Nadal in the final: 6-4, 6-2. He didn’t lose a set in either match.

“He played good match, but I didn't play well today,” said Nadal. “So when you don't play at 100% at this level against top players, it's tough win, especially on hard surface. So for sure it's tough. I was playing very, very good tennis [the last weeks], but at the same time, I have to be happy about myself, because I improve a lot my level, and I was there all the time. I think soon I going to win a title, no? I hope so. I hope so in Monte Carlo.”

“I say for me it's mostly crazy,” Davydenko laughs. He survived a match point in his first match against Ernests Gulbis, and outlasted Italian Simone Bolelli and Mario Ancic in tight, hard-fought three setters before finding his A-game against Roddick and Nadal. Davydenko rightfully stated that winning this tournament has been the best achievement of his career.

“Yes, because in Paris it was Federer not play, Nadal didn't play and I have in the final, you know, Hrbaty, not top player,” he said. “Here Nadal was favorite, and also in semifinal was Roddick favorite. Just beat two guys in two sets is like amazing for me.”

Against Nadal, Davydenko was rock-solid from the baseline. He wouldn’t move back from the line, no matter what kind of shot Nadal came up with. If the Spaniard hit a ball deep, the Russian would just half-volley the shot back with added pace, thus always keeping the pressure on Rafa. Interestingly enough, Davydenko played most of his shots towards Nadal’s favored lefty forehand wing.

“I have good backhand cross,” said the champion. “Why I need to play a long line to him and think about what's happening? That's was I tried to play faster forehand and tried to do something, you know, to make some winners. That's was ‑‑ it was not think about play forehand or backhand, just feeling which ball, like, for me important, where I need to hit and feel more confidence.”

After losing his service game at 1-all, Nadal immediately broke back and held two break points in Davydenko’s next service game. On his first opportunity, the Spaniard netted a routine forehand. “After this point he start playing match much better,” Rafa said. “It was a big change because he was doing some mistakes. I was doing the same mistakes, too, but at this moment he changed a lot in the match. He start playing much better and was big change for me, no? And I didn't found a way. I didn't see the way for ‑‑ for try to change the match, no?” Nadal was forced into a backhand error on the second break point, and would lose his next service game at love. Davydenko would not face another break point in the match as he rolled to victory.

“I remember, you know, Djokovic beat Nadal in Indian Wells,” the No. 4 said. “He's play the same game. Because I remember he have good forehand, backhand, baseline, and he played short cross to him and very good control. Also play fast. You know, Nadal have no chance.”

BACKCOURT PROESS DOESN'T SHOW UP UNDER PRESSURE

Davydenko has always been one of the best players from the back court, but his main problem has always been his inefficiency of stepping up on the big points. He dominated Roger Federer in their Roland Garros semifinal last year, but faltered at the end of each set, to go down in straights. A few weeks earlier, the Russian came close to beating Nadal on clay in Rome, but after a three-hour slugfest, Nikky D. again came up short.

Winning what can be seen as the biggest Masters Series event of the year will surely give Davydenko the feeling he belongs among the elite ranks, and just might make him hold his nerve better the next time he faces one of the big guns in the closing stages of a Slam. “Maybe something change, you know, my tennis here in Miami,” Davydenko said. “I hope, you know, like in the future is also. Maybe I feel more confidence because I beat very good guys here, and now and in the future I start coming and I play something maybe different, maybe much better, much faster.”

The Russian is still being investigated regarding his infamous match in Poland last year. But Davydenko said he is no longer worried about the case.

“In my mind it's not every day in my mind. It's in my mind if you ask me about this one. Because if ‑‑ now I go from here, from the press, I forget already, because for me it's not now important. I don't think about investigation. It should be my lawyer thinking, and my manager. But for me, it's like really I'm forget straight what you're asking me.”

Nadal will still be the man to beat on clay courts this year, and he’ll have a very good chance to win his fourth consecutive Roland Garros crown in June, provided he doesn’t overplay himself in the four tournaments (Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, Hamburg) he’s scheduled to play before heading to Paris. Last year, Rafa reached the finals in all four of those events. He only lost one of those matches, in Hamburg, where he completely burned out against Roger Federer.