whoever gets exact score (or closest) can be our first or second (along with the winner from Monte-Carlo, and I forgot who that was) guest picker for Rome.

Let's see some predictions!

Verdasco in three. 6-4 5-7 6-4 (:

soderling in 2 7-6 6-4 (i'm feeling partiularly unimaginative tonight. i blame my essay :P)

What do you mean, 'Soderling hasn't exactly been on fire this clay season'? This is the first clay court tournament he's played and he hasn't dropped a set yet!

I pick Robin in two sets 7-5, 6-3.

Soderling hasn't really played anyone in the top echelon yet either ... I hope Verdasco has been holding back a bit and that he can pull off the win.

roamed - well said. Perhaps Cheryl was not thinking clearly....after all, she picked VERDASCO!!!!

söderling 6-0, 6-1

I'm a virgin at this--lol--but I have to side with Cheryl on this one. I just think Nando has more fire and motivation to win this.
Nando: 7-6, 4-6, 6-4

Soderling 6-3, 5-7, 6-4

Soderling's toughest opponent this week was JI Chela. Hardly on fire.

beside the point. You can't be ON or OFF fire in a given season when that season consists of less than one full tournament.

El Sod 6-4,6-3

Will be a close contest, winner will be the one who can control his nerve better. I see that Soderling can be nervous too when nearing the finish line when he allowed De Bakker to break his serve yesterday. His forehand does shank a bit too.

I think Verdasco will win in the end as:
1) he wants it badly as this may be his best or even only chance to win a clay tournament on home soil now that Rafa is not there,
2)this is his first 500 series final, I can see his desire to win yesterday against Ferrer, and this desire will carry him through the finishing line,
3) I still think Verdasco is a better player on clay than Soderling, in terms of movements. Soderling has a relatively easy draw and not really being tested so far.

I say Verdasco in three: 7-5, 6-7, 6-4.

verdasco..
6-3 4-6 6-3

Rome preview and picks - http://www.tennistalk.com/en/blog/Ricky_Dimon/20100425/Approach_Shots: _Federer_returns_for_Rome_Masters

Verdasco 6-3 6-2. Going with heart

verdasco 7-6, 6-3. Just wait and watch his deadly forehand today.

This will be a test of both body and mind, but Fer will gather his strength from the home crowd.

Verdasco 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3.

verdasco is going to be outhit from the baseline in this one. Unlike verdascos previous match with ferrer, soderling is NOT going to allow nando to dictate play. And nandos not gonna like the role as defender either. Soderling in 2: 6-3 6-3

Soderling in straights........lets say 7-6 6-2

Veradasco 6-47-5

Soderling in two> 6-4 6-4

Whether it is a Verdasco or a Soderling win, I don't think it will be a straight sets affair, unless at the onset we see that Verdasco is feeling lethargic. I seriously don't think that Soderling can blow Verdasco off the court, not doing it consistently throughout the match as Verdasco also has a powerful forehand to counter Soderling's. Comparing net plays, Verdasco's though not fantastic, are still better than Soderling's. Soderling's advantage will be his solid serves, and Verdasco's serves can be horrible at times, esp his second serves.

As I've mentioned earlier on, it will be a close contest (provided Verdasco is still physically fit), and whoever makes fewer mistakes will win.

i know none of you is interested in it.. but i stll would want to inform you guys..
daniel nestor and nenad zimonjic has won the barca doubles cha,pionship by beating mark knowles/lleyton hewitt 4-6, 6-3, 10-6..
p.s. so hewitt is finally 100% fit

Yes congrats to nestor and zimonjic for the win. I still remember zimonjic feeling unhappy about losing the final to Rafa/Mark at IW!!

Come on Nando!!!! Keep it going!!

Looks like clayking may get the closest!! Ricky..... still say Cheryl wasn't thinking clearly?

Unless Nando falls apart in serving for the match, then clayking will have hit it dead on the head! Congrats clayking!

BRILLIANCE!!
pure spanish brilliance..
that's the power of armada!!!!
vamos verdasco!!
vamos armada!!!
p.s. vamos mosquito!

I am very happy that Verdasco has won, no way did I want Soderling to win this title.

VAMOS VERDASCO.

Yes! Congrats Verdasco!!

Wow, clayking you got it right man!! Well done!!

I'm so happy for Verdasco, his biggest win so far!! First 500 series title!!
As I said, it won't be a straight sets victory. Verdasco's down the line forehands
are simply lethal, almost Rafa like! In fact, I find him playing a bit like Rafa. I think his defeat to Rafa last week had taught him a lesson or two. Nice win, well done Verdasco. Vamos.

PS. So happy that we get a fellow Spaniard's name on the trophy, after Rafa's.

yesssss...congrats Nando!! I'm so happy for you!! yahooooooooo!!! Great job!! Keep the spirit alive for Rome Nando.. Te quiero.. Vamossssss!!

hmmm .... YEA CHERYL ! Congrats to clayking !

Great win for Verdasco. He played great today. He definitely stepped up his game and deserved to win. This is what I expected from him last year actually. I also thought it was great to see at the trophy(s) presentation how gracious and sporting Sod was in defeat. This tournament was actually a lot more entertaining than MC.

Maybe for you chr18 ... lol

Yay!!!!!!!!

" I still remember zimonjic feeling unhappy about losing the final to Rafa/Mark at IW!!"
It showed on his face too.

Congratulations to Nestor/Zimonjic today!

"I think his defeat to Rafa last week had taught him a lesson or two."
Definitely, luckystar. The man may have some "head" issues, but I don't think anyone can say he refuses to learn.

smr,
Ok I actually only watched SFs and final this week so what I saw of it was quite entertaining. Maybe the earlier matches were not.

hats off to clayking
imagine 3 sets??? excellent prediction!!!

Congrats to Verdasco, great win !

wow!!
i just noticed now..
i actually won the prediction contest!! :D

@raindrops..
you flatter me!
i just went with the simple formula of a break of serve in each of 3 sets..
n predicted verdasco win because he is a spaniard..
it is nowhere in league with a 6-0, 6-1 prediction in finals..

Ha ha chr18 ... there were some fun earlier moments in this tournament ( like DeBakker's run to the semis) but I was referring to the carnage left by Rafa in MC. To some the matches may not have had much drama but to those of us who had been in the Rafa desert of titleless tournaments it was pure magic. :)
Vamos Verdasco!!

Well said smr. It was indeed pure magic, to see Rafa won in such a dominant manner, after 11 months of title droughts. When they shown the first time that Rafa won the MC title in 2005, Rafa was really such a kid, looking around in bewilderment, and he looked so sweet when he lifted that trophy for the first time. Its unbelievable that five years had past and he was still lifting that trophy for the sixth time in a row. How amazing!

Some of the MC matches are quite interesting, like the Nole/Nalby match and especially that Ferrero/Tsonga match.

For Barcelona, I think the Tsonga/De Bakker match was good, the Ferrer/Verdasco one was also good and this final match didn't disappoint too. We see the two solid forehands trading blows at each other and I'm esp impressed by Verdasco's down the line forehand today, a Rafa inspired shot!

wait a second. CLAYKING got the score EXACTLY right??!?!

that is ridiculous. Amazing.

Jealous Ricky? lol--just kidding. Congrats clayking and Cheryl!!!!! I feel the Golden Racket may be changing hands soon if Cheryl keeps beating Ricky like this :)

claking, u really are the clayking ! WOW ! sick prediction tht was. congrats,
i am so confused...shud clayking be handed over the silver racket which currently rests wid Raindrops ( who won it in a MASTERS 1000) .... ricky and all fellow users..what shud we do ??!! raindrops u can also suggest :D

vamosrafa, my suggestion would be to do it like the Olympics. Gold for Slams, Silver for 1000 Masters and Bronze for the others. Also, for fun at the end of the year, maybe a Platinum (since it is more valuable than gold) racket for the best of the year!

Yes, I think I'll just wait for the platinum. :D

Seriously, clayking you rock.

clayking, you and Raindrops are scary in the good way.

Congratulations to you too, Cheryl - you were the only "lead" blogger willing to buck the H2H.

Vamos!!

thanx guys..
in the last 3 weeks since joining tennistalk, i have improved my prediction skills.. :)
personally, as a tennis fan the last week was a good one..
of course i'm sad juanqui and gonzo lost..
real real sad actually.. :(
but i have become a fan of those murderous drop shots of de bakker..
the thing is he does it consistently and still pulls it off..
of course a spanish win in final makes it all the better..
2 other players whom i like, gulbis and bellucci, did well too..
so a fine week by me..
looking forward to rome now!

VAMOS ARMADA!!

HAHA,...okay i accept fan4tennis' proposal.... we will be awarding like the olympics... ricky (golden racket, for GRANDSLAMS) raindrops (silver racket, for masters 1000) , clayking (bronze racket, for 500- events ).

rock on guys :) rome has kicked off :D