The Rome Masters Part One: Traveling in Hope

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: May 4, 2010

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It is better to travel in hope than to arrive disenchanted. (Japanese proverb)

This was an eventful expedition before it had barely begun.

The pilgrimage to the Rome Masters was booked many, many weeks back, and almost immediately, there was something to worry about.

The first scare arrived in the form of volcanic clouds, swept by uncharacteristic northerly winds from Iceland. The U.K. came to a halt for almost two weeks, and the planned departure date crept closer—and simultaneously receded over the horizon.

With every passing day of delays came more tales of people stranded around the world. But, just an hour behind schedule, this correspondent was sky-bound, Rome-bound, solo.

The second panic was prompted by reports of a new Centre Court at the Foro Italico.  Seats that were so scarce, and so hard to order, now seemed to have no equivalent in the new arena. Indeed, did I actually have seats at all?

One final fear remained on the way to the Eternal City, one that had nibbled at the back of the brain since the Rome draw was made: Would Roger Federer make it past his daunting first contestant, Ernests Gulbis?

Their only meeting, just months ago in Doha, was a tight affair, so Federer could be losing or could be winning.

However, the longed-for matchup between Federer and Rafael Nadal in the semifinals beckoned, so I journeyed in hope. Instead, I should have paid heed to that little nibbling doubt.

As one suitcase hit a hotel threshold, so one Swiss tennis player shanked his way to a final-set defeat.

Other seeds were also tumbling before my taxi pulled up at the tournament: Tomas Berdych, Marin Cilic, Sam Querrey, Juan Monaco, John Isner, Mikhail Youzhny, Juan Carlos Ferrero—all gone.

Soon after, the British flag was lowered as Andy Murray bowed out in only his second match.

Very soon, though, the remaining protagonists rose t...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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