James Blake loses in the first round of Rome Masters

Rome, Italy
April 27, 2009 

James Blake struggled against windy conditions nad lost in the first round of the Rome Masters. The Qualifier from Romania, Victor Crivoi beat the american 7-5, 6-3. Having lost the first five games in the opening set, James Blake rallied and saved three set points, but eventually lost the first set. Though Blake had a lead in the second set 2-0, intermittent rain and wind troubled the american and gave Crivoi his first victory this year.

In other matches, Stanislas Wawrinka beat Igor Kunitsyn 6-3, 6-4. 15th seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia defeated Flavio Cipolla 6-2, 6-2. Ivo Karlovic defeated Jan Hernych 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

James Blake quotes
"He might have gotten a little nervous trying to close out the first set, and I didn't put any pressure on him,"
"I wasn't attacking, and when I tried to attack I was missing. Just a really bad day."
"He did a better job of handling the conditions. I should have put more balls on the court,"
"It makes when you're playing bad even less fun when you're out there and the conditions are like that. You got clay in your eyes and you can't control the ball because of the wind. And when it starts to drizzle, it makes it not so much fun."

Stanislas Wawrinka quotes
"I'm happy with my game,"
"It's difficult to play well and keep focused in every game. I'm happy to win it in two sets."

Monday, 27 April, 2009
Singles - First Round
[10] Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) d Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 63 64
[Q] V Crivoi (ROU) d [14] James Blake (USA) 75 63
[15] Marin Cilic (CRO) d [WC] F Cipolla (ITA) 62 62
Christophe Rochus (BEL) d Juan Chela (ARG) 61 62
[Q] Juan Monaco (ARG) d Nicolas Kiefer (GER) 62 63
Viktor Troicki (SRB) d Victor Hanescu (ROU) 63 63
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) d [Q] Jan Hernych (CZE) 46 64 62
Albert Montanes (ESP) d [WC] Potito Starace (ITA) 76(8) 64

Doubles - First Round
Julien Benneteau (FRA) / Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) d R Hutchins (GBR) / Andy Murray (GBR) 64 64
J Knowle (AUT) / Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d Jeremy Chardy (FRA) / Gilles Simon (FRA) 62 61

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