While watching the Rome Masters quarter-finals on Friday, I took two specific things away from the televised matches. They were two different shots that two players employed to their advantage – so much so that they won their contests because of them.

The first shot I mention is the slice backhand of Fernando Gonzalez. This set-up shot was on full display during the Australian Open, and was lauded for its ability to lead into Gonzalez’s potent forehand, where he often ends the point. Since the final in Melbourne, Fernando hasn’t been able to rekindle this same winning touch, but that has changed this week in Rome.

Against Juan Ignacio Chela, Gonzalez tormented the Argentinian with the slice, which effectively negated Chela’s entire arsenal. The points were often long and repetitive, but in the end, the result was usually the same – Chela eventually giving in and giving Gonzalez a ball that he could smack with his signature shot. It was an awesome display of tactical tennis, and I honestly think no one on tour sets himself up for the next shot better than Gonzalez, when he uses this combination approach.

I also like the slice backhand from Gonzalez because of the surface he is playing on. On clay, the slice is even harder for opponents to handle because of the lack of bounce caused by the friction with the dirt. Against Chela, Gonzalez got a number of points gift wrapped to him, simply because the Argentinian couldn’t do much with the slice, aside from putting it right back to Fernando (how the point started off). Gonzalez’s fitness was evident, due to the fact that no matter how long the rallies lasted, he was there at the end with full stamina and shot-making ability.

It came as no surprise to me that the same outcome resurfaced itself against Filippo Volandri in the semi-final. What did surprise me, however, was how quickly the match ended. In only 67 minutes, Gonzalez ended the dream run of Volandri, reaching his second Masters Series final in the process (his other was in Madrid ’06). But when you are 100% on break points, as Gonzalez was (he was 4/4 against Volandri, compared to 3/14 against Chela), this efficiency can end the match in short order. For Volandri, this is a week that he, and his Italian fans, will never forget. He’s been the story of the tournament, and I would contend that he will be remembered most from this tournament...unless Gonzalez beats a certain someone in the final.

That brings me to the second shot I took away from the tennis in Rome. I’ve watched a lot of Rafael Nadal this week, and I’ve always said that his two-handed backhand is the best backhand in tennis. It’s powerful, accurate, and constantly catches opponents off-guard. Granted, there are some better looking ones (nearly all one-handers), but for my money, I would take Nadal’s backhand if I was building the perfect tennis player.

Saying this, one element of Nadal’s game that is sometimes amazingly overlooked is his forehand. You know him for the backhand, you know him for his speed, and his ability to run down any ball at any angle. You know Nadal for the muscles, the clam digger pants, and the wild colours he dons. You know him for his “Vamos!” chants. But speaking from a purely technical standpoint, his forehand is just unbelievable.

Like his backhand, it rarely misses, can be infused with cannon-like power, and produces an amount of top spin that can trouble many opponents. True Nadal fans already know this, but for the casual tennis audience, Rafa's forehand isn’t just a set-up shot to keep the point going, with a whipping follow-through to boot – it’s a great shot, plain and simple. It’s one of the best in tennis.

Unlike Gonzalez, Nadal’s semi-final wasn’t as swift. In the time it took the Nadal/Nikolay Davydenko match to conclude, you could have watched the Gonzalez/Volandri match three times (is there anyone on the planet who would do such a thing?). Rafa was given a stern test, but his fitness and ability to complete a match from start to finish were on full display to all the lucky attendees of this semi-final. Daydenko fought hard for three hours and 39 minutes, but in the end he walked off as the loser, albeit with a very nice reception from the Roman crowd.

So what shot wins in Sunday's final? Well, I think you know my answer already, but I want to explain why. Gonzalez’s backhand works great against most players, but Nadal can do many things that others can’t. His speed in two areas – foot speed and racquet-head speed – allow him to get to balls quicker and take them earlier, which in turn allows him to dictate the point. In prior matches, Gonzalez controlled the pace of play, and eventually worked opponents down. But it will be Nadal who ultimately controls this match, as he’s done the last 76 times on clay. Nadal in two sets.

Do you agree with Ed McGrogan's prediction? Leave a comment below or write an article if you prefer.