French Open discussion thread

[Mad for Chelsea]

First topic message reminder :

I thought it was about time we got one of these started. While Federer surprisingly (cough cough) had the advantage of starting his campaign nice and early on day 1, Djokovic is currently in action against Sousa of Portugal. Also on at the moment we have everyone's favourite Briton... James Ward. He's been handed a tough draw against Tommy Robredo, but is battling hard, despite being a break down in the first.

We're also due our first major upset over on court 1, with Nishikori on his way out against Klizan. Injury issues? Finally we have Mahut vs Kukushkin in a pleasant match between two talented shot-makers. That one's at one set all, with the intriguing possibility of the winner meeting Isner in R2.

EDIT: in the time it took me to write this one, Ward has broken back, and is level at 3-3, well done that man .

[Jahu]

CC is most sensitive Andy fan.

[CaledonianCraig]

CC is most sensitive Andy fan.

No I wouldn't say that. If there is a criticism made of Andy that is constructive and realistic I am all ears. Heck I have posted my criticisms on here about him many times.

[TopoftheChops]

Get in there andy!

Friggin' heck can I refer you to your earlier comment - Classic Andy on clay - absolute rubbish.   

Doesn't mean I don't support him!

No but it does say you don't know your tennis if you claim Murray is absolute rubbish on clay. Certainly not in the class of the top players but absolute rubbish he is not.

Has he ever won a clay tournament? His clay record is awful compared to grass and hard court

[Jahu]

Sure sure, I bash Fed a lot and a little less Andy after his surgery, thought he is my second fav player.

[HM Murdock]

Murray limping.

Must be behind.

Indeed.  Much like when Nole is looking exhausted.

Looking exhausted is SO 2012!   The latest routine is to pretend the court is incredibly slippery.

[TopoftheChops]

Murray's swinging serve on the deuce court has been top notch today

[CaledonianCraig]

Get in there andy!

Friggin' heck can I refer you to your earlier comment - Classic Andy on clay - absolute rubbish.   

Doesn't mean I don't support him!

No but it does say you don't know your tennis if you claim Murray is absolute rubbish on clay. Certainly not in the class of the top players but absolute rubbish he is not.

Has he ever won a clay tournament? His clay record is awful compared to grass and hard court

No he hasn't but has made semis on the surface and ran greats like Nadal and Djokovic very close on the surface. Absolute rubbish on clay can't do that. I am not saying he is brilliant, very good on clay but certainly his weakest and most inconsistent surface.

[lags72]

Classic Andy on clay- absolute rubbish

TotC - Are your tennis posts by any chance automatically generated by a machine that constructs sentences from a (limited) selection of random words .....?

Just a guess, because I'm struggling to think of any other explanation ....... 

[bogbrush]

It's a relief to se the injury has cleared up.

Spoke too soon, it's back again.

[CaledonianCraig]

It's a relief to se the injury has cleared up.

Spoke too soon, it's back again.

Yes what has happened to Fed's bad back?

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray seals the third set and leads 3-6 6-3 6-3.

[Jahu]

HM, post of the month.

[TopoftheChops]

Classic Andy on clay- absolute rubbish

TotC - Are your tennis posts by any chance automatically generated by a machine that constructs sentences from a (limited) selection of random words .....?

Just a guess, because I'm struggling to think of any other explanation ....... 

I can go through the names of average players who have destroyed him on clay. Murray just can't compete with the top 4 on the red stuff

[bogbrush]

It's a relief to se the injury has cleared up.

Spoke too soon, it's back again.

Yes what has happened to Fed's bad back?

Yes, Federer often limps around between points clutching parts of his body.   

Could you make this a bit harder please?

[CaledonianCraig]

It's a relief to se the injury has cleared up.

Spoke too soon, it's back again.

Yes what has happened to Fed's bad back?

Yes, Federer often limps around between points clutching parts of his body.   

Could you make this a bit harder please?

How many years have you been watching tennis? Every tennis player throughout history just like human beings have their own traits and mannerisms. I hate to break this to you but not everyone is a Federer clone. Besides has he been bugging Kohlschreiber in any way? Not that I see. Has he had an MTO? No - he has played through it. Talk about you making a mountain out of an ant hill.

[Jahu]

Happy Ando does talk to himself a lot less these days amd less hand gestures.

Lendl has disciplined him good.

[TopoftheChops]

This is the best i've seen of andy on clay

[CaledonianCraig]

Happy Ando does talk to himself a lot less these days amd less hand gestures.

Lendl has disciplined him good.

Perhaps. I just think he has matured and has relaxed a lot more especially since winning the Olympics and then two slams. Now the sheer desperation for a big success is not an issue any more he is far more relaxed and at ease.

[bogbrush]

It's a relief to se the injury has cleared up.

Spoke too soon, it's back again.

Yes what has happened to Fed's bad back?

Yes, Federer often limps around between points clutching parts of his body.   

Could you make this a bit harder please?

How many years have you been watching tennis? Every tennis player throughout history just like human beings have their own traits and mannerisms. I hate to break this to you but not everyone is a Federer clone. Besides has he been bugging Kohlschreiber in any way? Not that I see. Has he had an MTO? No - he has played through it. Talk about you making a mountain out of an ant hill.

Yes, talk about overreaction.

[summerblues]

Odd last few games.  Murray appeared to be cruising and now they both keep dropping serves.

[The Special Juan]

Murray limping.

Must be behind.

Indeed.  Much like when Nole is looking exhausted.

Looking exhausted is SO 2012!   The latest routine is to pretend the court is incredibly slippery.

I remember watching that and thinking it was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen on a tennis court.

[yloponom68]

Triple Bagelling (falzy21) - has only occurred 4 times in Major Singles play during the Open Era.

Kuerten is not amongst those "dishing" one out, nor has Federer, ever been on the "receiving" end of same.

Lendl - on clay/French Open
Edberg - on grass/Wimbledon
Bruguera - on clay/French Open

and....

well, I'll leave it there, as this is the one few would ever imagine, or remember. French Open 1987.....

[summerblues]

What a great point from Kohli.

[bogbrush]

Triple Bagelling (falzy21) - has only occurred 4 times in Major Singles play during the Open Era.

Kuerten is not amongst those "dishing" one out, nor has Federer, ever been on the "receiving" end of same.

Lendl - on clay/French Open
Edberg - on grass/Wimbledon
Bruguera - on clay/French Open

and....

well, I'll leave it there, as this is the one few would ever imagine, or remember. French Open 1987.....

Kuerten's triple-bagelling of Federer was an established fact on the old 606.

[HM Murdock]

I remember watching that and thinking it was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen on a tennis court.

Sue Barker's interview with Federer after winning Wimbledon in 2012 is the most ridiculous thing I've seen on a tennis court.

[Jahu]

Kohli dishing some great shots, break up.

[summerblues]

Kuerten's triple-bagelling of Federer was an established fact on the old 606.

Oh, how I miss those days :daydreaming:

[Jahu]

Djoko shirt ripping in on top 5 there too.

[summerblues]

I cannot believe Kohli is now serving for this set.  When did Andy last hold his serve?

[bogbrush]

I remember watching that and thinking it was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen on a tennis court.

Sue Barker's interview with Federer after winning Wimbledon in 2012 is the most ridiculous thing I've seen on a tennis court.

Yes. Closely followed by a number of her other Wimbledon final interviews.

[Jahu]

To set 5 now. Getting tight.

[The Special Juan]

I remember watching that and thinking it was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen on a tennis court.

Sue Barker's interview with Federer after winning Wimbledon in 2012 is the most ridiculous thing I've seen on a tennis court.

"I have no recollection of that day," snaps TSJ as a single teardrop rolls down his face and lands on the 'W' on his keyboard.

[summerblues]

Unreal.  I thought Andy had this wrapped up - even after he got broken back the first time I thought he was just going through the motions.

I normally prefer Kohli to Andy but - in spite of the lack of clay court pedigree - I think Andy could give Rafa a good fight in the SF and make it interesting.  So I am kind of hoping he will win today.

[CaledonianCraig]

That end to the fourth set sums up Andy's season - far too inconsistent. First half very good second half - beyond awful. He gave Kohlschreiber the kiss of life. He got himself into this position it is up to him to get himself out of it.

[The Special Juan]

They've both got double faultitis! And what a return from Murray. Kohli should be really be aware by now that Murray is going to go cross court on his second serve return more often than not.

[Jahu]

Andy should get married and make babies. Get some motivation like Djoko and Fed years ago.

[Jahu]

Have to say Kohli is rock stable mentally.

[Jahu]

What a game. Kohli on fire. Break up now.

[The Special Juan]

I think if he goes out early at Wimbledon, dare I say retirement might be on the cards?

[CaledonianCraig]

If Andy loses he will get what he deserves - nothing (except ranking points and dosh of course) but he can have no complaints. He also must address what happened in that fourth set as it breathed new life into Kohli. Disappointing is an understatement and a break down and writing is on the wall I reckon.

[Jahu]

Dont think so, but anyone thinking Andy can be 5 times better on grass then clay on W this year, is dreaming.

[Jahu]

Hahahha crazy play, Andy breaks back.

[lags72]

I've now officially given up trying to call the result on this match.

Might as well flip a coin instead ........

[The Special Juan]

I wonder if he might withdraw after this match? It would be a case of "take the ranking points and run/hobble".

[The Special Juan]

Should he win, of course.

[CaledonianCraig]

I wonder if he might withdraw after this match?  It would be a case of "take the ranking points and run/hobble".

I wouldn't have thought so. The problem seems more like a hamstring than the back which is something good at least.

[The Special Juan]

I wonder if he might withdraw after this match?  It would be a case of "take the ranking points and run/hobble".

I wouldn't have thought so. The problem seems more like a hamstring than the back which is something good at least.

Hammy's can be dodgy though. If it "goes" then he could be looking at a tricky recovery period and with Queen's being ridiculously slippy at times, there's a chance that even if he doesn't do it damage now he will later. We don't want him beat up for Wimbledon.

[The Special Juan]

Elsewhere, Verdasco is doing a job on Gasquet. He leads 2 sets to 0 with the winner of that one playing the winner of this one.

[CaledonianCraig]

I wonder if he might withdraw after this match?  It would be a case of "take the ranking points and run/hobble".

I wouldn't have thought so. The problem seems more like a hamstring than the back which is something good at least.

Hammy's can be dodgy though.  If it "goes" then he could be looking at a tricky recovery period and with Queen's being ridiculously slippy at times, there's a chance that even if he doesn't do it damage now he will later.  We don't want him beat up for Wimbledon.

Yes that is a fair point. I suppose it depends how a bit of rest does it (should he win and that is by no means certain).

[CaledonianCraig]

It doesn't look good for him carrying on deep in the tournie even if he wins tonight. Too inconsistent. Moments of magic others that were just tragic.

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