French Open Day 3 & 4

Fire away...


Philippe-Chatrier Court

11:00 AM

Women's Singles - Round 1
Petra Kvitova (CZE) [4] vs. Marina Erakovic (NZL)

Men's Singles - Round 1
Quentin Halys (FRA) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP) [6]

Men's Singles - Round 1
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1] vs. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)

Women's Singles - Round 1
Serena Williams (USA) [1] vs. Andrea Hlavackova (CZE)



Suzanne-Lenglen Court

11:00 AM
Men's Singles - Round 1
Lukas Lacko (SVK) vs. David Ferrer (ESP) [7]

Women's Singles - Round 1
Karin Knapp (ITA) vs. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) [5]

Men's Singles - Round 1
Richard Gasquet (FRA) [20] vs. Germain Gigounon (BEL)

Women's Singles - Round 1
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) vs. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) [6]

Read more at http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/index.html#xRQzJAWfXWtz8Z2C.99


Full PDF Schedule - http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/p_schedule8.pdf

Added PC and SL JHM, if you do not mind.

Looking forward to the quest for a CYGS.

For the numbers junkies - http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/extrastats/index.html

Interesting debate on ITV4 about whether seeds should be cut to 16 instead of 32 before play began. Hmm I am not sure. Petchey felt it would open up more possibilities of inteeresting First Round matches than you get at the moment. Thoughts?

Awww did anyone just see Ferrer, shake hands with Lucas Lacko after beating him, and saying SORRY

CaledonianCraig wrote:Interesting debate on ITV4 about whether seeds should be cut to 16 instead of 32 before play began. Hmm I am not sure. Petchey felt it would open up more possibilities of inteeresting First Round matches than you get at the moment. Thoughts?

Haven't seen this debate unfortunately - but I personally would be in favour of it. The trade off for this is of course that the matches at the end of the tournament may not be what the public want. But then because it is more open - there is a reasonable chance that we would have more winners, and perhaps less reliance of the “big 4”.

But ultimately, because it is an “Open”, just make it open. Leave the rankings for the ATP Tour, but make the majors what they are….open. Live draw, no seeds. Give everyone an equal chance.

I don’t particularly dislike the current way…but I wouldn’t be put off with fewer or no seedings

David Ferrer, by all accounts, is one of the nicest guys on the tour. Never seems to have a bad word for anyone. He could play Andy M at RG this year. Wouldn't fancy his chances against Andy in any of the other slams. But at the French, who knows?

sirfredperry wrote:David Ferrer, by all accounts, is one of the nicest guys on the tour. Never seems to have a bad word for anyone. He could play Andy M at RG this year. Wouldn't fancy his chances against Andy in any of the other slams. But at the French, who knows?

I see where you are coming from. A lot depends on which players turn up on court. Ferrer in form of old and Murray having a relapse in form on clay then I'd back Ferrer.

Jaoa Sousa beats Pospisil in straight sets and will play Murray in the Second Round on Thursday.

CC, I think 32 is fair and a good balance, I like it. If you're no 17 and you draw no 1 in the first round, that is pretty harsh if it happens to you at your home slam or on the slam at your most favourable surface.

Looking here
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=F401&oId=MC10
Murray is 9-6 vs Ferrer overall in the head to head but 0-4 on clay.

Henman Bill wrote:Looking here
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=F401&oId=MC10
Murray is 9-6 vs Ferrer overall in the head to head but 0-4 on clay.

0-4 though is misleading now for a number of reasons.

1. Ferrer's form has dipped in the last year or so.

2. Murray's back problem has been rectified which blighted his clay court game.

3. Murray in clay court form probably of his life.

Rafa off and running with an early break against Halys the Frenchman. Rafa leads 2-1.

Rafa serve broken but still a break up at 4-2.

He is making hard work of it though

Vesley v Mayer in the fifth set. Dolgopolov has a very winnable match v Almagro.

Halys is at hit-and-pray stage of his career.

Rafa in firm control and about to serve for the second set leading 6-3 5-3.

Playing very much within himself but then its all he needs to do

Who is this guy anyway?

Haddie-nuff wrote:Playing very much within himself but then its all he needs to do

Like I said prior to (or maybe it was during) Federer's first round match it is all about getting the job done in straight sets in the minimum amount of time. Rafa on course to do that.

Yes agreed

Rafa about to serve for the leading 6-3 6-3 5-4.

And Nadal wins in straight sets.

Good enough win. Novak up next?

Quite like the 32 seeds. It's tough enough being 33 in the world and meeting the number one in the first round, without being 17 in the world and coming up against numero uno first up, which is what could happen in the old 16-seed days.
To think going right back there were only EIGHT seeds, which in a 128-draw was pretty crazy.

sirfredperry wrote:Quite like the 32 seeds. It's tough enough being 33 in the world and meeting the number one in the first round, without being 17 in the world and coming up against numero uno first up, which is what could happen in the old 16-seed days.
  To think going right back there were only EIGHT seeds, which in a 128-draw was pretty crazy.

I think Petchey's reasoning for this was based around a desire for more interesting First Round matches to shake up the slams a bit. I think he said keep the Masters as are. It won't happen but just an interesting discussion I thought.

More interesting first round matches though would have a knock on effect on the undercard for the second week. It woud also hurt seed 17 onwards quite badly. Better to simply look for the hidden gems in the first 8 days and get a more even, better match later on.

IIRC, it was done because the clay specialists got fed up of being dumped out early at Wimbledon by a big guy. Or was that the seeding policy? Or both? I can't recall clearly.

Personally I (just) think 32 seeds is better. I know it would mix things up but so would no seeds.

Djokovic with an early break and leads 2-0.

Let me guess, poor Niemenan is trying to volley on clay against Djokovic.

How many games? Three? Maybe four?

bogbrush wrote:Let me guess, poor Niemenan is trying to volley on clay against Djokovic.

How many games? Three? Maybe four?

2 games... 6-0 6-1 6-1

Well Jarko does hold, maybe not the beatdown i expect

Well Niemenen already has one game on the board. Djokovic leads 2-1. I say it will be something like 6-3 6-3 6-2.

Just had a quick look on my TV here (ESPN in Chile), and, entirely predictably, my FO coverage will be single channel and at the critical moment of the potentially interesting Almagro-Dolgopolov match was screening the early part of the boring looking Djokovic-Nieminen match (with Nadal interview being shown simultaneously in one quarter of the screen).

As usual, I won't pay much attention or watch anything until probably about Saturday. Just keep tabs on the scores and then take a break from work if any of the big guns is losing and a story might be brewing.

Almagro beats Dolgopolov, 8-6 in 4th set TB so pretty close.

But sadly only able to watch on lives scores.

Jarkko 4-1 up! Great tennis, outhitting and outplaying djoko!

wtf, Djokovic 1-4 down in 2nd set.

Has Jarkko had an adrenaline surge? His game has just rocketed! Spanking the ball. He crushed that break point.

Djoko playing OK. Overheads unusually good, volleys unusually poor.

Niemenen in a real purple patch just now. It would be a mere irritant to Djokovic if he loses this set as I would be blown away if Jarko keeps this up.

Just came back from Lunch, what on earth happened?

Jarkko playing fantastic and for some reason djoko has had a brain fart and is going for broke a lot. Lot of errors.

temporary21 wrote:Just came back from Lunch, what on earth happened?

Niemenen red-lined for a couple of games. Hit hard and made every shot.

Tough opponent as first round matches go.

Rafa has got his prayer mat out
Well if I don't say it somebody will

No chance, not unless Novak is legitimately hurt, which hes giving no sign of. Just slow

JUST in time

Djokovic breaks back and I'd think the crisis will now be over.

Niemenen still bludgeoning everything... but now he's missing.

Djokovic seals the second set and leads 6-2 7-5. Plain sailing from here you'd think.

From 1-4 30-40 to 7-5.

Novak wriggles free to take the 2nd set.