French Open 2015 - Day 9

Monday, 1 June 2015

Philippe Chatrier (10:00 UK start)
Seed Player Player Seed Competition
13
Safarova (CZE)
v
Sharapova (RUS)
2 Women's Singles
13
Monfils (FRA)
v
Federer (SWI)
2 Men's Singles
1
S Williams (US)
v
Stephens (US)
Women's Singles
1
Djokovic (SER)
v
Gasquet (FRA)
20 Men's Singles

Suzanne Lenglen (10:00 UK start)
Seed Player Player Seed Competition
28
Pennetta (ITA)
v
Muguruza Blanco (SPA)
21 Women's Singles
3
Murray (GB)
v
Chardy (FRA)
Men's Singles

Sock (US)
v
Nadal (SPA)
6 Men's Singles
4
Kvitova (CZE)
v
Bacsinszky (SWI)
23 Women's Singles

Court 1
Seed Player Player Seed Competition
9
Cilic (CRO)
v
Ferrer (SPA)
7 Men's Singles
17
Errani (ITA)
v
Goerges (GER)
Women's Singles

Mitu (ROM)
v
Van Uytvanck (BEL)

I'm pretty sure that the fella called Nadal's the NINE Champion...second match in a row on Lenglen...

Probably just the circumstances - Fed/Monfils have to finish on Chatrier. Djoko is No 1 seed vs a seeded Frenchman and they have to put 2 ladies matches on there. Plus Nadal is playing a non-seed - put all that together and it pretty much has to be on Lenglen.

to all the gladiators.

Sounds about right, I don't think they have much choice with the scheduling. Just unfortunate that play carried over today, otherwise Rafa would've been on Chatrier.

We'll see how Chardy and Sock get on, upsets hugely unlikely but you never know.

Stephens-Williams should be a nice little lit firecracker. I believe they don't like each other much anymore?

I think we are in for a great day of tennis. Gazza although I love him has no chance against Djoko, just a very bad matchup for Gazza. Novak's kick serve to Gazza's backhand neutralizes Gasquet's return. And his superior court position and consistency continually puts Gasquet under the pressure. That along with his up the line shots makes Gasquet run way more than he is comfortable.


I think Sock can trouble Nadal. He really is a good prospect. I can't say that he will win. But I think he probably will win a set and maybe more. Really after Kyrgios his skill set impresses me the most of any player in the 18-23 age group. Has had a lot of issues with injuries but is a good athlete with a pretty good all around game. Plus his forehand is in my opinion already one of the top 5 or 6 forehands on tour. After Nadal and Federer I really struggle to think of a forehand better than his. For Sock to do anything he has to find away to hit as many forehands as possible. Of course Nadal will try to prevent that as that is his great strength. But if Sock hits big and can consistently take Nadal up the line with his backhand to create FHs for himself he could trouble Nadal.

Fed v. Monfils, I don't know neither guy really impressed me in the first two sets. Fed played a poor second set and Monfils a poor first set. To me this is a toss up.

Murray is going to make minced meat of Chardy.

If Sloane loses, she can come and have a weekend with me.

I think we are relying on Federer and Monfils for any tension today. Tough one to call and I'm not sure who benefits most from it effectively being a BO3. The shorter form helps Federer physically but also helps a streaky player like Monfils.

Sock could possibly take a set off Rafa but the Spaniard is the clear favourite.

The chances of Chardy or Gasquet producing an upset against Murray or Djokovic are remote in the extreme.

I note that the OP doesn't appear to include Ferrer v Cilic. That could be a close match but I think Ferrer will take it. Who would the Andy fans prefer as a QF opponent?

Given that Andy has never beaten Ferrer on clay and usually has to go to war even to win on hard courts, I would have to say Cilic.

Born Slippy wrote:Given that Andy has never beaten Ferrer on clay and usually has to go to war even to win on hard courts, I would have to say Cilic.

Yep, Cilic for me too. Andy has a dominating H2H and even won their only clay meeting, although that was RG 09, so some time ago.

Ferrer possibly not the clay force he once was and Andy greatly improved, so I'd be reasonably optimistic if he does play Ferrer, but definitely not a gimme.

Also, as BS implies, Andy is likely to have more left in the tank if he plays Cilic. That could be huge for the semis, so hands down he would prefer Cilic.

Chardy is playing very well though. I think he will cause Andy some problems today. Would be very surprised if he doesn't get at least a set.

HM Murdoch wrote:
I note that the OP doesn't appear to include Ferrer v Cilic. That could be a close match but I think Ferrer will take it. Who would the Andy fans prefer as a QF opponent?

Sorry about that, I've updated OP

like socal have a tendency to think that Sock indeed could be a danger to Nadal but If, as I hope Rafa continues with his steady improvement he will hold him off but needs to find that confidence early in the match.

Federer and Montfils.. difficult to  assess at the moment.. looked though that Montfils was finding some form in the second.. but with the break in the match we could see him take time to play himself back in again where I think Fed will come out all guns blazing and break early.

Andy.. unless he has an off day,which is highly unlikely, Chardy has not got a prayer.

Jahu wrote:If Sloane loses, she can come and have a weekend with me.

What an offer

She could surely have no greater incentive to win.

Prize money & ranking points suddenly become insignificant by comparison.

Sock's backhand is very average. He isn't going to cause Rafa any problems on a clay court unless Rafa is beyond bad. Rafa in 3.

Taken from an article I just read

No. 6 Rafael Nadal vs. No. 37 Jack Sock: This is my pick for the match of the day. How will Sock's forehand stack up against Nadal's? Will they be able to find each other's backhand corners? Will Nadal's lefty spin give him the advantage? Or will Sock's bigger serve tip things back in his direction and keep him in the sets and ultimately give him chances to break? For all the attention on the forehands, the Sock serve will be a big deciding factor against Nadal. If he can serve big, earn some cheap points and get some easy holds, he'll have opportunities to tee off on the Nadal serve. This is the first meeting between the two. See more on the matchup

My comment on that is that Big servers are not normally Rafa's downfall,
he is a great returner and can usually ride that storm

There's no doubt that he normally handles big servers extremely well.

But .....they can sometimes trouble him, in the way they can trouble anyone on a good day.

Specifically in his back-yard here at RG, only two players have ever pushed him to five sets since Soderling. One being Djokovic, and the other .......(insert name of big-serving American here !).

I would be surprised if Sock even takes a set off Rafa. That is no slight to the young US rising star but more of just where I see things as they stand at the moment. Andy has to look for as swift a win as possible as RG is about energy conversation. Chardy is a tricky customer but lacks the real weapons to hurt an on-form Murray. Cilic V Ferrer should be interesting and it could go anyway. Ferrer is the better clay court player but he is on a slow decline you feel so Cilic will fancy his chances. Djokovic will will in three straight sets I reckon and Federer V Monfils is interestingly poised. If Federer wins the opening set he will win in four but if Monfils wins it then Roger may find it tough going. Fed to win in four for me.

I think Sock's serve is being overstated. Yes, he can hit some high mph.

But he's hit 97 aces in 16 matches this season (average 6.06 per match).

That's not remarkable. Novak and Andy are averaging about 5.8.

Federer, Berdych and Monfils are averaging over 7 per match.

The really big servers (Isner, Karlovic and Raonic) are averaging 15 or more.

Of course, it's not all about aces but I don't think it's right to view Sock as a really dangerous server.

Haddie-nuff wrote:Taken from an article I just read

No. 6 Rafael Nadal vs. No. 37 Jack Sock: This is my pick for the match of the day. How will Sock's forehand stack up against Nadal's? Will they be able to find each other's backhand corners? Will Nadal's lefty spin give him the advantage? Or will Sock's bigger serve tip things back in his direction and keep him in the sets and ultimately give him chances to break? For all the attention on the forehands, the Sock serve will be a big deciding factor against Nadal. If he can serve big, earn some cheap points and get some easy holds, he'll have opportunities to tee off on the Nadal serve. This is the first meeting between the two. See more on the matchup

My comment on that is that Big servers are not normally Rafa's downfall,
he is a great returner and can usually ride that storm

Agreed.

The more important factor is to being able to stay in rallies with Rafa and being a good returner of serve I reckon. Rafa is among the best returners of serve out there when on form so I don't see Sock's serve being a huge weapon against him.

Masha gone in straights.

lags72 wrote:

Jahu wrote:If Sloane loses, she can come and have a weekend with me.

What an offer  

She could surely have no greater incentive to win.

Prize money & ranking points suddenly become insignificant by comparison.

Was this comment a "please let me join"? Can't decipher your high level talk, keep it simple buddy

Andy breaks 3:2 up.

Ferrer takes first set 6:2.

Go FEDDDD GOOOOOO

There was certainly a simpler option Jahu.

But not within the forum rules .....

I have a Get out of Jail from LF from last year, so a spare Joker, just in case

Ok back to tennis now

Fed breaks 2:0 up.

Early break from Fed as predicted.. followed by some erratic play by both.
Settle down boys !!!

Ferrer thumping cilic right now

I swear giran ivanisevic doesn't look a day older than when he won Wimbledon

Monfils held a couple of games ago from 0-40. Now bp's on feds serve, could that hold be key?

Fed not having to work hard for that set
Montfils is working part time again..

Anyone have a stream for the feds game?

One more set Fed, one more, NOW.

Early break! CHUM JETZE!

Go go go go, a quick 6:3 now and go relax.

4:1 up and serving, go baby bo

fed takes the match, 6:1 third set.

not bad not bad, see u in the final

Blimey, just went into the factory for a quick look at something and suddenly it's all over.

What happened?

Absolutely $h1t3 from Monfils. Federer needs to fight in the next one with Wawrinka.

Monfils not the same man sadly. Means fed plays the stanimal for a third consecutive day of tennis.  Ferrer about to win too

What a crappy match from Montfils.. he deserves a slap.Taking candy from a baby.
Federer had it easy, but he certainly is not going to get away that lightly next round

What the hell is Andy doing

Another day another match. Except today bright and early, Federer rose to the challenge. Monfils didn't. You can tell Roger wanted the win real bad and put in a good effort. Monfils couldn't be bothered. looked like he'd rather be somewhere else. What an anticlimax! But Fed wouldn't have it so easy vs Stan tomorrow.

Ferrer through. Come on little man, get to another final!

Andy isn't doing anything. Chardys found the house money and winning the high stakes

Break back though, it's if of THESE matches

laverfan wrote:Ferrer through. Come on little man, get to another final!

Another final? I am a dreamer, but even that is above and beyond any dream

Be nice for ferrer. Thing is the semi he's probably be up against one of 2 nightmare opponents

Monfils probably needed to play the whole match yesterday. He's such a showboater and play-to-the-crowd man that a raucous Sunday crowd could have lifted him to the win.
I'd forecast a 3-1 triumph for Monfils before start of play yesterday but as soon as I heard that it was being carried over at 1-1 I reckoned Fed would come through on a flatter-atmosphere Monday.
Spose you could make a good case out for either man in the all-Swiss q-final tomorrow.

Stan will fold to Fed quickly. Will not be a great match.