French Open 2015 - Day 9

First topic message reminder :

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...

Djokovic had a slow start but wow, still scary good. Not saying he'll beat Nadal but honeymoon over for the defending champ Wednesday.

Make up your mind.. you think he might not beat Nadal but yet the honeymoon is over

Today's matches on the men's side are a bit of a lull in proceedings (been fairly one sided and predictable) before it really hots up in the quarters. Whilst many hotly anticipated matches do not live up to expectations I think that Nadal v Djokovic will certainly live up to its billing. Based on form, Djokovic ought to be favourite but Nadal is so damn good at this tournament I give him the slightest edge. I predict he'll win this tournament (but not win another slam).

Murray v Ferrer will be an absolute dogfight - this one could go over 4 hours. As others have said, do not underestimate Ferrer - I make him favourite for this match despite Murray's recent good form - this is not a great match up for Murray and its on his least favourite surface.

Nishikori v Tsonga - I'd go for Kei in 4 sets here. Tsonga impressed against Berdych but he did have that odd lapse when trying to serve out the match in 3rd set - Nishikori will not be as charitable as Berdych was and Tsonga will get nowhere near as many free points as he did against Berdych.

Wawrinka v Federer - the consensus seems to be that Fed will win this easily - I'm not too sure. I'm actually going for Wawrinka in 4 - he's looked in v good form this tournament, and is due a good run at Roland Garros, considering his claycourt pedigree.

Anyone get the impression that the rest of the tournament may be bit of an anti-climax following the Murray v Ferrer and especially Nadal v Djokovic matches?

JuliusHMarx wrote:Not been watching - who was worse - Sock or Monfils?

Sock was stinking it up for a while, but this one's still got legs.....

What I feared that Rafa would let the nerves creep back in at a crucial stage

Haddie-nuff wrote:Make up your mind.. you think he might not beat Nadal but yet the honeymoon is over

Honeymoon over meaning he will then have to work harder up against more serious compitition (you know who), i did't mean he will be ousted from the tournament.

So you see my pessimism does not now look so ridiculous does it

Matchpoint wrote:

Haddie-nuff wrote:Make up your mind.. you think he might not beat Nadal but yet the honeymoon is over

Honeymoon over meaning he will then have to work harder up against more serious compitition (you know who), i did't mean he will be ousted from the tournament.

Ahh I see

Maybe it's his OCD, but Nadal just can't put odd Sock away.....

OOps, didn't see that coming, Sock suddenly woke up and took the 3rd. May have to retract what I said about Nadal not having compitition.

Oops.  Try again Rafa.

2 tv's for Rafa in that set. Interesting. Way over 30 seconds for the points mind.

Pretty much why I can't see him beating Djokovic. Simply not consistent enough.

Come on Sock, beat him and get upgraded to a silky sexy stocking

If only I was timing it... I could if there was any difference in set statistics, alas I cant even be bothered to open my lapop today

LuvSports! wrote:2 tv's for Rafa in that set. Interesting. Way over 30 seconds for the points mind.

Did he lose something then?

LuvSports! wrote:2 tv's for Rafa in that set. Interesting. Way over 30 seconds for the points mind.

Uh-oh. We'd better brace ourselves for a barrage of indignation from you-know-who.

bogbrush wrote:

LuvSports! wrote:2 tv's for Rafa in that set. Interesting. Way over 30 seconds for the points mind.

Did he lose something then?

The set?

You can see why, even though they're all very raw right now, that the likes of Sock & Kyrgios will take over fairly soon with a new level of power.

It's just a pity that we'll have to hear the commentary go on about greatest ever........

I'll go check the other thread.

Harsh to call Gasquet useless, a very good, beautiful player who unfortunately lacks a massive weapon and mentally and physically isn't quite at the very high level of a true great.

That though. Is a big save, great play

On the second one he lost the right to use his first serve.

Sock is like Bambi on steroids.

And his right to an attorney.

LuvSports! wrote:On the second one he lost the right to use his first serve.

What's he get for another?

That's the kind of ropey BH lob I'd hit.

bogbrush wrote:

LuvSports! wrote:On the second one he lost the right to use his first serve.

What's he get for another?

Another lost first serve.

Serving at 5-2 now though. Also you only ever get loss of serve for a tv nowadays, that was the change

And that's that.  Novak nearly joining him

Nadal through in four sets. Sock will take a lot from that but Rafa as well can take that as another confidence-booster. However, Novak is just in a better place right now and I'd still take him to pull off the win. I suppose a lot will depend on Novak's mental approach to the match.

Henman Bill wrote:Harsh to call Gasquet useless, a very good, beautiful player who unfortunately lacks a massive weapon and mentally and physically isn't quite at the very high level of a true great.

Perhaps Ive missed something then.. what has he done please remind me.

Hang on. Gasquets shown up 2 hours late

Rafa never plays better than when he is being threatened.
So we will see.

He most likely is useless in the sense of ability to beat Djokovic or win a grand slam, my point (and it's not an original one) is more that it seems funny when us forumites comment that so and so a player is "useless" I am sure he would easily beat 99.9% of tennis players on the planet. If he came down to our local club and we had a hit with him we would probably be in awe. Just some perspective!

The quarters are set.
If you want to join me in a prediction game, go here:
https://www.606v2.com/t59241-quarter-final-prediction-game

Born Slippy wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

LuvSports! wrote:On the second one he lost the right to use his first serve.

What's he get for another?

Another lost first serve.

No.... surely lost points and games follow?

Haddie-nuff wrote:

Henman Bill wrote:Harsh to call Gasquet useless, a very good, beautiful player who unfortunately lacks a massive weapon and mentally and physically isn't quite at the very high level of a true great.

Perhaps Ive missed something then.. what has he done please remind me.

Personally I think it's all a matter of perspective, and the sort of criteria you choose to apply.

You can judge a current player either

a) against the mercurial standards of a Federer, Nadal, or Djokovic

OR

b) against the context of the individual's own career  - which, in the case of Gasquet has meant holding down a place in the top section of the rankings, whereby for much of the last decade there have been only around 20 or 30 players (and sometimes less than 10) who are consistently better, anywhere in the world.

Not my own definition of 'useless'.

Henman Bill wrote:He most likely is useless in the sense of ability to beat Djokovic or win a grand slam, my point (and it's not an original one) is more that it seems funny when us forumites comment that so and so a player is "useless" I am sure he would easily beat 99.9% of tennis players on the planet. If he came down to our local club and we had a hit with him we would probably be in awe. Just some perspective!

Doubtless you are right but I don't watch club tennis players on the professional circuit and therefore not able to judge how well they do against your top  club member. He had progressed to the fourth round of a GS playing against the No.1. He was not a qualifier, neither was he unseeded... he earns his living as a professional tennis player and I judge him accordingly... anyway what I said was PRACTICALLY useless. My opinion as a forumite sorry.

Not my own definition of 'useless'.

Again we illustrate the 606 game of Chinese whispers.. that is not a correct quotation

Come on Haddie, there were no 'Chinese whispers' or games being played.

I'm happy to expand the quote to "practically near on useless".

But the bottom line is that your intent to denigrate Gasquet was very clear ; likewise my wish to defend his achievements in the sport.

Im not denigrating Gasquet Im voicing my opinion .. his results say it all for me...
He is little more than a journeyman who presents no threat to any top tennis player that I can think of .. he has been on the circuit long enough to have progressed much further.
Im sorry you don't like my opinion. If that is denigrating a player stick around you will see others expfress much worse on this forum than ever I do.

So Nadal's advanced to 70-1. Djokovic is the 'favourite'. All pressure on Djokovic.

Bacsinszky to try and bagel Kvitova.

... and she does. What a set!

Haddie - there's really no need to apologise or to worry about whether I agree with your comments or not.

Feel free to criticise whichever player you like. You're welcome to your opinions - however misplaced others may, or may not, consider them to be.

Bacsinszky takes out Kvitova. Perhaps Stepanek is a bad career influence on WTA.

lags72 wrote:Haddie - there's really no need to apologise or to worry about whether I agree with your comments or not.

Feel free to criticise whichever player you like. You're welcome to your opinions - however misplaced others may, or may not, consider them to be.

Im glad you feel that way and my original post may well have been badly worded. I seriously am not in the business of denigrating any player, they sure as hell play better than I do. Gasquet is a huge disappointment frankly, he like many of the new ones that have come onto the scene, promised so much and delivered very iittle.. I actually avoid watching him when he plays; always knowing the outcome of most of his matches. But I do not disrespect the man

Haddie-nuff wrote:I seriously am not in the business of denigrating any player,

Go on, you'll feel better for it.

No I don't, but then I don't hate or have an axe to grind with Gasquet,or indeed any player..I don't need to do that to make ME feel better.

Well Nadal was really not impressive. If Sock had even an average day serving as opposed to maybe the worst serving day of his young career then this would have gone 5 and he probably wins. And that is with an average day of serving. I think he was in the low 40s for first serve percentage and handed out 9 or 10 double faults. I mean one of his two biggest weapons went completely off boil and yet he takes a set. Sock and Kyrgios are the class of the players from 18-23. He hits the absolute tar out the forehand and the rest of his game is pretty good. His backhand is so much better than it was when he first broke in to the tour so credit to him as he is showing the desire and work ethic to get to the next level.