French Open Day 13: It Paes to Have Cash

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/

Kicking things off with the women's semis at 1pm (Paris time) we have Serena Williams vs Kiki Bertens and Garbine Muguruza vs Samantha Stosur.

Not before 3pm we have Stan vs Andy and Novak vs Thiem also simultaneous semis.

With the possible exception of the 1pm start time, I think a good scheduling, the right matches on the right courts in the right order there.

If 4 semis in a day isn't action packed enough, you can stay on for the mixed doubles final between Hingis/Paes and Mirza/Dodig. We also have the men's doubles semis -relegated to court 1 - Lopez/Lopez vs Dodig (again)/Melo and Bryan/Bryan vs Kubot/Peya. And the women's doubles semis!

If Serena Williams, Murray, Stan, Andy, Novak and Martinna Hingis aren't enough big names for you, some legends matches feature a star-studded line up including Cash, Mcenroe, Bruguera, Ivanisevic, Ferrero, Moya, Chang, Santoro, Kafelnikov, Novotna, Davenport, Navratilova and others that deserve to be on the list but I got tired or typing. Not that any of those matches ever seem to be shown on TV.

But how much of it will actually get played. Well on the down side looking at the BBC's weather forecast I see a lot of pictures of clouds. On the positive side I see no pictures of rain coming out of them. Anyway, why don't they just get a really big tarp and just stretch it across the whole event with a few poles in the middle. Job done.

SFs could be good - too bad I cannot take a day off to watch.

Good luck Stan!
Good luck Dominic!

summerblues wrote:SFs could be good - too bad I cannot take a day off to watch.

Good luck Stan!
Good luck Dominic!

x1 sorry Andy fans but I think Stan is the man to do the job if Dominic cant

Think stanimal is going through too. Nole to win in 3

I then expect novak to avenge what happened last year and finall get the monkey off his back

Judging simply from the live score updates, Muguruza has been having a tremendous French Open tournament.  Serena Williams however tends to start her matches off slowly, then after a certain warming up period, where she may fall behind in the match, ends up polishing off her opponent through establishing her power game.

Williams on the verge of sealing the first set tie-break.

After a stutter Williams seals the first set tie-break. And with Bertens carrying a calf injury I see no way back for her here.

It does look like Serena-Muguruza set to be the final now, most probably, and that would make a good final, perhaps tighter than these semis.

Interesting stat: if Serena wins the French Open this year, she will have 4 of each slam. The only other person to achieve this ever, man or woman, was Steffi Graf.

Margaret Court (24 slams in total) – “only” 3 Wimbledons
Steffi Graf (22) – 4 of each slam, would be 5 of each if she had played the AO more regularly, but had 6 absences in slam winning years
Serena Williams (21) – 4 of each slam if she wins the French Open this year (she has 6 of all the others)
Helen Wills Moody (19) – never won Australian Open, but never played it. “Only” won 4 French Opens, but only played it five times
Chris Evert (18) – only 3 Wimbledons and 2 Australian
Martina Navratilova (18) - only 2 French and 3 Australian

Because Serena has 6 of all other slams, if she wins 2 more French Opens in her career (this and one other) she would stand alone with 5 of each slam.

Also, if she wins this year, she will tie Graf for slams - currently 22-21 to Graf.

I think Serena is the most powerful woman to have ever played the game of tennis.

Muguruza wins in straight sets. Finished about 5 minutes ago. Djokovic-Thiem to follow shortly.

Serena up 7-6 5-3

So the winner of Djokovic - Thiem may get more rest time than the winner of the Wawrinka - Murray for the final ...

I hope Thiem is able to demonstrate that he will be a force to be reckoned with for the near future.  Winning a set will be an achievement for him as well as taking a set or two to a tie-breaker.

Some meat on the bone for the women's final as Williams has a minor injury that's hindering movement.

Looks like murrinka will be about ten minutes or so later than thokovic

So Serena now through (7-6 6-4), and both men's matches now started.

Murray 1-1 Stan
Novak 4-1 Thiem

Murray seems to be reading Wawrinka's serve early.  So he may get some joy today.

And Murray breaks.

Novak 6-2 Thiem - not convinced Thiem playing badly
Murray 3 - 2 Stan and 40-0 with a break

Murray really looks to be reading Wawrinka's serve. If he continues in this vein it is looking like a win for Murray. At this stage Murray becomes the favourite for this match.

Wow, see that Murray average forehand power stat?

Pre Lendl - 119kph
Lendl - 127kph
Post Lendl - 121kph

Fascinating.

Murray serving for the first set: let's see what happens with his first serve. However his second serve seems to be fairly solid as well. Could this be the first set Murray takes off Wawrinka in his career on clay?

Danny_1982 wrote:Wow, see that Murray average forehand power stat?

Pre Lendl - 119kph
Lendl - 127kph
Post Lendl - 121kph

Fascinating.

Wow - very good that you can get these types of stats.

Danny_1982 wrote:Wow, see that Murray average forehand power stat?

Pre Lendl - 119kph
Lendl - 127kph
Post Lendl - 121kph

Fascinating.

How an earth do they get that stat? Is there a speed gun at every tournament, measuring and logging the speed of shot on every point. Or is it a selected sample?

Anyway, it does agree with how I see it though.

This game is very close.  Both players playing well.  Murray trying to serve out the set.  Deuce.

Murray wins first set.  Excellent play from Murray.  Murray favourite for this match.

Wawrinka is fighting but Murray solid, keeping his nerve, and reading Wawrinka's serve well. Wawrinka put a special effort to get the break back as Murray was serving for the set. But Murray was too persistent.

Sounds like a lot of net play from murray. That's a tactical master stroke

Good quality set that. Stan had one ropey service game, but looked threatening throughout. Great clutch play by Andy to close it out.

Henman Bill wrote:

Danny_1982 wrote:Wow, see that Murray average forehand power stat?

Pre Lendl - 119kph
Lendl - 127kph
Post Lendl - 121kph

Fascinating.

How an earth do they get that stat? Is there a speed gun at every tournament, measuring and logging the speed of shot on every point. Or is it a selected sample?

Anyway, it does agree with how I see it though.

I'd imagine it's not all tournaments. Doubt they track speeds of all matches at all tournaments. There was no context about how it was gathered. It is fascinating though, no matter what the sample data is.

Good stuff from Andy. First serve is working great. Just needs to be careful with the forehand length. Dropped a few too many short.

Danny_1982 wrote:Wow, see that Murray average forehand power stat?

Pre Lendl - 119kph
Lendl - 127kph
Post Lendl - 121kph

Fascinating.

That stat would be a lot more interesting if it omitted 2014 though, when his power was clearly significantly down.

Murray breaks in second set leads it 2-1. Murray is the better player - he is just reading Wawrinka's serve so well.

Meanwhile Thiem being hammered into the ground: 6-2 6-1 0-1 to Djokovic.

A slight wobble for Djokovic in third set? Thiem leading it 0-3.

If Andy can maintain this quality, I'd make him a very strong favourite from here. Sure Stan has had a confidence boosting run the last few weeks, but has he been pushed by top quality opposition during that run? My guess is his confidence may still be a wee bit brittle. Of course, no question he is capable of playing lights out tennis and blowing Andy off the court, so Andy must stay focused and not give him any encouragement.

Born Slippy wrote:

Danny_1982 wrote:Wow, see that Murray average forehand power stat?

Pre Lendl - 119kph
Lendl - 127kph
Post Lendl - 121kph

Fascinating.

That stat would be a lot more interesting if it omitted 2014 though, when his power was clearly significantly down.

Miles Maclagan was talking about Murray's forehand on Eurosport the other day (particularly the inside out FH) and said it is as big as anyone's in the game. I think the issue with Andy is confidence/belief in the shot.

Theim watch here. He's a break up in the third. Looking for a respectable score line

Andy is on fire here!!

Born Slippy wrote:

Danny_1982 wrote:Wow, see that Murray average forehand power stat?

Pre Lendl - 119kph
Lendl - 127kph
Post Lendl - 121kph

Fascinating.

That stat would be a lot more interesting if it omitted 2014 though, when his power was clearly significantly down.

Would also seem surprising that his best clay court form was coming at at time that he was losing power on the forehand. I would agree that there's a fair chance that 2014 is skewing the numbers somewhat.

Theim is no longer a break up in the third

Murray double break up in second set & leading 5-1.

what a pathetic performance from wawrinka, almost embarrassing. He is the oddest player, never has an in between game........either brilliant or totally abysmal. It is like watching a hacker out there today

Though I would fancy murray over wawrinka on grass and quite even on hard courts (didn't wawrinka beat him twice at the us open?), wawrinka should be beating murray fairly handy on clay.

It doesn't even feel like Murray is having to do much today, just put the ball in play. Straight sets coming here if stan doesn't wake up

temporary21 wrote:Theim is no longer a break up in the third

Not a surprise. Fully expect Novak to wrap that one up without too much bother.

Theim is no longer on serve.

If only Andy can maintain this play when he meets Novak.. my God what a difference when he keeps his focus, determination and his head together.
This is how he played in the Davis Cup.

6-4 6-2 to Murray.

Somewhat underwhelming day of tennis so far.

Agree re Stan. I watched him play Rafa live at the O2 last year...it was the most blatant tank ever.

I think he figures out if it's going to be his day, and if not knows his B game won't get him results against the very top players.

Not competitive thus far no. Summerblues will not be pleased with the current outcomes at this time either

Henman Bill wrote:Somewhat underwhelming day of tennis so far.

On the contrary Murray playing overwhelming tennis today. Thiem perhaps is playing underwhelming tennis - Djokovic one game away to the final.

slashermcguirk wrote:what a pathetic performance from wawrinka, almost embarrassing. He is the oddest player, never has an in between game........either brilliant or totally abysmal. It is like watching a hacker out there today

Though I would fancy murray over wawrinka on grass and quite even on hard courts (didn't wawrinka beat him twice at the us open?), wawrinka should be beating murray fairly handy on clay.

It doesn't even feel like Murray is having to do much today, just put the ball in play. Straight sets coming here if stan doesn't wake up

That's a bit harsh. Think you're underplaying the impact that Andy's level has had. Could be my rose tinted spectacles, but I think Andy's been looking good. Stan always has the potential to dominate Andy, but the level needed is one he rarely attains. Stan not renowned for his fight, so wouldn't be greatly surprised if he fell away from here.

Ps maybe Delgado should become Murray's permanent coach. Murray's level following the departure of Mauresmo has been solid.

The tournament is just about now back on schedule for the first time. Looking set for Saturday women's final and Sunday men's final as per schedule. Looks like the organisers were right about them being able to catch up.

I don't think even Socal can have any complaints here with Djokovic, assuming he serves this out, through to the final with 2 days to rest - almost 2 full days like 44 or 46 hours before the final - and on the back of comfortable matches in both quarters and semis.

Nore Staat wrote:Ps maybe Delgado should become Murray's permanent coach.  Murray's level following the departure of Mauresmo has been solid.

Was thinking the same thing! However I still think Djoker will be a different kettle of fish in the final.