The French Open 2020

First topic message reminder :

With the draw about to be made for RG, I thought I would get this topic going.

For me - and I say this every year - Rafa is clear favourite, although the strange nature of all sport this Covid-19 year might mean someone else (Thiem? Djoko?) might have a chance.

Halep stands out as the women's favourite, particularly as some of the top women are not appearing. More on this after the draw.

Well I was quite wrong about Swiatek today and now she has a great chance to reach the final.

I'd be surprised if she doesn't have to face a GS champion in the title match as - surely - one of Kenin or Kvitova should come through. Or will there be more shocks?

Congratulations to Iga Swiatek the teenager looks an incredible talent.
I’m biased but really happy for Martina Trevisan, she was a highly promising junior. But her career became derailed due to personal issues. Hopefully she can kick and achieve great things

Teenager Sinner standing up to Nadal and we go into a first set tie-break.

Nadal wins the tie-break 7-4 to go a set up after 1 hour 12 minutes.

Heartbreaking for Jannik played the perfect set until he served for the for it. Nadal the ultimate warrior.

Sinner breaks to lead 3-1 in the second set.

Nadal breaks back immediately

Nsfal breaks back immediately and back on serve. Whatever happens now this match will be finishing after 2am.

Fair play to Sinner making it so competitive. I thought Nadal would take him to the cleaners. Impressive performance

Jannik has played an incredible match and he’s losing. Guess that’s what happens against Nadal on the red stuff

Nadal breaks Sinner to lead 5-4 in the second set. He will serve for a two set lead after 2 hours 10 minutes.

And Nadal does go into a two set lead at 7-6 6-4.

6-4 Nadal he’s gradually wearing Jannik down.

I was surprised how little chance most were giving Sinner ahead of this match as I've been hugely impressed with him. As for the match, it must be gutting to be losing 2-0 as to me it's felt like it's actually been more on his racquet so far. However, for me he is generally hitting it fairly central meaning he doesn't always have Nadal on the run as much as he could. Hitting just a little closer to the lines could make a big difference.

Nadal reading Sinner's game now and the serve. Breaks early in the third and the writing is on the wall.

Nadal sprinting for home double break

Yeah Sinner's head has gone down just a fraction and Nadal can swing a bit more freely with the cushion he's got. Another thing I've noticed that's holding Sinner back in this match is he doesn't hit many backhands down the line, perhaps because he isn't confident on the shot.

Nadal wins 7-6 6-4 6-1 but it doesn’t tell the full story. Jannik was magnificent and I fully expect him to be Italian #1 within 12 months.
Not sure what’s more insane going for a 13th Roland Garros or being 98-2.

Top effort from Sinner. Lasted longer in the match than I expected him to, didn't wilt until the third set, and played some good tennis. A shame he tightened up on a few key points, otherwise he could have taken the first set against a slow-starting Nadal.

Good effort by Sinner by all accounts. Crazy scheduling by the French. Why didn't they make use of Lenglen court at some stage yesterday?

Are there any stats about just how man times Rafa breaks back straight away after dropping serve? Seems it happens all the time.

Djoko may be more tested today by CB than hitherto but should come thru. Kenin is likely to have more trouble than Kvitova. But as for the Tsitsipas-Rublev match - a good case could be made out for either.

I think Kvitova will take the title from here. As for the men's singles matches today I can see Carreno Busta posing Djokovic a few questions and taking a set but think Novak will win in four sets in around three hours. The other match is a real quandary. Tsitsipas seems to have more shots in his locker whereas I'd say Rublev has a slight advantage in the mental department. I will go with Tsitsipas to win in five sets.

I’m backing Carreno Busta will upset Djokovic in 4 sets. Rublev to beat Tsitsipas in 4 sets the Russian has been on a good run winning Hamburg last time out.

Petra Kvitová beat Laura Siegemund 6-3 6-3, the Czech overpowered the German.
Sofia Kenin won the battle of the Americans beating Danielle Collins 6-4 4-6 6-0. Collins suffered an injury in the final set.

Tsitsipas and Rublev underway and it has started how I think it could go on. A tight battle.

Tsitsipas running away with it 7-5 6-2 3-1. The Russian incapable of dealing with the slice and drop shots Tsitsipas is serving up.

Highly polished performance from Tsitsipas. Picked him before the tournament as the man most likely to upset the Nadal/Djokovic duopoly, and on this form he could give Djoko a highly-taxing semi-final (should the Serb get there, of course!).

I fancied Tsitsipas to edge it but did not think it would be this comfortable.

Wow Tsitsipas really seems to be dominating Rublev! Is anybody watching, is it a case of brilliance of Tsitsipas or poor play from Rublev or both? I thought that had the potential for a 5 setter

I also still think Carreno Busta could be a really tricky match for Djokovic. Could go either way, if Novak doesn’t turn up there is upset potential there

slashermcguirk wrote:Wow Tsitsipas really seems to be dominating Rublev! Is anybody watching, is it a case of brilliance of Tsitsipas or poor play from Rublev or both? I thought that had the potential for a 5 setter

Late in the first set Tsitsipas started playing drop shots and messing with Rublev and he had no answer to that tactic and that seemed to knock his confidence and belief. He never did counter and break the spell.

Think Tsitsipas was brilliant, utilised the drop shot especially well and displayed some beautiful forehand winners, but Rublev dropped off pretty quick midway through the second set and never recovered.

Do expect Djokovic to win, though I wouldn't be surprised if Carreno Busta managed an upset. Crucial that Carreno Busta takes the first set and tests Djoko's temperament, as I can't see him coming from behind to win.

Haven't seen any of it today until now at the start of the Djoko match.

After all the upsets we will still get a GS champion in the women's final. I think this is a great chance for Kvitova to win it.

She's certainly got the fire power. But she is perhaps more prone to UEs than some of the other top players.

Like others, I thought Rublev would make more of a match of it than he did. Just hoping CB can, at least, extend, Djoko.

I hear that Rafa was not too enamoured of the scheduling yesterday. I guess TV considerations came into it. If you're living in New York, for example, the Rafa match was at peak viewing time.

Djokovic and Carreno Busta level at 2-2. Comms going on about Djokovic maybe having an injury coming in allied to neck. I have my doubts.

Interesting.

Carreno Busta breaks to 15 to lead. Injury or not?

A break for CB to go 3-2 up.

The thing is I cannot see that Djokovic has been carrying this injury through the tournament the way he has played so far. Does seem bothered by something though. Thumping his left upper arm at the changeover.

Djokovic gifted back the break with a double fault by Carreno Busta. 4-4.

The old Djokovic feigning injury tactic, classic Novak.

Djokovic playing abysmal

Soul Requiem wrote:The old Djokovic feigning injury tactic, classic Novak.

Yeah you must know best in fairness

CB breaks again against a diffident-looking Djoko who has been hitting UEs and DFs in a somewhat scrappy display.

Can CB serve it out at 5-4?

Carreno Busta breaks again and will serve for the first set at 5-4.

Djokovic was a bit below his best in the last match, now he's way below it in this quarter-final so far. First serve, in particular, is absolutely dire, and he's peppering lots of other errors throughout as well.

Carreno-Busta needs to maintain focus while Djoko continues to beat himself up.

CH takes first set 6-4. A match on our hands?

And Carreno Busta is a set up. This match turning into a nightmare for Djokovic. Carrying an injury is the last thing you want when playing Carreno Busta.

I think CB will win this, he is in great form and Novak is looking very poor today. Looks very passive.

You would never write Djokovic off but he just looks off today

The Spaniard's favourite now, provided he maintains composure.

Djokovic isn't in the right headspace and is likely effected by something. Wouldn't be surprised to see him forfeit at some point.

This is as bad as I have seen Novak play in a long time. CB very solid though

Djoko can be such a drama queen that you never quite know how injured he is.

What's the betting he comes back strongly to win? For the time being, as Slasher says above, this is about as poor as I've seen Djoko play.

sirfredperry wrote:Djoko can be such a drama queen that you never quite know how injured he is.

What's the betting he comes back strongly to win? For the time being, as Slasher says above, this is about as poor as I've seen Djoko play.

Yes I can still see Djokovic winning (he says after Djoko breaks). Something is certainly bugging him. He is like a well-oiled machine/computer and if something isn't quite right it pulls the rest of his game down a few notches.