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.

Not completely all over as Swiatek, 4-0 up, drops serve in a long fifth game. Still 4-1 up, though.

Swiatek wins two and one. She had too much weight of shot and consistency for the Argentine girl.

There was only a slight wobble in the fifth game of the second set.

The big question now is can she do it again in the final where she will have to face a GS champ? What we've not seen is how she will play under pressure as she has rather waltzed thru the rounds.

There were very few UEs from her today but then she was well on top for the entire match.

An early break for Kenin who leads 3-1.

LATER - Kenin actually served for a 5-1 lead but Kvitova, hitting winners and UEs all over the place, has now got it back to 4-3 and just one break down.

Kenin wins first set 6-4. Far too many UEs from Kvitova. She needs to play the percentages a bit more, but that's never been her game.

Kenin is a fighter and a grafter.

All over for Kvitova, possibly, as Kenin breaks in the second. What's been impressive has been the American's return of serve.

Some good winners from Kvitova but still too many UEs.

A bit of a wobble from Kenin as she failed to serve it out at 5-4 but got the job done for 7-5.

Looked pretty windy out there and that may have accounted for the scrappy - at times - nature of the match.

Kvitova really has no plan B if her attacking play is countered, as it was today by Kenin.

So a Kenin-Swiatek final.

I thought Swiatek would win the grand slam from about the quarter final stage but I have noticed Kenin and she is a fighter, so I am not sure who will win - it makes for an interesting final.  Swiatek is 19 and Kenin is 21.

No name Bertie wrote:I thought Swiatek would win the grand slam from about the quarter final stage but I have noticed Kenin and she is a fighter, so I am not sure who will win - it makes for an interesting final.  Swiatek is 19 and Kenin is 21.

You love ages don't you Bertie.

No name Bertie wrote:I thought Swiatek would win the grand slam from about the quarter final stage but I have noticed Kenin and she is a fighter, so I am not sure who will win - it makes for an interesting final.  Swiatek is 19 and Kenin is 21.

A combined age of 40, then. If Federer gets to a final next year he can practically supply the combined age on his own.

Reckon Swiatek might have preferred Kvitova to Kenin as a final opponent. Petra is prone to UEs as was shown today. Kenin is feisty, returns well, has a good all-round game, and has a recent GS triumph under belt.

If the bookies make Swiatek favourite, and I don't know what the odds are at the moment, I think that's a mistake. We have no idea how Iga will play in a GS final and how she will cope if she is suddenly under the cosh.

Of course, at 19 she could go out with no imagination, reel off winner-after-winner (remember Ostapenko and Andreescu) and eventually triumph. My money's on Kenin. Of course, I should add that most of my predictions so far have been wide of the mark.

The reality is even if he is feigning injury or is a hypochondriac, its up to the opponent to go and beat him anyway. If I was playing against someone that i thought was faking, it would drive me even harder to beat him. In all sports you see different forms of gamesmanship but it is up to the opponent to go and use that to win the match. Nadal constantly fidgets before points and takes forever to serve and you could consider that gamesmanship and a way to put an opponent off. Got a problem with that, then use it as extra motivation to beat him. Murray used to constantly look injured during matches and then he would turn matches around and win in 5 sets.

The reality is in all sports people do these things, it is up to the opponent to take advantage while they are struggling. i dont see what the big deal is.

sirfredperry wrote:Interesting what CB said afterwards about Djoko and his injuries.

The CB comments lead us to ask if Djoko - at times -  is faking, in some pain but nothing too awful, over-exaggerating, playing for sympathy? Or What?

It could be called prima donna-ish or drama queen-ish. It's not a great look for a number one, although I recall Virginia Wade causing a stir some time back by calling Andy Murray a drama queen.

I'm sure a lot of players start matches without being in great shape. But they just get on with it.

Wonder how many sets we are going to get in the semis today. Six? Possibly. Ten? Unlikely.

I'm going for seven, as I think Rafa will win in straight sets and Djoko will win in four.

I think Tsitsipas would have to play really well, and Djoko would have to be a bit off, for the Greek to win. It might be argued that Djoko's already had his awkward match - against CB.

Schwartzman's match could go the same way as the Rafa-Sinner match, with the lower-ranked player pushing Rafa for a while before getting blown away.

Anyone think we are NOT going to get a Rafa-Djoko final?

Tsitsi has chance to win in 5 sets.
Rafa? Routine straight set.

slashermcguirk wrote:
The reality is even if he is feigning injury or is a hypochondriac, its up to the opponent to go and beat him anyway. If I was playing against someone that i thought was faking, it would drive me even harder to beat him.  In all sports you see different forms of gamesmanship but it is up to the opponent to go and use that to win the match. Nadal constantly fidgets before points and takes forever to serve and you could consider that gamesmanship and a way to put an opponent off. Got a problem with that, then use it as extra motivation to beat him. Murray used to constantly look injured during matches and then he would turn matches around and win in 5 sets.

The reality is in all sports people do these things, it is up to the opponent to take advantage while they are struggling. i dont see what the big deal is.

So it's ok for someone to cheat as long as you like them?

Nadal straight sets, Schwartzman will probably be on a big comedown after the marathon with Thiem.
Tsitsipas in 4 sets, the Greek has really impressed me.

Reading through previous comments Tsitsipas beat Rublev comfortably by changing tactics towards the end of the first set, and Rublev was unable to cope.  This suggests good court awareness and versatility from Tsitsipas.   When Tsitsipas reached the AO semi-final in 2019 it looked like big things were on the horizon for him.  He is still only 22 so there is a lot more growth and development expected of him.  Djokovic on the other hand has a talent that is physically dwindling now that he is in his senior years although this is somewhat offset by his experience at the top level.

Soul Requiem wrote:

slashermcguirk wrote:The reality is even if he is feigning injury or is a hypochondriac, its up to the opponent to go and beat him  ...

So it's ok for someone to cheat as long as you like them?

The Soul Requiem vs Slashermcguirk, sounds like a dark episode from a Marvel comic or maybe two opponents in a WWE contest.

Nadal to win in three or maybe four sets but it would not surprise me if Schwartzman did even better but a win would be a massive shock. Djokovic, if firing on all cylinders, to win in four sets.

How is he cheating exactly? There is an umpire last time I checked. Anyway point made now, let’s agree to disagree.

Soul Requiem wrote:

slashermcguirk wrote:
The reality is even if he is feigning injury or is a hypochondriac, its up to the opponent to go and beat him anyway. If I was playing against someone that i thought was faking, it would drive me even harder to beat him.  In all sports you see different forms of gamesmanship but it is up to the opponent to go and use that to win the match. Nadal constantly fidgets before points and takes forever to serve and you could consider that gamesmanship and a way to put an opponent off. Got a problem with that, then use it as extra motivation to beat him. Murray used to constantly look injured during matches and then he would turn matches around and win in 5 sets.

The reality is in all sports people do these things, it is up to the opponent to take advantage while they are struggling. i dont see what the big deal is.

So it's ok for someone to cheat as long as you like them?

Fantastic opening game (14 mins) with Rafa having to save a number of BPs.

If it carries on like this it's going to be a marathon.

Nadal breaks Schwartzman

Schwartzman breaks back

Some incredible rallies. Diego is one of those awkward opponents who runs for everything and is incredibly waspish. You can see how he managed to beat Rafa in Rome.

Nadal breaks again 3-1

slashermcguirk wrote:
How is he cheating exactly? There is an umpire last time I checked.  Anyway point made now, let’s agree to disagree.

Soul Requiem wrote:

slashermcguirk wrote:
The reality is even if he is feigning injury or is a hypochondriac, its up to the opponent to go and beat him anyway. If I was playing against someone that i thought was faking, it would drive me even harder to beat him.  In all sports you see different forms of gamesmanship but it is up to the opponent to go and use that to win the match. Nadal constantly fidgets before points and takes forever to serve and you could consider that gamesmanship and a way to put an opponent off. Got a problem with that, then use it as extra motivation to beat him. Murray used to constantly look injured during matches and then he would turn matches around and win in 5 sets.

The reality is in all sports people do these things, it is up to the opponent to take advantage while they are struggling. i dont see what the big deal is.

So it's ok for someone to cheat as long as you like them?

If you need it explained to you then perhaps you're beyond reason.

Nadal holds serve after another marathon game 4-1.

One of the key differences between Rome and Roland Garros is the size of the surrounding areas of the court. Nadal has move Schwartzman around to unusual areas which wouldn’t happen at Rome.

Schwartzman holds 2-4

4-2 to Rafa as Diego finally holds. The Argentine seems happier receiving than serving, having held BPs on each of Rafa's service games so far.

A straightforward hold for Nadal 5-2.

Another easy hold for Diego 3-5

Nadal wins first set 6-3 after another lengthy service game

Rafa had to work hard for that first set, particularly on serve. There was a very good drop shot at the end of the last game. Diego does stand a long way back and may be more drop shots should be played.

The Argentine has been incredible in the long rallies but some UEs on his own serve have spoiled things. Will he be able to keep this pace up?

Nadal breaks 2-1 second set. Nadal seems to just battened down the hatches on Schwartzman’s serve.

3-1 Nadal, Schwartzman unfortunate with a line call

Diego holds comfortably 2-3

Nadal holds serve from 0-30 including a stupendous passing shot winner from Schwartzman. 4-2

Schwartzman hold from 0-40 to stay in touch 3-4

Nadal with a rapid fire love hold 5-3

Nadal breaks to lead 6-3 6-3. Schwartzman heart is being broken

The scoreboard suggests this has been easy for Rafa but the Argentine has pushed him all the way.

Doubt, though, whether this third set will go on too long.

Been an odd match, but still heading for more straight sets comfort for Nadal.

As he hasn't been properly tested yet, I suppose there's a small chance that Djokovic/Tsitsipas catch him cold in the final.

In all fairness Schwartzman chances slipped through his fingers at the beginning of the first set. Nadal was pretty nervous and looked vulnerable on serve. After that it’s been on Nadal’s terms

From what I am reading here it has been a close hard fought match with Nadal so far winning through. The first game of the match lasted 14 minutes on its own.

Schwartzman breaks back 2-3

Nadal breaks to love 4-2

I have seen many ocassions when a tennis player puts in a huge amount of effort to break his opponent and fails to break (or breaks) but then loses his next service game fairly tamely. That tends to happen if there hasn't been a rest break between those two games.

Schwartzman breaks back again, Nadal seems very tight 3-4

The match statistics shows that Schwartzman has had 9 break points and converted 3 of them, while Nadal has had 9 break points and converted 6 of them.

Schwartzman holds 4-4 suddenly its gotten interesting

Love hold for Nadal 5-4, Schwartzman serving to stay in championship.