French Open 2015

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Rjd2 wrote: »

The French crowds can be very small at times, last year for the gulbis v novak semi final, about 25 % full. I'd like them to move with the times as well and get a roof and hawkeye, Safarova copped some stinkers already.
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Hawkeye doesn't work on clay accurately enough to use it.

yerwanthere123

CassieManson wrote: »

Yes its interesting to see that in the mens side of the draw 7 out of the top 8 seeds have made it through to the quarter finals, whereas in the womens only two of the top 8 made it that far. I guess the men are more consistent.

Also am shocked to see so many empty seats at some of the matches!

The best of 3 format has a lot to do with this though.


Anyway, was expecting an Ivanovic win but wasn't expecting it to be quite so straightforward. Delighted for her. First grand slam semi-final in seven years. That's a long time!

StillIntact

It shows that outside of the top 8/10 on the mens' side that there is a drop off in standard. Gulbis going deep last year was a one off! Seeing the top players at the later stages gives some great matches. The Swiss match has the potential to be top class and everyone is waiting for the "final" tomorrow.

On the womens' side, I think Safarova would give Serena a better match in the final (assuming she gets there) but it must be a great chance for Serena to win another slam.

RosyLily

Safarova vs. Ivanovic SF. Good match from Lucie. Tbh, I was expecting her to be flat after her win over Maria. She was a bit at the start but kept improving. She leads the H2H against Ana 5-3 but they've split their matches on clay (1 win each).

Surprised to see Tsonga win the first set against Nishikori.

yerwanthere123

Delighted for Lucie, really nice girl who fully deserves it. I think she'll make the final and all, she's pretty much owned Ana in recent times. Not sure how much of a fight she'd put up against Serena though, she's 0-8 against her

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Bit of the stadium just fell into the crowd. Don't think anyone's been seriously injured but could have been much worse.

RosyLily

3 people have minor injuries apparently. They were very lucky!

I'm surprised by Nishikori; doesn't look himself out there. Tsonga playing so well though! He's been quietly going through the draw. Imagine if he reached the final! I'd like to see that....purely to see how the French crowd would treat his opponent.:pac:

CassieManson

RosyLily wrote: »

3 people have minor injuries apparently. They were very lucky!

I'm surprised by Nishikori; doesn't look himself out there. Tsonga playing so well though! He's been quietly going through the draw. Imagine if he reached the final! I'd like to see that....purely to see how the French crowd would treat his opponent.:pac:

Would probably get a full statium for that one!

RosyLily

CassieManson wrote: »

Would probably get a full statium for that one!

Absolutely! I can imagine the French crowd might be a bit obnoxious if one of their own reached the final.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

I remember Tsonga very nearly beating Djokovic a couple of years ago at RG, not sure was it a QF or SF. Atmosphere was electric but he couldn't close it out in the end.

RosyLily

I remember that. 2012 I think. He played so, so well! Came very close to winning it. Didn't he have match point at one stage?

RosyLily

What a display from Wawrinka!!

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

RosyLily wrote: »

I remember that. 2012 I think. He played so, so well! Came very close to winning it. Didn't he have match point at one stage?

I believe he had 4 match points

RosyLily

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I believe he had 4 match points

Jesus, I thought it was one or two.:( Gotta find it online and watch.

According to Radio RG, Safarova will make her top 10 debut when the new rankings come out.:)

yerwanthere123

RosyLily wrote: »

I remember that. 2012 I think. He played so, so well! Came very close to winning it. Didn't he have match point at one stage?

He had 4

Delighted for Stan! Think he'll reach he final now. So cool having a new finalist.

RosyLily

Nishikori took the 3rd set. Comeback imminent?

StillIntact

Surely the momentum is with Nishikori now in the decider.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Safe to say Nishikori has done a much better job of backing up his surprise US Open final last year than Cilic has.

whiterebel

RosyLily wrote: »

What a display from Wawrinka!!

Unbelievable how hard he was hitting that ball, no matter what way the wind was blowing. His backhand is immense. Dangerous if he gets into the final.

StillIntact

Fantastic from Tsonga to come through. He overpowered Nishikori. Wawrinka will be a different story.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Not to sound like a horrible person but it would be hilarious if Djokovic finally beat Nadal at RG but then still didn't win it.

lostcat

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Not to sound like a horrible person but it would be hilarious if Djokovic finally beat Nadal at RG but then still didn't win it.

This is quite possible, ironic might be a better word than hilarious however. After all, the last person to beat rafa there went home with a plate rather than a flowerpot...

Djokovic should win tomorrow with a bit to spare, even giving Rafa the 10% bump he seems to get out of the ether in Paris, he hasn't consistently elevated his game so far this year. Djokovic is playing possibly his best tennis ever, and it if he loses it will be because of a brain freeze on his part.

Can't wait for it!

Nishikori looks like he will always eventually get overpowered by the powerful hitters in a 5 setter, which doesn't bode well with a few coming up behind him...

Wawrinka can dominate behind a second serve better than anyone I have ever seen, his first serve % today was at times at a crazy low level but Federer couldn't get near it.

RosyLily

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Not to sound like a horrible person but it would be hilarious if Djokovic finally beat Nadal at RG but then still didn't win it.

Not horrible at all, I'm thinking the same thing. Would probably one of the most ironic things to happen in tennis. And I'd kinda love if it did. As lostcat said, last man to beat Nadal didn't win RG. Finishing runner-up again will not be good enough for Nole.

Wawrinka is playing inspired tennis! Hopefully he can keep it up and reach the final.

WaterLily.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Not to sound like a horrible person but it would be hilarious if Djokovic finally beat Nadal at RG but then still didn't win it.

I have to admit, I would kinda love that to happen in a twisted way! Would love fore either Tsonga or Wawrinka to beat him in the final! Tsonga couldn't do it I don't think though.

I couldn't even imagine his reaction if that happened...

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

WaterLily. wrote: »

I have to admit, I would kinda love that to happen in a twisted way! Would love fore either Tsonga or Wawrinka to beat him in the final! Tsonga couldn't do it I don't think though.

I couldn't even imagine his reaction if that happened...

Tsonga's been in a slam final before though, so maybe the nerves wouldn't get to him. French crowd aren't overly fond of Rafa anyway even though he wins the thing every year. They definitely wouldn't be on his side if he was playing a French player. Only problem there is that the French players don't always react well to the support, they're delicate little things, those Frenchies.

RosyLily

The crowd would be so boisterous if Tsonga reached the final, especially if Nadal is there too. They don't seem too fond of Djokovic either or at least that's how it seems to me. They can't get enough of Federer!!:)

walshb

I just knew Stan would beat Roger on the bigger 5 set stage. I knew it.

I am rooting for Nadal today for the first time against Nole!

I want Murray to win the FO. If not him then Nadal.

CassieManson

walshb wrote:

I want Murray to win the FO. If not him then Nadal.

Me too would love to see Murray win!

StillIntact

I might be in the minority here but I'd like to see Djokovic complete the set of Grand Slams. If Nadal doesn't manage to come through today he will go even lower in the rankings and will find it even harder to get back to the highest levels. It is undoubtedly a crucial day for him.

RosyLily

CassieManson wrote: »

Me too would love to see Murray win!

Same here! Shake things up.

Slightly off topic but, Li Na and Dennis welcomed baby Alisa today. Hope her speeches are as good as Li's!:pac:

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

StillIntact wrote: »

I might be in the minority here but I'd like to see Djokovic complete the set of Grand Slams. If Nadal doesn't manage to come through today he will go even lower in the rankings and will find it even harder to get back to the highest levels. It is undoubtedly a crucial day for him.

It'd be interesting to see where Nadal would be in the rankings the past few years without the constant of the RG points there. He'd still be in or around the top 4, I'm sure, but it'd be interesting to see exactly where.

mrkiscool2

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

It'd be interesting to see where Nadal would be in the rankings the past few years without the constant of the RG points there. He'd still be in or around the top 4, I'm sure, but it'd be interesting to see exactly where.

Well if he loses today he will definitely drop to 10th, 11th if Tsonga makes the final. That's scary like!

StillIntact

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

Well if he loses today he will definitely drop to 10th, 11th if Tsonga makes the final. That's scary like!

Exactly. While Murray managed to come back from a similar position it required him to play for many consecutive weeks and you wonder if Nadal's body would be able for that. This could all be moot if he makes it through today and wins the whole thing!

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

StillIntact wrote: »

Exactly. While Murray managed to come back from a similar position it required him to play for many consecutive weeks and you wonder if Nadal's body would be able for that. This could all be moot if he makes it through today and wins the whole thing!

Especially given that bar a few weeks of grass it's all hard courts for the rest of the year.

Floppybits

I think all the pressure is on Djokovic today. He needs to stand up and be counted. He will never get a better chance to beat Nadal at the French open than today. Cant wait for the match.

CassieManson

Floppybits wrote: »

I think all the pressure is on Djokovic today. He needs to stand up and be counted. He will never get a better chance to beat Nadal at the French open than today. Cant wait for the match.

Yes definitely getting the popcorn out for this afternoon. I will be trying to watch both mens qf matches at the same time. Should be good!

Floppybits

CassieManson wrote: »

Yes definitely getting the popcorn out for this afternoon. I will be trying to watch both mens qf matches at the same time. Should be good!

Ah I reckon that wont be much of a problem. Serena will destroy Errani in about an hour so the Djokovic/Nadal match will be half way over by the time the Murray/Ferrer match starts.

Am I the only one that hates watching Ferrer matches?

byronbay2

Djokovic destroying Nadal so far, 4-0. Hitting so deep and then throwing in the drop shot - magnificent play! Nadal needs to start hitting deeper and more consistently to have any chance of getting back into the match.

RosyLily

Good stuff from Nadal now, from 0-4 to 3-4. Looks to be moving better as well. Some silly mistakes from Djokovic though.

Is that Gasquet in the crowd??

the_monkey

Congrats Nadal ... FO champion 2015 ... Joke ... really cant wait for this guy to retire.

RosyLily

I'm kind of surprised how much crowd support there is for Nadal. Much louder than previous years.

Backing the underdog perhaps?

the_monkey

RosyLily wrote: »

I'm kind of surprised how much crowd support there is for Nadal. Much louder than previous years.

Backing the underdog perhaps?

underdog ????


UNDERDOG ???

I would literally put my life on him winning the tournament ...

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Terrible stuff from Djokovic to give both those breaks back. Embarrassing.

RosyLily

the_monkey wrote: »

underdog ????


UNDERDOG ???

I would literally put my life on him winning the tournament ...

Rafa's not the most popular guy in Paris. The French always seem to back the underdog.

As for putting your life on him winning the tournament....don't count your chickens just yet. Still a long way to go.

the_monkey

RosyLily wrote: »

Rafa's not the most popular guy in Paris. The French always seem to back the underdog.

As for putting your life on him winning the tournament....don't count your chickens just yet. Still a long way to go.

Talk to you Sunday ... its done.

the_monkey

how many f*cking set points does Djokovic need ???

Rjd2

Watching Ferrer is absolute death.

The most boring player on the circuit

**** off and retire soon please.

the_monkey

Rjd2 wrote: »

Watching Ferrer is absolute death.

The most boring player on the circuit

**** off and retire soon please.

Watching Ferrer play is like watching someone smashing concrete ...

Rjd2

the_monkey wrote: »

Watching Ferrer play is like watching someone smashing concrete ...

He is a fantastic role model, because he has made the most of his talents, compare to idiots like gulbis and monfils who have probably more talent but achieved pretty much nothing, but I just find him so dull to watch.

MisterAnarchy

I wouldnt be Nadal's biggest fan but its sad to see how injuries have debilitated him.
He looks like a shadow of himself out there .