Roland Garros - Day 9

First topic message reminder :

Thought I would start this early and allow some discussion to take place:

Andy Murray v Richard Gasquet. Interestingly enough Gasquet in their 3 meetings in Slams has never defeated Andy. Though Richard won their recent meeting in Rome.

Rafael Nadal v Juan Monaco. Juan has his work cut out. Never taken a set off Nadal on clay in 3 meetings. Needs a career best performance if he is to compete.

Janko Tipsarevic v Nicolas Almagro. Never met. This shall prove to be the most intriguing match of the day. Almagro being the better clay player should start as favourite.

David Ferrer v Marcel Granollers. The one meeting on Clay was a straight sets win for Ferrer. Have a feeling this might be tighter affair.

Tsonga/Wawrinka and Berdych/Del Potro shall continue where they left off.

I would put the womens up but the WTA website is being crap!

Predictions anyone?

Touche CC.

He is playing some quite lovely shots.

trouble is I genuinely think Gasquet is struggling physically out there, he seems really tired. Sure mentally he's not the strongest (mild understatement), but surely physically he should be able to play longer than an hour and a half before wilting?

Can't say I was impressed with Andy towards the back end of that 2nd set. No need for that.

Atleast it shuts up this obnoxious, snarling, crowd for a while. Gasq was always going to fade anyway with his history.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:trouble is I genuinely think Gasquet is struggling physically out there, he seems really tired. Sure mentally he's not the strongest (mild understatement), but surely physically he should be able to play longer than an hour and a half before wilting?

He is one of those who wastes tonnes of energy of effort in the 1st set. Can't properly pace himself. If you watch track and field he's a bit like Mo Farah with his match plan.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:

Can't say I was impressed with Andy towards the back end of that 2nd set. No need for that.

Atleast it shuts up this obnoxious, snarling, crowd for a while. Gasq was always going to fade anyway with his history.

True, but if the crowd get's on Andy's back, it is his fault. Though to me they are on Gasquets back. He might spasm in a minute

Murray hit 14 winners in that 3rd set, impressive

The serve stats MFC. :beer:

That was impressive.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:

Mad for Chelsea wrote:trouble is I genuinely think Gasquet is struggling physically out there, he seems really tired. Sure mentally he's not the strongest (mild understatement), but surely physically he should be able to play longer than an hour and a half before wilting?

He is one of those who wastes tonnes of energy of effort in the 1st set. Can't properly pace himself. If you watch track and field he's a bit like Mo Farah with his match plan.

at least Farah has a world gold and silver. Gasquet has, what? ONE slam semi...

Josiah Maiestas wrote:I thought Nadal and Monaco were meant to be good friends? What anob Nadal is for

double bageling.

And you expected him to do what exactly '??? You obviously hate the guy so why dont you stop watching him.

Your comments about Nadal are senseless, inane and denegrading

nice to see the crowd applauding all Murray's winners

Gasquet looks like he hasn't a clue what to do. Murray's confidence has soared and Gasquet's has sunk like a stone. Gasquet needs some Tsonga about him and utilise the home crowd.

Haddie-nuff wrote:

Josiah Maiestas wrote:I thought Nadal and Monaco were meant to be good friends? What anob Nadal is for

double bageling.

And you expected him to do what exactly '??? You obviously hate the guy so why dont you stop watching him.

Your comments about Nadal are senseless, inane and denegrading

Let's see if you will be saying that after the semi final.

Andy just strolling it now. Sad to Reechard implode in such a way.

Gasquet needing to shorten the rallies, so is forced to go for far too much on his groundstrokes. It results in two BPs to Murray, who only needs one as a superb return winner puts him firmly in the driving seat.

Murray breaks in the third game of the fourth set. I can't see Richard coming back from this.

This is what separates the top four from the rest.

JM get over yourself you are a WUM and not even a good one at that

I am a Murray fan JM and even I don't hold out a lot of hope for Andy. Nadal owns clay and owns Roland Garros - the bloke is untouchable in my opinion and many others far more qualified to judge than me.

Murray on the FH again impressive on Clay. Clinical.

CaledonianCraig wrote:I am a Murray fan JM and even I don't hold out a lot of hope for Andy. Nadal owns clay and owns Roland Garros - the bloke is untouchable in my opinion and many others far more qualified to judge than me.

To be fair, even Novak, as great as he's been, is going to have to play the match of his life to best Rafa in a potential Roland Garros final. He is going to have to rediscover some of his 2011 form to do this.

Andy just toying with him.

Murray absolutely dominating the court at the moment, this is very fine tennis from Andy!

Craig i'm talking about Ferrer v Nadal.

Haddie is sooo bitter.

what a lob that was

The injection of pace there by Gasquet was fantastic and still loses the point

it's been said on here a number of times about gasquet that he just hasn't developed physically a smuch as many of the players he beat a junior level,

murray looks a lot stronger than him and the rare times gasquet does come forward he is lobbed or pushed back

zx1234 wrote:it's been said on here a number of times about gasquet that he just hasn't developed physically a smuch as many of the players he beat a junior level,

murray looks a lot stronger than him and the rare times gasquet does come forward he is lobbed or pushed back

Yes. He needs to be in Tsonga's ear asking him about his diet.

zx1234 wrote:it's been said on here a number of times about gasquet that he just hasn't developed physically a smuch as many of the players he beat a junior level,

murray looks a lot stronger than him and the rare times gasquet does come forward he is lobbed or pushed back

I don't think the powdered kisses helped his cause much

Richard needs to stop serving out wide, Murray loves returning from that side

Some lovely heavy hitting from Murray there.

zx1234 wrote:it's been said on here a number of times about gasquet that he just hasn't developed physically a smuch as many of the players he beat a junior level,

murray looks a lot stronger than him and the rare times gasquet does come forward he is lobbed or pushed back

my problem is not so much that he doesn't have the physical conditioning of Nadal, Djokovic or Murray (nobody does), but he doesn't have the physical levels of say, Wawrinka (random). If he did, he'd be top 5.

Murray with some more huge hitting to break again for 4-1. Much better, but he needs to start in this sort of form against Ferrer in the QF, rather than wait the best part of two sets...

Ever since Gasquet was moaning about Murray at 4 each in the second set he has recieved a horrible beating. How good is Murrays forehand today? as good as i've ever seen it.

People seem to forget that Gasquet has come through a tough match before.

I thought Murray was awful while his opponent was fit and up for it. It's easy to dominate a wilting opponent and look good. Ferrer is going to cane him I feel unless he plays more attacking, risky points. But an he?

Murray is playing well now. However he firmly raised my hackles with his behaviour at the end of the 2nd set. Absolutely disgraceful stuff, and he's only started playing well once Gasquet completely lost the plot (which was obviously the plan). So well done Murray, but I won't be supporting you in the quarter. What a dreadful thing to have to resort to do.

Gasquet will always be a B level player. A top 10 player he is certainly not.

Mike Selig wrote:Murray is playing well now. However he firmly raised my hackles with his behaviour at the end of the 2nd set. Absolutely disgraceful stuff, and he's only started playing well once Gasquet completely lost the plot (which was obviously the plan). So well done Murray, but I won't be supporting you in the quarter. What a dreadful thing to have to resort to do.

Gasquet could've looked away. Just saying.

Mike Selig wrote:Murray is playing well now. However he firmly raised my hackles with his behaviour at the end of the 2nd set. Absolutely disgraceful stuff, and he's only started playing well once Gasquet completely lost the plot (which was obviously the plan). So well done Murray, but I won't be supporting you in the quarter. What a dreadful thing to have to resort to do.

what did he do?

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Craig i'm talking about Ferrer v Nadal. :thumbsup:

Haddie is sooo bitter.

No Haddie isn´t JM i cant stand people who have to denegrade players or posters come to that. You obviously dislike Nadal.. I dont have a problem with that but calling him names does nothing for you.. because he doesnt even know. You just embarass yourself.
As I said.. if you want to be a WUM at least try being a good one

bogbrush wrote:People seem to forget that Gasquet has come through a tough match before.

I thought Murray was awful while his opponent was fit and up for it. It's easy to dominate a wilting opponent and look good. Ferrer is going to cane him I feel unless he plays more attacking, risky points. But an he?

I'd be surprised if any of the sets Andy could win 5 games. It will be easy lunch money for David.

Quite funny how busy ths thread has become since the 3rd set started!

legendkillarV2 wrote:

Mike Selig wrote:Murray is playing well now. However he firmly raised my hackles with his behaviour at the end of the 2nd set. Absolutely disgraceful stuff, and he's only started playing well once Gasquet completely lost the plot (which was obviously the plan). So well done Murray, but I won't be supporting you in the quarter. What a dreadful thing to have to resort to do.

Gasquet could've looked away. Just saying.

It wasn't just the back holding (which he did a lot more than once BTW), it was refusing to acknowledge the new balls, getting all fussy because Gasquet challenged a line call (Gasquet challenged another one later on correctly, which was just by Murray but he didn't concede it, so maybe Gasquet was right to challenge?).

In some sense I admire someone who has such a will to win, sport at high level being so much mental. But I feel whatever line there is Murray crossed today.

Mike Selig wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:

Mike Selig wrote:Murray is playing well now. However he firmly raised my hackles with his behaviour at the end of the 2nd set. Absolutely disgraceful stuff, and he's only started playing well once Gasquet completely lost the plot (which was obviously the plan). So well done Murray, but I won't be supporting you in the quarter. What a dreadful thing to have to resort to do.

Gasquet could've looked away. Just saying.

It wasn't just the back holding (which he did a lot more than once BTW), it was refusing to acknowledge the new balls, getting all fussy because Gasquet challenged a line call (Gasquet challenged another one later on correctly, which was just by Murray but he didn't concede it, so maybe Gasquet was right to challenge?).

In some sense I admire someone who has such a will to win, sport at high level being so much mental. But I feel whatever line there is Murray crossed today.

Don't spout such nonsense.

McEnroe did far much more on court. Even Safin and Roddick have too.

If a player can't hold it mentally, shouldn't be on court!

Haddie-nuff wrote:

Josiah Maiestas wrote:Craig i'm talking about Ferrer v Nadal.

Haddie is sooo bitter.

No Haddie isn´t JM i cant stand people who have to denegrade players or posters come to that. You obviously dislike Nadal.. I dont have a problem with that but calling him names does nothing for you.. because he doesnt even know. You just embarass yourself.
As I said.. if you want to be a WUM at least try being a good one

Boring me now :yawwwwwn:

I noted that Murray got a net chord but didn't acknowledge it although he won the point more or less because of it. Maybe it was part of a tactic to rile Gasquet. It seemed to work because Gasquet imploded towards the end of the second set.

Good hold for Gasquet.

Shame the crowd are taking their time getting into the match.

that was a great game, both players hitting some superb shots, but Gasquet holds on to at least make Murray serve it out.

So Jo-Wilfried is France's last hope.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:

Mike Selig wrote:Murray is playing well now. However he firmly raised my hackles with his behaviour at the end of the 2nd set. Absolutely disgraceful stuff, and he's only started playing well once Gasquet completely lost the plot (which was obviously the plan). So well done Murray, but I won't be supporting you in the quarter. What a dreadful thing to have to resort to do.

what did he do?

From what I can gather it all started with Murray being upset at Gasquet querrying a line call (which was out, but only just) despite his (Murray's) assurances. Anyway Murray clearly made a conscience decision to apply some mental disintegration: this involved feeling his back every time he lost a point (this shouldn't have annoyed Gasquet as much as he let it) and refusing to acknowledge Gasquet signaling new balls. And not acknowledgeing a net cord. All in the attempt to rile his opponent because he was losing, and that's what he thought his best chance of winning was. Gasquet has proved him right, but it is a real shame. IMO.

French fan's as ever an absolute disgrace. Murray still on fire though.

Mike Selig wrote:

Mad for Chelsea wrote:

Mike Selig wrote:Murray is playing well now. However he firmly raised my hackles with his behaviour at the end of the 2nd set. Absolutely disgraceful stuff, and he's only started playing well once Gasquet completely lost the plot (which was obviously the plan). So well done Murray, but I won't be supporting you in the quarter. What a dreadful thing to have to resort to do.

what did he do?

From what I can gather it all started with Murray being upset at Gasquet querrying a line call (which was out, but only just) despite his (Murray's) assurances. Anyway Murray clearly made a conscience decision to apply some mental disintegration: this involved feeling his back every time he lost a point (this shouldn't have annoyed Gasquet as much as he let it) and refusing to acknowledge Gasquet signaling new balls. And not acknowledgeing a net cord. All in the attempt to rile his opponent because he was losing, and that's what he thought his best chance of winning was. Gasquet has proved him right, but it is a real shame. IMO.

So what about Ferrer accepting an out call by Granollers earlier? Far better cause to challenge than the Gasquet one.

Some players have class, like Ferrer. Others don't like Gasquet.

Mike Selig wrote:

Mad for Chelsea wrote:

Mike Selig wrote:Murray is playing well now. However he firmly raised my hackles with his behaviour at the end of the 2nd set. Absolutely disgraceful stuff, and he's only started playing well once Gasquet completely lost the plot (which was obviously the plan). So well done Murray, but I won't be supporting you in the quarter. What a dreadful thing to have to resort to do.

what did he do?

From what I can gather it all started with Murray being upset at Gasquet querrying a line call (which was out, but only just) despite his (Murray's) assurances. Anyway Murray clearly made a conscience decision to apply some mental disintegration: this involved feeling his back every time he lost a point (this shouldn't have annoyed Gasquet as much as he let it) and refusing to acknowledge Gasquet signaling new balls. And not acknowledgeing a net cord. All in the attempt to rile his opponent because he was losing, and that's what he thought his best chance of winning was. Gasquet has proved him right, but it is a real shame. IMO.

Funnily enough the commentators have not been talking about this, Virginia Wade will have to dish out her opinions.