Roland Garros - Day 10

Thought I'd take my turn.

Djokovic v Tsonga.

Could stretch Noles nerves, as he'll have the crowd very much against him, which he's been known to be a bit funny about. Djokovic in 4.

Federer v Del Potro.

Fed may approach this with more confidence than he would have Berdych, as he seems to have been owning JMDP this year. Then again, he did him up like a kipper at AO 2009 and was lucky to get past him at the French. The cold damp conditions may help Del Boy too. However I think Federer will move the big man around more than he likes. Fed in 4, maybe 5 though I think it may be one of those annoying matches where he looks weak.


Do I have to do the Womens? No, I should;

Cibulkova v Stosaur

Stosaur. In 3 interminable sets.

Errani v Kerber

I have no idea who these people are.

I really think Del Potro is due a win against Federer and will get at least one this year, just question of will it be in a slam. The clay suits Del Potro and in 2009 at times he was almost running Federer ragged and nearly blowing him off the court. Federer had to really hang in there and play at a high standard with some superb defensive tennis - better than anything he's shown in this year's tournament.

Federer is the favourite, but I can see this as being quite close.

Do you want me to add the Womens side, BB?

DelPo, with a suspect knee, played well against and tamed Berdych. I think Federer in 4, but close sets.

Agree that the crowd could play a part in the Tsonga Djokovic match. Remember in the AO the crowd helped ageing and injury recovering Hewitt nab a set from Djokovic. But somehow Tsonga doesn't always take these occasions seriously often being content to enjoy being involved above going for the kill.

Phew! Glad Federer avoided Berdych. He should be ok against a Del Potro who appears to be held together with bandages... shouldn't he?

If Tsonga uses his brain, he could stretch Djokovic. If he swings from the hip, Djokovic will pummel him.

Want Federer to beat Delpo, but if its a reverse I won't be too unhappy/

Djoko is finished tomorrow, he will be scared of the crowd and give up. Tsonga in 5.

Fed in close 3 with a couple of TB's, or 4 sets with 3'rd to Delpo 6:2.

Jahu wrote:Djoko is finished tomorrow, he will be scared of the crowd and give up. Tsonga in 5.

Fed in close 3 with a couple of TB's, or 4 sets with 3'rd to Delpo 6:2.

Djoko scared of the crowd? LOL

It is true that Djokovic doesn't like the crowd being against him, and there's no doubt they will be heavily in the Frenchman's favour tomorrow. But still, Djokovic vs Tsonga, on clay? can't see anything other than a win for Djokovic here.

Federer-Del Potro looks interesting. Federer hasn't been in good form so far, but I suspect it's partly because he hasn't had to be. Del Potro meanwhile is in good touch, and has a great win over Berdych in the previous round. I see this one going the distance, Del Potro in 5.

Agree with the picks. Tsonga will be a tough opponent but I'm not sure he has the consistency for long stretches to beat Djokovic. He needs to be ultra aggressive in a controlled way...like Federer does!

Speaking of him, Delpo stretched him hard here a couple of years back but I think the conditions are colder, damp...ie. slow, so I dont see Delpo blowing Fed off court, in that scenario I think Fed will use guile, early balls and angles to beat Delpo in 3.

Won't be watching the women's...like you said never heard of two of them, and I don't enjoy watching Stosur play even though she has a big serve.

Re Errani v Kerber. (BB... Errani beat Ivanovic ). Errani has the first set. May give the up the second set though.

Tsonga, very much like Berdych, is a head case. brilliant one day, mediocre another. If Djokovic plays anything like he did in the Seppi match, it may be Tsonga, but he may have learned his lesson.

Federer v Delpo (depends on the conditions a bit - heavy and damp vs fast and bright) may play a role. Federer in 4, IMVHO.

Enjoyed watching Dominka Cibulkova in this tourney, pity she only 5 3 in height, which restrict her serve, always get broke, but she had a nice aggressive 4 hand, wp Stosur.
Let c what Novak & Federer av got.

Well to me its pretty obvious Tsonga's tactic is not to waste energy on returns and summon it only for his serves. Tiebreaker this 1st set is on the cards.

Come on Fed

Come on Tsonga

Early break.

Haha and as I say that Tsonga's serve gets broken pretty much without a slugfest.

Straight sets 4 Novak.

Fed broken. Fed kicking balls like he's playing in football stadium.

Shocking play from Fed. Looks like it might be a long haul match unless Fed can perk up in the next few games.

Jahu wrote:Fed broken. Fed kicking balls like he's playing in football stadium.

I see that Roger has not come out of his funk yet. This could be a long day for him...

Del Boy break, can he finally take a set off Fed ?

Easy 1st set 4 Novak.

Tsonga will freeze and lose in 3. Novak hasn't got out of 1st gear.

Federer's backhand looks like garbage.

Yep, no change in quality of play from previous matches. Broken again 1:4

Potro was sacrificing his shyt run in the masters to peak at this one...

He is his own worst enemy today. DP sticking to his same plan and Federer not having a good day. Winning 3 sets off Fed is no easy target unless ur Rafa..

This is pretty lame stuff here from Fed. You wonder how he'll get anywhere near beating Djokovic, should he even get to meet him!

Fed needs to improve and soon.

Tsonga getting whipped and Federer just letting Del Potro hit through him. Some one sided traffic looming.

Delpo is serving superbly today.

Looks like the errors are starting to come into Delpo's game...

luciusmann wrote:This is pretty lame stuff here from Fed. You wonder how he'll get anywhere near beating Djokovic, should he even get to meet him!

Fed needs to improve and soon.

I would rather Roger lose now than have to face a semifinal mauling from either Tsonga or Djokovic at this rate. This is getting painful to watch.

Easy for the Djoker at the moment

Fed takes 1 break back. Actually Delpo returning the favour of UE's

Djokovic has raised his game, will Fed raise his game? If he does, I'll be fine for him to meet Djokovic, even if he loses....although I do feel that now Fed has broken Delpo he can get back into a match against Delpo, but you do feel he will get punished severely with any dips like he started off with by Djokovic (let alone Nadal).

It's nice to know the partisan Parisians are all supporting Fed, which will be even better when he plays Djokovic (should they meet)!

what ever happened to Tsonga having a big forehand? haha there's my answer. Up to then you've got to do he's trying to out grind Djokovic which seems madness.

Seems like Fed's using a specific strategy of slowing the ball down and it's bothering Delpo from the looks of it!

Even when Roger gets an opening, his shots are misfiring. This is the new Roger that is annoying me so much.

Edit: Roger nets a forehand. This is just not to be.

well this is disappointing from Tsonga so far, he needs to somehow lift the crowd. 12 UEs and just one winner in the first set

DP bossing all the rallies

Yep, Fed like a goalkeeper. Delpo takes first set 6:3

What is Federer doing? In his four crushing victories over Del Potro this year he sliced the Argentine to death. Now he is driving nearly every backhand, engaging in a hardhitting battle from the baseline. If he continues on this path it will be same result as at the US Open.

Federer loses the first set. Not great quality in either of the matches so far, Fed's first serve letting him down IMO.

Del Boy up & running 1st set.

Federer's timing has been off this whole tournament. Today is just a continuation of that.

Fed lost his serve 3 times, crazy, Tsonga wakes up, breaks back.

and from almost nowhere Tsonga breaks back

couple of sloppy errors from Djokovic gift Tsonga the breakpoint and he attacks a short backhand with gusto.

Tsonga seems to have picked up his energy levels. Good job, first set and a half was a non-event.

It is bad enough for Fed that Del Po took the first set; however it's worse that he got broken in the ninth game. Now Roger is going to serve from behind to start the second.

I do not know how much more of this poor play I can take.

you see, this is what I was talking about for Tsonga, get the crowd going, get them cheering wildly your every point, suddenly Djokovic's body language goes a bit negative, Tsonga looks to have renewed energy, and we have a match on our hands!

Federer playing in the deuce court far too often for my liking.