Roland Garros - Day 10

First topic message reminder :

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.

Mike Selig wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:

Mike Selig wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:Tsonga getting whipped and Federer just letting Del Potro hit through him. Some one sided traffic looming.

So you stand by this?

Yup, one sided traffic throughout today I'd say.

So you know what looming means?

Let me fetch a dictionary

Tell you what, point me to a genuinely insightful comment you've made on any of these boards and I'll leave you alone. Until then I'll settle for an apology for your unprovoked attack on me after I only gave my thoughts as to how the match COULD have proceeded.

And you are insightful?

I like modesty.

Fed would have killed JWT, he loves his game. There's only that Wimbleon to count against and I remain convinced Federer had movement problems that day.

lydian wrote:Emanc, I remember Federer losing sets every round here...On the form jWT was on I would have fancied his chances had they met here. Fed was a very lucky guy today with Delpo knees but that's the way it goes.
You know in the SF that no-one will be supporting Djokovic...but he has to be fave now.
Clearly if Nadal has an easier passage then he's the ultimate beneficiary today.

I agree that Djokovic is the favourite against Fed, especially given the way Fed's been playing.

I also agree that Tsonga would have had a good shot. But no way would I have made him favourite.

Come on Lydian just admit you were wrong. You've been predicting an early round loss for Fed at a slam for ages, and yet, here he is in the semi once again

OP tomorrow http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/schedule16.html

Potentially a Kvitova and Sharapova semi. That could be some match. Shame it's not on the grass.

So we have a Federer vs Djokovic semi-final. Now who would have predicted that?

emancipator wrote:

lydian wrote:Emanc, I remember Federer losing sets every round here...On the form jWT was on I would have fancied his chances had they met here. Fed was a very lucky guy today with Delpo knees but that's the way it goes.
You know in the SF that no-one will be supporting Djokovic...but he has to be fave now.
Clearly if Nadal has an easier passage then he's the ultimate beneficiary today.

I agree that Djokovic is the favourite against Fed, especially given the way Fed's been playing.

I also agree that Tsonga would have had a good shot. But no way would I have made him favourite.

Come on Lydian just admit you were wrong. You've been predicting an early round loss for Fed at a slam for ages, and yet, here he is in the semi once again

True, lydian and socal too (or have I got that wrong?) have been predicting an early round loss for Fed here! I can't deny it might happen, although the earliest at any slam in years and years has been quarter finals and that isn't particularly early (it's in the second week). Plus, even though clay isn't his strongest surface, he did manage the final last year and he stands a chance now, although I think he's the underdog but I think that suits him better. He was the underdog last year and look who won?

Fed is looking good points wise too, so a push for No.1 doesn't look so absurd now. Unless of course Djokovic wins, which we can't be sure of just yet.

Lol emancipator, yes I did predict a QF loss for Fed here and I think I would have been right but for Delpo's body breaking down. So yes I was wrong there

Anyway, I'll be rooting for Fed in the SF as think it may be one of the last times we get to see a Nadal-Federer slam final.

Agree luciusmann. Re: a slam loss coming, well we saw Federer struggling here in each round...I think he is finding it harder and harder. But he keeps winning and you can only admire his spirit for continuing to get through all the time.

Last time Federer came back from a two-set deficit was against Falla @W 2010.

Last time Djokovic came back from a two-set deficit was against Federer @USO 2011.

The Djokovic-Federer semi is perhaps more interesting compared to what the other side will bring.

lydian wrote:

Anyway, I'll be rooting for Fed in the SF as think it may be one of the last times we get to see a Nadal-Federer slam final.

It may not be their usual classic though.

Call me crazy, but I think if Murray can get past Ferrer (I think he will) then he has a shot at Nadal.

lydian wrote:... Anyway, I'll be rooting for Fed in the SF as think it may be one of the last times we get to see a Nadal-Federer slam final.

I wouldn't be looking forward to this likely one sided and embarrassing affair. Wimbledon, US-Open, AO, yes but not the red clay of Roland Garros.

Anyway, Djokovic is keeping the dream of a modern day grand slam alive.

emancipator wrote:Call me crazy, but I think if Murray can get past Ferrer (I think he will) then he has a shot at Nadal.

Strangely I agree with that. A small shot though.

Agree Nore,

A fedal final will likely be a drubbing with only one winner.

legendkillarV2 wrote:

emancipator wrote:Call me crazy, but I think if Murray can get past Ferrer (I think he will) then he has a shot at Nadal.

Strangely I agree with that. A small shot though.

Lol, definitely a small shot, but nevertheless a small possibility.

emancipator wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:

emancipator wrote:Call me crazy, but I think if Murray can get past Ferrer (I think he will) then he has a shot at Nadal.

Strangely I agree with that. A small shot though.

Lol, definitely a small shot, but nevertheless a small possibility.

The downside is that if Murray were to pull that off it would be treated as a Slam victory

emancipator wrote:Call me crazy, but I think if Murray can get past Ferrer (I think he will) then he has a shot at Nadal.

Last year Murray played 3 tight sets against Nadal, I suspect that Murray could snag a set or two, but unsure he can go the whole hog and beat Nadal, not with the form we seen Nadal in but it might happen. Let's see how Murray deals with Ferrer.

I don't think Fed will get slaughtered by Djokovic unless Fed is playing badly, but I don't think Fed will, certainly not through the whole match. That's why I think it will be a 4 or 5 set affair.

However, Rafa looks scary good at the mo. He's in the zone.

Maybe he'll get careless

DJOKOVIC

olly the tractor boy wrote:DJOKOVIC

I should add Tsonga

laverfan wrote:

olly the tractor boy wrote:DJOKOVIC

I should add Tsonga

When the chips were down, Djoker ROSE UP! HE IS THE MAN

Tractor, you turned into the wrong barn here

Jahu wrote:Tractor, you turned into the wrong barn here

Don't call me Tractor

olly the tractor boy wrote:

laverfan wrote:

olly the tractor boy wrote:DJOKOVIC

I should add Tsonga

When the chips were down, Djoker ROSE UP! HE IS THE MAN

Yes, he did.

emancipator wrote:Call me crazy, but I think if Murray can get past Ferrer (I think he will) then he has a shot at Nadal.

Ok, you're crazy.


Seriously, I know what you mean; Murray has an awkward game.

He does have an awkward game but Nadal will roll him over on Friday...assuming both get there of course

lydian wrote:He does have an awkward game but Nadal will roll him over on Friday...assuming both get there of course

I don't think it would be that simple for Nadal. I think Murray would negate some of Nadal's attacking game. I think Nadal struggles to find a gameplan against Murray, but the one thing he can rely on is consistency.

bogbrush wrote:

emancipator wrote:Call me crazy, but I think if Murray can get past Ferrer (I think he will) then he has a shot at Nadal.

Ok, you're crazy.


Seriously, I know what you mean; Murray has an awkward game.

Exactly, you just never know with Murray. Besides even though Rafa's beaten him more often than not, it's never been a drubbing. I think Murray makes Rafa a little nervous.

legendkillarV2 wrote:

lydian wrote:He does have an awkward game but Nadal will roll him over on Friday...assuming both get there of course

I don't think it would be that simple for Nadal. I think Murray would negate some of Nadal's attacking game. I think Nadal struggles to find a gameplan against Murray, but the one thing he can rely on is consistency.

This.

Plus, he can always grab his back!

I agree he can make life awkward for Nadal but it's still a huge ask over 5 sets on clay vs Rafa.

bogbrush wrote:Plus, he can always grab his back!

I don't think Murray physically assaulting Nadal will go down to well with the French crowd IMHO.
Hawkeye will be hysterical.

bogbrush wrote:Plus, he can always grab his back!

I actually saw Djoko do a bit of back rubbing at 6-5 in the 4th

emancipator wrote:... I think Murray makes Rafa a little nervous.

I think Murray makes most people nervous.

He makes Lendl nervous I bet!

lydian wrote:He makes Lendl nervous I bet!

Is Ivan's inscrutability merely a cover sometimes for "what the f**k have I got myself into here?".

Edit: only joking, Murray remains the player I want to win Slams, after you know who.

emancipator wrote:Call me crazy, but I think if Murray can get past Ferrer (I think he will) then he has a shot at Nadal.

Ha ha! But could he get by either of them by playing tennis? You know that simple game with a raquet and ball and no added extras.

You do wonder...must be hard coaching someone who doesnt quite have the same iron will as yourself for executing out on court. Murray says its all about small gains with Lendl...well he's right so far!

hawkeye wrote:

emancipator wrote:Call me crazy, but I think if Murray can get past Ferrer (I think he will) then he has a shot at Nadal.

Ha ha! But could he get by either of them by playing tennis? You know that simple game with a raquet and ball and no added extras.

The Rafa way?

Another day. Another dollar. Another let's give Murray a good kicking

I'm perplexed how anyone can question his "iron will" given the way the fortnight has gone so far - or is not beating the on-form Gasquet by coming from a set down, getting a break, dropping it and then winning ~75% of the remaining games - not a sign of good will power?

bogbrush wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:Wonder if CC saw Federer tell that stupid fan to shut up?

Yeah, he'll have that stand equal to playing up injuries.

So Fed had a rant....big deal. Further proof that all players do it but the difference is I don't make mountains out of molehill. If that were Murray today there would already be one and possibly more topics up on here slating him for it. I won't be doing that with Federer though as frustrations always tends to come out on court. Even Federer is no angel.

I said "doesn't quite"

Phew! about Federer. I was seriously worried. I have to confess I had to stop watching for a while. I was glad to hear that I wasn't the only coward. Virginia Wade on Eurosport apparantly had to do the same. Even multi slam winning champions can get nerves...

...What did Del Potro have going on with all those hospital type bandages on his leg. I'm not saying he isn't carrying some sort of injury but what could be their purpose as they didn't look supportive... I half expected to see them covered in (fake?) blood. It certainly upset the commentators as they were almost crying with sympathy for him towards the end...

lydian wrote:Murray says its all about small gains with Lendl...well he's right so far!

Lydian, I've always admired you as a non-Murray fan becasue you go down the constructive critic route, rather than the glib nonsense that hawkeye comes out with

There are no major "gains" for Andy to get from Lendl, given that he'd reached the previous 4 Slam semi's including a final before Ivan took over

As far as I was ever aware, it was always about 'small gains', i.e. a simple improvement in the forehand and the job is more or less done

What exactly were you expecting? Winning ever Clay court event?

I'm astonished after the last 90 minutes of the Gasquet game, you can be so condescending about Murray

legendkillarV2 wrote:

hawkeye wrote:

emancipator wrote:Call me crazy, but I think if Murray can get past Ferrer (I think he will) then he has a shot at Nadal.

Ha ha! But could he get by either of them by playing tennis? You know that simple game with a raquet and ball and no added extras.

The Rafa way?

legendkillar. I'm sure even you know that Murray doesn't have the talent and skill to play the same way as an all time great.

hawkeye wrote:What did Del Potro have going on with all those hospital type bandages on his leg. I'm not saying he isn't carrying some sort of injury but what could be their purpose as they didn't look supportive... I half expected to see them covered in (fake?) blood. It certainly upset the commentators as they were almost crying with sympathy for him towards the end...

Not that Nadal has ever done this

You do set yourself up for a fall, with spectaular consistency, hawkeye

hawkeye wrote:I'm sure even you know that Murray doesn't have the talent and skill to play the same way as an all time great.

Therin lies the problem. Only non-Murray fans compare him to the all time greats, given that he's just turned 25 and is probably only half through his career

Fans of Murray see him as a great player, but not quite up there with Fed, Nadal, Sampras, Agassi, Mac and Lendl. Skills wise he often plays as well as these in spurts (i.e. yesterday for an hour) but not for the vital three hours that all these have done in Slam finals at times

Murray performed an outrageous drop shot with a ball coming at him a pace, from the deuce court behind the tram line - if that's not worthy of respect, then you're no Tennis fan

Banbrotam

banbrotam wrote:

Lydian, I've always admired you as a non-Murray fan becasue you go down the constructive critic route, rather than the glib nonsense that hawkeye comes out with

Huh! Why do non Murray fans have to be constructive? If he uses the sort of disruptive tactics (not to mention all the flailing about in "agony") that he has used in previous matches I will want him to lose because there are other players who I would find it much more fun to watch. I just want to be entertained.