The French Open - 2019

First topic message reminder :

RG begins today, with Fed among those with a Sunday match. I'm going for Rafa for the title, with Djoko and Thiem his main rivals.

Fed should get thru a few rounds but is an unlikely winner, especially as he may have to get past Tsitsipas.

The women's title could go to anyone in the top 15. Halep would be a safe bet, but she can be injury prone. There are a lot of teenage players who could cause upsets. It's really difficult to forecast the eventual winner.

Serena wasn't at her best but full credit to Kenin for a v good win - impressed with her on the big points.  Pretty attractive mens' 4th round match line-up - probably straightforward wins for Federer, Djokovic and Nadal but otherwise some potentially tight contests with some tricky to predict.  Nice blend of experienced and up and coming players too:

Djokovic v Struff
Fognini v Zverev (this one definitely has 5 sets written all over it!)
Thiem v Monfils
Khachanov v Del Potro
Tsitsipas v Wawrinka
Mayer v Federer
Nishikori v Paire
Nadal v Londero

MrInvisible wrote:...
Fognini v Zverev (this one definitely has 5 sets written all over it!)
Khachanov v Del Potro
Tsitsipas v Wawrinka
Nishikori v Paire

I think these four should be interesting - the other four I think should be straight forward.

Zverev still hasn't learnt how to get through the early rounds without getting into unnecessary long drawn out matches. There's a reason why the German hasn't done well in the majors.

Vondrousova bt Sevastova with the loss of just two games. Wonder whether Sev was shattered by her ultra-long match on Friday.

Vond looks good. Steady but deep ground strokes, a nice slice and good movement. Kanepi took first set against Martic but M has just taken the second set.

In fairness to Zverev, Lajovic is a reasonably tough draw on clay who got to the final of Monte Carlo this year beating Thiem along the way.

Really looking forward to Stefanos vs Stan. Wawrinka obviously a great player on clay and a past champion in Paris. Stefanos on the verge on becoming the next superstar. Could easily be a 5 setter.

sirfredperry wrote:Vondrousova bt Sevastova with the loss of just two games. Wonder whether Sev was shattered by her ultra-long match on Friday.

Vond looks good. Steady but deep ground strokes, a nice slice and good movement. Kanepi took first set against Martic but M has just taken the second set.

Martic came back to win. And Konta is into the last eight with a good straight set win over Vekic. (Which is sure to set off more tiresome Internet comments about her status as a genuine British player.) The women's event looking very open this year.

Federer reaches the quarterfinals after beating Mayer 6-2 6-3 6-3. His luck should run out when he faces the winner of Tsitsipas/Wawrinka next

Konta's resurgence from a very poor run of form occurred during the Fed Cup get to together earlier in the year when Britain finally managed to get promoted to the second tier level after many many years of trying.  

This bounce following the fed cup exploits suggests certain things were lacking in her coaching set up / preparations in the more isolated WTA professional singles tour.

Stan the Man leads Tsitsipas by two sets to one. Those sledgehammer ground strokes are back for the 2015 champion

Rafael Nadal a set away from his 90th win at Roland Garros. Jesus 90th!

Surprised that Mayer wasn’t able to test Federer at all. He loves the clay, had played really well to get this far, and had also pushed Rafa to three sets in Barcelona.

If Tsitsipas comes through this battle v Stan, I suspect the exciting youngster will have too much firepower for OAP Fed. Likewise Stan if he makes it, although I guess their lopsided h2h might play on Stan’s mind if Federer were to take an early lead.

Nathaniel Jacobs wrote:Federer reaches the quarterfinals after beating Mayer 6-2 6-3 6-3. His luck should run out when he faces the winner of Tsitsipas/Wawrinka next

You seem a reasoned, balanced poster in all other respects so I just don’t understand why you suddenly feel the need to make such childish remarks about “luck” when talking of Federer ; a player who has drawn on pure talent and skill to win his matches in straights so far, albeit against much lower-ranking opposition.

Nadal beats Londero 6-2 6-3 6-3. His record is now 90-2 at Roland Garros

lags72 wrote:

Nathaniel Jacobs wrote:Federer reaches the quarterfinals after beating Mayer 6-2 6-3 6-3. His luck should run out when he faces the winner of Tsitsipas/Wawrinka next

You seem a reasoned, balanced poster in all other respects so I just don’t understand why you suddenly feel the need to make such childish remarks about “luck” when talking of Federer ; a player who has drawn on pure talent and skill to win his matches in straights so far, albeit against much lower-ranking opposition.

Federer has been running scared from Roland Garros for last 3 years. He rocked up this year hoping that Nadal and Djokovic would be vulnerable.

Federer gets embarrassed by Nadal if he somehow gets past Wawrinka or Tsitsipas

Childish again. And not even accurate. He has been injured at times but that apart, at this sort of age, he’s doing well to compete at all in the business end of Slams, including two back-to-back victories in the AO.

You might want to think about giving due credit to Federer’s remarkable achievements in this sport, just as I and others are more than happy to do so in respect of Rafa. But hey perhaps you’re not a true tennis fan after all ... ? In which case, don’t let the reality get in the way of immature comment ......

Fabulous win for Jo Konta today. First female Brit into the QF’s for decades I believe.

Wawrinka beats Tsitsipas in a sensational 5 set match. The Man is back after a 5hr marathon. 7-6(6) 5-7 6-4 3-6 8-6

The tourney really did come alive - and not before time - with that epic

Superb play from both, and so much resilience by Stan to see it through, just when the odds were beginning to favour a Tsitsipas victory.

Stan will draw so much confidence from this one as he goes into the QF’s.

Wasn't able to see any tennis on Sunday but, by all accounts, a terrific match between Tsitsi and Stan. The Man bt Fed at this stage at RG in 2015. Will he have too much firepower this year?

Some good match-ups in the men's today. Hardest to forecast is Zverev-Fognini. The Italian can be quite brilliant one day and fairly hopeless the next.

sirfredperry wrote:Wasn't able to see any tennis on Sunday but, by all accounts, a terrific match between Tsitsi and Stan. The Man bt Fed at this stage at RG in 2015. Will he have too much firepower this year?

Some good match-ups in the men's today. Hardest to forecast is Zverev-Fognini. The Italian can be quite brilliant one day and fairly hopeless the next.

Yes it’s a good line-up (despite the inevitable predictability of Djoko’s match .....)

And re your question Stan having too much firepower for the Fed : in a word ..... YES. He took all that an excellent Tsitsipas threw at him, held firm and finally edged it. Too strong for Roger, I’d say.

Have you seen the Tsitsipas post-match presser .... ? Don’t think I’ve EVER seen a player looking so emotionally drained. Almost traumatised, one could say (although for perspective .... this is only a tennis match we’re talking about !)

Also .... a quite bizarre scene where Thiem was asked to leave the press room midway through his own interview .... apparently to make way for Serena Williams  He did so with minimum fuss ..... but later had a few choice words to say in German to a guy from Austrian TV, in what seemed to be the public area just outside the courts. And previously, speaking in English, he called the whole episode “a joke”. Worth a watch !

Serena, apparently, wanted to get her presser out the way and then get the hell outa there. Thiem not best pleased, to put it mildly. Fed, later, defended Thiem but in diplomatic language.

Just watching Serena's conqueror, Kenin, against Barty. The Australian took the first set but is down 2-5 in the second, so this one could go all the way.

Indeed, Thiem was far from pleased.

He later commented that neither Federer nor Nadal would ever dream (“100% not”) of behaving in such a way as Serena did.

Paire looks set to take the spoils in this big 5 setter battle with Nishi. Quite a surprise really.

Djoko has Struff by the scruff of the neck. Good stuff.
(That's enuff, Ed.)

Nishi makes it through !!

I’m happy for him. Such a decent, no-nonsense guy .... would seem to be one of the nicest on the Tour.

Sascha Zverev beats Fabio Fognini in 4 sets to set up quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic.

Defending champion Simona Halep races into the quarterfinals by destroying Iga Swiatek 6-1 6-0

Good win for Zverev - winning in a fourth set tie break. He has now matched his QF of last year. Lendl must be pleased.

Khachanov beats Del Potro in four.

Gotta feel for Nishikori today, back to back 5 setters and finished his 4th round yesterday afternoon and now has the unenviable task of facing Nadal! I hope for his sake he can at least take the 1st set but if Nadal wins the 1st set I can see Nishi fading. Nadal in straight sets for me with the 1st set being close.

Hard to call the other matches. Djokovic has shown great form this week but a big step up in class now against Zverev. You have to think that if they both bring their best game, Novak will win but any drop in level and Zverev has every chance.

I can see Thiem beating Kachanov in 4 sets but again it wouldn't be a major upset if the result went the other way.

Really tough to predict the last one. Federer has been a thorn in Wawrinkas side in that match up over the years but Wawrinka will be well battle hardened at this point. Stan has had a very tough draw and found a way through. On the other hand Federer has coasted through the first 4 rounds but will have to step up his level. For me it is all about how Stan peforms, if he brings his top game I could see him pulling off an upset. However Federer has had his number in that rivalry so I am going for Federer in 4

All in all a brilliant Quarter final line up. The women's has been pretty woeful, Halep winning her 4th round match in 43 minutes, what does that say about the quality of womens tennis??

you get the feeling that Wawrinka needs the 1st set more than Federer today after the amount of time he has spent on court. On serve at 3-2 to stan

My winner picks :

Nadal  : looking far too good to be upset by a potentially fatigued Nishikori

Djokovic : just too consistent, back to his best and no sign of any weaknesses in getting to this stage

Thiem : could be tight but he’s ranked higher for a reason

Wawrinka : could also be a tight one, but Stan has soaked up a lot so far, he has the age advantage, has held firm and that trusty backhand is on song. His firepower will bring errors from Fed who hasn’t really been challenged in past rounds

The Federer vs Wawrinka outcome is interesting as I wonder who would cause more problems for Nadal in the semi final (assuming he wins).

Part of me wants to see a Nadal vs Federer semi final but Nadal seems to handle Fed with ease at the French whereas maybe there is a bit more of the unknown with stan. That being said didn't Nadal destroy Wawrinka at the French last time they met. Maybe it doesn't really matter who Nadal plays !!

slashermcguirk wrote:..............

Maybe it doesn't really matter who Nadal plays !!

I really don’t think it does.

Although given that Stan got past a very aggressive, very strong, Tsitsipas .... then I feel he is in good shape to hang with Rafa longer than would Federer.

While I really like Thiem, I still believe the only person in the field who believes he can beat Nadal at the French open is Djokovic. I would still fancy Nadal to win regardless of who meets him but for me if Novak brought his A game, he could really put Nadal to the test. Thiem has the potential but for me he blows too hot and cold and sustaining his top level for 3 sets would be a huge ask.

It is just so hard to see past Nadal

Federer takes the 1st set on a tie break, a long way back for Stan. Really feel he needed that set to kick on. Will be interesting to see now if Fed stamps his authority down with an early break in the 2nd. Stan needs to battle hard but does he have the reserves

So, hands up those who foresaw Konta in quarters this year, and at current moment, a set away from the semis, at Roland Garros? She really is a confidence player - career made up of 2 or 3 v impressive runs at slams punctuated by long periods of inconsistency. I don't see her as a serious title contender at Roland Garros but hopefully she can use this to push on at Wimbledon and (more probably) US Open this year.

I also feel that it doesn't really matter who Nadal plays out of Federer or Wawrinka on the clay as Thiem and Djokovic are in the other half. If Nadal is to be beaten this year it'll have to be in the final.

Nishikori did well to come out in 5 sets against Paire, but surely all of this will have caught up with him - I expect tight 1st set followed by v convincing sets 2 and 3 for a straight sets Nadal win.

Of their last 10 meetings on clay, Thiem has a highly respectable h2h v Nadal of 4-6.

But of course a Slam win over Bo5 is indeed a very different challenge from a Bo3.

Yes, very impressive stuff from (the new clay specialist ) Jo Konta.

So Stan has grabbed the vital early break in the 2nd.

If he goes on to level, then it really is an open match once again.

The women's draw is so weak this year. You would almost have to pay me to go to those matches. The men's on the other hands is a dream set of QFs

When Fed catches his BP conversion rate illness, it’s invariably a bad omen for him.

Happened at Wimbledon v Anderson ; at AO v Tsitsipas ; and now here his conversion v Stan is a worrying 0/7.

It’s a key factor - and one which has begun to affect him more and more (perhaps not surprisingly) in his twilight years.

Wawrinka levels it up winning the second set 6-4. Stan really beasting his forehand in the second set.

The Stanimal returns

Dimitrov, Federer, Gasquet ...... all have beautiful SHBH’s. But Stan’s is a notch above. And that lethal forehand is now firing on all cylinders too. He looks full of confidence, and why not.

Happy to stick with my original pick of Stan, on evidence so far.

Slightly off topic but I was just thinking of players that I miss on the tour. Two came to mind straight away............. David Nalbandian and Fernando Gonzalez.

Talk about a mix of sweet ball strikers, nalby on the backhand side and Gonzo unloading the forehand

Wawrinka breaks in the third set. His power is causing Federer’s backhand to breakdown

Stan showing his full array of fine skills, and a brand of tennis that won him those Slams.

Federer beginning to look every one of his 37 years, and oldest guy by far in the (now-depleted) field.

I guess his meaningful Slam days really are coming to an end, after those three twilight titles. It’s the dreadful BP conversion ratio that’s killing him.

Federer broke back and now back on serve

slashermcguirk wrote:Slightly off topic but I was just thinking of players that I miss on the tour. Two came to mind straight away............. David Nalbandian and Fernando Gonzalez.

Talk about a mix of sweet ball strikers, nalby on the backhand side and Gonzo unloading the forehand

I desperately miss Bjorn Borg.

(he’s definitely retired ..... hasn’t he .... ?? )

really disappointing to see Nishikori throwing in another limp performance against the top players. Works so hard to get himself this stage and already 6-1 1-0 down. Would expect more from him even if he is playing Nadal. Its not like he has never played these guys before, at least make it semi competitive!

These long service games are taking far too much out of Federer, and draining his energy reserves.

It’s match over for Fed if he drops this set.

A little bit of vintage stuff - appropriately from the OAP - sees him take another TB for a 2-1 sets lead.

Does he have enough to sneak a third .... ? Hard to say right now.