Andy Murray is currently the bookies' favourite to win Roland Garros! (Fed two sets down against Haas has just drifted longer in the odds.)

fed a break and a game up in the 5th.

Murray to be 2nd favourite for RG is a bit silly, considering he's a clear outsider firstly against Gonzalez today and then against Davydenko and in the final (should those match ups happen).

Gonzalez in 4 today.

The Hoose wrote:

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In my opinion it's Del Potro's tournament to throw away.

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Explain please,  assuming you are being serious ??   Because I don't really get it.

There is no doubt that Del Potro is a consistently improving player and appears to have played well in Paris and gone smoothly through his matches so far.   And I don't say that he has no chance.

But he is still a young player who has yet to experience a Grand Slam semi final let alone to be close to being in a position to win one 

I think myself a few players have a massive chance here if they can really step up to the plate when it matters.

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 2nd of June 2009 10:44:03 AM

-- Edited by indiana on Tuesday 2nd of June 2009 11:03:51 AM

indiana wrote:

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The Hoose wrote:

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In my opinion it's Del Potro's tournament to throw away.

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Explain please,  assuming you are being serious ??   Because I don't really get it.

There is no doubt that Del Potro is a consistently improving player and appears to have played well in Paris and gone smoothly through his matches so far.   And I don't say that he has no chance.

But he is still a young player who has yet to experience a Grand Slam semi final let alone to be close to being in a position to win one

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I think Del Potro's playing the best tennis of everyone left in the draw and, particularly with Federer off form, if he keeps his composure I'd expect him to win the tournament.

But yes, that's a reasonably big if - I don't think Del Potro's proven he can handle the really big matches and, as you say, he's never played grand slam semis or finals - which is why I caveated my opinion with the idea that he may not be mentally tough enough this year.  It's only a matter of time, though, for me.

So it's Federer against Soderling in the final.

Soderling survived the comeback by Gonzalez to claim a 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 win, having been *1-4, 15-30 down in the final set, although was helped by a bad line call at 4-4, Deuce in the last set where the umpire and the line judge picked the wrong mark, picking the one that was out rather than the one that was in, as hawk eye showed it was.

Soderling got nervous for the first time in the event but somehow managed to recover and find his shots again.

Federer also came from behind to secure a 3-6, 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 win, and got the job done partly because Del Potro was shattered by the end of the match where his fitness let him down, and also as he couldn't manage to find the big serves that he had in the early half of the match.

Federer should have the edge for the final and would be a massive favourite to win the final, given that he has the experience of winning Grand Slam finals and the fact he hasn't dropped a set against Soderling in the past (not one I can remember anyway).

I think Federer will have enough to win the match... if Soderling doesn't win the first set then there's no way back for him.

I get the horrible feeling though that this final will be a bit like the 2003 final with Martin Verkerk, whose reaching the final was a bit of a fluke and in the end he got beaten easily in the final...I can see a similar kind of final happening.

Roger

He was my favourite before Andy and is still my second favourite, so I'm delighted to see him get the French Open at last.

But I'm not supporting him at Wimby if Andy is still in contention!