2010 ROLAND GARROS BOTB - DAY 1 'SYNDICATED' REPORT

Many thanks to all those who entered this competition.

347 entrants is 12% down on last year, which I thought might be due to the sunny weather in Europe keeping people away from their computers, but it turns out that it is due to a 75% drop in the number of entrants from Tennisopolis, who sometimes promote BOTB as "their" competition and offer prizes for entering. The entries those 'promotions' produce tend to be one-offs and riddled with entry errors that take a lot of time to sort out, so as reasons for a drop in entrant numbers go, a fall in Tennisopolis numbers is the one we really don't mind!

By the end of day 1, 15 R1 matches had been completed, with Yani v Lacko suspended at 8-8 in the 5th, the match having seen only one break of serve from 24 bp opportunities - is 2010 clay the new 1980s grass?!

The upset of the day was 95% pick Gulbis losing to Benneteau - he was already a set down when he injured himself and then lost another set before calling it a day. Falla 18% beating Tipsy was another shock, as was Kamke 26% beating Robert, while the main swing matches were won by Foggy 49%, ERV 54% and Ouanna 40%.

Billy the bookie bot ended the day in the bottom quartile, just half a point above the gorillas, which confirms what a mad tournament it has been so far!

Detailed results can be found at http://www.freewebs.com/britishtennis/competitions.html and from now on they will be updated regularly each day, with 'headlines' and the odd 'quote of the day' appearing on http://twitter.com/botb1 as well.

TEAMS

For the second tournament in a row, the Dammitaires finished day 1 on top, over half a point ahead of world no. 1s and reigning RG teams league champions the Feddies, with world no. 2s BT.net, world no. 3s TAT and T4Y (back after a break) following close behind. GBTG are the early lanternes rouges.

INDIVIDUALS

By the end of the day, just two entrants shared the lead - world no. 4 Oploskoffie (TA) and Juliette (RG), who is back playing BOTB after a long break.

Sharing 3rd place and completing the top 10 are Oscar (RF), t12j23r90 (AM), bblola08 (RF), BenP (AM), Josh (BT), motobass (TA), sengale (RG) and GOATFed (RF), who are all a point off the lead.

Just five entrants are still in the gorillas' cage - TennisAnyone74 (TA), MACBORG (CC), Orlik (AR) & Marek0526 (IN) on 7/15 and Brandon (TA), bringing up the rear on 6.

WINNER PICKS

The following players have been picked to win the title:

85% Rafa
12% Fed
1% each - Muzza, Dammit, Duckboy
1 entrant each - Cilic, Petzschner, Tsonga, Nole, Verdasco

Other finalist picks include Stani, le Monf, Gulbis, Sod, Berdbrain, Pics Ferrer and Gonzo.

MONDAY

Muzza 78% v Dammit 22% may not be a 50/50 match in pick terms, but its ramifications for the rest of the tournament make it the most important match of the day. There will be 27 other matches plus the dénouement of the Yani-Lacko match to follow as well though!