Worst possible draw for Murray?

indiana · Tennis legend

RE: Worst possible draw for Murray?

philwrig · Hall of fame

Andy has a skin infection and is on antibiotics. Not expected to impact his performance level though.

clayfan · Lower Club Player

When I read Steven's posting of Gasquet's record it did seem under par for a Frenchman. The French crowd are fickle and could turn on him if he doesn't put on a good show. I fear he will for this match means so much to him and the French Tennis public. He won't want to look a right Charlie so he will take the bull by the horns as it were.

Last year Andy had a few rocky moments in some of his matches. He will have to keep his temperament under control and not give the crowd any reason to turn on him. Tim Henman played the crowd wonderfully well in his great semi final run here. He played a string of French players and was always careful not to argue line calls and to be sporting to his opponent. I don't see Andy managing to be that diplomatic so I think we should expect fireworks.

Hopefully the crowd will be on Gasquet's back after his little bit of bother.

The Knight · Challenger qualifying

i really dont mind who wins this match, as long as whoever does goes all the way to the semis

lovely to see Ritchie win in Nice anyway

LadyTigress · County player

To be sure, Andy's first round match is a bigger ask than his second round match, but his second round match seems winnable. However, Baghdatis could be a real banana skin.

Wouldn't be surprised if the French crowd were cautious actually. The mob are fickle, they say, and they also say that a reputation is like glass. Even accidental stupidity can cast enough doubt to make sure it's never the same again.

If you ask me, Gasquet's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and that's reason enough for me that I couldn't care less, really. There are teenaged players more clear-headed and mature than Gasquet.

This mathc will be one to watch though.

-- Edited by LadyTigress on Saturday 22nd of May 2010 06:45:26 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

The Knight wrote:

i really dont mind who wins this match, as long as whoever does goes all the way to the semis

lovely to see Ritchie win in Nice anyway

I did have a line that fear not, although Dammit had been winning rather a lot of matches, he still hadn't beaten anyone higher than ranked 47 on clay or 39 at all this year. Err, until today's final.

Whoever wins this match though has indeed in my view theoretically not a bad path at all to a possible semi final, so the Knight's wish is possible.

Not that I'd like to stick too many pennies on either

steven · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:

I did have a line that fear not, although Dammit had been winning rather a lot of matches, he still hadn't beaten anyone higher than ranked 47 on clay or 39 at all this year. Err, until today's final.
If it's any consolation, Dammit beat Verdasco 1 & 5 in the Rome Masters in 2007 then lost to Vliegen in straight sets at RG later the same month ...

He also reached the Hamburg Masters Final in 2005 from qualifying, losing to Federer in the Final, then beat Braccialu & Wessels before going out in straight sets in R3, admittedly to Rafa and in 2003 he came into RG on an 11-match winning streak (admittedly in the Bournemouth and Arnsberg-Neheim Husten Futures) and lost to Costa in R1.

indiana · Tennis legend

Hmm, you could of humoured me more by in 2005 missing out the "admittedly by Rafa" bit and in 2003 the bit about it being a "Futures" 11-match winning streak biggrin

The Knight · Challenger qualifying

LadyTigress wrote:

If you ask me, Gasquet's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and that's reason enough for me that I couldn't care less, really. There are teenaged players more clear-headed and mature than Gasquet.

You've obviously had many long conversations with Richard then

Josh · Challenger level

Probably in a dream from 2005 wink

clayfan · Lower Club Player

Well Knight I certainly do want to see one of these guys win. It is the moody, cantakerous, teatotal one who now that I have backed him, will no doubt be taken to the cleaners.

I have no animosity towards Gasquet. But I was never a fan of his. I think Lady T is basing her opinion of him from his interviews and the way he conducted himself during the coke affaire which did make him seem ridiculous. Even if true the "I must have got it from someone I kissed" did seem laughable. But like most players we don't really know them so he might be better than he has come across.

The first time RG came to my attention was when I was visiting the Monte Carlo tournament and the young unknown Gasquet had sprung from nowhere to win a round or two. French TV devoted a whole nausiating programme to "Why are we so good at tennis!", chaired by the strange fellow who does the courtside interviews at Roland Garros. Worse thing was they may have been right with Grosjean, Clement, Pioline, Santoro etc. But it did rather put me off young Dammit. (I know it must be obvious but why is he called Dammit, dammit?)

Josh · Challenger level

From Steven's post on am.com

Why is Gasquet called Dammit?

Dammit is definitely a nickname that started here in a pick 'em thread, on 17 April 2007 during Monte Carlo - sometimes you have to be thankful that the punctuation skills of some AM.com members are not that hot :

vimto: Dammit Gasquet lost the set

ASE: I see that the agony continues for Gasquet fans.

Steven: > Dammit Gasquet lost the set
I thought he was called Richard? Your name suits him a lot better today though!

Steven: Gasquet's serving for the match, so it's 0-30, we all saw that coming!

ASE: Presumably there is a tie break in the third? If not verdasco/gasquet could carry on saying 'after you' 'no, after you' for the rest of the day.

Steven: I have to remember, never pick a French player to win, they always put you through hell!

ASE: 3 MP Gasquet. can he manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory again? GSM Gasquet. never in any doubt !

Steven: Can't believe Dammit Gasquet actually won in the end.

Baiaine: Dammit Gasquet and Massu are my only winners today so I'm pretty please Volandri choked. The way things are going for me Federer is going to lose to Seppi.

Once Bethan joined in too, the nickname wasn't going to get forgotten in a hurry.

The reason why it is such a perfect nickname for him is that you can pick him for tournament after tournament only to be left saying "Dammit, why did I pick him AGAIN?" when he chucks another match away, and worse still, when you finally give up on him (e.g. just before Wimby), he goes and does something brilliant, making you say "Dammit, why didn't I keep faith in him for one more tournament?" ... and then the cycle starts all over again!

Even some of the Dammitaires seem to find this nickname entirely appropriate.

clayfan · Lower Club Player

Thanks Josh. I had forgotten many of you like to play pick'ems and Gasquet has let so many of you down. A bit like Arsenal losing at home and spoiling the pools coupon. Dammit indeed!
I just hope he is saying that on Monday.

LadyTigress · County player

clayfan wrote:

I have no animosity towards Gasquet. But I was never a fan of his. I think Lady T is basing her opinion of him from his interviews and the way he conducted himself during the coke affaire which did make him seem ridiculous. Even if true the "I must have got it from someone I kissed" did seem laughable. But like most players we don't really know them so he might be better than he has come across.

Pretty much sums up my feelings. I don't dislike Gasquet. I also don't believe he deliberately took those drugs... at least, if he did, I don't think he did so with any thought of the consequences... but I think it likely that he really was just stupid and careless in his actions; such a ridiculous story, highlighting his own carelessness, almost seems like it can't be made up. I'd dislike Gasquet if he'd taken the conscious, deliberate decision to take those drugs and on a serious long-term basis. As it is he only seems to me like an incredible fool, and that is why I have a total lack of interest in Gasquet, neither liking or disliking him. I never claimed to "know" Gasquet, know whether he is, say, funny or friendly or dour or quirky. Unfortunately for him, the proceedings of the hearing were made public, and that incident sufficiently highlighted the full measure of his foolishness. That's Gasquet's burden to bear now, and if he only meets people who think he's an idiot instead of those with whom his reputation is irrepairably damaged and believe he deliberately took the drugs, he'll come off better from the whole affair than he might have... sometimes even the accusation can be enough to ruin the careers of some sportsmen. Gasquet's ban was short, his career wasn't ended, and his name wasn't permanently blackened. He has to work hard now to get his career back on track and show people that he can be smart. But he has the opportunity. And if we go back to before the incident, I always felt neutrally about Gasquet, so he has not gone down in my estimation. To gain my respect, people have to earn it. I treat Gasquet no different in that regard than anyone else.

Perhaps Knight, as a Gasquet supporter, has some experiences and insights to draw upon to illuminate Gasquet's character, and could share them with us?

-- Edited by LadyTigress on Sunday 23rd of May 2010 07:59:34 AM

-- Edited by LadyTigress on Sunday 23rd of May 2010 08:00:25 AM

Ratty · County player

Gosh, that's a big ask. Sportsmen now have to be a mixture of Einstein and Jesus too ...

I like Gasquet because he plays exciting tennis. I couldn't give a stuff about his intellect or whether he is kind to animals.

I also think he's favourite to beat Murray ...