Weeks 21-22 - Roland Garros men's main draw

jmjhb · Lower Club Player

RE: Weeks 21-22 - Roland Garros men's main draw

RJA · Hall of fame

I told you all that I couldn't see many problems. The set was never in doubt wink

steven · Tennis legend

Never in doubt (er, much!) - Muzz wins 7-6(2) 7-5 6-2 (8 breaks to 5!) and since nobody has contradicted me yet, I'm going to claim that he really is:

- the only GB man other than Fred Perry (I think? - certainly Tim Henman & Mike Sangster only made 3 and I've checked the other obvious candidates, none made SFs at more than two) to make singles SFs at all 4 slams

- the last Brit of either sex to manage the 'career semi slam' since Ann Haydon-Jones, Angela Mortimer & Christine Truman in the 1960s (Wade and Barker each missed one)

- one of just five players to do it in the Open Era without (yet) winning a slam (Nalbandian, Mecír, Okker ... & Roche, though he won RG pre-OE)

-- Edited by steven on Wednesday 1st of June 2011 05:06:01 PM

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

Well done Andy. Not exactly sure how he is meant to beat Nadal given the injury and current form but I suppose it's a nothing to lose situation. Will need to serve a lot better.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I'm happy now, anything else would be a massive bonus - I can't think he is likely to beat Rafa on Clay with a dodgy ankle, but the semis of all four Slams is an achievement in itself. At the start of this clay season, many people were still saying he was useless on clay. You showed 'em, Andy! 2 Masters semis and a Slam semi on the devil dirt!

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

Murray now the 5th active player to reach the SF's of all 4 grand slams, after Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Nalbandian. Quite an achievment

indiana · Tennis legend

Really good to see Andy in a French open semi. True he's had a fairly open boulevard of a draw to get there, but then he hasn't had his troubles to seek with his injury issues.

As far as I could see in this match he was moving perfectly well so while it may be in his mind a bit I don't think it really is an issue now in how he plays. He may risk more serious damage if he were to go over it again, but I didn't see him holding back today at all.

As to the match once he got going, really good in parts, in fact an inspirational streak at the end of the first set ( which combined with hitting every line going for a time must have been a tad annoying for Chela ), but quite a loss of focus at times and again here particularly when ahead in the second set when too many careless errors crept in partly because he wasn't moving his feet properly at times.

Serve not particularly good much of the time, but that's not new and I guess I am boring on this smile But just life would be so much easier if he had a more reliable serve to back up breaks, it's generally such a handicap in comparison to many including the top 3. If only...

This overall though was a match certainly won by Andy rather than lost by Chela ( even in the first set ). Chela generally fought well and Andy managed to play a number of big points very well with a good mind set. I particularly thought that against an opponent like Chela who would be happy to trade back and forward for an age, Andy showed just the right attacking intent, knowing he had to be more the aggressor but keeping it controlled. Finally, I noticed he was also better behaved today with Mum around smile ( i.e. didn't feel like slapping him today )

OK, to Rafa. I'd definitely say ( unsurprisingly ) Rafa is favourite. But Andy tends to enjoy playing Rafa and his focus is also usually good, also Rafa seems to be a bit off his best. So I'd say not impossible. But it requires Rafa to continue not to be at his best and Andy to be around his best, with in particular no loss of focus ( which I am optmistic about ) and him to serve well ( which I just hope ).

RJA · Hall of fame

A bit of Andy's press conference is now on the French Open website. If you strip away the diplomatic waffle he basically said

* I have played rubbish so far and can't believe my luck that I am in the semis
* Today's match was really, really bad
* Really looking forward to playing Rafa because beating nobodies doesn't interest me
* Need to play my best but if I do I can win

Overall he sounded very positive about playing Rafa so while he is obviously underdog who knows.

-- Edited by RJA on Wednesday 1st of June 2011 11:29:16 PM

RJA · Hall of fame

A partial OOP for tomorrow is out.

Andy v Rafa is the first SF, start time 13:00 BST

indiana · Tennis legend

I guess they were maybe not absolutely sure Djokovic would be ready for the first match after his holiday.

He's been quite lucky in that you can get a lot of really good deals for short breaks at this time of the year smile

Spectator · All-time great

They must be assuming that both matches will be relatively short. A four-hour first match, and a long second match and once again, they'd be holding over for a day . . . .

Armchair · County player

I always think how cruel the scheduling can be at the end of a Grand Slam, especially with rain delays and 3 or 5 set wins/losses thrown into the mix. That said it's what makes Grand Slams so exciting.

I don't think I've looked forward to the semis so much in years, please don't let injury on anyones part be the deciding factor.

indiana · Tennis legend

Did you know that Andy has never ever beaten a player ranked at the time in the top 8 in the world on clay ?

The only player in the top 10 at the time that he has beaten was Davydenko ( then WR 9 ) at Monte Carlo in 2009. I make it 1 win, 7 defeats to top 10 players.

No better time to start sorting stats like that out than tomorrow, beginning with an easy one wink

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 2nd of June 2011 10:33:28 PM

RJA · Hall of fame

Call me crazy here but I am starting to think that Andy has a chance against Rafa. 72 hours ago (Chela was always a formality in my mind) I thought he had no chance but his post Chela comments give me some hope. He clearly realises that he he is lucky to be here and I think he will enjoy the match. There is little or no expectation or pressure on him so just maybe everything is set up for a shock. Don't get me wrong, if I was betting my money is on Rafa but you never know.

wolf · Tennis legend

Rafa in 4 or Andy in 5.