Weeks 22 & 23: French Open (Roland-Garros) (red clay)

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Weeks 22 & 23: French Open (Roland-Garros) (red clay)

seagull · Hall of fame

Ouch - Gasquet, Ferrer then Nadal to get to final!!

Jan · Hall of fame

I will be pleased if he gets as far as Gasquet!!

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Horrible draw.

Spectator · All-time great

Utterly dreadful. Nasty 3rd round. Nasty 4th round. Worst possible quarter. Worst possible semi. .... So maybe, since he likes struggling against adversity, he'll win the whole thing? (Trying to be optimistic, here)

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

love the optimism spectator, try not to be too diappointed when it all falls down.

Its definitely the worst draw I can remember Murray having for a very long time - still maybe it'll mean a kind draw at Wimbly (if only it worked that way!)

Armchair · County player

I'm with a poster on another thread, if Andy is struggling with an injury - sitting out the clay season may well have been a good move.
This draw just makes me think definitely a good move....

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Save yourself for Wimbledon Muzza!!

indiana · Tennis legend

Saw Andy quoted as saying that he never considered missing Roland Garros and that there are loads of players just playing through assorted niggles.

Can see both sides and it is a major step to miss a Grand Slam, but I think he can be a bit pig headed at times and I really hope he doesn't live to regret playing here.

Anyway he says the back feels better than it's been and he's had a good few days practice.

Armchair · County player

It's having the Olympics thrown into the mix that worries me.

I imagine most players learn to live with and play through a lot of problems but an extra 'major' thrown into the schedule at a busy time really doesn't help.

S&V · Club Coach

The next few months are going to be a strange ride, if he has just one major at the end of it I would be so happy but I am strapping myself in for the ride.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Had to have a wobble, didn't he? disbelief Nevertheless:

R1: Tatsuma Ito (JPN) WR 69 lost (4) Andy Murray WR 4 by 1, 5 & 0 smile

*****

R2: Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) WR 48 vs (4) Andy Murray WR 4

Andy's played Nieminen three times at Grand Slam or ATP Masters level before & never lost...

wolf · Tennis legend

Ito should have won that second set, was easily the better player once Andy had let him back in at 2-0.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

It was very strange. I don't think it was carelessness or lack of focus from Andy: he seemed to me definitely to have some sort of physical problem for a while. His serve speed dropped from the usual over 200kph to around 170kph, and he wasn't chasing down balls. Then he seemed to grit his teeth and pull things together, and once he did, it was all over for Ito.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Andy first on Chatrier tomorrow, 10am UK time.

Are those unable to watch on tv aware of the livestream on the ITV site? Free, all they ask is for your email address (so you will probably be inundated with spam from them in future ) Good quality stream, though.

http://www.itv.com/frenchopen/