Stircrazy wrote:

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steven wrote:

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[...] He's had 9 straight wins against GEMs sur l'herbe since.

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It's actually sur gazon, Steven, gazon being what the French call a lawn.

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 Well yes, but although it is lawn tennis, we usually talk about playing on the grass, not on the lawn!

steven wrote:

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Madeline wrote:

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Stircrazy wrote:

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steven wrote:

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[...] He's had 9 straight wins against GEMs sur l'herbe since.

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It's actually sur gazon, Steven, gazon being what the French call a lawn.

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 Well yes, but although it is lawn tennis, we usually talk about playing on the grass, not on the lawn!

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SC's right thought, the GEMs do exclusively use gazon for grass courts ... l'herbe is more Henman Hill, the kind of grass you eat you picnic on (or at least it would be if it wasn't so finely manicured )

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L'herbe being reserved for le déjeuner, of course...   I think perhaps I'd better get my coat...

Jan wrote:

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In other news, Mahut managed to lose today

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As did JWT, by 6-7(3) 6-3 6-7(5), to the unfancied Croat, Ivan Dodig (WR 69)!

Jan wrote:

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I never knew I would learn so much culture on this forum!!!

In other news, Mahut managed to lose today

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Ah yes, we manage to be an eclectic mix of culture, tennis and bad puns. But mainly bad puns, obviously.

As for the French, they've always been good at winning the matches they're not meant to and losing the matches they're not meant to. A pity JWT made an exception for his match against Jamie B!

Madeline wrote:

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And Andy loses in the deciding tie-break. A poor match from him overall, I thought. Far too tentative in the first two sets, and at times in the third. Though Mahut played very well, and he had the advantage of already having played and won a match - I really hate byes, I don't think they do many players much good.

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Yes, byes can be a bit of a disadvantage. especially at the start of the clay or grass season when the other player has already played a match.

Andy indeed hardly hit a shot in anger for a set and a half, being very passive and continually looking concerned at his footing.

He then started to actually strike the ball quite well and when he won the second set I was pretty confident that he would ease to the win.  But. although still striking the ball quite well a combination of too many errors and Mahut's good play undid him.

A pity since that would have been a very good first match if it had led on to others.  No disaster though and just hope he gets in some good practice and probably a couple of exhibition matches in the next 10 days ( even if tournament play would have been better ).