Fair to say the French Open could have gone better for the British Women.

Last chance to get a win will be Hev in the mixed doubles

Ormaechea lost. But she is definitely a player on the rise, albeit not even close to Laura's potential (but then we've said that many times before with regard to players Laura has beaten herself against).

In general this has been one of the most enjoyable French Opens I can recall, and (contrary to the emerging consensus on this Board), I have enjoyed ITV's coverage, not least because of the insights from Fabrice Santoro and Jim Courier. Even John Inverdale is worth his self-indulgences and flights of fancy, because he also asks the type of questions and raises the issues that GENERAL sports fans would be interested in, rather than tennis nerds like us. Getting his facts wrong is clearly not on, but his research team may be as much to blame.

However without fear of contradiction, I think this has been the worst showing by GB at Roland Garros in living memory

1. No men in the Main Draw, with Andy's withdrawal.

2. Probably only one other Brit would have been ranked high enough to attempt Men's qualies, but he didn't bother to try.

3. 3 women in the Main Draw, one on a Protected ranking. All lost in the first round, although Heather played well.

4. 3 women in qualies. All failed to qualify. 2 lost their first match, 1 their second.

5. 3 teams with Brits in the men's doubles. Our all Brit team lost in the first, another team in the second. Dom Inglot still going in the third.

6. Laura pulled out of women's doubles and the mixed. Heather lost both her first rlound matches.

7. All 4 (I think) of our juniors in qualifiers failed to qualify.

8. In the juniors Main Draw in all likelihood only 1 girl and 1 boy will win a round. (I hope Katie upsets the odds against Konjuh today, but since Ana played her first ever $25k last week and reached the final, losing in 3 to Petra Martic, the omens look bleak).

Hugely disappointing - one to forget

I think Mr Draper, Mr PR itself, if history repeats itself will simply be the Invisible Man. If we'd done well, he'd be all over RG like a nasty rash, doing interviews left right and centre. 

baxi2 wrote:

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I think Rodger the Dodger has  completed his Grand Sham !!!!!!

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 Very neat !

I love it when a journo (or an ex-player - Tini is on record as having complained about this particular aspect - produces an article which supports my anti-shrieking/-grunting point of view.  There's absolutely no way I'd've handed over hard-earned dosh for a ticket to watch the Shriekapova vs Shriekarenka encounter yesterday & even had I come by a one, I'd've given it away rather than attempt to sell it!

Sharapova v Azarenka was the noisiest match Ive ever heard

Simon Reed, Eurosport

Grunting or screaming in women's tennis is nothing new. Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka being two of the loudest in the game is nothing new either. But when the two of them came together in the women's semi-final at Roland-Garros, it was the noisiest encounter I had ever heard.  The screams just went on and on - not just at the point each hit their shot, but still when the ball was on the other side of the net, almost on the strings of their opponent's racquet.

It was Sharapova who most caught me by surprise. Although she is a screamer, she was Azarenka's equal - or perhaps even more prominent - in the way she hit the ball. Her squeal was much longer than it's ever been.  It became intolerable by the end.

It was a terrific contest and constantly absorbing, even if there were numerous errors from both players, a three-set match which could have gone either way until the end. But it looked like the crowd were drifting away from it and were disconcerted by the noise. A lot of them were shaking their heads. Accordingly, it didn't have the atmosphere that it might have done. It was quite unpleasant.

And was Sharapova louder than usual yesterday? Only she knows what happened - but it came across to me that there was definitely a statement being made: 'I am not going to be upset by your noise and in fact I'm going to make even more noise.'  Equally, perhaps she was just so intense going into the match that she could not help herself. As I say, only she knows.

It wouldn't be a surprise if Sharapova is a little quieter in the final, when she meets Serena Williams on Saturday. I don't think she'll be quiet - just quieter. But then it's likely to be a very different sort of match. Unless Serena implodes she is going to win the final.

The WTA intend to try to tackle the problem with new arrivals into the game.  They've obviously taken the view that they can't - or won't - do anything about the likes of Sharapova and Azarenka. Are they really going to do something with the youngsters? I hope so - because at the moment it's a turn-off to the tennis.  The proof is in the pudding, and I'm not optimistic about it. They seem unable to get a firm grip on the players about anything, whether it's the grunting, or the toilet breaks, or slow play.

What I'd like to know is whether the girls actually realise - or, dare I say it, even care - that their decibel output is alienating spectators...