Week 21 - Roland Garros men's qualifying

A131 · Intermediate Club Player

RE: Week 21 - Roland Garros men's qualifying

Miriambee · Futures level

RG site saying this is the first British who's come through qualifying in more than 40 years!!

Is this really true?

Link to said article-

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/articles/2014-05-23/201405231400860772498.html

steven · Tennis legend

A131 wrote:
If I am reading this correctly is Rola the first in line for a LL spot being the highest seed to lose in FQR - not really a fan of that rule but there you go.

At slams these days, there's a draw among the 4 highest seeds to lose in the FQR (actually 4 + the number of LL spots already available when qualifying finishes, I think)

indiana · Tennis legend

Remarkably, it is indeed true, Miriambee. Discussed on page 18 of this thread, and who would doubt steven :)

As for LLs, in Slams the top four ranked FQR losers are put into a random draw to determine what order they will take up any LL places.

SMC1809 · All-time great

steven wrote:
Yes!!!!

FQR: James Ward WR 169 beat (q4) Blaz Rola (SLO) WR 94 (= CH) by 4-6 6-4 12-10

James is the first British man to qualify at Roland Garros for 41 years!

Maybe someone at RG reads Steven's posts or Tweets. Why else would anyone at RG look up this kind of stat?

steven · Tennis legend

I hasten to add that the 1973 stat is one the journos got from Roland Garros - I checked the obvious things (e.g. whether Andy, Tim or Greg, etc, had ever qualified) but didn't check it as fully as I would for a stat I'd come up with myself. I do think someone (not least a player who had qualified at RG since!) would have come up with a counter-example by now if it wasn't true though.

Edit: just seen SMC's post - I think the answer to the "why" question is because Mike Dickson of the Mail asked them to!

-- Edited by steven on Saturday 24th of May 2014 11:05:21 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

Beaten to the punch, and yes, I believe that the 'four' is subject to increase dependant on the number of LL spots already available.

A131 · Intermediate Club Player

freerider wrote:
just had a little look at the draw. 2 Q vs Q draws in there, Steve Johnson on clay might be a decent draw.

Obviously want to avoid one of the seeds, Fognini would be a horrendous draw

Look at it this way - This is only the 2nd time in nearly eight years as a professional that he has reached the main draw of a grand slam on merit (and I do look upon coming through qualifying as on merit) rather than having it handed to him. So, he must feel better for that and having already earn't a few quid along the way. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't care who he was drawn against - not much pressure on him and everything to gain.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I agree. Robredo is no Christmas present but, hey, winning a place in the main draw, after having never won a match before - all smiles.

Not strictly relevant but everyone likes a showman so hats off to young Lokoli. A wildcard qualifier place has been turned into a MD place thanks to three pretty dramatic wins. Facing three match points against the guy ranked about 300 places higher than him, he rushed the net three times, as he said : he wanted to actually 'save' the points, not just win them. Lots of bare-chest thumping and jumping around, think he was pleased !

He's Corsican and VERY proud of it - took Corse as an option in his Bac and got distinction :) NB note that he passed his Bac, no dropping out.

He's the son of the PSG footballer of the 70s (he actually wanted to be a footballer but got fed up of being compared to his dad so switched) and had a slightly checkered past (not sure his Corsican nature quite gelled with mainland France). Anyway, the guys making fans and appealing to the youngsters (and oldies too) so good luck to him.

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Saturday 24th of May 2014 12:09:52 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

That's great, CD. I have generally much less of a problem with Slam Q WCs than Slam MD WCs in chucking the locals or whoever in and giving them the chance. Win 3 qualifying matches and fair play. Accounts like that make me even more OK with Q WCs

Ivanisovecic is often pointed to as a MD WC winning Wimbledon, but I think if it had come to it he would have been prepared to go through qualifying.

thejester · Satellite level

Robredo it us then, tough draw for James but as has been said, anything from here would be a massive bonus.

indiana · Tennis legend

In my view, it is being said far too much :(

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

We should mention that Elias, the vainqueur of Dan Evans in the first round, managed to win his next two matches and qualify.

A131 · Intermediate Club Player

Coup Droit wrote:
We should mention that Elias, the vainqueur of Dan Evans in the first round, managed to win his next two matches and qualify.

Absolutelty CD - I think it would be fair to say that it was not the Dan Evans that got to the third round at the US Open last year or earlier this year but he still had to be beaten and that he did - and quite comfortably to.

Congratulations to all 16 the men that qualified - only 7 of which were actually seeded and only two of those seeded in the top 10 - Lorenzi and Ds Schwartzman. Just goes to show you just never quite know who's gonna make it.

freerider · Futures level

A131 wrote:
freerider wrote:
just had a little look at the draw. 2 Q vs Q draws in there, Steve Johnson on clay might be a decent draw.

Obviously want to avoid one of the seeds, Fognini would be a horrendous draw
Look at it this way - This is only the 2nd time in nearly eight years as a professional that he has reached the main draw of a grand slam on merit (and I do look upon coming through qualifying as on merit) rather than having it handed to him. So, he must feel better for that and having already earn't a few quid along the way. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't care who he was drawn against - not much pressure on him and everything to gain.

While I am not disputing that James has already done a superb job this week and done himself extremely proud, unless you are playing Nadal on Phillipe Chartier why wouldn't you want a winnable first round draw to give yourself the best chance of gaining an extra 45points and 14000 euros? Especially you have come through qualies brimming with confidence? (Not that I am saying James doesn't have a chance against Robredo).

-- Edited by freerider on Sunday 25th of May 2014 09:01:03 AM

-- Edited by freerider on Sunday 25th of May 2014 09:01:33 AM