Weeks 22-23 - 2014 French Open, Roland Garros, Paris (Clay)

steven · Tennis legend

RE: Weeks 22-23 - 2014 French Open, Roland Garros, Paris (Clay)

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Well that was . . . interesting! What a Murraycoaster. I thought at the end of the 4th set that Andy was going to lose - he looked absolutely shattered. Then, when it got to the final set, I had to answer the door and the phone, and then take in a large Tesco grocery order (I didn't expect the match ending so late when I put the order in!) So as I was watching on Eurosport Player I paused the stream and have just finished watching the last set.

Fantastic win. Gael hit a purple patch in set 4 and the end of set 3, but what happened to him then I (and I would think nobody else) don't have a clue. Andy found a second wind and took it right out of Gael's sails. What determination and fighting spirit.

Rafa in the semi? I don't have much hope of a win but I do hope Andy gives him a good fight. It looks from the score as though Ferrer collapsed like a pricked balloon, though of course I didn't see any of it.

indiana · Tennis legend

Well, who wouldn't have taken a SF against Nadal when Andy set out in R1 ?!

A couple of err interesting matches on the way ( of course ! ), but also a lot of very enjoyable clay court tennis.

Now, gets a bit tricky...

indiana · Tennis legend

This will be Andy's 14th Slam SF. Won 7, Lost 6.

It will be his 6th Slam SF against Rafa. Won 1, Lost 4 ( including his one previous French Open SF in 2011 ).

While his 6th Slam SF against Rafa, his other 8 SFs have been against 8 different players.

He has never met Rafa in a Slam Final ( 4 vs Djokovic, 3 vs Federer ).

Spectator · All-time great

The difficulty with Monfils - and I speak as someone who enjoys watching him - is that even when he's hit a purple patch and is winning everything, you still think to yourself "Yes, but against a good player, he's going to dip - he just can't sustain it." In this case, that works nicely from the point of view of GB tennis. But it must have been pretty grim for the French fans. Then again, from what I heard while listening to the radio, my sympathies for the Chatrier crowd are limited - some really dreadful behaviour in that match. Fine to cheer your own - but delaying Murray's serves with their antics was untoward.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Spectator wrote:
The difficulty with Monfils - and I speak as someone who enjoys watching him - is that even when he's hit a purple patch and is winning everything, you still think to yourself "Yes, but against a good player, he's going to dip - he just can't sustain it." In this case, that works nicely from the point of view of GB tennis. But it must have been pretty grim for the French fans. Then again, from what I heard while listening to the radio, my sympathies for the Chatrier crowd are limited - some really dreadful behaviour in that match. Fine to cheer your own - but delaying Murray's serves with their antics was untoward.

I have to confess, I wasn't impressed by the behaviour of the French crowds on several occasions. The worst example was when I was watching Dom and Treat on one of the outside courts. The back two rows of fans were paying no attention to the match whatsoever and were standing up, looking over the back at Flipkens who was playing on the adjacent court. Whilst this in itself didn't bother me too much, they obviously got caught up in the excitement of the other match, sometimes to the extent of taking part in Mexican waves that were happening on the other court, whilst the ball was in play on Dom and Treat's court. To me that was a complete lack of respect to the players.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

My experience is that the average french tennis crowd is WAY less respectful than the average English tennis crowd.

On the downside, this can lead to some of the antics described above (and probably worse).

On the plus side, you never get the ultra precious, church-like atmosphere where you get tuts and filthy looks for uttering a timid 'come on'.

I remember an interview ages ago with some top 10 player saying he didn't mind the crowd making noise and acting up for him, or doing the same for his opponent, the one thing he hated was when he thought the whole audience was bored and had fallen asleep. But, then, he was not British (can't remember who but definitely not a Brit) so he'd probably grown up with pretty rowdy crowds and was used to it.

Mind you, I didn't think Andy had any trouble at all with the crowd yesterday: an inspired showing of how to ride the storm - no need for strategic bathroom breaks, no theatricals, just squeeze the match tight when it mattered and Gael (as Spectator says) will crumble. Great display.

indiana · Tennis legend

From my rather limited experience, I must admit that I prefer the US Open Arthur Ashe crowds to the Wimbledon crowds.

I found them much more engaged and very much less 'unruly' than so many reports would have you believe. Actually, the one isolated shout in a 'cathedral' can be much more distracting than an ongoing buzz.

Sounds somewhere between Wimbledon and RG, certainly re attention and respect, though I am not unaware that US Open crowds have sometimes turned on certain players.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Spectator wrote:
The difficulty with Monfils - and I speak as someone who enjoys watching him - is that even when he's hit a purple patch and is winning everything, you still think to yourself "Yes, but against a good player, he's going to dip - he just can't sustain it." In this case, that works nicely from the point of view of GB tennis. But it must have been pretty grim for the French fans. Then again, from what I heard while listening to the radio, my sympathies for the Chatrier crowd are limited - some really dreadful behaviour in that match. Fine to cheer your own - but delaying Murray's serves with their antics was untoward.

You do know that you can actually watch it live on ITV4 (or sometimes ITV3) instead of making do with the radio commentary, don't you, Spectator? wink

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Maybe Spectator wasn't near a tv?

Tomorrow, Andy's match is the second semi. The Djoker/Gulbis semi starts at 1pm local, noon UK time, but I wouldn't like to hazard a guess how long it will last!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I don;t know if this has been in the English papers but the French asked Andy Murray to come up with his World Cup 'tennis' football team:

rmcsport.bfmtv.com/info/617407/murray-compose-onze-tennismen/

He's got Llodra in goal, Janowicz and Zimonjic in central defence, Tsonga and Djoko on the wing (Djoko on the left as he's left-footed), a Spanish midfield with Nadal and Ferrer, with Mauresmo too, Murray himself as centre forward and Baghdatis as 'ball provider' and, for his last pick, maybe Grosjean but maybe Fognini, as someone in form but he'd argue the t*ss with the ref and get a red card.

It's actually quite a good idea - the ideal 'top tennis World Cup team' ????

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Blimey, Djokers is bopping Gulbis 2-0 already, soon be Andy time!!!!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well, that was a pretty poor set of tennis . . .. :(

BeefyDeedz · Pro player

Miles apart.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Very disappointing so far. Andy doesn't seem to be able to do anything right. I expected him to lose, but less tamely.