Weeks 21-22 - French Open - Roland Garros Men's Main Draw (Clay)

indiana · Tennis legend

RE: Weeks 21-22 - French Open - Roland Garros Men's Main Draw (Clay)

Spectator · All-time great

Nice set of photos from the match on the RG website: www.rolandgarros.com/fr_FR/news/gallery/2015-05-25/stphane_robert_cde_au_bout_de_leffort.html

philwrig · Hall of fame

Thought Ally Ash ( my new English translation of his Christian name ) acquitted himself well, and looks a solid top 50 prospect.

Very impressed by Kyle, Robert was sensational in the 1st set, but Kyle regrouped well and came through strongly at the end. Was worried about it going 5 sets, and it really did test his improved fitness. Shame he got a little cramp right at the end, but I suspect a year ago he would have been cramping a little earlier. NK should be too tough, but Kyle will have nothing to lose, and all the pressure will be on his opponent, so I suspect it'll be closer than most will expect, assuming Kyle makes a 100% recovery.

Spectator · All-time great

Another bit of trivia from the RG website: apparently Court 7 was where Robert beat Berdych in 5 sets in 2011. So it had good memories for him! www.rolandgarros.com/fr_FR/news/articles/2015-05-25/ode_au_court_7_the_place_to_be_de_la_premire_semaine.html

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

I have to say that when I first read the article, it just smacked to me of lazy journalism. We can try to read our OWN nuances and subtleties into it if we like, but it sounded like "the French guy was ranked 558 so should have been beaten easily" and there was no attempt to put the ranking into context. It took me all of 2 minutes to check that this time last year, Robert was ranked 74 in the world and it is only injury that had seen him drop down the rankings as he has. Anybody who has the ability to beat Berdych, is a very good player.

Did Kyle play the perfect match ? Of course not. He is a young guy looking for his first win in a slam (and only 2nd on the ATP tour) playing against a wily old pro and a hostile crowd. Nerves clearly were going to play a part. I agree that his form was up and down during the 5 sets, but that could be said of just about ANY player who has played a full 5 setter. As others have said, perhaps the most impressive part of Kyle' win yesterday was the maturity with which he handled the whole situation emotionally and how he battled adversity when things were not going his way. Mind you, that "fearhand" was pretty impressive too LOL.

Kyle is by no means the finished article and he would be the first to say that. But yesterday was as much a question about how he handles the big stage as it was of his tennis skills, and he was able to answer that question with aplomb.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I agree I bet he's a football writer asked to knock out the odd tennis piece around the time of the slams and writes a wish you were here" piece to pay for his holidays.

Given the reality of the level of interest tennis generates it is probably all one can expect from the express.

Regardless he missed the story and shows no understanding of the complexities of transition from junior to senior tennis, I am sure if he took the time he'd find it all quite interesting!

Enjoying Eurosports coverage but even there Kyles ranking varied from somewhere in the 200s to 120!

RJA · Hall of fame

Changing the subject I watched the Bedene v Thiem match on ITV4. Mark Petchey and Jim Courier were commentating and I have to say that is was a pleasure to listen to Courier providing such quality analysis of the match and treating the audience as serious tennis fans rather than casual viewers. Working along side somebody taking their job seriously even caused Petchey to up his game.

Comparing that coverage to what will get a Wimbledon, or anything that Sky Sports provide, is like trying to compare Mozart to Justin Bieber.

RJA · Hall of fame

Oakland2002 wrote:
Enjoying Eurosports coverage but even there Kyles ranking varied from somewhere in the 200s to 120!

Unless my ears deceived me Mark Nicholas was commentating on Eurosport, at least until they changed channel. He is a former cricketer and was a cricket commentator for several years. He obviously has some interest in tennis and knows a bit about how the game is played but clearly had no idea about rankings, different types of tournaments, etc.

-- Edited by RJA on Tuesday 26th of May 2015 03:34:26 PM

scottie1 · Futures level

RJA wrote:
Oakland2002 wrote:
Enjoying Eurosports coverage but even there Kyles ranking varied from somewhere in the 200s to 120!
Unless my ears deceived my Mark Nicholas was commentating on Eurosport, at least until they changed channel. He is a former cricketer and was a cricket commentator for several years. He obviously has some interest in tennis and knows a bit about how the game is played but clearly had no idea about rankings, different types of tournaments, etc.

Worst tennis commentator is Ronald McIntosh absolutely dreadful

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh, agree, Ronald McIntosh is dire on various sports.

Apart from his aawful delivery, I recall that just about anytime he wanted to refer to the Olympics during the 2012 boxing ( and that was more often than it need have been ), it was not "the Olympics", but "the games of the 30th Olympiad". Quite a lot of action had often ensued while he was delivering that mouthful !

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Yep now you point it out it sounded like Mark Nicholas and I agree Courier was a breath of fresh air.

By far the most painful is listening to UK commentatory on Olympic Ice Hockey lots of stumbling over NHL ice hockey legends in the making.

In comparison the job sky do with the NFL is second to none, although their commentary team are far too respectful of the game to believe it possible.

savva0122 · Intermediate Club Player

I agree Courier was very good yesterday

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

There were some really nice words from Robert about his opponent, when asked what he made of Murray being there to support Kyle:

"Look at this player. This player is so strong mentally. I didn't make his life easy today, but he was holding to it, sticking to it.He's very solid. He is one of the future hopes of tennis, I think."

Nice of him to be so complimentary after what must have been a very disappointing defeat.

Also when asked about how far Kyle could go, he said:

"Yeah, it's a bit funny to see this guy because he has a game to play on clay. Looks like he's very comfortable on clay. So, yeah, it's strange feeling for a British player. I think maybe he's the best guy on clay. I don't know. Yeah, he's playing with spin with the forehand. It's not typical for a British player. For example, Murray is playing flat on both side. So, yeah, looks look he likes to play on clay."

Oakland2002 · All-time great

BiS needs to stop reading the Express and focus on the Gruniard ref above much more edifying reading!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Oakland2002 wrote:
BiS needs to stop reading the Express and focus on the Gruniard ref above much more edifying reading!

First and probably last time reading the Express online. Just got bored here last night (after you had all gone to bed) and started googling for match reports anywhere. The Express was just one of many that I read.