Weeks 22-23 - Roland-Garros, France - clay

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

RE: Weeks 22-23 - Roland-Garros, France - clay

indiana · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Vandenburg wrote:
Thiem is such a ball basher, and someome that can only really play on clay.

He has no slice, no chip,no drop shot.

On faster hard courts and grass where you have less time to rev up the ball bashing groundstrokes he is poor.

When Evans took him down in Sydney was a prime example of this.

Done quite well to get to #7 in the world then
Must have just lucked all his good looking hard court wins or not ...
You do take some things to ridiculous extremes

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 7th of June 2017 02:16:03 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

TMH wrote:
Stircrazy wrote:
Vandenburg wrote:
Some great ties coming up. My predictions

Thiem-Park will take out Novak in 4 sets.
You predicted the outcome correctly, but the scoreline was a bit off: Thiem has just seen off Djoko in straight sets: 7-6(5) 6-3 6-0, while Rafa despatched Carreño by 6-2 2-0 retired. Djoko injured or Thiem just too good? Either way, it would now seem to be Andy's best chance of lifting the French Open title...
Nah.
His best chances have been when he was actually in great form. He seems to be getting back to a higher level this week, but he's still far from the level he was at this time last year and Nadal is in ominous form. I suspect Nishikori may prove to have too much for him today.

I certainly agree that last year was a much better chance than this yet looks realistically. But very decent chance to reach the SF if his game is coming much more together.

indiana · Tennis legend

Nadal has overtaken Djokovic in the live rankings with relatively very little to defend for the rest of the year.

This year to date all rather summed up in the race points.

theemptyvessel · Club Coach

Andy will do well to get through Nishikori and then presumably Stan but if he does then he has a shot. If he can make the final he has to hope Thiem and Nadal go 5 sets and burn a ton of energy in the semi final so that the winner is suitably softened up for him.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stu Fraser's article in today's Times is headed "Lendl works his magic by taking Murray back to basics". First paragraph:

The source of Andy Murray's resurgence at the French Open can be traced to the return of Ivan Lendl, the straight-talking Czech coach who is back in the corutside box of the world No 1 for the first time in four months.

Then a little later:

Ever the perfectionist, Murray had started desperately tinkering with elements of his preparation in an effort to stop the rot. However, the arrival of the blunt Lendl, who had not working in person with Murray since the Australian Open, soon brought an end to all that.

"When things are not going well, you start to overthink things," Murray said. "You start wanting to try noew things on the practice court, changing tensions in your racket. You think about all sorts of things to try to work out what is going wrong. [...]"

He apparently feels he is in better physical shape compared with the quarter-final stage last year. Let's hope so!

indiana · Tennis legend

Think most of us love the variation Andy can bring. But his best success has just been playing extremely good functional tennis under Mr Lendl.

Improvisation is a back up that can help him out at times better than others. But it is not a basis just as excellent defense was never a true basis and rather Lendl indoctrinated controlled agression made him a champion.

-- Edited by indiana on Wednesday 7th of June 2017 05:40:26 PM

Vandenburg · Futures level

Murray v Nishikori is always a interesting match up. Andy's big weapon is his returning, but because Nishikori's serve is soo poor(wta standard) Murray cannot take advantage.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Born2WinTennis wrote:
[...] fingers crossed Nishikori reproduces his form of the first set vs verdasco today.

Didn't happen: Andy lost it by 2-6. cry

Jan · Hall of fame

One to forget.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Nishikori was unplayable that first set. The 2nd set terrible. The big turning point could be the time violation that Murray had it's ironically benefitted him.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Big Stan coasting along as predicted in the other quarter.

Stircrazy · Tennis legend

Stircrazy wrote:
Born2WinTennis wrote:
[...] fingers crossed Nishikori reproduces his form of the first set vs verdasco today.
Didn't happen: Andy lost it by 2-6.

Second in the bag by 6-1. smile

Jan · Hall of fame

Andy wins the third set TB 7-0

TMH · Futures qualifying

Wawrinka through for the loss of 5 games.

Got to say, Cilic in the QFs of the clay grand slam is about as a good as draw as one can hope for.