re: The Unofficial 2015 French Open Thread

Pete Bodo is no fan of Rafa.

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Awkward:

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Lol what was the deal there?

Djokovic was toying with him

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Certainly appears that way.

My humble breakdown of the draw:

Djoker's Quarter:
Djokovic toyed with Nieminem today, letting him go up 4-1 before winning the set 7-5. I suppose he has to do things like this to keep it interesting. He's basically playing a different sport right now. He gets the winner of Muller/Lorenzi, which is ongoing as I type this and which matters only to those two players and to those who may have money on them (not me), because Djokovic will work either of them over. He'll also work over one of the Aussie connection Kokkinakis/Tomic and will crush the hearts and souls of Frenchies everywhere by roundly dominating Richard Gasquet in the round of 16. Then there's the quarters. We'll get to that.

Nadal gets Almagro next round, and might have some difficulty against the fellow spaniard but in accordance with the Spanish Tennis Hierarchical Rules of Engagement, he will likely not lose the match. At the end of the day, Almagro is still sort of a puss, and Rafa isn't. So, even if Almagro gets a set with his decent little one-hander and his substantially satisfactory serve, he'll eventually poop all over his britches like Randy Marsh before him.

Steamy Ray Vaughn

Nadal will have even less trouble in the third round. It was looking like he would get Dimitrov in the round of 16, but that is substantially up in the air at this point, given that Jack Sock is up two sets to love on on him and appears to be poised to finish the drill. I've always thought Grgor was shaky. Baby Fed is officially not living up to his nickname. Rafa may have more trouble with a heavy hitter like Sock if it comes to that, but I'm not convinced that Sock will win out if he does prevail today. I could certainly see Robredo or Coric beating him. I have to like Rafa's chances against anybody coming out of there, and so it does look like we'll get the greatest quarterfinal match in the history of the tournament.

I'm a huge Rafa homer, but I just can't see anybody beating Novak Djokovic right now. I've said it before and I'll say it again: dude is just in a different world right now. Bummer for Rafa to get Novak in the draw in the quarters, but I guess that's what he gets for letting himself fall down to #7 in the world.

Andy Murray Quarter:
Murray has actually been playing some solid ball on his heretofore least favorite surface. But he certainly doesn't have a cakewalk to the semis. He very likely will get Nick Kyrgios in the third round and Nick Kyrgios is crazy dangerous and loves the big stage. I still think Murray wins that - though it isn't a sure thing -- and will get one of several pseudo-contenders in the quarters. You've got the little beast David Ferrer who just keeps grinding away, and who I have to consider the favorite to get into the quarters, but other guys could potentially beat him. Cilic has a puncher's chance, but on clay that could be tricky. And, well, actually that's about it. I think Ferrer should probably come out of there. Murray v. Ferrer would be interesting. You've got the better player v. the more traditional clay court grinder. In Murray's current form, I have to go with him, though.

We'll then get Murray v. Djoker, and this sounds crazy even as I write it, but it could be that Murray -- with his style that tends to frustrate Djoker -- has the best chance of beating the Serbian Juggernaut. Djoker is too poised, though, i don't see him not winning this tournament.

Berdych Quarter:
What a weak arse quarter. I think Nishikori comes out of his. Berdy is usually pretty steady and doesn't tend to get upset early, but he certainly could get taken out by Jo Willie. I don't see anybody in Kei's half who I think has a reasonable chance of beating him. I'll go with Kei over Berdy in four sets.

Federer Quarter:
What an even weaker arse quarter. Just gross. Eh, I suppose Dominic Thiem or Gael Monfils can beat the great smug man if they get that far, with that always being a huge IF with respect to Mr. Monfils. I saw portions of his first round match against Roger-Vasselin and he appeared to be visibly winded. Gael Monfils: what a magnificent waste of talent. Don't get me started. Anyway, if he does get that far, he can certainly take out Fed as he has a two match winning streak over him, but perhaps we should cross that bridge when we get there.

The top half of this quarter is just absolutely gross. Stan the man is probably going to come out of there and he always enjoys laying down for his buddy Roger, and I don't see that being any different here.

If Kei comes out of his quarter, I like his chances to advance to the finals. If Berdy comes out, I like his chances less.

We could very well have a rematch of Wimbledon this year in the final, but I don't think such a rematch would produce as close a result. There could be a lot of nostalgiamoney on Federer in that one, which will make the odds closer than they really ought to be. Bet the Djoker, or kick back and enjoy your future bet on Djoker, or both. I think he's rolling.

Djokovic should win this. I am still seeing him a little short of even odds to win the tournament in some places. Great bet IMO.

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Murray and Fed said the courts are playing slow, yet the bounce is low. Fed claims the court feels dead. That seems like a strange combo as you tend to associate low bounces with quick courts and high bounces with slow courts. I guess some Hamburg court used to play like this, where Fed once put up a clay bagel on Nadal. It's probably another French hit job on Nadal.

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I have no idea how a court can be slow and the bounce low. Maybe the balls are dead?

BG said this morning that Murray relayed that the inner courts were playing very slow compared to the outside courts.

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BG said this morning that Murray relayed that the inner courts were playing very slow compared to the outside courts.

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I'm not familiar enough with that venue to know which ones are inner and which are outer.

I watched him out in Palm Springs and that thing is a freaking rocket. Reminds me a lot of Fernando Gonzalez.

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Took the words right out my mouth. I saw him play dubs there. My bro and I were amazed. He sort of coils up and unloads, looking like he is swinging as hard as he can.

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Him and Rhyne Williams both hit their forehands like that: like a whiplash. Super wristy. I think that's the next gen forehand.

Jack Sock forehand slow motion