re: Official 2013 French Open Thread

quote:

---

Full credit to bobbyray. I really wanted to see some side court matches, because they are so up close and personal. His info in this thread and a fluke set of circumstances (Court 7 being near where were we entered the grounds, and only having to wait ten minutes to get into the stands) led me to starting the day with Kyrgios against wiley Cilic. The quality of play was awful, but I think Kyrgios was hurt (he called for the trainer just as I got there early in the second set). It was fun to see up close, though.

---

The quality of play from both guys? Or just Kyrgios? What do you think about his game? From the little i've seen of him I've been impressed by (a) his agility given his relatively large frame (I'm guessing 6'-3"??), (b) his forehand and serve, both of which he spanks, and (c) his on-court tenacity. And element (c) is real real real important. It's the only that Jack Sock needs to make the transformation into a top player (I mean, other than a backhand).

quote:

---

After lunch, we stumbled onto Roger and Mofeeeeees on the practice court.

---

I think I like watching them practice more than anything.

quote:

---

(1)
Milos had a tough four setter against Llodra on our court, which was fun to watch because they are both very aggressive (Llodra is a great net player and the crowd was going insane for him). ...

(2)
and Milos' backhand and movement can be downright embarrassing at times.

---

(1)
Llodra, correct me if I'm wrong, is the last remaining "true" serve and volleyer in the top 100. But does he serve and volley on clay?

(2)
I think Raonic blows. He's a serve-bot. Nothing less. Nothing more. He's Mark Phillipoussis minus the many many female groupies.

quote:

---

We then got a full match of Roger, albeit a short one. What more can you ask for? His disguise on those drop shots is what jumped out at me. He must have hit 30 of them today. Also, Fed's game is just so clean compared to the errorfests I saw early in the day, even with his backhand shanks

---

The only time I've seen Federer play live it was against a mediocre opponent at the US Open in 2010. I don't even remember who, but I concur with all of the above. Watching Fed play a mediocre player is an exhibition in seemingly effortless mastery.

quote:

---

Her little light grunt is so hot

---

Yummm.

quote:

---

We are scheduled to see Stosur, Novak, Maria, and Gasquet tomorrow, but I think rain will wreak havoc with everything. It doesn't matter, though, because everything after this point is gravy. The weather gods gave me all I could have asked for today.

Pics to come next week when I get home.

---

Hit us with some more random observations if you get a chance. This was good stuff.

quote:

---

Ferrer has a great quote about Rafa. It is basically that you can win a set, maybe two. But in a 5 set, the physicality takes it's toll. You can't beat him 3 sets on dirt. You just can't stay at the level required for that long and he won't play at a low level for that long. Not on dirt. Djok needs to be on a hard court, preferably on with a slick low bounce to beat him in three. Needs to be able to hit it by Rafa cuz you can't hit trough him on clay. Wet heavy conditions really play into Rafa's hands if this keeps up.

---

If you remember the final last year, there was a point in the match were Djokovic rattled off 8 straight games before time got called (appropriately) because of rain. Rafa had no answers for Djokovic There was nothing he could do.

And so we know that Djokovic can raise his game to a level -- even on clay -- where Rafa is basically rendered helpless. I didn't see the final this year in Monte Carlo, but I imagine it was a lot of that.

Djokovic can take his game to a place where even Rafa on clay has no answers. That leaves just one question -- which gets back to your point -- can Djokovic sustain that level over a five set match?

I can't wait.

rain rain go away

Perhaps a friendly wager is in order. As you know, I respect your opinion. At the very least, MSB tennis thread bragging rights should be on the line.

On another note, your TN man crush (RW) has made some strides. My Shreveport boy (RH) actually won a match. He's been down in the Challengers lately trying to find his game. He beat Isner in Sydney when Isner's wrist was in recovery. Has a slight chance just because it's on clay, but expect his head to explode somewhere in a 5 set match.

Don't know if you Just watched the brain explosion. 6 all in the 5th. RH double faulted the game away.

quote:

---

Don't know if you Just watched the brain explosion. 6 all in the 5th. RH double faulted the game away.

---

I did see it. He was playing pretty well too.

While that quote by Ferrer is true in general, it doesn't apply to Djokovic. He beat Nadal pretty convincingly in Monte Carlo, messed around early in the second set to go down a break but came back and finished him in 2. Since that game though Nadal has been unstoppable while Djokovic has played like crap. That match will be interesting. Nadal has already dipped two sets, which is pretty rare for him in early French open stages (save for Isner in '10 or '11?), which makes me wonder if the last few weeks had a toll on him physically .

Fognini should have taken that first set and made things interesting

John Isner just won the breaker to come back from 2 sets down to force a fifth with Tommy Haas. Hopefully John can finish the comeback.

Thankfully NBC is showing two foreigners instead of isner in the fifth set.