2013 French Open QF: Federer vs. Tsonga

[atttomole]

My heart says Federer and my head says Federer. Federer takes it in 4 sets.

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I have to post more. I am still a ball boy.

 

[DarthFed]

My heart says Federer, but my head says Tsonga.

I'm the opposite: my heart says Tsonga, but my head says Fed.

Are you a Tsonga fan now or is it a matter of you wanting Ferrer's chances to rise from 5% to over 50% for the semi

 

[Moxie]

My heart says Federer, but my head says Tsonga.

I'm the opposite: my heart says Tsonga, but my head says Fed.

Are you a Tsonga fan now or is it a matter of you wanting Ferrer's chances to rise from 5% to over 50% for the semi

The "discerning follower of Moxie" would realize that I've always been a champion of Tsonga. (What's not to like? He's an astonishing athlete, he's very good-looking, and he has the prettiest smile in tennis. And did I mention he's a crowd-pleaser? Um, and it's the FO.)

The Fed half of the draw is complicated for me, emotionally, I must say. I love Ferrer, as you recognize, and I like Tsonga a lot, but, if Djokovic gets past Nadal in the SF, (should it come to that,) I want the finalist from this half to beat him. Ferrer has the least chance, Tsonga the next, but Federer the best.

However, when Rafa gets to the final, as I hope and expect he will, Tsonga would be the more interesting opponent. :clap

 

[BalaryKar]

Feds not losing in 3. So it means at least 4, and then knowing Fed's ego (pun and pun only) he will drag to 5 if he has to loose the match. And then Tsonga will be a sitting duck for Ferrer. Its better to then have Fed in 3 though Tsonga must make it 4. Fed knows he won't be having these cup-cake draws at all the tournaments and must make it most to reach the final. If its Nadal in the final, we know who is losing, and its Nole, then Fed knows that for his 18th slam, he must beat one of the Nadalovic. All the best Fed.

P.S: I don't mind Tsonga winning if he really wins the entire thing. Else, please don't stop Fed

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The "discerning follower of Moxie"

I call this as "Cali effect". People have started calling out their own names :snigger :laydownlaughing

 

[Ricardo]

Feds not losing in 3. So it means at least 4, and then knowing Fed's ego (pun and pun only) he will drag to 5 if he has to loose the match. And then Tsonga will be a sitting duck for Ferrer. Its better to then have Fed in 3 though Tsonga must make it 4. Fed knows he won't be having these cup-cake draws at all the tournaments and must make it most to reach the final. If its Nadal in the final, we know who is losing, and its Nole, then Fed knows that for his 18th slam, he must beat one of the Nadalovic. All the best Fed.

P.S: I don't mind Tsonga winning if he really wins the entire thing. Else, please don't stop Fed

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The "discerning follower of Moxie"

I call this as "Cali effect". People have started calling out their own names :snigger :laydownlaughing

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having Simon and Tsonga before semi's is not a cup cake draw, where did you get that idea?

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

^ well, if you recall, the draw discussions had the majority seeing a rather doable path for Fed. consider the alternatives - Berdych would've been seen as more of a problem than Tsonga is (although we now see it as incorect). Simon was probably underestimated after Rome, hence not seen as a problem. and there Definitely were unseeded guys more interesting than his frist two opponents. the biggest "cupcake"-inducing part of course getting Ferrer instead of Rafa, and the bottom half (Ferru's quarter especially) being a bit of a mess after Berd's exit. that said, i do think that it isn't a cupcake - obviously, since i'm actually picking Tsonga for the semis. Tsonga is definitely the hardest QF opponent for a top four seed in this tourney.

 

[Front242]

I've never seen a player get such inspiration from a crowd like Tsonga does and he channels that energy and support into sheer brilliance. Remember last year when he played pretty poor and passive against Djokovic at the start. All it takes is one spark to start the Tsonga fire and often when that happens the fire doesn't burn out, as Fed knows only too well from their Wimbledon quarter final. A very tricky opponent when he's on and what better place to fire him up than his home tournament. Not going to be an easy match.

 

[BalaryKar]

having Simon and Tsonga before semi's is not a cup cake draw, where did you get that idea?

Johnsteinback has already answered what exactly I wanted to say. And no, this is not made to amke fun of players like Tsonga, Ferrer, et. al. However, I would have said the same even if Murray would be in his half at FO only. And then look at the semis, neither Almagro nor Ferrer are supposed to give sleepless nights to Fed.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

^ yeah, mainly because if Almagro were to show up in the semis, Fed could call the supervisor to point out that he already lost in the fourth round

 

[Asmodeus]

I refuse to vote in poll. Why? It's biased against ...

 

[huntingyou]

I hope Federer takes it, then we'll see how "easy" just an average Federer dances through Ferrer.

 

[the AntiPusher]

JowillieTs in 4th.. If not Fed in 5.... Although, I have seen the Federer\Ferrer movie before

 

[DarthFed]

I hope Federer takes it, then we'll see how "easy" just an average Federer dances through Ferrer.

I sure hope we do :clap The day he loses a GS match to Ferrer is the day he should consider just playing with his daughters. Ain't happening chief :nono

 

[Didi]

Tough call, but my gut pick is Roger in 5. I can see this going the same route as their Melbourne '13 and YEC '11 encounters with Tsonga playing catch up from the start till the end and Federer prevailing in the final set. But then again predicting matches on the basis of past dynamics or stats can be very misleading. It's just a gut feeling. Last year I actually wondered how a potential semifinal between these two at RG would have panned out, had Djokovic not saved 4 MPs. Now we finally get to see it. Fantastic.

 

[Moxie]

Feds not losing in 3. So it means at least 4, and then knowing Fed's ego (pun and pun only) he will drag to 5 if he has to loose the match. And then Tsonga will be a sitting duck for Ferrer. Its better to then have Fed in 3 though Tsonga must make it 4. Fed knows he won't be having these cup-cake draws at all the tournaments and must make it most to reach the final. If its Nadal in the final, we know who is losing, and its Nole, then Fed knows that for his 18th slam, he must beat one of the Nadalovic. All the best Fed.

P.S: I don't mind Tsonga winning if he really wins the entire thing. Else, please don't stop Fed

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The "discerning follower of Moxie"

I call this as "Cali effect". People have started calling out their own names :snigger :laydownlaughing

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I was hoping the "wink" would explain that that was a joke. But I have always been a fan of Jo-Wil, even though he's frustrating to champion.

If Roger goes off mentally like he did vs. Simon, he could get into trouble, if Tsonga catches fire, and with the support of the crowd, which, as someone mentioned, he feeds off like almost no one. (Or maybe La Monf.) Clearly, the French crowd will throw Federer under the bus for a countryman.

 

[kskate2]

Feds not losing in 3. So it means at least 4, and then knowing Fed's ego (pun and pun only) he will drag to 5 if he has to loose the match. And then Tsonga will be a sitting duck for Ferrer. Its better to then have Fed in 3 though Tsonga must make it 4. Fed knows he won't be having these cup-cake draws at all the tournaments and must make it most to reach the final. If its Nadal in the final, we know who is losing, and its Nole, then Fed knows that for his 18th slam, he must beat one of the Nadalovic. All the best Fed.

P.S: I don't mind Tsonga winning if he really wins the entire thing. Else, please don't stop Fed

---

The "discerning follower of Moxie"

I call this as "Cali effect". People have started calling out their own names :snigger :laydownlaughing

---

Clearly, the French crowd will throw Federer under the bus for a countryman.

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I'm not too sure about that. The other day they cheered for Simon until the 4th when it was apparent Roger could actually lose, then they cheered for Fed.

 

[Moxie]

Feds not losing in 3. So it means at least 4, and then knowing Fed's ego (pun and pun only) he will drag to 5 if he has to loose the match. And then Tsonga will be a sitting duck for Ferrer. Its better to then have Fed in 3 though Tsonga must make it 4. Fed knows he won't be having these cup-cake draws at all the tournaments and must make it most to reach the final. If its Nadal in the final, we know who is losing, and its Nole, then Fed knows that for his 18th slam, he must beat one of the Nadalovic. All the best Fed.

P.S: I don't mind Tsonga winning if he really wins the entire thing. Else, please don't stop Fed

---

The "discerning follower of Moxie"

I call this as "Cali effect". People have started calling out their own names :snigger :laydownlaughing

---

Clearly, the French crowd will throw Federer under the bus for a countryman.

---

I'm not too sure about that. The other day they cheered for Simon until the 4th when it was apparent Roger could actually lose, then they cheered for Fed.

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Well, lots of crowds cheer for more tennis. And they remembered for a moment that they love Fed. But, from my TV, they were Simon all the way in the 5th. If they get a chance to root a Frenchman into the SFs, I don't think they'll pass it up. It comes down to Tsonga, and if he gives them enough to cheer about.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

I dunno, tough one, crowds gonna go mental whatever happens.

..eat my goal.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

the crowd's gonna love this one for sure, unless it's a complete blowout. which, given the volatility of both men's games, doesn't seem that likely.

one little fun takeaway from the Simon match - a reminder of all that's love- and hateable about Fed. Roger, talking about his five setter and escape from near-exit: "it's always fun being part of matches like this." yeah, i'm sure it was a lot of fun for Gilles, too.

and, perhaps even better/worse:

Q. You're looking very fresh. Actually, doesn't look like you played five sets.
RF: Thank you. You look great, too. (Laughter.)

 

[kskate2]

Went w/ Fed in 4