2013 French Open SF: Tsonga vs. Ferrer

[tented]

David leads the series 2-1

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=F401&oId=T786

These two have played on 3 different surfaces. Jo's only win came at 2011 Wimby. While Ferrer has won the most recent meeting, a QF at last year's Paris masters and the only clay meeting at 2010 Rome QF.

Can Jo go one step further and reach his 2nd slam final or will David surge into his first slam final?

Who ya got?

vs.

 

[herios]

I am picking Ferrer in 5. David is a best clay court playerand unless he is off, he should prevail.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

tbh, i haven't seen too much of David so far - not surprising, as usual he gets little coverage. so before making a call, i'll look at what he's been doing in the past rounds.

one thing, apart from the usual "consistency" stuff - i think Ferrer will be able to seriously, persistently test Tsonga's bh, and i'm not sure if it'll hold up.

---

here's a thought/question - when was the last time a SF match didn't feature one of the Big 4/Fedaldjorray?

 

[Didi]

What a fantastic prospect of a semifinal. Ferrer with possibly the last realistic chance of his lifetime to finally make it to his maiden Grand Slam final. On the other side Tsonga in front of his crowd just one step away from being the first French finalist in decades. There is so much at stake for both of them, they will be so desperate to win it, it's almost not even funny. For both guys the chance of a lifetime. I expect running through brick walls, blood, tears, drama and so much utter will and determination to win that you could cut it with a knife. This is the defining moment of their respective careers. This is it. The epic conclusion of both men's careers. Cannot wait.

Tough call. Ferrer has been playing some of the best tennis of his entire career the past few weeks in Madrid, Rome and especially here. He pushed Nadal to the limit twice and breezed into the semis here. He seems like a man possessed on a mission. But so does Tsonga. Ultimately I think Tsonga's first strike tennis will prevail if (which is a big IF) the execution is as sharp as it was today. Muhammad Ali in 5 dramatic sets. Sorry David. But honestly I would be happy for Ferrer too. It would be tragic if he "pulls a Henman" and loses yet another semifinal. Good luck to both men, may the force be with them.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

can anyone think of anything more recent than '10 RG? Robin actually made it happen twice in a row. would've thought it'd been longer than that, tbh.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I am picking Ferrer in 5. David is a best clay court playerand unless he is off, he should prevail.

herios, I have my Sunday school sections already selected if your guy wins.. No Ferrer please, we have seen that film before. I have JoWillieTS in straights again.. Jo isn't gonna mess around getting into all the long sex drive legs killing rallies with Ferrer.. If you battle with that dude for 3-4 hours, you may be tapped out and cant handle your "business" with your lady afterwards :blush:

 

[DarthFed]

I am hoping for Tsonga but will be legitimately happy for Ferrer if he pulls it off. If not for the home crowd this would be a no-brainer for me but even still I think Ferrer wins in 4.

 

[brokenshoelace]

So the final will take place on Friday this year, when Nadal plays Djokovic?

 

[herios]

can anyone think of anything more recent than '10 RG? Robin actually made it happen twice in a row. would've thought it'd been longer than that, tbh.

No, that is the most recent one. It seems longer than that, but it is not, and in fact the Big 4 domination didn't really took off entirely only in 2011.
In 2010, there were still more in-rooads made by others. And I can call now that their domination is basically run it's course and is coming to an end. And not only just because today's loss by Roger, look at the masters, how many "other" guys are in F, SF.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

For the sake of an exciting final, I pick JWT. I appreciate David too but there is no way he is making the Sunday interesting for me, no disrespect...

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

can anyone think of anything more recent than '10 RG? Robin actually made it happen twice in a row. would've thought it'd been longer than that, tbh.

No, that is the most recent one. It seems longer than that, but it is not, and in fact the Big 4 domination didn't really took off entirely only in 2011.
In 2010, there were still more in-rooads made by others. And I can call now that their domination is basically run it's course and is coming to an end. And not only just because today's loss by Roger, look at the masters, how many "other" guys are in F, SF.

iyeah, true. BUT, for the fact of "one of Fedaldjorray" in the semis, you get to combine with the unbelievable Fedal domination. so actually, the two RG semis with Soderling ARE the only two since 2007 that didn't feature one of the four. until Friday.

which also helps to remind us that even today, RG is still the one slam most likely to produce "odd" results *fingerscrossed*.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I want a Tsonga win! I am sure he will have the full weight of the crowd behind him, since this is the closest the French have been to a final in how long?

 

[brokenshoelace]

can anyone think of anything more recent than '10 RG? Robin actually made it happen twice in a row. would've thought it'd been longer than that, tbh.

No, that is the most recent one. It seems longer than that, but it is not, and in fact the Big 4 domination didn't really took off entirely only in 2011.
In 2010, there were still more in-rooads made by others. And I can call now that their domination is basically run it's course and is coming to an end. And not only just because today's loss by Roger, look at the masters, how many "other" guys are in F, SF.

I mean their domination was never going to last forever, but name me someone outside the top 4 you'd honestly bank on to win a slam soon.

---

By the way, can someone tell commentators that his name is TSONGA, not ZONGA (the Australian commentators pronounce it like that, and I have no idea why they think the "T" is silent, or why the "S" transforms into a "Z"). Seriously, is it too much to ask that commentator's get players' names right? For example: It's Berd-itch, not Berd-ick.

 

[herios]

can anyone think of anything more recent than '10 RG? Robin actually made it happen twice in a row. would've thought it'd been longer than that, tbh.

No, that is the most recent one. It seems longer than that, but it is not, and in fact the Big 4 domination didn't really took off entirely only in 2011.
In 2010, there were still more in-rooads made by others. And I can call now that their domination is basically run it's course and is coming to an end. And not only just because today's loss by Roger, look at the masters, how many "other" guys are in F, SF.

iyeah, true. BUT, for the fact of "one of Fedaldjorray" in the semis, you get to combine with the unbelievable Fedal domination. so actually, the two RG semis with Soderling ARE the only two since 2007 that didn't feature one of the four. until Friday.

which also helps to remind us that even today, RG is still the one slam most likely to produce "odd" results *fingerscrossed*.

Several of those semis in 2008-2010 had only 2 of the Big 4, they just happened to be on the opposite sides, so it was not a SF between other players than them. If there are 2 only in the final stage, for me, its not a true domination. It requires minimum 3 out of 4 for me to qualify it as dominant. 50% is insufficient.
And by the way, Murray was not part of any of those until USO 2008, so he joined later the party.

---

I am picking Ferrer in 5. David is a best clay court playerand unless he is off, he should prevail.

herios, I have my Sunday school sections already selected if your guy wins.. No Ferrer please, we have seen that film before. I have JoWillieTS in straights again.. Jo isn't gonna mess around getting into all the long sex drive legs killing rallies with Ferrer.. If you battle with that dude for 3-4 hours, you may be tapped out and cant handle your "business" with your lady afterwards :blush:

Just a reminder mate, JWT has not been in a clay final EVER, do I need to scoop the stats for David in how many he was, or titles he's won on it?

 

[Front242]

The odds are definitely stacked against Tsonga playing Ferrer on clay but i hold out some hope he gets super inspired and fired up and blasts him into the middle of next week. Probably won't happen though and he'll be ground into paste.

 

[Denis]

I voted for Tsonga in three, but that's purely based on hope. Ferrer will make Jo hit that one extra shot he doesn't want to hit. And yes, Ferrer has better results on clay (although I don't think that is too relevant). Still I think Tsonga has a good shot. He's been in a tremendous form these two weeks and is very focussed for his standards. The serve will help Tsonga get a lot of easy games. The focus will hopefully do the rest. Let's hope the backhand holds...

 

[Moxie]

What a fantastic prospect of a semifinal. Ferrer with possibly the last realistic chance of his lifetime to finally make it to his maiden Grand Slam final. On the other side Tsonga in front of his crowd just one step away from being the first French finalist in decades. There is so much at stake for both of them, they will be so desperate to win it, it's almost not even funny. For both guys the chance of a lifetime. I expect running through brick walls, blood, tears, drama and so much utter will and determination to win that you could cut it with a knife. This is the defining moment of their respective careers. This is it. The epic conclusion of both men's careers. Cannot wait.

Tough call. Ferrer has been playing some of the best tennis of his entire career the past few weeks in Madrid, Rome and especially here. He pushed Nadal to the limit twice and breezed into the semis here. He seems like a man possessed on a mission. But so does Tsonga. Ultimately I think Tsonga's first strike tennis will prevail if (which is a big IF) the execution is as sharp as it was today. Muhammad Ali in 5 dramatic sets. Sorry David. But honestly I would be happy for Ferrer too. It would be tragic if he "pulls a Henman" and loses yet another semifinal. Good luck to both men, may the force be with them.

This post expresses my feelings, too, Didi. Good one. It is a very "all-cards-on-the-table," "win-or-die" match. I hope they both play like it. I like both players so much, and will be thrilled for either. I can't bring myself to vote in the poll, though I have the slightest feeling that Jo Willie could take it.

 

[herios]

What a fantastic prospect of a semifinal. Ferrer with possibly the last realistic chance of his lifetime to finally make it to his maiden Grand Slam final. On the other side Tsonga in front of his crowd just one step away from being the first French finalist in decades. There is so much at stake for both of them, they will be so desperate to win it, it's almost not even funny. For both guys the chance of a lifetime. I expect running through brick walls, blood, tears, drama and so much utter will and determination to win that you could cut it with a knife. This is the defining moment of their respective careers. This is it. The epic conclusion of both men's careers. Cannot wait.

Tough call. Ferrer has been playing some of the best tennis of his entire career the past few weeks in Madrid, Rome and especially here. He pushed Nadal to the limit twice and breezed into the semis here. He seems like a man possessed on a mission. But so does Tsonga. Ultimately I think Tsonga's first strike tennis will prevail if (which is a big IF) the execution is as sharp as it was today. Muhammad Ali in 5 dramatic sets. Sorry David. But honestly I would be happy for Ferrer too. It would be tragic if he "pulls a Henman" and loses yet another semifinal. Good luck to both men, may the force be with them.

This post expresses my feelings, too, Didi. Good one. It is a very "all-cards-on-the-table," "win-or-die" match. I hope they both play like it. I like both players so much, and will be thrilled for either. I can't bring myself to vote in the poll, though I have the slightest feeling that Jo Willie could take it.

Yes, wonderful opportunity for both. I hope David will prevail, because I would simply like him to be in a slam final. I don't care how much he'll then get outplayed there. JWT has been in one and I think he'll get more chances in the future, especially at Wimbledon. I am almost certain hell carry his good form over there and be in the running once again, as a dark horse, who could surprise many.

 

[Ricardo]

Tsonga reminds me of Yannick Noah in many way, full of energy and that bright smile which seem to last forever. Hopefully he can go all the way this time, so far he's been an underachiever with the huge game he's got so definitely wish he can go one step further and reach that elite status.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

isn't it funny that these guys have only met three times before? it's not exactly like they're rookies on the tour. guess part of it is that they were usually seeded, and more often than not can't make it to meet in the semis. still, there should've been more opportunities.

anyway - here's a thought: neither of them has lost a set so far, as we know. but not just that - with Tsonga's game, i reckon Friday won't be a four-five hour thing either, even facing Ferrer. so whoever wins has a really good shot at going into the final fresh as a daisy. (on top of that, it'd be the logical thing to have them play first on friday. not sure about that, though.)