2014 Roland Garros Draw

[MargaretMcAleer]

I am still undecided on this draw
So far I have 3 different outcomes.....still have Serena winning though....

I am picking Serena and JJ for the finals.

Actually in one of my draws....I have JJ playing Halep in the s/finals...Halep winning though

In QFs, I have Serena vs. Dominatrix, CSN vs. EB, AI vs SH and JJ vs. NL
In SFs, I have Serenva vs. CSN and Serb1 vs. Serb2
I have Serena defeating JJ in the finals.

How do you like my picks?

Hmmm interesting...maybe CSN could prove to be a dark horse
You have picked several good possibilites

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

As I said before I have a question mark over Halep...due to Ab injury...she might make it through to the quarters...still I am not sure

Thats why I am still mucking around with other alternatives

 

[jhar26]

I would say the heavier conditions slow things down and even the playing field. It makes it so players might have to hit one or two extra shots to hit a winner or draw the error. Even a Serena or Maria can fall victim to it as you really have to be consistent with your play as you are going to have to hit a few more shots. I would say the natural clay courters have an edge in those conditions as they are used to all types of clay conditions.

Would you call Halep a natural clay courter....I know its her preferred surface?

I don't know I haven't seen enough of Halep's play to know. I would say those type of conditions favor say a Jankovic, Radwanska or Wozniacki. Players who are consistent and can draw the error. With clay patience is the key at times and having to hit a few extra balls that you may not if the conditions were say dry and hot works in their favor than say maybe Maria, Li, Serena or even a Kvitova who are looking for a reason to pull that trigger maybe far earlier than they should.

I think that girls like Radwanska and even more so Wozniacki suffer on clay because it takes away much of their main strenght: movement and footspeed. While you have in theory more time to get to the ball on a claycourt it's also a more slippery surface and it's thus harder to quickly change directions or get out of the blocks real fast and Aga and Caro struggle with that and especially Caro is very poor at sliding to the ball as well. Another problem is their lack of power. They can't hit through the court when they see an opening while they get a bit of help from the court on other surfaces. You often see that when Caro goes for the winner she's able to hit the ball to the right spot on the court but her opponent is still able to get to it while in the case of a Sharapova, Serena or Li it would be point over. Those 10mph (or whatever) extra weight of shot makes a huge difference, especially on a claycourt. Power is one of the reasons why Sharapova is now a great claycourt player. Once she had learned to move on the surface she found that a claycourt gives her a little more time to set up those killer groundstrokes of her. Jankovic is a bit different from Aga and Caro imo because she moves a lot better on that surface than either one of them and while she's not a power hitter, her power is sufficient enough to take her opportunity when she sees an opening.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I forgot to mention yesterday that the Williams sisters are on the entry list to play doubles at RG this year.Too busy trying to work out the draw

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Ugghh, I would much rather Serena get the mixed doubles title.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ I knew you would say that....

 

[rubydo]

Well, from the north of the border perspective, I just checked Eugenie Bouchard's draw and it is quite favourable. She has to be pumped with her win today, and if the conditions are cloudy and the air heavy, I think she will do okay, since she adjusted fine to the clay at Nurnberg. I maybe a little biased here, but I will rate her as a long shot to go far in this event. Agree, Halep is a question mark with the abdominal injury, Caro as much as I like her too, not enought power and strength to last the gruelling fortnight. Tip my hat to see Serena make it to the final, but who she will play her is a hard one to call.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Bouchard actually does have a decent draw. She has a decent shot at either a quarters or a semis appearance. She could even do a final if Serena doesn't loom in the semis. However, I would prefer Serena make it to that final as she has history to work on collecting that day. I am wondering who is going to give Serena that 3 setter. She always has a 3 setter at the French. I am wondering how long the heavy conditions will last because if they last a while we could see some good matches as the playing field evens out a bit.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ I think CSN has a good chance to defeat Bouchard in their quarter.Personally I would take CSN over Bouchard as I think CSN is a better clay court player,regardless that Genie has just won her first WTA title on clay.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Ten of the Twelve Experts in ESPN pick Serena. One picked Dominatrix and the other picked Simona.

 

[Calvy]

Ten of the Twelve Experts in ESPN pick Serena. One picked Dominatrix and the other picked Simona.

None picked Cibulkova, one picked Maria and one picked Halep.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Ten of the Twelve Experts in ESPN pick Serena. One picked Dominatrix and the other picked Simona.

None picked Cibulkova, one picked Maria and one picked Halep.

I didn't mention anything about pocket rocket.

 

[kskate2]

Ugghh, I would much rather Serena get the mixed doubles title.

Serena loves playing w/ her sister. The only way you'll see Serena enter the mixed is if Venus skips a slam.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I forgot to mention yesterday that the Williams sisters are on the entry list to play doubles at RG this year.Too busy trying to work out the draw

I didn't see them in the draw.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I forgot to mention yesterday that the Williams sisters are on the entry list to play doubles at RG this year.Too busy trying to work out the draw

I didn't see them in the draw.

Strange? they were on the entry list before...when I checked

 

[Fiero425]

I forgot to mention yesterday that the Williams sisters are on the entry list to play doubles at RG this year.Too busy trying to work out the draw

I didn't see them in the draw.

Strange? they were on the entry list before...when I checked

The only listing I looked for was of Hingis playing with her "charge," Lisicki! They seem to have a good draw, near the bottom in line to battle Errani/Vinci in a couple rounds!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ Sabine has a wrist problem...which occurred in her singles match? I have to put a question mark on that team now....sad to say