Early French Open Ruminations

[Carol]

Lately your anti Federer posts are getting more and more annoying. People never rolled over for him, he was just simply brilliant in his prime. And he's still beating players now at nearly 35 because he's still very good. No one is rolling over for him now and no one was rolling over for him then. He's not just extending his major participation and I doubt any fan of tennis on the whole planet would ever claim Roger Federer is wasting a space in the draw unless maybe you think they'd prefer to see some donkey qualifier than him :s What makes this more annoying is you were actually a fan of Federer before but the slagging he gets from you these days would make anyone wonder if you ever supported him

Well, if I remember well Nadal rolled over him many times when he was just simple brilliant in his prime and that's why his fans dislike him so much :snicker

That's 100% NOT why he is disliked by so many.

I don't like Roger for many different reasons but not for that reason I need to remind it his fans all the time unless.......

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The draw is at 10:00 a.m. local time on Friday. Can't wait to see it. It looks like draw will play a major role in determining the winner in this years edition.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Latest odds after the market has settled following Rome finals.

1. Novak 5/6
2. Rafa 4
3. Andy 6
4. Stan 17
5. Kei 25
6. Roger, Thiem 40
7. Monfils 66
8. Kyrgios 80
9. Berdych, Tsonga 100
10. Raonic 120
11. Ferrer 150

Basically, Andy's odds improved from 8 to 6. Fed's decreased from 33 to 40. Ferrer's decreased from 100 to 150.

The odds are getting better for ole Ralphy and Andy, No

 

[the AntiPusher]

Front and Darth's boy Roger is getting a little thin at the top:

 

[the AntiPusher]

Hey Front and Fed's fans .. Here's the latest from your champion and his thoughts about this upcoming French Open championship..

http://en.yibada.com/articles/123923/20160516/roger-federer-explains-why-he-favors-rafael-nadal-more-than-novak-djokovic.htm

 

[Front242]

Talk is cheap. He hates both Nadal and Djokovic :snicker

 

[the AntiPusher]

Talk is cheap. He hates both Nadal and Djokovic :snicker

I am beginning to feel that you have an intimate and close mental relationship with Fed,, I didnt know that you were that "connected" with him.. So be it..

 

[Obsi]

He's been far from simply brilliant the past few months. Enough to win but not as good as much of last year. Doubt anyone would disagree there.

By "lately" I meant the last 19 months.

He was simply brilliant in the Doha final but has been well below that level the rest of the year. He was much better in 2011 than now and so was the competition.

Overall, Djokovic has been brilliant in the last 19 months.

 

[Front242]

By "lately" I meant the last 19 months.

He was simply brilliant in the Doha final but has been well below that level the rest of the year. He was much better in 2011 than now and so was the competition.

Overall, Djokovic has been brilliant in the last 19 months.

If you say so. Most though would say his level has dropped noticeably since the Doha final which was probably the best match he ever played. Since then he hasn't been beating opponents anywhere near as comfortably, with opponents squandering many break points and him scraping through to win.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Question..Has Roger resumed practing or is he still resting his back?

 

[Front242]

No idea.

 

[Obsi]

He was simply brilliant in the Doha final but has been well below that level the rest of the year. He was much better in 2011 than now and so was the competition.

Overall, Djokovic has been brilliant in the last 19 months.

If you say so. Most though would say his level has dropped noticeably since the Doha final which was probably the best match he ever played. Since then he hasn't been beating opponents anywhere near as comfortably, with opponents squandering many break points and him scraping through to win.

If Djokovic's level has dropped noticeably since Doha, it does not mean my proposition is incorrect. The word overall means "in general". Since Doha 4 months have passed. 19 - 4 = 15. 15 is 79% of 19. So, overall (79%) Djokovic was brilliant the past 19 months.

 

[the AntiPusher]

No idea.

I havent seen not one article that he is unlike Rome where he had over 6,000 specators watching his "practice seesion". BTW.. I dont know if you have ever attended on of his session. His session draw by far the biggest crowds of any other male or female player. I have seen numerous instances his sessions are larger than some of the attendance of the live matches. Its really incredible but not surprising.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

No idea.

I havent seen not one article that he is unlike Rome where he had over 6,000 specators watching his "practice seesion". BTW.. I dont know if you have ever attended on of his session. His session draw by far the biggest crowds of any other male or female player. I have seen numerous instances his sessions are larger than some of the attendance of the live matches. Its really incredible but not surprising.

Federer continued to stay in Rome after his loss. He arrived in Paris on Tuesday. He says he will practice for a few days and then depending on how it goes, he will decide whether to play or not.
There is an article on tennis.com about this.

The draw ceremony is at 10:00 a.m. on Friday. If Fed withdraws before that Rafa will get #4 seed before the draw is made.

Even if Fed withdraws after the draw is made and before the first ball is hit, the organizers have the discretion to rebalance the draw.

I hope Fed plays though (as long as it will not aggravate his physical issues).

 

[herios]

Federer is in Paris. If he will withdraw, will be a last minute decision.

 

[Front242]

Overall, Djokovic has been brilliant in the last 19 months.

If you say so. Most though would say his level has dropped noticeably since the Doha final which was probably the best match he ever played. Since then he hasn't been beating opponents anywhere near as comfortably, with opponents squandering many break points and him scraping through to win.

If Djokovic's level has dropped noticeably since Doha, it does not mean my proposition is incorrect. The word overall means "in general". Since Doha 4 months have passed. 19 - 4 = 15. 15 is 79% of 19. So, overall (79%) Djokovic was brilliant the past 19 months.

Won a lot does not necessarily mean brilliant. Barely winning is still a win but your definition of brilliant is a bit out there. Most would say he has not been brilliant since the Doha final by any means. He was often there for the taking but his opponents were poor with break points. If you're there for the taking but eek out a win, being labelled brilliant is pushing it. He was nowhere near brilliant in Rome.

 

[Backhand_DTL]

If you say so. Most though would say his level has dropped noticeably since the Doha final which was probably the best match he ever played. Since then he hasn't been beating opponents anywhere near as comfortably, with opponents squandering many break points and him scraping through to win.

If Djokovic's level has dropped noticeably since Doha, it does not mean my proposition is incorrect. The word overall means "in general". Since Doha 4 months have passed. 19 - 4 = 15. 15 is 79% of 19. So, overall (79%) Djokovic was brilliant the past 19 months.

Won a lot does not necessarily mean brilliant. Barely winning is still a win but your definition of brilliant is a bit out there. Most would say he has not been brilliant since the Doha final by any means. He was often there for the taking but his opponents were poor with break points. If you're there for the taking but eek out a win, being labelled brilliant is pushing it. He was nowhere near brilliant in Rome.

Yes, Novak's level has not been that great in most matches this year but other than the match against Nishikori in Rome there wasn't really one that he won where he was close to losing. And in my opinion it wasn't much different last year. Then he lost sets in multiple matches in Miami (especially struggling a lot against Dolgopolov) and Rome and was somewhat shaky in the finals of Indian Wells against Federer and in Monte Carlo against Berdych. The only big difference is that there wasn't an uncharactaristic loss like the one against Vesely this year. But apart from Beijing and Shanghai I don't remember any tournament where he was convincing from start to finish last year.

In general playing just as good as necessary to win somewhat comfortably in most matches might help him saving energy for the final stages and in part be a reason why he was mostly able to raise his level in those matches within the last 20 months whereas before he regularly looked great until the semi finals but often started to struggle at that stage when he played opponents that could stay with him for longer than he was used to.

 

[Front242]

^ Can't disagree with any of that at all but it just reiterates the difference between winning but not being brilliant

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Third day of play at Quals is over, but the second round is not yet completed.

Stepanek, Darcis, Brands, Brown and Tiafoe have won their second round matches and are one win away from making it to the main draw. Sadly though, Brands and Brown play each other in the 3rd round and only one of them can make it. Even though I like Brown, I think Brands will win that as he is a better clay court player.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Those in USA and do not have subscription to TTC might be in a rude shock this year. It looks like most of the RG matches will be shown live on TTC and not on ESPN1/2. Let us hope they at least show it on computer in ESPN3. :cry

On the other hand, those who do subscribe to TTC are in for an unprecedented coverage of RG