Early French Open Ruminations

[Front242]

He has no choice but to play both if he and his camp have any brains as they need to at least try and overtake Stan for the number 4 seed before RG otherwise there's a chance he'll draw Novak in the quarters of RG again if he stays at number 5.

 

[Kieran]

He has no choice but to play both if he and his camp have any brains as they need to at least try and overtake Stan for the number 4 seed before RG otherwise there's a chance he'll draw Novak in the quarters of RG again if he stays at number 5.

I doubt "overtaking Stan" is his main agenda. He's obviously playing Madrid so his target will be to continue his good form and improve aspects of his game which are deficient, so he's primed for Paris. He can't do anything more than this, but concentrating on his own game is the main part of it. If he somehow finds his best game between now and Paris, it's irrelevant what round he faces Novak in...

 

[Carol]

He has no choice but to play both if he and his camp have any brains as they need to at least try and overtake Stan for the number 4 seed before RG otherwise there's a chance he'll draw Novak in the quarters of RG again if he stays at number 5.

It would be better if he would reach the number 4 but if not and he is playing well I don't think he would have too much trouble playing to Novak in the quarters, on the contrary this last one could not be very happy like he was last year, the 'picture' has changed a little bit

 

[El Dude]

He has no choice but to play both if he and his camp have any brains as they need to at least try and overtake Stan for the number 4 seed before RG otherwise there's a chance he'll draw Novak in the quarters of RG again if he stays at number 5.

I doubt "overtaking Stan" is his main agenda. He's obviously playing Madrid so his target will be to continue his good form and improve aspects of his game which are deficient, so he's primed for Paris. He can't do anything more than this, but concentrating on his own game is the main part of it. If he somehow finds his best game between now and Paris, it's irrelevant what round he faces Novak in...

Hmm, don't quite agree here. First of all, Front wasn't saying that overtaking Stan was his main agenda, but that it is important to get to number 4 so as to be better situated in the draw.

But I do agree that he's thinking first and foremost of his form, that that is what matters most. But I also think he wants to avoid another QF match against Novak if at all possible. I think he has a better chance against Novak the later he faces him if only because there will be more pressure on Novak in a SF or the final.

 

[Kieran]

He has no choice but to play both if he and his camp have any brains as they need to at least try and overtake Stan for the number 4 seed before RG otherwise there's a chance he'll draw Novak in the quarters of RG again if he stays at number 5.

I doubt "overtaking Stan" is his main agenda. He's obviously playing Madrid so his target will be to continue his good form and improve aspects of his game which are deficient, so he's primed for Paris. He can't do anything more than this, but concentrating on his own game is the main part of it. If he somehow finds his best game between now and Paris, it's irrelevant what round he faces Novak in...

Hmm, don't quite agree here. First of all, Front wasn't saying that overtaking Stan was his main agenda, but that it is important to get to number 4 so as to be better situated in the draw.

But I do agree that he's thinking first and foremost of his form, that that is what matters most. But I also think he wants to avoid another QF match against Novak if at all possible. I think he has a better chance against Novak the later he faces him if only because there will be more pressure on Novak in a SF or the final.

I think by saying that Rafa "has no choice but to play both (Madrid and Rome) if he and his camp have any brains as they need to at least try and overtake Stan for the number 4 seed before RG..." is essentially saying that this is the imperative. But of course, it doesn't matter if Rafa is fourth or fifteenth seed, if his form isn't better. If he gets near his best, he'd be the last man Novak would want to face. I think we shouldn't underestimate the huge pressure Novak will face this year, given how badly he wants the FO, and how important it is to his resume, in this era of promiscuous records. Last year he came up short, after beating the worst of Rafa. It'll be as interesting to see how Nole looks in both the next two MS events, as Rafa...

 

[El Dude]

Yes, true. High drama, hopefully!

 

[Carol]

If Rafa would win RG I'm sure that Bachelot would give him the Trophy :snicker

 

[Front242]

I doubt "overtaking Stan" is his main agenda. He's obviously playing Madrid so his target will be to continue his good form and improve aspects of his game which are deficient, so he's primed for Paris. He can't do anything more than this, but concentrating on his own game is the main part of it. If he somehow finds his best game between now and Paris, it's irrelevant what round he faces Novak in...

Hmm, don't quite agree here. First of all, Front wasn't saying that overtaking Stan was his main agenda, but that it is important to get to number 4 so as to be better situated in the draw.

But I do agree that he's thinking first and foremost of his form, that that is what matters most. But I also think he wants to avoid another QF match against Novak if at all possible. I think he has a better chance against Novak the later he faces him if only because there will be more pressure on Novak in a SF or the final.

I think by saying that Rafa "has no choice but to play both (Madrid and Rome) if he and his camp have any brains as they need to at least try and overtake Stan for the number 4 seed before RG..." is essentially saying that this is the imperative. But of course, it doesn't matter if Rafa is fourth or fifteenth seed, if his form isn't better. If he gets near his best, he'd be the last man Novak would want to face. I think we shouldn't underestimate the huge pressure Novak will face this year, given how badly he wants the FO, and how important it is to his resume, in this era of promiscuous records. Last year he came up short, after beating the worst of Rafa. It'll be as interesting to see how Nole looks in both the next two MS events, as Rafa...

Well, I think all Nadal's fans would agree he gets better as the tournaments progress so, in that respect, it's much more preferable to NOT meet Novak early in the quarters where Novak will have a lot less pressure.

 

[Carol]

Hmm, don't quite agree here. First of all, Front wasn't saying that overtaking Stan was his main agenda, but that it is important to get to number 4 so as to be better situated in the draw.

But I do agree that he's thinking first and foremost of his form, that that is what matters most. But I also think he wants to avoid another QF match against Novak if at all possible. I think he has a better chance against Novak the later he faces him if only because there will be more pressure on Novak in a SF or the final.

I think by saying that Rafa "has no choice but to play both (Madrid and Rome) if he and his camp have any brains as they need to at least try and overtake Stan for the number 4 seed before RG..." is essentially saying that this is the imperative. But of course, it doesn't matter if Rafa is fourth or fifteenth seed, if his form isn't better. If he gets near his best, he'd be the last man Novak would want to face. I think we shouldn't underestimate the huge pressure Novak will face this year, given how badly he wants the FO, and how important it is to his resume, in this era of promiscuous records. Last year he came up short, after beating the worst of Rafa. It'll be as interesting to see how Nole looks in both the next two MS events, as Rafa...

Well, I think all Nadal's fans would agree he gets better as the tournaments progress so, in that respect, it's much more preferable to NOT meet Novak early in the quarters where Novak will have a lot less pressure.

I don't think that Novak in the quarters, semis or finals would have less pressure if his opponent is Nadal

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Strictly speaking Rafa has only 25% chance of drawing Novak in the quarters. Further, in order for the match to happen both have to reach there.

So, Rafa cannot really be seriously worried about that although it would be good if he can avoid Novak.

On the other hand, going into RG last year, even though Novak was favorite to beat Rafa, there was some uncertainty as to whether it will actually happen considering Novak has never beater Rafa at RG.
Having done that Novak would confidently face Rafa, no matter in what round he is forced to face Rafa.
I am not saying Novak will surely win; all I am saying is that there won't be any jitters, so to speak.

 

[Kieran]

Well, I think all Nadal's fans would agree he gets better as the tournaments progress so, in that respect, it's much more preferable to NOT meet Novak early in the quarters where Novak will have a lot less pressure.

That's true, but the key is form. Last year it was so much easier to predict because Rafa was dire. So far on clay, he's so much improved, and actually looks like he's problem-solving out there. So if this continues through Madrid and Rome then he might go to Paris with some form, instead of the way he arrived last year, with barely a packed suitcase.

Novak will not want to face a hungry and tough Rafa, who's also playing great, no matter what round. He hasn't beaten that version of Rafa in Paris, and with the pressure bound to increase over the next few weeks, he'd prefer an easier ride, because even without Rafa, there's no guarantee Novak will win RG. And I'm starting to get a sneaky feeling that this might be the last year he enters it as such an overwhelming favourite...

 

[the AntiPusher]

I think by saying that Rafa "has no choice but to play both (Madrid and Rome) if he and his camp have any brains as they need to at least try and overtake Stan for the number 4 seed before RG..." is essentially saying that this is the imperative. But of course, it doesn't matter if Rafa is fourth or fifteenth seed, if his form isn't better. If he gets near his best, he'd be the last man Novak would want to face. I think we shouldn't underestimate the huge pressure Novak will face this year, given how badly he wants the FO, and how important it is to his resume, in this era of promiscuous records. Last year he came up short, after beating the worst of Rafa. It'll be as interesting to see how Nole looks in both the next two MS events, as Rafa...

Well, I think all Nadal's fans would agree he gets better as the tournaments progress so, in that respect, it's much more preferable to NOT meet Novak early in the quarters where Novak will have a lot less pressure.

I don't think that Novak in the quarters, semis or finals would have less pressure if his opponent is Nadal

not much pressure on the guy who has won the championship nine times already; IMO

 

[herios]

The USTA WC winner for the French Open this year is Brian Fratangelo.

 

[Fiero425]

The USTA WC winner for the French Open this year is Brian Fratangelo.

Does it matter; where are they going? One and out is the usual scenario is it not? uzzled :nono :angel: :cover

 

[herios]

The USTA WC winner for the French Open this year is Brian Fratangelo.

Does it matter; where are they going? One and out is the usual scenario is it not? uzzled :nono :angel: :cover

Matters or not, there is a position opened for a player who may or may not take advantage of this opportunity.
Fratangelo won a challenger last week on clay, that is what basically clinched it for him.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

be a good laugh if thiem won the French open. oh how we would lol.

 

[Carol]

I'm not sure if I said before that I read that Muzz has decided to spend some time in Mallorca to practice with Rafa and of course to learn more from the best clay player, I can't blame him

 

[Carol]

They look very relaxed

 

[El Dude]

be a good laugh if thiem won the French open. oh how we would lol.

I would love that. Unfortunately, he's way down the list. Heere's my order of most likely to win the FO:

Djokovic
Nadal
Wawrinka
Murray
Federer
Tsonga
Nishikori
Ferrer
Thiem
Monfils

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

be a good laugh if thiem won the French open. oh how we would lol.

I would love that. Unfortunately, he's way down the list. Heere's my order of most likely to win the FO:

Djokovic
Nadal
Wawrinka
Murray
Federer
Tsonga
Nishikori
Ferrer
Thiem
Monfils

ferrer and monfeeeeee ? ferrer is way past it and injured, monfeeeeee is not fit enough to win.

they can't be considered outsiders even,