Early Roland Garros Chat

[Carol]

Nadal and Federer never held all four recent GS trophies at any point of time. That is the difference. So, they never went from all four to nothing.

Well, Novak won AO and RG 2016 but NOT Wimbledon and USO same year

 

[Moxie]

GameSetandMath, I agree with your 1st point insofar as Roland Garros is looking about as clear a shot to a Slam title for a great player as I've seen in recent years. There really are no clear challengers for Rafa, with Revamped Roger out, Novak and Andy struggling, Stan showing little signs of Beast Mode, and none of the young guys quite ready to be serious contenders for a Slam, or at least Roland Garros.

That said, there still are dangers and winning a Slam is never easy and you almost always have to face at least several very good players en route to a title (almost, but not always). I for one would love to see a Thiem-Rafa re-match at RG. I still heavily favor Rafa, but I think it would be interesting. And there are a few other players who could make things difficult for Rafa: Stan is always dangerous, Zverev is brimming with confident, even Grigor might want to give it another shot. And ultimately whoever he faces in the final, it won't be Mariano Puerta.

LOL about that 1982 Australian Open. Don't know where you dug that up.

Stan and Kei look to be heading for a showdown in Geneva, and the winner of that may come in feeling pretty good about himself, if they don't wear themselves out, (or, in the case of Kei, get injured, as he seems almost one tournament well, one injured, this year. However, I do think he deserves more mention for RG than he's getting. He looked great on the clay today.) Del Potro got dumped out of Lyon early by Portuguese qualifier Elias, so he doesn't look like he'll do too much damage. And Kyrgios, who was mentioned above, may still be nursing his shoulder. He lost early this week, too. Probably will feature more at Wimbledon. Andy, too, will probably just be hoping to get to the 2nd week and then go into the grass season feeling pretty good. I don't know how Novak takes all of the changes in his professional life and turns up golden at RG. That would be a big about-face, but a kind draw could help him play his way deep. As for Rafa, again, it'll be interesting to see the draw tomorrow. There are still banana skins out there. We know he's got his eyes on the prize. Losing to Thiem when he did in Rome was probably a good thing. I do agree that a rematch would be very interesting...perhaps in the Final?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well, Novak won AO and RG 2016 but NOT Wimbledon and USO same year

That is not what I said. I said in mid-june of 2016, Novak held all four trophies and come mid-june of 2017 he will hold nothing (if he does not win RG) and that is a dramatic change in fortunes.

 

[Moxie]

That is not what I said. I said in mid-june of 2016, Novak held all four trophies and come mid-june of 2017 he will hold nothing (if he does not win RG) and that is a dramatic change in fortunes.

No, and you are right...it has been, and certainly will be if he doesn't defend at RG, which I personally don't see, and that's not just wishful thinking as a Nadal fan. The nose dive has been mysterious and perplexing. Some of his choices even more so. Look at the difference in his points now to this time last year. He may turn things back in his favor, find a genial partner in Agassi, and win a major before the end of the year, but it has been a strange trip for him since RG last year.

 

[Carol]

Something that I was impressed was about the incredible flexibility and speed of Novak since 2011 but since the beginning of this year what has getting my attention more than anything else is to see that he is not so fast and not so flexible even not having injuries, the cause?

 

[Moxie]

Something that I was impressed was about the incredible flexibility and speed of Novak since 2011 but since the beginning of this year what has getting my attention more than anything else is to see that he is not so fast and not so flexible even not having injuries, the cause?

I don't see that he's not as flexible, but he does seem less "nimble," if you get the distinction. He seems off-balance more often. That's footwork, and timing...some of which may be a bit of age, but is probably mostly about confidence. As to injuries, who knows? He complains about niggles, but that doesn't seem to be the root of his problems. The shoulder and his serve has been one, as I can gather.

 

[Carol]

I don't see that he's not as flexible, but he does seem less "nimble," if you get the distinction. He seems off-balance more often. That's footwork, and timing...some of which may be a bit of age, but is probably mostly about confidence. As to injuries, who knows? He complains about niggles, but that doesn't seem to be the root of his problems. The shoulder and his serve has been one, as I can gather.

I've seen him off-balance many times before but his incredible flexibility has always helped him a lot but now I see that he is more slow in all the ways. But maybe if his head doesn't work well neither his legs

 

[Moxie]

I've seen him off-balance many times before but his incredible flexibility has always helped him a lot but now I see that he is more slow in all the ways. But maybe if his head doesn't work well neither his legs

I have no idea what you're trying to say by that. It just seems like a general slagging. Silly me, thinking you wanted to actually discuss it.

 

[Carol]

I have no idea what you're trying to say by that. It just seems like a general slagging. Silly me, thinking you wanted to actually discuss it.

I don't think it's something to discuss besides to say Novak is not playing his best because nobody can do it forever and ever, maybe it's because his body or his mind or both but he isn't that machine that he used to be for awhile and this is what I'm trying to say

 

[El Dude]

So if you think that the best players are struggling then I suppose that you also are thinking Roger will win Wimbledon but has you thought that some of the young guys could be serious contenders at Wimbledon too?

You're comparing apples and oranges, for a few different reasons. For one, let's re-evaluate in a few weeks, during the grass warm-ups. I am talking about RG, and how Rafa looks compared to the rest of the field - the situation right now, and on clay. A lot could change between now and then - maybe Andy and/or Novak get their mojo back, maybe Zverev or Kyrgios looks dominant on grass, etc.

And also remember that with Wimbledon, Roger has never been as dominant on grass as Rafa is on clay. But to hypothetically create a similar situation for Roger at Wimbledon, we'd need to see Rafa withdraw and Novak and Andy continue to struggle, and we'd also need to see Roger come back strong in Stuttgart and Halle. If all of that were the case, I would favor Roger at Wimbledon almost as heavily as I favor Rafa at RG. Almost.

 

[El Dude]

Grigor career is really taking a Mark Philippousis like path...he was absolutely brilliant at AO 2017 but has been no where close since..I am really surprised that he hasn't found a coach to work with him on his game in the front court and around the net..He should've been right at Annacone door steps or ringing his cellphone off the hooks years ago when Paul parted ways with Fed. Ten years from now, he will be in the crowd of ATP players that's speaks about how many WTA players and celebrities babes they took to bed but no grand slams titles to speak of.

I remain perpetually disappointed with Grigor. I think there's still hope that he does a Stan and puts it all together in his late 20s, but he really needs a good coach. I'd love to see Pete take him under wing, even though I know that won't happen.

 

[El Dude]

Carol, one thing I am confused about is that you've been so insistent that Novak is done as a great player - you've been saying it for some time now, and you've been proven right so far. You were also very insistent that Rafa was NOT done, even when most of your fellow Rafa fans were saying the writing was on the wall. Now Rafa hasn't won RG yet, but his year so far has rewarded your faith.

But my question is, why can't you see Novak turning things around, just as Rafa did? And Rafa struggled for two and a half years, to varying degrees, but persevered and even if he doesn't win RG or another Slam, still has looked better in 2017 than he was since early 2014. Why can't Novak bounce back? He's been struggling for less than a year.

And just be clear, I don't think Novak will ever return to 2015 level, just as I don't think Rafa is back at 2013 level. But Rafa, like Roger, has found a later career plateau that is still elite. I don't see why Novak can't return to a high level, if one reduced from 2011-early 2016.

 

[Carol]

Carol, one thing I am confused about is that you've been so insistent that Novak is done as a great player - you've been saying it for some time now, and you've been proven right so far. You were also very insistent that Rafa was NOT done, even when most of your fellow Rafa fans were saying the writing was on the wall. Now Rafa hasn't won RG yet, but his year so far has rewarded your faith.

But my question is, why can't you see Novak turning things around, just as Rafa did? And Rafa struggled for two and a half years, to varying degrees, but persevered and even if he doesn't win RG or another Slam, still has looked better in 2017 than he was since early 2014. Why can't Novak bounce back? He's been struggling for less than a year.

And just be clear, I don't think Novak will ever return to 2015 level, just as I don't think Rafa is back at 2013 level. But Rafa, like Roger, has found a later career plateau that is still elite. I don't see why Novak can't return to a high level, if one reduced from 2011-early 2016.

When I have said that Novak is done? I said that he is not the same player like these previous years because there is NOT a body that can keep it but it doesn't mean that he is done and he can't come back because he could do it if the injuries respect him and until I know he doesn't have any injury. So don't put me words that I've never said
And just to be clear too of course I don't think Novak could play again like in 2011 because I've never seen a player to play like he did that year and I don't think he could repeat it

 

[Moxie]

I remain perpetually disappointed with Grigor. I think there's still hope that he does a Stan and puts it all together in his late 20s, but he really needs a good coach. I'd love to see Pete take him under wing, even though I know that won't happen.

Like you, I'm too often disappointed by Dimitrov. Unlike you, perhaps, I'm not convinced that even a great coach could help him. I thought Roger Rasheed was the guy. Rasheed is like a drill sergeant. I'm increasingly convinced that what Dimitrov lacks is fire in the belly, and it can't be taught. He says he wants it, but can't find it. Gulbis was similar.

 

[Carol]

You're comparing apples and oranges, for a few different reasons. For one, let's re-evaluate in a few weeks, during the grass warm-ups. I am talking about RG, and how Rafa looks compared to the rest of the field - the situation right now, and on clay. A lot could change between now and then - maybe Andy and/or Novak get their mojo back, maybe Zverev or Kyrgios looks dominant on grass, etc.

And also remember that with Wimbledon, Roger has never been as dominant on grass as Rafa is on clay. But to hypothetically create a similar situation for Roger at Wimbledon, we'd need to see Rafa withdraw and Novak and Andy continue to struggle, and we'd also need to see Roger come back strong in Stuttgart and Halle. If all of that were the case, I would favor Roger at Wimbledon almost as heavily as I favor Rafa at RG. Almost.

The situation is the same in RG like in Wimbledon, nobody knows who is going to win because every single player is going to try his best and many things could happen during both tournaments. And to me I hope that alll of them play well instead to hope for the 'struggle' because who ever win then who ever would deserve more credit than to win against 'struggled'

 

[Moxie]

Carol, one thing I am confused about is that you've been so insistent that Novak is done as a great player - you've been saying it for some time now, and you've been proven right so far. You were also very insistent that Rafa was NOT done, even when most of your fellow Rafa fans were saying the writing was on the wall. Now Rafa hasn't won RG yet, but his year so far has rewarded your faith.

But my question is, why can't you see Novak turning things around, just as Rafa did? And Rafa struggled for two and a half years, to varying degrees, but persevered and even if he doesn't win RG or another Slam, still has looked better in 2017 than he was since early 2014. Why can't Novak bounce back? He's been struggling for less than a year.

And just be clear, I don't think Novak will ever return to 2015 level, just as I don't think Rafa is back at 2013 level. But Rafa, like Roger, has found a later career plateau that is still elite. I don't see why Novak can't return to a high level, if one reduced from 2011-early 2016.

I don't think Carol has ever claimed that, though it's hard to know as we amalgamate the forums. But she tends to trade more in innuendo than bold statements.

 

[the AntiPusher]

You're comparing apples and oranges, for a few different reasons. For one, let's re-evaluate in a few weeks, during the grass warm-ups. I am talking about RG, and how Rafa looks compared to the rest of the field - the situation right now, and on clay. A lot could change between now and then - maybe Andy and/or Novak get their mojo back, maybe Zverev or Kyrgios looks dominant on grass, etc.

And also remember that with Wimbledon, Roger has never been as dominant on grass as Rafa is on clay. But to hypothetically create a similar situation for Roger at Wimbledon, we'd need to see Rafa withdraw and Novak and Andy continue to struggle, and we'd also need to see Roger come back strong in Stuttgart and Halle. If all of that were the case, I would favor Roger at Wimbledon almost as heavily as I favor Rafa at RG. Almost.

"Roger hasn't been as dominant on grass as Rafa,has been on clay"

I doubt that Darth would agree with your assessment.

 

[Moxie]

"Roger hasn't been as dominant on grass as Rafa,has been on clay"

I doubt that Darth would agree with your assessment.

Darth is more realistic than that.

 

[Carol]

The crazy and at the same time funny thing is that how many times I've read for two years from Federer's fans that Nadal was done and now they think that we commit the same sin with others players.......

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Tignor has claimed that Chris Evert is the greatest player on clay in a well argued recent article. The most important point that most of us missed is that she actually has won 10 clay slams, though not all at RG (three of them were at USO when USO was played on clay). Also, she missed RG three times (in which she could have easily won RG) due to her activities in Team Tennis.

Of course Rafa is not done and things could change. But, as of now I would have to agree with him Chrissy is the best player on clay.