Roland Garros 2016

[Front242]

The draw has made this the most boring slam in recent memory. Djoke must be laughing it up right about now, and popping champagne. Everyone who is capable of upsetting a top player is far away from him. He will watch the contenders knock each other out and arrive at the semi refreshed. Can we do the draw again?

Roger dropping out has had the same outcome as Tsonga dropping out in Rome, it's completely screwed the draw. Murray had one of the easiest draws I can ever recall for a Masters 1000 for the same reason. Djokovic's draw for RG is a hilariously easy one too compared to the others.

 

[Carol]

Tignor picks Rafa to win RG in a final over Murray.

He is a total homer, I know everyone tends to like that guy but not me. It's a bizarre prediction based on hope. I think if the match was the final it'd give Rafa a better chance in that Djokovic could feel the pressure more then he will in a semifinal. If they meet in the semifinal it's probably Novak in 3 or 4.

You wish!

 

[10isfan]

I would find this tourney exciting if the spoilers were more evenly distributed such that there were uncertainty about Djoke reaching the semi. Even if he could be worn down so that others have a shot at the title would be ok. The way the draw is, neither of these is much of a possibility.

 

[DarthFed]

Tignor picks Rafa to win RG in a final over Murray.

He is a total homer, I know everyone tends to like that guy but not me. It's a bizarre prediction based on hope. I think if the match was the final it'd give Rafa a better chance in that Djokovic could feel the pressure more then he will in a semifinal. If they meet in the semifinal it's probably Novak in 3 or 4.

You wish!

I'm sure you're "expecting" Rafa to win easily when he's been decked to the tone of 15 straight sets.

 

[Front242]

Tignor picks Rafa to win RG in a final over Murray.

He is a total homer, I know everyone tends to like that guy but not me. It's a bizarre prediction based on hope. I think if the match was the final it'd give Rafa a better chance in that Djokovic could feel the pressure more then he will in a semifinal. If they meet in the semifinal it's probably Novak in 3 or 4.

You wish!

Nadal hasn't taken a set off Djokovic since RG 2014 and has lost to him 7 straight times since then. It's more than just he wishes, it's the likely outcome.

 

[Front242]

A lot of rain in Paris next week. Should make Sam Groth's missiles interesting. He's never played Nadal so there's no historic match to analyze this against but Groth has a blocked nerve in his neck so if his serve isn't firing he has no chance.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/rafael-nadal-ready-to-suffer-against-groth-20160520-gp0fhd.html

 

[herios]

A lot of rain in Paris next week. Should make Sam Groth's missiles interesting. He's never played Nadal so there's no historic match to analyze this against but Groth has a blocked nerve in his neck so if his serve isn't firing he has no chance.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/rafael-nadal-ready-to-suffer-against-groth-20160520-gp0fhd.html

You have not followed Groth this season, he plays bad and is injured, so Rafa gets a pass in R1.

 

[Front242]

A lot of rain in Paris next week. Should make Sam Groth's missiles interesting. He's never played Nadal so there's no historic match to analyze this against but Groth has a blocked nerve in his neck so if his serve isn't firing he has no chance.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/rafael-nadal-ready-to-suffer-against-groth-20160520-gp0fhd.html

You have not followed Groth this season, he plays bad and is injured, so Rafa gets a pass in R1.

Er, that's what my post said :s I said he has a blocked nerve in his neck.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

So are we really to believe that Djokovic is going down to Rafa when Rafa hasn't won a set off Novak in 2 years? I would be inclined to believe it more if they played some tight 3 setters, but he has been straight setted and some in embarrassing fashion. I don't think Djokovic is going to be nervous until he hits the final, and he can't play Rafa in the final, so I am inclined to believe he will be fine.

Rafa hasn't been to a final of a slam in two years. Hell, he hasn't even been to a semi in two years. He might just as well feel nerves trying to make it to a final as much as Djokovic is trying to win his first FO.

 

[Carol]

I don't care about what happened these last two years, Rafa has played bad and losing stupidly against anyone, but the past is that THE PAST, the present is now and the future (next two weeks) we'll see

 

[the AntiPusher]

He is a total homer, I know everyone tends to like that guy but not me. It's a bizarre prediction based on hope. I think if the match was the final it'd give Rafa a better chance in that Djokovic could feel the pressure more then he will in a semifinal. If they meet in the semifinal it's probably Novak in 3 or 4.

You wish!

Nadal hasn't taken a set off Djokovic since RG 2014 and has lost to him 7 straight times since then. It's more than just he wishes, it's the likely outcome.

Sure the stat Djoker is on an incredible roll especially over Rafa however some of the sets could have went either way especially the last encounter at Rome. Again, this isnt horseshoes but Tignor isnt an idiot as much as he has been wrong in the past. I like Rafa's form and I am confident his game is a target to give him a real chance to recapture this title for a 10 time. IMO..

 

[the AntiPusher]

I don't care about what happened these last two years, Rafa has played bad and losing stupidly against anyone, but the past is that THE PAST, the present is now and the future (next two weeks) we'll see

The man Rafa knows how to win this tournament. He has only lost there 2 twice in 11 appearances. on this board, some Fed fans will always be dismissive about his chances especially since Roger unfortunately isnt able to play. So this tone from them is expected. Again, its all about the #15 with them.. nothing more nothing less. Its time to go to work , Rafa vamos..

 

[isabelle]

Raonic, Paire, Nishi, Krygios "ll play tomorrow, a stormy weather is announced, matches could be delayed

 

[Front242]

I don't care about what happened these last two years, Rafa has played bad and losing stupidly against anyone, but the past is that THE PAST, the present is now and the future (next two weeks) we'll see

The man Rafa knows how to win this tournament. He has only lost there 2 twice in 11 appearances. on this board, some Fed fans will always be dismissive about his chances especially since Roger unfortunately isnt able to play. So this tone from them is expected. Again, its all about the #15 with them.. nothing more nothing less. Its time to go to work , Rafa vamos..

It's got nothing to do with #15 lol. Gotta love how Nadal fans make everything Federer related. It's just to do with him not being able to beat Djokovic. But we'll see. Unless Novak has had a tough few rounds before like what happened in Rome, then Nadal won't win imo. And Novak's path is a doddle with this draw so he'll be fresh and ready.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I don't care about what happened these last two years, Rafa has played bad and losing stupidly against anyone, but the past is that THE PAST, the present is now and the future (next two weeks) we'll see

The man Rafa knows how to win this tournament. He has only lost there 2 twice in 11 appearances. on this board, some Fed fans will always be dismissive about his chances especially since Roger unfortunately isnt able to play. So this tone from them is expected. Again, its all about the #15 with them.. nothing more nothing less. Its time to go to work , Rafa vamos..

It's got nothing to do with #15 lol. Gotta love how Nadal fans make everything Federer related. It's just to do with him not being able to beat Djokovic. But we'll see. Unless Novak has had a tough few rounds before like what happened in Rome, then Nadal won't win imo. And Novak's path is a doddle with this draw so he'll be fresh and ready.

Question,Djokovic was a huge favorite in the final vs Stan last year, Did Stan win because he was playing fantastic or was it because Novak had a "bad" day as you and some of the others typically say when he looses

 

[nehmeth]

Question,Djokovic was a huge favorite in the final vs Stan last year, Did Stan win because he was playing fantastic or was it because Novak had a "bad" day as you and some of the others typically say when he looses

It was mostly Stan having a fantastic day.

Partly the hill Novak had to climb to get to the final. While he beat Rafa handily, that was an emotional hurdle. Then he had Andy done and dusted only to allow him back into the match which took it into a second day. I don't think it had him physically jagged, but mentally he was not sharp.

Partly it was strategy. Novak tried to keep the ball in play more than going for his shots. Normally that would work on Stan, but not that day. Becker called it 'too passive play'.

Now, had Novak arrived (mentally) fresh for the final and gone for all his shots rather than keeping the ball in play, Stan may have still won, but it would have been a better match.

 

[Puppet Master]

Question,Djokovic was a huge favorite in the final vs Stan last year, Did Stan win because he was playing fantastic or was it because Novak had a "bad" day as you and some of the others typically say when he looses

It was mostly Stan having a fantastic day.

Partly the hill Novak had to climb to get to the final. While he beat Rafa handily, that was an emotional hurdle. Then he had Andy done and dusted only to allow him back into the match which took it into a second day. I don't think it had him physically jagged, but mentally he was not sharp.

Partly it was strategy. Novak tried to keep the ball in play more than going for his shots. Normally that would work on Stan, but not that day. Becker called it 'too passive play'.

Now, had Novak arrived (mentally) fresh for the final and gone for all his shots rather than keeping the ball in play, Stan may have still won, but it would have been a better match.

We already went through this but how can one go for his shots when Stan consecutively hit the lines in the rallies? If he didn't hit a winner, then he hit it hard and deep down the middle so it's difficult to redirect. That was probably the best RG performance ever by anyone not named Rafael Nadal. A few Fed's matches come close but it's debatable.

 

[Front242]

The man Rafa knows how to win this tournament. He has only lost there 2 twice in 11 appearances. on this board, some Fed fans will always be dismissive about his chances especially since Roger unfortunately isnt able to play. So this tone from them is expected. Again, its all about the #15 with them.. nothing more nothing less. Its time to go to work , Rafa vamos..

It's got nothing to do with #15 lol. Gotta love how Nadal fans make everything Federer related. It's just to do with him not being able to beat Djokovic. But we'll see. Unless Novak has had a tough few rounds before like what happened in Rome, then Nadal won't win imo. And Novak's path is a doddle with this draw so he'll be fresh and ready.

Question,Djokovic was a huge favorite in the final vs Stan last year, Did Stan win because he was playing fantastic or was it because Novak had a "bad" day as you and some of the others typically say when he looses

Stan was much better. Thing is, Nadal hasn't been anywhere near that good at any tournament the last 2 years and that's what it's gonna take to beat Novak over 5 sets.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I love how people say past performance doesn't matter well if we negate past performance and are living in the present, well...the present is very much a Novak Djokovic tennis world with an occasional surprise, but Djokovic has been very good at making sure he makes it to the end of tournaments. If Djokovic is going to show nerves, it won't be until he is in the hardware match.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Spoiler alert--------In my opinion, the dark horse of RG Thiem just won in Nice which should feel good for him ahead of RG.