Roland Garros 2018, Paris, France, ATP GRAND SLAM

[Moxie]

Well, I'm still looking forward to it, but I can see why most here aren't. At the risk of drawing a troll in, it's not a balanced draw. That is a function of the rankings being less reflective of relative levels, due to injuries, and the absence of Roger.

 

[Carol]

I didn't this it was possible but the women's event here is far more interesting...Never thought I'd say that. Total snooze fest. Sorry Nadal fans but it's a coronation and not even drawing the elite clay courters on his side of the draw just made it even less watchable for me plus a weak and disabled DelPotro in his draw who may not even play.

Then don’t watch it . Do you think Roger had more dificult draw in the last AO?. Remember the draw is just a paper, later while the tournament is going on always could be surprises. We have to go match by match, day by day

 

[MartyB]

Then don’t watch it . Do you think Roger had more dificult draw in the last AO?. Remember the draw is just a paper, later while the tournament is going on always could be surprises. We have to go match by match, day by day

Actually Fed's draw was harder at the AO. Come on you love this draw and you know it.

 

[MartyB]

Well, I'm still looking forward to it, but I can see why most here aren't. At the risk of drawing a troll in, it's not a balanced draw. That is a function of the rankings being less reflective of relative levels, due to injuries, and the absence of Roger.

and to some extent does not reflect the abilities of players on surface either. So yes it is not a balanced draw for several factors..Enjoy it Moxie and why not..

 

[monfed]

Even a 10 or 15% chance of an early exit by one of his main threats like Djoko/Thiem/Zverev etc is gone. Nadal is pretty much unplayable by SF-Finals so with this draw he has already won this tournament imo.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Even a 10 or 15% chance of an early exit by one of his main threats like Djoko/Thiem/Zverev etc is gone. Nadal is pretty much unplayable by SF-Finals so with this draw he has already won this tournament imo.

If at all Rafa loses it will be to a semi-dangerous opponent (that I mentioned before) who gets really hot and is not even aware that he is becoming hot. Rafa is not going to lose to other contenders (see the list of ten contenders mentioned in my post on odds).

 

[DarthFed]

Rafa isn't losing to those scrubs. This tournament was over regardless of the draw. Onto grass, let's hope Roger is ready to go, 20 may end up being nothing. I now expect 22-23 at least out of him

 

[monfed]

I don't know why and there is absolutely zero logic to back it up but my gut feeling is that Nadal is going to lose. Don't know why, don't know how.

 

[herios]

Everybody calm down.
Tsitsipas will win this one

 

[10isfan]

Monfed, it’s wishful thinking. Nadal isn’t losing here. We have to wait until grass.

 

[herios]

I don't know why and there is absolutely zero logic to back it up but my gut feeling is that Nadal is going to lose. Don't know why, don't know how.

Is Soderling coming out of retirement?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Everybody calm down.
Tsitsipas will win this one

Actually, Tsitsipas plays Thiem in R2. Given that Thiem is playing this week idiotically, I wouldn't be surprised if Tsitsipas upsets Thiem.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I don't know why and there is absolutely zero logic to back it up but my gut feeling is that Nadal is going to lose. Don't know why, don't know how.

Actually, I am more worried that Roger may lose Wimbledon this year even though we don't know his form and the draw.

 

[monfed]

Is Soderling coming out of retirement?

No but someone not expected is going to take him out. Basically the exact opposite of the Rome final is going to happen with Nadal on the receiving end this time and it's going to be glorious because noone's expecting it.

 

[Carol]

Actually Fed's draw was harder at the AO. Come on you love this draw and you know it.

Come on....please, I haven’t said it’s a dificult draw formNadal but look this one:
Federer’s draw AO
Bedene
Struff
Gasquet
Fucsovics
Berdych
Chung
Cilic

 

[Carol]

I don't know why and there is absolutely zero logic to back it up but my gut feeling is that Nadal is going to lose. Don't know why, don't know how.

It’s not your gut felling, it’s only your wish

 

[Moxie]

IMO, the only one who might beat Rafa is still Djokovic. If Novak comes in at the level he's been improving to and keeps making progress, he doesn't have a terrible path to the 4th round, especially if he doesn't get bogged down in any long matches, and say Verdasco knocks out Dimitrov, then brings nothing to the next round (both scenarios are possible.) If Nole gets out of the 4th round pretty fresh and playing well, he's the guy with the experience to make the final. It's not just his game but their history that bothers Nadal. I still don't think he's ready to beat Nadal b/o 5, but that's something the anti-Nadal folks could hang their hats on, I think.

 

[Moxie]

@GameSetAndMath : Andújar IS playing! On protected ranking. He's got Fognini first round. That could be fun.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

IMO, the only one who might beat Rafa is still Djokovic. If Novak comes in at the level he's been improving to and keeps making progress, he doesn't have a terrible path to the 4th round, especially if he doesn't get bogged down in any long matches, and say Verdasco knocks out Dimitrov, then brings nothing to the next round (both scenarios are possible.) If Nole gets out of the 4th round pretty fresh and playing well, he's the guy with the experience to make the final. It's not just his game but their history that bothers Nadal. I still don't think he's ready to beat Nadal b/o 5, but that's something the anti-Nadal folks could hang their hats on, I think.

You posted a message in some other thread where you referred to an article on tennis.com that was listing five possible players who could potentially defeat Rafa. Of them, four are on the other half. Only one, viz., Fog is in Rafa's half. But, even Fog is in a different quarter and the only way Rafa can play Fog, is if Fog reaches SF. Does anybody know when was the last time Fog reached SF?

p.s. BTW, It was a rhetorical question and so don't bother answering.

 

[Moxie]

You posted a message in some other thread where you referred to an article on tennis.com that was listing five possible players who could potentially defeat Rafa. Of them, four are on the other half. Only one, viz., Fog is in Rafa's half. But, even Fog is in a different quarter and the only way Rafa can play Fog, is if Fog reaches SF. Does anybody know when was the last time Fog reached SF?

p.s. BTW, It was a rhetorical question and so don't bother answering.

I did recognize this immediately. It's hard to make a tough draw for someone who is so far above the field on a particular surface, or at a certain point in their careers, but, in this case, it would also have been hard to make an easier one for Nadal. As if he needed it. Despite what "some posters" say, luck evens out in the end, and skill/talent/commitment is what gets you through, across tournaments and years. I'll just be hoping that Nadal's team encases him in plexiglass and doesn't let him practice too hard. The tournament is his to lose, only.