Roland Garros / French Open 2022 [Men] - Grand Slam

[Jelenafan]

Rafa eeked out a win. He can now only play better than today, but I am not sure about his fittness and recovery.

The same thing was said after his 4 + hour Match at the AO with Shapo, but of course the bigger factor is that the next opponent this time is Novak.

I dunno, Rafa’s fitness should be OK. If he can’t handle a long match in the first 4 rounds of a Major then he won’t win it all regardless. Again only in hindsight will we know how this match helps/hurts him. Knowing you can still outlast a quality opponent in 5 sets is huge.

Rafa has at least 48 hours to recover for the quarterfinal matchup with Novak. I just hope the BH gets a bit sharper and with more bite, and the serving needs to ramp up. So far i feel his movement is good enough. Felix had weapons, some as formidable as anyone else out there.

This match with Felix had so many peaks snd valleys, & Rafa had streams of UFE’s at times. However the “vintage” came through at the end , and hope springs eternal. Maybe Rafa will find that reserve this QF one more tine.

Vamos Rafa!

 

[Fiero425]

Alcaraz d Khachanov in straight sets 61 64 64....
First time made the q/finals at RG 19 years young....well done!
Apart from that 5 set match when he nearly went out, his form now is good.
Alcaraz will now play Sasha in the q/finals.

These match-ups could easily be "the Semis" but for a screwed up draw loading up the top 1/2! You can still be proud of the men who got thru!

 

[Fiero425]

The same thing was said after his 4 + hour Match at the AO with Shapo, but of course the bigger factor is that the next opponent this time is Novak.

I dunno, Rafa’s fitness should be OK. If he can’t handle a long match in the first 4 rounds of a Major then he won’t win it all regardless. Again only in hindsight will we know how this match helps/hurts him. Knowing you can still outlast a quality opponent in 5 sets is huge.

Rafa has at least 48 hours to recover for the quarterfinal matchup with Novak. I just hope the BH gets a bit sharper and with more bite, and the serving needs to ramp up. So far i feel his movement is good enough. Felix had weapons, some as formidable as anyone else out there.

This match with Felix had so many peaks snd valleys, & Rafa had streams of UFE’s at times. However the “vintage” came through at the end , and hope springs eternal. Maybe Rafa will find that reserve this QF one more tine.

Vamos Rafa!

In "All-In Poker" vernacular, Rafa's already had his "ONE TIME!" There have been so many over the years including "no Novak" "down under," then his rise from the dead against Korda in IW's down a couple breaks in the 3rd set! This could benefit Rafa to play Novak in the QF save going 5 sets today against FAA! The men are holding up well unlike the ladies' seeds who're dropping like flies!

 

[Moxie]

The same thing was said after his 4 + hour Match at the AO with Shapo, but of course the bigger factor is that the next opponent this time is Novak.

I dunno, Rafa’s fitness should be OK. If he can’t handle a long match in the first 4 rounds of a Major then he won’t win it all regardless. Again only in hindsight will we know how this match helps/hurts him. Knowing you can still outlast a quality opponent in 5 sets is huge.

Rafa has at least 48 hours to recover for the quarterfinal matchup with Novak. I just hope the BH gets a bit sharper and with more bite, and the serving needs to ramp up. So far i feel his movement is good enough. Felix had weapons, some as formidable as anyone else out there.

This match with Felix had so many peaks snd valleys, & Rafa had streams of UFE’s at times. However the “vintage” came through at the end , and hope springs eternal. Maybe Rafa will find that reserve this QF one more tine.

Vamos Rafa!

I haven't read back across recent comments, but in general terms, I agree with this. The worry on the one side, for the Nadal fans, is that he was long on the court when Novak barely broke a sweat. And what of the foot? On the upside, he was tested and got an emotional win. Could sharpen him for the kill. Through he is going to play top drawer from the get-go to beat Novak. I still say that Rafa at his best here beats Novak, but time waits for no man. In 2011, when Rafa was under confident, due to Novak surging, he had Soderling in the QFs. It made him lift his game, with the extra mustard on that match. Maybe this one lifts him, too.

¡Vamos!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I haven't read back across recent comments, but in general terms, I agree with this. The worry on the one side, for the Nadal fans, is that he was long on the court when Novak barely broke a sweat. And what of the foot? On the upside, he was tested and got an emotional win. Could sharpen him for the kill. Through he is going to play top drawer from the get-go to beat Novak. I still say that Rafa at his best here beats Novak, but time waits for no man. In 2011, when Rafa was under confident, due to Novak surging, he had Soderling in the QFs. It made him lift his game, with the extra mustard on that match. Maybe this one lifts him, too.

¡Vamos!

Anyone who thinks being on a court for over 4 hours in a 4th rd match is okay? honestly needs their head read especially on clay???
As a Rafa fan he has other things going on physically and he also said after this match this may be his last match time at RG

 

[Moxie]

Anyone who thinks being on a court for over 4 hours in a 4th rd match is okay? honestly needs their head read especially on clay???
As a Rafa fan he has other things going on physically and he also said after this match this may be his last match time at RG

Ok, Debbie Downer. LOL!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Ok, Debbie Downer. LOL!

Oh please a huge reality check come on! .....

 

[Carol]

Anyone who thinks being on a court for over 4 hours in a 4th rd match is okay? honestly needs their head read especially on clay???
As a Rafa fan he has other things going on physically and he also said after this match this may be his last match time at RG

And if he wins the next one probably is going to say the same thing. He is concerned about his foot and how long he can play with those conditions and like he said before he is going to try as more he can until his foot can't take it anymore and his head say "it was enough"

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

These match-ups could easily be "the Semis" but for a screwed up draw loading up the top 1/2! You can still be proud of the men who got thru!

Thats right it was rigged LOL!...well it benefited the No 1 player didnt it

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

And if he wins the next one probably is going to say the same thing. He is concerned about his foot and how long he can play with those conditions and like he said before he is going to try as more he can until his foot can't take it anymore and his head say "it was enough"

Agree, lets us hope the foot is okay, Rafa said he physically felt okay after the match....out of the top players he had a draw from hell,
though the one thing I can hold onto he has won RG before being seeded No 5.We know he will fight to the end regardless.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW top players of course can request day or night matches but the tournament director and the TVs make the end decision

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

BTW as a Rafa fan I had nightmares of RG 2009 4th rd match with you know you in the FAA match

 

[rafanoy1992]

Anyways, what are your thoughts about tomorrow's matches?

The most interesting match for sure is the Andrey Rublev vs. Jannik Sinner. Both players have the golden opportunity to potentially reach their 1st Slam SF appearance. Both players have A LOT to prove. For Rublev, knowing that you will not able to play Wimbledon this year and have not done particular "well" on Slams, this is the opportunity. As for Sinner, knowing that Clay is your 2nd best surface, Grass is your weakest surface, plus the opportunity to show the world you are potentially one of the next great young players in tennis, this is also an opportunity for you.

The second most interesting match is the Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz match. I would say Ruud has more to prove in this match because it is on Clay and he needs a Slam QF appearance to truly validate his place in the Top 10 rankings. As for Hurkacz, he has had a great Clay court swing especially after what happened last year. He will definitely do well on Grass this year with the way he is playing right now.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Anyways, what are your thoughts about tomorrow's matches?

The most interesting match for sure is the Andrey Rublev vs. Jannik Sinner. Both players have the golden opportunity to potentially reach their 1st Slam SF appearance. Both players have A LOT to prove. For Rublev, knowing that you will not able to play Wimbledon this year and have not done particular "well" on Slams, this is the opportunity. As for Sinner, knowing that Clay is your 2nd best surface, Grass is your weakest surface, plus the opportunity to show the world you are potentially one of the next great young players in tennis, this is also an opportunity for you.

The second most interesting match is the Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz match. I would say Ruud has more to prove in this match because it is on Clay and he needs a Slam QF appearance to truly validate his place in the Top 10 rankings. As for Hurkacz, he has had a great Clay court swing especially after what happened last year. He will definitely do well on Grass this year with the way he is playing right now.

I was worried when Sinner had to save over 10000 MP in his previous match, but thinking about it, his calm,cool manner helped him and hopefully my young Italian can get the win over Rublev

I still dont get Hubi's game and it is not suited to clay, more a grass player I feel,,though he has had a good clay court swing
I have to go with Ruud.

 

[rafanoy1992]

I was worried when Sinner had to save over 10000 MP in his previous match, but thinking about it, his calm,cool manner helped him and hopefully my young Italian can get the win over Rublev

I still dont get Hubi's game and it is not suited to clay, more a grass player I feel,,though he has had a good clay court swing
I have to go with Ruud.

Rublev vs. Sinner is the last match at Lenglen so that should be a great atmosphere.

The only reason I picked Ruud/Hurkacz over Rune/Tsitsipas and Cilic/Medvedev matches because I feel the latter matches will be more straight-forward than Ruud/Hurkacz.

However, I am very curious on how the young Danish star, Holger Rune will handle the moment in a Slam. I do not expect him to win against Tsitsipas but I want to see on how he will compete.

Interesting facts: There are 4 male players who have not lost a single set in the tournament so far. Three of them plays tomorrow. Guess who are the three players?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rublev vs. Sinner is the last match at Lenglen so that should be a great atmosphere.

The only reason I picked Ruud/Hurkacz over Rune/Tsitsipas and Cilic/Medvedev matches because I feel the latter matches will be more straight-forward than Ruud/Hurkacz.

However, I am very curious on how the young Danish star, Holger Rune will handle the moment in a Slam. I do not expect him to win against Tsitsipas but I want to see on how he will compete.

Interesting facts: There are 4 male players who have not lost a single set in the tournament so far. Three of them plays tomorrow. Guess who are the three players?

Hubi,Rune and

Rublev vs. Sinner is the last match at Lenglen so that should be a great atmosphere.

The only reason I picked Ruud/Hurkacz over Rune/Tsitsipas and Cilic/Medvedev matches because I feel the latter matches will be more straight-forward than Ruud/Hurkacz.

However, I am very curious on how the young Danish star, Holger Rune will handle the moment in a Slam. I do not expect him to win against Tsitsipas but I want to see on how he will compete.

Interesting facts: There are 4 male players who have not lost a single set in the tournament so far. Three of them plays tomorrow. Guess who are the three players?

Medvedev, Hubi and Rune?

 

[rafanoy1992]

Hubi,Rune and

Medvedev, Hubi and Rune?

You are correct! The three unlikely male players not to lose a single set at RG so far...

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Actually Medvedev is the surprise packet so far, he is playing well on clay, even though it is his least fav surface, I still feel he has a good game for clay, his defense for starters is good.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

You are correct! The three unlikely male players not to lose a single set at RG so far...

Good to know I get something right lol!

 

[Moxie]

Actually Medvedev is the surprise packet so far, he is playing well on clay, even though it is his least fav surface, I still feel he has a good game for clay, his defense for starters is good.

I do believe that Medvedev seems to be playing under the radar. Haven't seen any of his matches, but he's taking his ranking on board and, surely realizing that he's been gifted with an easy bottom half, is going to try to make the final. If the top half beats itself up, he looks like he's willing to be ready to bust whomever up in a final.