Roland Garros / French Open 2023 [Men] - Grand Slam

[Kieran]

I disagree, remember what happened when the stature went up, what happened to Rafa then ?? short memory
I would rather Rafa go out at RG a winner, than a loser, I still think that stature should have been put up when he retires from tennis

But he is going out as a winner - he won it last year. What year was the statue?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

But he is going out as a winner - he won it last year. What year was the statue?

I would have preferred the stature to be done when Rafa is retired, if you have another opinion good. He is not playing this year for medical reasons, I have fears he wont be playing RG again.

 

[Kieran]

I would have preferred the stature to be done when Rafa is retired, if you have another opinion good. He is not playing this year for medical reasons, I have fears he wont be playing RG again.

I know, but he went out as a winner. Which is great. He deserves that. I don’t think statues affect Rafa but it was a nice gesture and I think it would have an impressive effect on opponents going there, when they knew he was still playing…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I know, but he went out as a winner. Which is great. He deserves that. I don’t think statues affect Rafa but it was a nice gesture and I think it would have an impressive effect on opponents going there, when they knew he was still playing…

I take your point

 

[Kieran]

I take your point

I think the thing with Rafa and Paris was really nailed once he put daylight between him and Borg, when he got to about 9 RG titles, his place was sealed. Everything else after that not only cemented that but elevated his achievements there to the level that we can safely say that in top level sport, the most difficult thing of the last 50 years or so was to beat Rafa Nadal in a French Open final. He never even once went to five. Really, a statue is too small.

They should rename Court Philippe-Chatrier. I actually think they should rename Paris, the whole fricking city, but they won’t. So we’ll take the court name change instead. It’s fitting! Vamos Le Roi!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think the thing with Rafa and Paris was really nailed once he put daylight between him and Borg, when he got to about 9 RG titles, his place was sealed. Everything else after that not only cemented that but elevated his achievements there to the level that we can safely say that in top level sport, the most difficult thing of the last 50 years or so was to beat Rafa Nadal in a French Open final. He never even once went to five. Really, a statue is too small.

They should rename Court Philippe-Chatrier. I actually think they should rename Paris, the whole fricking city, but they won’t. So we’ll take the court name change instead. It’s fitting! Vamos Le Roi!

Great minds I have always thought Chatrier should be renamed Rafa Nadal court, alas I cant see that ever happening, I mean it took years for the French to accept Rafa, he took the high road, then they finally gave him the respect he should have had many years before.

 

[Kieran]

Great minds I have always thought Chatrier should be renamed Rafa Nadal court, alas I cant see that ever happening, I mean it took years for the French to accept Rafa, he took the high road, then they finally gave him the respect he should have had many years before.

They’re odd. Their statue never affected Rafa, and neither did their pretentiousness in the stands. They grew to love him though, you could see that last year..

 

[Fiero425]

I think the thing with Rafa and Paris was really nailed once he put daylight between him and Borg, when he got to about 9 RG titles, his place was sealed. Everything else after that not only cemented that but elevated his achievements there to the level that we can safely say that in top level sport, the most difficult thing of the last 50 years or so was to beat Rafa Nadal in a French Open final. He never even once went to five. Really, a statue is too small.

They should rename Court Philippe-Chatrier. I actually think they should rename Paris, the whole fricking city, but they won’t. So we’ll take the court name change instead. It’s fitting! Vamos Le Roi!

Oh don't be ridiculous! That isn't going to happen in my lifetime; rename a French location to that Spanish boar! I don't care the accomplishment!

 

[Kieran]

Oh don't be ridiculous! That isn't going to happen in my lifetime; rename a French location to the Spanish bull! I don't care the accomplishment!

I corrected it for you…

 

[the AntiPusher]

Great minds I have always thought Chatrier should be renamed Rafa Nadal court, alas I cant see that ever happening, I mean it took years for the French to accept Rafa, he took the high road, then they finally gave him the respect he should have had many years before.

Rafa should not ever accept the French, they're not worthy of this champion.IMO

 

[Jelenafan]

Rafa should not ever accept the French, they're not worthy of this champion.IMO

True, but it's still impressive that one of the Slams honored a non National with a statue, while he was still playing. Add to that that its the French! Doubt we will ever see that happen again, though Barcelona Open already naming their venue's main stadium after him makes sense since he is the hometown hero, so to speak.

 

[Moxie]

I think the thing with Rafa and Paris was really nailed once he put daylight between him and Borg, when he got to about 9 RG titles, his place was sealed. Everything else after that not only cemented that but elevated his achievements there to the level that we can safely say that in top level sport, the most difficult thing of the last 50 years or so was to beat Rafa Nadal in a French Open final. He never even once went to five. Really, a statue is too small.

Totally agree that the statue is too small. (And not that flattering, IMO.) And I take Margaret's point about why do it before he'd retired? Here's my theory: Nadal was overwhelming everyone with his clay achievements, and they felt like they should do something. I absolutely think, for example, that Barcelona named their show court after him, (Piste Nadal,) to get in before Madrid and the vile Ian Tiriac tried to cap them. Barcelona is Nadal's "home tournament," not Madrid. IMO, Paris gave him a statue, hoping they wouldn't have to rename Chartrier after him. But that was many triumphs ago.

They should rename Court Philippe-Chatrier. I actually think they should rename Paris, the whole fricking city, but they won’t. So we’ll take the court name change instead. It’s fitting! Vamos Le Roi!

They absolutely should. Philippe-Chatrier made the 3rd round of RG once, the 3rd round of W once, and the 1st round of the USO once. That stadium is unlikely to see a greater champion than Rafael Nadal in all of our lifetimes, and in the lives of our children. They gave Rafa a statue as a stop-gap. Now they need to rename Chatrier. I think renaming the entire city goes a bit far, though.

 

[Jelenafan]

Totally agree that the statue is too small. (And not that flattering, IMO.) And I take Margaret's point about why do it before he'd retired? Here's my theory: Nadal was overwhelming everyone with his clay achievements, and they felt like they should do something. I absolutely think, for example, that Barcelona named their show court after him, (Piste Nadal,) to get in before Madrid and the vile Ian Tiriac tried to cap them. Barcelona is Nadal's "home tournament," not Madrid. IMO, Paris gave him a statue, hoping they wouldn't have to rename Chartrier after him. But that was many triumphs ago.

They absolutely should. Philippe-Chatrier made the 3rd round of RG once, the 3rd round of W once, and the 1st round of the USO once. That stadium is unlikely to see a greater champion than Rafael Nadal in all of our lifetimes, and in the lives of our children. They gave Rafa a statue as a stop-gap. Now they need to rename Chatrier. I think renaming the entire city goes a bit far, though.

I don't know, Nadalville has a nice ring to it... : )

 

[Moxie]

I don't know, Nadalville has a nice ring to it... : )

Paris-Saint Raphaël-sur-Seine. They could live with that. And they could just call it "Paris," for short.

 

[Fiero425]

I don't know, Nadalville has a nice ring to it... : )

Where's the "upchuck" emoticon? These systems usually have them! Oh, there it is!

 

[Moxie]

Where's the "upchuck" emoticon? These systems usually have them! Oh, there it is!

Where's the emoticon for "you have no sense of humor?" Oh, there it is:

Plus, what do you care? You're the guy who thinks that a trip to Paris can be wasted.

 

[Moxie]

Ok, New Yorkers a common misunderstanding of how you interpret the English language; Rude, obnoxious and overly aggressive are NOT synonyms for "feisty." : )

My English is perfect. What certain panty-waists take for rude, obnoxious and overly-aggressive behavior, they fail to realize comes more from the hinterlands of this country than The City So Nice They Named it Twice. New Yorkers stop to give directions, gave free shoes on 9/11 and have opened our hearts and homes to immigrants, now and since forever. We are not rude to strangers, though we can be rude to people we know. We are obnoxious only in that we do recognize that we are better than most of you rhubarbs, but we're too elegant to show it. And if you want to talk about "overly-aggressive," I have some governors in Texas and Florida we could talk about. I know you're only kidding with the broad clichés, but New Yorkers are sweet. We just sound gruff. It's the rest of this country that's aggressive, self-important and scary. And armed. So, come after my town and, yes, I'll get a little "feisty." Though I know you don't mean it. How could you? New Yorkers are so nice! (Written with tongue in cheek.)

 

[Jelenafan]

My English is perfect. What certain panty-waists take for rude, obnoxious and overly-aggressive behavior, they fail to realize comes more from the hinterlands of this country than The City So Nice They Named it Twice. New Yorkers stop to give directions, gave free shoes on 9/11 and have opened our hearts and homes to immigrants, now and since forever. We are not rude to strangers, though we can be rude to people we know. We are obnoxious only in that we do recognize that we are better than most of you rhubarbs, but we're too elegant to show it. And if you want to talk about "overly-aggressive," I have some governors in Texas and Florida we could talk about. I know you're only kidding with the broad clichés, but New Yorkers are sweet. We just sound gruff. It's the rest of this country that's aggressive, self-important and scary. And armed. So, come after my town and, yes, I'll get a little "feisty." Though I know you don't mean it. How could you? New Yorkers are so nice! (Written with tongue in cheek.)

For in that city [New York] there is neurosis in the air which the inhabitants mistake for energy. – Evelyn Waugh

Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines. – David Letterman

In New York, most people don’t have cars, so if you want to kill a person, you have to take the subway to their house. And sometimes on the way, the train is delayed and you get impatient, so you have to kill someone on the subway. That’s why there are so many subway murders; no one has a car. – George Carlin

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Moxie, if you are around,

I was called into work and just come home
Is it true that NYC is sinking? I heard that today on our news? I hope not it is one of my favorite places in the world,

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Proud of Thanasi Kokkinakis our last Aussie man standing at RG, first time since 2015, he plays KAA No 11 seed, lets pray and hope Kokki can save tennis

Magneto Man aka Novak vs Foki, as I said at the start of this tournament, Magento Man needs to be defeated in the early rounds, if not he gets into a good rhythm and will be hard to beat.

Carlos my pick to win this years RG has Shapo, he just has to run him ragged, on all sides of the court, Shapo and his footwork leaves a lot to be desired on the c;lay