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

[Kieran]

Apparently noone is watching Sasha's match, he has 2 BPs and needs to finish off Etcheverey now to win the 4th set
Gets the break serving at 4-3

He’s doing well. He’ll at least defend his points from last year, which I didn’t expect. If the Rune-Ruud match is a brawl, he might be favourite in the semi..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

He’s doing well. He’ll at least defend his points from last year, which I didn’t expect. If the Rune-Ruud match is a brawl, he might be favourite in the semi..

I am surprised he got this far, credit to him even though I am not a fan of his play,

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well Sasha backs up the break and leads 5-3, he has been good in the big moments of this match
Sasha will be serving for the match at 5-4 and will try to be in the S
I must say Tomas Martin has an Electric Fh
Okay what a pass off the Bh from Tomas Martin 30 all
MP for Sasha
Well done Sasha he is into the SF credit after the injury he has sustained
Sasha gets in done in 4 sets

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Moxie and Don Fabio were correct in their selections they thought Sasha would make the SF

 

[Jelenafan]

He’s doing well. He’ll at least defend his points from last year, which I didn’t expect. If the Rune-Ruud match is a brawl, he might be favourite in the semi..

Yup, Zverev back in the SF’s, I’m sure he’s puffing up that scrawny chest as we speak…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sasha again saying her doesnt like playing night matches, prefers playing on clay in the day, it suits his play better lol!
BTW this is Sasha's 3rd consecutive SF at RG

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Attomole,
If you are around just read your comments you were pulling our legs so to speak saying Novak had a wrist injury and will probably withdraw from his SF against Alcaraz, thanks, I had been on twitter for ages trying to find out if this was true or not lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sasha was asked if it's difficult not think too much when closing out a match?

" I just have to remember that I have a pair of balls as well that I can use. Sometimes that's the only way to go"
That quote has many connotations

 

[don_fabio]

I am surprised he got this far, credit to him even though I am not a fan of his play,

I watched Sacha a bit, I mean tennis is on TV all day some matches are engaging, some not. Here I knew Zverev would go through. He really used well the draw openings that were offered to him, instead of Sinner and then Medvedev he got Dimitrov and Etcheverry.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I watched Sacha a bit, I mean tennis is on TV all day some matches are engaging, some not. Here I knew Zverev would go through. He really used well the draw openings that were offered to him, instead of Sinner and then Medvedev he got Dimitrov and Etcheverry.

Agree Don, his draw openings were there for him and he took them, also he did say Tomas Martin reminded him of Del Potro in ways especially with his fhand? good to see Tomas Martin make his first QF at a major I did pick him to get there.

 

[don_fabio]

Sasha was asked if it's difficult not think too much when closing out a match?

" I just have to remember that I have a pair of balls as well that I can use. Sometimes that's the only way to go"
That quote has many connotations

I don't think he knows what the pair of balls actually means.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I don't think he knows what the pair of balls actually means.

Either do I, I just laughed out loud when I read that

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just on a side note,
I am not saying Novak will win the SF against Alcaraz, though you have to give respect to Novak who has had more QF runs at RG than Nadal, mental toughness over 15 years, is also something special in our game of tennis.

 

[Kieran]

Just on a side note,
I am not saying Novak will win the SF against Alcaraz, though you have to give respect to Novak who has had more QF runs at RG than Nadal, mental toughness over 15 years, is also something special in our game of tennis.

It’s going to be very interesting bearer m because Carlos is clearly on an upward trajectory, and he’s playing unbelievable tennis, but he’s up against a warrior of epic proportions. I still have Novak a favourite based on his pedigree, and that I think Charley might struggle to play as well as he did yesterday. Even if he plays that well, he won’t get so many cheap points.

I expect Novak to come out of the traps quick, and try to put Carlos on the back foot immediately..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It’s going to be very interesting bearer m because Carlos is clearly on an upward trajectory, and he’s playing unbelievable tennis, but he’s up against a warrior of epic proportions. I still have Novak a favourite based on his pedigree, and that I think Charley might struggle to play as well as he did yesterday. Even if he plays that well, he won’t get so many cheap points.

I expect Novak to come out of the traps quick, and try to put Carlos on the back foot immediately..

Yep I feel Novak will want to send a message early in the 1st set to Alcaraz, I am not going away,you will have to be at your best to defeat me in this 5 set match

 

[Fiero425]

It’s going to be very interesting bearer m because Carlos is clearly on an upward trajectory, and he’s playing unbelievable tennis, but he’s up against a warrior of epic proportions. I still have Novak a favourite based on his pedigree, and that I think Charley might struggle to play as well as he did yesterday. Even if he plays that well, he won’t get so many cheap points.

I expect Novak to come out of the traps quick, and try to put Carlos on the back foot immediately..

Carlos will have to play out of his mind and not have any walkabouts when up in a set! Novak will take advantage & play lockdown tennis!

 

[nehmeth]

It’s going to be very interesting bearer m because Carlos is clearly on an upward trajectory, and he’s playing unbelievable tennis, but he’s up against a warrior of epic proportions. I still have Novak a favourite based on his pedigree, and that I think Charley might struggle to play as well as he did yesterday. Even if he plays that well, he won’t get so many cheap points.

I expect Novak to come out of the traps quick, and try to put Carlos on the back foot immediately..

Watching the two play this fortnight, Novak has to come out firing or it will be over. I think Carlos has this in four.

 

[Moxie]

I watched Sacha a bit, I mean tennis is on TV all day some matches are engaging, some not. Here I knew Zverev would go through. He really used well the draw openings that were offered to him, instead of Sinner and then Medvedev he got Dimitrov and Etcheverry.

I watched most of that match, and, considering nobody was evening talking about Etcheverry before this tournament, I think a) he played very well, and b) ol' Sasha should think about the fact that he didn't wipe up the court with him...not by a lot. Etcheverry is only 23, and will go from #49 to #31, meaning he'll be seeded for Wimbledon. Look at these odds from before the tournament. Etcheverry didn't even make the list.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I watched most of that match, and, considering nobody was evening talking about Etcheverry before this tournament, I think a) he played very well, and b) ol' Sasha should think about the fact that he didn't wipe up the court with him...not by a lot. Etcheverry is only 23, and will go from #49 to #31, meaning he'll be seeded for Wimbledon. Look at these odds from before the tournament. Etcheverry didn't even make the list.

View attachment 8250

who ever did those odds for Sinner, must not have been watching his matches during the clay season

 

[Moxie]

I think Carlos is more than up for the challenge but there is alot at stake. A whole friggin generation of pretenders have not been up to the task; The Crown Princes certainly havent done it, Theim couldnt do it, (only Medvedev). Carlos knows it and Novak knows it and Ferrero knows it.

I'm not taking you to task for this comment, and I think I take your point, which is that none of these guys went through Novak or Roger or Rafa to win a Major, (if I'm right about that, except Medvedev, as you say,) however, this is a semi-final, and Thiem DID take out Novak in the semifinal at the French in 2019. He just had to face Rafa the next day, was his problem. (That semi was played over 2 days.) He also took Novak out in the QFs in 2017, btw, but lost to Rafa in the SFs.

Yes, there is a lot at stake, and I agree with all who say that Novak is the biggest challenge in the tournament, esp. at this high water mark. However, it's Novak who's got the pressure of what's at stake, at 36...window is closing. Alcaraz, even more than most of the youngsters, seems to handle pressure very well...his whole future yawns in front of him, and he plays like he has all the time in the world to accomplish big things. We'll see on Friday. Still, I know what you mean: If you come for the King, you best not miss.