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

[Front242]

Bookies should have odds on how many MTOs Novak will take and how many dodgy drinks he consumes. Would be a nice double.

 

[Moxie]

The way Roger lost the 2019 Wimbledon was the worst thing to happen. I'm 100% convinced that Roger would have retired on that high had he won that final. The only reason Roger continued on was to see if he could go out on winning a slam, and he did until his body gave out after 2021 Wimbledon. I kind of wished that Roger would have never returned after the pandemic, and his last match would have been the loss to Djokovic in the semifinals of the 2020 AO. That would have been a much more respectable ending than whatever Federer's 2021 season was.

Yeah, as any Federer fan will tell you. This is where I do think that age comes into it. And maybe this is what @fiero is objecting to, but Federer wanted it SO bad, and he was within 2 points. On his serve. There was a huge debate here about that game, and who won points and who choked, etc. Addressing @Jelenafan's point here, I don't think age is an "excuse," but I think it's a factor. And much less physically than mentally. Sure, you lose a step, and the timing gets off, but I think for the Big 3, who are so good anyway, it becomes about seeing the opportunities slipping away, and the stress that brings. Sure, Novak stepped up to the plate when Roger couldn't close, but Roger faltered when he needed to close. That was age-related, and stress-related, IMO. A few short weeks after that, Rafa had the USO to himself. Roger and Novak out, and only Medvedev in front of him. Whom he'd whooped just a few weeks earlier in the finals in Canada. Two sets and a break up, and he couldn't close. He never relaxed, and let Meddie back in. Why? Because the notion of the opportunity loomed, as did the window closing. Why did Medvedev kick Novak's butt at the USO in 2021? Because he played him really smart, but also because Novak was looking into the maw of history, and he blinked.

Age matters.

I agree with Jelenafan on your last point, too, though: Roger went out when he decided to. He wanted to give it one more shot. It didn't happen, but that's the imperfection of deciding when to retire. But there's no shame in waiting to long, if you ask me.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

My prediction is Alcaraz in 4 sets. Basically an easy match but trolling Djokovic fans for one set in order to give them false hope.

 

[Moxie]

My prediction is Alcaraz in 4 sets. Basically an easy match but trolling Djokovic fans for one set in order to give them false hope.

I think Alcaraz in 4 is the margin bet.

 

[El Dude]

I see nothing wrong with Roger's retirement timing, just as I'd see nothing wrong with Novak or Rafa chugging it out a year or two after it is clear they can't win another.

I mean, it was only 2021 that Roger looked like he didn't have a chance. It isn't like Andy Murray, who has played something like his last 60 matches outside of the top 20. And I'm not even saying Andy should have retired by now, just that he's still playing with no hope of winning a Slam or even a Masters, really (whether he realizes it is a different matter).

 

[Moxie]

I see nothing wrong with Roger's retirement timing, just as I'd see nothing wrong with Novak or Rafa chugging it out a year or two after it is clear they can't win another.

I mean, it was only 2021 that Roger looked like he didn't have a chance. It isn't like Andy Murray, who has played something like his last 60 matches outside of the top 20. And I'm not even saying Andy should have retired by now, just that he's still playing with no hope of winning a Slam or even a Masters, really (whether he realizes it is a different matter).

Exactly! I have absolutely no time for people who insist that staying too long at the party diminishes anyone's legacy. Sure, your sterling win/loss percentages will go down. But only one person has the right to say when it's time to go, especially if they've had a great career.

 

[Moxie]

Tumaini Garayol of The Guardian put it very well:

"...Still, (Djokovic) has built a legendary career out of rising to the occasion and elevating his game when the moment, and the opponent, demands it.
As he has grown older, the difference between beating him over best of three sets and outlasting him over five has become increasingly stark. Many more players can win two sets these days, but Djokovic prides himself on how hard it is to win three.

For all of his strengths, Alcaraz can sometimes lose his way, making overzealous decisions and unforced errors. Although his serve has improved significantly this year, it can still be vulnerable, and he will now face one of the best returners in the world. Nobody is better suited to test Alcaraz’s shot tolerance, decision-making and consistency to their limits.

That such a meeting will take place on such an important occasion is fortunate but it also reflects their excellence. Just as it is unprecedented on the ATP for a 20-year-old to command a grand slam tournament as the top seed and favourite, it is rare for a 36-year-old to still be so great.

They are two players at completely different points of their careers briefly passing each other by, but on Friday they will enter the fray as equals."

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Tumaini Garayol of The Guardian put it very well:

"...Still, (Djokovic) has built a legendary career out of rising to the occasion and elevating his game when the moment, and the opponent, demands it.
As he has grown older, the difference between beating him over best of three sets and outlasting him over five has become increasingly stark. Many more players can win two sets these days, but Djokovic prides himself on how hard it is to win three.

For all of his strengths, Alcaraz can sometimes lose his way, making overzealous decisions and unforced errors. Although his serve has improved significantly this year, it can still be vulnerable, and he will now face one of the best returners in the world. Nobody is better suited to test Alcaraz’s shot tolerance, decision-making and consistency to their limits.

That such a meeting will take place on such an important occasion is fortunate but it also reflects their excellence. Just as it is unprecedented on the ATP for a 20-year-old to command a grand slam tournament as the top seed and favourite, it is rare for a 36-year-old to still be so great.

They are two players at completely different points of their careers briefly passing each other by, but on Friday they will enter the fray as equals."

7-11.

 

[Jelenafan]

Carlitos game has matured at the level Pete's did around the same age. It took Rafa, Roger and Novak some time to get there meaning before they completely mastered all the strokes. Does this means that Carlitos is more talented than those 4? F#c# No but it means that he has reach the peak of his talent at a younger age.

IMO It’s hard to find anyone comparable to Carlitos in the Open Era.

By age 19 Alcaraz had won 2 Masters (on different surfaces) 1 Major AND was the YE # 1. If he wins this FO he has a great shot at capturing his 2nd YE # 1 at age 20. Have I mentioned he already has 4 Masters?

Even Pete was not really mentally or gamewise “mature” as Carlos seems to be; Pete was a meteor winning the 2000 USO at age 19 but struggled a bit for a couple more years with his game after that, and Jimmy Connors famously mocked him after Sampras said losing in the qtrs of the 2001 USO was a relief and he could get “the monkey off his back.” Pete didn't win anothet Major or become #1 until 2003, 3 years after his initial breakthrough, then he truly became “Pistol Pete”.

The only somewhat comparable player I can think of is 1974 Jimmy Connors but he became the YE # 1 at the “old age” of 22. (Ditto Federer)

Andy Roddick was ye # 1 and won a Major at age 21 but…

ETA: Lleyton Hewitt was YE# 1 at ages 20 & 21. But again no teenager YE # 1.

 

[Fiero425]

IMO It’s hard to find anyone comparable to Carlitos in the Open Era.

By age 19 Alcaraz had won 2 Masters (on different surfaces) 1 Major AND was the YE # 1. If he wins this FO he has a great shot at capturing his 2nd YE # 1 at age 20. Have I mentioned he already has 4 Masters?

Even Pete was not really mentally or gamewise “mature” as Carlos seems to be; Pete was a meteor winning the 2000 USO at age 19 but struggled a bit for a couple more years with his game after that, and Jimmy Connors famously mocked him after Sampras said losing in the qtrs of the 2001 USO was a relief and he could get “the monkey off his back.” Pete didn't win anothet Major or become #1 until 2003, 3 years after his initial breakthrough, then he truly became “Pistol Pete”.

The only somewhat comparable player I can think of is 1974 Jimmy Connors but he became the YE # 1 at the “old age” of 22. (Ditto Federer)

Andy Roddick was ye # 1 and won a Major at age 21 but…

ETA: Lleyton Hewitt was YE# 1 at ages 20 & 21. But again no teenager YE # 1.

Winning the FO isn't going to settle #1! Nadal barely stayed @ #2 last season & was gifted an AO when Novak deported! Give him time!

 

[Kieran]

Winning the FO isn't going to settle #1! Nadal barely stayed @ #2 last season & was gifted an AO when Novak deported! Give him time!

He’d have won that Australian Open anyway, actually, even if Novak was there…

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Winning the FO isn't going to settle #1! Nadal barely stayed @ #2 last season & was gifted an AO when Novak deported! Give him time!

I guess Pushovic was also gifted the AO this year when Alcaraz withdrew due to injury?

Tomorrow Pushovic will be destroyed by No.1 Alcaraz, and their h2h will end up being 10-0 for Carlito by the end of their careers and anytime someone will mention that Djokovic is the Goat people will laugh.

 

[don_fabio]

Ladies and gentlemen, today is THAT day. We've been waiting this for at least a year and finally got it on a biggest stage possible.

So cancel all plans, if you have a guest don't let them ruin your day, send them to the nearby mountains like brother @Kieran, take your dog out on time if you have one, have lunch and drink a coffee or two, don't watch the match on an empty stomach so you don't regret it, if someone rings the doorbell during the match don't bother opening it's probably a Jehova's Witness anyway, kick the kids out if you have them, tell your partner you're UNAVAILABLE until these two gladiators have swallowed enough red dust and one of them delivers the finishing stab.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Ladies and gentlemen, today is THAT day. We've been waiting this for at least a year and finally got it on a biggest stage possible.

So cancel all plans, if you have a guest don't let them ruin your day, send them to the nearby mountains like brother @Kieran, take your dog out on time if you have one, have lunch and drink a coffee or two, don't watch the match on an empty stomach so you don't regret it, if someone rings the doorbell during the match don't bother opening it's probably a Jehova's Witness anyway, kick the kids out if you have them, tell your partner you're UNAVAILABLE until these two gladiators have swallowed enough red dust and one of them delivers the finishing stab.

I'll be sleeping. I won't get up to watch a pushing fest from Djokovic. I'd actually rather see Alcaraz hit a tennis ball against a wall.

 

[Kieran]

Ladies and gentlemen, today is THAT day. We've been waiting this for at least a year and finally got it on a biggest stage possible.

So cancel all plans, if you have a guest don't let them ruin your day, send them to the nearby mountains like brother @Kieran, take your dog out on time if you have one, have lunch and drink a coffee or two, don't watch the match on an empty stomach so you don't regret it, if someone rings the doorbell during the match don't bother opening it's probably a Jehova's Witness anyway, kick the kids out if you have them, tell your partner you're UNAVAILABLE until these two gladiators have swallowed enough red dust and one of them delivers the finishing stab.

I’m still not happy about this. Sure, he’ll be up a mountain (and a second mountain nearby in case the match drags on) but really, guests are bad mannered people who have no place visiting someone on a GS semifinal day. I lose the build up to the match but more importantly, the debriefing, that special few hours after the match where I take it all in, watch interviews, highlights reels, relive it all in manic, sometimes morose, isolation. Now I have to go out drinking? I’m too kind to my friends, really I am…

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Bookies should have odds on how many MTOs Novak will take and how many dodgy drinks he consumes. Would be a nice double.

Love you Fronty have I told you that lately

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Ladies and gentlemen, today is THAT day. We've been waiting this for at least a year and finally got it on a biggest stage possible.

So cancel all plans, if you have a guest don't let them ruin your day, send them to the nearby mountains like brother @Kieran, take your dog out on time if you have one, have lunch and drink a coffee or two, don't watch the match on an empty stomach so you don't regret it, if someone rings the doorbell during the match don't bother opening it's probably a Jehova's Witness anyway, kick the kids out if you have them, tell your partner you're UNAVAILABLE until these two gladiators have swallowed enough red dust and one of them delivers the finishing stab.

Don
I have 2 cats tell me what am I suppose to do with them, put them on a leash and find a nearby mountain? lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Okay Alcaraz in 4 sets, I am not changing my mind at the start of the tournament I picked him I am not changing my mind now
Ruud in 4 sets, or 5 over Sasha, to me he showed in his QF match he has the game to defeat Sasha,

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

One of the great things about the French Open is that the coverage isn't on that ESPN.

 

[don_fabio]

Last chance to wipe the dust off the TV.