Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4: Wednesday, May 29

[Sundaymorningguy]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

Well I think it probably is due to Venus' back. She said as much in her singles loss that she can't serve how she wants to serve.

 

[Moxie]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

Serena and Venus have pulled out of the doubles. No reason was given. See article here:

http://espn.go.com/tennis/french13/story/_/id/9323151/2013-french-open-serena-venus-williams-pull-doubles

No reason needed. Venus sure didn't look fit in her match, and, for those that complain about Serena playing doubles when she is looking for a big title...problem solved. Seems wise, all-around.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

I get annoyed because Serena still has a shot at singles titles for the next 2-3years. I feel like she and Venus have a longer doubles life than Serena has for her singles life. I feel like she and Venus could compete and contend for doubles together for like the next 5-7 years if they wanted.

 

[Moxie]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

I get annoyed because Serena still has a shot at singles titles for the next 2-3years. I feel like she and Venus have a longer doubles life than Serena has for her singles life. I feel like she and Venus could compete and contend for doubles together for like the next 5-7 years if they wanted.

If you're saying that they should leave off doubles in the big events until Serena stops featuring as a contender to win them, I agree. Once that's less likely, I hope the Sisters keep their double act going well into their 30s. Their are a formidable team, and like Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe, they could continue to rack up hardware even after their best singles days are behind them. Good for the legacy.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

I was mostly against it because Serena has played a lot of tennis the past two months, and I know everyone is saying Serena is fit she can handle it but she has won 4 tournaments in a row and is favored to go far here. She just has played so much tennis I would hate for her to get burned out or injured before tournaments she loves like Wimbledon and the US Open where they favor her game even more. I can see doubles more on those stages as it is easier for Serena and Venus to get more cheap points. I really just wanted her to sit out this year and maybe put her hat into doubles at the French next year. Glad I got my wish.

---

I get annoyed because Serena still has a shot at singles titles for the next 2-3years. I feel like she and Venus have a longer doubles life than Serena has for her singles life. I feel like she and Venus could compete and contend for doubles together for like the next 5-7 years if they wanted.

If you're saying that they should leave off doubles in the big events until Serena stops featuring as a contender to win them, I agree. Once that's less likely, I hope the Sisters keep their double act going well into their 30s. Their are a formidable team, and like Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe, they could continue to rack up hardware even after their best singles days are behind them. Good for the legacy.

I was more or less saying that. I mean more like pick and choose your spots. Australia made sense as neither had played much tennis. Wimbledon makes sense as neither usually plays warm up tournaments and their weapons are accentuated on grass. The US Open again suits their game and I think they like playing at home. The French I would have been ok with if Serena hasn't gone far in singles play.

 

[tented]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

I guess Serena will be playing doubles on the day she plays singles. I don't see her listed for doubles tomorrow.

---

While I admire Serena's ability to speak French, she would be wise to not look like a "kiss ass" and give the French a reason to dislike her. Save the French for a victory in the finals should you take this crown. I feel like she is trying to overcompensate and be like hey French crowd you should like me I speak your language.

---

Actually, the French prefer if you at least make an attempt to speak their language. I heard that years ago and learned first hand when I was in Paris.

They'll actually help in English if you're French isn't that good, but, an effort is appreciated.

Also, Serena and Venus learned French back in the early 2000's and Serena spoke French during the trophy ceremony in 2002.

---

I agree. I can't imagine how anyone in Paris could interpret Serena speaking French as something to dislike her for. If anything, the opposite would be true. Not seen as a kiss-ass move, but a genuine appreciation of their language and culture. I didn't see it, but it sounds to me like Serena did a good thing.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

Not necessarily dislike, but seriously she wasn't conducting interviews in French in her past Roland Garros interviews on a consistent basis like she is doing with her on court interviews this year. You mean to tell me you don't think it screams a little bit of like me French crowd damn it.

 

[Moxie]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

Not necessarily dislike, but seriously she wasn't conducting interviews in French in her past Roland Garros interviews on a consistent basis like she is doing with her on court interviews this year. You mean to tell me you don't think it screams a little bit of like me French crowd damn it.

Serena has been living part-time in France for some time now, and has been working on her French. That she is confident enough to make the leap into using her French in on-court interviews, (which she said had her more nervous than playing,) speaks a lot to her commitment to it and to her improvement. One doesn't learn a language to that level of confidence to suck up to anyone. That's ridiculous. I, for one, am impressed by her...just one more thing that she commits herself to, and does well.

 

[tossip]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

Serena is never boring...no bigger personality in women sports.

 

[tented]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

Here's an excerpt from an article on Roland Garros' website, which confirms that the crowd appreciated Serena's gesture:

"Once again after the match was done, Serena charmed the crowd with her readiness to speak French in the on-court interview – and even more so when she admitted she could not understand the question asked of her. It was the only test of the day where she came up wanting."

 

[Calvy]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

Not necessarily dislike, but seriously she wasn't conducting interviews in French in her past Roland Garros interviews on a consistent basis like she is doing with her on court interviews this year. You mean to tell me you don't think it screams a little bit of like me French crowd damn it.

Again, you make it seems asthough this is the first time she's done this, spoken in French. She gave her acceptance speech in French in 2002, and she and Venus took French lessons in the early 2000's, inspired by Jim Courier learning French.

I think you're grabbing at straws with this one, Sunday.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

I don't know. I didn't say her speaking French in and of itself was odd. I just find her consistently doing so now on her on court interviews a bit odd and perhaps trying to gain some favorability interesting. I am thinking that crowd support to her really matters here for some reason. I guess because they have a record for turning against her rather quickly here, I get it.

 

[tossip]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

Serena is very original ...now Zenka and pova are joining in speaking french..follow the leader.

 

[kskate2]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

I don't know. I didn't say her speaking French in and of itself was odd. I just find her consistently doing so now on her on court interviews a bit odd and perhaps trying to gain some favorability interesting. I am thinking that crowd support to her really matters here for some reason. I guess because they have a record for turning against her rather quickly here, I get it.

The French are quick to turn on anyone not named Federer. That's just how fickle they are.

 

[tossip]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

I don't know. I didn't say her speaking French in and of itself was odd. I just find her consistently doing so now on her on court interviews a bit odd and perhaps trying to gain some favorability interesting. I am thinking that crowd support to her really matters here for some reason. I guess because they have a record for turning against her rather quickly here, I get it.

The French are quick to turn on anyone not named Federer. That's just how fickle they are.

or Monfils:nonothey adoooore him in Paris more than Jo,Simon or Rishar Gasquet..

---

just dont understand eUGENIE WEARING HER IDOL CLOTHES AND EXPECT TO WIN...

 

[Calvy]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

I don't know. I didn't say her speaking French in and of itself was odd. I just find her consistently doing so now on her on court interviews a bit odd and perhaps trying to gain some favorability interesting. I am thinking that crowd support to her really matters here for some reason. I guess because they have a record for turning against her rather quickly here, I get it.

Do we not expect the foreign speaking players to do on court interview in English during the USO?

Heck, Nadal was pressured into learning English for the longest.

 

[Moxie]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

I don't know. I didn't say her speaking French in and of itself was odd. I just find her consistently doing so now on her on court interviews a bit odd and perhaps trying to gain some favorability interesting. I am thinking that crowd support to her really matters here for some reason. I guess because they have a record for turning against her rather quickly here, I get it.

Do we not expect the foreign speaking players to do on court interview in English during the USO?

Heck, Nadal was pressured into learning English for the longest.

Good point, Calvy. All tennis players have to speak some English...it's the lingua franca on court, and a top star needs proficiency.

As to Serena learning French...she not only studied it, she has been living part-time in France, (partly because of coaching relationship, I thought,) so it behooves her to speak it. The key point is "on-court" interviews: she's speaking to a French-speaking crowd. Why wouldn't she speak to them in French, since she can?

Even if it were a savvy PR choice on her part, give her credit...she's learned creditable French, and it's not an easy language. (If you want to address the "kiss-ass" aspect, Nadal and Djokovic both have only learned enough polite phrases to seem like they've tried, and they both have a language basis closer to French.)

 

[tossip]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

Serena has a French coach,trains at a French sports complex and is spending a lot of time in France than America so she has to speak the language...plus Richard is originally from Louisiana..

 

[the AntiPusher]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

Serena has a French coach,trains at a French sports complex and is spending a lot of time in France than America so she has to speak the language...plus Richard is originally from Louisiana..

Serena's coach is actually her current guy that she is dating.. its has to be easier for her having a traveling companion instead of trying to get in sync with all the numerous celebrities in her previous relationships.

 

[colleen66]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 4

Whether it is a PR move or not, I think that if one is in a foreign country one should try to speak the language of that country if one is able converse in that language.