Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6: Friday, May 31

[tented]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Dolgopolov seems to be really slipping - he's lost in the 1R of both Slams this year and hasn't made it past the 3R in any major tournament since Madrid of 2012. He finished 2011 at #15, 2012 at #18 and is currently #23, but that looks better than it actually is as his year-to-date ranking is #55. It seems likely that he won't finish the year in the top 20 and may even be a candidate to drop out of Slam seeding if he doesn't turn the ship around.

I wrote him off already as a future top 10.

Unfortunately, I agree with you. The kid has a lot of natural talent, but his head is another story. It's a shame.

I think Kevin Anderson will break faster into the top 20, than we will see Raonic in the top 10. Way too many holes in his game still. He needs a good coach at this point.

I take it you haven't heard anything about a new coach? Now that Roddick is retired, Stefanki is available (unless he's already with someone else).

 

[tented]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

The Monfils run made me wonder, who played the most 5 setters on his way to winning a slam?

It will be maddening if no one has the answer to this, because now I can't stop thinking about it, too. Did you google it?

 

[tented]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Extremely impressed by and happy for Tommy Robredo. What a comeback! Great to see him playing so well again and it means he's physically in great shape.

I had more or less written him off, but he's having a terrific season thus far.

For those who haven't already read it, Moxie created a thread which discusses a post from her Moxie's Translations blog which is in part about Robredo:

http://www.tennisfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=146

And here's a link to her blog:

http://www.tennisfrontier.com/blogs/moxies-translations/verdasco-in-crisis-from-el-pais-24-april-2013/

Who does he play next?

Almagro

 

[Front242]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Robredo actually has a terrible 0-5 record against Almagro and just won a tough 5 setter so I hope that isn't the writing on the wall right there. We shall see. I'll sure be hoping he plays some inspired tennis and pulls out the win as I love seeing the older guys doing well, especially after injury setbacks. Almagro has a big serve and lovely DTL BH though so it'll be tough for Tommy.

 

[tented]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

also i urge everyone to look for some highlights of Benneteau/Fed. not the greatest match, but two talents at work, some seriously ridiculous shots. behind the back volley by JB (with a surprised Fed botching the reply), and that wasn't even the best point. some good stuff. gotta love Julien for the bold play. unfortunately, he was the opposite of clutch. i think he was broken at love each time, and each time with the first break point as well (Fed was 4/4), and Fed made the something like the last 10 points of the match.
fun fact re Julien, btw - quite consistent - he's now made it to the 3rd Round, but no further, for the 7th straight slam.
(actually, here's some links - probably won't work for everyone. Benneteau behind the back, and the point of the day, also won by Julien

Great points! Thanks for the links.

 

[Moxie]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Extremely impressed by and happy for Tommy Robredo. What a comeback! Great to see him playing so well again and it means he's physically in great shape.

I had more or less written him off, but he's having a terrific season thus far.

For those who haven't already read it, Moxie created a thread which discusses a post from her Moxie's Translations blog which is in part about Robredo:

http://www.tennisfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=146

And here's a link to her blog:

http://www.tennisfrontier.com/blogs/moxies-translations/verdasco-in-crisis-from-el-pais-24-april-2013/

Who does he play next?

Almagro

Thanks for the plug, tented! I was torn between feeling thrilled for Tommy and gutted for La Monf, but as Front said earlier, Monfils didn't really choke it away. Anyway, so early in his comeback, he's played a lot of tennis, (remember, besides the 3 5-setters, he made the final of Nice last week.) He was cooked late in today's match.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

The Monfils run made me wonder, who played the most 5 setters on his way to winning a slam?

It will be maddening if no one has the answer to this, because now I can't stop thinking about it, too. Did you google it?

I could not find it with the parameters I have. :s I am not sure I will go through all the slams to find out...:nono

 

[Front242]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Just hope Monfils stays injury free for a while now after this return to form. Never normally does for long.

 

[tented]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Many players have lost with MPs over the years. Recent big failures to close out with MPs of course Tsonga here against Djokovic last year, Fed twice in the USO against Djokovic. It happens. Gotta credit Robredo too. A very gutsy performance rather than a choke necessarily from Monfils.

While looking for an answer to another question (see two posts above), I found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_slam_champions_who_saved_match_points_(from_2000)

 

[Front242]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Many players have lost with MPs over the years. Recent big failures to close out with MPs of course Tsonga here against Djokovic last year, Fed twice in the USO against Djokovic. It happens. Gotta credit Robredo too. A very gutsy performance rather than a choke necessarily from Monfils.

While looking for an answer to another question (see two posts above), I found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_slam_champions_who_saved_match_points_(from_2000)

Nice but they forgot Djokovic US Open 2010. 2 years in a row against Federer there.

2010 US Open SF, Djokovic won 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. again saving 2 match points.

 

[Moxie]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Many players have lost with MPs over the years. Recent big failures to close out with MPs of course Tsonga here against Djokovic last year, Fed twice in the USO against Djokovic. It happens. Gotta credit Robredo too. A very gutsy performance rather than a choke necessarily from Monfils.

While looking for an answer to another question (see two posts above), I found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_slam_champions_who_saved_match_points_(from_2000)

Interesting...Serena did it 3 times! And Venus is there, too. Those women have grit, I must say. (I know...wrong forum, but that is the stand-out.)

 

[tented]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Many players have lost with MPs over the years. Recent big failures to close out with MPs of course Tsonga here against Djokovic last year, Fed twice in the USO against Djokovic. It happens. Gotta credit Robredo too. A very gutsy performance rather than a choke necessarily from Monfils.

While looking for an answer to another question (see two posts above), I found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_slam_champions_who_saved_match_points_(from_2000)

Nice but they forgot Djokovic US Open 2010. 2 years in a row against Federer there.

2010 US Open SF, Djokovic won 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. again saving 2 match points.

This list is exclusively for people who went on to win the title.

 

[Front242]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Many players have lost with MPs over the years. Recent big failures to close out with MPs of course Tsonga here against Djokovic last year, Fed twice in the USO against Djokovic. It happens. Gotta credit Robredo too. A very gutsy performance rather than a choke necessarily from Monfils.

While looking for an answer to another question (see two posts above), I found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_slam_champions_who_saved_match_points_(from_2000)

Nice but they forgot Djokovic US Open 2010. 2 years in a row against Federer there.

2010 US Open SF, Djokovic won 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. again saving 2 match points.

This list is exclusively for people who went on to win the title.

Ah, sorry :blush:

 

[Moxie]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Just hope Monfils stays injury free for a while now after this return to form. Never normally does for long.

I agree...like we were saying on the DelPo thread: it's a shame to lose talented players to injury, and, in the case of Monfils, such entertaining ones, as well. He looks game for a real resurgence.

 

[Front242]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Just hope Monfils stays injury free for a while now after this return to form. Never normally does for long.

I agree...like we were saying on the DelPo thread: it's a shame to lose talented players to injury, and, in the case of Monfils, such entertaining ones, as well. He looks game for a real resurgence.

Yeah sure hope he stays in one piece for a while. Watching some of his clips lately I was in awe at those jumping trademark shots of his. Unreal athlete.

 

[tented]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

The Monfils run made me wonder, who played the most 5 setters on his way to winning a slam?

It will be maddening if no one has the answer to this, because now I can't stop thinking about it, too. Did you google it?

I could not find it with the parameters I have. :s I am not sure I will go through all the slams to find out...:nono

I'm not positive this is the answer, however it is based on a list of guys who played the most sets on their way to the title (Open Era). After going through the top players' stats the winner is ...

It's a five-way tie! Well, actually four guys, since one of them did it twice. In each case, the winner won three five-setters:

Gustavo Kuerten: 1997 Roland Garros

Final - Sergi Bruguera - 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
SF - Filip Dewulf - 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4)
QF - Yevgeny Kafelnikov - 6-2, 5-7, 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
R16 - Andrei Medvedev - 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 1-6, 7-5
R32 - Thomas Muster - 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
R64 - Jonas Bjorkman - 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
R128 - Slava Dosedel - 6-0, 7-5, 6-1

Stefan Edberg: 1992 US Open

Final - Pete Sampras - 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-2
SF - Michael Chang - 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-4
QF - Ivan Lendl - 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 7-6(3)
R16 - Richard Krajicek - 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
R32 - Jonas Svensson - 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
R64 - Jakob Hlasek - 7-5, 6-2, 6-1
R128 - Luiz Mattar - 6-4, 7-5, 6-2

Gaston Gaudio: 2004 Roland Garros

Final - Guillermo Coria - 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6
SF - David Nalbandian - 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-0
QF - Lleyton Hewitt - 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
R16 - Igor Andreev - 6-4, 7-5, 6-3
R32 - Thomas Enqvist - 6-0, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4
R64 - Jiri Novak - 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
R128 - Guillermo Canas - 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

Bjorn Borg: 1974 Roland Garros

Final - Manuel Orantes - 2-6, 6-7, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1
SF - Harold Solomon - 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
QF - Raul Ramirez - 6-2, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
R16 - Erik Van Dillen - 0-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
R32 - Jean-Loup Rouyer - 6-4, 6-2, 6-0
R64 - Toma Ovici - 6-1, 6-1
R128 - Jean-Francois Caujolle - 4-6, 6-0, 6-4

Bjorn Borg: 1977 Wimbledon

Final - Jimmy Connors - 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
SF - Vitas Gerulaitis - 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 8-6
QF - Ilie Nastase - 6-0, 8-6, 6-3
R16 - Wojtek Fibak - 7-5, 6-4, 6-2
R32 - Nikola Pilic - 9-7, 7-5, 6-3
R64 - Mark Edmondson - 3-6, 7-9, 6-2, 6-4, 6-1
R128 - Antonio Zugarelli - 6-4, 6-2, 9-7

Now I'll be able to sleep tonight ...

 

[Front242]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Impressive! Nice work finding all that. Cheers.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Great job Tented. So out of seven matches, you better not play more than three 5 setters or you are not winning it...There might be a player out there who might have played more than three 5 setters but apparently he ran out of gas...

 

[Moxie]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

The Monfils run made me wonder, who played the most 5 setters on his way to winning a slam?

It will be maddening if no one has the answer to this, because now I can't stop thinking about it, too. Did you google it?

I could not find it with the parameters I have. :s I am not sure I will go through all the slams to find out...:nono

I'm not positive this is the answer, however it is based on a list of guys who played the most sets on their way to the title (Open Era). After going through the top players' stats the winner is ...

It's a five-way tie! Well, actually four guys, since one of them did it twice. In each case, the winner won three five-setters:

Gustavo Kuerten: 1997 Roland Garros

Final - Sergi Bruguera - 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
SF - Filip Dewulf - 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4)
QF - Yevgeny Kafelnikov - 6-2, 5-7, 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
R16 - Andrei Medvedev - 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 1-6, 7-5
R32 - Thomas Muster - 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
R64 - Jonas Bjorkman - 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
R128 - Slava Dosedel - 6-0, 7-5, 6-1

Stefan Edberg: 1992 US Open

Final - Pete Sampras - 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-2
SF - Michael Chang - 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-4
QF - Ivan Lendl - 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 7-6(3)
R16 - Richard Krajicek - 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
R32 - Jonas Svensson - 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
R64 - Jakob Hlasek - 7-5, 6-2, 6-1
R128 - Luiz Mattar - 6-4, 7-5, 6-2

Gaston Gaudio: 2004 Roland Garros

Final - Guillermo Coria - 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6
SF - David Nalbandian - 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-0
QF - Lleyton Hewitt - 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
R16 - Igor Andreev - 6-4, 7-5, 6-3
R32 - Thomas Enqvist - 6-0, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4
R64 - Jiri Novak - 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
R128 - Guillermo Canas - 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

Bjorn Borg: 1974 Roland Garros

Final - Manuel Orantes - 2-6, 6-7, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1
SF - Harold Solomon - 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
QF - Raul Ramirez - 6-2, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
R16 - Erik Van Dillen - 0-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
R32 - Jean-Loup Rouyer - 6-4, 6-2, 6-0
R64 - Toma Ovici - 6-1, 6-1
R128 - Jean-Francois Caujolle - 4-6, 6-0, 6-4

Bjorn Borg: 1977 Wimbledon

Final - Jimmy Connors - 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
SF - Vitas Gerulaitis - 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 8-6
QF - Ilie Nastase - 6-0, 8-6, 6-3
R16 - Wojtek Fibak - 7-5, 6-4, 6-2
R32 - Nikola Pilic - 9-7, 7-5, 6-3
R64 - Mark Edmondson - 3-6, 7-9, 6-2, 6-4, 6-1
R128 - Antonio Zugarelli - 6-4, 6-2, 9-7

Now I'll be able to sleep tonight ...

Good digging! The one that surprises me is Borg having gone to 3 5-setters in the 1974 RG. Isn't he the guy that has lost fewer sets than Rafa, overall, there? And Rafa's only played 1 5-setter.

 

[tented]

RE: Roland Garros Order Of Play - Day 6

Good digging! The one that surprises me is Borg having gone to 3 5-setters in the 1974 RG. Isn't he the guy that has lost fewer sets than Rafa, overall, there? And Rafa's only played 1 5-setter.

You're confusing that with Borg's record for losing the fewest games en route to winning RG.

In 1978, Borg only lost a total of 32 games. In 2008, Rafa was on the verge of breaking that record, but didn't. Up to the QF, he had only lost 25, but wound up losing 16 more in the final two rounds.

Also, notice that of the five times someone won 3 five-setters en route to the title, three of them were at RG. Not a coincidence.