Roland Garros, Paris, France, ATP GRAND SLAM (Paris Sidewalk Cafe Discussions II)

[Carol]

And the rain again and again. This is one of the worst RG that I remember in all the ways. Delpo, Monfils, Tsonga, Roger and Rafa out and raining almost every day, pity!

 

[DarthFed]

Gasquet taking Kinky Kei to the cleaners! Would be a nice win for the hometown favorite.

 

[Carol]

Gasquet on fire, I'd love that he would keep that good confidence and game more often but that head.......we'll see.

 

[DarthFed]

its not over yet but if Gasquet holds on he will get Murray in the QF. History says Gasquet will likely cause him a lot of trouble but won't beat him.

 

[Carol]

It seems that Bruguera is helping him a lot in the tactics department which is giving him more confidence

 

[Federberg]

I'm always relaxed when Gasquet is playing the top players. He can take 2 sets, but does he have the tennis balls to actually win? Now this set is important, if Kei wins it then I'll give him better than 50-50 to win the match

 

[Federberg]

I must say, Murray starting to look more the part. But then so is Stan

 

[Federberg]

Now let's see if Gasquet starts to melt

 

[Carol]

Now let's see if Gasquet starts to melt

It seems not yet and I don't think this match is going to get out of his hands

 

[Federberg]

It seems not yet and I don't think this match is going to get out of his hands

Well done Richard!

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

murray mint in another qf..and maybe stannosaurus is going to put up a decent defence of his title.

 

[Tennis Fan]

I was shocked to see that Richard had won. I was sleepy and watching the score I saw the score and assumed that Kei was winning. Then I went to sleep. When I woke up I opened up Facebook and that was the first post I saw. So happy for Richard, he seems like such a nice guy. This tournament has been full of surprises from start to finish.

 

[Moxie]

I thought Ramos-Vinolas was going to win this match. I'm not understanding why they're hyping Milos, but I don't see all of this potential they keep talking about. To me it would be virtually impossible for Milos to beat Novak, Federer, Rafa, Stan, and Murray to win a major and chances are he's going to face at least two of them in a tournament. The top guys will make Milos bend down all day long.

On the flip side I thought that Begu would end Shelby Rogers run, but alas it wasn't to be. Good for Shelby. She's having the tournament of her career.

In fairness, Tennis Fan, I don't think you can say Milos is just "hype" anymore. He's been pretty solid top 10 for a while now. I'm no fan of his game, but he has weapons beyond the serve, and he's dedicated and ambitious. I put him in a category with Berdych, except that Raonic will likely be luckier in that the guys you (rightly) say he won't beat in a Slam are aging out, and Raonic is just 25. That said, he was taken down by a Spaniard on clay...not a complete shock. Great win for Ramos-Viñolas.

I'd like to see some of the Gasquet-Nishikori match. Was pretty surprised that Gasquet won, but also pleased for him. With Tsonga out, nice for the French fans.

 

[Moxie]

murray mint in another qf..and maybe stannosaurus is going to put up a decent defence of his title.

Andy dug out of that first set TB, saving 3 set points, I think. That made his day much easier. Haven't watched much of Stanimal at all.

 

[Carol]

 

[Tennis Fan]

In fairness, Tennis Fan, I don't think you can say Milos is just "hype" anymore. He's been pretty solid top 10 for a while now. I'm no fan of his game, but he has weapons beyond the serve, and he's dedicated and ambitious. I put him in a category with Berdych, except that Raonic will likely be luckier in that the guys you (rightly) say he won't beat in a Slam are aging out, and Raonic is just 25. That said, he was taken down by a Spaniard on clay...not a complete shock. Great win for Ramos-Viñolas.

I'd like to see some of the Gasquet-Nishikori match. Was pretty surprised that Gasquet won, but also pleased for him. With Tsonga out, nice for the French fans.

That's just my opinion. I think it's hype. I don't think that his game is diverse enough to win a major, now he might surprise because that's always a possibility, but Milos is lacking too many things IMO. I am pleased that he's improved significantly, but I see him as no more touted to win a major than Berdych, and Berdych is my boy too, but it is what it is.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

I think stan has a shot at retaining his title looking at what I have seen of him so far.

actually its a bit more open as to who will win than a lot of folk are thinking..people going "oh cupcake draw for djoko, give him the title now already" ..

2nd week could be full of unexpected goings-on.

 

[Moxie]

That's just my opinion. I think it's hype. I don't think that his game is diverse enough to win a major, now he might surprise because that's always a possibility, but Milos is lacking too many things IMO. I am pleased that he's improved significantly, but I see him as no more touted to win a major than Berdych, and Berdych is my boy too, but it is what it is.

Probably just a difference in semantics. Our opinions of him are not that far disparate. His ambition is what intrigues me. He's added Moyà, and now he's got McEnroe in as a consultant for grass. If nothing else, he's very serious.

 

[Moxie]

I think stan has a shot at retaining his title looking at what I have seen of him so far.

actually its a bit more open as to who will win than a lot of folk are thinking..people going "oh cupcake draw for djoko, give him the title now already" ..

2nd week could be full of unexpected goings-on.

Well, the first week was already full of unexpected goings-on. You're probably right that it looks a lot more wide-open than people were thinking before it started. This has to be the most surprising men's slam in some years, at week one. It could be all drama and upset, and then...oh, Djokovic wins it anyway. Or not.

 

[Moxie]

Thanks for posting that, Carol. They're showing the match on TC now, so I can get a closer look, but it really did seem like Gasquet was the calmer player. Nishikori was panicking a bit. I guess the pressure was more on him. But Gasquet's BH was really on fire.