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

[Carol]

I'd say that all of them have the same pressure but for different reason. They have their own ego and the wish to win this RG
Stan because he won last year and he wants to try again
Muzz because he has improved a lot playing on clay and after to win in Roma he thinks he is able to to win RG
Thiem because he plays well on clay and to win this RG it would be his big dream
Carbiñe the same, she seems to be very focused, playing very aggressive and also it would be her big dream
And Novak because it would be his first RG win after to try for several years
The winner? I couldn't put my hands in the fire for any of them just in case.....

 

[Moxie]

I'd say the pressure is similar for both of them. And at the late junctures of the slams Stan has been the clutcher of the two players the past couple years. Stan has some awful losses in early rounds but this is where he usually steps up and plays great.

I think Stan plays great when he's not expected to. Tell me when he did when he was expected to.

 

[Billie]

Just read an interview with Magnus Norman from 2 days ago and he says that Wawrinka doesn't feel any pressure about defending RG and that he feels great on the courts of RG. Also Stan's confidence, after mediocre Madrid and Rome performances, is back and they feel that playing Geneva was a great move.

All this will be tested tomorrow.

 

[EdbergsGhost]

Just read an interview with Magnus Norman from 2 days ago and he says that Wawrinka doesn't feel any pressure about defending RG and that he feels great on the courts of RG. Also Stan's confidence, after mediocre Madrid and Rome performances, is back and they feel that playing Geneva was a great move.

All this will be tested tomorrow.

I expect that he will give Murray a beating.

 

[Billie]

I expect that he will give Murray a beating.

I don't know what English words he used, as this interview was for a Serbian reporter so he translated it, but he did sound very confident. It must feel great coming back to the place where you had such success a year ago. Before the start of the tournament, in the draw challenge, I had to pick one of them to win this semi and at the time I picked Murray, but now I am leaning towards Wawrinka. We'll see, I guess.

 

[DarthFed]

I think Stan plays great when he's not expected to. Tell me when he did when he was expected to.

I'd say the 2014 AO semifinal and 2015 RG semifinal. Both matches came after huge wins vs, Djokovic and Federer respectively. Both times Stan was playing a good but not great player (Berdych and Tsonga) that he took care of without too many problems. I think in both cases it wouldn't have been surprising if Stan had a letdown but he didn't. I wouldn't expect him to stink up the joint tomorrow.

 

[Moxie]

Djokovic v. Thiem is not a mystery, in the end, but Murray v. Wawrinka should be a battle.

 

[Moxie]

I'd say the 2014 AO semifinal and 2015 RG semifinal. Both matches came after huge wins vs, Djokovic and Federer respectively. Both times Stan was playing a good but not great player (Berdych and Tsonga) that he took care of without too many problems. I think in both cases it wouldn't have been surprising if Stan had a letdown but he didn't. I wouldn't expect him to stink up the joint tomorrow.

I don't see how those were "expected" follow-ups. As you said, he might have had a let-down. My question was when he followed up "as expected." I think he's much less reliable, when it comes to that. Look, I've nothing against him especially. But I think it will be a big fight with Murray tomorrow.

 

[DarthFed]

^ I think those matches were "as expected". He was the favorite in both after beating much better players the round before. But even though he was expected to win nobody would've been too surprised if he had a horrific performance and lost lamely in those semis. In the past few years he has now made a bunch of semis to go with the 2 GS finals (and wins) and the only really bad performance was last year in the USO semi vs. Roger. And Roger on fast courts in decent form is a nightmare for Stan to begin with.

 

[Moxie]

Oh, come on. It's not like he's been predictable and stalwart. He followed up his AO win in 2014 by losing first round at RG. And he hasn't been hugely predictable since. I'm just saying...who knows which Stan you get tomorrow, or if he plays on Sunday, even then. Tell me you predicted Wawrinka to win in the final last year.

 

[DarthFed]

The point is when he gets deep in slams (an indication that he is playing pretty well) he usually is a tough out. Going back to 2013 he made the USO semi and lost to Djokovic in 5, then won the 2014 AO, made the 2015 AO semis and lost to Djokovic in 5, then won 2015 RG. The last semifinal was last year at USO when he went down easily to Roger. But with all due respect to Murray, his game on clay is not exactly intimidating like Roger (even grandpa Fed) can be on a fast hard court. I know you're holding out hopes for Murray to coast to the title here and that's maybe clouding how you see things. If Stan shows up lame Murray definitely wins. If they both play "OK" or even just fairly well Murray probably wins. But if Stan plays near his best he is going to win tomorrow. He has the game to bully Murray around on slow surfaces in particular.

 

[Moxie]

I don't need you to remind me of Stan's CV. I agree that when he's on he's a tough-out. But it's not really like you to give so much ground to a guy that has been in QFs and SFs. And if you want resume, Murray has done better at that level.

I take offense that you have decided what I want and that it "clouds" how I see things. I'm sure I don't think that if Murray were to win here, he would "coast" to the title. No one but Djokovic can "coast" to the title this year, and even still... I'm merely saying that I find Stan to be unreliable, and that is consistent with anything I've ever said about him. Because that's how I feel about him. Sure, his ceiling is high, when he's there. And if he can hit through Djokovic, he can hit through Murray. On his best day. All I said about tomorrow is that it should be a battle. And I hope it is.

 

[Denis]

My picks: Novak in three, Stan in four. I think Murray Stan could go either way and should be the more entertaining semi although both are pretty good.

Also agreed on unpredictability of Stan. He does show up at slams more than others close to his ranking do.

 

[DarthFed]

I don't need you to remind me of Stan's CV. I agree that when he's on he's a tough-out. But it's not really like you to give so much ground to a guy that has been in QFs and SFs. And if you want resume, Murray has done better at that level.

I take offense that you have decided what I want and that it "clouds" how I see things. I'm sure I don't think that if Murray were to win here, he would "coast" to the title. No one but Djokovic can "coast" to the title this year, and even still... I'm merely saying that I find Stan to be unreliable, and that is consistent with anything I've ever said about him. Because that's how I feel about him. Sure, his ceiling is high, when he's there. And if he can hit through Djokovic, he can hit through Murray. On his best day. All I said about tomorrow is that it should be a battle. And I hope it is.

Well I didn't mean to offend you. I just think at this point we can't expect/hope Stan won't show up to a big match. He tends to show up and warp into Stanimal form at this point of the big tournaments (that was my point). He is extremely inconsistent from tournament to tournament, no doubt about that. It wouldn't surprise me at this point if he wins this tournament again and if he does it wouldn't surprise me if he loses to a cream puff in the first round of Wimbledon. That's just Stan being Stan.

 

[Carol]

Consistence and confidence is the key for the success. Garbine just has made my day, I hope Muzz can do it too

 

[Moxie]

Well I didn't mean to offend you. I just think at this point we can't expect/hope Stan won't show up to a big match. He tends to show up and warp into Stanimal form at this point of the big tournaments (that was my point). He is extremely inconsistent from tournament to tournament, no doubt about that. It wouldn't surprise me at this point if he wins this tournament again and if he does it wouldn't surprise me if he loses to a cream puff in the first round of Wimbledon. That's just Stan being Stan.

I neither expected nor hoped that Stan wouldn't show up. I simply said I don't have a lot of faith in him, for consistency, which you also say. Turns out, that's all the Wawrinka that we got, today. He's got a lot of game, but he's not a great champion. I think we agree on this.

 

[DarthFed]

I neither expected nor hoped that Stan wouldn't show up. I simply said I don't have a lot of faith in him, for consistency, which you also say. Turns out, that's all the Wawrinka that we got, today. He's got a lot of game, but he's not a great champion. I think we agree on this.

Yes, you were right and I was wrong. Murray played really well, better than expected. You've earned a cyber pat on the ass

 

[Moxie]

Yes, you were right and I was wrong. Murray played really well, better than expected. You've earned a cyber pat on the ass

Yum!

 

[Carol]

By the way Feli and Marc will play the finals vs the Bryan brothers, Vamos!!!!!!!

 

[Tennis Fan]

By the way Feli and Marc will play the finals vs the Bryan brothers, Vamos!!!!!!!

Yay. c'mon Lopezes!