Clay Court Season Thread

[cezero]

He felt well enough to give it a try today, and it wasn't a complete blowout against a guy tied with Nole for most wins on tour this year in Thiem.

The French doesn't start for another 10 days, so I'd say Fed's team will give it a week to decide.

If he's worried about aggravating an injury badly enough to miss Wimbledon, he might indeed skip Roland Garros. Needless to say, his thoughts revolve most around London and Rio with where he is in his career.

 

[Old Lion]

Thoughts on this? @cezero @Old Lion @Smart @nuraman00

Garber: Perhaps Federer should think about skipping Paris

Fed should have skipped the entire clay season. Now he may not be 100 going into Wimby. He should even consider skipping some of the hard courts if he is playing the Olympics.

 

[bksballer89]

Great effort by Nick today. Losing to Rafa in 3 tight sets

 

[nuraman00]

Thoughts on this? @cezero @Old Lion @Smart @nuraman00

Garber: Perhaps Federer should think about skipping Paris

As a fan, I would hate it. In some ways, you can all of the various skills he has, on clay.

But, if he's too hurt to play, then he should skip it.

But, there's 2 days off in between matches. It's not like Rome, where you play almost every day.

I'm also thinking that he would go mentally crazy the longer he held off playing, because he'd think about the competitive aspect of his next real match. Practice just isn't the same. He'd want to get back on the court.

I think if he can physically suit up like he did in Rome, he should play, although it's not an easy choice.

If he needs rest, skip Halle.

 

[nuraman00]

Fed should have skipped the entire clay season. Now he may not be 100 going into Wimby. He should even consider skipping some of the hard courts if he is playing the Olympics.

For hard courts, I think Olympics, then Cincinnati, then US Open.

If he were healthier, I would have added in Montreal / Toronto.

 

[nuraman00]

Stan has been so frustrating since the AO. Losing to Monaco today.

 

[nuraman00]

Del Potro out of the FO.

Del Potro withdraws from French Open

 

[tabascojet]

OK superfans defend this stupidity......
Woof: Serena gets sick after sampling dog's food

 

[nuraman00]

I thought Nishikori vs. Gasquet would be a 3 setter.

 

[nuraman00]

Djokovic vs. Nadal in the QF tomorrow.

Bacsinzky vs. Muguruza could be the match of the day.

Kuznetsova plays Serena tomorrow. Haven't seen Kuznetsova in a while. Consistency within a game (not even within a set) has been a problem with her the past few years. If she's gotten this far, she must be doing ok.

 

[Smart]

Thoughts on this? @cezero @Old Lion @Smart @nuraman00

Garber: Perhaps Federer should think about skipping Paris

I don't understand why everyone looks at the French Open like Fed doesn't have a chance. I think it might be his best chance at this point. Djokovic is his biggest kryptonite, and the FO is the one slam you can't count on Nole to make a deep run. Even if he does, there is no reason Fed couldn't beat Nole. He beat Nole in 2011 when Nole played one of his better clay court matches.

Rafa is past his prime and beatable. Murray always stunk on clay, and while he may be a bit better on it now, I do think the weaker competition is a big reason for his recent success. Stan is inconsistent. Sure, there a bunch of other guys capable of beating Fed on clay, but no one is a lock.

Also, I don't think a 6 and 4 loss to Thiem (#7 in the Race to London) is a terrible result. If that is Fed with a bad back, then he could easily make a deep run with a bad back and win the tournament without it.

 

[bksballer89]

Djokovic extends streak vs. Nadal to 7 in Rome

 

[bksballer89]

Really good semis today between Novak and Kei. Not sure there's enough in tank for Novak to defeat Murray tomorrow.

Also on the Women's Side it is an all american finals as Keys faces Serena

 

[Old Lion]

Really good semis today between Novak and Kei. Not sure there's enough in tank for Novak to defeat Murray tomorrow.

Also on the Women's Side it is an all american finals as Keys faces Serena

If Madison can ever find some consistency in her game she could rise to the top.

 

[bksballer89]

If Madison can ever find some consistency in her game she could rise to the top.

Just played a hell of a set vs Serena but wasn't good enough. Dropped the 1st set in a tiebreaker

 

[bksballer89]

Serena looking good heading into the French

 

[bksballer89]

I knew Murray would win today. Novak had back to back tough matches against Rafa and Kei. Beating Murray today was always going to be difficult

 

[nuraman00]

I knew Murray would win today. Novak had back to back tough matches against Rafa and Kei. Beating Murray today was always going to be difficult

Novak is so good at recovering from long matches too.

Pretty cool for Murray that they played "Oh Happy Birthday" after the Scottish national anthem, and gave him some sort of ladyfinger cake.

Match Point was cool too, I didn't think Murray got it in, he hit it too fast and I thought he initially hit it out.

Murray also got the better of moving Djokovic around the court, close the the net.

 

[nuraman00]

I don't understand why everyone looks at the French Open like Fed doesn't have a chance. I think it might be his best chance at this point. Djokovic is his biggest kryptonite, and the FO is the one slam you can't count on Nole to make a deep run. Even if he does, there is no reason Fed couldn't beat Nole. He beat Nole in 2011 when Nole played one of his better clay court matches.

Rafa is past his prime and beatable. Murray always stunk on clay, and while he may be a bit better on it now, I do think the weaker competition is a big reason for his recent success. Stan is inconsistent. Sure, there a bunch of other guys capable of beating Fed on clay, but no one is a lock.

Also, I don't think a 6 and 4 loss to Thiem (#7 in the Race to London) is a terrible result. If that is Fed with a bad back, then he could easily make a deep run with a bad back and win the tournament without it.

Interesting theory. I like the perspective.

 

[Liberal Icon]

Congratulations to both Serena Williams and Andy Murray.