official French Open thread

[Hs0022]

OK, so lets do it. Nole's tournament to lose? wasn't it his tournament to lose last year and the year before? and wasn't it his tournament to lose jointly with Nadal the year before that?

The best of five can play tricks on a hot player's form especially on clay.

 

[Hs0022]

didn't watch Serena play but she looks shaky and the French open has been far from being her type of tournament as history suggests. Maybe shell gas could shed some light on the elbow.

 

[nuraman00]

OK, so lets do it. Nole's tournament to lose? wasn't it his tournament to lose last year and the year before? and wasn't it his tournament to lose jointly with Nadal the year before that?

The best of five can play tricks on a hot player's form especially on clay.

Agree, Djokovic has been a favorite or co-favorite since 2011. Not saying he can't do it, just that nothing is new this year, except Nadal losing slightly more often then before.

Also, I have no doubt he will win one one of these years.

I can't say the same for Andy Murray and the Australian Open, though. I've been wanting him to win one after his 2011 loss in the Finals. I'm sure Murray will be a contender at a few more AO's, but I can't say with as much certainty whether he'll win it, like I can about Djokovic and a FO at some point.

The thing about Nadal is that he wins sets so convincingly. Against a lot of great players. Only been challenged a few times.

I'm fine with people picking Djokovic, he's a great player. Just think I'll put both he and Nadal as an equal chance.

 

[nuraman00]

didn't watch Serena play but she looks shaky and the French open has been far from being her type of tournament as history suggests. Maybe shell gas could shed some light on the elbow.

If Serena can get past the 3rd round, I think she can win.

 

[Old Lion]

I think it will be wide open on both sides. I would still take Djoker, but it would not surprise me if there is an upset. Also beginning of the end for Nadal.

I wont even attempt to pick the womens side. With Serena not 100% and on a slow surface, there are no guarantees.

 

[bksballer89]

So happy I get to enjoy the first 2 days without having to work.

Just like Wimbledon, the French always bring out a lot of early upsets due to those clay court specialist beating those guys who aren't a fan of clay

 

[cezero]

Agree, Djokovic has been a favorite or co-favorite since 2011.

at the French?

nope

not once, until maybe this year

 

[bksballer89]

at the French?

nope

not once, until maybe this year

Agree. Novak was never the favorite at the French.

 

[bksballer89]

Time for the media to start crying. Rafa is in the same quarter as Novak. Rafa, Novak, & Andy are all on the same half of the bracket.

If Fed doesn't make the finals, we will have a surprise finalist on the other side of the bracket.

Venus vs Sloan in round 1

 

[nuraman00]

at the French?

nope

not once, until maybe this year

What were the odds in 2011? Thought he had a good odds in 2014 too.

I also said "co-favorite", to indicate that he and Nadal both had good odds a few years.

 

[nuraman00]

Looking at the draw, I like it. A lot of potential intriguing matches in every round.

Also, even if Nadal loses to Djokovic, FED, Berdych, Murray, it's hard for me to consider it a "demise". Can't win them all, and those are great players.

He should still win at least one more major regardless of how he does at the FO.

To me, a demise would mean he's much less of a contender at a major than he is now.

 

[nuraman00]

I'm sick of Djokovic's quest for the FO. He had chances in 2011, 2012, 2013.

Since then, I haven't really cared if he wins anymore. I'm sure he will at some point, but a part of me would find it interesting if he was always denied of it. I wouldn't care if someone knocked him off.

 

[cezero]

I also said "co-favorite", to indicate that he and Nadal both had good odds a few years.

I don't agree. Tennis is one of the worst sports when it comes to bookie odds at majors.

This year is as close as Nole has been to a favorite, IMO.

I still consider Rafa the favorite since he's lost in Paris once in a decade, and 3 of 5 on Paris clay is a different ballgame than any of the lead in clay tournies.

 

[nuraman00]

I don't agree. Tennis is one of the worst sports when it comes to bookie odds at majors.

This year is as close as Nole has been to a favorite, IMO.

I still consider Rafa the favorite since he's lost in Paris once in a decade, and 3 of 5 on Paris clay is a different ballgame than any of the lead in clay tournies.

Agree. Those rallies at RG just aren't the same as those on other clay surfaces. They favor Nadal more at RG than other venues, and he can get to those balls.

About the sports odds, ok. I'm not as astute with keeping track of bookie odds for tennis.

 

[Smart]

In 2011 and last year, it was fair to call Nole a co-favorite. Nole had just beaten Nadal in Madrid and Rome in 2011. He was undefeated on the year, and it was considered a pretty huge upset when Fed beat him in the semis. It might be the biggest upset Fed pulled outside of that win over Sampras in 2001. And Nadal was only two years removed from the Soderling loss, with the year in between being Nadal's easiest French Open draw ever (outside of a clearly-exhausted Soderling, he didn't play a single top 16 player). In 2014, Nole was in better form from 2013 and Nadal was in worse form. And of course, the 2013 final was as tight as could be. It was very reasonable to think Nole could pull it off and many thought he would. In 2012 and 2013, Nadal was the clear favorite.

For what it's worth, I expect Nole to win this year. The difference in form this year is big enough to overcome Nadal's mental toughness at Roland Garros. And I'm not one to pick against Nadal. The only other years I can think of where I expected him to lose were 2006 (I expected Fed to win) and 2011 (I expected Nole to win). I think the early meeting helps Nole, since Nadal always plays better as the tournament goes along.

 

[bksballer89]

French Open 2015: Sunday schedule, Day 1 matches to watch - Tennis - SI.com

 

[Liberal Icon]

OK, so lets do it. Nole's tournament to lose? wasn't it his tournament to lose last year and the year before? and wasn't it his tournament to lose jointly with Nadal the year before that?

The best of five can play tricks on a hot player's form especially on clay.

Djokovic is going to win this year.

 

[Liberal Icon]

didn't watch Serena play but she looks shaky and the French open has been far from being her type of tournament as history suggests. Maybe shell gas could shed some light on the elbow.

You are indeed impossible.

 

[Liberal Icon]

If Serena can get past the 3rd round, I think she can win.

I agree but I have high hopes for Vika. she is gradually coming along.

 

[nuraman00]

Speaking of Soderling:

tennis.com - Soderling on upset of Nadal: It will never happen again, not in 100 years