The unofficial Roland Garros thread

[Hs0022]

This match is also in danger of being washed out. Rafa will benefit the most out of it. I just don’t get it why the GS organizers don’t get it that giving the players a roof solves everything. No wonder everyone but Rafa cares the least about Roland Garros.

 

[cezero]

Not so fast. In my opinion Thiem is more dangerous than Nole vs Rafa. I know the GS finals stage is gonna be new for him BUT IF CONDITIONS ARE BETTER than today Thiem can beat Nadal in the final by playing his best game.

Nadal in my view has always been a solid counterpuncher who benefits like a boxer who lets the opponent take a punch and it doesn’t land so good then Nadal knocks him out with his own solid one. Nadal rarely goes out there and aggressively plays to win a match all by himself. Some may disagree with my opinion but that’s fine too.

The conditions are the same for every player, and rafa has never struggled with wind on clay.

and thiem has done nothing to merit your cheerleading, lol.

 

[Hs0022]

The conditions are the same for every player, and rafa has never struggled with wind on clay.

and thiem has done nothing to merit your cheerleading, lol.

Rafa would prefer Nole over Thiem I think.

 

[cezero]

Rafa would prefer Nole over Thiem I think.

really?

he gave thiem a beating last year, and thiem melts in bo5 matches

i'd like to see thiem win, but it's just hard for me to imagine

 

[Old Lion]

Barty vs Vondrousova in the final. I dont think too many people had them in their bracket. I knew Barty would win a major at some point. This looks like it will be it already.

 

[tducey]

The men went pretty much according to plan but the women's side was anything but. All the best to both women in their final which I guess is tomorrow.

 

[gohusk]

The mens side has gotten so predictable that there's no point watching any major until the finals anymore. What's happened here? Where are the young players stepping up? There's no changing it because it's a prize sport but how can any up and comer compete with a guy who's basically an industry that's worth 9 figures?

 

[bksballer89]

Need hawkeye on clay immediately.

Ball was out and ump lie and say ball was in

 

[bksballer89]

Back on serve in the 5th

 

[bksballer89]

3 straight breaks of serve.

 

[Old Lion]

Nole ran out of gas

 

[cezero]

lol, HS got what he wanted

pretty sure when all's said and done tomorrow, he'll have wished nole was facing rafa.

should be an easy 3-0 for Rafa tomorrow.

 

[bksballer89]

lol, HS got what he wanted

pretty sure when all's said and done tomorrow, he'll have wished nole was facing rafa.

should be an easy 3-0 for Rafa tomorrow.

Easy?

Thiem beat Rafa 4X on Clay.

He probably won't win but I think he gets a set or 2.

 

[bksballer89]

Nole ran out of gas

A roof would have been nice. Unfair to Thiem to comeback tomorrow afternoon without a full day of rest to face the King of clay

 

[bksballer89]

Thiem beat Rafa 4 and 4 earlier in clay season at Barcelona.

Last year was his first ever GS final so maybe the moment was too much for him? 1st GS finals first Rafa on clay is always going to be a big moment for a guy playing his 1st GS finals.

I think he'll be more than ready tomorrow

 

[bksballer89]

Pretty crazy that considering how good Thiem been, they only played once on another surface which was that classic match at the US Open last year.

Rafa is 7-4 vs Thiem on Clay.

I'm thinking Thiem may have the 2nd most wins vs Rafa on Clay. Novak being 1st of course.

Did Fed beat him 4X or more on clay?

 

[cezero]

bo3 and bo5 dealing with rafa's topspin on clay are completely different animals.

thiem can be as ready as he wants, but he has zero chance unless he wins it in straights.

 

[bksballer89]

bo3 and bo5 dealing with rafa's topspin on clay are completely different animals.

thiem can be as ready as he wants, but he has zero chance unless he wins it in straights.

I don't think he win. I just think it will be a much better match than their only other 2 matches at RG and i do think he gets at least a set

 

[Hs0022]

lol, HS got what he wanted

pretty sure when all's said and done tomorrow, he'll have wished nole was facing rafa.

should be an easy 3-0 for Rafa tomorrow.

Let’s see. Five sets, no rest and a huge emotional win for Thiem does not bode well for a challenger. Yeah Rafa should toast him in straight sets just because he had an easy match and an extra day rest.

 

[Hs0022]

For the people who are writing off Thiem ( including myself) I just noticed this, he didn’t play two full matches on back to back days, instead he played half a five setter on Friday and another half on Saturday.

He is a young dude who is better this year than he was last year and just beat one of the top two contenders for the title and the number one player in the world. He has also beaten Federer and is capable of beating Nadal.

To me Thiem this year is a version of the “Unstoppable Nole” a couple of years ago with a better and one handed backhand. Just he needs to stay aggressive and hopefully the weather would cooperate. I see no reason why he can’t win it all here if a few things go his way.