French Open discussion thread

[Mad for Chelsea]

I thought it was about time we got one of these started. While Federer surprisingly (cough cough) had the advantage of starting his campaign nice and early on day 1, Djokovic is currently in action against Sousa of Portugal. Also on at the moment we have everyone's favourite Briton... James Ward. He's been handed a tough draw against Tommy Robredo, but is battling hard, despite being a break down in the first.

We're also due our first major upset over on court 1, with Nishikori on his way out against Klizan. Injury issues? Finally we have Mahut vs Kukushkin in a pleasant match between two talented shot-makers. That one's at one set all, with the intriguing possibility of the winner meeting Isner in R2.

EDIT: in the time it took me to write this one, Ward has broken back, and is level at 3-3, well done that man .

[CaledonianCraig]

James Ward takes a cracking first set 6-4 and they are promptly pulled off because of rain. I think that is a good thing for him as it was a draining first set so he will be able to recharge his batteries whilst Robredo sits and suffers.

[Mad for Chelsea]

well done James Ward .

Forces a first BP, which Robredo saves well, controling the point before putting away the easy smash. Ward has another chance after Robredo misses a volley. Robredo saves that one with a lovely crosscourt FH. Ward has a third opportunity after a fortunate net-chord, but nets a sliced BH. A fourth set point arrives after another missed volley from Robredo, and this time Ward gets on top in the rally and wraps it up with a FH crosscourt, to take the set 6-4.

They're off for rain now though .

[Mad for Chelsea]

the local forecast from Meteofrance is for it to rain softly for another 15 minutes or so and then we should have a drier patch, which is good news.

[CaledonianCraig]

Yes MfC and for me the break has come at a good time for James.

[Mad for Chelsea]

yeah probably not a bad thing. Quite a draining first set, and while Ward's stamina is usually pretty good (see his DC matches where he finishes strongly, or even his marathon match to qualify here) there's no doubt that's a department where Robredo is particularly strong.

In this match so far I think Ward has done a good job of finding the Robredo BH, which is a fairly weak shot, and has been willing to take his chances when they've presented themselves. He's also defended well. I would like (in general really, not just here) to see Ward be a little more aggressive off the second serve return. His BH is strong enough IMO to jump into the shot a bit more and look for the advantage, rather than sit back, return deep and engage the rally.

[laverfan]

MfC, CC.. Apologies for not putting up discussion threads. Hopefully will do so regularly from tomorrow onwards.

[lags72]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching that first set, some truly dazzling tennis by Ward. Wish I was in Paris right now with a ticket to watch the rest of this fascinating encounter live once the rain clears, but grateful for good coverage on the box.

Other than drawing one of the top five, a first round v battle-hardened Robredo - who has pretty much seen it all and feels so comfortable on clay - is about as tough as it gets for a qualifier. Those three wins which took Ward into the main draw have clearly provided great preparation.

Odds obviously remain in favour of Robredo turning this around, but with his qualifying success and this opening set performance alone, Ward has already acquitted himself well.

What an upset if he could somehow see this through, but if not he can leave RG with his head held high.

[lags72]

Ward continues to match Robredo shot for shot. And it's not as though Robredo himself is below par, in fact he looks on very good form.

Ward looks every inch a top 20 guy right now. Impressive stuff   

edit : has just conceded a crucial break and Robredo now about to square the match

[Mad for Chelsea]

ach, just a few too many errors in that 9th game, missed three pretty easy shots and just didn't do enough with the volley on BP. Still, he's playing well, and is so far matching Robredo, needs to keep doing this for the next 2 hours or so though, that's the tough ask.

[Mad for Chelsea]

the UEs really creeping up for Ward. Robredo not doing much, but keeping it in and deep enough. Ward needs to be careful or this one will get away from him quickly...

[naxroy]

so the 8 times champion, actual number 1 and defending champion starts on lenglen,and djokovic on chartrier...interesting

[CaledonianCraig]

Ward beginning to drop his level dramatically. He now trails 5-1 in the third set. Unless he can rediscover his first setform immediately then this match is a lost cause I am afraid.

[Mad for Chelsea]

a much easier third set for Robredo. Ward rather forgetting what he'd done so well in the first couple of sets, and unable to find the Robredo backhand enough.

Djokovic rather amusingly being broken when serving for the match, after having struggled a little to serve out sets 1 and 2 as well. It's become a real trend for him in the last year or so.

Simon safely through in straight sets. Melzer on his way against Goffin, 2-1 in sets and a break up in the fourth.

[HM Murdock]

Two sets and 5-2 up, guess who just failed to serve the match out AGAIN!

[lags72]

Yes his level has certainly dropped but it's not too much of a surprise that the gulf in ranking would begin to show at some stage of a five setter. Robredo now asserting his superiority and vast experience, but Ward undoubtedly gave him a scare in the early part of the match.

[TopoftheChops]

Robbie Ginepri still plays?!

[lags72]

Robbie Ginepri still plays?!

Apparently so !

He won a Challengers event last month in Florida, following which his ranking rocketed from 442 to 279 .......

Nice warm-up for Rafa, he has no doubt expended more energy in practise matches.

[The Special Juan]

I don't think he'll be playing for much longer somehow...

[ChequeredJersey]

According to my live text update: "This was by no means a vintage display from Nadal, but he did what he needed to do to make it into the next round". Understating it a bit there, a double bagel usually a bit more than what was "needed to make the next round"

[The Special Juan]

GGL took the first against Stan. Not the easiest first round draw I've ever seen!!

[naxroy]

not a great match by nadal, but ginepri really is not at the level for this stages

[lags72]

Fifth set drama Bagnis v Benneteau ......

[naxroy]

ggl for first round is quite bad luck, above all once you enter as number 3 expecting some easier draw

[The Special Juan]

Stan's going home. I really can't see him coming back from a set and a break down.

[CaledonianCraig]

Well TSJ Stan will hang in there and if Garcia-Lopez has a nervy service game as victory nears it could change this match right around. Seems he is just trying to hit the ball too hard and over-hitting bringing unforced errors.

[The Special Juan]

I think GGL is just too solid for him today CC. For all his shot making ability, I don't fancy Stan to out-rally players too often. As for GGL, I never knew he had it in him.

[CaledonianCraig]

Can I retract that previous post? lol

Wawrinka now a double break down in the fourth set. The writing is on the wall. Garcia-Lopez playing some great tennis.

[The Special Juan]

Stan's going to get bagelled. Unbelievable scenes.

[CaledonianCraig]

Wawrinka is out. Beaten convincingly 6-4 5-7 6-2 6-0 by Garcia-Lopez who played the match of his life. Stan really is an enigma. Wawrinka and Nishikori crash out today.

[TopoftheChops]

Nadal will lose to Thiem in the 2nd round

[Mad for Chelsea]

Nadal will lose to Thiem in the 2nd round

if you really believe that, get down to the bookies now

huge upset with Stan out first round. don't think anyone expected that at all, I certainly didn't.

[TopoftheChops]

I can feel another rosol match on the way

[DJB14]

(sorry to repost this but just realized I posted on the wrong thread)

I just heard Nadal say that he'll have two days off before his next match. Am I the only one that thinks its stupid for the organisers to start the tournament on Sunday but come the second round its just like a normal schedule giving them no room for delays if there is more rain?

Why don't they just alternate the days and leave themselves the middle Sunday in case part of the draw needs to catch up.
.

[naxroy]

well thiem is a difficult and tricky match for nadal for sure.

they ve never played eachother, so the surprise factor is there
thiem is playing great
its only second round

but one thing is saying that it can be tricky and another saying thiem is to win this.

[yloponom68]

For me, it's not the LOSS per se, but the manner of the loss for Stan. He's No 3 in the world, won his 1st Major singles title (January), 1st TMS title (April), beating Nadal and Federer, respectively.

As a player of that quality, to show no understanding of his game, where it was taking him, what he was doing wrong - wow! Guy's an amazing player but seemingly no mental depth to translating his talents to a "different" opponent today. Part of being that caliber of player is being able to win when you're not on your game - Garcia-Lopez doesn't have huge weapons, and didn't blast Stan off the court - he blasted himself off the court. Ouch!

[yloponom68]

Nadal v Thiem:

Not sure who he could practice with, to imitate the "weight" and trajectory the ball that Nadal hits, but as Ginepri just said, and Sampras, after seeing him in Australia - Nadal's shots are something very different from what anyone else produces. Going to be a big ask for Thiem, but what an opportunity for him at this young stage. Hope he'll enjoy it whatever happens, and who knows? guess if there was anytime you'd want to play Nadal, it's over this clay court season.

[naxroy]

btw, another year without the melbourne-paris double

[summerblues]

btw, another year without the melbourne-paris double

Well, that was never really on the cards this year, was it?

That said, pretty sad from Stan to go out like that. I did not get to see any of it, but getting bageled in the final set? Oh dear oh dear. He can now spend the next few rounds watching the Boss play.

[naxroy]

well, he was not a favourite, but was one of the possible outsiders

[naxroy]

it was a post not so much about a hope in stan but the fact that another year passes and its been 23 years already

[laverfan]

Stan and Nishi.

GGL has played some good clay tennis leading up to RG.

Bagnis hung tough, even though Benne had an MP on his serve and was always serving to stay in the match. Lydian should be happy to see Bagnis do well.

[summerblues]

it was a post not so much about a hope in stan but the fact that another year passes and its been 23 years already

Yeah, it is kind of odd - especially given how the last few years it has been always the same players winning the slams, yet they could never get the AO/RG double.

On the other hand, the last 9 years are explainable by Rafa - he pretty much always wins at RG and pretty much never at AO (of course, funnily enough, the one year he did win AO was exactly the year he failed to win RG - go figure).

[ChequeredJersey]

I can feel another rosol match on the way

Bit different to Rosol though, isn't it?

[Turron]

it was a post not so much about a hope in stan but the fact that another year passes and its been 23 years already

If Stan had won RG this year I think it would be a first in the Open Era. I can't think of anyone who has won their first two majors back to back over that period.

[TopoftheChops]

Dimitrov out to ivo karlovic. Li Na on the verge of defeat

[Jahu]

Choko and Nadal not making finals this year.

[lags72]

Tomic looks set for an early bath unless he can find something dramatic v Gasquet in this third set. The coverage on ITV has a female commentator (Marion Bartoli perhaps, I'm not 100% sure......) who waffles on and on and on, as though she is being paid by the word. She just will not shut up during the rallies, very very annoying.

Meanwhile Tomic's compatriot, old-timer Lleyton Hewitt has just gone out to Carlos Berlocq. You gotta give Lleyton credit for plugging away year after year, he doesn't seem to want to call it a day just yet. He declared himself fully-fit and in fine fettle in a pre-match presser, but this makes three R1 exits in three successive years.  With Paris costs being what they are, I can't help thinking the Hewitt family hotel bills + flights must be more than his RG prize money  

So then ...... both the men's and women's reigning Aussie Open Champs have been dumped out in the first round here in Paris. Something of a first, I believe .......

[CaledonianCraig]

Murray's French Open getting underway against Golubev.

[lags72]

Almost wintry conditions for this match but Andy has settled quickly with an early break.

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