RG day 6

Promising day, folks:

Stan - Jo-Will
Tipsy-Fed
Gasquet-Bellucci
and the big one: Juan- Nole. Looks like this one will start late afternoon. So that's a good way to start the weekend

Cant wait for Nole Delpo, its going to be a cracker!

watching Ferrer-Stakhovsky at the moment, while waiting for the cricket to start. Ferrer is in cracking form, it's just so hard to get the ball away from his forehand. I think he'll be a real test for Federer...

Ferrer marmalises Stak, he's through 6-1 6-1 6-3, and looks in top nick.

Today's lineup of men's matchups is really wonderful. I am taking Stan over Jo Willy, Roger will take janko although I think Janko might get a set there. Gasquet and bellucci is a really interesting matchup there, the finesse and flair of Gazza vs. the raw power and physicality of Bellucci. That one is a toss up, I like Gazza getting by in a tough match. As for Nole and Delpo, I am not ashamed to say it I am real nervous about this matchup.

Federer looks like he has his backhand is working again

If Wimbledon were to use the same balls, Federer would win it as easily as 2003-2006....or coudl be stopped by Karlo.

Tenez, please remember that Fed only started winning Wimby when the balls where changed to current ones.

Not wacthing yet but i'm glad i've set the recorder. Judged upon the BBC text comments it's like we're back in 2006:

John Lloyd and Andrew Castle are trying to find something negative to say about Federer's performance. It's difficult, and they haven't done too well so far. "He's got a hair out of place," says Castle.

Again, Federer quite good in that first set and then loses clearly a step or looks like he doesn;t want to try too hard, essentially relying on his serve.

I haven't ever seen Fed hit through a clay court like this, he looks like he is playing at wimbeldon. I think Fed likes the new Babolat balls, and I think Lydian is right the french doesn't look like it has as much top layering as in the past.

Tenez wrote:Again, Federer quite good in that first set and then loses clearly a step or looks like he doesn;t want to try too hard, essentially relying on his serve.

The match stats are really impressive:
1 st serve 67%
win/ue ratio 46/20
net approaches 23 out of 27
BP conversion 80%

Tipsy only made 12 UE's which makes the scoreline even more impressive..

What do you think T, can he surprise us all here?

GP, It won't surprise his most fanatic fans like me!

I am however a bot worried of Ferrer cause if Ferrer can drag him into a long match, it might be over.

But I must say this 1st set was clinical, big FHs, great BHs and serves plus mouvement....then he fell asleep.

Immense performance from Fed...on that form he puts himself well into contention for the title.

Ferrer will be a stern test though, and the fear is that Fed hasnt has his bad round performance yet or has peaked too soon.

T, even you would be a tiny bit surprised if he would win here, i remember you had a very nervous second week of RG 2 years ago

We've seen Ferrer before in a booming form, just before he got eaten alive by Federer..
Guys with a serve like that hardly ever drag Federer out of his comfort zone.
But indeed, Ferrer can make any opponant work hard

Think Ferrer could well be the man to put an end to Federers progression in this tournament.

As for Tipsarevic he was just "cannon fodder" considering he has still to get his first career title and is now 26!

gallery play wrote:T, even you would be a tiny bit surprised if he would win here, i remember you had a very nervous second week of RG 2 years ago

Where is this ballerina? we need it here!

Ferrer will be a test but look at their H2H, 11-0!
Federer's game is not a good match-up for Ferrer who is essentially the kind of player who gives Federer good groove on his groundstrokes as he cant really hurt him like the other top players can.
Federer's serve with these new balls and low-dressed courts will also make life tough for Ferrer. I'm going for Federer in 4 sets.

Ferrer will be a test but look at their H2H, 11-0!
---------------------------

We have been there before with Blake, Soderling, Davydenko and then they decide to break that streak in the most important time for Federer.


I, and more importantly hope that Federer will not take Ferrer slightly.

you forgot Berdych Tenez

I'm staggered by how Wozniacki can be n°1 in the world, she has no weapons, does nothing with the ball. Has she even hit a winner today?

Yes and Berdych though I did not mention him cause he beat Federer at the 2004 Olympics BEFORE Fed coudl built a reasonable streak against him.

Wozni sums up all thats great about women's tennis at the moment...in a sea of baseline automatons she's consistency personified, or in other words a grinder.

Tenez wrote:
I, and more importantly hope that Federer will not take Ferrer slightly.

You are getting nervous T!
Time for the ballerina indeed. Not sure if v2 is ready for reverse jinxing though

Yes Tenez, and to be fair Ferrer is in good form this year and with good belief.
But I still think Federer's game is a poor match up for Ferrer.
A lot will come down to what sort of day Fed is having...and he's still due his 1 bad day at the office in a slam.
Cant really see him losing on balance though - not in a slam vs Ferrer. Other guys he's lost to in slams like Berdy and Sod have huge weapons. Ferrer doesnt.

At this rate the Juan-Nole match is not going to finish today..

Talking about Wozni, she's losing big time to Hanchukova who's not without genuine talent.
However, we all know Daniela will do her usual choke as the finishing line approaches.

here comes the choke, Wozzi back to 3-4

Federer's had more than his fair share of problems with Tipsy in the past, so getting through emphatically and with what sounds to have been a great performance will certainly help his confidence.

Ferrer's the sort of player, especially on clay, who will make you work for everything, so if they do meet in the QFs it will probably be quite a long and draining match (even if Fed wins in 3). The h2h does rather prove the point though that guys without a heavy shot are meat and drink to Federer.

Still don't think Fed has a big chance, mainly because he would have to beat Djokovic in the semi and Nadal in the final, which on clay and with recent form is a mighty hurdle, even for a GOAT

I do apologise, Wozzi is out, well done Daniela (who IMO is better looking AND a better tennis player to watch). So that's the top two seeds out of the women's tournament then, who's your money on now?

Really glad for Daniela, always had the talent and just needed that really one big win to raise her self-belief. There's none more talented than her out there and she's an allcourt player.
Hard to pick a winner for FO, could be any of them to be honest - even Daniela, after all there's none really better than her left skillwise. Just depends on her head!

Agree about the better looking angle too!

Hanchukova has to be the female version of Gasquet or perhaps Nalbandian - great natural ability but most questions concern the most important part of any competitor, the bit between the ears.

It's an odd thing with the WTA - the more successful a player, the better looking they are promoted as being. OK, Wozniacki is attractive but Daniela is better looking but less noted for it (and as for MaSha, I just don't get all the hype about her looks - OK, another tall blonde Russian, but if it wasn't for Kournikova being her predecessor she'd be largely ignored as far as her looks are concerned).

Shazzapova has never really done it for me, I also dont get the hype and her 'diva' personality isnt attractive either.

lydian wrote:Shazzapova has never really done it for me, I also dont get the hype and her 'diva' personality isnt attractive either.

On that we agree!

Interesting fact - Out of 21 French players at the start they are now down to only four left.

At present Tsonga took the first set against Wawrinki but is now 3-1 down in the second.

Gasquet is on fire!!! What a talent...I almost forgot.

...still standing a bot too far back for my liking.

He seems also much fitter than in the past!!!

There's hope for us yet Tenez 8)

I am really enjoying this FO cause for once we can see great shot making finally paying off.

We have yet to see how Nadal, Djoko and Murray will fare but it seems taking risk finally pays off.

We have long rallies AND nice short ones too.

THat's what tennis shoudl be all about.

Tenez wrote:We have yet to see how Nadal, Djoko and Murray will fare but it seems taking risk finally pays off.

They don't take risks, they hit the ball into the sky and wait untill everyone falls asleep. Federer will win this year.

Tsonga and Gasquet looking very good. Tsonga's serving today has been sublime. Glad Murray isn't in that half of the draw.

There is certainly more clay this year than the previous. It;s obvious. Th eway they slide and the fact they all look slow on their feet adds to the fact that a good shot is not as easily retrived as on hard.

Bellucci breaks in the 4th. Gasquet just going off the boil a bit. Allowing Bellucci too much time and space to whack that forehand. Needs to come in off from the behind the baseline.

Wawrinka takes the 3rd set. Be interesting to see how Tsonga plays this as the first 2 sets seemed very intense.

Gasquet through in 4. Wawrinka and Tsonga all set to go to 5th set.

legendkillar wrote:Gasquet through in 4. Wawrinka and Tsonga all set to go to 5th set.

Looks like the espn channel here in the US is not going to be too happy. Djokovic and Delpo are going to have to play tomorrow and NBC is going to be airing the French Open matches this weekend.

The French Open organizers have done an abysmal job with the scheduling.

kemet wrote:

legendkillar wrote:Gasquet through in 4. Wawrinka and Tsonga all set to go to 5th set.

Looks like the espn channel here in the US is not going to be too happy. Djokovic and Delpo are going to have to play tomorrow and NBC is going to be airing the French Open matches this weekend.

The French Open organizers have done an abysmal job with the scheduling.

Apparently it is starting to rain there.

Agree with you fully. The organisers have dropped the ball on this one this year.

legendkillar wrote:

kemet wrote:

legendkillar wrote:Gasquet through in 4. Wawrinka and Tsonga all set to go to 5th set.

Looks like the espn channel here in the US is not going to be too happy. Djokovic and Delpo are going to have to play tomorrow and NBC is going to be airing the French Open matches this weekend.

The French Open organizers have done an abysmal job with the scheduling.

Apparently it is starting to rain there.

Agree with you fully. The organisers have dropped the ball on this one this year.

Well the organizers have now moved the Djokovic-Del Potro match to the Suzanne Lenglen Court since the Wawrinka-Belucci match has just ended. If it rains, then it may be better for both players since it would be a shame if Novak's run were to end under these circumstances.

kemet wrote:

legendkillar wrote:

kemet wrote:

legendkillar wrote:Gasquet through in 4. Wawrinka and Tsonga all set to go to 5th set.

Looks like the espn channel here in the US is not going to be too happy. Djokovic and Delpo are going to have to play tomorrow and NBC is going to be airing the French Open matches this weekend.

The French Open organizers have done an abysmal job with the scheduling.

Apparently it is starting to rain there.

Agree with you fully. The organisers have dropped the ball on this one this year.

Well the organizers have now moved the Djokovic-Del Potro match to the Suzanne Lenglen Court since the Wawrinka-Belucci match has just ended. If it rains, then it may be better for both players since it would be a shame if Novak's run were to end under these circumstances.

It would be unfortunate if Djokovics streak ended like that. I cannot understand how that on the opening day of the championship none of the top 4 were in action.

How in the hell is Djokovic v Del Potro not being covered by BBC interactive and Eurosport?!?!?! Absolute disgrace!

Its on sky channel 410 - EurosportUK

People not being allowed in for the Nole Delpo match?
They are making a lot of noise and Nole has complained about it.