French Open 2022

First topic message reminder :

Draw sections

1- Djokovic (possible R4 Schwartzmann or Dimitrov)
2 - Nadal (possible R2 - Wawrinka, possible R3 Fognini)
3 - Zverev
4 - Alcaraz (possible R4 Norrie/Thiem)
5 - Ruud
6 - Tsitsipas (possible R4 Shapovalov)
7 - Rublev
8 - Medvedev

Possible QFs
Djokovic vs Nadal (!)
Zverev vs Alcaraz
Ruud vs Tsitsipas
Rublev v Medvedev

Tough draw for everyone in the top half. Tsitsipas moves into contention a bit more after this draw.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/tennis/french-open-2022-draw-possible-routes-to-final-for-djokovic-nadal-alcaraz-swiatek-and-raducanu-explained/ar-AAXu4Mz

Casper Ruud wins 6-1 4-6 7-6 6-3. Rune’s time will come but Ruud was just a little bit better tonight.

So we have:

Nadal - Zverev

Ruud - Cilic


The top half had a normal outcome, it could have been Djokovic - Zverev or even Djokovic - Alcaraz, but Nadal - Zverev cannot be considered a surprise at all.

Following seeds, only Tsitsipas and Medvedev failed to make it to the last 8.
Medvedev never really performed at Roland Garros, but it is also true that he got to QF last year (first time he survived the first round prior to this season) but I would have expected to see Tsitsipas in the semifinals.

In that bottom half Runne has been the nice surprise though I didnt like his attitude against Ruud. I also expected Sinner to maybe reach QF over Rublev.

Can Zverev beat Nadal? well... he can in a perfect day for him and a bad day for Nadal. Can this happen? it could, but I doubt it.

Cilic or Ruud? normally I would bet for Ruud, but Cilic seems to be in the zone at the moment... this is a really interesting match, with two opposite styles very well performed so far by both of them.

My bet would be a Nadal - Ruud final, but who knows.


As for women:

I cant imagine how would Kasatkina beat Swiatek, so for me Iga will be in the final.

More difficult for me is to say who will make it to the final between Trevisan and Gauff, but I will say Gauff  - Iga final.

Ruud’s run to the semi finals wasn’t to much of a surprise as he’s one of the best clay court players. He’s got 7 titles on the dirt and reached the semi finals at Roland Garros, Monte Carlo. Madrid and Rome.
Cilic’s revival somewhat unexpected but had been spectacular.
Didn’t expect much from Medvedev considering he fans in with very few matches.
Tsitsipas isn’t for me. A bit overrated.
Rublev probably a bit disappointed as he once against couldn’t get past the 1/4 stage.

Swiatek takes the opening set 6-2 against Kasatkina. The Pole looking much like her usual self compared to the last couple of rounds.

Swiatek batters Kasatkina 6-2 6-1 to reach second Roland Garros final. 6th final in a row and #34 straight wins. The Pole is different league as this moment in time.

Gauff takes the opening set against Trevisan 6-3.

Gauff beats Trevisan 6-3 6-1, solid performance by the American. The Italian unable to protect her at all.

Nice women final!

Swiatek overwhelming favourite, I’d give Gauff 10-15% only to pull off one of the greatest upsets of all time.

Zheng could have beaten Iga, she won the first set in their fourth round match, and then she had a medical time out which required privacy and it later transpired she developed cramps because she was menstuating - a problem that men don't have to worry about and which often is the cause of the inconsistency complained about in the womens game. We have a two week tournament and women are on a four and half weekly cycle so I suspect these types of issues will affect several of the women players (ps: I am not sure if they are allowed to take drugs to delay the start of it).

Separate to that, Iga is on a good run but outside of this good run of hers she hasn't been such an overwhelming favorite in tournaments. This is only her second grand slam final. That said she does have quite a good record at Roland Garros. Facing her is a rapidly maturing 18 years old, Coco Gauff, who also seems to have good form on clay. I just don't think Iga is such an overwhelming favorite. I agree Iga is favorite but I think it is difficult to call what is going to happen in the final. I think it could turn into quite a battle. However I have heard it said that Gauff needs to serve well to have a chance.

I would say that Zverev hgas more of a chance appearing in a semi at RG against Rafa than in some years.

But I'm still expecting a Rafa win. The Cilic match could be a long one. Is Cilic slight favourite given the form he's in? I would say, yes.

I think Swiatek has done well to get to the final. It's not easy being overwhelming favourite and, unsurprisingly, she's had a few rocky moments.

But she has won a couple of matches without being at her best and I think she'll have too much for Gauff.

Nadal wins the opening set 10-8 in the tie break. A monumental 91 minute set.
Sascha broke in the opening game of the match. Nadal broke back at 3-4.
Sascha saved 3 set points at 4-5.
Nadal saved three set points in the breaker.

I am not a fan of Zverev but he was totally robbed in that 1st set. By far the better player in my opinion but didnt get it done. I think Nadal stalling while Zverev had those points to serve for the tie break is not right. Messing around with his towels while Zverev getting ready to serve, that should be not be permitted. If the server is ready, the opponent needs to be ready, I think umpire has to step in there. Nadal taking ages on serve is one thing but I think on return its crazy and if I was Zverev there I would have been really annoyed. Cant see Zverev coming back from losing a set he was by far the better player in.

The time warning mechanism is nothing more than a PR stunt. They refuse to implement the penalties properly.

Nadal breaks opening game set 2. Sascha looking a little crestfallen

Sascha breaks back immediately 1-1

Nadal breaks again after an incredible rally(44 shots) 2-1

Sascha breaks back again 2-2

Nadal is absolutley drained

Sascha holds 3-2 another lengthy game.

Sascha breaks again 4-2

Nadal breaks back 3-4. Shocking game by Sascha.

Sascha breaks again 5-3, nadal broken in every service game in set 2.

Nadal breaks back again 4-5. Sascha also gets a warning for swearing.
It’s been a terrible set so far

Nadal finally holds serve in the second set 5-5

again there. Zverev serving 5-5 and 30-30 and Nadal over with this towels as Zverev is ready to serve. How is the umpire not stepping in there. I thought the pace was dictated by the server and you were not allowed just wander off for a break. I just think thats crazy

Sascha holds from 0-30 down 6-5

slashermcguirk wrote:again there. Zverev serving 5-5 and 30-30 and Nadal over with this towels as Zverev is ready to serve. How is the umpire not stepping in there. I thought the pace was dictated by the server and you were not allowed just wander off for a break. I just think thats crazy

According to Mark Woodbridge, both are abusing the shot timer massively

Nadal holds 6-6, but Sascha down and badly hurt

Sascha being wheelchaired from the court. Sad scenes.

Horrific ankle roll for Sascha

Nadal wins 7-6 6-6, Zverev retires

Desperately gutting ending for the German

Surely Zverev won't be able to continue. What a sad ending. Although he won't have wanted it to finish like this, Rafa will no doubt be pleased to have got it done without any more sets.

As I write I see that it's all over.

It was a cruel way for the match to end.

I think if Zverev took that tie break he would have won the match. That was very cruel. I dont particularly like Zverev but he was by far the better player in that match in my opinion. Nadal such a tough competitor but Zverev was dictating so much of the play.

Heartbreaking way to end

Just on a tangent, unless they reverse the points decision at Wimbledon
Medvedev is #1
Zverev #2
In 10 days time

Didnt feel to me like Zverev was. Certainly on the return Nadal was wasting far too much time when Zverev was standing ready to serve. I think that has to be called out, you could see Zverev a few times looking at the umpire. I know on serve several players will go over the clock but on return its crazy

Jeff Navarro wrote:

slashermcguirk wrote:again there. Zverev serving 5-5 and 30-30 and Nadal over with this towels as Zverev is ready to serve. How is the umpire not stepping in there. I thought the pace was dictated by the server and you were not allowed just wander off for a break. I just think thats crazy

According to Mark Woodbridge, both are abusing the shot timer massively

While we commiserate with the unlucky Zverev, we have learned that Andy Murray is through to the semis in a 125 Challenger in Surbiton.

Good field for this event. Murray got a little lucky in not having to face Albot in the second round but still had something of a struggle to overcome Albot's conquerer, the lowly-ranked Brouwer, 7-6 7-6.

Today he beat Brandon Nakashima, who has been as high as 62 in the rankings, 6-4, 7-6. Next up is Denis Kudla (best ranking 53). Likely final opponent is Jordan Thompson who achieved a ranking of 43.

very sad for Zverev

he was giving Nadal a very hard time... and indeed, had he won the second set tie break, Nadal would have had a huge problem.

I cant understand why they were playing under the roof, because in the end, humid conditions exagerated for the roof were in part cause of this accident.

I understand that if it rains roof has to come out, but playing indoors just in case, doesnt seem reasonable.
It rained in the begining but they could have just waited an hour and start normal after that.

slashermcguirk wrote:again there. Zverev serving 5-5 and 30-30 and Nadal over with this towels as Zverev is ready to serve. How is the umpire not stepping in there. I thought the pace was dictated by the server and you were not allowed just wander off for a break. I just think thats crazy

He's been doing this with impunity for his whole career and it frankly stinks.

The French open itself is so dull though.

Cilic takes opening set vs Ruud. The big man is really rolling back the years

Ruud levels up 6-4 second set

Jeff Navarro wrote:Nadal wins the opening set 10-8 in the tie break. A monumental 91 minute set.
Sascha broke in the opening game of the match. Nadal broke back at 3-4.
Sascha saved 3 set points at 4-5.
Nadal saved three set points in the breaker.

This is worth a look for those that didn't watch

If you don't have 4 minutes to spare watch the point from 0.31 to 0.41 which is set point at 6-4 - impressive and 2.15 - 2.30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaL5PyZxXaU

A woman just ran on the court and glued herself to the net. Got to admit I’ve never seen anything like it before.

Jeff Navarro wrote:A woman just ran on the court and glued herself to the net. Got to admit I’ve never seen anything like it before.

A selfish law breaking oaf who needs the book and anything else to hand thrown at her.

Henman as feeble and lily livered in the studio as he was on the court referring to her as ''a lady'' and ensuring not to condemn her criminality.

Ruud seems to have found an extra gear, he takes the third set 6-2

Casper Ruud reaches maiden major final after powering through Marin Cilic. 3-6 6-4 6-2 6-2. Ruud managed to win the key second set after which Cilic faded.

Well, I'm sure Rafa would rather face Ruud in the final than GS champ Cilic who has been in two other Slam finals.

Very difficult to see anything other than GS No 22 for Nadal.

If Zverev is serving and having to wait for Nadal to stop playing with his towels then any delay is recorded in Zverev's time between points.  So Rafa is responsible for his own time between points but also at least partly responsible for Zverev's time between points.

Zverev - Rafa less than two set match lasted longer than Ruud - Cilic's four set match.  I felt that Zverev had the beating of Rafa and it was Rafa's resilience that was keeping him in it.  Then Zverev had the nasty injury.  I hope he recovers completely.  Zverev has proven himself in non slam tournaments winning for example an Olympic Gold and having two end of year ATP tournament wins. He has been building himself up nicely in slam tournaments so that it now looks like he is close to winning one soon - it may have been this tournament if not for that injury.