Roland Garros - Day 3

Well ladies and gentlemen. Day 3 is upon us. Last of the first round matches.

Murray and Nadal in action today.

Serena Williams and Sharapova is also in action.

Something for the French in Gasquet and Benneteau.

Upsets?

I think Mayer will fall to Traver.
Larriere to possibly to oust Kirilenko.

Not too many matches of interest... I hope Haas wil finish the job against Volandri (he only needs to hold serve twice).
The only real upset that might occur today (but hopefully not!), is Dolgopolov losing the 5th set to his countryman.

I think as much as I like Dolgo's all or nothing approach, you can't help but wonder what discipline would do for his game.

I, emancipator, am not convinced by Dolgpolopolov. I believe Dolgopolopolopolov flatters to deceive. The funky game that Dolgopolopolopolopolov possesses is not a threat to the top players. Dolgopolopolopogopodopolov's game is too inconsistent to be a threat to the top players. Dolgopolopolopolpolgodopodogolov will never win a slam.



emancipator

I absolutely agree with you LK everytime I watch him play I think there goes a champ if ever I saw one.. if only if only..for every inspired brilliant shot he makes he makes so many unneccessary unforced errors. He definitely needs discipline and patience.. I hope he doesnt leave it too late before he realises what talent he has if he harnesses it.

Yep Dolgo has got himself embroiled there...but this is Dolgo, mad as a box of frogs at times with his shot selection!
Good to see Haas cutting it at 34yo...still got one of the best SHBHs...better than Gasquet IMO...but still not a patch on the great Roland Garros favourite, Guga!

Haas was ripping the BH yesterday. I hope he doesn't capitulate. Still has a break in the 4th.

Dolgo will be one of those frustrating riddles that will never be solved. What I will say is that I admire the fact he lives and dies by the sword.

At least he's had a rest overnight and may hold his nerve better today than his younger less experienced opponent. That BH when ripped as you say is quite a sight to behold...as is any ripped SHBH...such a shame the shot is being phased out. Our club pro says they don't teach the SHBH to any youngster now...the DHBH is basically stronger for return of serve and as kids seem to start learning earlier these days they need the strength of 2 arms to hold the racquet on that side. I coach my son who has a DHBH and as I have a SHBH I so wish he would want to revert to SHBH (like Sampras did!) but he prefers the double hander. So enjoy these SHBHers as they're a dying breed...maybe in 10 yrs time they'll realise that the SHBH offers benefits...but not until they speed up e courts as the SHBH gave most benefit for getting into the net quickly and playing cutting slices on lower bouncing surfaces. Shame...

Yes I agree about Dolgo...we need players like him to offer variation...he's a kind of modern flashing blade Leconte...but with a DHBH!!!!

This was a nice article about him...http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/bruce_jenkins/09/27/alexandr-dolgopolov/index.html
Which talks about the variety he has on the BH side.

I think Dolgo's BH slice is just magic at times. The length and also the pace he generates is amazing.

I play a SHBH and my nephew the swine uses a DHBH and all the players at my club use the DHBH. If you have a solid enough SHBH, there is a place for it in the game. I have got in the habit of when facing a serve to the BH, play a slice return to the FH. It does cause the server a lot of problems

I wonder how Murray will feel being last on Suzanne Lenglen given that Nadal, Djokovic and Federer were second/third on their respective courts.

I agree LK, a solid SHBH offers benefits no doubt...and Federer isnt doing too badly with one (or a few other top 20-30ers). Apparently Federer can generate 5000rpm on his BH slice...DHBHers would struggle to do that. SLice is a very underrated shot in the modern game...even in these conditions. Rafter used it to perfection against Muster at RG in 95 (I think) when he beat him using a grass-court game....it can be done!!! It just needs a quality attacking player to use it and be prepared to stick to using it.

Yes I dont think Murray is quite seen in the same breath as the top 3...he might be 4th in the world but the gap between top 3 and 4 is huge in terms of global appeal, etc.

Very true lydian. Rafter used it to perfection in his Wimbledon days and even Henman had one which paid the bills. It is a shot I am amazed that is un-used in tennis because of the dilemma as the returner. Do I try and blast a winner off it or do I play a slice return. It is such a great shot that can keep you in rallies which you may be losing in. Nadal has an unusual one as he tends not to move his body in direction of the ball. Djokovic's looks very ugly.

Trust my internet at work not to allow me to view latest scores.

How is Watson getting on?

I love the wawrinka backhand when in full flow. Has to be right up there with gasquet and haas. Anybody else miss Justine henin? loved watching her backhand. Any interest I had in women's tennis went when she retired

watson v vesnina: 6-2 4-4

Come on Hev!!

6-2 6-4, Heather is the first Brit into the second round. Well done Heather!

well done Heather

that's last year's points defended, at least.

More column inches for the British contingent.

Heather will meet either Lucie Hradecka (CZE) or Julia Goerges GER (25) in the second round.

Julia George ranked 27 has been as high as 15th (March this year). Julia got to the third round last year.
Lucie Hradecka is ranked 60, and was up to 41 last year. Hradecka won the womens doubles at Roland Garros last year.

Hmmmm a stern test for Watson in the next round.

Has Heather met any of these 2 before?

well done Heather

A guy I play tennis with just sent me an e-mail and is bringing out his Babolat balls!!!

legendkillarV2 wrote:Hmmmm a stern test for Watson in the next round.

Has Heather met any of these 2 before?

The stats indicate she hasn't met either of them. I would expect her to be meeting Julia George in the second round, as George has the better singles record. Doubles seems to be a different specialism compared to the singles (compare both the womens and mens games).

Good for Heather...you never know, the uniqueness of playing someone for the first time might give Heather a better chance.

Yes slasher, Stan has a nice BH...I prefer it to Gasquets. For all the column inches written about Gasquet's BH I dont like it as much as say even Federer's. Its much too spinny for my liking and he often looks out of balance when playing the shot. Much better looking shots in terms of the person, footwork and the stroke come from Stan, Haas, Almagro, Federer...even Youzhny. Federer's is probably the most textbook...but my fave of all time is still Kuerten's....had the ability to rip it flat or play very high balls too. An underrated talented he was...he beat Sampras and Agassi en-route to winning the WTF one year on carpet...that took some doing!

For me the best SHBH is Haas.

I always loved this picture of Federer's BH...not the first one on the page, the 2nd one. Amazing shot...look at the post-stroke extention. And the camera angle is fab too...plus you can just about see the ball whizzing forwards. Superb.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=267972

Julia George has just won her match 7-6 6-4, so we have Heather Watson v Julia George in the second round.

Me and friend are trying to work out who is the worst host/commentator on TV. We re-called John Inverdale who is now up there with Cowan.

Inverdale was discussing Azarenka's match with Santoro

Inverdale: Do you think this might be the Chelsea of the FO?
Santoro: (silence)
Inverdale: Chelsea won the Champions League without peforming well during the tournament,
Santoro: (shrugs) maybe

Something tells me that Inverdale wants to host other shows

Yes, tennis specifics arent Inverdale's strong suit.
I quite like Santoro...he's kind of enigmatic, abit like his style of play really.
I miss seeing him torture Safin though....lol.

Santoro is actually a gem. I think his analysis is quite thought provoking and he is not imposing say like a Becker who when he is about to be cut off reaches out his arm as if to say don't move the camera off me! I am awaiting the Fleming to join the party

Sharapova serving up a bagel. No doubt PM will be somewhere rubbing one out

Tipsy overcomes Querrey in 4.

Wish the BBC would cut down on the Brit hype and let the tennis world take centre stage.

Yes LK although I think PM posts less here after that issue of Wooffie plagiarism cropped up? Or maybe I have just missed his posts...

He does post here. He kinda drifts in and out. A very casual fan. Very warped sense of humour. Harmless though. I think his plagiarism was quite funny in some senses because of the bizarreness and randomness of it.

I think he may have "friends" in other places lydian :whistle:

Gasquet 2 up and Dimitrov is 2 up. Young has gone so far backwards. Why on earth he re-hired his mum as coach is beyond me. There's someone that needs a slap of reality!

Still no sign of a top 10 male seed going out early. Though we have Murray and Nadal later no jinx there.

...yes Haddie, that 'other' place...lol. If PMs not a threat or a 'contrare' to other people's knowledge he'll fit in fine there....as long as he's a paid up member of the Anti-Nadal Club of course! Anyway PM...if you're around, seems like "Shazza" is gaining a taste for dishing out bakery products these days...its good days to be following her progress.

Yeah LK...what happened to Young? Seemed to be destined for greatness not long ago...but then so many juniors are!

Just read Dolgo out. Well not sure what more can be said. He is consistent at being inconsistent.

Let's look at the draw:

Federer will not face any seeds until the last 16.
Djokovic will not face any seeds until the 4th round potentially.

If that is not an easy draw I don't know what is!!

Rigged draws or luck of the draw?

Keothavong is getting the run around out here

Is Dimitrov starting at last to fulfill his potential?

I wish they would show rafa over Keothavong

paulscholes wrote:I wish they would show rafa over Keothavong

To be fair, even if he wins in three comfortable sets, the chances are he'll still be playing in about 4 hours time - so they'll probably show most of it.

Or get Eurosport.

this Ito guy doesn't look upto much so far, Murray leading 4-0 in quick time without breaking sweat...

5-0 and I think I could put up more of a challenge at this point!

6:1, Murray seems to be moving alright, thought this match is more of a training session.

Murray's focus dips a bit (understandably), but he wraps it up 6-1 in quick time.

This a gimme.

Rafa looked on better form towards the end of the match. But the challenges lie ahead perhaps...Raonic may be able to hit through the court on top form...but I actually think Nadal's biggest threat is Almagro who if on form is always a danger and has amongst the most clay wins this year. At RG10 he pushed Rafa to 2 narrowly lost TB sets...probably his toughest match that RG.

Well Rafa played like he always does in his first match.

The familiar 10ft behind the base line.. less than inspiring play from Rafa he did what he had to do lydian no more no less.. I didn´t read anything into that match at all. Just another day at the office. Daresay he is glad to have broken the ice but the crowd were "cool" until the end was in sight I think they had all fallen asleep in the sunshine.