French Open 2015 - Day 7

First topic message reminder :

Philippe-Chatrier Court 11:00 AM

WOMEN'S SINGLES - ROUND 3
Petra Kvitova (CZE) [4] vs. Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) [30]

MEN'S SINGLES - ROUND 3
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1] vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)

MEN'S SINGLES - ROUND 3
Richard Gasquet (FRA) [20] vs. Kevin Anderson (RSA) [15]

WOMEN'S SINGLES - ROUND 3
Serena Williams (USA) [1] vs. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [27]

Suzanne-Lenglen Court 11:00 AM

MEN'S SINGLES - ROUND 3
Andy Murray (GBR) [3] vs. Nick Kyrgios (AUS) [29]

WOMEN'S SINGLES - ROUND 3
Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) vs. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)

MEN'S SINGLES - ROUND 3
Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP) [6]

WOMEN'S SINGLES - ROUND 3
Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) vs. Sloane Stephens (USA)

Court 1 11:00 AM

Women's Singles - Round 3
Andrea Petkovic (GER) [10] vs. Sara Errani (ITA) [17]

Men's Singles - Round 3
David Goffin (BEL) [17] vs. Jeremy Chardy (FRA)

Men's Singles - Round 3
Simone Bolelli (ITA) vs. David Ferrer (ESP) [7]

Mixed Doubles - Round 2
Martina Hingis (SUI) [8]
Leander Paes (IND) [8]
vs.
Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)
Horia Tecau (ROU)

Court 2 11:00 AM

Women's Singles - Round 3
Andreea Mitu (ROU) vs. Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

Women's Singles - Round 3
Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) [23] vs. Madison Keys (USA) [16]

Men's Singles - Round 3
Jack Sock (USA) vs. Borna Coric (CRO)

Women's Doubles - Round 2
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)
Samantha Stosur (AUS)
vs.
Timea Babos (HUN) [3]
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) [3]

Court 7 11:00 AM

Men's Singles - Round 3
Marin Cilic (CRO) [9] vs. Leonardo Mayer (ARG) [23]

Women's Singles - Round 3
Irina Falconi (USA) vs. Julia Goerges (GER)

Men's Doubles - Round 2
Carlos Berlocq (ARG)
Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
vs.
Pablo Cuevas (URU) [12]
David Marrero (ESP) [12]

Mixed Doubles - Round 2
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER)
Jean-Julien Rojer (NED)
vs.
Yung-Jan Chan (TPE)
John Peers (AUS)

Read more at http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/index.html#R6HDfVxGGIbZQXD7.99

Gasquet loses 1st set 6-4 to renown claycourt master Kevin Anderson...

Checked the scores and I see Sock is destroying Coric. So unlike a typical American to be enjoying clay.

Sock has a monstrous serve - regardless of how well he does at Roland Garros he's definitely a player to avoid at Wimbledon.

Kutznetsov seems to have lost the will to live here

Just saw a stat from today's match on the screen - the longer the rally, the more likely Sock wins it.

Also very un-American. Almost like burning a flag.

Haddie-nuff wrote:Kutznetsov seems to have lost the will to live here

He may have left it in the locker room. But, realistically, he was never going to have any chance anyway.

The Russian holds serve !!

Well sb a few matches ago I would have said even I had a chance tbh

Sock breaks. He looks quite good but I am sure Rafa will sort him out good and proper in the next round - assuming they both get there.

I did think Kusnetsov would do a little damage, nothing so far it seems. the Anserdon gasquet match is quite good though

I'm not sure that I agree about Goffin being a disappointment, isn't he currently at his highest ranking? Not a million miles away from the top 10 either, moving up to #15 after this tournament as things stand. He hasn't kicked on in the way some expected, but he's making decent progress. He probably won't ever be a threat at the slams though.

summerblues wrote:Just saw a stat from today's match on the screen - the longer the rally, the more likely Sock wins it.

Also very un-American.  Almost like burning a flag.

I have to salute that.

Sock beats Coric with no trouble at all.  He should be the first real test for Rafa.  Their match should give us indication of where Rafa's form is.  If Rafa is in good form, he should win comfortably, but if not, Sock could create some problems.

Bolellis taken the second set against Ferrer 6-1!

he has broken Rafa,... he is going for broke here

Sock has been impressive; Dimitrov, Carreno-Busta and Coric is quite a list of scalps. Good on him.

Hi, I'm Barry Cowan, and due to lack of Sky Sports having rights to the French Open I have taken over this 606v2 account to provide on hand live commentary.

That's a phenomenal forehand by Kuznetosov to win the game, incredible forehand, that will send shivers down Nadal's shoulders!!

The Russian has come on court it seems

It looks so different watching Rafa these days. Even guys like this don't look scared or get kicked around in rallies. Credit to Rafa for playing like an experienced guy and winning but it's not as it was.

IMBL the master of overstatement

That's a great serve-forehand combo from Nadal, landing right on the line !! Kuznetosov simply can't handle that sort of play from the great champion.

That's the sort of play Nadal needs to win 'La Decima', the great champion he is. By the way I will keep repeating 'La Decima' because it worked last year when everyone tried to hype up the Real-Atletico Champions League final.

Very surprised at Sock v Coric result.

OH MY GOD.
What a volley from Nadal to win that set. It's often been said by commentators such as myself that Nadal is one of the best volleyers in the game, and that volley was further proof of that. Nadal 2 sets up.

Two sets to love.. Nadal has finally found the mind set he needs

It Must Be Love wrote:OH MY GOD.
What a volley from Nadal to win that set. It's often been said by commentators such as myself that Nadal is one of the best volleyers in the game, and that volley was further proof of that. Nadal 2 sets up.

It was a half-volley.

Goerges is on a good run. Keep it up!

Bolelli breaks to go up 6:5. Ferrer with some uncharacteristic errors.

Bolelli takes the third set.

He's a big hitter for a guy of his size.

Kuznetsov sneaking into the top 100 by making this 3rd round.

I must say I was impressed by Murray today, especially the serve looked very strong. Kyrgios was incredible in patches but the downs were too frequent and deep, but it wasn't as if Murray just rope-a-doped him for errors.

I think provided he gets there I would give him strong chances against either Djokovic or Nadal. I didn't watch Djokovic today but I might well be tempted to put some money on Murray, if I did that sort of thing.

INCREDIBLE return of serve from Nadal, that's vintage stuff, phenomenaNadal, gets the crucial break

Was to lazy to wake up and see most of Muzzers match, must have been good to turn over Nick in straights, Ferrer not doing well either. Whos muzz got next?

temporary21 wrote:Whos muzz got next?

Chardy.

Nadal does a 1,2,3.

Ferrer now steamrolling. I guess hoping for Bolelli to win today may have been too much? Or can he get it together before it is too late?

bogbrush wrote:I must say I was impressed by Murray today, especially the serve looked very strong. Kyrgios was incredible in patches but the downs were too frequent and deep, but it wasn't as if Murray just rope-a-doped him for errors.

I think provided he gets there I would give him strong chances against either Djokovic or Nadal. I didn't watch Djokovic today but I might well be tempted to put some money on Murray, if I did that sort of thing.

Novak looked simply awesome. Well though Andy is playing he needs Rafa to take a lot out of Novak before they play. It will also be a massive help to Andy if Ferrer goes out today.

Things are gearing up for Wednesday's title match.

Oh my goodness, a bagel.

Don't expect Rafa to play the way he played in the past. However, he's still good enough to beat most guys on clay, just has to work harder.

I don't understand why he played such a poor servic game at the start of the first set and while serving for the second set. His service games looked shaky especially nearing the end of the sets. It's as if he's so nervous when he's about to win the set(s).

So then the 'traditional' big four are all comfortably through to R4.

Very hard to say which of them had the most favourable early draw, but there's little doubt it has been a gentle introduction to the tourney for all four, with nobody really tested to any serious degree. Amongst their opponents, only Almagro (v Nadal) and Granollers (v Federer) brought any sort of proven clay pedigree to their respective matches, both having won several titles on the red stuff.

On current form, I suppose the only realistic potential threat came from Kyrgios, in as much as he at least has some very recent big scalps. But Murray proved too clever & experienced on the day. Almagro is totally at home on clay of course, and even has a (solitary) win against Rafa, but it's now three years since he lifted a title of any sort.

Some basic stats (corrections welcome if any errors..!) after week one, in order of seeding :

Djokovic  : Sets conceded 0
                 Games conceded 30

Federer :    Sets conceded 0
                 Games conceded 30

Murray :      Sets conceded 1
                  Games conceded 29

Nadal          Sets conceded 0
                  Games conceded 24

Latest outright title odds (William Hill in UK)

Djokovic : 4/5
Nadal :     4/1
Murray, Nishikori, Federer : ALL are 9/1

then drops to Wawrinka 16/1, all others 25/1 or below

Things get more serious from now on.

summerblues wrote:Things are gearing up for Wednesday's title match.

I don't see it that way. I think Murray could actually do this thing, especially if Djokovic can lose the quarter.

I like Murray at 9/1 lags - I like him more than Federer for sure.

Eight straight games for Ferrer. This looks close to done.

I am signing off for the day. Same time, same place tomorrow.

bogbrush wrote:

summerblues wrote:Things are gearing up for Wednesday's title match.

I don't see it that way. I think Murray could actually do this thing, especially if Djokovic can lose the quarter.

I like Murray at 9/1 lags - I like him more than Federer for sure.

Agree bb, those are generous odds for Andy.

Personally, I'd say William Hill are out of sync.  Murray at say 6/1, with Fed at 12/1 would be rather more realistic IMO. And I would drop Rafa to 3/1 based on today's showing (yes .....even taking account of the quality of opposition)

bogbrush wrote:

summerblues wrote:Things are gearing up for Wednesday's title match.

I don't see it that way. I think Murray could actually do this thing, especially if Djokovic can lose the quarter.

I agree.

After AO and Miami, I thought to myself it would be typical if Andy snapped the streak at RG and deprived Novak of the title he really wants.

Andy's recent form has turned that idea, originally born of ironic pessimism, into something quite plausible.

Is this assuming that Novak wins the match scheduled to play Rafa?
Or has that match been played and I missed it

It's in the mix for me, but I'd still favour Novak

After that and I don't care how many times Rafa's won the event - it's on the day

Murray, as should be the case with his return game, looks like he can break serve whenever he can be bothered. The serve is better than it's been for a considerable while as there looks to be some pep in the second one

There's no logical reason why he couldn't beat say Rafa and Fed.

That is apart from the fact he's never done it at a slam and they usualy beat him of course

If it gets to that stage, he has to put that all behind because frankly he as well as Novak should now be looking to dominate Tennis for a year or two

Haddie-nuff wrote:Is this assuming that Novak wins  the match scheduled to play Rafa?
Or has that match been played and I missed it

Commenting on the day of the 3rd round about a thought I had back in March relating to what is currently a potential semi final requires a number of implicit assumptions.

Oh I see.. silly me