Roll on Garros - 2018 French Open

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The draw is now out. Nadal gets a comfortable, though not quite 'cakewalk' draw, with the likes of Dologopolov, Pella, Seppi and Gasquet awaiting in first few rounds. Djokovic, Thiem and Zverev are all in the other half and Edmund has a couple of winnable matches before the mercurial Fognini. Djokovic's draw looks tough, likely 2nd round with Ferrer and 3rd round with Bautista Agut. If he gets through those matches unscathed that will do wonders for his confidence and match-sharpness. Not seen a huge number of eye-watering 1st round clashes to be honest (looks better for 2nd/3rd round) but Troicki vs Dimitrov could be one to watch if you're looking for a 1st round upset.

In the womens, pick of the 1st round matches has to be Muguruza vs Kuznetsova, and Serena and Sharapova can potentially meet in 4th round. Wonder if Halep can finally win her maiden slam this time round?

So how many games will Delpo get against Rafa today? I'm going for 12.

Whilst its not a hard court where the odds are more in Del Potro's favour, I think he'll do better than that - he'll either lose in 3 tight sets (with tie-break in one) or alternatively I think he is capable of winning a set.

Of course Nadal will be relentlessly hitting to the backhand, but the Spaniard will get far fewer opportunities for breaking serve than he did against Schwartzman.

My prediction, 6-4, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 to Nadal.

Another epic tie-break for Cecchinato, but this time he was unable to win it, losing 12-10 in 2nd set tie-break. A great breakthrough tournament for the Italian though - comes from 2 sets down in 1st round, then beats Carreno Busta, Goffin and Djokovic. His dropshots in particular have been a treat to watch and he's evidently become a crowd favourite. I also think that, given he's already won a tournament this year (Bucharest) his run at Roland Garros won't be a flash in the pan, and if he maintains the level he's shown he's capable of winning more claycourt tournaments and going deep in the big claycourt tournaments.

As for Thiem, unless he gets trounced on Sunday (which I think is unlikely to happen) he is looking like a Roland Garros champion, whether its this year or in next couple of years. He's gradually improved and sharpened his game, especially on his favoured clay over the last few years. It does look, now we're entering the twilight period of the 'big 4' that we may be returning to how it was before Nadal came along, with out-and-out claycourt specialists rather than multi-surface players, prospering at Roland Garros.

Anyone following Del Potro vs Nadal? Del Potro has had 6 break points on Nadal's serve and been unable to convert any of them - reminds me of some of the Federer v Nadal matches at Roland Garros, where Federer has created plenty of opportunities but Nadal has proven too resilient in fending them off.

Rafa takes first set 6-4 after breaking delpo in the 10th game. Delpo looking characteristically strong on the forehand but not able to do much with his b-hand. Rafa is, well...Rafa.

@sfp: From listening to the commentary on 5 Live extra it sounded as if it was mainly a case of Nadal defending the break points v well plus couple of poor shots from Del Potro on some of those break points when he should have done better.  It sounds like it was a fairly even set, but like all great champions, Nadal played the bigger points better.

Rafa now two sets up (6-4, 6-1) after an error-strewn second set from delpo.

this is just woeful. The French open is just so predictable every year. I do like nadal, nothing against the guy but the lack of competition in this tournament is pitiful. Nadal just turns up every year and coasts through the draw.

While I have no doubt Nadal would have won regardless, this again shows what a disaster it was that Djokovic went out in the QF. I genuinely believe he is the only player out there that believes he can beat Nadal at the French or at least give him a really good match. Even when you look at when they met in Rome, I expected Nadal to destroy the current version of Novak but it was very competitive particularly in the 1st set.

I think if Novak had reached the final, he would at least give it a really good go. I hope I am wrong but I think he might destroy Thiem in the final. Really hope the occasion doesn't get to Thiem, he is a talented player who is good to watch but I fear another stroll for Rafa

S'McQ - yes, it's all too easy for Rafa. It's hardly worth anyone else turning up. If he's fit he can carry on winning the French for as long as he wants.
Just hoping Thiem can at least make it competitive. Delpo was in it during the first set, but completely out of it after that.

If Del Potro had taken the break points in the 1st set it would have been a different match.  Sure, Nadal would have come roaring back and still won, but it would have been a competitive contest.

I do actually think that whilst Nadal is the obvious favourite there are some chinks in armour for Thiem to exploit, and unlike most other players, he has actually beaten him on clay.  Thiem can look at how Schwartzman hussled Nadal to take that 1st set, how Merterer had him on the back foot at times or even how Del Potro conjured up those break points.  This may sound like clutching at straws, but whilst Nadal has been in ominous form, I think he has had a couple of dips here and there, and Thiem may well be able to exploit them more than other players in the draw have this year.

I'd still go for Nadal, but it won't be a rout - key for Thiem is to keep serving as well as he has been doing this tournament and to stay aggressive.

Well, in the end just the seven games for delpo. So my 12 was over-optimistic (see above).
Yes, it would have been nice to see delpo get that first set. It was rather painful watching after that.

Impresive nadal

MrInvisible wrote: ... we're entering the twilight period of the 'big 4' that we may be returning to how it was before Nadal came along, with out-and-out claycourt specialists rather than multi-surface players, prospering at Roland Garros.

There is an argument that says Nadal is an out-and-out claycourt specialist if one compares his clay court results with his off-clay court results.  I think perhaps Bjorn Borg was equally as potent and consistent on clay and faster surfaces (namely grass).  Not sure whether Borg changed his style between clay and grass - I think he was an excellent baseliner on clay and transformed into a serve and volleyer on the grass.  Not sure whether Nadal varied his style so much between the different surfaces.

sirfredperry wrote:Well, in the end just the seven games for delpo. So my 12 was over-optimistic (see above).
  Yes, it would have been nice to see delpo get that first set. It was rather painful watching after that.

I am not sure Del Potro was firing on all cylinders - he had the trainer out after about the third game of the first set with what was said to be a hip issue and seemed to be in pain at that time.

Halep should have won the French last year when she was a set up and a break up against the relatively inexperienced Ostapenko.
She's favourite again in today's final but is playing a GS winner. Stephens is quite languid in comparison with the almost-frenetic Halep and is a danger. Halep wants this first GS title desperately and can get very uptight. As long as she can relax enough I think she'll win.

This is a high quality women's final so far with Sloane Stephens up a break

kemet wrote:This is a high quality women's final so far with Sloane Stephens up a break

Agreed! Outstanding from both players, but Stephens has been that bit better...6-3 in the first set.

Excellent fighting tennis by never-give-up Halep...the Romanian takes the second set 6-4.

This is a very good final. Stephens just getting a bit ragged towards the end of the second set. A bit of fatigue perhaps.

Halep breaks first in the final set...she leads 3-0.

I'm cheering for Stephens, but I'm so pleased for Halep.

It's a pity Sloane faded in the final set, though.

Congratulations to Halep on a slam trophy.

Simona Halep exorcises her demons from last year. She found the drive and determination that she needed to win the French Open title.

A terrific final. Stephens played fantastically well in the first set and was too good for a Halep performing very well too. Halep just had to hang in there in the second set and hope Stephens' level dropped. It did, although a poor service game let Sloane back in at one point.
I just wondered if Stephens got very tired towards the end. There were three amazing points in a row from Halep from 0-3, 40-30 in the third set to give her the double break. Sheer determination.

Really happy for Halep, had she suffered a fourth defeat I may well have destroyed her spirit and she might not have recovered. Stephens surprised me with her adaptability on the clay. The American should go deep at Wimbledon

Just hoping that Thiem can at least make it competitive in today's final. He's got the hardest job in tennis this afternoon.

Half way through the second set and Thiem looks exhausted.  I have to say seldom have I ever seen Rafa more focussed.. he is brutal when he is in this mood. Unless there is a rapid turn round Thiem is going to get more of the same

This is Rafa's title. In command and as hard as Thiem has tried he hasn't found the level to beat Nadal.

Yeah.. if Im honest I almost feel sorry for him or may be not lol !!

Rafa is king of clay again for the ELEVENTH time. Unbelievable. It takes him back to the No 1 slot in the world. Incredible achievement. Thiem just couldn't formulate a winning plan to combat Rafa.

Well no one deserves it more.. he gives this tournament everything he has got and then some

Congratulations to Nadal on YARG.

Incredible achievement from Nadal, but it's unfortunate that Roland Garros finals are so predictable nowadays... Federer and Djokovic used to take Rafa to 4 sets and weren't even too far away from forcing a decider. With Federer absent and Djokovic no longer at his best, this is just too easy for Rafa!

Vamos Rafa...incredible feet/feat!!!

Number 17 for Rafael Nadal, three away from Federer and a five years age gap to make up the deficit.  The ability of these players to motivate themselves year after year has to be commended.  Age has degraded them, but the biggest issue has been injury and chronic injury.  Nadal has demonstrated his ability and determination to return after what looked like serious injuries at least two times.

Well if Rafa stays fit he can chalk up a few more RGs. Did anyone REALLY doubt he would win this year? His whole year is geared round the clay-court season in general and the French in particular.
He and Rog have now won the last six slams. Contrast with the women where the last SEVEN slams have been won by different players if I'm correct.
Saw a reasonable amount of this RG slam thanks to Channel 24. Highlights for me were the women's final and the Djoko-Cecchinato tiebreak.

Quite a sensational performance from Nadal, surely he's getting bore of all these French open titles...joking aside Thiem is the second best player on clay and Nadal's hammered him in straight sets in Paris two years running. Unless Djokovic rediscovered his best I don't see anyone stopping Nadal bagging 2 or maybe 3 more French open titles. I just can't envisage a single hand backhand ever beating Nadal in Paris

Might sound odd given that he's just hit thirty-two years of age, but I think this was Nadal's most predictable triumph in Paris yet. The clay season overall has been business as usual for him, and with so many of his traditional rivals out of the picture or a shadow of their former selves, it was obvious that he was going to lift the trophy without even breaking a sweat. Again, this might sound crazy, but I'm actually a little bit astonished that he dropped a set across the fortnight (albeit it was only one), as I just couldn't imagine anyone even taking that much from him. But I guess we can let him off for that!

Right now, it looks as if he can easily add another Roland Garros or two without a great deal of trouble, and his US Open triumph last year (great draw and route, mind you) has, for the time being, done away with the idea that he's finished as a Slam winner outside of Paris. Federer might still need another Slam from somewhere to be absolutely sure of hanging on to the record...But things can change so quickly. Go back two years, Nadal looked a shadow of his former self, Murray seemed stuck back in the 'nearly man' bracket he'd occupied prior to 2012-13, Federer's body seemed to be betraying him and Djokovic looked all set to go past Nadal's (then) fourteen Slams and soon be creeping up on Federer's (then) record of seventeen, which many doubted would ever be hitting eighteen anytime soon, never mind the twenty it's currently at.

Nadal's career seems to follow a rough pattern of being unstoppable for a year or two, followed by a (relative) struggle for a while, before going back to his absolute best, and then having a bit of a lull, then rebounding to dominate for a while again, and round and round we go. So there are no guarantees. However, there doesn't seem to be any credible, immediate threat in Paris, and the so-called 'young guns' (who ain't even that young anymore) just aren't stepping up to the plate...Or maybe they just can't, faced as they are with very possibly the two greatest players in history.

I remember thinking back in 2006 that Nadal was going to win something like six French Opens, which was hardly a cautious prediction - he's likely to DOUBLE that already lofty guess. Honestly can't see any player ever repeating this kind of dominance on a surface again.

I only saw the 1st set and a bit. Thiem played some good stuff and was able to outlast Nadal in some of the big rallies, but his serving percentage was lower than it needed to be to have a chance of running Nadal close.

Nadal started v strong in first couple of games, got a v early break when Thiem was looking not to have settled down, but Thiem broke back immediately, and managed to hold serve in an epic game at 2-3. I also saw some uncharacteristic errors here and there from Nadal and it was shaping up to be a competitive match. However, on the 1st point at 4-5, Thiem constructed a well worked point only to dump a straightforward backhand volley into the net, an unforced error on the following point and suddenly Nadal had the 1st set in the bag, and shortly afterwards it would appear the match was over as a contest.

That is the effect that Nadal has on other players on the clay - mentally its so tough to stay with him once you've missed an early opportunity and he's such a good frontrunner. 11 titles at Roland Garros is mind-boggling, especially given the physical nature of the surface and the demanding style of play Nadal has. Whilst the outcome may have been predictable I've actually found watching Nadal more enjoyable than previously, with more variety added to his game (e.g. dropshots and net approaches).

On the one hand it seems inevitable he'll go and win more, but surely at some point the physical toll has to catch up. Thiem you would think will win at Roland Garros 1 day - clearly the best player on the surface after Nadal and he's over 7 years younger so surely that chance will come.

Looking back on the tournament, in addition to Nadal's brilliance, Cecchinato's run was a big highlight for me, as was Halep's emergence as champion. The womens' game is quite unpredictable and exciting right now with a few players in the mix at each slam - just needs some more competitive matches in the early rounds to give it bit more depth.

sirfredperry wrote:Well if Rafa stays fit he can chalk up a few more RGs. Did anyone REALLY doubt he would win this year? His whole year is geared round the clay-court season in general and the French in particular.
  He and Rog have now won the last six slams. Contrast with the women where the last SEVEN slams have been won by different players if I'm correct.
  Saw a reasonable amount of this RG slam thanks to Channel 24. Highlights for me were the women's final and the Djoko-Cecchinato tiebreak.

Last 6 slams currently - although i agree with you that we may as well just give Fed another Wimbledon now given the paucity of competition. Worth noting that prior to that Fedal had won 6 of the last 24 slams. It’s an astonishing turnaround, although assisted by Djokovic going awol (having won 11 of 24 slams in that period). Had he maintained that form, we would probably have the top 3 players of all time battling for the grand slam record currently.

Despite Rafael Nadal's win and favorite tag at Roland Garros, I can't see him making any significant impact at Wimbledon and wonder why he even bothers with the short grass season.  

Of course in the past, at the height of his physical powers he was winning Wimbledon titles against Roger Federer - but those days are long gone.  Rafael Nadal's troubles at Wimbledon are clear signs that he is somewhat of a physical shadow of what he once was, when it looked liked he was going to take his clay court dominance on the "road", and which caused Roger Federer to burst into tears at Australian Open 2009.  How things changed following Australia 2009.

On grass I think the main issue is that Nadal no longer is able to comfortable get down low as the ball slides off the grass - it puts too much stress on his knees.  Maybe his knees are slowly improving - I don't know, but to me it seems like Nadal is now taking a risk playing on grass.

Focusing on Wimbledon - I don't think Roger Federer, given his age 37, as well as the vagaries and difficulties associated with grass court tennis, is so much of a favorite as Nadal was for Roland Garros.  I would be interested in hearing thoughts (presumably on a Grass Season / Wimbledon 2018 thread) as to who everyone considers to be second favorite behind Federer.  I think this will be another opportunity for the Next Generation to step up, as they did at Australian Open 2018, and perhaps go one or two stages further. But I suppose Cilic has to be placed as second favorite.

I am still expecting Krygios to do something - but at the moment he seems to be off the radar with injuries.

Well done to Halep, haven't followed this tournament but no doubt richly deserved for her career so far, and she could easily have gained her first slam at the Australian Open. As I said at the time, I favoured Wonzniacki as you could see Halep winning other slams later whereas Wozniacki may have been in the last chance saloon and I've always liked her.

Had a power cut today and the power came back 20 minutes ago. I turned on the TV in time to see literally one point - the last of course - of the extended highlights.

Obviously can't comment on the match, but it's interesting to note that the last non Fedal slam winner was in 2016.

I do think though, that when a player wins 5,6,7 of the same slam it feels quite golden, special, records etc. But 11? Is a bit much? Time for someone else? 10 is a nice enough round number for anyone.

I don't think I can support Rafa at the FO anymore. Or at the US Open - I think he's been a bit lucky there that his best years have nicely coincided with lucky draws or other big 4 not peaking at the same time as him in those years. So 3 is plenty already.

Maybe at AO interesting to see if he gets 2 of each slam because he may have been underachieving and unlucky there with injuries. And another Wimbledon run interesting to see if he can have one last run (you never know - I've never been totally convinced whether the knees issues are enough to rule out one last run or not).

lydian wrote:Vamos Rafa...incredible feet/feat!!!

Good to see ya, Lydian! How are your personal adventures in the Tennis world?