The Tennis Thread
Discussion
If Thiem can beat Nadal convincingly and possibly win the tournament then I'd give him a really good chance at RG. However I think Djokovic going out will give all the top guys a bit of a boost and will all back themselves so IMO this is the most interesting tournament in a good while.
IMO two of the best shotmakers in tennis playing in a final. They have incredible defence but their attacks are outstanding with great shotmaking, apart from Roger I can't think of two players with unplayable attacking shots.
A lot of Djokovic supporters would probably disagree but Monfils is the best athlete on tour bar none.
A lot of Djokovic supporters would probably disagree but Monfils is the best athlete on tour bar none.
It looks like Federer may miss the FO - he's just been beaten in straight sets today and yesterday it was reported that he was struggling big time with his back.
Fitness fears grow over Roger Federer’s participation in French Open
Fitness fears grow over Roger Federer’s participation in French Open
guardian said:
Federer said: “I only decided after the warm-up that I was going to play. I don’t know how I’m going to feel tomorrow [against Dominic Thiem]. I hope I can play. But I’m literally going practice to practice. Every 15 minutes, I speak to Ivan [Ljubicic] or Severin [Luthi] and say: ‘What else can we do?’
“It’s baby steps right now. To even to think of tomorrow is already a big ask. It was a calculated risk to play at all, so I’m super pleased that I was able to play, let alone to win.
“Looking ahead for next few weeks, regardless if I’m going to play tomorrow or not, this was something I feel like I needed to do to get a sense of where I’m at. It would have been easy not to play and then just be unsure how I was going to feel in Paris. At some point you have to go out there and see how it feels, and I’m happy I was able to play a full match without any setbacks.
“I’m far from being 100% right now, so I still have some work to do. There is a lot to be done in the next 12 days so that I have a base, a level, which is really important to have. I’m not going to be coming from no man’s land. I’m going to be coming from a level which is totally acceptable. I have done as much as I possibly could in the last four months.
“It’s baby steps right now. To even to think of tomorrow is already a big ask. It was a calculated risk to play at all, so I’m super pleased that I was able to play, let alone to win.
“Looking ahead for next few weeks, regardless if I’m going to play tomorrow or not, this was something I feel like I needed to do to get a sense of where I’m at. It would have been easy not to play and then just be unsure how I was going to feel in Paris. At some point you have to go out there and see how it feels, and I’m happy I was able to play a full match without any setbacks.
“I’m far from being 100% right now, so I still have some work to do. There is a lot to be done in the next 12 days so that I have a base, a level, which is really important to have. I’m not going to be coming from no man’s land. I’m going to be coming from a level which is totally acceptable. I have done as much as I possibly could in the last four months.
Leithen said:
Great to see Murray get the better of Djokovic in Italy. Best birthday present he's probably ever given himself!
Could he do it at Rolland Garros?
I think he's in with a great chance! Djokovic is still the man to beat but Murray's come out on top in some of the previous Grand Slam finals between the two and is well capable of doing so again in Paris; however, they've both got to make the final first and there will be a number of others keen and able to throw a spanner in the works! Sadly I don't see Federer being one of them and if his back problems continue I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see him miss the French so he can regain fitness and then focus his attention on Wimbledon...... Could he do it at Rolland Garros?
JNW1 said:
Federer... if his back problems continue I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see him miss the French so he can regain fitness and then focus his attention on Wimbledon......
Hmm, so Fed has indeed decided to give Roland Garros a miss; will be weird to have a Grand Slam without him but I suppose it's something we may need to get used to (and possibly sooner rather than later if niggling injuries persist).Despite a couple of indifferent days at the office Murray's still in it but he's going to need to improve if he makes it to the latter stages and ultimately has to face Djokovic in the final; I do wonder whether some of the talk around the split with Mauresmo has distracted him ever so slightly but hopefully he'll be back on it for the rest of the tournament! Just on the coach thing, to me he's never looked quite as effective since he and Lendl went their separate ways and I can't help but think there would be merit in exploring the possibility of resurrecting that relationship...
JNW1 said:
Just on the coach thing, to me he's never looked quite as effective since he and Lendl went their separate ways and I can't help but think there would be merit in exploring the possibility of resurrecting that relationship...
They were talking about this on the commentary of his first match on ITV. Saying that when he was with Lendl his forehand speed was something like 10km/h faster than before and that gave him an edge. He won a few points in the fourth set of that match by powering through a few forehands.944fan said:
JNW1 said:
Just on the coach thing, to me he's never looked quite as effective since he and Lendl went their separate ways and I can't help but think there would be merit in exploring the possibility of resurrecting that relationship...
They were talking about this on the commentary of his first match on ITV. Saying that when he was with Lendl his forehand speed was something like 10km/h faster than before and that gave him an edge. He won a few points in the fourth set of that match by powering through a few forehands.anonymous said:
[redacted]
No doubt Murray has the shots but with Lendl around he just seemed inclined to use them more often and play positive rather than passive tennis. Think Lendl made it clear from the outset that he wouldn't accept the sort of abuse Murray had directed at previous coaches and, presumably because Murray had respect for him, it didn't happen and Murray's game seemed all the better for it. Not actually convinced Lendl will be prepared to have another stint as Murray's coach but we'll see..."Nine-time winner Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the French Open because of a wrist injury."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/36401280
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/36401280
BlackLabel said:
"Nine-time winner Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the French Open because of a wrist injury."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/36401280
I feel sorry for the guy. He deserves better.http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/36401280
However his side of the draw has opened up, watching Thiem v Zverev and they're both looking to be unbelievable players. I can't believe the foot speed of Zverev for a 6'6 guy.
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