2011 French Open (unofficial) Thread

#1
kidbourbon

kidbourbon

Disgusting!
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Nov 12, 2005
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#1
The draw is out: The Men's Singles Draw - Roland Garros 2011

Overall Thoughts:
I don't think this tournament is wide open. In fact, I can't remember a less wide open tournament. What I am saying, of course, is that I would be absolutely shocked if someone other than Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal wins this tournament.

Delpo could threaten if he was fully healthy, but he's clearly not.

Andy Murray will make noise, and may make a serious fight out of a match between Nadal or Djokovic (I need to look at the draw). But you know he's just gonna fold in the 5th set. We've seen it a hundred times.

I'm completely over the hype machine that once upon a time was licking all up and down the schlongs of Soderling and Berdych. Soderling's hot streak two years ago was a fluke, imo. These two guys don't move well enough. And this is as far as the analysis needs to go. History shows us that the optimum height for a tennis player is 6-1. The reason being is that once guys start getting taller than that, they usually don't move as well. Djokovic could represent an evolution in the game in that he is a bit taller* (either 6-2 or 6-3) and yet moves as well as anybody. So maybe it isn't about optimum height but about optimum athleticism. Either way, Berdych and Soderling come up short. I'm done considering these guys to be contenders.

And there is a reason I haven't mentioned Federer. That reason is simply that I didn't think of him until now. Yes, he has become that much of an afterthought in this tournament. This shouldn't shock anybody. He's 30. 30 year old tennis players have to start picking their spots. This isn't Fed's spot.

That's all I got for now. I'm looking forward to this tournament getting started. Dear god, how I hate baseball.

________________
*And of course Del Potro is waaaay taller and still moves well. Not as well as a Djokovic or a Nadal, of course. But in the 'power vs. speed inversely proportional continuum'**, Del Potro is still an overall winner in that he is the best mover of the bigger and harder hitting groundstoke players. In other words, Del Potro should have had to sacrifice more quickness to get that kind of power. Perhaps he made a deal with the devil.

**I just made this up.

P.S. -- Tough break for John Isner to draw Rafa in the first round. It doesn't matter much in the whole scheme of things because he wasn't a threat to win this tournament in any way, shape, or form...but he seems like a decent dude, and it sucks to see him ousted in the first round.
 
#2
#2
I think some weird things could happen this year. By weird I mean major upsets. But I am usually wrong.

As stated somewhere else, until Nadal is beaten it is his title. Wouldn't be shocked if Djoker stumbled here along the way. Wouldn't be shocked if Djoker blew everyone's doors off and took home the hardware.

I can also see Federer leaving early. If he plays well, he is rewarded with a tough, tough matchup with Djoker in the semis. Murray is worthless until he proves he is not.

I know I'm going out on a limb there with this post, but I will say I love the red clay in high definition. Fabulous.
 
#4
#4
Mannarino out. Dangit, I like that kid. He's 145 lbs. soaking wet but he is crafty.
 
#5
#5
One potential upset that I would love to see happen is Baghdatis over Djokovic to end the streak.
 
#6
#6
kidbourbon said:
One potential upset that I would love to see happen is Baghdatis over Djokovic to end the streak.
Click to expand...

I would, too. Djoke would likely have DelPo if he got past Baghdatis. If they do meet, watch how many times Djoke hits drop shots against him.
Surprising to see Berdych out so quickly. Raonic, as well.
 
#7
#7
Bagdahtis breaking the Djokovic streak would be a monumental upset in the annals of tennis history. Bagdahtis hasn't played well as of late, as I remember. Not happening.

Berdych losing is about right. Head case. I thought he had turned the corner after his Wimbledon performance a year ago. He has gotten progressively worse.

I guess back in 2001 when many in the U.S. banned "French" fries, american television must've also decided to boycott early round coverage of the French Open.

I can't get tennis channel in my area, so maybe that's where the coverage was today. Got up to watch the Federer opener and couldn't find it anywhere. Not even espn3. Afterwards, can't even find a replay or decent highlight clip of match. Frustrating to be a tennis fan this time of year.

Don't get me started about NBC tape-delayed coverage of the semis. Grrrrrr.
 
#8
#8
DyronNix said:
Bagdahtis breaking the Djokovic streak would be a monumental upset in the annals of tennis history. Bagdahtis hasn't played well as of late, as I remember. Not happening.

Berdych losing is about right. Head case. I thought he had turned the corner after his Wimbledon performance a year ago. He has gotten progressively worse.

I guess back in 2001 when many in the U.S. banned "French" fries, american television must've also decided to boycott early round coverage of the French Open.

I can't get tennis channel in my area, so maybe that's where the coverage was today. Got up to watch the Federer opener and couldn't find it anywhere. Not even espn3. Afterwards, can't even find a replay or decent highlight clip of match. Frustrating to be a tennis fan this time of year.

Don't get me started about NBC tape-delayed coverage of the semis. Grrrrrr.
Click to expand...

That stinks! I'd have to look into directv or dish or something.
(Dyron Nix, incidentally, registered at the same time I did when I first entered UT) I didn't know who he was but I knew he was a big ole boy :) He's one of my favorite all-time ballers at UT.
 
#9
#9
DyronNix said:
Bagdahtis breaking the Djokovic streak would be a monumental upset in the annals of tennis history. Bagdahtis hasn't played well as of late, as I remember. Not happening.
Click to expand...

Baghdatis is one of those guys that I would never completely count out in a single match setting. I would need to check to confirm this, but I believe he beat all three of Fed, Rafa, and Djoke last year at various points in the season. I saw him at legg-mason and was more impressed with his game than various of several notable players. In fact I think he has top 5 level game from a shotmaking perspective, but just has never fully committed to his fitness and also just might not have it mentally.


DyronNix said:
I can't get tennis channel in my area, so maybe that's where the coverage was today. Got up to watch the Federer opener and couldn't find it anywhere. Not even espn3. Afterwards, can't even find a replay or decent highlight clip of match. Frustrating to be a tennis fan this time of year.

.
Click to expand...

No ESPN3, I assume?
 
#12
#12
Just heard on Sportscenter . . . "Is Wayne Brady gonna have to Djokavich?"
 
#14
#14
Impressive turnaround for Sharapova, especially after the Clijsters match earlier. Garcia definitely looks pretty good though. I want Andujar to get this 3rd set, 5 all after Rafa was down 5-1
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#15
#15
Hopalong Bartoli has to be one of the most annoying tennis players to watch that has ever taken to the court. It looks like Wozniacki is about to make her way to the exit. Hantuchova is playing well.
Can't wait for the Djoke/Delpo match. You could probably have a drinking game for each time Djoke hits a drop shot against him. Hopefully, Del Potro will be up to the task.
 
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#16
#16
Really enjoyed the first two sets of the Djokovic and Del Potro match. Some great tennis being played there. Too bad they had to start so late and suspend play.

A strong showing by DelPo in Paris sets him up for a great summer on the hard courts. I'll be surprised if he can maintain the level he displayed in the second set for the remainder of the match against Djoker. But he is slowly getting back to form.

Rafa looks beatable under the right circumstances. I expect he will turn it around these next couple of matches.

Federer not looking bad at all.

Tsonga has no heart. Waste.
 
#17
#17
1. The delay is huge for Delpo. There was zero doubt in my mind that Delpo would get a set off Djoker, but I thought that Djoker would eventually prevail based mostly on factors of fitness. With a night's rest, and what amounts to a mere best-of-three sets match tomorrow, fitness is not going to be an issue. Djokovic is probably favored in this match (btw, Europeans LOVE gambling on tennis. It's rampant over there.), but I would set it as an even money proposition. Okay, I just checked, and it is very near even money. Djoker was favored at the start of the match by what looks to be about 6 to 1 (I think this is what it is saying, these europeans don't put out odds in a way that I'm used to seeing them (i.e. moneylines)). If I would have known that I would have tossed down a dollar on delpo.

2. Rafa, inexplicably, does look eminently beatable. I have no explanation for this.

3. Federer is playing well. But his ability to soundly beat mid-tier guys has never been called into question.

4. Tsonga also just has an ugly game. I don't like that guy at all.

5. Women's tennis is excruciatingly bad right now. I refuse to watch any match not involving Sharapova.
 
#18
#18
kidbourbon said:
1. The delay is huge for Delpo. There was zero doubt in my mind that Delpo would get a set off Djoker, but I thought that Djoker would eventually prevail based mostly on factors of fitness. With a night's rest, and what amounts to a mere best-of-three sets match tomorrow, fitness is not going to be an issue. Djokovic is probably favored in this match (btw, Europeans LOVE gambling on tennis. It's rampant over there.), but I would set it as an even money proposition. Okay, I just checked, and it is very near even money. Djoker was favored at the start of the match by what looks to be about 6 to 1 (I think this is what it is saying, these europeans don't put out odds in a way that I'm used to seeing them (i.e. moneylines)). If I would have known that I would have tossed down a dollar on delpo.
Click to expand...

Okay, so I looked a little further and was able to find some Vegas odds listed in a traditional format that I understood. And it was worse than I thought. The Djoker was -700. If you know tennis, you know that line is ridiculous. I would have brought down the house.
 
#19
#19
Djoke looks strong. I would like to see Rafa or Roger go up against him, but not sure if I woiuld have much confidence in either to take him out, to be honest.

Watching Jankovic read her coach the riot act was the most interesting part of her game today.
 
#21
#21
Monfils has the talent and the athletic ability to be a dominant force in the men's game, but he lacks the heart/effort at the most perplexing times.

Being French, he should have no problem fighting til the end at the French Open. I want to say that he faced Federer late in the FO a couple years ago and gave an ok effort but just not one worthy of playing for your country's major championship.

We'll see what how much fight he decides to bring today. Federer is playing very well so it should be a great match.
 
#23
#23
DyronNix said:
Monfils has the talent and the athletic ability to be a dominant force in the men's game, but he lacks the heart/effort at the most perplexing times.

Being French, he should have no problem fighting til the end at the French Open. I want to say that he faced Federer late in the FO a couple years ago and gave an ok effort but just not one worthy of playing for your country's major championship.

We'll see what how much fight he decides to bring today. Federer is playing very well so it should be a great match.
Click to expand...

I agree with everything you said and I still kinda like him. I just like his game; his groundstrokes are natural.

Fed/"is wayne brady gonna have to djokovic" should be interesting. I give Fed little to no chance, but it will be nice to at least see Djoke get pushed.
 
#24
#24
kidbourbon said:
I agree with everything you said and I still kinda like him. I just like his game; his groundstrokes are natural.

Fed/"is wayne brady gonna have to djokovic" should be interesting. I give Fed little to no chance, but it will be nice to at least see Djoke get pushed.
Click to expand...
Funny.. a .com poll on espn had majority taking Roger to win. unscientific is an understatement.
 
#25
#25
orange+white=heaven said:
Funny.. a .com poll on espn had majority taking Roger to win. unscientific is an understatement.
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Fed has a lot of fans with a bad case of naivete by way of sentimentality. And, look, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But I also imagine those fans aren't putting their money where there mouth is. I can't check b/c I'm at work, but I bet the vegas odds paint a different picture.

I'd set the moneylines as:
Djokovic -440
Fed +360

Vegas won't have them this high, I imagine. Which indicates that I should give my a bookie a call.*

*I mean, if gambling were legal, of course.
 
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