2015 French Open…ATP 2000...Roland Garros, Paris, France

[stroke]

I think you are probably right. Another unique advantage Nadal has on his forehand is how he attacks the outside edge of the ball so much on his forehand, producing that hook type spin, making the backhand attack even more pronounced. He can just expand the court like no one else.

[stotty]

Come on Sock

I am really looking forward to Sock vs Nadal. I did mention earlier that I thought Sock already had the 3rd best forehand in tennis, behind Nadal and Federer. Sock has the same game plan as Nadal. See how many forehands he can hit and just break them down. What a test for the Sock forehand, Nadal on clay. Fed sure looked, good, not much from Monfils

I'm looking forward to watching Sock. I am hoping Nadal will be a little off. The problem is I am not sure you can play Nadal without a top of the range backhand, which Sock doesn't have. You need a backhand like Murray and Djokovic to be in with a shout...let's see. I really, really hope Sock plays well.

[stroke]

I am really looking forward to Sock vs Nadal. I did mention earlier that I thought Sock already had the 3rd best forehand in tennis, behind Nadal and Federer. Sock has the same game plan as Nadal. See how many forehands he can hit and just break them down. What a test for the Sock forehand, Nadal on clay. Fed sure looked, good, not much from Monfils

[bottle]

Interesting.

[tennis_chiro]

Back story on Jack Sock

The back story on Jack Sock is about his brother. He just recently survived a two week stay in the hospital where he nearly died and Jack went through that with his whole family including being bedside in that hospital. That kind of experience can have a profound influence on the approach you take to playing a tennis match. You stop being so upset about inconsequential annoyances that may have really thrown you off track in the past. Sock has had that big forehand and serve for a while, but he's always gotten in his own way at just the wrong time. He doesn't seem to be doing that anymore and his recent experience with his brother's brush with death has a lot to do with that.

He says he respects and appreciates the wonderful opportunity he has to make a living as a tennis player. I think this is more than just some nice lip service he is paying to the image gods. I think he has experienced major fundamental growth and while I still see a lot of holes in his game, he definitely has some major weapons and if he can muster the necessary focus and consistency, he could be dangerous to anyone. He's not the same person or player he was just 6 months ago.

don

[don_budge]

Jack Sock and the 1968 Detroit Tigers…Sock it to 'em Jack!

I think Sock versus Nadal might be interesting. That Sock kid seems really highly charged right now. If Nadal really is off his best game, Sock could be guy to take advantage of it. I have a feeling he really wants it.

I think you might be right. What's more I'll bet that stroke is going to find this match up very interesting. I sure would love to hear what John McEnroe thinks about this one.

Jock Sock's forehand is certainly his most obvious weapon but his backhand seemed to be rock solid as well. An important factor in going up against the Spaniard. But if Sock is able to get the game played on his terms…Nadal has definitely shown vulnerability on his backhand side. The vulnerability becomes a bit more glaring when players are able to attack his forehand side to get him leaning more to his left and not allowing him to camp out on the right side of the court.

Sock is hungry. His steady climb up the ladder indicated that his is no flash in the pan. His method of playing tennis is a combination of grinding down his opponents with stiff body shots…softening them up for the knockout blows. Two years ago he was ranked #118 and one year ago he was at #75. At 22 years old he is currently at #37 and he has positioned himself on some prime real estate. His future looks rather bright if he can continue to develop.

A hungry American is one of the things that American tennis needs most. A corn fed boy from Lincoln, Nebraska makes a great story. A victory over Nadal today would also make a great story. I'm behind him all the way. Sock it to 'em. That used to be the mantra for one of the Detroit Tiger teams of the past. One of the World Series winners. Was it 1984? There's that year again.

Oops…actually it was 1968. The year that tennis went open. The year that I first played tennis. The year that the club I work at was founded. These were golden years in sports. These were the day when a kid growing up in America could "safely" worship the ground these guys walked on. Al Kaline, the Tiger's right fielder who had an gun for an arm, turned down a 100,000 dollar contract because he didn't want to upstage his teammates…or his manager.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Detroit_Tigers_season

[klacr]

I've been watching Berdych and Tsonga listening to L. A. Woman on repeat the whole match. Just killing time. Waiting for Roger Federer…and Gael Monfils.

"Cops sitting in cars
The topless bars…"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JskztPPSJwY

Great song. Lots we can learn from Jim Morrison.

Wish I could say the same for the match. Berdych squandered big opportunity. He knows it, admits it, accepts it. Time to get some prep for the grass. Berdych-Wimbledon Champ, I like the sound of that. But for the moment... Not a pleasant day in the LaCroix household.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Sock

I think Sock versus Nadal might be interesting. That Sock kid seems really highly charged right now. If Nadal really is off his best game, Sock could be guy to take advantage of it. I have a feeling he really wants it.

[don_budge]

It wasn't the light…it was the rain

Click on the "Printable Version". It downloads so you can view it as a normal draw sheet...much better.

One set all with Federer and Monfils. This match is being played 300 miles from me as the crow flies. It doesn't go dark until 9pm at this time of year so I cannot understand why they have left the court when the sun is still so high in the sky...weird.

Anyway, at least I am getting the match I wanted. It's going to be a good old punch up this one. Monfils really feels he can win. I imagine Federer was happy to call it a night and resume tomorrow.

They quit because of the weather forecast. It began to rain again 15 minutes after they stopped play. Both players agreed that it would be better to start at one set all than 2-1 or something like that.

I know this because I was watching "Game, Set and Mats" with Mats Wilander and Barbara Schett. They affirmed what had transpired. Great theatre…Federer vs. Monfils. Monfils is a real enigma.

[stotty]

But anyways working my way down the draw sheet that I have found on Wikipedia…I will never forgive the Roland Garros website for their ridiculous view of the actual draw sheet. Totally inefficient in the day of efficiency is King…it's inexcusable. Off with their heads. Anyways…here is a better view.

Click on the "Printable Version". It downloads so you can view it as a normal draw sheet...much better.

One set all with Federer and Monfils. This match is being played 300 miles from me as the crow flies. It doesn't go dark until 9pm at this time of year so I cannot understand why they have left the court when the sun is still so high in the sky...weird.

Anyway, at least I am getting the match I wanted. It's going to be a good old punch up this one. Monfils really feels he can win. I imagine Federer was happy to call it a night and resume tomorrow.

[don_budge]

L. A. Woman…Berdych vs. Tsonga

Jim Morrison had good references/allusions/Shakespearian lifts, didn't he? Far better than the hippie-dippies who danced to his music with me all night in Eastport, Maine and The University of Rhode Island, Kingston. The only other hippies I ever knew who were that knowledgeable were beatniks before or Hungarian hippies about 30 years later. Ken Haferman from Minnesota who was in Eastport had actually roomed with Zimmerman I mean Bob Dylan in New Jersey just across the bridge. John Hickenlooper, the current governor of Colorado, was also downeast by Eastport. Everybody was down there boogeying to The Doors.

"We want the world and we want it NOW!" That's not just any line. Morrison got it from the anti-leftist musical and theatrical satire and right wing Nazi screed MARAT-SADE. Or did the script writer of MARAT-SADE get it from Morrison?

One or the other.

I've been watching Berdych and Tsonga listening to L. A. Woman on repeat the whole match. Just killing time. Waiting for Roger Federer…and Gael Monfils.

"Cops sitting in cars
The topless bars…"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JskztPPSJwY

[bottle]

Jim Morrison had good references/allusions/Shakespearian lifts, didn't he? Far better than the hippie-dippies who danced to his music with me all night in Eastport, Maine and The University of Rhode Island, Kingston. The only other hippies I ever knew who were that knowledgeable were beatniks the decade before or Hungarian hippies three or four decades later. Ken Haferman from Minnesota who was in Eastport had actually roomed with Zimmerman I mean Bob Dylan in New Jersey just across Chris Christie's or is it George Washington's bridge? John Hickenlooper, the current governor of Colorado, was also down by Eastport. Everybody was downeast boogeying to The Doors.

"We want the world and we want it NOW!" That's not just any line. Morrison got it from the anti-leftist musical and theatrical satire and right wing Nazi screed MARAT-SADE. Or did the script writer of MARAT-SADE get it from Morrison?

One or the other.

[don_budge]

Yesterday at the 2015 French Open…The Journey

Yesterday I watched a lot of different matches and it left me feeling tired like I have never felt tired before. Granted…I have not had a day off from the tennis court and the golf course in who knows how long. Granted…I have a four month old Chocolate Labrador Retriever named Puntzie who has been getting me up for the past two months between 3.30 AM and 4.30 AM. Usually it is 3.37 AM…it's amazing how many times I turn on my phone to see that time…it's when he gets the urge to get up and go outside. It's no accident. There are no accidents…are there?

But anyways working my way down the draw sheet that I have found on Wikipedia…I will never forgive the Roland Garros website for their ridiculous view of the actual draw sheet. Totally inefficient in the day of efficiency is King…it's inexcusable. Off with their heads. Anyways…here is a better view.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_French_Open_–_Men's_Singles#Draw

I watched Novak Djokovic take down Kokkinakis. One break each set...but it wasn't as close as that. Total control. Djokovic was in total control of the whole entire match. He let the kid into points just to show the tennis world how in control he is of everything that goes on when he is on the tennis court. He let's the game come to him…or he goes and seizes it by the throat…whatever he pleases. Mats Wilander asked Novak…what must I do if I am to beat you? Novak sort of chuckled and did a little shuck and jive…Serbian style of course…and he said that he doesn't feel that sort of control that people perceive in him. He has his element of doubt too…and I believe him. But the difference between him and the rest of the crew is that doubt only serves to make him play so much better. It's as if the doubt is the final piece of the puzzle for him…just enough to make him doubt himself just a tad before he slips into super cosmos drive. Nobody seems to be able to stay with him. Certainly not a teenager from Down Under.

I watched Richard Gasquet and Kevin Anderson and Richard certainly pleased the partisan Parisian crowd. They were oohing and awing at the Gasquet splendid one hand backhand…but you know…his forehand is nothing to sneeze at either. Richard will need the French crowd and so much more in his next match…against the Serbian Grim Reaper. Novak Djokovic. Jack Sock made hash of Borna Coric. The straight set score was indicative of the reality of the situation. Sock had Coric on his heels the whole match and it didn't look as if Coric had any answer or any weapons that could match the forehand of Jack Sock. stroke has been an admirer and he has posted early on about this "Sock it to 'em" forehand…John McEnroe paid homage to it as well yesterday on Game, Set and Mats…the Eurosport Sport channel sort of like the American ESPN. Without the hype.

I even turned on the Andrei Kuznetsov versus Fafa Nadal match. I have a funny feeling about things…and especially about Nadal. I'm not saying I am right but it's a funny feeling. It is almost as if we haven't seen the real Nadal for the past couple of months. It's all tied in with his frequent AWOL's from the tour. Whether it's drugging…just resting? Pacing himself? We'll never know. But wouldn't it be strange if he all of a sudden finds his form just in time to win French Open then we can witness all of his fake and pious humility. Speaking about fake and pious humility…I watched Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka. I can honestly say that I have never seen a woman hit the ball as hard as Serena was hitting it yesterday. Azarenka was actually playing out of her mind as well but she couldn't match Williams in the strength department. Not even close.

I even saw bits and pieces of the following…Murray and Kyrgios, Goffin and Chardy, Cilic and Mayer and Bolelli and Ferrer. In short…I saw the whole enchilada. You know…the whole thing left me feeling extremely tired. Granted…it was the first day off that I had in some weeks. But the tiredness was almost other worldly. I guess a lot of it can be attributed to all of the things in my life that take their toll naturally on my life force…my energy. But the tennis was taxing. Need I say that the whole of it was so one dimensional that it was if every match was virtually indistinguishable from the other. Every single point was virtually indistinguishable from another. It cracks me up. Literally. It fractures me to pieces. This cannot be happening. You cannot be serious.

But trust me…none of it matters. Least of all my feelings or my perceptions about things. It is what it is. So utterly beyond my control…or even my understanding. How did it get to this? How did I know that it would back in 1980 when I first discovered the the fix was in? When I first saw the Prince Graphite…I screamed "they ruined the game!!!". 1984…the Orwellian year. The first year that all four semi-finalists at the U. S. Open used oversized racquets. If you count Lendl's as oversized. It's strange…you know. People are strange. The whole thing is so strange. When you are strange…when you are a stranger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3CHi_9sxj0

None of it matters though. The only thing that matters is Roger Federer. Yet even he is out there for the money…and for the thrill of being there. Nobody in their right mind gives him a chance to come away with another title. Another Grand Slam. No matter how it is tilted…he will have to contend with one of his younger adversaries…one of his nemesis with younger legs. But he is still in the game…he is set to play "The Amazing Mr. Monfils" a bit later today. Existential tennis. Parisian tennis. The home of the existentialist. The home of Ferdinand Celine.

There was a rain delay in Paris today. Everything was put on the shelf for a couple of hours. Did you know that Jim Morrison died in Paris? Supposedly so drunk that he choked to death on his own vomit. In a bath tub no less. So the story goes. So the legend goes. He wrote a song called "End of the Night" that was coined after the novel by Ferdinand Celine called "Journey to the End of the Night". The G. N. O. A. T.. The Greatest Novel Of All Time. How do I know that? Because I just said it.

Come on Roger. Come on "The Living Proof". Where there is Roger there is still tennis. Tennis exists. Even Santa exists if you believe in him. You can have the rest of it. After watching all of that tennis yesterday it felt like I had some kind of hangover. A real bummer of a hangover. Totally crapped out. Bummer. Bummed out. It was numbing…I remember being there a year ago. It was the same thing. Live…six cups of strong Parisian java just to stay conscious. Djokovic versus Raonic in the quarterfinals. Sharapova versus Garbine Muguruza in the women's quarters. Canadians to the right of the "Ugly American"…my buddy Greg. Russians to the left of me…still…I couldn't…stay…awake. ZZzzzzz….Ladies and Gentlemen…The Doors!!!

[don_budge]

2015 French Open…Roland Garros, Paris, France

The bottom half of the draw that is better known these days as the "Federer Half of the Draw" has been pared down to the round of sixteen.

Stan Wawrinka vs. Gilles Simon…On paper it is only natural to say Wawrinka but the reality is that these two have split the four matches that they have played. Surprisingly Simon won the last on hard court and Wawrinka won their meeting at the French some years ago in five sets. There are some question marks surrounding both of these players and their overall will to win at the highest level. This match is going to answer a couple of those questions.

Roger Federer vs. Gael Monfils…Two five set tennis matches under his belt already. One has to question the resolve of Monfils at this point. He has already plugged away and soaked all of the applause that he could out of two journeymen South American clay court specialists. How much more does he have to give? This is a great match for Federer to get his teeth into as he moves into the heart of the tournament. Perfect warm up for the quarterfinals.

Kei Nishikori vs. Teymuraz Gabashvill…Nicknamed "Tsunami" because of his energy…Gabashvill may just be the sleeper in the draw. He has advanced through the draw with three straight set impressive performances. Nishikori for his part advanced to this round on the grounds of a walkover which may cause his to stumble just a bit.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Tomas Berdych…Berdych has become all to well accustomed to being an "also ran" at the big events of the professional tennis circuit. He makes headway at some of the smaller venues but when it comes to the elites he has had a rather tough going making any headway. Here he is pitted against Tsonga on Tsonga's home turf but Berdych appears to have the upper hand. Berdych is another player that appears to have benefited from a rather relatively "easy" draw. Let's see if he can capitalize on it. This has been his Achilles heel in the past…capitalizing on the big moment.

John McEnroe's match pick of the day on the "Game, Set…Mats" show last night was the Jack Sock and Borna Coric match. He noted the steady progress of Sock and as the only American remaining in the draw…the hopes of American tennis this week rests with him. Mats Wilander picked the Nick Kyrios and Andy Murray match as his pick of the day. Here's a couple of real characters…Nick and Andy. At different ends of the spectrum.

The only thing that concerns me at the top half of the draw is a road map that makes it most difficult for Novak Djokovic. Somebody has to make this guy work and work hard. The assignment falls on the shoulders of Thanasi Kokkinakis momentarily. Coming off a huge personal win over Bernard Tomic it might be asking a bit much for back to back performances or the confidence in this young man may be brimming and can he raise the level of his game to challenge the unchallengeable? As things stack up the final that I would like to see is Fafa Nadal against "The Living Proof". Roger Federer. Wouldn't it be nice to see Roger dethrone the biggest hotdog to ever play the game in his waning moments at Roland Garros? That would be a match that has the potential to be talked about for years…with the right outcome. Of course.

[don_budge]

I wish….I wish for Federer vs. Monfils…and John McEnroe

Well I got my wish. A Federer v Monfils showdown. I still think Federer is strong favourite but the match will certainly have some atmosphere, and if Monfils plays well it could be a really good, entertaining game. I just hope I'm not working when the match is scheduled.

The Cuevas has a really smooth forehand...

You and me both brother. This match has been nicely stacked in Roger's favor in every respect and I don't see any snowball's chance in hell for Gael Monfils making a dent in Federer's mission at Roland Garros. Gael has been out entertaining the Roland Garros throngs for a total of fourteen sets while Roger has merely strolled through three straight set matches for a total of nine sets played…nine relatively routine sets. Gael has been clowning around pulling himself out of two two sets to one deficit pressure and now it is time to pay the piper. Advantage Federer.

This is the kind of match that Roger loves to play. A big stage with lots of hype and a tired opponent who's taste for the toughest moments in a tennis match has always been questioned. What's more Gael has put a couple of nicks in the Federer mystique in the last couple of years…most notably in a match that he actually lost…the 2014 U. S. Open quarterfinals. Federer never forgets and he is going to lay it on thick…given the opportunity. He won't show any mercy and for damn sure he won't be clowning around. The Swiss is finely tuned at this point in the tournament…he has been preparing for this opportunity for the whole clay court season. Actually his preparation has been geared towards Wimbledon and he has just been measuring his steps using the clay court season as stepping stones but when he saw that draw sheet for the French he started licking his lips and said to himself…why not? Just as Stotty suggested. He's primed, fuelled and fit for a fight. He is in position right where he should be. The question is…how much fight does the amazing Mr. Monfils have in him? Not enough for best of five with the dancing Roger Federer. He who dances with tennis balls.

On an aside…John McEnroe has made an interesting spectacle of himself at this years French Open. Not only is he announcing some matches but he has been given his own spot to offset Mats Wilander and the annoying Barbara Schett. McEnroe has some two minute or so slots where he dons a baseball cap that says "Tennis Commissioner" on it. In his role as the Don of tennis McEnroe holds forth on what he sees on possible improvements to the game. The intro to the spot has McEnroe ironically spinning a classic wooden racquet and playing his guitar. Talk about clowning around. From Super Brat to Super Senior. He's run the gamut.

A couple of days ago the spot was harping on the line calling and the use of Hawkeye. McEnroe is advocating getting rid of the linesman. He also was making the issue of Nadal's being able to control who referee's his matches. John had a number of umpires that he would have just as soon not had to deal with. Yesterday he had some beefs to take up with the modern day tennis professionals. One of the beefs was the use of bathroom breaks. He duly noted that player's were not allowed to leave the court back in his day. Back in my day. During his tirade he repeatedly kept leaving the set to take a "bathroom break". He accused the players of using the break as psychological tactics with their opponent. Of course he's right and only stating the obvious. His second complaint and he made a long case for this one…was the use of the towel and the incessant towelling off in between points. He went on and on about the stupidity and classlessness of the use of the towel. As to emphasize the point he kept requesting a towel during his tirade as he mopped his face…just like the crop of tennis players do during an entire match. He suggested that they even use the towel in warm-up.

Didn't someone on the forum start a thread on the wonderful use of the towel. Again McEnroe illustrated his point with a reference to the past. Players didn't use to use the towel as some sort of security clutch. John McEnroe is spoofing the game but I have to believe that the survivor of the racquet transition truly believes deep down inside that the show has become a bit too much like "Big Time Wrestling".

John McEnroe and Mats Wilander had a nice discussion on the Roger Federer net game as well. The question came up about using serve and volley against the likes of Nadal (and Djokovic?). I believe that McEnroe was in serious error again though when he said that Federer has never volleyed so well under the tutelage of Stefan Edberg. What about the 2001 five set victory over Pete Sampras at Wimbledon John? What the hell was that?

One thing is very clear to me…"they" have succeeded in rewriting the history of tennis. It makes me wonder how successful have they been at rewriting the rest of history.