Roland Garros Update

[stroke]

I must object !

Djokovic never played Peak Fed at Wimbledon, when Fed won five (5) consecutive Wimbledon titles from 2003-2007, and finished with 7 out of 10. Sorry. Nope.

That Fed won in 2017 after knee surgery and then at 37 yo got to match points vs the 5 years younger Novak in 2019 are amazing cherries atop the best grass career in open era history.

I would say they are 2 of the greatest grass court players of all time. But not as good as Nadal on clay.

[stroke]

Nadal of course a strong favorite vs Zverev with an implied winning probability of 74%. Ruud a solid favorite vs Cilic with an implied probability of 67% of winning. Zverev has the backhand, probably the best one in tennis to possibly to do damage to the Nadal swerve hook forehand. He will certainly need to consistently go down the line with it, and serve very well, a high percentage on 1st serves, to have a chance of taking out the now 36 year old Nadal. He also needs to actively complain to the umpire about Nadals shot clock antics. His complaints may fall on deaf ears, but now is not the time to be a nice guy and take the high road. Not if he wants to take out Nadal at the FO, the toughest ask in sports.

[jimlosaltos]

I just turned on the Tennis Channel broadcast to hear "We are not allowed to show the replay, it's that bad."

Apparently, Zverev tore ligaments BUT that is not official, medical word yet.

Shocking. Sad.

Minutes later: "You can hear the groans from the people outside the stadium as the replay is shown."

Zverev comes out on crutches, shakes the chair's hand, then hugs with Rafa.

[stotty]

So Rafa gets a free pass into the final...so gets all the luck as well it seems. Poor Zverev...he was in the fight. I don't think I will watch the final. It'll be a rout.

[jimlosaltos]

Zverev

[jimlosaltos]

Might as well cross-pollinate TPN content. Here's our photo album of Iga who meet Coco for the title tomorrow (Saturday).

https://www.tennisplayer.net/members/tourportraits/jim_fawcette/iga_swiatek/

All of my photos of Iga here are from her title run at Indian Wells in March, besting Maria Sakkara in the final.

[arturohernandez]

Shapo to me is not a favorite for anything I would go with Novak and Nadal.

I wish I could disagree with you. He is so talented but something just does not click. Maybe too hotheaded.

[arturohernandez]

Djokovic might take issue with your post, arturohernandez, since he's beaten Roger in three Wimbledon finals! Novak is an extremely good grass court player and even better on the surface than Roger it seems.

True. On the new Wimbledon grass with the new balls. I always wonder what would have happened had they kept true S&V conditions that did not favor just staying back and bashing ball after ball.

It hurts to admit that Novak and Nadal surpassed Federer.

[stotty]

True. On the new Wimbledon grass with the new balls. I always wonder what would have happened had they kept true S&V conditions that did not favor just staying back and bashing ball after ball.

It hurts to admit that Novak and Nadal surpassed Federer.

Well, it's more than twenty years since they changed the grass at Wimbledon so it makes sense the players have changed with it. I would argue grass is Novak's best surface. I have watched him live numerous times at Wimbledon and his groundies are surprisingly perfect for it. His serve, which is not that hard but well-placed, is maximised on grass.

Roger is great but no greater than Nadal or Novak. It's like splitting hairs separating the three players in terms of their achievements and levels of play, with arguments on all sides. I'm just sorry it won't last much longer. I am really going to miss it when they are finally gone.

[stroke]

Nadal huge favorite tomorrow with an implied probability of winning of almost 85%. One would think there would be no more records for Nadal to break at the FO, but it turns out he is the 2nd oldest finalist ever at the FO. Bill Tilden was 37 as a finalist at the FO. Who knows, the 14th title here could be his last, but I would not bet on it.

[stotty]

If Ruud were to win it would be the biggest upset in tennis history. You just can't see it happening.

[arturohernandez]

He is such an underdog that I wonder if he just might play looser.

The question is whether anyone will S&V. Both stay way back to return.

[stroke]

1st set observations, same ol. Ruud seems to have no answer to the Nadal ask on clay, like everyone else, since 2004. Not a good matchup on clay, like everyone else.

Mary Carillo has neither lost or gained a step as a tennis commentator. Still the worst I have ever heard, and that is saying something.

[stroke]

Ruud played a great 2nd set, like the top 4 clay courter in the world he is. He is now down 2 sets.

[stotty]

I tuned in briefly (it's a forgone conclusion so have little interest) and timed Rafa at 33 and 35 seconds between points when serving. I think the rule is 25 seconds. He is so darn good to start with what chance does Ruud have if the umpire gives Rafa all the recuperation time he needs after the longer rallies. I give up. This will never get sorted out.