Roland Garros - 2020

I can only see Thiem having a chance of beating Djokovic. Nadal will be run into the ground by Djokovic, he’ll just extend rallies & push him about.

Unfortunately I don’t see Thiem getting past Nadal.

I think Zverev can hurt Nadal actually. He is an injured man after the USO final and that may help him relax his nerves.
Then if Nadal is pushed v Zverev it will make the task easier for Thiem unless Schwartz makes it even more difficult for Thiem. This is where Nadal has again a huge piece of luck.

Hopefully something will get in the way of Djoko too.

And Zverev inflicted a convincing defeat to Nadal last time they played. Plus he gave Nadal a good run on clay in Rome last year before rain saved Nadal. So pretty open there... Maybe.

Djokovic doesnt have anyone between him and the final

Zverev may have a chance only because of the heavy conditions.

Sunny chartrier is only Nadal, not even Djoko

naxroy wrote:Sunny chartrier is only Nadal, not even Djoko

very arguable. It was sunny when in 2013 on Chatrier Djoko had an easy smash for a double break in that 5th set.....

Tenez wrote:

naxroy wrote:Sunny chartrier is only Nadal, not even Djoko

very arguable. It was sunny when in 2013 on Chatrier Djoko had an easy smash for a double break in that 5th set.....

and he lost

actually that fourth set should had gone in nadals way, but in the same way Novak lost his chance in the 5th, nadal kept him alive in the fourth

Yeah Nadal was serving for the 4th set at 6-5 and then made some really silly errors.

Also Tenez, you've got the details wrong. The smash for Djokovic would not have secured him a double break, but just a hold.

actually they were 4-3 for nole who was serving to consolidate a previous break. they were 40-40 so that point would have meant advantage for novak. but it was not game point and it was not for a double break up either

Yeah by hold, I meant it was on his service game. He won the next point after that, so he probably would have held actually if he had won that point.

naxroy wrote:actually that fourth set should had gone in nadals way, but in the same way Novak lost his chance in the 5th, nadal kept him alive in the fourth

only because Djokovic completely lost his focus for a set and a half. A very weird macth.

Rublev, quite convincing

Carreño very solid so far

Berretini in serious danger

I think maybe Bautista would have had more options against Novak

lets see what Almaier is capable of anyway.

Djokovic is so quick on his feet that he makes it look he anticipates very well. he has the time on his side thanks to his footwork. 

One will need to produce lots of pace to make him rush and hit the ball in uncomfortable positions. 

Only Covid could sort him out I fear.

about beating Djokovic, 

Thiem can do it on clay

this 34 yeard old Nadal I have my doubts, but one has to count on the champion of the last three editions  and 12 times champion in 15 years

Frankly 34 is ok...look at Djoko he is 33 and has never been so dominant. And look at Nadal his first rounds wins are as easy as ever. 

However Djoko is now a much better player than Nadal...has been for a long while but went through injuries that did not give the full extend of how much better djoko is at that lung busting game.

Lets hope Kachanov can beat the shit out of Djocovid.

This slam is equal to some U18 I go see time to time, joke so far.

Tenez wrote:Frankly 34 is ok...look at Djoko he is 33 and has never been so dominant. And look at Nadal his first rounds wins are as easy as ever. 

However Djoko is now a much better player than Nadal...has been for a long while but went through injuries that did not give the full extend of how much better djoko is at that lung busting game.

I can agree about Novak beeing better overall
but not on clay.

injuries both of them have had them so none can use it as an excuse...

naxroy wrote:

Tenez wrote:Frankly 34 is ok...look at Djoko he is 33 and has never been so dominant. And look at Nadal his first rounds wins are as easy as ever. 

However Djoko is now a much better player than Nadal...has been for a long while but went through injuries that did not give the full extend of how much better djoko is at that lung busting game.

I can agree about Novak being better overall
but not on clay.

injuries both of them have had them so none can use it as an excuse...

We cannot put all injuries in the same bag. 

I would agree that Djokovic struggles a bit more on clay than Nadal versus the rest of the field cause he has not that nasty spin on the ball which requires getting used to but Djoko (who is used to that spin) is better than Nadal regardless the surface and he will prove it this time again. To me he has been a better player on clay since 2011. Nadal has been extremely lucky with draws at the French and Djokovic has had to battle it more.

I know you think that, you ve exposed such thoughts several times in the forum, but it simply doesnt make sense to me,  seeing results since 2011 on clay by both of them and in between them.

Luck can be a factor in a tournament here and there, maybe even all over one season, but its ten seasons already since 2011

and just look at the achievements on clay

Luck has unfortunately played a huge part.

This Polish girl Swiatek can really play. Hope she keeps it up.

really impressed by Swiatek (considering the opponent), didnt know her

naxroy wrote:Luck can be a factor in a tournament here and there, maybe even all over one season, but its ten seasons already since 2011

and just look at the achievements on clay

Achievement is based on one player doing well against the rest of the field. On clay Nadal has done much better for the reason I gave above (ball being difficult to get used to). 

Djoko has not got this nasty ball preventing players to have a good day. Nadal simply destroys or reduces the chance for a player to find a good timing and have a good day, especially if not used to that game. 

But with more exposure players have flared better v Nadal....and less against Djokovic (and even Federer). 

Nadal has no weapon v Djokovic (nor has he now v Federer unless a storm comes to mess things up). 

And age has nothing to do with it....as Federer has proven.

Jeez, she’s really played her off the Court.

Stunning. I hope she goes all the way. She’s got far more to her game than Osaka or Halep for that matter. And she’d kill the big fat lump, she’d be run into the ground in a set from the variety.

Poor old Tim Herman. He misses by a day Barbara Schett wearing a pretty amazing pair of super-tight red trousers with mega high heels. Basically, she was a painted nude and that girl has an imposing pair of pins. You’re taking your life into your hands there.

Ok, clay since 2011, head to head:

8-7 for nadal, pretty balanced, but you cannot say Novak is leading here, and in the last 3 years its 3-0 for nadal

Achievements:

Nadal 7 Roland garros (out of 9)
Novak 1 Roland garros (out of 9)
Here there is not even a possible comparison, over 9 seasons it is not a matter of luck, Nadal is the abosolute king in Paris and Novak has only won the tournament once in this period. Also in this period he was beaten by nadal 3 times and he beat nadal once

Nadal 12
Novak 9
Pretty balanced also, but it cannot be said that Nole has been stronger here either
its true anyway that in clay masters since 2011 novak has beaten nadal 6 times and lost against the spanish only 5 times


After all this data, considering achievements but also direct encounters, since 2011 one can say it is pretty close, but in no way it can be said that Novak has been better


and this is counting only since 2011, as you exposed that NOvak is a better player on clay since that year

One thing is true, in direct encounters its been pretty balanced since then

naxroy wrote:Ok, clay since 2011, head to head:

8-7 for nadal, pretty balanced, but you cannot say Novak is leading here, and in the last 3 years its 3-0 for nadal

Well yes close and we know Djokovic was particularly in poor form in 2017 and 18. Nadal clearly doesn't even try to play when not 120%.

Anyway, if Nadal wins this FO v Djoko I will happily admit I was wrong even if Djokovic wins in a 5 setter. But I know Djokovic is twice as good as Nadal regardless the surface and will win easily next sunday, should they meet. And that should prove my point. Shouldn't it?

Well a match doesnt change 10 years I would say. And these conditions are totally abnormal

Ias you say those 10 years are pretty balanced. Ibut we know Nadal has had his share of luck.... But it's not going to be close.

Pretty balanced in h2h (and yet Nadal ahead) not in achievements

You are saying the conds don't suit him but he is cutting through with more ease then ever. Exactly what I have been saying for years. Those guys get better with time.... And it's harder and harder for the youngsters. If Nadal loses its only because someone is better than him.

Zverev being trained by Murray's coaches and playing like Murray....just waiting for errors. Pathetic!

Tenez wrote:You are saying the conds don't suit him but he is cutting through with more ease then ever. Exactly what I have been saying for years.  Those guys get better with time.... And it's harder and harder for the youngsters. If Nadal loses its only because someone is better than him.

given their long history together, if novak beats nadal next sunday, it will mean novak was better in that match and you can also think he is better now on clay. but of course, CV still will say 12-2 and 25-10

and I dont have it so clear that nadal will make it to sunday

thiem looks like a great threat now

Sinner looks pretty good

Sinner will be made to move by Nadal and he is not ready for that yet. Shame cause he has a good game and will hurt badly soon if he carries on improving physically.

He looks pretty composed for a youngster.

Zverev needs to stands further back and run much more.....That's the way forward for this gutless player.

Glad Rublev will overtake him soon.

Done him good there.

God wouldn’t it enliven this sport if a new name cut right through. It won’t happen but can you imagine the excitement?

I think we have a few very good youngsters. Look at Thiem or Schwartz they are only getting closer to the top 2 cause they are aging. I am pretty sure it will take much less time for the likes of Sinner.

Could not agree more with the comments around Zverev. Utter waste of space. Never seen anyone be on the receiving end of so many chokes despite being such a shit player.

The ironic thing is that the one time he played a half decent match he was the one who ended up choking in hilarious style.

Nadal's draw starting to look much better.  His first four rounds were very easy but prospect of having to play Zverev-Thiem-Nole back-to-back looked daunting.  With Zverev gone, it is now just Thiem and Nole, and if one of those two goes out early, all of a sudden Nadal's path will be quite clean.

Both USO and here a lot of youngsters are making it through.  Refreshing.

Zverev had a fever and was feeling breathless today and yesterday.
Last had a COVID test 5 days ago.

Is he out of his fucking mind?

He could have infected Sinner, who in turn will infect Nadal on Tuesday. Fucking disaster.