Roland Garros 2013: Day 8 02/06/2013

Wilander saying that Federer's timing is the best...ever.

Completely agree.

Yes, it's quite something.
But the thing that makes him who he is is the urge to play inside the court and move forward.
I totally love it when he floods every square inch of it, so comfortable, dynamic and natural in every position, it's just one fluid sequence of points, like the other guy doesn't matter at all.
Shows best on grass.

Order of play out for tomorrow:

Court Philippe Chatrier 10:00 AM UK time

Francesca Schiavone (ITA)vs.Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [3]
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1]vs.Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) [16]
Rafael Nadal (ESP) [3]vs.Kei Nishikori (JPN) [13]
Sloane Stephens (USA) [17]vs.Maria Sharapova (RUS) [2]

Court Suzanne Lenglen 10:00 AM UK time

Tommy Haas (GER) [12]vs.Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) [29]
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)vs.Maria Kirilenko (RUS) [12]
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) [9]vs.Richard Gasquet (FRA) [7]
Jamie Hampton (USA)vs.Jelena Jankovic (SRB) [18]

How did that set go to Simon?

Can't help noticing momentum changed after that fall.

Yes strange reaction from Fed after that fall. He probably was worried.

Whats going on here,since Federer's fall he has been tanking

There is certainly a sand dust in that well oiled machine.

Strange play with all those safe, down the middle exchanges with Simon...looking a bit better now.
I hope he finds his rhythm soon. Should be able to break Simon by the end of the set.

Veejay wrote:Whats going on here,since Federer's fall he has been tanking

Not sure about tanking....but certainly shanking.

oh, he got broken again while I was typing that comment COME ON ROGGG!!!!!!!!!

ok,who thinks he will win and who thinks he will loose?

I can't believe this!
Surely he will wake up now

Veejay wrote:ok,who thinks he will win and who thinks he will loose?

I would be very surprised if Simon won. Just hope that Fed is OK, that fall did not look bad at all.

That's more like it, first that BHDTL and then the net point

noleisthebest wrote:

Veejay wrote:ok,who thinks he will win and who thinks he will loose?

I would be very surprised if Simon won. Just hope that Fed is OK, that fall did not look bad at all.

If Fed can just break Simons spirit,then he will be ok..I think one break of serve can do that

Simon's not the guy you can break the spirit of, he is avery stable and balanced player, all Fed needs to do is have two fast service games of his own and go attack Simon hard on his, and Simon will retrieve into his shell.

Some valiant, heroic and heart-stopping tennis from Fed now
Good sign, he wants this one!

And he breaks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Fed

I am not sure Vee who will win but before this match I was not sure Federer was that motivated.....now it's clear he is .

Much better shot seclection from Roger,he made some poor decisions which lost him the 3rd set

I think the crowd has filled Fed's heart with a shot of whatever he needed...very moving.
The horrible thing is, I don't feel sorry for Simon at all

It woudl be a shame for Federer to lose this match cause it's very clear it is this fall that troubled him.

I noticed Fed looked at teh sky. I think he is worried for the light to drop off cause it's a leveller.

That FH taken so early at 15 all in last game of 4th set was amazing!

Tenez wrote:It woudl be a shame for Federer to lose this match cause it's very clear it is this fall that troubled him.

I noticed Fed looked at teh sky. I think he is worried for the light to drop off cause it's a leveller.

That was just the cloud passing over. They'll have playing light there till 8 PM UK time easy as it's sunny now.

noleisthebest wrote:I think the crowd has filled Fed's heart with a shot of whatever he needed...very moving.
The horrible thing is, I don't feel sorry for Simon at all

Doesnt seem like the French support Simon much

The genius is re-entering Roger's body.

Veejay wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:I think the crowd has filled Fed's heart with a shot of whatever he needed...very moving.
The horrible thing is, I don't feel sorry for Simon at all

Doesnt seem like the French support Simon much

It's very shared....but you right they shoudl be 90% behind him.....not 50/50. But look....even I am for fed.

I did observe the crowd when I was there, and they really do know their tennis, they watch it very closely so it's not a surprise they support Fed, it's hard not to when he starts playing his game and gives you that non-stop adrenaline rush/ride.

I don't know what troubled Fed after that fall but without it it woudl have been a 61 62 62.

Tenez wrote:

Veejay wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:I think the crowd has filled Fed's heart with a shot of whatever he needed...very moving.
The horrible thing is, I don't feel sorry for Simon at all

Doesnt seem like the French support Simon much

It's very shared....but you right they shoudl be 90% behind him.....not 50/50. But look....even I am for fed.

LOL...but you know what the French are like when supporting their own players at RG
I think the French are really hoping Roger wins RG again this year
I am glad Simon tested Roger a bit,he needed it cause Tsonga is going to be very tricky
Its not a marathon match in terms of time,especially for a 5 setter,he wont be spent after this match,but the scare should definitely do him good

Yes though I don't think Simon tested Fed much...Fed simply went off track.

Tenez wrote:I don't know what troubled Fed after that fall but without it it woudl have been a 61 62 62.

I remembered when I fell once, tripped like him, I was so shocked it took me about 5-10 minutes to go back to normal. Not that it was painful, embarrassing or anything, just the shock of not expecting it and all the hormones that little moment of fear must have triggered off.
And that was me jollying about in the club with no focus at all.

I can imagine how it could have felt for Federer to snap out of his focus and all that fine-tuned balance.

That could explain the 2nd set loss, not sure about the 3rd. Simon started playing better, I suppose, no idea...

The fading light really worries me.

Tenez wrote:The fading light really worries me.

It's the same in Paris as it's here, and look how bright it is, nothing to worry about.

Tenez wrote:The fading light really worries me.

Essentially because it stresses Federer too.

No it's slightly darker in Paris.

They've got another half an hour, I think.

Yes but the quality won't be the same.....anyway I don;t think it will be a problem now.

Tenez wrote:Yes but the quality won't be the same.....anyway I don;t think it will be a problem now.

watch when they stop play on Lenglen after this one.

You see the 2 easy volleys missed coudl be done to teh light for me.

Tenez wrote:You see the 2 easy volleys missed coudl be done to teh light for me.

If you insist

I'm glad the crowd gave Simon a bit of love, too (once they saw Fed was going to win the match), it's one thing you can't fake.

Very entertaining match.

I am so please Federer does the 1/4F 9 years in a row!!!!

I just realised that Ruds as a Canadian can speak French and therefore does the translation on Eurosport.

I was listening to Courier, really enjoyed it.
Although ITV didn't show the on court interview, but I suppose it would've been "we've heard it all before" kind of interview.

Tenez wrote:Very entertaining match.

I am so please Federer does the 1/4F 9 years in a row!!!!

I just realised that Ruds as a Canadian can speak French and therefore does the translation on Eurosport.

And 900th win.

Roger was also aware of his 900 victory.

Tenez wrote:Yes though I don't think Simon tested Fed much...Fed simply went off track.

The 5th set was definitely more competitive then the rest of the match

Next - Tsonga!
What do you think?

It's very bizarre Fed said he had to stay positive when playing his match today otherwise he woudl have lost very quickly and gone home.

The thing is for me I tend to be very negative on the court and that makes me lose a few matches I coudl win....but likewise as soon as I am too positive...I lose too.

I am relying too much on my sheer talent!

Veejay wrote:

Tenez wrote:Yes though I don't think Simon tested Fed much...Fed simply went off track.

The 5th set was definitely more competitive then the rest of the match

Yes though one point coudl have made it 61. Fed had 2 or 3 points for a double break.