Roland Garros 2014: MOTD Day 3 Tuesday 27/05/2014

With a heavy heart, I'll post the matches for the day 3. My  internet service too went down along with me looking at Stan loss. Sorry for the delay in posting the matches.
 

1. Gael Monfils (FRA) [23]
vs.
Victor Hanescu (ROU) [33]


2. Richard Gasquet (FRA) [12]
vs.
Bernard Tomic (AUS) [33]




3. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) [33]
vs.
Andy Murray (GBR) [7]


4. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) [33]
vs.
Carlos Berlocq (ARG) [33]


5. Michael Llodra (FRA) [33]
vs.
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) [24]


My picks:


1. Monfils
2. Tomic
3. Gloubev
4. Berloq
5. Llodra

Thanks ROTLA!  I am assuming that - as per usual - the unseeded players would earn us 33 points.  With that, my picks are:

Monfils
Gasquet (tricky because of Gasquet's injury, but I am betting on Tomic's incompetence trumping that)
Murray
Berlocq
Verdasco

Monfil
Gasquet
Golu
Berloq
Verdy

1. Gael Monfils (FRA) [23]

Bernard Tomic (AUS) [33]


Andy Murray (GBR) [7]


Carlos Berlocq (ARG) [33]


Fernando Verdasco (ESP) [24]

Monfils, Gasquet, Murray, Hewitt, Verdasco.

Let's see, not very successful yesterday; I'd better not start betting, but all in good fun as always.   

1) Hanescu for the upset; Monfils with suspect ankle injury, I am not convinced he is fully recovered.
2) Has Gasquet even played on clay this year? Yes, he's up against Tomic, but Tomic has beaten Gasquet in a GS before
3) Murray will come through on Golubev's least favourite surface
4) Berlocq has already won a clay court tournament this year; he will prevail against mighty clay courter Hewitt
5) Verdasco will disappoint the audience

Dimi 2 sets to luv down against Karlovic.. and they were not even TBs. Damn.. Looks like another of my favourite player is going out early this RG.

And Santiago Giraldo is 0-2 sets against, out of form and sorts.. Seppi... what's going on this RG...

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Dimi 2 sets to luv down against Karlovic.. and they were not even TBs. Damn.. Looks like another of my favourite player is going out early this RG.

Ouch!
I didn't even realise the matches have started...I'd better have a look.
Yes, Dimi, just like Stan yesterday has been given a tough first round match. Anyone here still believes in Nadal's luck?  

Dimi lost...

And out goes Dimi! ... Must have an impediment. he played ok before playing Nadal......since he played 2 horrific matches!

And Ivo is through in straights!
Just saw the third set TB. Dimi looked shell-shocked just like against Nadal the other day. Seems he is still recovering from that birthday cake in the face he got from his coach.
Happy for Ivo, he's been through a lot last year, had a near-death experience with some strong meningital virus.
He served over 20 aces apparently.
That much for Dimi and his base-line game Rasheed's been insisting on.
Back to basics, I say.

I had some really high hopes with Dimitrov and Nishikori this RG to be finally breaking into the top guys and atleast making it to the 4th round and perhaps even far.

But they have been utterly disappointing.

The young generation are just waiting for Nadal-Djokovic-Fed to phase out and then they can merry upon.

I don't think Nishi has been disappointing, quite the opposite.
He has played some brilliant tennis and had excellent results, but his fragile body is paying the price of this physical era, like so many other players.
I actually think healthy Nishi could have won RG 2014.
It is a huge shame. Half the tour are all walking wounded. Again, the title will be won by the fittest.

Gasquet - Tomic starting, this should be a good one on paper.
Tomic's primitive bully father is allowed back to coaching him in Wimbledon.
I bet he didn't have guts to show his face in Paris, after what he did to Drouet.

And Hewitt,The Eye of The Tiger is out....spent force indeed, I officially give up on him.

Richie doing well against Tomic. Allez!

Interesting to hear Bartolli commentate on ITV. Just caught her mentioning the change of Gasquet's FH tecnique on clay where he uses more wrist, just as he hit a FHDTL in Nadal's style, saying he does not change the grip but "inclination" of the wrist, and does special exercises in the gym with his physio for that reason.

Li Na also out. That means both men's and women's AO champions have been eliminated in the first round!

Murray-Golub next.
Not expecting an upset here.

Golu finally winning his serve...for the frst time in the second set....a beautiful ball stricker....shame he is a bit slow on his legs....and erractic...though I guess this is linked.

Golub is another one of pure instinctive players, he just doesn't know any other way.
Hasn't been able to impose himself yet on Murray and get his momentum started. What a contrast in every possible way they are!
He is trying by going for too much, but unfortunately missing.
Hit a few beautiful BHs though.
It is nauseating to listen to ITV commentators. Courier can't get a word in...

I don't know who it is in the studio, but apparently someone with links to Murray's camp.
He is saying how Murray's match against Nadal in Rome woke him up as it forced him to produce his best tennis.
I knew Murray needed to get pumped for a match to get his aggression going, the thing is, he can't do it once in a blue moon otherwise he'll always fall short against Nadal in fitness department. A few tough matches here could definitely help along the way. Is Murray or Nadal playing Ferrer in the QF?
I wouldn't mind seeing a Murray Nadal semi in the least.
No word mentioned on any post-surgery problems, on the contrary.

noleisthebest wrote:

raiders_of_the_lost_ark wrote:Dimi 2 sets to luv down against Karlovic.. and they were not even TBs. Damn.. Looks like another of my favourite player is going out early this RG.

Ouch!
I didn't even realise the matches have started...I'd better have a look.
Yes, Dimi, just like Stan yesterday has been given a tough first round match. Anyone here still believes in Nadal's luck?  

It's getting better and better. Almagro retired after being down 5-0 against Sock of all people! No seed left in Nadal's quarter with the exception of Ferrer.   

I don't see anybody with a realistic chance to take him down before the final. Murray seems more focused now then in the Masters I have seen him play, but against Nadal on clay ?   

And Ferrer? He has beaten Nadal only when he was not "at his best." RG is quickly becoming a dull and ugly affair.

Too many unnecessary errors from Golubev, very disappointing end of the 2nd set, missed so many easy put-aways.
Doesn't seem to like clumpy wet clay and the wind. Just not playing with any peace and the result is chaos...maybe he will just relax now that he's lost 2 sets and start playing better...

What a waste from Golu, he is such a beautiful striker of the ball. Unfortunately he is rushing a bit too much and gives so many easy points. He is not helped by the strong wind which clearly affects his shots considerably more.

I don't think the Nadal match woke Murray up. It is just another case of Nadal's game giving his opponents often a chance to shine.....for a set!

Haas retried, Almagro retired. This side of the draw grows weaker by every round.

Tenez wrote: I don't think the Nadal match woke Murray up. It is just another case of Nadal's game giving his opponents often a chance to shine.....for a set!

Who do you think has a better chance against Nadal in RG, Murray or Ferrer?

Tenez wrote:And out goes Dimi! ... Must have an impediment. he played ok before playing Nadal......since he played 2 horrific matches!

He was alluding to some kind of personal problem after the match; didn't want to say more to not be accused of looking for excuses.   

The return game in Rome when he beat Ivo in straights wasn't too different, he won 21% return points then, 20% today; he had one bp he converted then, one bp he didn't convert today. Very small difference really.

His service game however...   so I guess, it's likely that he was somewhat distracted and mentally not up to the task.

Looks like Golub's fine and smooth ball-striking prefers/needs regular bounce of hard courts.
Gorgeous BHDTL. I would love to see as well as hear it live in Wimbledon.

Bravo Golub!
What a beauty, when he's flying.
I can't get over how opposite he is in everything from Murray, like a fine piece of antique, delicate porcelain.

Order of Play out for tomorrow:
Idemo Nole!
Allez Benoit!

Llodra says official goodbye to his home crowd in a very moving speech.
Another player from the dying breed leaves the scene.
Must be the hardest thing to do, to walk off the court having played your final match.
I think I would die before I even entered the tunnel.

Yes a great talent! Born too late in the wrong era!

Great atmosphere on the side court, where young Frenchman Laurent Lokoli is playing. Gotta love the French crowd there.

He has some flair, as you'd expect from a French player. Shows some nerves too, serving for the second set. Come on, take it, Laurent!

I used to be at war with RG crowd because of that 2011 RG SF, but after going there last year have changed my mind.
We got on beautifully!
They are very passionate and vocal, and I felt like fish in the water there.
Wimbledon is the opposite, but again, great in its own unique silent way.
Both ambients and crowds really suit and reflect tennis produced on two such different surfaces.

Autumnleaf wrote:.... Shows some nerves too, serving for the second set. Come on, take it, Laurent!

That not to expect from a French player!

Not quite obvious who the loser here is....

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yeeeYzC_TYs&feature=youtu.be (weird celebration from Matosevic)

Other than Fed, the two guys I was hoping would do well this tournament were Stan and Dimi

I was also hoping Nishi could do well

Haas and Almagro both gone in Rd 1 too

For Rd 2:
Roger
Thiem