Roland Garros 2014: MOTD Day 6 Fri29/05/2014

FedererKing wrote:I have to say, I've noticed how many break points Fed drops these days...  He hardly, if ever, did that from 04-07

Not quite true. he lost BPs and MPs v Safin in a few of his matches Safin, including teh AO05 semi. He lost tons of BPs v Nadal at FO 05, 06, 07 (0/11 in teh first set?). That is why I said "typical" of him.

However I agree today he did not seem to me very light on his feet. Not bad but to very quick....might be down to Tursu power who made him look slower than he was.

Boredo wins the tie  
Big John runs into a piece of Spanish stubbornness

BTW: anyone else believes Gulbis will beat Federer? I do

I saw second part of it...pure visual and audial agony..what is it players having to grunt and get their mental intensity and focus from it...esp if they kind og hit the ballharder, then they grunt louder as if to say: take that!
JJ is the worst, he is actually growling.
It's so unmanly....

I quite like Robredo. I don;t mind Isner but here I have to stick to my predictions.   

I don;t see the link between Cilic and Monaco.

I like the way Cilic put on muscles....after having tested positive.

I sadly approve it nowadays as this is the only chance those guys can catch up with the pros dopers.

gallery play wrote:BTW: anyone else believes Gulbis will beat Federer? I do

No chance. Feddy is still the Daddy. Tursunov is better than Gulbis.

Tenez wrote:I quite like Robredo. I don;t mind Isner but here I have to stick to my predictions.   
I don;t see the link between Cilic and Monaco.
I like the way Cilic put on muscles....after having tested positive.
I sadly approve it nowadays as this is the only chance those guys can catch up with the pros dopers.

I saw their match at Boodles two years ago. Same uncreative base-line game, the only difference was Cilic's BH was more consistent.
He plays differently and better  on hard-courts for some reason.

I saw Cilic from row 3 at CC when he was talked about the new big thing. He is much more agressive than Monaco. He is a bit oneD (or Bolitieri like) but that is the case of many players nowadays...

Gillou - Raonic starting, look forward at seeing how Simon unlocks and dissipates Raonic's power.
He is he coolest counter-puncher ever!

Tenez wrote:I saw Cilic from row 3 at CC when he was talked about the new big thing. He is much more agressive than Monaco. He is a bit oneD (or Bolitieri like) but that is the case of many players nowadays...

I can't top that...

Btw, what's this weird blue spiderman looking sleeve supposed to do for Raonic?
Keep his arm nice and warm?
Help him climb up the rankings?

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:I saw Cilic from row 3 at CC when he was talked about the new big thing. He is much more agressive than Monaco. He is a bit oneD (or Bolitieri like) but that is the case of many players nowadays...

I can't top that...

Btw, what's this weird blue spiderman looking sleeve supposed to do for Raonic?
Keep his arm nice and warm?
Help him climb up the rankings?

Still he was not that great to watch as I said...but Monaco? Monaco has actually more flair much lighter version with more safety in his shots and not nearly as good a FH.

yes I guess. It's a bit weird but probably got sponsored by it and get some decent $$! I am sure BN bought one!

I reckon she's bought two, one for each arm!

Monaco's got flair but only on clay, I remember him for great drop-shots about 5-6 years ago...and it's been a while since he's played well.
I know they are different, but at that match, they played almost the same, and it was a borefest.

Isner's through, I'm leaving the chasing pack behiiiiiiind
Vamos Granollers  

I suggest we do like F1!  double points from Sunday onwards. We now have a good idea about the players style and form and therefore the expertise should play a bigger role...hence more points.

Impress by the number of 4 and 5 setters Isner has been winning in his career. His heart must be as big as a whale's!

Tenez wrote:I suggest we do like F1!  double points from Sunday onwards. We now have a good idea about the players style and form and therefore the expertise should play a bigger role...hence more points.

That's the spirit!  

Tenez wrote:Impress by the number of 4 and 5 setters Isner has been winning in his career. His heart must be as big as a whale's!

Isner's actually super gutsy! He knows he's got zero chance on the baseline. Also, I don't think I've ever seen him choke.
He really makes the most of what he's got.

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:I suggest we do like F1!  double points from Sunday onwards. We now have a good idea about the players style and form and therefore the expertise should play a bigger role...hence more points.

That's the spirit!  

Tenez wrote:Impress by the number of 4 and 5 setters Isner has been winning in his career. His heart must be as big as a whale's!

Isner's actually super gutsy! He knows he's got zero chance on the baseline. Also, I don't think I've ever seen him choke.
He really makes the most of what he's got.

Just doubled fauted on SP today, didn't he?

Speaking of BPs, Nole was 7/22 today!
Must be something in the water over there...
The way I see it, it's better to create them then not, always a sign of heaping pressure on the opponent.

Order od play out for tomorrow:

ALLEZ GILLOUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!

yes but I am impressed by Raonic! His game is improvoing fast again!

I haven't noticed...I either like a player and his game or not. Nothing in between

He reminds me of Optimus Prime from Transformers:

noleisthebest wrote:I haven't noticed...I either like a player and his game or not. Nothing in between

I think you are a bit like that for everything, aren't you?

I can understand why Serena wanted to shove the ball down that lineswoman's troat...those people can ruin your match!  

Lets see if Rao has the nerves to serve it out now.

...and failed....but the crowd had more to do than nerves I guess. ....They are over excited!

That's what you call home advantage!
ALLLEEEEZZ!!!!!!!!

Great re-break from Rao!
He added a bit of calmness in his game. It's not easy to play patiently against Simon..and the crowd!

Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!

Come on Gillou, break him back!!!!  

And again...NOOOOOOOOOOO.

Well done Milos. He deserved it.

I am actually glad Rao won, he deserved it a bit more. His game is more varied that some might think. he has a good net play too.

And Granollers takes the third. Already a marathon 3:23!!
And it is postponed.

4 out of 7 so far for todays prognostics. not good!

Roger tells full of enthousiasm about his twin but he had no respond when Mats said: "make sure of of them is left handed"  

Tenez wrote:I like the way Cilic put on muscles....after having tested positive.

I sadly approve it nowadays as this is the only chance those guys can catch up with the pros dopers.

Cilic put up more resistance than I expected against Djoko. Taking a set off him on clay! Look how these players improve, now that they have cleaned up after the ban.   Shows that there is no need of doping at all!   

And of course, Cilic had to end up in the bottom half. I'd have liked to see him vs. Nadal, he is the kind of player who can give him trouble - very tall and powerful. Though I don't think the Beijing match tells us all that much about the match-up. It was in 2009 after all when Nadal couldn't win a set against any top 10 players + in autumn he is usually cycling down.

I'm afraid Djoko might get tested in the matches to come as well. Tsonga seems in rather good form, routining Janowicz not unexpectedly. Lots of exciting matches coming up in the bottom half.  The top half on the other hand...  

Nole should be fine.
I don't think Cilic tested him, it was just another case of Nole customary relaxing, losing focus and allowing his opponent in the match. He does it all the time....
Nole demolished him in the first two sets.
Cilic is, at best, a top 15-20 player.
The only one that can test Nole will be inspired Federer if they play on dry Langlen.
Tsonga and Raonic if he gets through will be difficult but doable. Winning those kind of matches will only fill Nole with confidence and that feeling of invincibility the thrives on.
But unlike Nadal, Nole will not have had a single easy match. All his opponents are current or former top 10 players.
That court really rewards fast players.

Autumnleaf wrote:

Tenez wrote:I like the way Cilic put on muscles....after having tested positive.

I sadly approve it nowadays as this is the only chance those guys can catch up with the pros dopers.

Cilic put up more resistance than I expected against Djoko. Taking a set off him on clay! Look how these players improve, now that they have cleaned up after the ban.   Shows that there is no need of doping at all!   

And of course, Cilic had to end up in the bottom half. I'd have liked to see him vs. Nadal, he is the kind of player who can give him trouble - very tall and powerful.

...yes from both wings. That's the only thing that scares Nadal!

Though I don't think the Beijing match tells us all that much about the match-up. It was in 2009 after all when Nadal couldn't win a set against any top 10 players + in autumn he is usually cycling down.

True but with Cilic the match is very down in his racquet....so more down to Cilic than Nadal.

I'm afraid Djoko might get tested in the matches to come as well. Tsonga seems in rather good form, routining Janowicz not unexpectedly. Lots of exciting matches coming up in the bottom half.  The top half on the other hand...  

Tsonga says in his interview that Djoko is the player that wasted his career most! (I guess by losing to him in the AO final and other slams.