Roland Garros 2014: MOTD Day 11 Wed 04/06/2014

Only 4 today.....This time, the tortoises will not overtake the hares!
!
Sara Errani (ITA) [10]
vs.
Andrea Petkovic (GER) [28]


Gael Monfils (FRA) [23]
vs.
Andy Murray (GBR) [7]


Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) [27]
vs.
Simona Halep (ROU) [4]


Rafael Nadal (ESP) [1]
vs.
David Ferrer (ESP) [5]

Andrea Petkovic (GER) [28] Joker!

Andy Murray (GBR) [7]

Simona Halep (ROU) [4]


Rafael Nadal (ESP) [1]

If Djokovic and Nadal make the final, barring no injuries, Djokovic is going to marmalise Nadal.  And that's assuming Nadal even makes it.  I'm looking forward to the next few days.

...and here are the points adjusted to reflect rotla's scoring:

Sara Errani  (ITA) [15]
vs.
Andrea Petkovic  (GER) [33]


Gael Monfils  (FRA) [33]
vs.
Andy Murray  (GBR) [17]


Svetlana Kuznetsova  (RUS) [33]
vs.
Simona Halep  (ROU) [10]


Rafael Nadal  (ESP) [29]
vs.
David Ferrer  (ESP) [33]

Errani
Murray
Kuznetsova
Nadal (joker)

Let's hope my joker goes to waste

Hard to bet against the odds this time..
Errani
Murray
Halep
Nadal (joker)

FedererKing wrote:If Djokovic and Nadal make the final, barring no injuries, Djokovic is going to marmalise Nadal.  And that's assuming Nadal even makes it.  I'm looking forward to the next few days.

I'd tend to agree but Nadal has proven me wrong more or less for the last 10 years so I learnt my lesson! I won't say so until I see him lose at the FO!

Murray on Monfils: "He's just naturally a phenomenal athlete and you could see that even at that age."

Murray lost in five sets to Monfils on their only previous meeting at Roland Garros in 2006, and is well aware of what he will be stepping into.

"It's a great challenge," he said. "It's more like a Davis Cup atmosphere.

"I'm looking forward to the match - it's the quarter-finals of a Slam. I don't care whether no-one in the crowd wants me to win or everyone wants me to win.

"I will fight just as hard to try to get the right outcome."

Monfils, 27, has been playing without a coach for over a year and is thriving on the support of his compatriots in Paris.

"For sure it will help me if I have big decision in the match or I feel tired or maybe I'm down," he said. "For sure they will help me a lot."

The more I think about who to pick, the more difficult it becomes...

Will we see today the second greatest upset of all time? It's about time!

Half of the choices are toss ups today, half are no brainers....

1. Errani
2. not sure which Monfils/ Murray will show up, but I think Murray might come through here by sheer consistency
3. Halep, should be close
4. Nadal will disappoint me again, I'm afraid. So this is a cutting my losses strategy.  Let's double that by making him the joker.

Tenez wrote:Will we see today the second greatest upset of all time? It's about time!

Which was the greatest iyo? The Söderling loss? And yes, it's about time! You know something's wrotten in the state of Denmark when a guy wins Roland Garros, physically toughest of all slams 8 times, going for a 9th! And that loss 2009 still seems like a miracle today.  

yes Soderling probably was involved to the greatest upset of all time.

Though the real greatest upset...never actually happened. It was beating Federer on grass. he never lost on grass for 5 years....Nadal cannot say the same of clay....nor has he got a 5 slam running streak ..yet.....While Fed has 2!

David

My picks for the day are:

1. Sara Errani  (ITA) [15]
2. Andy Murray  (GBR) [17] 
3. Svetlana Kuznetsova  (RUS) [33] JOKER
4. David Ferrer  (ESP) [33]   


 

I'm at home with a friend I'll be travelling to RG with, we are having French rose, French chocolate cake, listening to old French chansons, and I have just given her my book of French poetry to read while I sneak here for 5 minutes to make the picks...

So I haven't had a spare minute to "think" about the picks...or look at Petkovic and see how he's playing...I know she's a very good competitor, but unlike Sharapova, she's got soul...so here are my picks:
Errani (joker)  Murray, Halep, Ferrer.

Rainy start... play suspended...

From FO website:
14:54 (13.54 GMT)
Official word now 3.45 (2.45 GMT) . My will-it-rain-in-the-next-hour website says yes. For the whole hour. Told you it'd be 4 pm (3.00 GMT) , and even that's looking optimistic. Read a preview while you're waiting.

This means that nadal and Murray matches will be played tomorrow....most likely...though they might be able to play a couple of sets...if the rain finally fades away.

http://www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-france/previsions-pluie/boulogne-billancourt/92100

The weather doesn't like great for Sunday, either...hopefully men's final won't be carried over to Monday.
Friday could also be interesting as both mens SFs are played on Chatrier.
If Monf beats Murray, they'll probably play him first.

Talking of upsets, my favourite of all time was Rosol beating Nadal in Wimbledon.
Darcis' win last year was technically a bigger upset, but the thrill and fearless style in which Rosol did it in 5 sets, "the bump", the sheer unexpectedness of it was awesome!
It was further crowned with Fed winning the whole thing...which I suppose happened in RG, too, but for me Rosol had the extra elements of impossibility and madness to it, I love replaying the interview he gave in the tunnel straight after the match as well as serving it out!

Tenez wrote:I like Kuzty's game!

I think she's the only player left in the draw who actually has a proper game.
Navarro was the other one, but she got knocked out yesterday.

I love Petko...
She may not have the smoothest ball-striking, but she's got the heart as big as a house.
Blowing that super-annoying retriever off the court, really happy she's in the SF after struggling with a series of serious injuries, you just can't beat the spirit!
BRAVO!!!!!  

Yes...halep has a good game though too. Great timing.

why hasn't nadal and Ferrer started yet?

oh I see, I thought Nadal Ferrer were one the Errani court.

To me, from very little I've seen, Halep's a nice, light ball-striker, but a bit too much base-line minded. Something's missing.
Definitely not a Bolletieri basher...

Tenez wrote:oh I see, I thought Nadal Ferrer were one the Errani court.

Can't wait for it to start can you?

Murray-Monfils...what a pair...
Who loves to push the ball more?

Monf is a superior athlete, Murray is "fitter"
Monf is fearless and rides the moment, Murray is stubborn and hates to lose.
Monf has natural, easy power on his FH, Murray muscles it.

Pretty evenly balanced on paper...has got all the ingredients for an instant classic.

I'd love to see Chatrier on fore with this one!

I know people like to call Monf a circus clown...but he's more  magician to me!when he's in the mood, od course!  

noleisthebest wrote:Murray-Monfils...what a pair...
Who loves to push the ball more?

Monf is a superior athlete, Murray is "fitter"
Monf is fearless and rides the moment, Murray is stubborn and hates to lose.
Monf has natural, easy power on his FH, Murray muscles it.

Pretty evenly balanced on paper...has got all the ingredients for an instant classic.

I'd love to see Chatrier on fore with this one!

I disagree with about everything you said here
- I really doubt Murray is fiitter than Monf
- Monf is anything but fearless, he only attacks when he's with his back to the wall
- Monf easy power? have you seen his arms? Besides, Murray's FH has loosened up quite a lot. He feels comfortable now hitting attacking FH's.
Sure Murray hates to lose (like anyone else) but he plays to win. You confuse him with the Gilbert years Murray

Holy Sh!t. 
Lenglen: Gladiator show central. Insane rallies.

Ferrer dictates, but Nadal has won many slams while being dictated..

At times Nadal seems intimidated with Ferrer's energy level..
Problem is: Nadal always has the comfort of knowing no one ever outlasted him in 5 sets on clay..

I had a quick look at Nadal-Ferrer...dear me...what a monstrosity!

To think that a whole generation of "kind of clay" era fans who will think that clay tennis is all about mindless grinding...it's criminal!

YES! Ferrer takes the set. He was the better player from point 1.
Still a mighty long way to go. A very long way.

One set down - three to go!!! Vamos Ferru!!!  

ETA haha, a bit overexcited here! two of course  

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:oh I see, I thought Nadal Ferrer were one the Errani court.

Can't wait for it to start can you?

OH yeah!

Autumnleaf wrote:One set down - three to go!!! Vamos Ferru!!!  

Two to go :P

COME ON FERRER!

Autumnleaf wrote:One set down - three to go!!! Vamos Ferru!!!  

2 will do!   

gallery play wrote:YES! Ferrer takes the set. He was the better player from point 1.
Still a mighty long way to go. A very long way.

Yes a long way....but whatever happens Nadal will leave some feathers here!

Tenez wrote:

gallery play wrote:YES! Ferrer takes the set. He was the better player from point 1.
Still a mighty long way to go. A very long way.

Yes a long way....but whatever happens Nadal will leave some feathers here!

Especially in his head. He must be thinking someone stole his super power potion

gallery play wrote:
I disagree with about everything you said here
- I really doubt Murray is fiitter than Monf
- Monf is anything but fearless, he only attacks when he's with his back to the wall
- Monf easy power? have you seen his arms? Besides, Murray's FH has loosened up quite a lot. He feels comfortable now hitting attacking FH's.
Sure Murray hates to lose (like anyone else) but he plays to win. You confuse him with the Gilbert years Murray

Monf is a natural, superior ball-striker.
Murray's FH looks at ease only when he's pushing it, otherwise pure muscle with no guile and finesse, does he ever go down the line with it?
I still think Monf is fearless, I didn't say gutsy.
When Monf gets out of his shell, Murray looks so plain and by the book...but compared to what is going on on Lenglen, he is an artist!
He is certainly more at ease on clay these days, Lendl propping up that on-existent FH made all the difference...still, many better players on dirt than him.

Just saw the score on Lenglen.

VAMOSSSSS FERRRRRRUUUUUUU!!!!!!

noleisthebest wrote:

gallery play wrote:
I disagree with about everything you said here
- I really doubt Murray is fiitter than Monf
- Monf is anything but fearless, he only attacks when he's with his back to the wall
- Monf easy power? have you seen his arms? Besides, Murray's FH has loosened up quite a lot. He feels comfortable now hitting attacking FH's.
Sure Murray hates to lose (like anyone else) but he plays to win. You confuse him with the Gilbert years Murray

Monf is a natural, superior ball-striker.
Murray's FH looks at ease only when he's pushing it, otherwise pure muscle with no guile and finesse, does he ever go down the line with it?
I still think Monf is fearless, I didn't say gutsy.
When Monf gets out of his shell, Murray looks so plain and by the book...but compared to what is going on on Lenglen, he is an artist!
He is certainly more at ease on clay these days, Lendl propping up that on-existent FH made all the difference...still, many better players on dirt than him.

If Murray would win the next 5 slam, i don't think you'd say anything different.

I can't believe it...the ball fell out of Murray's pocket in the middle of a point and the umpire is replaying it

gallery play wrote:
If Murray would win the next 5 slam, i don't think you'd say anything different.

We'll cross that bridge when we get there, shall we?

Problem with Monfils is that he forgot how to hit attacking tennis. He must have won so many matches just by retrieving thanks to his amazing athleticism that he doesn't know or feel confident to hit winners nowadays.

I am not even watching their match as I can imagine it all!

Monf's good first set tennis melted like snow in midday sun...what a shame, now Murray looking better than he is and giving GP all the false reasons to believe he'll win the next 5 slams....