Day 8 French Open predictions

Dominic THIEM [7] vs Kei NISHIKORI [19]
Anett KONTAVEIT [25] vs Sloane STEPHENS [10]
Novak DJOKOVIC [20] vs Fernando VERDASCO [30]
Karen KHACHANOV [33] vs Alexander ZVEREV [2]
Barbora STRYCOVA [26] vs Yulia PUTINTSEVA [33]
David GOFFIN [8] vs Marco CECCHINATO [33]
Daria KASATKINA [14] vs Caroline WOZNIACKI [2]

Nishi, Stephens, Djok, Karen, Putin, Goffin, Woz

At last some promising matches!

Nishi, Kontaveit, Djokovic, Kacanov, Strycova, Goffin, Kasatkina

Kei NISHIKORI [19]
Anett KONTAVEIT [25] 
Novak DJOKOVIC [20] 
Karen KHACHANOV [33] 
Yulia PUTINTSEVA [33]
David GOFFIN [8] 
Caroline WOZNIACKI [2]

Nadal and Schwartzman the only two who have not dropped a set through 3 rounds - here is the list by number of sets dropped:

0 - Schwartzman (21 games lost), Nadal (24 games lost)
1 - Marterer, Cilic, Isner, Del Potro, Djokovic, Khachanov
2 - Anderson, Fognini, Verdasco, Thiem, Nishikori
3 - Cecchinato
4 - Goffin, Zverev

Luvsports: Nishi kont Djokovic karen putint goff kasat

Maybe the draw is not as horrible as that.  Maybe some of the big guys left in the top half (Delpo, Cilic, or even Isner or Anderson) may have a better chance than players in the bottom half.

Sure, Nishi and Goffin are better clay court players than say Cilic, but when all is said and done, they will lose to Rafa over 5.  Same goes for 2018 rendition of Djokovic and - due to his SHBH - Thiem also.  Delpo or Cilic may not be as consistently good on clay, but they at least have a chance to be in the zone one day and blow Rafa off the court (maybe?).  After all, Soderling was also no clay courter until that faithful day in 2009.

Good luck Zverev, Goffin, Nando.

May the best man in the Thiem - Nishi match win!

That bottom quarter is loaded - Zverev, Thiem and Nishi were the three most successful clay courters this season after Rafa.  They are all crowding in that one section.

Kei NISHIKORI [19]
Sloane STEPHENS [10]
Novak DJOKOVIC [20]
Karen KHACHANOV [33]
Yulia PUTINTSEVA [33]
David GOFFIN [8]
Daria KASATKINA [14]

I think Cilic might be more dangerous on clay than on a faster surface. Typical of big hitters with with "slow hands", they can still hit through the courts while making less UEs. I actually think he did well on grass last year cause it was quite slow.

Yes, let's hope so.  But the best would be if Marterer could surprise us all, and we could then enjoy the rest of the tournament in peace.

Unknown players always have that extra surprise effect. Nadal wont think its done before it is

naxroy wrote:Unknown players always have that extra surprise effect. Nadal wont think its done before it is

I know.  I am not very hopeful though.  I have never see Marterer play.  Is he any good?

summerblues wrote:

naxroy wrote:Unknown players always have that extra surprise effect. Nadal wont think its done before it is

I know.  I am not very hopeful though.  I have never see Marterer play.  Is he any good?

Marterer rhymes with Federer....that's as close as they get!

He beat schwartzman and monfils recently on clay
and he beat verdasco at ausopen
and last year he won 3 challengers and got to another couple of finals

seems better on hard, but here he is

Dominic THIEM [7] 
Anett KONTAVEIT [25] 
Novak DJOKOVIC [20] 
Karen KHACHANOV [33] 
Yulia PUTINTSEVA [33]
David GOFFIN [8] 
Caroline WOZNIACKI [2]

In an interview to Serbian media, Vajda opened up and said how horrified he was with media treatment of Nole who was "forgotten" after one year , not appreciated at all as a champion and how Federer and Nadal had much bigger coverage etc. He added he didn't want to go too deep into why.

Also that Nole is at 75-80% atm, and working hard to getting to his best, that every victory now means like winning a slam.

....
Interesting, because that's exactly how he looked to me, needing and extra 30%, I attributed it to lack of confidence.

As for media coverage etc, if it was me, I wouldn’t give a damn about it...who cares!
Lendl was good like that.

Mikey: Thiem, Ste, Djok, Khach, Putin, Goffin, Woz

noleisthebest wrote:In an interview to Serbian media, Vajda opened up and said how horrified he was with media treatment of Nole who was "forgotten" after one year , not appreciated at all as a champion and how Federer and Nadal had much bigger coverage etc. He added he didn't want to go too deep into why.

Also that Nole is at 75-80% atm, and working hard to getting to his best, that every victory now means like winning a slam.

....
Interesting, because that's exactly how he looked to me, needing and extra 30%, I attributed it to lack of confidence.

As for media coverage etc, if it was me, I wouldn’t give a damn about it...who cares!
Lendl was good like that.

I think it was normal to talk about Fed and Nadal in 2017. Nole was injured and those 2 won everything.

I am hoping Nole will find form in time.

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:
As for media coverage etc, if it was me, I wouldn’t give a damn about it...who cares!
Lendl was good like that.

I think it was normal to talk about Fed and Nadal in 2017. Nole was injured and those 2 won everything.
I am hoping Nole will find form in time.

I think Vajda's comment was more to do with general "neglect" all through his career. And to me, it's interesting how Nole's sentiment carried over to Vajda...probably the whole team is permeated with it which is so unnecessary.
Obviously, there are things and possible injustices behind the scenes he is not allowed to talk about, and that's the only thing that could explain such strong feeling of "unlove".

Again, if it was me, I wouldn't care. You've got to find the strength within you and put things into perspective.
All this media & fans "love" is so fleeting and fickle anyway.

Having said the above, it probably isn't easy to play with the crowd against you almost everywhere, not to even have your little local tournament to recharge the batteries at.

I am talking from the place of inexperience here...but there must be something very potent and addictive in crowd's adoration as it moves Fed to tears and drives him on almost beyond his will.

So to be on the perceived end of the opposite can't be that great as Nole probably can't accept that Nadal gets the attention and preferential treatment and he doesn't as I think all players accept Fed's popularity and talent and are just living with it, taking their hat off to him, as well.


Again, nothing that would bother me in the least.
He should just chill and enjoy every day because life IS beautiful!

It’s too late for Djokovic to hope for big love from the fans. 

Sure, Federer and Nadal monopolised the attention of fans and polarised them into two camps, but Djokovic then established a pretty unlikeable persona with the endless ball bouncing, the serial MTOs and retirements, the injury-feigning, and the unpleasant family. These things stick so the die is cast.

bogbrush wrote:It’s too late for Djokovic to hope for big love from the fans. 

Sure, Federer and Nadal monopolised the attention of fans and polarised them into two camps, but Djokovic then established a pretty unlikeable persona with the endless ball bouncing, the serial MTOs and retirements, the injury-feigning, and the unpleasant family. These things stick so the die is cast.

Agreed.
Yet look at what Nadal gets away with scot free and is praised as a "humble warrior".

Oh I agree for sure. He benefitted from the young Latin thing with the girls (and (Wooffie) and being the alternative to Federer.

It was hard for Djokovic to establish a “role” in there. It’s harsh because there are some very good aspects to his personality.

Thiem is squashing Nishikori here.

With Zverev looking like he’s going to the well once too often, things are opening up a bit.

I have no video this FO, so only watching scoreboard. Is Nishi injured or what is going on there?

Zverev going out?  Even if he wins, three five setters just BEFORE potentially playing Thiem-Goffin-Rafa in his next three matches is not advisable.

noleisthebest wrote:Yet look at what Nadal gets away with scot free and is praised as a "humble warrior".

Nadal was always more clever about his cheating and behavior.  Most casual watchers do not notice things like time wasting and on-court coaching, and might even feel sympathy for MTOs.  And Rafa was always very good at saying all the right things after the match.

Nole did more obviously silly things when young.  All those impersonations he used to do entertain the crowd - and I loved them too - but people are laughing at you as much as with you when you do that.  And even that comment that you love so much about Rafa being beatable.  He said it right after he had just thrown in the towel after losing the first two sets.  That is the kind of thing that Tomic and his ilk would do.

All that behavior would be ok if he had abrasive personality of someone like maybe Connors.  But he did that all even though it looks now like he is quite needy of more love from fans.

Packing for Paris so not watching, surely Nishi must be injured to be bageled by Thiem...

What are the chances of Nadal playing in Lenglen tomorrow?

I suppose they’ll put Serena and Sharapova on Chatrier.

I’ll be super happy if I get to see Fognini.
Ideally Fognini victory and a historic Mederer upset.

noleisthebest wrote:Packing for Paris so not watching

How long are you going for? Just for tomorrow (but then what is there to "pack") or for longer? Enjoy the matches. Hopefully Rafa loses.

The way Zverev performs in slams you would not guess he has won as many Masters 1000 as Wawrinka, Delpo and Cilic combined.

summerblues wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:Packing for Paris so not watching

How long are you going for?  Just for tomorrow (but then what is there to "pack") or for longer?  Enjoy the matches.  Hopefully Rafa loses.

Hehe, I pack half an hour before I go...3 days, but tennis only tomorrow.

Nish wasn’t injured when I was watching, just being outplayed, though since the coverage stopped he’s pulled things back a bit.

This will be a sensational win from Zverev. He’s turned this around really impressively in sets 4 and 5.

noleisthebest wrote:Hehe, I pack half an hour before I go...3 days, but tennis only tomorrow.

Have fun.  I love Paris - my (and my wife's) favorite place to visit.

He definitely has the heart to win big things.

bogbrush wrote:Nish wasn’t injured when I was watching, just being outplayed, though since the coverage stopped he’s pulled things back a bit.

Very odd looking score those first two sets.  But if he is not injured, the hope is not lost - didn't Thiem steamroll through Delpo last year (USO or Wimbledon?) for two sets before losing in 5?

Think so, though I hope Thiem wins. Nishikori is never going to win this event.

Slippy wrote:This will be a sensational win from Zverev. He’s turned this around really impressively in sets 4 and 5.

I have no video so cannot comment on his game.  But yes, it would be in a way quite impressive to come through three straight matches, having been 1-2 down in each.  At the same time, the opponents are not highest caliber.  Going 1-2 down to each of them - impressive recoveries notwithstanding - is not hugely encouraging for the rest of the tournament.

And here we go.  Nishi takes the third.  6:2, 6:0, 5:7.  What an odd scoreline.  What was he doing the first two sets?

Why the fuck is boring Zverev on Eurosport 1 with cycling on Eurosport 2?
No one cares about his 23rd 5 setter in a row, I want to see Thiem vs Nishi

It’s quite a good match actually.

He’ll be out of gas completely for QF vs thiem.
Thiem was playing sensational tennis from what I saw vs Nishi.

Also checked the weather forecast for rest of the week, it’s total rain and thunderstorms. Nadal may have to play 3 matches 3 days in a row

1st slam QF for Zverev. He did it.

bogbrush wrote:It’s too late for Djokovic to hope for big love from the fans. 

Sure, Federer and Nadal monopolised the attention of fans and polarised them into two camps, but Djokovic then established a pretty unlikeable persona with the endless ball bouncing, the serial MTOs and retirements, the injury-feigning, and the unpleasant family. These things stick so the die is cast.

I don;t think that's the reasons people did not support Djokovic.

The first reason is that he did not have an impressive game. Did not have the guile of Federer, nor the iconic image of Nadal. But also because by that time he came to be successful, fans were already divided between Federer and Nadal. The reason he was still liked was because fed and Nadal fans were just happy he could beat both....more so that fed fans liked him cause he was beating nadal more regularly and convincingly.

DECIMA wrote:He’ll be out of gas completely for QF vs thiem.

Thiem himself is getting into a tussle here, and he played last week too, so all that may catch up with him.  If it is Thiem.  It could still be Nishi.

Thiem gets the break in the 4th.

Pleased to hear the weather forecast. Nadal is quite beatable if there’s wet conditions. Thiem especially would enjoy it but so would Zverev or Djokovic.

bogbrush wrote:Thiem gets tge break in the 4th.

Please to hear the weather forecast. Nadal is quite beatable if wet conditions. Thiem especially would enjoy it.

It’s thunder and heavy rain, not sure how they’ll even get the matches in.
As for potential Thirm vs Nadal, next Sunday is wet but Monday is dry. Depends on whether they move the final.

summerblues wrote:

DECIMA wrote:He’ll be out of gas completely for QF vs thiem.

Thiem himself is getting into a tussle here, and he played last week too, so all that may catch up with him.  If it is Thiem.  It could still be Nishi.

Thiems level has been miles better than Zverev. It will be straights.

Wonderful match that. I expect Khachanov to win slams in the future and Zverev did brilliantly to hold him off in the fourth set. 

That said, even Zverev will have to be a bit tired after his efforts. I would be very surprised if he can cope with Thiem.