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

The full Monty today!

Dmitry Tursunov  (RUS) [33]
vs.
Roger Federer  (SUI) [6]


Milos Raonic  (CAN) [12]
vs.
Gilles Simon  (FRA) [33]


Marin Cilic  (CRO) [33]
vs.
Novak Djokovic  (SRB) [10]


Jo-Wilfried Tsonga  (FRA) [24]
vs.
Jerzy Janowicz  (POL) [33]

 
Radek Stepanek  (CZE) [33]
vs.
Ernests Gulbis  (LAT) [18]


 Tommy Robredo  (ESP) [33]
vs.
John Isner  (USA) [26]

 
Tomas Berdych  (CZE) [12]
vs.
Roberto Bautista Agut  (ESP) [33]

Marcel Granollers  (ESP) [33]
vs.
Martin Klizan  (SVK) [33]

Good luck!

Roger Federer (SUI) [4]

Gilles Simon (FRA) [29]

Novak Djokovic (SRB) [2]


Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) [13]

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) [18]


Tommy Robredo (ESP) [17]

Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) [27]

Martin Klizan (SVK

Federer
Simon
Djokovic
Tsonga
Gulbis
Robredo
Agut
Granollers

We will need Rotla's help soon.  He was adjusting the scoring system somehow in the later rounds instead of just giving points based on seedings.

Otherwise we could end up with Djokovic vs Nadal being worth only one or two points, but I remember that Rotla did something so that the matches between high seeds were also worth plenty of points.

Just as 2014 season has been great up until now, this RG has been pretty disappointing thus far.  It all goes very much according to the usual pattern - and to the extent we had any upsets, they were against the players I wanted to do well.

summerblues wrote:We will need Rotla's help soon.  He was adjusting the scoring system somehow in the later rounds instead of just giving points based on seedings.

Otherwise we could end up with Djokovic vs Nadal being worth only one or two points, but I remember that Rotla did something so that the matches between high seeds were also worth plenty of points.

 Yes, now the matches will be between seeds. So the points  need to be adjusted so that every match has min 1 player with value 33 points, so that every match has the potentials to get 33 points despite their seeding.

Assume:
Fed [4] vs Tursunov [31] . On mere seeding this match can only get 31 points maximum. So now adjust the points:

Fed [4+2] vs Tursunov [31+2]

become Fed[6] vs Tursunov[33] and the match now offers 33 points maximum depending on the outcome. Just like from the first round. So throughout the tournament, every match offers 33 points maximum.

Similarly:

PlayerA [1] vs PlayerB [10]

Will be made: PlayerA [24] vs PlayerB [33]

I've adjusted the values of the matches for today's game.

I've modified the

Thanks rotla, and T!!!
It would be ideal if you (rotla) could put out the picks, I don't quite get it how Fed got 6 and Tursunov 33.

Anyone miss Andy Roddick?



It's hard for me to say it, but I' m glad he list that Wimbledon final....

Federer, Simon, Djokovic, Tsonga, Gulbis, Isner, Agut, Granollers.

Thanks a lot for the explanation RotLA!    Now I understand the scoring system as a basis for potential strategic decisions.

As for today's choice of matches thanks to Tenez again.

1. Federer
2. Simon
3. Djokovic
4. Tsonga
5. Gulbis
6. Robredo
7. Bautista Agut
8. Klizan

I am not missing Roddick in the least, but am Delpo. He is back on practice court:

I'm totally unaware of the scoring system but so strategic decision making here..

Federer
Raonic
Djokovic
Tsonga
Gulbis
Robredo
Berdych
Granollers

summerblues wrote:Just as 2014 season has been great up until now, this RG has been pretty disappointing thus far.  It all goes very much according to the usual pattern - and to the extent we had any upsets, they were against the players I wanted to do well.

You can thank Nadal's "lucky" draw for that.
The organisers didn't even leave it to theory for his path to be occupied by someone who could create an upset.
Those who could (Stan and maybe Dimi, at least to extend the match) got very tough first round matches, and I pointed those two matches/opponents (GG and Ivo) out as soon as the draw was out.

noleisthebest wrote:Thanks rotla, and T!!!
It would be ideal if you (rotla) could put out the picks, I don't quite get it how Fed got 6 and Tursunov 33.

Anyone miss Andy Roddick?

It's hard for me to say it, but I' m glad he list that Wimbledon final....

He seems to talk non-sense as well. I don't how a slippery surface would favour those whose strength is mouvement. We remember what happened on blue clay!

However this might be a different kind of slippery surface. But regardless Nadal and Djoko are feared for their mouvement, if this is affected by the surface then everybody else is happy.

But the most annoying is this need to talk loud and enthusiastically some commentators have.

Yes, I immediately thought of blue clay, too. Nole hated it.
Same with last year's SF when it was dry and slippery in the 5th set, but Pascal Maria wouldn't allow to be watered even after 6:6 all because we know who said no to it..

My quick picks:

1. Federer
2. Simon
3. Djokovic
4. Tsonga
5. Gulbis
6. Isner
7. Agut
8. Klizan

It's a bit stupid to schedule first 2 ladies matches on the main 2 courts then 2 mens big seeds (Djoko and and Federer) at the same time.

Woudl be better to have one men and one Ladies match at the same time.

Yes, at least Nole is playing Cilic, so it's a no brainer which one to watch.
Weak era tennis for me, this time

Federer Tursinov will be close I feel.

I doubt it, but tennis will be great nonetheless!

Wow, such a nice match!

Tursunov, going for too much and pulling the trigger too soon too often, which he doesn't really have to.
Am I using the word "too" too much?

That was a great set of tennis from both. Feel sorry for Tursunov.

Just had a peek at Langlen...playing pretty fast!
The sound of ball bouncing is different, too - as if it's wooden, hard surface, not soft clay.
Maybe that's the new underlay/concrete undersurface they talked about.
Even Nole playing weak era tennis on it, thank you, Boris!   

Really enjoying Fed-Tursunov...great tennis!

Camermen in Chatrier are following the game beautifully, some great angles where you can really appreciate positioning and shot-selection, bravo!

When Ged had 0:40 and had 3 set points, I had a funny though, that he'd lose this set in the TB...and he did.

Wow...typical of Federer having first 4 SPs, misses them all and lose the set.

Tursu playing well as expected....just went for broke in that TB and got the lines every single times.....it mattered.

noleisthebest wrote:When Ged had 0:40 and had 3 set points, I had a funny though, that he'd lose this set in the TB...and he did.

Cause I said it's a bit typical of him!

Federer converting his 2nd BP out of 10??? at least?

Tenez wrote:Wow...typical of Federer having first 4 SPs, misses them all and lose the set.

Tursu playing well as expected....just went for broke in that TB and got the lines every single times.....it mattered.

At 4:3, he did the same thing as against Stan in that Monte Carlo TB: just pushed the ball back to the middle and Tursunov punished it just like Stan did. That lost him the TB.

Tusunov tiring a bit.

beautiful play from Cilic! Messed up a SP by an inch! ..after a beautifully constructed points. That's the difference between losing and winning a set (Tursu/Cilic).....and sometimes the match!

Cilic has the fastest BH ever!

Once again, Nadal must be thrilled not to have to play him.

I love Goran's haircut! It's the funniest I have ever seen!

Tenez wrote:beautiful play from Cilic! Messed up a SP by an inch! ..after a beautifully constructed points. That's the difference between losing and winning a set (Tursu/Cilic).....and sometimes the match!

Yes, I just saw the TB.
He really cleaned Nole off the court.
Did you see how fast Langlen is playing, amazing!

Tenez wrote:I love Goran's haircut! It's the funniest I have ever seen!

He's a happy chappy.
I was just thinking how all,yhese 80s&90s players/coaches have come back and trying to teach these techno string generation how to play properly.
Goran, Nishi, Nole, even Murray under Lendl have all started playing faster according to their ability, of course.

Only Nadal still seems to be stuck in the rut with his Tio Toni....

Frederer BP conversion rate is a joke! 3/18!!!!

Cilic is so lucky with net-cords today. Every time I switch to that match, he gets one...

Tenez wrote:Frederer BP conversion rate is a joke!  3/18!!!!

Tursunov's first serve is really good, though
Fed serving for the match.

That was a really great match, right down to that superb FH to seal it, and the old-school hand-shake at the net.
Shame Tursunov couldn't stay around for at least one more round, he deserved it, wonderful player...tough draw "luck" again...
I wish the crowd gave him a bigger clap and cheer as he was leaving the court.
So I'll do it instead     

Yes Tursu is a good player and can really hurt but like all players with no margins he gets tense under pressure points....except against Federer probably cause he knew he had nothing to lose.

Yes, what I really enjoyed is that both players were allowed to play their game without being suffocated by road-running, both brought out their best, (more Tursunov then Fed), but even at his 90% edition, Federer had so much more variety and finesse, still, a beautiful contest and tennis offset by Tursunov's power.
You could clearly see that Fed's magic made the difference.
Very fine clay tennis.

noleisthebest wrote:

Tenez wrote:Frederer BP conversion rate is a joke!  3/18!!!!

Tursunov's first serve is really good, though
Fed serving for the match.

That's because he goes for very thin margins.....gutsy games deserve some luck.

Impressive the way Cilic played....it's that Cilic that used to cream Nadal!

Top and bottom half of the draw matches are like from two different planets!

I think fast conditions helped Cilic a lot, plus Goran really worked with him on his serve and FH.
He hits both groundstrokes with low net clearance.

Remember when Cilic was a  set and 5:1 against Murray and lost the match, the year Murray won USO?
Did Cilic beat Nadal also at USO one year?

Tenez wrote:Cilic has the fastest BH ever!

Once again, Nadal must be thrilled not to have to play him.

Cilic really is good, isn't he Tenez?    He's like a light weight Delpo with easier power.
I've seen the last 60 minutes, some great fast rallies. Cilic came a long way to outpace Djoko. It's Djoko's amazing consistancy what makes the difference.

Haven't seen Federer, but the scoreline suggest Fed can get in trouble against anyone left in the draw. No prob, because i want Djoko as fresh as possible in the final, and i want Fed as fresh as possible on grass

noleisthebest wrote:I think fast conditions helped Cilic a lot, plus Goran really worked with him on his serve and FH.
He hits both groundstrokes with low net clearance.

Remember when Cilic was a  set and 5:1 against Murray and lost the match, the year Murray won USO?
Did Cilic beat Nadal also at USO one year?

Nope, that was Beijing. That FH was there already: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpqYdqr9mQk

Cilic is one of two players (Ferrer is the other) that looks better on TV than live.
I saw him twice from very close up on grass, and he is not much different from Monaco.
For some reason he plays quite well in USO when he moves inside the court, with nice, gazelle like, soft strides.
Now, under Goran, he's put on some weight and muscle, added fire-power but lost the movement, and appears to be a bit more stable betwewn the ears, too.

noleisthebest wrote:Top and bottom half of the draw matches are like from two different planets!

Very true.

It's like Satellite v Tour!

noleisthebest wrote:Cilic is one of two players (Ferrer is the other) that looks better on TV than live.
I saw him twice from very close up on grass, and he is not much different from Monaco.
For some reason he plays quite well in USO when he moves inside the court, with nice, gazelle like, soft  movement.
Now, under Goran. He's put on some weight and muscle, added fire-power but lost he movement, and appears to be a bit more stable betwewn the ears, too.

Yeah, his legs got heavier. That is so crucial in todays tennis

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