Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

    Gets underway on Sunday, which isn't traditional, though isn't quite new either. However just because the FFT are willing to dispense with time-honoured ways of doing things doesn't mean we have to. And we usually have separate threads for Slams...

    Nominal R3 draws look so:-

    Men's Singles

    Andy Murray GBr [1] vs Juan Martin del Potro Arg [29]
    John Isner USA [21] vs Tomas Berdych Cze [13]
    Alexander Zverev Ger [9] vs Pablo Cuevas Uru [22]
    Sam Querrey USA [27] vs Kei Nishikori Jpn [8]

    Stan Wawrinka Sui [3] vs Fabio Fognini Ita [28]
    Rochard Gasquet Fra [24] vs Gael Monfils Fra [15]
    Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Fra [12] vs Nick Kyrgios Aus [18]
    David Ferrer Esp [30] vs Marin Cilic Cro [7]

    Milos Raonic Can [5] vs Gilles Muller Lux [20]
    Pablo carreno Busta Esp [20] vs Grigor Dimitrov Bul [11]
    Jack Sock USA [14] vs Roberto Bautista Agut Esp [17]
    Gilles Simon Fra [31] vs Rafael Nadal Esp [4]

    Dominic Thiem Aut [6] vs Steve Johnson USA [25]
    Ivo Karlovic Cro [23] vs David Goffin Bel [10]
    Lucas Pouille Fra [16] vs Albert Ramos Vinolas Esp [19]
    Mikhail Zverev Ger [32] vs Novak Djokovic Srb [2]

    Women's Singles

    Angelique Kerber Ger [1] vs Roberta Vinci Ita [31]
    Samantha Stosur Aus [23] vs Petra Kvitova Cze [15]
    Caroline Woznaicki Den [11] vs Kiki Bertens Ned [18]
    Zhang Shuai Chn [32] vs Svetlana Kuznetsova Rus [8]

    Garbine Muguruza Esp [4] vs Yulia Putinseva Kaz [27]
    Mirjana Lucic-Baroni Cro [22] vs Kristina Mladenovic Fra [13]
    Venus Williams USA [10] vs Daria Gavrilova Aus [24]
    Timea Bacsinszky Sui [30] vs Dominika Cibulkova Svk [6]

    Elina Svitolina Ukr [5] vs Ana Konjuh Cro [29]
    Anastasija Sevastova Lat [17] vs Madison Keys USA [12]
    Elena Vesnina Rus [14] vs Carla Suarez Navrro Esp [21]
    Daria Kasatkina Rus [26] vs Simona Halep Rou [3]

    Johanna Konta GBr [7] vs Caroline Garcia Fra [28]
    Barbora Strycova Cze [20] vs Agnieszka Radwanska Pol [9]
    Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Rus [16] vs CoCo Vandeweghe USA [19]
    Lauren Davis USA [25] vs Karolina Pliskova Cze [2]

    #2
    The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

    Previews, then. Here is my take, for what it’s worth.

    Let’s start with the Men’s, because it’s easier; there is Rafael Nadal and there is everyone else.
    Prior to 2017 no man in the open era had ever won the singles title at the same event on double figures occasions. In fact, only Rafa Nadal had won one tournament as many as nine times, but he had done that in three different places: Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Roland Garros (the next best is Federer and Villas who have eight titles in Halle and Buenos Aires respectively). As of today, the most titles by one man at any tournament is 10. Rafa Nadal has that many Monte Carlo and Barcelona crowns, and, well, you get the picture.
    Some will point to Nadal’s defeat to Dominic Thiem in Rome (which he has only won 7 times in his career, for shame!) and say he is mortal, he is beatable. Well, yes, but that has always been the case, there were very few years in Nadal’s previous nine Roland Garros triumphs where he hadn’t lost one clay court match somewhere in prepartion. So agreed, he is mortal, but he is also by a considerable distance the King of Clay. That defeat in Rome came on the back of the Madrid title and a run of 17 straight clay court wins. Tiredness must be considered a factor. And whether anyone can possibly hope to maintain a high enough level over five sets to be the great man on his most favoured court. The prohibitive favourite, and only an idiot would tip anyone else for the title.

    So, Nadal is, has to be, the choice. But if he were to twist an ankle, who might come through instead? The only other member of the big four one can make a decent case for is the defending champion, Novak Djokovic. However Novak really hasn’t been the same player since the end of 2015, and finally climbing his personal Everest of a career grand slam this time last year really took the wind out of his sails. Sacking his entire coaching staff, including people he had been with for decades, tells you all you need to know about where his preparation is, or more like isn’t. Few players win a Slam with a temporary coach helping them out, such as the arrangement Djoker now has with Agassi. It would be a real turn around if he won it.
    As for the rest of the big four, Roger Federer is not even playing, which is disappointing after his magnificent start to the year (his three titles in Australia, Indian Wells and Miami is still as many as anybody has won this season), and Andy Murray might be the world no.1 but is in a complete funk. He is barely making quarter-finals at the moment, let alone winning Slams. And clay remains Murray’s worst surface by a distance. One wonders if he is wishing he had taken the Federer route, jacked the clay season in to get healthy for a good run at the grass.

    What of the rest? Well, there are three other Slam singles champions in the field, and of these Stan Wawrinka, with his three titles including one here two years ago, is by far the most notable. Stan’s form has been very patchy in 2017, with a good Aussie Open (l to Federer in the Semis) and Indian Wells (l to Federer in the Final) but then nothing much else to back it up. Though he is in the Geneva Final today (er, right now), which is essentially his hometown event. The other key thing about Wawrinka is that, whilst his first Slam title in Australia was heralded by a strong run of form in the months preceding, his two since in Paris in 2015 and New York last year haven’t been. He seems to have worked out how to peak for the big ones. Therefore he is an extremely live contender, and based on past outings would be my second favourite for the title.
    An interesting outside choice would be another of the previous Slam winners, Juan Martin del Potro. He is only seeded 29, but given his past injury issues he is never going to overplay so won’t generally be ranked that high. It doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of playing Tennis of the top class. Wins over Dimitrov and Nishikori in Rome were a welcome boost in the build up, and if he takes down Andy Murray in R3 (which I think he will) then he gets a decent draw path deep into the event. If he were to win the whole shebang, it would be very, very popular. Marin Cilic also got to the QFs in Rome, and likewise in Monte Carlo, and is capable of raising his level as we know from New York 2014, but this feels like an outside shot at best.

    Who else? Well, Sascha Zverev, of course. The champion in Rome. The first 20 year-old to win a Masters Series event since Djokovic in 2007. And he did it by blowing the arch-defender, Novak, away. The problem with Zverev is a lack of experience at the sharp end. He has been a known (and exciting) talent for a couple of years, but has never been past R3 of a Slam. He probably will do much better than that here, and he showed no fear of unknown territory in Rome, but a Slam, surely, is a different thing. And not just due to the fitness aspect, though that is certainly part of it particularly on clay where matches tend to be the most grinding.
    Rather than Zverev, I would be looking at Jimski’s dark horse suggestion, Dominic Thiem. His preferred surface is clay, and he has been a top ten player for a couple of years now. The form is good, reaching the Barcelona Final and Madrid Final. Both were lost to Nadal before revenge in the Rome Quarter, then he ran into Djokovic. He also has experience deep at Roland Garros, making the Semis last year. He is a proper contender, and I would say fourth favourite for the title (Nadal, Wawrinka, Djokovic, then him).
    An even darker horse tip would be 10th seed David Goffin. Like Thiem, he has good form for the year and in the past at the venue. Like Thiem he is very comfortable on clay. He even beat Thiem and Djokovic in Monte Carlo this year before losing to Nadal. The question mark with Goffin is power, as he isn’t the biggest (understatement). Skilled, though. If he did go deep, the matches would be entertaining. The same is true of Grigor Dimitrov, who is the 11th seed. He has skills aplenty, and doesn’t lack for power. His shortage is in consistency.
    The other top 10 players I’ve not mentioned are Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori. Both good players, with Nishikori in particular having had strong clay court results previously, but it’s hard to see either getting past the QFs of this at the moment.

    And what of the rest? Well Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has warmed up well by winning the Lyon event this week. And he is at home, and just about mercurial enough to do something astounding when the expectations around him are low. But fitness over the course of two weeks has to be questionable at the moment. Tsonga beat Tomas Berdych in today’s Lyon final. Time is running short for both Jo-Willy and Tomas to finally win a slam. That was also true of Stan Wawrinka three years ago. But in both cases, probably not.
    Jack Sock? Not on clay, surely. However much he talks himself up. Lucas Pouille? He seems the sort who could ride a wave. Worth keeping an eye on, and could find himself in the last four having toppled Djokovic, but not the title surely. Gael Monfils, Nick Kyrgios? Who the hell knows with these two. If all the stars align, they could, just could, become unplayable. The stars somehow never do.

    Here’s a left field suggestion ; the final of brotherly love. Mischa Zverev has the 32nd seeding spot and is on the other side of the draw from Sascha. He is playing Wawrinka in today’s Geneva Final, so is in good form. As a serve-volleyer he would be the unlikeliest player to go deep since Tim Henman, though.
    What of a breakout performer? Well, I hesitate to say this... but Kyle Edmund? He made a step forward in reaching R4 of NY last year, and clay is a strong surface for him. Maybe the sight of a contemporary like Sascha Zverev, who plays a pretty similar sort of game, beating the best can be inspiring. His section of the draw doesn’t look too scary, either. He may have had better results this season if he didn’t keep running into the likes of Djokovic or Nadal, which he won’t do in this event unless he gets to the final.

    Comment


      #3
      The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

      I actually think that despite all the breakthroughs of players such as Zverev and Thiem, when it comes to the majors, experience counts in a way it doesn't elsewhere. So for me, it's the big four (with Wawrinka as Swiss stand-in) to get to the semis. del Potro would be the main hurdle for me. Should Murray see him off, then it's at least the semis and a good chance of the final, I feel. The winner for me will be the winner of the other semi-final. I have a slight feeling about Djokovic - he's just swinging back into form, and when in form he dominates Nadal these days.

      As for the women's draw,. stick a pin in it, and you'll have as good a chance of identifying the winner as through any measured analysis! (I exaggerate only slightly.)

      Comment


        #4
        The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

        I predict that Konta will increase her number of main draw matches won at RG by infinity per cent.

        Comment


          #5
          The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

          EEG - if she gets through R1. I wouldn't take that as guaranteed.

          Leaving things rather ‘til the last second (or after it, more like), here is my preview of the Women’s singles.
          Usually I make the case why players could be considered to win. However, for this one, I think I’ll go through reasons why the leading players might be doubted. This is because there are big doubts about, well, everybody. Which makes working out who will come through, seeing as someone will win in the end, decidedly tricky. Basically all the big beasts are absent, in what is surely the most open Slam event in years and years.

          #1 Angelique Kerber – the World No.1, winner of two Slams and runner-up in another last year. Why would one doubt her? Well, clay has never been Angie’s best surface, her winning percentage at RG is the lowest of the four Slams. She only has one run to the QFs previously. Plus her record in 2017 is pretty appalling for a World No.1. Just one final made (and lost to Pavlyuchenkova in Monterrey), more losses than wins on clay coming in (2-3) and most eye-catchingly zero wins for the season against top 20 players! So that is why Kerber winning would be quite left-field.
          #2 Karolina Pliskova – Pliskova has been consistent this year, near the top of the YTD rankings basically from the start. The problem here is the surface; the strengths of her game, her thunderous serve and big groundstrokes, are not as effective on clay and her relative weaknesses, movement, gets more exposed. There is a reason why her 18 tournament finals only included two clay court events and minor ones at that. Plus she has only previous won two matches in five tries at Roland Garros. She’ll probably win more here with the advantage of the second seed draw, but her best bets to get that first Slam come in the months ahead in London and New York, not Paris.
          #3 Simona Halep – should be the strong favourite. A former finalist in the event, regular top five player, on a surface that she feels comfortable with and well suited to, which isn’t the case with that many of the Women. But, but. The problem is the mental side. Since 2014 the expectations on Halep have been huge, both from herself and from her fans. She doesn’t appear to have coped with it. Some of those limp loses in Slams have almost conveyed a sense of relief that the pressure on her has gone. She seems to regard a QF or SF result as acceptable, presentable, enough. That mindset is going to hamper her considerably. And that was before she tore an ankle ligament just over a week ago. If she is fit she must still be the favourite for the title, what with her win in Madrid and close-run thing in Rome, but the question marks are huge.
          #4 Garbine Muguruza – the defending champion. A proven winner then. Well, yes. And no. Muguruza’s career path is bizarre; she has still only been in six tournament finals in her career, with three wins. It’s just two of those six, and one of those three are in Slams. She hasn’t made a single final since she won in Paris last year! Her best result this year is a SF, but that was in Rome a week ago, and clay remains far and away her best surface and Roland Garros her best venue (two consecutive QFs prior to her win), despite that bizarre run to the Wimbledon final two years ago. Some players simply can’t motivate themselves for the more minor events. Garbine and her fans must hope this applies to her, and she can keep turning it on on the big stages.
          #5 Elina Svitolina – the champion in Rome and also won in Istanbul earlier in the spring. Leads the YTD rankings, as those are just two of the four titles (from four finals) she has won this year, two of them high profile Prem 5 events (Rome and Dubai). The problems with Svitolina are lack of experience deep in Slams, and questions over her temperament. She has one previous QF appearance and only one other R4 showing, though, notably, both were in Paris. If things don’t go well, she gets down on herself very easily. However, given the openness of the field, the first maybe doesn’t matter so much and the second, well if she is winning then she doesn’t need to worry about that.
          #6 Dominika Cibulkova – good player. Spunky, feisty. Just not a clay courter. Her lack of height counts against her with a high bouncing ball. It means she can’t get over it and strike it as she likes. It’s unfair, but that’s life sometimes. Has never won a clay court title. Has also been injured recently, a wrist problem which is a bad one prior to a clay court Slam where hitting a lot of balls is guaranteed. Her winning in Sharapova’s absence would be karmic, though.
          #7 Johanna Konta – simply not a clay courter. Last won back-to-back matches on the surface over a year ago in Rome ’16 and has never won three straight on clay at Tour main draw level (the closest being qualifying here two years ago). Not a contender. Sorry.
          #8 Svetlana Kuznetsova – former champion, also been a runner-up. One further Semi and four other runs to the Quarters. The strike against Sveta is that she is perceived as a complete veteran, will her fitness last. This is maybe unfair, as she is only 31 and the veteran status comes because she won her first Slam as an 8 year old (and her RG title 8 years ago). Has shown form this year with a Semis run in Madrid, which, like RG is a tournament she has had good previous runs in. One of the players with the fewest questin marks against her name.
          #9 Agnieszka Radwanska – totally unsuited to clay, which gives players time to readjust their feet to her variations and significantly penalises her lack of power. Has only ever made two clay court finals, and those at minor events. Could go reasonably deep given her draw (Konta is the top 8 seed in her section), but surely will eventually run into someone playing too big.
          #10 Venus Williams – has never won the French Open in twenty years of trying, and hasn’t been past the fourth round in over decade. Even at her peak, she made it past the QFs just once, getting to a final that she lost to little sis in 2002. Last won a clay court event in 2010 and last made a final on the surface a few weeks after her last pot. Plus, health. And age (36). Wimbledon is the chance, not here.

          That is the top ten, then. Two so-so contenders in Svitolina and Kuznetsova, who become close to favourites on that basis. But it does mean that players in the wider field have a strong chance. Two names I would pick out as serious ones to watch are Kiki Mladenovic, seeded 13, the finalist in Stuttgart and Madrid. And with the home crowd on her side. And another Kiki, Bertens, who got to the Semis last year, and this has made the QFs in Madrid, SFs in Rome and won the event in Nuremberg yesterday. She is a clay court specialist.

          After that it is anyone’s guess. Sam Stosur, following her title in Strasbourg yesterday? Petra Kvitova, in a deeply emotional comeback success? Caroline Wozniacki, proving Sharapova’s agent right by finally winning one when the field is open? Or a new youngster like Daria Kasatkina, who seems to have stalled recently but could come again. It’s anyone’s guess really.

          I’ll plump for Kuznetsova.

          Comment


            #6
            The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

            Petra Kvitova wins 6-3 6-2 on her comeback, in what was a really high quality game. She hit 9 aces and 31 winners in that, really crushing her first serve and hitting extremely cleanly from the back of the court (similar was true of Julia Boserup, who contributed significantly to the match). About the only issue looked like second serve, which looked rather out of control and led to a number of double faults.

            Next up the match of the day, Angelique Kerber vs Ekaterina Makarova.
            Best men's match on the schedule (by my reckoning) is the third one on Suzanne Lenglen, which is the Dominic Thiem vs Bernard Tomic encounter. British interest is third match on court 2, which is Dan Evans-Tommy Robredo match.

            Comment


              #7
              The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

              For the singles titles I'll tip A Zverev and Suarez-Navarro.

              Comment


                #8
                The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                Nobody was tipping Kerber, I hope. She is really struggling. She was 2-6 0-3 (double break) down to Makarova, though she has got one of the breaks back and there is now a huge game on her serve at 1-3 with multiple deuces.

                Eurosport have just said the Women's no.1 seed has never lost in R1 of the French Open in the open era. Which is over 50 years old now.

                Comment


                  #9
                  The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                  Makarova finally converts on about her fifth break point of the game, and then yells "come on" with a significant amount of stress in the voice. Hers to lose, she just needs to keep playing.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                    Kerber wouldn't be the first seed to fall if she does go out. That is Roberta Vinci, beaten in three by Monica Puig.
                    Draining match on one of the outside courts between Madison Brengle and Julia Goerges. That is at 11-all in the deciding set. On a day when the temperature is 30+C. Approaching the third hour currently.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                      Kerber battles to break back to 4-2, playing some excellent Tennis. Followed by four straight unforced errors to hand it all back again. Makarova to serve for it now at 5-2.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                        Makarova wins 2&2. Had to save seven break points in that final game, but did save them rather than Kerber missing.
                        Brengle won the extended final set against Goerges 13-11.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                          Dimitrov-Robert could be entertaining stuff if the (nine minute) opening game is anything to go by. Stephane Robert has made some waves in Slams previously, so there is hope he can maintain the level. He isn't getting on rather though (aged 37 nowadays).

                          Comment


                            #14
                            The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                            Blimey, hadn't actually noticed that Kerber had drawn Makarova in the first round. That's a hell of a tough draw. Not at all surprised by the result.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                              If I have to go for a proper women's prediction, I'll go for a Halep - Kuznetsova final, with Halep winning (and taking the number one spot). Assuming Halep is fit, that is.

                              Cibulkova looked really impressive yesterday too.

                              Comment


                                #16
                                The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                                The pick of the day 2 matches looks to be:-

                                Men'
                                Granollers vs Djokovic [2]
                                A.Zverev [9] vs Verdasco
                                Paire vs Nadal [4]
                                Gulbis vs Cilic [7]
                                Sock [14] vs Vesely

                                Our first look st Djokovic comes against a potentially tricky customer in Granollers. RG is Granollers best Slam (as clay is his best surface) with three runs to R4 in the last five years alongside a doubles runner-up finish in 2014. He probably gets overpowered in the end, and his form in 2017 hasn't been good (just three Tour-level match wins), but it's a free shot.
                                Drawing Fernando Verdasco is about as un-plum as a seed can get in R1. He is ranked 37, i.e. just outside, and has only lost in R1 once at Roland Garros in his previous 13 visits. This is also Verdasco's 56th straight Slam, which presumably makes him the current leader on that stat, now that Federer has missed some. Zverev will need to hit a the ground running.
                                Back when Rafa Nadal was totally imperious on clay, the one hope of a type of player who could beat him was someone tall with a massive serve and massive forehand. Robin Soderling, the one player who had won (thoughRafa was injured as well) fits that template, as did a few others who had come close. And as does Benoit Paire. Plus Paire will have the home crowd, for the men's match of the round.
                                Ernests Gulbis' semi-final run a few years back was clearly a flash in the pan. However he remains a flickering talent, and if today is a bright day he could well take down Cilic in a match that will feature shuddering ball-striking.
                                As will Sock against Vesely. The big Czech is well capable of toppling the big American. Not a match likely to feature much subtlety, though.

                                Women's
                                Muguruza [4] vs Schiavone
                                Brady vs Mladenovic [13]
                                Tomljanovic vs Bertens [18]

                                On a day with few standout Women's matches, a clash of the defending champion against another previous winner rather leaps from the crowd. Chests is very much a veteran these days (her 37th birthday is less than a month away) and is no longer anywhere near the force she once was, having lost in R1 of 14 of her last 17 Slams. However two of the three where she has won a match were at RG, and in those she went on to R4 (2013) and R3 (2015). Plus, unlike Muguruza, she has won a tour title this year and a clay one to boot. It's unlikely that Schiavone's wiles will be enough to combat Garbine's power, but she will surely put up a fight in her 17th straight Roland Garros appearance. And also, notably, her last, as she has already announced that she will retire st the end of this season.
                                Jennifer Brady has a remarkable record in Slams; she has never failed to make the second week! This is mostly down to her having only played in one main draw previously, in Australia earlier this year. Brady's career path is quite unusual these days as she has decided done the US College route, which partly explains why she hasn't featured prior to her early 20s. The flip side of her Aussie run however is that those three wins are her only Tour wins this season! She shouldn't cause the home title hope too many problems here.
                                Alja Tomljanovic was building a promising start to her career before a shoulder injury wiped out over a years Tennis recently. This is her first Slam back, via a protected ranking which you get for Tour absences that are not down to breaking the rules, allowing you to come straight back in at the top level even if your ranking has collapsed. Tomljanovic has a good previous record at Roland Garros, R4 on her debut in 2014 and R2 in '15. Kiki Bertens will be under pressure as well, as she has last year's SF points to defend. And a very realistic chance of winning the title... this is probably not the first round opponent she would have chosen, but she should be good enough.

                                Comment


                                  #17
                                  The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                                  Brits in action is just Aljaz Bedene vs Ryan Harrison. Andy Murray, Jo Konta and Kyle Edmund all have to wait until tomorrow to get their campaigns underway.

                                  Also on the British front, the doubles draws are out. J.Murray/Soares are seeded #5 and play Tipsarevic/Troicki in R1. Inglot/Haase take on Huey/Istomin and Edmund and Evans are playing together; they take on Begemann/Oswald in R1.
                                  Konta isn't the only British woman in town as Heather Watson and Naomi Broady are both involved in the doubles, but not in tandem and neither has a nice draw. Watson plays with Shelby Rogers, with their first opponent she being #14 Kuznetsova/Mladenovic (Mladenovic is the defending champion). Broady plays with Konta's old partner of choice, Maria Sanchez. They face #3 Chang/Hingis in R1.

                                  Comment


                                    #18
                                    The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                                    And a solid win for Bedene, with just a brief wobble in the third set.

                                    Muguruza ended Schiavone's Roland Garros career. I was somewhat surprised they didn't do an on-court presentation of some sort for Francesca, seeing as everyone knows this was her last match here and she is a former champion and runner-up. But no, she slung her bag on her back after defeat and walked off Chatrier without any fuss made at all.

                                    Comment


                                      #19
                                      The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                                      R3 draws as they develop:-

                                      Men's Singles

                                      Andy Murray GBr [1] vs Juan Martin del Potro Arg [29]
                                      John Isner USA [21] vs [strike]Tomas Berdych Cze [13][/strike] Karen Kachanov Rus
                                      [strike]Alexander Zverev Ger [9][/strike] Fernando Verdasco Esp vs Pablo Cuevas Uru [22]
                                      [strike]Sam Querrey USA [27][/strike] Chung Hyeon Kor vs Kei Nishikori Jpn [8]

                                      Stan Wawrinka Sui [3] vs Fabio Fognini Ita [28]
                                      Rochard Gasquet Fra [24] vs Gael Monfils Fra [15]
                                      [strike]Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Fra [12][/strike] Kyle Edmund GBr vs [strike]Nick Kyrgios Aus [18][/strike] Kevin Anderson RSA
                                      [strike]David Ferrer Esp [30][/strike] Feliciano Lopez Esp vs Marin Cilic Cro [7]

                                      Milos Raonic Can [5] vs [strike]Gilles Muller Lux [20][/strike] Guillermo Garcia-Lopez Esp
                                      Pablo Carreno Busta Esp [20] vs Grigor Dimitrov Bul [11]
                                      [strike]Jack Sock USA [14][/strike] Jiri Vesely Cze vs Roberto Bautista Agut Esp [17]
                                      [strike]Gilles Simon Fra [31][/strike] Nikoloz Basilashvili Geo vs Rafael Nadal Esp [4]

                                      Dominic Thiem Aut [6] vs Steve Johnson USA [25]
                                      [strike]Ivo Karlovic Cro [23][/strike] Horacio Zeballos Arg vs David Goffin Bel [10]
                                      Lucas Pouille Fra [16] vs Albert Ramos Vinolas Esp [19]
                                      [strike]Mikhail Zverev Ger [32][/strike] Diego Schwarztman Arg vs Novak Djokovic Srb [2]

                                      Women's Singles

                                      [strike]Angelique Kerber Ger [1][/strike] [strike]Ekaterina Makarova Rus[/strike] Lesia Tsurenko Ukr vs [strike]Roberta Vinci Ita [31][/strike] [strike]Monica Puig PuR[/strike] Jelena Ostapenko Lat
                                      Samantha Stosur Aus [23] vs [strike]Petra Kvitova Cze [15][/strike] Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA [Q]
                                      Caroline Woznaicki Den [11] vs [strike]Kiki Bertens Ned [18][/strike] CiCi Bellis USA
                                      Zhang Shuai Chn [32] vs Svetlana Kuznetsova Rus [8]

                                      Garbine Muguruza Esp [4] vs Yulia Putinseva Kaz [27]
                                      [strike]Mirjana Lucic-Baroni Cro [22][/strike] Shelby Rogers USA vs Kristina Mladenovic Fra [13]
                                      Venus Williams USA [10] vs [strike]Daria Gavrilova Aus [24][/strike] Elise Mertens Bel
                                      Timea Bacsinszky Sui [30] vs [strike]Dominika Cibulkova Svk [6][/strike] Ons Jabeur Tun [LL]

                                      Elina Svitolina Ukr [5] vs [strike]Ana Konjuh Cro [29][/strike] Magda Linette Pol
                                      Anastasija Sevastova Lat [17] vs [strike]Madison Keys USA [12][/strike] Petra Martic Cro [Q]
                                      Elena Vesnina Rus [14] vs Carla Suarez Navrro Esp [21]
                                      Daria Kasatkina Rus [26] vs Simona Halep Rou [3]

                                      [strike]Johanna Konta GBr [7][/strike] Hsieh Su-wei Tpe vs Caroline Garcia Fra [28]
                                      [strike]Barbora Strycova Cze [20][/strike] Alize Cornet Fra vs Agnieszka Radwanska Pol [9]
                                      [strike]Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Rus [16][/strike] Veronica Cepede Royg Par vs [strike]Coco Vandeweghe USA [19][/strike] [strike]Magdalena Rybarikova Svk [PR][/strike] Mariana Duque Marino Col
                                      [strike]Lauren Davis USA [25][/strike] Carina Witthoeft Ger vs Karolina Pliskova Cze [2]

                                      Comment


                                        #20
                                        The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                                        Potentially bad news for the hosts - Kiki Mladenovic, who was on the cover of the daily programme with the headline "ambitious", and that on a day when Djokovic and Nadal were on the schedule, looks like she has picked up a back injury. She isn't jumping or even pushing up for her serve and is trying to shorten points wherever she can. It currently seems unlikely she can win R1, which will be a huge blow to someone who was a legitimate contender for the title.

                                        Comment


                                          #21
                                          The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                                          Talking of which, the seeded casualties so far is thus:
                                          Day 1 fallers, in addition to Kerber and Vinci as covered on this thread, were Mirjana Lucic-Baroni and Gilles Muller.
                                          So far today we've lost Jack Sock, Gilles Simon and Mischa Zverev (clearly a bad tounprnament for those names Gilles) and Daria Gavrilova. Pretty disappointing for Gavrilova and Zverev following both playing in Tour finals just two days ago.

                                          Comment


                                            #22
                                            The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                                            Mladenovic serving for the match, but unconvincingly. Just been broken, in fact.

                                            And arguing endlessly about the point that broke her serve....

                                            Comment


                                              #23
                                              The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                                              This match is fascinating, it feels like neither player has the confidence to take proper control and win it.

                                              Comment


                                                #24
                                                The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                                                Fascinating, but of extremely variable quality. Can one imagine Mladenovic serving for the actual title, given how poorly she seems to be faring here? I realise she may be slightly injured, but this seems more mental than physical to me.

                                                Comment


                                                  #25
                                                  The dedicated French Open Tennis thread

                                                  She breaks again though. A third go at serving it out. Surely this time...

                                                  Comment

                                                  Working...
                                                  X