French Open 09

[javero]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 6:21pm

I'm not going to be the one to break the news of the day.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 8:50pm

That's horrible, horrible, horrible.

I adore him so much.

How could you!

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 9:42pm

He never should have participated in that damn Spanish Open.

He should have rested instead, especially for his knee.

I wish he would go back to sleeveless shirts and stretchy capri pants. They worked for him at Wimbledon. Plus they are SO stylish I love them.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/1/09 at 9:26am

Anyone else see the remarkable point by Monfils in his match? Watch this link:

http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/13750857;_ylt=AsbLv7NJl_ZpCAZcuX7YUyY4v7YF

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/1/09 at 10:09am

I'm really sad I didn't get to see much, if any, of the tournament last week. I should program the old VCR for the matches while I'm at work.

EDIT- And I'm excited because US Open tickets go on sale. Updated On: 6/1/09 at 10:09 AM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/1/09 at 11:20am

Rafa

My tennis hero.

What a hunk.
Updated On: 6/1/09 at 11:20 AM

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/1/09 at 11:33am

I accidentally saw the outcome before it was televised here so I had to watch to see how he lost. Between him and Federer, I like Rafa better. he seems more passionate about the game. Really sorry he lost but it is kind of nice to see someone else advance to mix things up a bit. I also loved Serena's press conference about the ball hitting the other girl in their match. Also, the statement Serena made about Rafa was really nice.

[javero]

Posted: 6/2/09 at 6:08am

OK, my predictions:

Fed will claim his first and only French Open title finally. Can't predict who will emerge from the other half of the draw to take him on in the final round.

While Fed is my tennis idol, Rafa completely wows me because he is brilliant at taking his opponent out of his game and exploiting his weakness ala Connors & Wilander before him. If his opponent has any mechanical or mental weakness, Rafa will use it to systemically deconstruct the guy. His dismantling of Fed at last year's Wimbledon was just painful to watch. Fed is too great a champion to be toyed with on court by anyone. How many times did Rafa serve to his backhand throughout the match?

On the distaff side, a dream final between Serena Williams and a resurgent Maria Sharapova is on the card. Shreikapova, as friends and I call her, will struggle in her quarter but pull through miraculously in 3 sets. She then will bludgeon Dinara who will have a complete meltdown in their semi if they advance that far. There's a lot of Russian pride on the line in the top half of the women's draw and Maria is keen to remind her compatriots that she's still top diva.

However, Maria will come up short in that final against Serena. Maria's enjoying a fairy tale run at the French but her game has not yet fully recovered to enable her to win this major. Wimbledon in a few weeks is another story. I pity the top contender who has to face Maria in the early rounds at the Big W.

Serena will pace the match with Kutzi perfectly to allow the nerves to set in and cause Kutzi to implode in their quarter. Then, Sam Stosur will be overwhelmed by the occasion in her semi with Serena.

The dream final will be anti-clamatic with Serena beating Maria like the latter stole something of hers. Serena & Maria are natural rivals. Both are prima donnas now competing for tennis acclaim, media attention and endorsement deals which double & triple in value when either reaches #1.

The women's game is at times more interesting to me because of the fear of winning on display by the top players often. The reason why Serena won me over early is because she is so ruthlessly competitive ala Navratilova, Graf & Seles before her. She's in it to win it even when she's not in the best form physically. She also knows how to pace a match. I still believe that Maria & Serena are in an exclusive league in which not even Venus, the Serbs or Dinara can compete consistently.

In the big matches, smart money is on Rafa, Serena and Maria, now that Justine is chillin' out. Who knows though. With Clijsters return, perhaps Justine is wiping the dust off her rackets.

Updated On: 6/2/09 at 06:08 AM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/2/09 at 10:11am

I'm really looking forward to Federer vs. Monfils. I think Andy Murray will reach the finals on the other side of the draw.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/2/09 at 10:26am

Check out the online boobtube videos of Nadal's topspin forehand shot and how his follow-through has his hand up circling over his head.

He is formidable and strong as a bebe bull and that is why he wins.

He is kind and gracious in either victory or defeat and that is what a real champion should be all about. I never admired the "bad boys" of tennis who'd swear and throw their rackets and have tantrums. Rafa's made of stronger, more noble stuff.

I also liked watching Chris Evert play during her heyday.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/2/09 at 1:02pm

So forget what I said about Andy Murray.

[javero]

Posted: 6/3/09 at 4:53am

And forget what I wrote about Maria. Hopefully, her fitness and serve will be up to the task at the Big W in a few weeks. The sport needs those rivalries to keep things interesting.

Perhaps Dinara will breakthrough this time out but if Serena Williams gets to that final, Dinara will have her work cut out for her. As long as she doesn't have to take on sister Venus, Serena's willpower is second to none in the final round of a major.

Shifting lanes, I'm growing concerned about Fed having to stare down Monfils in their upcoming quarter. The Parisian crowd will be pulling for Monfils all the way. There are still 4 guys left in the tournament who can clean Fed's clock at Roland Garros, including Monfils. This is Fed's best chance ever to hoist that silver cup.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 5:30pm

Who will it be?

Soderling or Federer, Swede or Swiss?

[Q]

Posted: 6/5/09 at 6:50pm

"Shreikapova"

Hehe

[Q]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 8:51am

Well, here we go!

[NYadgal]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 8:58am

The French Open. The Tony Awards.

What a day!

[Q]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 9:39am

I usually want to see close matches and great overall tennis - but in this case, I won't mind if Roger just walks away with the whole thing as easily as that first set. Goodness knows my heart will have an easier time of it that way!

And, Addy - in addition, if Tiger is able to come from behind and grab the Memorial, I'll be in heaven

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 10:00am

What was with that guy who tried to put his hat on Roger?

[Q]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 10:22am

frogs - I have no idea, but I did NOT need that Seles flashback

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 11:01am

Yeah that was really creepy.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 1:24pm

Federer looked really happy.

I'll bet Nadal is happy for him too, since he said he hoped he'd win and after Nadal was so moved watching poor Roger weep after all those hours they played at the Australian Open.

Now I hope my hero Rafa has had a good rest to take Wimbledon and then the U.S. Open.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 1:25pm

Sometimes Federer comes across (to me) as sort of arrogant, but he really does get emotional when he wins.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/7/09 at 1:27pm

Yes, I can't get into him even if he plays well, he's a cold fish to me.

Rafa, on the other hand, is a sweetie pie. And stylish.