The (Unofficial) French Open Thread

[MphsBlues]

Azarenka played to an empty stadium as the number one player in the world. Match was over in 86 minutes at 4 and 4. Not selling tickets, she gets equal pay as the men.

[kidbourbon]

Sloane Stephens could be a pretty decent player. I want to see her play somebody better, though, before I solidify my opinion on her.

Her footwork on the baseline reminds me of Steffi Graf. Like Graf, she is constantly split stepping and she does it right as her opponent hits their groundstroke. This was the first thing I noticed about Stephens.

And your comment about the equal pay is spot on. In the first couple rounds, the top females are getting on and off the court in about 25 minutes.

[MphsBlues]

Originally Posted by kidbourbon

Sloane Stephens could be a pretty decent player. I want to see her play somebody better, though, before I solidify my opinion on her.

Her footwork on the baseline reminds me of Steffi Graf. Like Graf, she is constantly split stepping and she does it right as her opponent hits their groundstroke. This was the first thing I noticed about Stephens.

And your comment about the equal pay is spot on. In the first couple rounds, the top females are getting on and off the court in about 25 minutes.

I've seen Sloan a couple of times, and she does move well. She is very nice and soft spoken, as well. Cute, too.

[MphsBlues]

There goes Raonic, at the hands of Monaco. five setter.

[MphsBlues]

Djokovich fixin to go down? Seppi must be playing well. I'm stuck at work and it isn't on network tv yet. what's going on with him? Seppi just playing that well?

[MphsBlues]

Actually, both numero uno's in deep kaka. Azarenka got problems, herself.

[MphsBlues]

...and Azarenka's loud ass just got kicked to the curb by the Slovakian...

[kidbourbon]

I didn't see the Djoker match either. He rallied though.

Fed just LOVES dropping sets.

I wish Monaco wasn't playing Rafa.

[MphsBlues]

Originally Posted by kidbourbon

I didn't see the Djoker match either. He rallied though.

Fed just LOVES dropping sets.

I wish Monaco wasn't playing Rafa.

Monaco impressed me with his play against Raonic. Not that I got to see much of it, but he looked good in what I saw. After seeing the start of the Berdych match today, I don't think things look too good for Roger. He'll have problems with either.

[MphsBlues]

Interesting press conference w/ Azarenka. Stay classy, Victoria.

[kidbourbon]

Originally Posted by MphsBlues

Interesting press conference w/ Azarenka. Stay classy, Victoria.

Hahahahaha.

"I'm going to kill myself," said a fuming Azarenka, her voice laced with sarcasm. "What am I going to do recovering? I'm just going to go on the practice court and practice again. The tournament is over for me. What's to recover from?"

[kidbourbon]

Originally Posted by MphsBlues

Monaco impressed me with his play against Raonic. Not that I got to see much of it, but he looked good in what I saw. After seeing the start of the Berdych match today, I don't think things look too good for Roger. He'll have problems with either.

He has delpo's number as of late. But, yes, he is playing poorly.

Monaco is just a gamer. He can't beat Nadal, but he'll go down swinging.

[kidbourbon]

Looking forward:

Two matches will be finished after being suspended because of the light:
- Delpo will likely finish off Berdych, being up two sets to one. But Berdych came back from a set down against Kevin Anderson, so this isn't a done deal.

- Unfortunately, the dirty frenchmen Tsonga will likely finish off Wawrinka. I would love to be wrong.

So Djokovic will likely play Tsonga. He'll beat the poopy poop out of him.

Federer will likely play Delpo. Delpo has been been in better form this tournament than Fed, but Fed has had Delpo's number all year. I'll go with Fed in five, but I probably won't put any money on it.

Nadal will beat Monaco and then will beat the living poopy poop out of either Almagro or Tipsarevic (likely tipsarevic).

Ferrer will beat the poopy poop out of Granollers. I think Gasquet/Murray is a coin flip. I like Ferrer against either guy, but I wouldn't be surprised if it goes to five. Of course, everything I've written in this paragraph is pretty much academic, as I don't think any of these four guys have a reasonable chance of taking out Nadal in semi. So, yeah, I'm putting Nadal in the final.

Djokovic will have a much more difficult time of it in the semifinal, no matter whether he plays Delpo, Fed, Berdych. Federer, in theory, presents him with the greatest challenge, but Fed just hasn't looked alive this tournament. Delpo has a puncher's chance against anyone, because he can just hit people off the court with his forehand, which is something akin to a cannon. But, again, Fed has had his number this year. So I'm not sure that he makes it that far.

I realize that I lack imagination, but would anyone actually bet against it being a Djoker/Nadal final? If it is, I think Nadal will be favored and I think Nadal will win. The guy just brought his 'A' game to this tournament. I haven't seen him play -- and, more specifically, move -- like this since 2010.

Many of you might find the idea of Rafa winning at RG again rather boring. But I say enjoy it while you can. This is the greatest clay court player of all time -- with lots of mileage, yes, but methinks still in his prime -- who by all appearances is in peak form. Watching him dismantle guys is a thing of beauty, imho.

[kidbourbon]

Originally Posted by MphsBlues

There goes Raonic, at the hands of Monaco. five setter.

You know who beat Raonic at a Futures event a couple years ago?


Rhyne Williams.

[kidbourbon]

Ferrer rolled.
Almagro rolled.
Tsonga closed out the match against Wawrinka.
Delpo closed out Berdych.

So we've got:
Djoker vs. the dirty frenchman Tsonga.
winner plays winner of
Fed vs. Delpo

Ferrer vs. Gasquet/Murray
winner plays the winner of
Almagro vs. Monaco/Nadal (read: Almagro vs. Nadal (read: Nadal))


Fed vs. Delpo is easily the most intriguing matchup in the quarters. I'll definitely be catching that one.