Running French Open thread

[sportschick]

It starts early Sunday morning, so I'm getting it started now.

Will Fed finally complete the career Slam?

Will Nadal win his fifth in a row, something six-time winner Borg couldn't even accomplish?

Will Safina join her brother (Mmmm, Marat, mmmm) as a Slam winner?

Will an American male make the second week?

Will Serena or Sharapova be healthy enough to make a run?

So many questions this year

 

[JakeandElwood]

I like Roddick's chances.

 

[Rockbottom]

BNP Paribas!!! Perrier!!!!

RB

 

[GB-Hack]

I am nervous for my boy Andy Murray.

Chela in the first round, even if he is now 215 in the world, is a dangerous proposition.

 

[sportschick]

I like Roddick's chances.

Roddick? Mr. I Haven't Won a Match at the French Since 2005?

Quite a limb to go out on there, JAE, quite a limb.

Not that it couldn't happen. I could become the fifth ex-Mrs. Sean Bean too

 

[JakeandElwood]

Blue font.

 

[sportschick]

Dammit!

I think Osednik (sp) makes the second week.

 

[Mark2010]

It starts early Sunday morning, so I'm getting it started now.

Will Fed finally complete the career Slam?

No. Never on red clay.

Will Nadal win his fifth in a row, something six-time winner Borg couldn't even accomplish?

Sounds logical enough, but the guy has to lose someday, doesn't he? 28-0 at that venue at age 22 is mind-boggling.

Will Safina join her brother (Mmmm, Marat, mmmm) as a Slam winner?

Possible, but I wouldn't be the farm on it.

Will an American male make the second week?

Some unknown will get a good draw and make the fourth round. But not Andy Roddick or James Blake.

Will Serena or Sharapova be healthy enough to make a run?

No, and neither like clay to begin with.

 

[Mark2010]

I love the Federer-Nadal rivalry. It's right up there with Borg-McEnroe, Becker-Edberg and Sampras-Agassi.

But beyond those two and Novak Djokovic, men's tennis is a sham right now. Andy Roddick and James Blake never are real threats to upset the big boys and everyone seems to play the same style. Hardly anyone serves and volleys anymore, which makes for less exciting matches.

So, it's back to Federer and Nadal. Would be a monumental upset if either lost before the semis and there's a very real possibility of them meeting in the final for a fourth straight year.

 

[sportschick]

You do realize Serena's won the French, Mark? Just because she's an American doesn't mean she can't play on the stuff.

 

[Mark2010]

Yeah, she won it in 2002 as part of her "Serena Slam". But she's had less success there than any other slam.

Nice win by Lleyton Hewitt, coming from two sets down to beat Ivo Karlovic. Karlovic served a Grand Slam record 55 aces, but looked dead at the end.

Hewitt is an interesting figure. I don't see how he can ever get back to the top ten, but yet he continues to grind it out, which is really hard for a guy who has been No. 1 in the world, won two Grand Slams and made his millions. Good for him.

 

[GB-Hack]

Yeah, Andy Murray wants a word Mark.

 

[Mark2010]

He's going to have to do more than beat Juan Ignacio Chela --- impressive as it was --- to become a factor in a red clay tournament. I think Murray's best chance may be on a hard court. Suits his game and I suspect the pressure on him at Wimbledon year after year may be too much to handle, just as it was for Tim Henman.

Watching a women's match and still trying to get used to the phrase "World No. 1 Dinara Safina". Of all the Russians, I would have thought Kuznetsova or Dementieva to have a better shot at someday becoming no. 1 than Safina. But, hey, if Safina can do it, so can Victoria Azarenka.

What ever happened to Daniella Hantuchova? Women's tennis isn't the same without her.

 

[GB-Hack]

He's going to have to do more than beat Juan Ignacio Chela --- impressive as it was --- to become a factor in a red clay tournament. I think Murray's best chance may be on a hard court. Suits his game and I suspect the pressure on him at Wimbledon year after year may be too much to handle, just as it was for Tim Henman.

He's world No.3 and has a 6-2 record against Federer all-time.

Saying outside of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic men's tennis is a sham is way off.

 

[sportschick]

He's going to have to do more than beat Juan Ignacio Chela --- impressive as it was --- to become a factor in a red clay tournament. I think Murray's best chance may be on a hard court. Suits his game and I suspect the pressure on him at Wimbledon year after year may be too much to handle, just as it was for Tim Henman.

He's world No.3 and has a 6-2 record against Federer all-time.

Saying outside of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic men's tennis is a sham is way off.

And del Potro is quickly becoming a factor as well. To say men's tennis consists of essentially three people is kinda silly.

 

[sportschick]

Roddick wins for the first time since 2005. Maybe JandE made the right choice

 

[GB-Hack]

Roddick wins for the first time since 2005. Maybe JandE made the right choice

What I will say for Roddick is that he has seemed a little different this year. Little more focused, little closer to where he was at his peak.

 

[sportschick]

Roddick wins for the first time since 2005. Maybe JandE made the right choice

What I will say for Roddick is that he has seemed a little different this year. Little more focused, little closer to where he was at his peak.

Maybe it's cause he's done chasing girls? You're right though. He seems more, well, with it these days. I'll still be surprised if he makes the second week at Roland Garros. He did look good today though.

 

[UPChip]

This thread fails without Ana Ivanovic.

 

[JakeandElwood]

Roddick wins for the first time since 2005. Maybe JandE made the right choice