French Open

[jimlosaltos]

Since Ruud hasn't won a single set in four matches vs Djokovic, I assume Djoko is a prohibitive favorite.

The wild card is Djokovic's continuing arm problems. It's curious that I have seen little discussion of Djokovic's medial time outs during the same semifinal and how it affected his play. I wonder if not all broadcasts noticed the impact. On NBC here in US, Mary Carrillo noted that after Djokovic had treatment for his forearm, all his shots slowed down -- second serve was 10 MPH slower in the second set than in the first, and various numbers of first serve, forehand, backhand -- all noticeably slower.

If Djokovic's arm acted up after one set of play on Friday, surely there's a risk of it acting up in a potential 5 sets on Sunday?

Alcaraz was returning more aggressively in the second, presumably as a result, and when he was able to win that set I thought he'd win their match in 4 sets.

Since someone mentioned not seeing the end -- Alcaraz was candid afterwards saying his cramps were caused by nerves. Said, he'd never been so nervous right from the start of the match. Had some issues with cramps back when he was 18 yo, I believe.

These weren't typical cramps targeting one muscle. They started in his right hand. His fingers were visibility spasmed, twisted. For several points Alcaraz could not hit a forehand -- literally having trouble holding the racket. Then the cramps "moved" to his leg. Since he can't be helped off without defaulting and has to get to the bench in order to get treatment, Alcaraz literally hopped on his right, was it, leg to the bench. Like his idol Fed he wasn't going to retire -- but he had little chance from there on. Tried to shorten points, gamely.

Someone contrasted this with Nadal. But I remember Rafa retiring from a number of matches when he was younger. Dehydration in Miami, vs Davydenko in Paris, vs Andy Murray somewhere ... a few others. Vague memories.

I wouldn't judge Alcaraz too harshly, myself.

[jimlosaltos]

What is constituting a winner here? Novak hit virtually none in the first two sets, off the ground at least. I missed the last two sets where, apparently, according to press reports, Carlos was lame.

Well like the difference between "Unforced" errors and just errors, a winner is the arbitrary decision of the scorekeeper. Some events are know for being stingy, other liberal.

As I tried to say, I probably shouldn't have even published the stats, given how Alcaraz's cramps skewed things. But I searched for them compulsively <g> so I thought i'd share them for whatever they're worth here. After he sacrificed a service game to get treatment, Alcaraz tried to shorten points -- move in on return and try to hit a winner, etc. so that skews the results even further toward 0-4 shot rallies.

[jimlosaltos]

Bit disappointed to read the latter part of this thread and find no celebration of the Sabalenka-Muchova match.

Always hoped the stars might align and give Muchova a season in the spotlight. Shame she's about to bump into the immovable object in Swiatek, but she has looked like an unstoppable force at times, using all the variety you could ask for. Hope she has enough in the tank to give Iga something to think about.

Muchova keeps the racket in front of her body on both wings and as such is as close to a poster-girl for BG's agenda of teaching women to hit 'ATP' technique as any - more than Iga, imo (I await to be corrected by those who know better!).

regards
Rob

Agreed dimbleby69 ! Not enough discussion of nor credit to WTA players in general. Muchova is a great athlete and this years Cinderella for Roland Garros (along with Svitolina).

Please chime in !

[stotty]

Bit disappointed to read the latter part of this thread and find no celebration of the Sabalenka-Muchova match.

Always hoped the stars might align and give Muchova a season in the spotlight. Shame she's about to bump into the immovable object in Swiatek, but she has looked like an unstoppable force at times, using all the variety you could ask for. Hope she has enough in the tank to give Iga something to think about.

Muchova keeps the racket in front of her body on both wings and as such is as close to a poster-girl for BG's agenda of teaching women to hit 'ATP' technique as any - more than Iga, imo (I await to be corrected by those who know better!).

regards
Rob

I didn't see the match but I heard it was the match of the tournament so far. I will certainly try to tune in for the final and will take a look at Muchova's vaunted strokes. Any girl who gets close to ATP type strokes is most definitely something to see in my opinion.

Welcome to the thread, by the way...the more astute observations we get, the better, as far as me and the other posters are concerned...thank you!

[dimbleby69]

Bit disappointed to read the latter part of this thread and find no celebration of the Sabalenka-Muchova match.

Always hoped the stars might align and give Muchova a season in the spotlight. Shame she's about to bump into the immovable object in Swiatek, but she has looked like an unstoppable force at times, using all the variety you could ask for. Hope she has enough in the tank to give Iga something to think about.

Muchova keeps the racket in front of her body on both wings and as such is as close to a poster-girl for BG's agenda of teaching women to hit 'ATP' technique as any - more than Iga, imo (I await to be corrected by those who know better!).

regards
Rob

[jimlosaltos]

I left the Carlos v Novak game at 1 set all to go to work. It looked poised for Carlos to take off at that point. It's such a shame he cramped up. It really shouldn't happen in this day and age so early in a match with the right nutrients inside him. I find that one a bit odd.

Novak will be heavy favourite against Ruud, I guess. Novak certainly looked pretty good out there today and played a terrific couple of sets while the match was still in the balance.

Just speculating, but prodigies just Rune and Alcaraz are pushed by the system to play a lot of matches, perhaps before their bodies are mature enough to deal with the wear and tear. Yes, they can recover more quickly at that age, and they have lots of energy, but they can be more vulnerable to tendon and muscle damage.

Holger Rune has been candid about his need to get fitter and how he has faded late in several matches this clay court swing. Jannik Sinner's team has mentioned a while back how he needed to get fitter.

Hope he gets over this hump.

[stroke]

I left the Carlos v Novak game at 1 set all to go to work. It looked poised for Carlos to take off at that point. It's such a shame he cramped up. It really shouldn't happen in this day and age so early in a match with the right nutrients inside him. I find that one a bit odd.

Novak will be heavy favourite against Ruud, I guess. Novak certainly looked pretty good out there today and played a terrific couple of sets while the match was still in the balance.

To me, this just really illustrates that Alcaraz is not the next Nadal, not close. This result would never have happened to Nadal. That being said, Alcaraz will definitely make his mark on tennis, just more like a Sampras Agassi Lendl, which is certainly a high level.

[stotty]

Some stats on Djokovic vs Alcaraz semi.

Craig O'Shannessy's prematch analysis was on about Djokovic having to take the offensive and go to the net -- BUT he was way off about it being dangerous to after Alcaraz's backhand.

Djokovic had a 25 point advantage in the 0-4 rallies with double the winners over that range 22-11, the two were almost dead even on anything longer.

Djoko was 25/45 at the net, vs 19/30 for Acaraz.

Djoko hit 39 winners vs 36 UFEs and 29 forced errors vs Alcaraz 35 winners vs 50 UFEs and 39 forced errors.

x

Djokovic's backhand was an error-free wall vs Alcaraz, 18 errors vs 34 on the backhand side for Alcaraz.

x

What is constituting a winner here? Novak hit virtually none in the first two sets, off the ground at least. I missed the last two sets where, apparently, according to press reports, Carlos was lame.

[jimlosaltos]

Shame that Alcaraz started to cramp after he leveled things in the second set. He's had a lot of trouble with soft tissue injuries so far in his young career.

I don't know how much one can read into stats given the injury, but here they are for what they're worth.

Craig O'Shannessy's prematch analysis was on about Djokovic having to take the offensive and go to the net -- BUT he was way off about it being dangerous to go at Alcaraz's backhand. This is a huge difference from Djokovic's losses (few as they are) in recent years where the likes of Medvedev, Musetti, Rune have gone toe-to-toe with Djokovic's backhand.

Djokovic had a 25 point advantage in the 0-4 rallies with double the winners over that range 22-11, the two were almost dead even on anything longer.

Djoko was 25/45 at the net, vs 19/30 for Acaraz.

Djoko hit 39 winners vs 36 UFEs and 29 forced errors vs Alcaraz 35 winners vs 50 UFEs and 39 forced errors.

filedata/fetch?id=101123&d=1686345084&type=thumb

Djokovic's backhand was an error-free wall vs Alcaraz, 18 errors vs 34 on the backhand side for Alcaraz.

filedata/fetch?id=101124&d=1686345108&type=thumb

#

[stotty]

I left the Carlos v Novak game at 1 set all to go to work. It looked poised for Carlos to take off at that point. It's such a shame he cramped up. It really shouldn't happen in this day and age so early in a match with the right nutrients inside him. I find that one a bit odd.

Novak will be heavy favourite against Ruud, I guess. Novak certainly looked pretty good out there today and played a terrific couple of sets while the match was still in the balance.

[stroke]

Well both semi's a bit of a disappointment. Obviously , Novak a very strong favorite in the final vs Ruud as he would have been vs Zverev. Novak has a chance obviously to really stick a fork in the GOAT argument.

[stotty]

I think Carlos might be even quicker than a 22-year-old Nadal....and that's saying something. He's so fast over an expanse it's unreal.

[stotty]

5-4...Novak characteristically breaks straight back. Carlos is careless at times though...can't afford that against Novak.

[stotty]

5-3....Carlos get the break though sheer power and belief. Novak will have to remain at his very best. Carlos is like an Olympic athlete and Novak cannot hit past him, just work him out of position and wait for errors.

[stotty]

It's 3-2 to Carlos in the 2nd set. Novak is keeping it up so far with reasonable comfort, hitting a remarkable length and serving with excellent acumen. Carlos just cannot get a foothold....as yet.