French Open

[stroke]

Stotty, maybe watch the WTA, the Welfare Tennis Association, ha.

[stotty]

Not sure I can stand much more of this. Probably going to walk the dog instead. I'll give it another 5 minutes.

[stotty]

The bottom line to me, not that it matters, is Carlos is better at all aspects of tennis. Stef is taller though.

And Steph is playing like a drain into the bargain. This match is going to be terribly quick if Steph cannot get some sort of foothold soon. But as you say, Carlos is in a completely different class.

[stroke]

Carlos rolls through the first set with some ease. I am struggling to see how Stephanos can combat Carlos. The match up is awful for him and on top of that Carlos is super confident right now.

The bottom line to me, not that it matters, is Carlos is better at all aspects of tennis. Stef is taller though.

[stotty]

Carlos rolls through the first set with some ease. I am struggling to see how Stephanos can combat Carlos. The match up is awful for him and on top of that Carlos is super confident right now.

[stroke]

This is a bit hard to watch. Alcatraz is simply better than Tsitsipas at everything other than being taller.

[stroke]

Both are out now but I nominate Elina Svitolina and Francisco Cerundolo respectively for the unofficial titles of tournament Cinderella & Cinderella.

What break out performances! Cerundolo out forehanded some great forehands. Sivtilona came back from maternity leave to win her first event back, Straussbourg, flew to Paris and made today's quarterfinals, but out in 2 to Sabalenka. Best performance in a supporting act, hubby Gael Manfils came from behind to win in 5 sets before departing with aching everything.

Great showing all !

All that really falls into the whatever category big picture. Cerundolo certainly impressed, but big picture, just a brutal ATP footnote. Match of the tournament now on tap, Alcaraz vs Tsitsipas.

[jimlosaltos]

Both are out now but I nominate Elina Svitolina and Francisco Cerundolo respectively for the unofficial titles of tournament Cinderella & Cinderella.

What break out performances! Cerundolo out forehanded some great forehands. Sivtilona came back from maternity leave to win her first event back, Straussbourg, flew to Paris and made today's quarterfinals, but out in 2 to Sabalenka. Best performance in a supporting act, hubby Gael Manfils came from behind to win in 5 sets before departing with aching everything.

Great showing all !

[jimlosaltos]

Sorry, but I can't resist sharing this. Add a new one to Djokovic's list of pseudoscience miracles.

If it works like Djokovic says, isn't this a PED ?

"Djokovic Claims ‘Nanotechnology’ Patch On His Chest Boosts His On-Court Performance"

"Tao Technologies, an Italian company that sells the “TaoPatch” Djokovic used, claimed on Twitter the tiny disc is “activated by sunlight and body heat” and its “nanocrystals emit photons towards the body providing several health benefits.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/06/05/djokovic-claims-nanotechnology-patch-on-his-chest-boosts-his-on-court-performance-heres-what-to-know/

[jimlosaltos]

Djokovic escapes K2 after losing the first set. 4-6 7-6(0) 6-2 6-4 .

Into the semifinals without facing a single player in the Top 10. That used to be explained by ND having he top seed. Now, he's 3 and gets the same clear path. Curious.

[jimlosaltos]

Quarters Are Set

Swiatek-Gauff reprises last year's women's final.
Rune-Ruud was the Rome semi and Ruud was last year's men's finalist vs the sadly-missed Rafa.
Zverev seeks to make the semis as he continues the climb to regain his form after a year-ending injury in last year's semifinals vs Rafa.

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[stotty]

Seems I'm missing all the good matches and getting all the duff ones when I take time off during the day to watch...

Seems the Rune v Cerdundolo match was a corker.

[stroke]

Still a packed house for Zverev vs Grigor, but this has not been an enthralling match at all.

[jimlosaltos]

What an atmosphere, packed house, for Rune in 5 sets over Cerundolo.

Wow! Left briefly after Cerdundolo won the fourth at 6-1 and didn't see this coming, Rune in a 5th set tiebreak 10-7.

Cerdundolo won more points with fewer errors and won 7 of 20 break points, Rune only 4 of 8 -- but Rune won the match.

Great win particularly since Rune admitted he had trouble lasting in long matches since he doesn't yet have the endurance of older players.

[stroke]

What an atmosphere, packed house, for Rune in 5 sets over Cerundolo.