2018 Roland Garros. The French Open

[stotty]

Cecchinato feverin Italy and Southern Switzerland. First Italian since Barrazuti to make the semifinal in RG.

Crumbs....let's hope he doesn't suffer the same fate in the semi as Corrado. Borg beat him 6-0 6-1 6-0...

[gzhpcu]

Cecchinato feverin Italy and Southern Switzerland. First Italian since Barrazuti to make the semifinal in RG.

[stotty]

Rain delay Diego Schwartzman wins the first set 6-4, and is a break ahead in the second 3-2!

It's not the first time Nadal has been saved by the rain. Novak was wiping the floor with him once and heading for victory at an alarming rate, the the rain came. That was one FO he wouldn't have won.

Roger has also been incredibly lucky here and there at Wimbledon.

But what was it that golfer once said? The more I practice the luckier I get?....or something like that.

[gzhpcu]

Rain delay Diego Schwartzman wins the first set 6-4, and is a break ahead in the second 3-2!

[stroke]

Novak bombs out the inspired Italian. It's strange with Novak. Sometimes he looks really convincing and I think he's right back out on it, yet other times he lacks consistency and has inexplicable lapses. I think he will get there because he can play, at times, to the level he once used to. He just needs to be able to sustain it like he used to.

Thiem must now be hot favourite to make the final, but like stroke says, the match up ain't great and it's tough to see him winning.

Nadal has one more chance to come unstuck should Del Potro make it to the semis. I can't see Schartzman making a dent in Nadal for sure. But if Del Potro gets through and can get enough opportunities to 'set and hit' against Nadal....you just never know.

Del Po is somewhat like Soderling, so I suppose he would be in with a shout. I don't think even he though is capable of the barrage Soderling put on Nadal in that rare FO loss for Nadal. Soderling beat Nadal at FO in Nadal's absolute prime. To me, the best anyone has ever played Nadal on clay. In that match, Soderling had 61 winners in a tight 4 set win. 61 winners, that is all it took to take out an in his prime Nadal.

[stotty]

Novak bombs out the inspired Italian. It's strange with Novak. Sometimes he looks really convincing and I think he's right back out on it, yet other times he lacks consistency and has inexplicable lapses. I think he will get there because he can play, at times, to the level he once used to. He just needs to be able to sustain it like he used to.

Thiem must now be hot favourite to make the final, but like stroke says, the match up ain't great and it's tough to see him winning.

Nadal has one more chance to come unstuck should Del Potro make it to the semis. I can't see Schartzman making a dent in Nadal for sure. But if Del Potro gets through and can get enough opportunities to 'set and hit' against Nadal....you just never know.

[stroke]

all of us have felt for a couple of years Thiem would win FO, probably more than once. And we all know what he is up against. Thiem has a shot I guess, but he is certainly not the prototype for beating Nadal on clay, a right hander with a one handed backhand. Like Zverev, he has youth on his side, his only advantage over Nadal.

[stotty]

Thiem prevails. He looks the second best player in the tournament to me. It was just a match too far for Zverez.

[stotty]

Zverez now two sets down. Doesn't look like he has anything in his legs to me. Shame...

[stroke]

yes, McEnroe said the same thing yesterday. He is spot on as he often is. Way too many long matches for Zverev going into a match later in the tournament vs a top tier clay courter like Thiem.

[stotty]

Thiem wins the first set 6-4 against Zverez. McEnroe said he cannot see Thiem losing this match, and frankly, having watched the first set, Stotty can't see Thiem losing either. Thiem is a tad better on clay and Zverez knows he can't play yet another long match and hope to progress.

Tennis is a funny game so I will keep watching, but, so far, Thiem has it in the bag.

[stroke]

Another hapless opponent bites the dust as Nadal romps into the quarters. Schwartzman has nothing to hurt Nadal and will doubtless suffer the same fate as Marterer. I just wish someone would come up with a tactic. I don't see any tactics at all when players walk on a clay court to take on Nadal. Did anyone notice anyone employing tactics against Nadal?

I remember Andy Murray beat Nadal once by giving him junk and taking pace off the ball. Andy is smart like that. Trying to whack Nadal off a clay court is nye on impossible.

Murray beating Nadal on clay was just a bit of an anomaly to me. I don't think there is any tactic to beat Nadal on clay, someone pretty much has to outhit him and work as hard as him to beat him. Fognini, who has a great forehand and can take it consistently pretty early, at times has made Nadal look beatable. Of course, Fognini has great movement and variety also. I do not think Novak has it going enough to beat Nadal. I think Zverev has the best chance match up wise. He can hit well enough and do damage off both sides and he is much younger(which is probably his best asset/advantage vs Nadal at this point in Nadal's career). Of course, Zverev has already played 3 5 setters and he has Thiem today. That one in itself is close to a toss up.

[gzhpcu]

David and Goliath. What a comeback from Diego Schwartzman. 13 inches diffference in height. Blasted away the first two sets. Down a break 4-5 in the third, and turns it all around to win it in 5. Little guy with a big heart. Inspirational.

[stotty]

It's a shame Serena pulled out today. Sharapova had her in her sights this time and looked the likely winner. Williams is carrying an extra stone in weight and slower round the court these days. I really felt Sharapova had a great chance to win this time. I was actually looking forward to watching the contest.

[stotty]

Another hapless opponent bites the dust as Nadal romps into the quarters. Schwartzman has nothing to hurt Nadal and will doubtless suffer the same fate as Marterer. I just wish someone would come up with a tactic. I don't see any tactics at all when players walk on a clay court to take on Nadal. Did anyone notice anyone employing tactics against Nadal?

I remember Andy Murray beat Nadal once by giving him junk and taking pace off the ball. Andy is smart like that. Trying to whack Nadal off a clay court is nye on impossible.