2018 Roland Garros. The French Open

[klacr]

Been away in Orlando for past several days for a tennis coaches conference so my apologies for not chiming in or moderating the thread I started. I will be in Northern California this week on a much needed vacation so hopefully will have time to enjoy the forum.

Zverev being pushed this early and still coming out on top may be a good thing for the youngster. Making his first grand slam quarterfinal, what is sure to be the first of many, he is coming into his own.

I saw most of the Djokovic-Verdasco match today on my flight to San Francisco. (Thank you to JetBlue for giving me the opportunity!) Nothing better than live tennis while traveling at 35,000ft. Even though it was a straight setter If there was one player, outside of Berdych, that I would love to work with, it would be Verdasco. That forehand alone is something that should be marveled at. An absolute cannonball. Djokovic is slowly getting back into Djokovic form but I still give him another two full slams before he is having epic battles with Nadal again.

But let me say what everyone else is thinking...I mss Federer.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Djokovic takes a 2 sets to love lead. It's not the game I was hoping for. Verdasco is making so many errors.

[stotty]

Djokovic nicks the first set against Verdasco. Not the best set of tennis you will ever see. I would like to see the stats on Djokovic's success with the drop shot. I swear he gifts so many points away with ill placed and poorly selected drop shots. His disguise on the shot is poor and the opponent gets there more often than not with time to spare.

[stroke]

It was. Fognini to me definitely should have won a major or 2. That Fognini forehand probably belongs in the top 5 forehands also.

[stotty]

Gasquet v Nadal is the one match you never want to happen. Gasquet might as well go out there and wave a white flag and have done with it. I wouldn't even bother to switch on the TV for it.

Fognini defeats Edmund. I might watch the replay. I bet it was a good one.

[stroke]

Gasquet in a nightmare matchup vs Nadal. I remember Gasquet once said about Nadal beating him on clay was a near impossible task and his body language reflects that. Gasquet has a beautiful game but just a terrible matchup for him.

[stroke]

Fognini is in a real slugfest with Edmund right now.

[stroke]

About Verdasco, I agree. I have seen it in person. I have always felt he had the next best forehand in tennis after Nadal and Fed. Delpo is right there also.




l

[stotty]

Anyone want to see a great straight arm forehand? Then watch Verdasco play Djokovic in the last sixteen. Verdasco is one of my favourite players and has the most explosive and beautiful modern forehand you could ever see. That man hits it so cleanly an powerfully you wouldn't believe it should you ever get the chance to see him play live.

Both players are playing well and I am definitely tuning in for that one.

[stotty]

Djokovic puts in a rally solid performance to dispatch the gritty Agut. Djokovic looks like Nadal's biggest threat to me and likely the only man who can stop the Spaniard winning 11 FO titles.

Zverez stuttered through his match but turned it round admirably in the end. I just wonder how much that took out of him.

Good to see Verdasco making his way deeper into the draw.

[stroke]

Right now, oddsmakers have Nadal at 2/5 to win the tournament(or about a 72% chance). Next up are Zverev at 9/1, Novak 13/1, Thiem 16/1, Goffin 40/1. Obviously, anything other than Nadal would be a surprise.

[stotty]

I just don't see anyone to trouble Rafa in the top half of the draw. The bottom half is the more interesting half.

I saw a bit of Shapovalov versus Marterer. Marterer looks a decent prospect at just 22 years old. I haven't seen him before.

It looks like there will be no easy matches for Novak from now on, but if he can get through, I fancy he will get better and better. Novak isn't afraid of Rafa, and I don't think Zverez is anymore either.

[stroke]

I agree. I think a 32 year old Nadal could be toppled this year. As good as he is, there are times in matches where it is clear he simply cannot move as well as he did in his prime. Beating Nadal on clay is the toughest ask ever in tennis. Very interesting tournament this year.

[stotty]

Shapovalov looked good against Millman. I am intrigued as to what sort of a tournament he's going to have. Zverez stormed through the last two sets of a five setter. These two players are improving all the time and are going to get better still. It won't be long now before the Next Gen burst through and dislodge the oldies.

I see Thiem is edging the Greek by 2 sets 1 with the rest of the match held over to tomorrow.

I missed Novak's match but the scoreline looked solid enough.

Rafa is not as good as last year so far....or anywhere near.

[stroke]

Thiem plays Tsitsipas today on court 18. Looks like the match of the day to me.