Roland Garros, Men's French Open 2026 - Grand Slam

[the AntiPusher]

He was too passive. Yes, he's a good athlete, a bit of a showman but underneath that veneer he was reactive. Plus, the era he was playing in was brutal.

BB, that’s the mystery Why was he so passive? How does one be so passive but the game’s biggest extrovert EVER ?

 

[britbox]

Disappointed Rafa did not say more than just goodbye .. Very disappointed.. Rafa is by far the most popular athlete EVER in France as for as where the championships were competed for and won.. Just my opinion..

I ended up watching highlights of a doubles match with Rafa & Gael vs Kyrgios and Lleyton Hewitt after reading that. Is Rafa in Paris? Maybe he had other stuff scheduled.

 

[britbox]

BB, that’s the mystery Why was he so passive? How does one be so passive but the game’s biggest extrovert EVER ?

Yes, that is the mystery!

 

[the AntiPusher]

Yes, that is the mystery!

I truly believe the match vs Novak at their first or early US Open wrecked his mentality..if you recall he was destroying Novak. That’s the match when Novak was allowed to get treated for cramps. Well you know the history afterwards

 

[britbox]

I truly believe the match vs Novak at their first or early US Open wrecked his mentality..if you recall he was destroying Novak. That’s the match when Novak was allowed to get treated for cramps. Well you know the history afterwards

I can't believe one match would have done it mate... but one thing he did learn from Novak, was playing possum. Gael was nearly as good as Novak at doing that. You never knew if they were out on their feet or playing it up.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Medvedev has now become the 8th Wonder of the World
7 losses in the 1st round at RG ................Meh!
The Aussie Walton d Medvedev 62 16 61 16 64

 

[Murat B.]

BB, that’s the mystery Why was he so passive? How does one be so passive but the game’s biggest extrovert EVER ?

I am no psychologist but it always seemed to me like all that showboating was about trying to hide his insecurity in his game. I don't think he trusted his game enough to impose his will on other players, especially better ones. Defending and reacting is safe.
I may also be full of shit.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Medvedev has now become the 8th Wonder of the World
7 losses in the 1st round at RG ................Meh!
The Aussie Walton d Medvedev 62 16 61 16 64

that's a shame... Meddy is one strange bird

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

that's a shame... Meddy is one strange bird

Strange bird alright.....cant ever get a proper hold on him and his play period, not since he won the USO and beat Novak in straight sets, I really thought he would go on and win more GS, little did I know not much

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Alexander Blockx has withdrawn from his 2nd round match, therefore Alex de Minaur gets a walkover to the 3rd round
Ankle injury

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Good start from Tien fresh off his clay court title in Geneva the 20 yo defeated Garin in 4 sets, 60 26 60 62
A really crafty player which fares him well on a clay court, and he has a great coach in Chang, a former RG winner

 

[the AntiPusher]

I am no psychologist but it always seemed to me like all that showboating was about trying to hide his insecurity in his game. I don't think he trusted his game enough to impose his will on other players, especially better ones. Defending and reacting is safe.
I may also be full of shit.

Interesting.. One day maybe one of his old coaches like I think one name was Roger may provide some insight.. As a competitor.. I would rather put my body in urgent care than to loose to someone I know I had more talent. Gael just seem to be out there having a good time while the Big 3 plus Andy and Stan dominated. Gael could do everything even only Roger could do on the court but refuse to be defeated. Bam.. I am off to work.. have a great day

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

that's a shame... Meddy is one strange bird

It only seems to be on the natural surfaces (clay and grass) that you never know what Meddy is going to show up. He's had success on these surfaces before (quarters at RG and semis at Wimbledon), but he's had many first round exits.

This doesn't seem to be a problem on the hard courts. Meddy is very reliable on that surface, and is almost a guarantee to make the 2nd week of the AO or USO.

 

[the AntiPusher]

It only seems to be on the natural surfaces (clay and grass) that you never know what Meddy is going to show up. He's had success on these surfaces before (quarters at RG and semis at Wimbledon), but he's had many first round exits.

This doesn't seem to be a problem on the hard courts. Meddy is very reliable on that surface, and is almost a guarantee to make the 2nd week of the AO or USO.

Good post.

 

[don_fabio]

Medvedev has now become the 8th Wonder of the World
7 losses in the 1st round at RG ................Meh!
The Aussie Walton d Medvedev 62 16 61 16 64

Dude has some serious Grand Slam performance issues in last year or so.

 

[don_fabio]

It’s gonna be for me one of the greatest unknowns, why did Gael not win or make it to a GS final?

As @britbox said, his passive play never allowed him to do better. I watched him many times and it always used to piss me off watch him just push the ball over the net. The answer for why so passive, hard to say. He never really found a good balance between passive and agressive play. At times he could strike winners better than anyone and then just retreat to being passive again.

He could have done better in his career if he really went that one step further, changed approach a little bit. Stan did and won slams, but Gael seemed happy on the court doing the show and highlight reel stuff. It's undeniable that competition was brutal, but he could have made at least one GS final. Worse guys than him made it.