2014 Slam Challenge - Roland Garros

[El Dude]

The rules and Australian Open thread is here.

Here are the points from the AO:

27 ftan
17 secrettennisjunkie
17 GoldenBoy
17 El Dude
16 Kieran
16 Luxilon Borg
16 Moxie629
16 rahulpawar
15 britbox
14 rafanoy1992
14 Denisovich
14 Riotbeard
14 The AntiPusher
14 askh
14 kstake2
12 zalvar
10 GameSetAndMath

*9 tented
*9 Moose
*9 TennisFanatic7
*9 TsarMatt
*9 fashionista
*9 nehmeth
*9 1972Murat
*9 crystalfire
*9 fedfan

If you join in this round, you start with 9 points - one less than the last contestant.

Good luck!

EDIT: I've put those who have already posted their predictions in bold, to keep track. Keep 'em coming, folks!

 

[Moxie]

Thanks for putting up the Challenge again, El Dude. Draw comes out on Friday.

 

[TsarMatt]

Just read the rules and this sounds like a lot of fun. I'll definitely be participating once the draw comes out.

Thanks.

 

[ftan]

I havent watched any tennis lately.. who knew having a baby would mess up my tennis time . But I have followed the scores.. waiting for the draw to come out and to be quiet honest will wait for everyones picks to get a reading of draw ..

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

I have destroyed my competition in WTA, I am moving in here.

 

[Moxie]

I have destroyed my competition in WTA, I am moving in here.

All sharp elbows and bravado. Good for you, Kiu! Beware, folks, because Kiu is coming in with some fearsome results, in the challenges. However, Kiu, if you didn't play in the AO, you'll have to settle for some conciliatory points for late entrants. There's still ground to make up!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have destroyed my competition in WTA, I am moving in here.

 

[Riotbeard]

I have destroyed my competition in WTA, I am moving in here.

All sharp elbows and bravado. Good for you, Kiu! Beware, folks, because Kiu is coming in with some fearsome results, in the challenges. However, Kiu, if you didn't play in the AO, you'll have to settle for some conciliatory points for late entrants. There's still ground to make up!

Luckily, nobody picked stan. So the ground to make up isn't that much.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I havent watched any tennis lately.. who knew having a baby would mess up my tennis time . But I have followed the scores.. waiting for the draw to come out and to be quiet honest will wait for everyones picks to get a reading of draw ..

Dude, people are having two sets of twins and still going away to play tournaments, you can for sure watch a couple of games here and there.

Good luck with the little one

 

[ftan]

I havent watched any tennis lately.. who knew having a baby would mess up my tennis time . But I have followed the scores.. waiting for the draw to come out and to be quiet honest will wait for everyones picks to get a reading of draw ..

Dude, people are having two sets of twins and still going away to play tournaments, you can for sure watch a couple of games here and there.

Good luck with the little one

Haha.. if only I had all the money people had.. and people's wife is at home with the babies..so I hav to be with mine too.. lolz

 

[Kieran]

When it says "secrettennisjunkie is the reigning champion from 2013", is that for all events, or only majors?

 

[El Dude]

When it says "secrettennisjunkie is the reigning champion from 2013", is that for all events, or only majors?

Only majors. This is a "Slam Challenge." I thought of including Masters and the WTF, but I think the attrition rate would drop considerably.

 

[El Dude]

Draws are out, I'll go first:

W - Djokovic
F - Nadal
SF - Federer, Murray
QF - Ferrer, Berdych, Wawrinka, Raonic
Darkhorse - Nishikori
Wildcard - Dimitrov

Subject to revision, but that's my first attempt.

 

[Kieran]

W - Rafa
F - Djokovic
SF - Berdych, Wawrinka
QF - Federer, Murray, Simon, Ferrer

Dark Horse: Gulbis
Wild Card: Dimitrov

C'est tout!

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Quarters
Nadal-Dimitrov , Stan-Gasquet , Gulbis-Agut , Novak-Kei

Semis

Dimitrov-Stan , Gulbis-Novak

Final

Stan-Novak

Winner: STAN THE my name is too long and I don't like it MAN !

DH-Dimitrov
WC-Fognini

Have I ever mentioned I suck at these things? It is still fun though, imagining...

 

[Kieran]

By the way, what's the diff between a Dark Horse and a Wild Card?

 

[El Dude]

By the way, what's the diff between a Dark Horse and a Wild Card?

Read the rules, lazy bones.

Think of a Dark Horse as a legit contender - a Berdych/Tsonga/Ferrer type - while the Wildcard is more of a longshot.

A Dark Horse is any player who hasn't won a Slam in the last two years, or eight Slam tournaments. So all players are candidates except Nadal, Djokovic, Wawrinka, Murray, and Federer. This also means that, assuming Roger doesn't win at RG or Wimbledon, he could be a Dark Horse at the US Open.

A Wildcard is any player not currently ranked in the top 10.

 

[Kieran]

Ah ok, thanks! :Lolz:

I wasn't sure. So...everybody outside Rafa and Novak is a wild card, and everyone outside Rafa, Novak and Federer is a dark horse...or...eh... :snigger

 

[Moose]

First time trying this - a couple of these are definitely heart over head picks.....

Winner: Novak!
Finalist: Nadal
SF: Wawrinka, Gulbis
QF: Dimitrov, Murray, Bautista-Agut, Nishikori

Dark Horse: Robredo
WC: Kohlschreiber

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Winner: Djokovic
Finalist: Nadal
Semi Finals: Murray, Federer
Quarter Finals: Ferrer, Monfils, Robredo, Nishikori
Dark Horse: Dolgopolov
Wild Card: Dimitrov