Pre-gaming the French Open

[Fiero425]

I meant to add re: Geneva, that Ruud is entered, and, no matter how he does in Rome, I think he needs to skip Geneva and rest up for RG. He's got a solid chance at the title, and he doesn't need practice as much as rest. Fritz, on the other hand, who just lost to Marcos Giron in straights, needs all the practice on clay he can get. And no one believes he's win RG, so all he's going to do is collect as many points and as much money as possible, and let his GF get good photos for her Insta.

IMO, it's about appearance $$ w/ Ruud! He obviously doesn't need the extra work; Djokovic does! Fritz is wasting his time like most Americans!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Moxie and Don Fabio
Just to refresh our memories Novak lost in the SF last year in Geneva to Machac
BTW with the heavy strapping on Novaks leg in practice today, journalists are now saying maybe the reason why he chose to skip Rome, though he never gave a reason why he withdrew

 

[Moxie]

IMO, it's about appearance $$ w/ Ruud! He obviously doesn't need the extra work; Djokovic does! Fritz is wasting his time like most Americans!

If he plays Geneva for that reason, he's an idiot.

 

[Moxie]

Novak made only QF or RG last year and retired to Ruud. He can practice all he wants, but RG is out of bounds for him. I believe Sinner would beat him in his first match if they met right now in Rome, regardless of the 3 month ban.

Ruud better rest for RG, that would be a wise decision. I think he will.

Sinner didn't show much rust today, so you're probably right. Personally, I don't like Novak's chances for Rome, either, but as I said to Mrzz, he has to back himself, and if he doesn't want to skip a Major because that's all he really cares about, then he knows what he has to do. IMO, he'd have a better chance resting his knee (if that's a real thing) and preparing for Wimbledon.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just looking at some of the players list for ATP500 Hamburg before RG and lost early in Rome.
Tsitsipas, Rune, Rublev, Baez, Davidovich, FAA, though he might withdraw seeing he has a lower back problem, withdrew in Rome, just some of the players that need to iron out their problems on clay before RG, good defense is needed on clay, being the primary factor,able to turn defense into offense

 

[don_fabio]

Sinner didn't show much rust today, so you're probably right. Personally, I don't like Novak's chances for Rome, either, but as I said to Mrzz, he has to back himself, and if he doesn't want to skip a Major because that's all he really cares about, then he knows what he has to do. IMO, he'd have a better chance resting his knee (if that's a real thing) and preparing for Wimbledon.

He could just skip Geneva+RG combo and play full season on grass: Stuttgart, Queens, take a rest, Wimbledon.

 

[Moxie]

He could just skip Geneva+RG combo and play full season on grass: Stuttgart, Queens, take a rest, Wimbledon.

That would be my advice, but he doesn't seem interested in that. Unless he's feeling something in the knee, and bails in Geneva and rests up for grass.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I will post this breaking news here regarding Novak Djokovic who posted on his social media account ( twitter) and I will also post it on the ATP News, his coaching partnership with Andy Murray has ended.
" Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun and support over the last six months on and off the court.I really enjoyed deepening our friendship together"
Although the partnership had started relatively well in Australia with Djokovic's win over Carlos Alcaraz,, Djokovic's recent struggles mean that this is not a surprising development

 

[Moxie]

I will post this breaking news here regarding Novak Djokovic who posted on his social media account ( twitter) and I will also post it on the ATP News, his coaching partnership with Andy Murray has ended.
" Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun and support over the last six months on and off the court.I really enjoyed deepening our friendship together"
Although the partnership had started relatively well in Australia with Djokovic's win over Carlos Alcaraz,, Djokovic's recent struggles mean that this is not a surprising development

Personally, I never thought this was a match made in heaven, but if they're going to bother, why not stay together through the grass season, where Murray really has something to offer? This just seems like looking in the wrong places for solutions to his game.

 

[don_fabio]

Personally, I never thought this was a match made in heaven, but if they're going to bother, why not stay together through the grass season, where Murray really has something to offer? This just seems like looking in the wrong places for solutions to his game.

Yet another strange decision from Novak in a last few weeks. They could have stayed together until the grass season is over, that would make more sense.

Recent results and everything happening around Novak show clear signs that he is in a motivational/mental crisis. I mean who wants to work with an unmotivated player?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Initially the arrangement between Novak and Andy was for the grass season, Wimbledon and then they would see what would happen?
I am not surprised in the least the partnership ended, quite frankly I didnt see Murray made any difference to Novaks game, they are good friends, and at this stage in Novak's career just wanted a 'sounding board' someone he could yell and scream at if need be
BTW Murray has taken up Motivational Speaking, also dont be surprised if he shows up in Jack Drapers coaching team,Wimbledon would be a good fit for Draper having Murray around.
Murray has also said he wants to promote and build up tennis in Scotland, that could also be on the cards.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

As I expected former RG champ Stan Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet ( he is retiring at RG this year) have been awarded French Open wild cards

 

[Moxie]

As I expected former RG champ Stan Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet ( he is retiring at RG this year) have been awarded French Open wild cards

See? It was too early to get upset. They did the right thing by both of them.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

See? It was too early to get upset. They did the right thing by both of them.

I have never really trusted the French goes back to when Rafa first played at the French Open, I know I need to move on.

 

[Moxie]

Yet another strange decision from Novak in a last few weeks. They could have stayed together until the grass season is over, that would make more sense.

Recent results and everything happening around Novak show clear signs that he is in a motivational/mental crisis. I mean who wants to work with an unmotivated player?

Novak isn't unmotivated, though, in the way of, say, Nick Kyrgios. Do we think it's hard to find the motivation to train and play with the utmost intensity when you've already basically met all of your goals as an athlete and you're 38? Yes, but it's not the same. I also suspect that he's angry and frustrated that he can't seem to find his mojo. So, you need to change something, and you can't fire yourself, so you fire the coach. But that's shortsighted. He will be going into the last of the clay season with no coach, and he'll have dumped Murray before grass. Novak may have a last hurrah in him, but he'll have to find his game, his intensity and his mojo. I feel he's risking a lot playing Geneva and RG so under-prepared.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I think the days of Novak totally dominating are over. However, I still think there will be weeks when Novak is on form, like he was in Miami this year. If that version shows up, he's still a contender to win.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think the days of Novak totally dominating are over. However, I still think there will be weeks when Novak is on form, like he was in Miami this year. If that version shows up, he's still a contender to win.

You cant compare Miami a fast hard court with a low bounce to RG which is a slow to medium pace clay court for starters, Novak's form on clay this year is poor full stop! on that form alone on the clay he cant be still a contender for RG in 2025
As this is a post for Pre Gaming for Roland Garros

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Novak Djokovic looks like he will replace, for now at least, Andy Murray with Viktor Troicki, according to a video posted on his social media today.
The Serbian Davis Cup captain was also in his box last time he played at Roland Garros last year in the Olympics.
( source jamesgraysport)

 

[El Dude]

My order would be:

1. Alcaraz
2. Sinner
3. Draper
4. Zverev
5. Ruud
6. Rune
7. Djokovic
8. Mensik

That's what I had two weeks ago. It is probably still mostly the same, though I think I'd replace Rune with Musetti in the top 8 contenders. I'd like to see how Novak looks in Geneva before a final list.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

That's what I had two weeks ago. It is probably still mostly the same, though I think I'd replace Rune with Musetti in the top 8 contenders. I'd like to see how Novak looks in Geneva before a final list.

Rune has some viral bug he has withdrawn from Hamburg, agree replace him with Musetti