The Early French Open Thread

[Moxie]

Me too. And probably in that order

Wow...you guys are most excited to watch a player you don't like just because you hope to see him lose. That's some serious spite, boys.

Oh come on, there is plenty of spite around here from all sides. As if this was just invented in the last few days.

I would like to see one Nadal fan who doesn't wish for Nole's worst possible failure in Paris. And if it happens, I am sure we'll read about it here.

And considering how the pressure is raising and some stupid predictions and statements that I keep reading from tennis experts and players, I am almost at the point of not reading anything anymore. I don't think there was such hype about a slam event in a long time. It is almost not fair to Nole considering this is not his best surface.

For the first time in my following him I am actually glad that he went to Milan yesterday to open his food label and participated in a charity soccer match in Monaco tonight therefore occupying his mind with anything but tennis. I usually don't like it when he engages in these things so close to a major, but this time it might be an exception.

As one who often takes spite personally, I'm surprised that you can't be more empathetic. You imagine what Nadal fans might wish for Novak, but you have the proof right here of some anti-Nadal types salivating at the possible end of his run at RG. It doesn't even hides it's loathing. If you're going to cry foul about so many talking poorly about Novak, and you often do, then you ought to give the same consideration to the bile directed at Nadal, which here is demonstrated openly. We Rafa fans have feelings, too.

 

[Billie]

Do you really think I give a damn about what some 5 people here say about Nole? You really should know better.uzzled

I do say some things, bombastic, stupid, silly, whatever, to engage peole. At the end of the day I really don't care if you or anybody else wish that Nole fails, it will not depend on you, the same will be the case with Rafa and the others who itch to see him fail.

Remember 2011? You are becoming that Moxie again, unfortunately. :cry

Taking everything too personally, even more than I do.:snicker

 

[Carol]

If Rafa would win this RG he would get his 10 title (almost nothing :snicker) and his 15 GS almost nothing either :snicker) a dream for his fans and a nightmare for his antis and that's why their unease and bad wishes :nono :devil

 

[Billie]

If Rafa would win this RG he would get his 10 title (almost nothing :snicker) and his 15 GS almost nothing either :snicker) a dream for his fans and a nightmare for his antis and that's why their unease and bad wishes :nono :devil

That's the spirit. Imagine Rafa wins, which is very possible, you can show off to all that take shots at you now. I think it is fair.

That was always my best consolation, when people say Nole can't do something and he does it.

 

[Carol]

If Rafa would win this RG he would get his 10 title (almost nothing :snicker) and his 15 GS almost nothing either :snicker) a dream for his fans and a nightmare for his antis and that's why their unease and bad wishes :nono :devil

That's the spirit. Imagine Rafa wins, which is very possible, you can show off to all that take shots at you now. I think it is fair.

That was always my best consolation, when people say Nole can't do something and he does it.

I agree with you at that point, the players don't read the blogs and don't care what the people say, it depends what they do and they just want to play well and to win
Since 2005 I've read many things, bad and good ones, good and bad wishes, every single RG Rafa went to lose, first against Roger, now Novak. Maybe he loses because what we are seeing this year or maybe he wins, but yep, all depends of each player and how they are going to play :huh:

 

[Moxie]

Do you really think I give a damn about what some 5 people here say about Nole? You really should know better.uzzled

I do say some things, bombastic, stupid, silly, whatever, to engage peole. At the end of the day I really don't care if you or anybody else wish that Nole fails, it will not depend on you, the same will be the case with Rafa and the others who itch to see him fail.

Remember 2011? You are becoming that Moxie again, unfortunately. :cry

Taking everything too personally, even more than I do.:snicker

I'm sorry you feel that way. I thought we'd find a meeting of the minds over mutually having to endure disdain for our favorites.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^^and..you were wrong about nadals age. that's it.

It makes any difference?

yes.

 

[Billie]

Do you really think I give a damn about what some 5 people here say about Nole? You really should know better.uzzled

I do say some things, bombastic, stupid, silly, whatever, to engage peole. At the end of the day I really don't care if you or anybody else wish that Nole fails, it will not depend on you, the same will be the case with Rafa and the others who itch to see him fail.

Remember 2011? You are becoming that Moxie again, unfortunately. :cry

Taking everything too personally, even more than I do.:snicker

I'm sorry you feel that way. I thought we'd find a meeting of the minds over mutually having to endure disdain for our favorites.

That is the reason I was surprised that you took a shot at me. I am emotional and frank and silly and annoying and anything you can think of, but I thought you knew that I really don't mean any harm to anybody or any player. I rarely speak badly about anybody, but I do get dragged into these discussions, I don't know why.:snicker

Anyway: for the record: I feel Rafa is still slight favourite. Like I said yesterday he knows how to win this darn thing and Nole doesn't. That is a big difference.

Enjoy it all folks and may the best man win.

 

[Carol]

^^and..you were wrong about nadals age. that's it.

It makes any difference?

yes.

And we are here again and again, what's the difference?

 

[Moxie]

Do you really think I give a damn about what some 5 people here say about Nole? You really should know better.uzzled

I do say some things, bombastic, stupid, silly, whatever, to engage peole. At the end of the day I really don't care if you or anybody else wish that Nole fails, it will not depend on you, the same will be the case with Rafa and the others who itch to see him fail.

Remember 2011? You are becoming that Moxie again, unfortunately. :cry

Taking everything too personally, even more than I do.:snicker

I'm sorry you feel that way. I thought we'd find a meeting of the minds over mutually having to endure disdain for our favorites.

That is the reason I was surprised that you took a shot at me. I am emotional and frank and silly and annoying and anything you can think of, but I thought you knew that I really don't mean any harm to anybody or any player. I rarely speak badly about anybody, but I do get dragged into these discussions, I don't know why.:snicker

Anyway: for the record: I feel Rafa is still slight favourite. Like I said yesterday he knows how to win this darn thing and Nole doesn't. That is a big difference.

Enjoy it all folks and may the best man win.

I never took a shot at you. You admit a version of sensitivity, where Novak is concerned. I'm saying you might feel the same sympathy for Nadal's fans. It's just a thought.

And no one drags you into discussions. You chose them. Don't be coy. You're not even around here all the time.

 

[Fiero425]

I'm sorry you feel that way. I thought we'd find a meeting of the minds over mutually having to endure disdain for our favorites.

That is the reason I was surprised that you took a shot at me. I am emotional and frank and silly and annoying and anything you can think of, but I thought you knew that I really don't mean any harm to anybody or any player. I rarely speak badly about anybody, but I do get dragged into these discussions, I don't know why.:snicker

Anyway: for the record: I feel Rafa is still slight favourite. Like I said yesterday he knows how to win this darn thing and Nole doesn't. That is a big difference.

Enjoy it all folks and may the best man win.

I never took a shot at you. You admit a version of sensitivity, where Novak is concerned. I'm saying you might feel the same sympathy for Nadal's fans. It's just a thought.

And no one drags you into discussions. You chose them. Don't be coy. You're not even around here all the time.

Things like this run in cycles! Back in my day, the ones treated like "villains" were actually #1 in the world; Martina Navratilova and Ivan Lendl! They never got the recognition of their accomplishments outside the tennis hierarchy; lack of sponsors while nobodies with few wins were cleaning up! The animus was palpable at times; actually hearing boos from the stands, open hostility with the press, and tears being shed on court! Talk to me when it gets that bad with a fave of yours! :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Carol]

That is the reason I was surprised that you took a shot at me. I am emotional and frank and silly and annoying and anything you can think of, but I thought you knew that I really don't mean any harm to anybody or any player. I rarely speak badly about anybody, but I do get dragged into these discussions, I don't know why.:snicker

Anyway: for the record: I feel Rafa is still slight favourite. Like I said yesterday he knows how to win this darn thing and Nole doesn't. That is a big difference.

Enjoy it all folks and may the best man win.

I never took a shot at you. You admit a version of sensitivity, where Novak is concerned. I'm saying you might feel the same sympathy for Nadal's fans. It's just a thought.



And no one drags you into discussions. You chose them. Don't be coy. You're not even around here all the time.

Things like this run in cycles! Back in my day, the ones treated like "villains" were actually #1 in the world; Martina Navratilova and Ivan Lendl! They never got the recognition of their accomplishments
outside the tennis hierarchy; lack of sponsors while nobodies with few wins were cleaning up! The
animus was palpable at times; actually hearing boos from the stands, open hostility with the press, and tears being shed on court! Talk to me when it gets that bad with a fave of yours! :angel: :dodgy:

At that time I don't think people were using the computers like on these days, no blogs and nobody could read comments like your at 8:56, maybe only the press (newspapers) :ras:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The draw ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 AM on Friday, the 22nd of May.
It will be broadcast live. Maria will be doing the Men's draw and Rafa will be doing
the Women's draw. The ceremony is expected to run close to an hour.

For those unaware of the procedure, all unseeded players would already be placed
randomly in the draw by using a computer program the previous night itself. The 32 seeded
players will then be manually placed (subject to the usual restrictions) on the draw as drawn by Maria/Rafa.

 

[Moxie]

I'm hoping Rafa gets drawn on Roger's side, in Berdych's quarter. That's his best chance to make the final, IMO.

 

[Mile]

The draw ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 AM on Friday, the 22nd of May.
It will be broadcast live. Maria will be doing the Men's draw and Rafa will be doing
the Women's draw. The ceremony is expected to run close to an hour.

For those unaware of the procedure, all unseeded players would already be placed
randomly in the draw by using a computer program the previous night itself. The 32 seeded
players will then be manually placed (subject to the usual restrictions) on the draw as drawn by Maria/Rafa.

After what war of words and calculations will start. And all will become more clear. Cant wait.

 

[Kirijax]

Because of the Nadal situation, this Grand Slam seems like one that is more anticipated than any other in recent history.

 

[Fiero425]

Because of the Nadal situation, this Grand Slam seems like one that is more anticipated than any other in recent history.

True enough! There was a mild buzz due to Nadal's comeback a couple years ago and subsequent ranking at #5, but #4 Murray skipping Paris due to injury saved them! Anything could happen this time and is suspect without a lot of witnesses in the room of that draw! :lolz: :angel: :dodgy:

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I'm hoping Rafa gets drawn on Roger's side, in Berdych's quarter. That's his best chance to make the final, IMO.

I agree with you. That is definitely the best possible draw for Rafa.

Having said that he also needs benign opponents, especially in the first two rounds
as that is when he is likely to be more vulnerable. He does not want Andujar in R1 and
Verdasco in R2 or something like that.

After first 2 round winds, some confidence will come back to him.

 

[Moxie]

Because of the Nadal situation, this Grand Slam seems like one that is more anticipated than any other in recent history.

I guess because there might well be a new winner. However, it's unlikely to get a great clash final, like the 2008 Wimbledon, which was very much anticipated, and probably for better reasons. Unless, of course, if Nadal and Djokovic both make the final, and Nadal makes a match of it. If not, it will likely be a sputter. Unless you see someone knocking out Djokovic and making a scrum of it for the rest of the field. If you're looking for the novelty of Nadal losing, you might get it. If you're looking for novelty beyond Novak winning it, I think you'll be hard pressed.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Because of the Nadal situation, this Grand Slam seems like one that is more anticipated than any other in recent history.

I guess because there might well be a new winner. However, it's unlikely to get a great clash final, like the 2008 Wimbledon, which was very much anticipated, and probably for better reasons. Unless, of course, if Nadal and Djokovic both make the final, and Nadal makes a match of it. If not, it will likely be a sputter. Unless you see someone knocking out Djokovic and making a scrum of it for the rest of the field. If you're looking for the novelty of Nadal losing, you might get it. If you're looking for novelty beyond Novak winning it, I think you'll be hard pressed.

If Rafa can live to see Novak across the net, I think he will make a match of it.