Tennis: French Open 2024

[kihei]

Ruud and Zverev trade 6-2 sets. Ruud is such a paper tiger. Zverev is playing freely and effectively. He must be relieved that his assault case has been settled on favourable terms.

Ruud, putting up the resistance of a church mouse, was broken at the start of each of the three final sets. Don't think Zverev required much energy for that one. Should be fresh as a daisy on Sunday.

Well, at least I got the final half right. Hope Zverev continues to follow the script and loses.

 

[TCTC]

Maybe it's just me, but Ruud playing in Roland Garros colors is a bit much. He's trying too hard.

 

[Tuggy]

Zverev gonna get smoked in the final.

Both finals are easy money.

 

[red devil]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1799168228444303634

 

[VMBM]

Well well well. Paolini certainly doesn't seem nervous/overwhelmed, so maybe this will have at least moments of competitiveness.

 

[Satan'sIsland81]

The women's game is just utter trash right now. The polar opposite of the men. Literally two people even have a slight and I mean slight chance of beating Iga -- Sabalenka and Rybakina (and maybe Naomi will get back to that level). There is no drama whatsoever. A top 5 player will get steamrolled in straight sets in the final. I mean this girl who made it all the way to the final looks like an amateur compared to Swiatek.

 

[VMBM]

The women's game is just utter trash right now. The polar opposite of the men. Literally two people even have a slight and I mean slight chance of beating Iga -- Sabalenka and Rybakina (and maybe Naomi will get back to that level). There is no drama whatsoever. A top 5 player will get steamrolled in straight sets in the final. I mean this girl who made it all the way to the final looks like an amateur compared to Swiatek.

Iga hasn't exactly been dominating anywhere else than Roland Garros (Grand Slams), though.

 

[Satan'sIsland81]

Iga hasn't exactly been dominating anywhere else than Roland Garros (Grand Slams), though.

I understand. I mean even Serena did not win EVERY tournament. Iga seems to have an occasional bad match against a random player. But the point is if she is even playing at 75% of her best, she still beats almost every one in a lopsided non competitive match. It would be nice if there was even a couple of players that were capable of giving an exciting match when Iga is on top of her game. Basically the options are either hoping Iga has an off day and has a rare loss or she is at her best and nobody stands a chance.

 

[Jack Straw]

Definitely get a little choked up seeing Chris and Martina together. Best tennis rivalry I’ve ever seen.

 

[kihei]

The women's game is just utter trash right now. The polar opposite of the men. Literally two people even have a slight and I mean slight chance of beating Iga -- Sabalenka and Rybakina (and maybe Naomi will get back to that level). There is no drama whatsoever. A top 5 player will get steamrolled in straight sets in the final. I mean this girl who made it all the way to the final looks like an amateur compared to Swiatek.

I don't buy this argument at all. You are talking French Open here. The French Open where one guy just won it 14 times with no one emerging as a serious contender to his dominance. Were the men utter trash because of Rafa's dominance on clay, then? Of course not--you still had two goats winning 40 other GS titles. Was that without drama? Nonsense. On clay, Swiatek is becoming the dominant player of her generation but she is only one for 15 in terms of GS titles away from clay. In those non-clay GSs, Rybakina and Sabalenka have only one GS title apiece at the moment. Who is winning all those other Grand Slams? A wide variety of different players, that's who. I think the women's game is actually pretty damn strong right now--you just have to look beyond the French Open to realize it.

 

[Tuggy]

Easy as it gets.

Iga barely broke a sweat this tournament.

 

[MsMeow]

I don't buy this argument at all. You are talking French Open here. The French Open where one guy just won it 14 times with no one emerging as a serious contender to his dominance. Were the men utter trash because of Rafa's dominance on clay, then? Of course not--you still had two goats winning 40 other GS titles. Was that without drama? Nonsense. On clay, Swiatek is becoming the dominant player of her generation but she is only one for 15 in terms of GS titles away from clay. In those non-clay GSs, Rybakina and Sabalenka have only one GS title apiece at the moment. Who is winning all those other Grand Slams? A wide variety of different players, that's who. I think the women's game is actually pretty damn strong right now--you just have to look beyond the French Open to realize it.

I agree, Kihei! I am really enjoying the women's tour these days and can't wait for Wimbledon and the hard court season.

 

[kihei]

Killer performance by Iga. She responded to that early first set break by winning ten straight games. At least Paolini will have some cool stories to tell her grandchildren about how she finally made the Top Ten.

 

[kihei]

Zverev gonna get smoked in the final.

Both finals are easy money.

I agree Carlos should win. But I don't know about Zverev being "smoked in the final." One of Carlos' best weapons is that kick serve which in this instance will go right into Zverev's wheelhouse. He's tall enough to not let it inconvenience him and he has maybe the best backhand in the business, so I don't see him having any trouble coping with that shot. He is also first serving, on average, around 75% lately. Carlos isn't always great with big servers. Undoubtedly Zveves's must also be feeling like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders in terms of the court case. That can't hurt his attitude, might even make him feel less pressure. I think Zverev at least takes a set, and I hope that's all he takes.

 

[VMBM]

I don't think it will be a cake-walk for Alcaraz. Might even go to five sets. Alcaraz has bad spells in a match sometimes. On the other hand, I find it hard to believe that he doesn't find a way to win this one.

I'm actually kind of rooting for Zverev; it would be good for tennis to have another GS winner. The more true rivalries, the merrier. Maybe I should hate Zverev, but I don't know enough about his case and I try to keep the person on and off the court/field/ice separate anyway (sometimes hard or even impossible, but...).

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

One of these years Zverev is going to run into a win in a slam final. Too talented not to. After such an emotional semifinal, Alcaraz will have to be alert to the upset. If he is, I think he’ll win in 4. If not, Zverev could upset him in 4 or 5.

 

[kihei]

Carlos wasn't super sharp in the first set, but Zverev was the pits, 6-3 Alcaraz.

2nd set: Reversal of fortunes. Zverev getting sharper and Carlos badly nosedives, 6-2 Zverev.

So now, best case scenario, we have a best of three sets match where both players are competitive. Hopefully, anyway, because this has been an ugly display so far.

 

[VMBM]

Aaaaand it's even. I still feel that the match is very much in Carlitos' hands.

 

[kihei]

2-2 in the third set. Carlos has piled up 32 unforced errors in 21 games, about half of them on the backhand side. He's making Zverev's life easier and building his confidence.

Aaaaand it's even. I still feel that the match is very much in Carlitos' hands.

I hope you feel confident enough for the two of us because I am having my doubts.

 

[kihei]

Alcaraz's first serve speed is considerably down this set to the 190/195 km/h range. I wonder if that forearm is beginning to bother him

Carlos breaks at love for 4-2. A little breathing room is very welcome.

Carlos serves for the set at 5-3 but can't hold. Not exactly clutch today.

He's broken again, a very pathetic service game. Now Zverev is serving for the set at 6-5. Just a completely disastrous stretch for Carlos.

 

[VMBM]

I hope you feel confident enough for the two of us because I am having my doubts.

I'm always doubting myself! However, Alcaraz hasn't really had any problems with Zverev's big serve, and I haven't seen anything overly special from Zverev yet.

 

[VMBM]

OK, now it looks really bad for A. Better change the course quickly or he's a goner.

 

[Tuggy]

I wonder if Zverev can hold his nerve.

 

[kihei]

Zverev in the driver seat, two sets to one. He cut down dramatically on his unforced errors the last two sets and is giving Carlos some high-bouncing balls to make life uncomfortable, but outside of that, he has been pretty passive, content to pound away from the backcourt. Alcaraz has been more down than up and his own worst enemy so far.

I wonder if Zverev can hold his nerve.

He doesn't look like he has anything like his usual power. Again, I wonder about that forearm.

 

[CupofOil]

An utter baffling close to that set for Alcaraz. Credit to Zverev for raising his level but Alcaraz completely tanked that set.