In Honor of Forkboy, the Official French Open Tennis Tournament Thread!!!

[joeybee12]

Any predictions?

Men, I hope it's not Nadal. Roger sucked yesterday, but Nadal, while winning, has not looked invincible as he has in the past. I think it will be someone new, someone in around the top 10.

Women, same prediction. Venus can't win on clay, Serena can, at times, but there are too many decent clay players on the women's tour. I think it will be a first time for someone, or it could be Justine.

[Forkboy]

1. LOL

You crazy bastid! :rofl:

[joeybee12]

2. Crazy? Does that mean you don't agree with my predictions?

:crazy:

[Forkboy]

3. On that, I'll defer to you.

I don't know anything about Badminton.

:hide:

[joeybee12]

4. The Bruins deserved to lose Friday -- Not one of them did a quad...

...and the music didn't match their footwork.

[MaineDem]

5. Kim Clijsters is out of the French

I'll miss her.

It could be Justine or Jelena if she's got her stuff together.

I wouldn't bet against Raffa.

[joeybee12]

6. Jelena looks good from time to time...

still pretty spotty though...I'd like to see her finally win a Slam.

[joeybee12]

7. Kicking! In honor of Forkboy!

:evilgrin:

[joeybee12]

8. An "Official Forkboy Kick"!!!!!! n/t

[Forkboy]

9. ....

:spank:

[joeybee12]

10. Admit it, you love it!

:evilgrin:

[joeybee12]

11. A Forkboy kick! For today's results...spoilers...

Andy had a tough 5 set-match, Nadal won easily, as did justine...only real upset was Safina bombing out in the first round...last year's #1 and finalist.

[tishaLA]

12. Nadal looked pretty amazing today

The French is so hard to predict. I'm hoping Justine wins, but I'd be satisfied with almost anyone except Serena. Serena could face Peer in the round of 16 and Peer can be tough every now and then...I think she'd play Henin in the quarters. The other side of the draw looks like Jelena.

On the men's side, I just hope Tsonga goes deep into the tournament. I love his presence and I think the more visible he is, the better it is for the game.

[joeybee12]

13. I really thought Tsongas was gonna give Roger a tough match in the semis

of the Aussie...he kinds just didn't show up. Nadal is the favorite, but I really don't want him to win.

[tigereye]

23. Peer was really fun to watch - what an interesting woman

I really used to enjoy the Williams sisters, and they are amazingly talented, but I want to see someone really challenge them. Justine is perfect for that. Love her feistiness and great backhand. A pleasure to watch.

[a kennedy]

14. The women......would love to see Venus or Serena anyone but

the screamer Maria, Justine would be great too. The men.....would like to see James Blake or Andy, but that ain't gonna happen, so anyone, just not Roger or Nadal. :patriot: Question, why do they show the Russian flag for Maria, when we all know she lives in Florida??? Never did understand that, and isn't she an American citizen or does she just live here as a Russian???

[joeybee12]

15. I don't think she's an American citizien...a resident alien, I believe...n/t

[a kennedy]

16. thanks joeybee12....

[joeybee12]

17. No problem, and i agree it ain't gonna be Andy or James...

...no American man because the game isn't suited for it here. I think the women's game is more wide open than the men's for the French.

[tigereye]

24. was Blake even in the tournament? I must have missed it - was he out in the

first round?

[joeybee12]

27. No, he was out with an injury...

as was Clijsters...someone else well-known was also and I can't think who.

[tigereye]

29. yeah I wondered why I didn't see him...

[joeybee12]

18. Rain, rain and more rain today...only a couple matches completed...

Ivanovic lost, and she seemed like she was getting her act together lately, too.

[joeybee12]

19. Spoiler....

Fabio beat Gael monfils, 9-7 in the fifth, and I am glad...I really think they were trying to screw Fabio...the ump called the match because of darkness last night, Monfils said he wanted to keep playing, Fabio didn't, and so the ump bows to monfils and penalizes fabio a point...such BS you don't often see in tennis.

[tishaLA]

20. Lots of good matches so far today

Ljubocic won a tough, well played 5 setter against Marty Fish (10-8 in the 5th IIRC). Tsonga is actually losing to some Dutch player I've never watched before, and for good reason: the guy hits a drop shot almost every other point. It's really tiresome. Murray against Baghdatis isn't that interesting; Murray decided to take the third set off, which he lost at love, and now it looks like he's going to finish Marcos off. And Marcos is obviously not that serious about his game right now. He's 15 lbs or so overweight and has moobs.

Sadly, nothing very interesting on the women's side today. Serena, Venus, Justine all win. So what, who cares?

[joeybee12]

21. Tsongas is now up...

Yeah, the women's game is very boring nowadays.

[joeybee12]

22. Spoilers ************

Venus lost as did Andy Murray...I can't really call these upsets since neither has a game suted for clay...Venus actually had been playing well, so it is a little surprising...Murray has been playing shitty lately.

Federer v Soderling should be a really good match.

[Forkboy]

25. Is this thing still going on?

It's like the Hundred Years War or something....

:yoiks:

[joeybee12]

26. You're thinking of the NHL...you know, where figure skaters go to practice

before they enter the professional circuit.

[joeybee12]

28. Spoiler...

Henin is out...I thought she might win the whole thing...conrats to Stosur...hope she finally really breaks through.

[tigereye]

30. ah, bummer. I don't see Stosur defeating Serena, but Justine has before...

[joeybee12]

31. Yeah, I can't see her beating Serena...

this gives her an easy route to the final...also, Nadal, I think, has an easier route than Roger.

[joeybee12]

32. Could be a big upset in the making...

Soderling up 2 sets to one. He's due to beat Roger one of these days and he's playing well.

[tishaLA]

33. I'm very saddened that the streak has ended

All those semifinal appearances in majors....shame. I know Roger bores some people, but not me; witnessing excellence never bores me.

[joeybee12]

34. I always liked him...I hope Robin wins it all now...

...I've seen this in players before, the game is still there, but mentally the concentration isn't what it was...that goes before the physical ability...he could still win a couple more, but signs like this tell me he's nearing the end of a great career.

[tishaLA]

35. ITA. I hope Robin wins it all now

and part of me wants to see Roger bow out of the game after the US Open. Or after Wimbledon. He's married now and has a kid...I want to remember him as the greatest player I have ever seen play.

[joeybee12]

36. I liked Robin since last year's French...he was such a good sport about

losing...this could be his breakthrough...he's been playing really well, although I still think Nadal is gonna win it, and that would not make me happy.

[joeybee12]

37. SPOILER!!! *************

Stosur knocked off Serena...amazing...now I can relax on the women's side and NOT worry about Serena winning!

[City Lights]

38. That was a fantastic match!

I absolutely love Stosur! I was hoping she'd take it in straight sets, but a win is a win! :bounce: Go Sam!

[joeybee12]

41. Wonder what will happen with her and Jelena?

Actually, whoever is left on the women's side and wins is fine with me...none has a slam to their name yet...spread it around.

[City Lights]

42. I'm giddy that Serena is out, so I don't care who wins.

Like you said, whoever wins will be a new GS winner, so it's all good. I'm rooting for Stosur though. She's playing some incredible tennis.

[joeybee12]

43. I still have to worry abou the men's side...spoiler...

...I really don't want nadal to win...he squeaked by today.

[City Lights]

44. As much as it pains me to do so, I'm rooting for Soderling.

I really don't want Rafa to win.

I was rooting for Almagro today, and was hopeful in those first two sets, but once Rafa went up by two sets, my hope faded.

[joeybee12]

45. Soderling is playing really well...

...I predict him against nadal in the final.

[City Lights]

46. Yup. Let's hope he's rested and ready to win his first GS!

(I won't hold my breath though.)

[joeybee12]

47. I've decided, although it may be too late, to root for Novak today...

...he'll give Nadal a better match.

[City Lights]

48. I agree,

but it is too late.

Melzer is no match for Nadal.

Regarding the other side of the draw, Berdych is also playing really well, so that match will be no walk in the park for Soderling. Should be a good match.

[joeybee12]

49. Just did a search and Jurgen is 29 and never made it past the 3rd round of a slam...

...so I'm happy he won...again, as you say, he's no match for nadal.

[tishaLA]

39. the happiest result of the tournament so far

Stosur is playing some great tennis. I've always liked her game, although I do wish she'd stop running around her backhand as much as she does; it seems to me that it's a better shot than she thinks it is. But...that said, it's good to see a player with an all-court game doing so well,. She's the kind of player who could do well at Wimbledon and the US Open, too, but so far she hasn't put it together in those events.

[joeybee12]

40. And she didnt' wilt, which impressed me...

...not just at match point, but didn't lose her nerve throughout the third set.

[Captain Hilts]

55. Same here. I've tired of the pouting and theatrics of the Williams sisters. nt

[joeybee12]

50. Spoiler!!!

Dementeva retired with an injury...too bad, she was a sure bet to make the final...the real women's final is about to start...Stosur v Jankovic...Saturday will be a cakewalk.

[City Lights]

53. .

I was shocked to learn that Elena retired. I had gone into the other room during the commercial break between sets, and next thing I know the commentators are talking about Schiavone heading to the final. :wow: I didn't know Elena has been playing with an injured calf throughout much of this tournament. Really a shame.

[joeybee12]

51. Another spoiler...

Stosur romped...surprisingly...can't see how she won't win on Saturday.

[City Lights]

52. .

Sam was on fire today!

I don't see how Schiavone beats her either.

Go Sam! :yourock:

Edited to remove spoiler comment in post subject.

[joeybee12]

54. Well, we could be wrong...

but I really doubt it!

[City Lights]

58. !

Ugh! :wtf:

I can't believe how Schiavone is playing. I thought Sam would take her somewhat easily. Boy were we wrong!

:-(

All I can say is Robin better win tomorrow, or this French Open will have been a total waste of my time!

[joeybee12]

59. Well, I have to say I'm happy for her...29...this was her

only chance...you gotta admit it was better than Serena winning!

[City Lights]

60. I'm happy Serena didn't win, but I was rooting for Stosur.

I really like her game. She just didn't seem prepared today, so I'm :-(.

[joeybee12]

61. The first Grand Slam final can be ovewhelming to many...

I hope she continues to play well...better players in the women's game is sorely needed!!!

[City Lights]

62. I agree on all counts.

Let's hope Robin got his jitters out last year. ;-)

I think the women should play 5-set matches in Grand Slam tournaments. I know many believe the women don't have the stamina to last five sets, and that may be true at the moment, however, I also believe playing only three sets can work against them. If they lose the first set, they only have one more set to get their act together, whereas the men have two. Sometimes players need one set to work out their jitters and in three-set matches, their backs are against the wall if they lose the first set. Any mistake could cost them the match. I won't hold my breath waiting for a rule change though.

[joeybee12]

64. Do they still have the 5-setter in the season-ending finale of the WTA?

Just the championship match is 5-sets, I believe.

[City Lights]

65. According to Wiki, they haven't done that since 1998.

Last year Serena won 6-2, 7-6.

[joeybee12]

66. Has it been that long?

Yeesh!

[joeybee12]

56. Spolier!!!

Robin won...great match...he toughed it out...he is playing well so hopefully he can beat Nadal Sunday!

[joeybee12]

57. Phuck

Nadal is in the final. Phuck. Go Robin!!!!!!

[a la izquierda]

63. No way, josebee

Nadal, Nadal, Nadal!!! ;)

[CBR]

67. I Love Nadal!!!!! nt