2019 French Open

Chivito550 · 08-06-2019 09:27PM

Blinky Plebum wrote: »

What do you them to do about it ask Nadal not to try as hard.It is not farcical that the best player wins the tournament,major championships in all sports exists in order to identify the best players and teams.

It's not the tournaments fault that he happens to be so ridiculously good, Nadal on clay is probably the greatest sportsperson of all time.

Bit of an OTT statement.

Ed Moses won 122 consecutive 400m Hurdles races from 1977 and 1987.

What makes Nadal any better than him? Or Wayne Gretzky? Or Usain Bolt? Or Jesse Owens? Or Michael Jordon? Or Michael Phelps?

Joe_ Public · 08-06-2019 09:29PM

Rob2D wrote: »

Womens tennis used to be quite good too before the modern power game came in and took all the imagination out of the game. Matches are just slow slug-fests now until someone makes an error. Most girls aren't built to stand up to that. It's why Serena won so much, she's just a monster physically.

So even if you get an amazingly clever player, like Radwanska, the modern game prohibits them from advancing much. They'll never get as far as some girl who just mindlessly crushes the ball left and right so why bother teaching young girls anything else?

You see it to a lesser extent in the men's game too with most of the younger guys having very similar looking games. But male physical ability deals with it much better so interesting styles and point play can still shine through.

Would agree to a large extent, but i think its valid to say Barty, for one, is definitely no slugger. Best variety and display of all-round shot making i've seen in the womens game since maybe Henin, though remains to be seen if she'll prove to be in that class. Did get a bit lucky in that williams and halep were taken out of her side of the draw, otherwise a deserved champion and you'd have to think she'll be an even stronger force on grass.

Blinky Plebum · 08-06-2019 10:28PM

Chivito550 wrote: »

Bit of an OTT statement.

Ed Moses won 122 consecutive 400m Hurdles races from 1977 and 1987.

What makes Nadal any better than him? Or Wayne Gretzky? Or Usain Bolt? Or Jesse Owens? Or Michael Jordon? Or Michael Phelps?

I did say probably (not definitely), there have been few people as dominant as Nadal has been on Clay.He's in the discussion for sure.

98% win rate at Roland Garros and 92% on Clay overall is ridiculous.

MisterAnarchy · 08-06-2019 11:48PM

glasso wrote: »

70 minutes for a GS final between 2 players with no previous GS pedigree really - pretty pathetic stuff.

They really should be playing best of 5 sets for the Grand Slam finals.

EagererBeaver · 08-06-2019 11:55PM

Blinky Plebum wrote: »

I did say probably (not definitely), there have been few people as dominant as Nadal has been on Clay.He's in the discussion for sure.

98% win rate at Roland Garros and 92% on Clay overall is ridiculous.

Don't worry about it too much. Chivito isn't capable of acknowledging or agreeing with the slightest positive comment about Nadal.

yerwanthere123 · 09-06-2019 12:24AM

A lot of comments made by glasso about the WTA, which is very surprising given how little he appears to enjoy it.

glasso wrote: »

All a bit of a joke of a tour really the WTA at times.
Very lucky to be in the position that it's in.

If you say so. I guess some people like a little bit of variety in their tennis viewing, and not the same people winning the same tournaments, again and again, year in year out :eek:

glasso wrote: »

70 minutes for a GS final between 2 players with no previous GS pedigree really - pretty pathetic stuff.

Women's tennis is all over the shop -> even more so than usual.

PC to say it or not - it would be nothing except for the fact that the big events follow the same schedule as the men's tour.

It was a terrible final, granted. But about them having no previous pedigree, give them a chance :rolleyes: Vondrousova is 19 years of age, Barty is 23 and not back playing tennis long. She's been steadily climbing the rankings, she reached the 4th round and QF's of her last two slams, plus she won Miami back in March. I know the WTA is too inconsistent, but wouldn't it be great to see some new stars breaking through in the ATP? But by all means, enjoy Thiem bending over for Nadal tomorrow.

Blinky Plebum · 09-06-2019 07:59AM

yerwanthere123 wrote: »

A lot of comments made by glasso about the WTA, which is very surprising given how little he appears to enjoy it.

If you say so. I guess some people like a little bit of variety in their tennis viewing, and not the same people winning the same tournaments, again and again, year in year out :eek:

It was a terrible final, granted. But about them having no previous pedigree, give them a chance :rolleyes: Vondrousova is 19 years of age, Barty is 23 and not back playing tennis long. She's been steadily climbing the rankings, she reached the 4th round and QF's of her last two slams, plus she won Miami back in March. I know the WTA is too inconsistent, but wouldn't it be great to see some new stars breaking through in the ATP? But by all means, enjoy Thiem bending over for Nadal tomorrow.

There is nothing wrong with variety however there is something wrong with a complete lack of consistency from the top players and the high proportion of players who get to a final and just disappear after getting to or winning a grand slam final.

Extreme unpredictability in any sport these days tends to be a result of lower standards and not genuine competitiveness by everyone pushing each other to a higher standard.

So many of the top womens players seem to be extremely inconsistent and womens tennis in my opinion needs rivalries in order to thrive not players coming and going all the time.

Rob2D · 09-06-2019 11:09AM

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Would agree to a large extent, but i think its valid to say Barty, for one, is definitely no slugger. Best variety and display of all-round shot making i've seen in the womens game since maybe Henin

True, being a doubles player and proficient in other sports definitely stands to her here. But as you say, she is an oddity. Really speaks to the state of the WTA these days.

I'm actually looking forward to the final today. I think there'll be some cracking points and wouldn't be at all surprised if Thiem pulls it out of the bag.

lostcat · 09-06-2019 01:38PM

I'm not sure that Nadal is infallible, he had an easy draw to this point, and we might be reading him as playing on a higher level than he actually is (similar in Aus earlier this year)
I think Thiem could put it up to him in a big way if he swings as freely as he did in the semi.

Joe_ Public · 09-06-2019 02:01PM

The womens game lacks consistency at the top at the moment, everybody knows that, but the general sniping seems a tad unfair to me. So it was a one-sided final lasting just 70 minutes, well i hate to compare but how many classic french mens finals have we had in recent years? Last 5 setter was 2004 (i think). But thats not even a criticism, thats just matchplay sport and how it goes sometimes, you get classic finals and you get one sided finals and all parts on the spectrum in between.

Anyway, i'll be popping in and out today while watching the hurling, hoping it isn't all one way traffic but fearing the worst yet again.

Dirkziggler · 09-06-2019 02:18PM

C'mon Dom please beat him.

09-06-2019 02:18PM

Blinky Plebum wrote: »

There is nothing wrong with variety however there is something wrong with a complete lack of consistency from the top players and the high proportion of players who get to a final and just disappear after getting to or winning a grand slam final.

Extreme unpredictability in any sport these days tends to be a result of lower standards and not genuine competitiveness by everyone pushing each other to a higher standard.

So many of the top womens players seem to be extremely inconsistent and womens tennis in my opinion needs rivalries in order to thrive not players coming and going all the time.

good summation.

take Ostapenko - wins RG 2 years ago, crashes out in the first round there the next 2 years and now 40th in the world. (she did get to Wimbdledon SF last year)

definite lack of consistent high-level tennis shown on the WTA for a fair while now.

walshb · 09-06-2019 02:46PM

Not taking anything away from Nadal, but 15 years now he’s been winning the same major..opposition just not up to it..

Rikand · 09-06-2019 02:48PM

walshb wrote: »

Not taking anything away from Nadal, but 15 years now he’s been winning the same major..opposition just not up to it..

Or he's just simply too good on this surface

walshb · 09-06-2019 02:49PM

Rikand wrote: »

Or he's just simply too good on this surface

Yeh. He is...

09-06-2019 03:11PM

Rikand wrote: »

Or he's just simply too good on this surface

Total nightmare on clay.

Can Thiem manage to not give up is the question

mzungu · 09-06-2019 03:39PM

That was a lovely backhand winner from Thiem.

mzungu · 09-06-2019 03:40PM

I can't see Nadal losing, but I would like to see Thiem give him a good match, or at least take a set off him.

Loomis · 09-06-2019 03:42PM

walshb wrote: »

Not taking anything away from Nadal, but 15 years now he’s been winning the same major..opposition just not up to it..

If you wanted to design the perfect player for clay, Nadal would be pretty close. Having said that, because he can be so dominant, he gets by sometimes with players throwing in the towel the second things get tight. Happens to a degree with most of the top players, but it's more pronounced I think with Nadal and the clay.

First set here is an example for me; for the first time ever, Nadal looks old to me. Huffing and puffing, taking his usual sweet time between serves, and Thiem generally looked to have his number. Thiem had a break, threw it away easily, and somehow, Nadal ends up with the set despite the fact he was the one under extreme pressure to hold serve in multiple games.

Hoping Thiem has the belief, cause he seems to have the beating of him going by that first set. Mentality will determine how it goes.

walshb · 09-06-2019 03:54PM

A chance now.

mzungu · 09-06-2019 03:54PM

We have a match now!

mzungu · 09-06-2019 04:12PM

Unreal from Nadal. Wow!!

Loomis · 09-06-2019 04:15PM

mzungu wrote: »

Unreal from Nadal. Wow!!

Complemented by Thiem seemingly going walkabout after winning the second

He basically gave up the first break with a game of unforced errors. Nadal took the first 10 points of the set. 4-0 in 14 minutes. :eek:

mzungu · 09-06-2019 04:31PM

Loomis wrote: »

Complemented by Thiem seemingly going walkabout after winning the second
He basically gave up the first break with a game of unforced errors. Nadal took the first 10 points of the set. 4-0 in 14 minutes. :eek:

Nadal went up a gear, hopefully Thiem can do likewise in the fourth.

messinkiapina · 09-06-2019 04:35PM

Assuming Nadal wins this one, how many more years can he dominate in France? Could he possibly match or overhaul Federer's 20 slams with the French Open alone? Time is running out, but maybe it's possible?

Loomis · 09-06-2019 04:36PM

mzungu wrote: »

Nadal went up a gear, hopefully Thiem can do likewise in the fourth.

I think he did, but Thiem also went down one, which made the gulf enormous. I actually missed it, but the commentators said Nadal took a break after losing the second and think it might have affected Thiem's momentum. Most players use that tactically; it's been abused for years and most acknowledge it needs to change.

mzungu · 09-06-2019 05:15PM

Fair play to Nadal. I feel sorry for Thiem, he played a blinder the last two weeks. He didn't deserve the drubbing of the last two sets.

Christy42 · 09-06-2019 05:16PM

Loomis wrote: »

I think he did, but Thiem also went down one, which made the gulf enormous. I actually missed it, but the commentators said Nadal took a break after losing the second and think it might have affected Thiem's momentum. Most players use that tactically; it's been abused for years and most acknowledge it needs to change.

I think the effect is overhyped by commentators with little else to talk about.

Angliru · 09-06-2019 05:17PM

12 French Open wins, amazing. He might lose all his hair before he loses a RG final.

MisterAnarchy · 09-06-2019 05:18PM

12 French Opens is insane .
Its mind boggling how dominant and consistent Nadal is in Paris .

2019 French Open

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