French Open 2021

Floppybits wrote: »

Kvitova has pulled out with an ankle injury. Monfils through now as well. Sad to see Tsonga go out last night in front of a handful of people.

Why are the night time attendances so poor ?
I caught some of the Tsipitas match on Sunday and there was literally nobody at it.

klr87 wrote: »

I couldn't quite figure out how someone can handle playing matches on the biggest stages (where every shot could be a mistake), but not interviews (where many questions can be batted away with stock answers, once you learn the art*).

As an introvert with social anxiety myself I can tell you that it's all a matter of comfort and confidence. For example, I have given speeches in front of hundreds of people and been fine because I was doing something where I basically had a script and was confident in my ability to perform. In contrast, I would get massive anxiety if I had to go into a room of strangers at say, a party and had to mingle with them for an evening.

Osaka is a world class tennis player and is probably "in the zone" when she is on the court. It's something that she has been doing all of her life and is likely second nature to her at this stage. It's quite possible that she is so focused on her game that she doesn't even think about the crowd of the cameras watching her matches.

In contrast to that, she likely is not comfortable public speaking - which is basically what a press conference is (except magnified to an extreme level, if you start thinking about all of the potential thousands or even millions of people listening to your words behind the mics and cameras).

As to why she does not use the suggested tactic of giving non-answers as a defense mechanism - who knows? That's a low-level, cynical tactic but it's so rampant across all sport that nobody even notices anymore. The rare time that someone says something honest or interesting is the exception. She's still relatively young and seems a bit naïve. Perhaps she has been trying to give earnest answers and completely draining herself/giving herself anxiety in the process since she's clearly an introvert*.


*For people who are extroverts this is all probably doubly incomprehensible and perhaps explains some of the venomous posts in this thread. The best description I have heard of the difference between them is that introverts recharge their batteries on their own and extroverts recharge their batteries around others. Introverts can of course go out and socialise like anyone else but they often find it draining and need some time on their own (or with people close to them) afterwards. Add to that that these are not binary states but more of a spectrum. It's quite possible that Osaka is a more extreme introvert than most introverts.

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

Why are the night time attendances so poor ?
I caught some of the Tsipitas match on Sunday and there was literally nobody at it.

There's a 10pm (9pm our time) covid curfew in Paris.

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

Why did she not mention her issues before ?
If she indeed has social anxiety and depression for 3 years, why not use the WTA mental health support ?
Why not quietly try to avoid pressers using medical reasons ?

Instead she arrogantly tried to pull a stunt.
She shamelessly used mental health issues to gain sympathy on social media for the sole reason she didnt want to face questions about her performance on clay.

Now that she realises that her social media world is an empty bubble and that actual people (her peers) and organisations (ITF, Slams) are not going to bend to her whims, she bails .
She flies back to LA and issues a fake statement to make her look like a martyr.

She is extremely shrewd at advertising herself and Brand Osaka.
Her social awkwardness feels more like a brand image.
For a socially awkward person she sure does a lot of non-tennis related interviews and gigs.

Why did she not mention her issues before? Look, is that joke? Maybe have a read of this thread and hopefully the penny night drop for you in that one.

The rest of your post is just a fairly silly rant. You genuinely seem quite bitter about this. Social awkwardness is just a brand image, ffs. Do you actual read what you post? It's embarassing. You sound like one of those snowflakes on social media tbh.

If Carla is going to beat Sloane, she'll probably have to do it in straight sets. She's currently leading 6-3, 1-1.

Itv4 knocking off at 10 every evening when they are evening matches on is going to be very annoying.

lostcat wrote: »

I wonder how firm they will be with that in the second week, say its a Federer/Nadal SF which runs on a bit?

On the one hand I feel like it is best to be fair. On the other that would be a terrible idea and they will absolutely make an exception.

Wouldnt write serena off but there are just too many playing at a decently high level now to be anyway confident another slam is within reach. If she beats Collins next, and thats no gimmee, then i think she'll make qf okay, but with Sabalenka likely in wait, i think that's as far as she'll go here.

Ill be surprised if Serena gets through Danielle Collins, who looked very solid last autumn in Paris. Getting taken to three sets today was a big error. She just can't afford to lose that extra energy. She will be worked tirelessly by Collins.

lostcat wrote: »

I wonder how firm they will be with that in the second week, say its a Federer/Nadal SF which runs on a bit?

Well they just said in commentary that the night matches will stop on Wednesday so will only be around for one quarter final match. Thank God. Going to be cut short again this evening, and this match has a bit of legs in it too.