One day after Nicolas Almagro bowed out of the French Open sobbing due to an apparently serious knee injury, the first two men’s matches on the schedule ended in retirement. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez lasted little more than a set against Milos Raonic and David Goffin did not even make it to the second.
Goffin, a legitimate quarterfinal contender if not a title hopeful, crashed out–quite literally–on Friday afternoon. The Belgian slipped on a tarp near the back of Court Suzanne Lenglen while leading Horacio Zeballos 5-4 in their third-round encounter.
Goffin, a quarterfinalist last year, was forced to retire on the spot.
Novak Djokovic almost joined him on the sidelines, but the defending champion found his game when it mattered most and overcame Diego Schwartzman 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 on Court Philippe Chatrier. Djokovic got the job done in three hours and 18 minutes.
“He definitely deserved the applause he got [at] the end of the match,” the No. 2 seed said of Schwartzman. “Because he was fighting; he was playing really well. He was the better player probably for first three sets, and then the fourth and fifth set went the way I hoped that the whole match [would] go.
“So I’m glad that I have some positives to take from today’s match. I was mentally still strong and as calm as I could be. Even though I was two sets to one down I kept believing I could break his resistance…. All in all it was good to be part of five-set match. I didn’t play too many of the five-setters the last couple of years. I see a lot of good things in it; I think it will put me in a good place mentally.”
“It was amazing for me–[after] the match with the crowd, all the people here,” Schwartzman commented. “(It) was really nice. I receive everything, that noise from the people. It’s amazing for me.”
Nikoloz Basilashvili was nowhere near as competitive against Rafael Nadal. The nine-time French Open champion, who withdrew from last season’s event following the second round because of a wrist injury, remained in completely ruthless form. He followed up straight-set beatdowns in rounds one and two with an even more commanding performance against the Georgian. Nadal won the first 11 games of the match and destroyed Basilashvili 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 in only one hour and 30 minutes.
“I think I played great,” Nadal assessed. “I think at the beginning of the match he was not playing bad and I was able to produce winners, to play with no mistakes, to play (with) very high intensity in all the shots. (It) was a great match for me, no?”
Basilashvili agreed.
“He’s a much, much better player than I am, obviously. He’s playing unbelievably [well] at this moment with everything. So I don’t know what advice I can give (to his next opponent).”
[polldaddy poll=9760578]
[polldaddy poll=9760841]
Rafa in 3, losing 8 to 10 games
Novak in 4
Rafa in 3 losing 3-4 games.
Nole in 3 or 4, (I hope)
No.
What do you mean by, No?
Your game totals.
Unless you think Nole is backer than I do.
Yes, your #NolesBack hashtag is so yesterday.
At least I WAS current.
hahaha…I don’t know – it did take him too long today. I’m being optimistic. ARV could certainly beat him.
His opponent had won four slam matches in his career and has never won a single match in a masters 1000.
Next opponents for Rafa and Nole will push much harder than credited.
Rafa will win in 3
#Nid –
perhaps his opponent gets a couple more games than Basilashvili did but with Rafa in God mode…I don’t see many more.
ARV is in better shape than RBA. PCB is my favorite of all the acronyms.
PHH is mine. ?
Oh good one 😀
Hawks that’s not true about Nole’s opponent. Schwartzman just made a masters QF earlier this year. So I’m pretty sure he’s won a masters 1000 match.
Rafa’s opponent.
That was so sad for me – Goffin falling. I just watched a replay. Really hoped he’d beat Thiem and go on to play in the QF.
It was really unfortunate to see Goffin go down chasing a ball and injure his ankle. From what I heard, initial tests do not show any tears. It might not be that serious. Too bad that Goffin had to go out that way.
Hopefully he will recover quickly and be back for Wimby.
Thanks Nny,
He had QF points to defend here and he was playing so well. He also has points ? in Halle and I think it was 4th round at Wimby to defend. He works so hard to get up there around top 10.
We love you David – Get better soon!
rc,
Yes, it’s tough to see him get hurt. He’s been playing so well. He has points to defend, but he was also in such good form. Injuries can disrupt that. I was really looking forward to seeing Theim and Goffin play each other.
Yeah I had David in the semis in my bracket and considering Novak struggled against Schwartzman and Goffin beat Thiem last time, I think he had a solid shot. Really really sad to see that happen not really because of my draw but because Goffin is a great player who doesn’t deserve crap like that to happen to him. I really hope he is healthy by grass season. Get well David!!
I felt for him, was looking forward to Thiem v Goffin too. None of these guys deserve injuries but sh*t happens, in and out of tennis.
And Rafa in three losing 5-7 games and Djoker in four