What would have been a dream final will–if it happens–be a nightmarish quarterfinal at the 2015 French Open.
The big story heading into Friday morning’s draw ceremony at Roland Garros was the possibility of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal landing in the same quarter. That possibility became a reality, as the sixth-seeded Nadal landed in Djokovic’s top section of the bracket.
Full draw on the French Open website
Nadal’s road to the last eight will begin against French wild card Quentin Halys. It could continue with Alexandr Dolgopolov or Nicolas Almagro in the second round, potentially followed by Jurgen Melzer in round three and Grigor Dimitrov to open the second week. Djokovic will kick off his campaign with Jarkko Nieminen and is unlikely to run into any serious trouble prior to the possible showdown against Nadal.
A loaded top half also includes Andy Murray, who is undefeated on clay this season (10-0) with two titles. The third-ranked Scot could face a pair of Jack Sock doubles partners during the first week: Vasek Posipisil in the last 64 and Nick Kyrgios in the last 32. Former French Open runner-up David Ferrer and No. 16 seed John Isner are also in Murray’s quarter.
Meanwhile, Roger Federer is sitting pretty on the much weaker bottom side. He is on a collision course for the quarterfinals with fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka. The other quarter features Kei Nishikori and Tomas Berdych.
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You just conveniently left out Monfils. Kei is a threat too. “Sitting pretty” is not a term you use for a 34 year old with any draw.
this is an IDEAL draw for Fed, so of course he is sitting pretty
“Ideal” is an appropriate terminology for someone with a legitimate chance of victory. For Federer, he will only likely fall a little later than otherwise unless he has a Sampraesque run but I think he’s saving that for Wimbledon.
So Federer then could not have received an ideal draw simply by virtue of his age?
So only contenders can have ideal draws then. OK. Good.
So Fed is saving his (planned 🙂 Sampra run for Wimbledon.
I can sympathize with him.
Who needs to defeat the one rival that has dominated him at the very slam that happened the most, and in a final, and such that Fed would complete a double career slam as well solving the Fed versus (bathered, mind) Rafa at RG problem? Who needs all the adulation and articles and superlatives that would follow?
#DisingeneousT
#TforTr…
^You’re actually quite funny. I based my remark on what I know of his slam preferences. Just like Nadal aims at peaking on clay (which didn’t happen so far this year) Roger does so on grass. Wimbledon is simply his favourite tournament. But if it makes you happy to call me a troll go right ahead. I suppose you clearly are in the need of letting off some steam. 😉
You havent read my previee
Obviously not. He’s not a contender for the title right now. If this was Wimbledon I’d see your point.
Does anyone here think Rafa (provided he reaches QFs) can beat Novak?
I don’t…. hope he proves me wrong
Yes he can beat Novak. Will he beat Novak – I don’t know. Its 75-25 to Novak as of now.
@Shireling1, yes, Rafa can beat Novak, whether he will is another matter. We gonna see, no?
I feel sick to the pit of my stomach.
Oh Dear! Shireling has spoken. I better think of something else to do in the next 2 weeks. ):
Critics have been saying for the past 4 years that it’s Novak’s turn: In 2011, when he was so dominant and won 3 slams, he arrived at RG as the clear favorite. He lost to Roger in the SF. In 2012 he made the final and lost to Rafa in 4. That was also the year he reached 4 consecutive finals. 2013: Lost to Rafa in 5 sets in the SF. 2014: lost to Rafa in the final in 4 sets. Yes, Rafa is not in the same state of mind he was in the last couple of years, but this is RG and it’s 5 sets. He has a brutal draw, but we gonna see, no? #vamos10
Jeu Nadal,
I get your point about pundits and the like saying for the past four years that it’s been Novak’s turn. You make a good point. The only time he was stopped by someone other than Rafa in the last four years was Fed beating him in the semis in 2011. But all the other times it was Rafa. You must know that there has been endless speculation as to what would have happened if Novak beat Fed and met Rafa in the final that year. We know that 2011 was the year when Rafa could not beat Novak. I remember Fed fans on the old site, Tennis Talk saying over and over that Rafa should send a huge thank you to Fed for knocking off Novak. But it’s all hypothetical, since it did not happen.
As for this year, everything has changed. This is not the Rafa who beat Novak in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Not even close. That is the one difference. It’s a big one.
As you said, we will have to wait and see.
Ridiculous question.
Would oddsmakers have him as second favourite if it was impossible?
All I would say is that rafa would have had a much better chance of beating Novak in the semis or the finals.
Just seems like stars have aligned this year to ensure that Rafa does not win French
Astrology? Hmmm………….
To those who get upset at me saying this, please skip the following part of my post: Looks like plain ol’ draw rigging to me.
Yeah, we’ve seen oodles of draws and scheduling decisions where some convenient parts looked and smelled like rigging.
For example, remember Djokovic ALWAYS landing in Fed’s half at slams for years while he was no threat (and Murray was often enough)?
The only thing that gives me pause is Rafa’s form to date. If Rafa had shown good form going into RG I would not be overly troubled by his potential path to the final.
That said, the quarters will be played in the 2nd week, hopefully Rafa will have ironed out the chinks in his game by then. I doubt Novak is doing cartwheels right now.
Let the games begin…………….
I should have phrased my question better.. I know Rafa can beat Novak (as in both of them at 100 %) but I don’t think he has much of a chance of doing so this year.
Rafa is still struggling with his game after his long pause and Novak has been very dominant all year.
Take it as you will but I think both my question and my opinion are valid.
This time I agree with your (usual 🙂 ) pessimism about Rafa’s chances.
We gonna see, yes?
I have to agree also. Given Rafa’s form, given the inconsistency and the losses where Rafa seemed to just not be there, this is why I am not optimistic.
Everyone here has a right to say what they think, even if some don’t like it. That’s why we are here. I have no problem with anyone saying that Rafa does not have much of a chance. That’s fair considering how he’s played this year. We don’t have to blind hero worshippers who can’t see reality.
As for myself, I try not to speak in absolutes. There is no way I would say that Rafa definitely has no chance to beat Novak. It’s the worst possible opponent he could have draw. Either Murray or Fed would have been preferable. I also have to believe that Novak isn’t dancing his feet off after having seen the draw. He does not want to meet Rafa in the quarterfinals. For one thing, he knows all too well what it takes to hang with Rafa at RG in a best three out of five set match. It takes incredible physical and mental reserves. So he would not want to have to face him at that point.
I am pessimistic with good reason. It’s not like some of us are coming up with this out of the air. In previous years when Rafa struggled with either mental or physical issues, I still always believed that he had a good shot to win at RG. It is a big deal that he is out of the top four. That makes it so much harder for him. This time I have doubts precisely because I have seen Rafa’s doubts and weaknesses.
However, I am just going to watch and see how it all plays out.
“…………….but I don’t think he has much of a chance of doing so this year.”
You, as well as anybody else, is entitled to assign whatever odds you want to this match-up currently. Most people agree with your opinion. That does not mean Rafa may not end up beating Novak. If Rafa beats Novak, it will be called an upset, because Rafa is not the favourite right now. Yes, upsets happen in sport:
Liverpool beating AC Milan in the Champions League when they were trailing hopelessly it appeared;
Ali beating a younger Foreman in Zaire;
Kyrgios beating Rafa at Wimbledon;
and on and on and on………….
Oddsmakers are giving Rafa a 22% chance to win the French Open so therefore they are giving him a greater chance of making and winning the quarterfinal along the way so probably better than a one in three chance of beating him.
He’s not the favourite but he has a pretty good chance.
How would you define “much of a chance”?
I’ve learned through experience to never underestimate Rafa like some that said by losing earlier this year (and avoiding Federer), he woudln’t make fedfans happy.
Vamos Rafa no matter what!!!
Finally we will all know on 4th June no 🙂
Also not in our hands no 🙂
Also people jumped the gun and spoke of Rafa Fed QF in Wimby in 2013 and guess what..both lost in 1st and 2nd round. 1 match at a time.
Neither have reached the qtrs. yet.
^^True dat………….
Sanju,
That’s the best comment I have read here yet! It’s something I always try to remember before a slam begins. They both have to get there! Well said! 🙂
chloro says:
May 22, 2015 at 3:35 pm
‘This time I agree with your (usual 🙂 ) pessimism about Rafa’s chances.’
I predicted he would win in Madrid…. look where that got me 🙂
I only believe that Rafa’s has a better chance at beating Novak in the semis and Finals where stakes are higher and the whole idea of winning the career slam might start playing in Novak’s mind.
Rafa can still beat him the quarters though, although he has a better shot in the semis and especially in the finals
@Atul1985, don’t you think Rafa and Novak will attach the same level of importance to the match if their meet in the quarters than in the semis or final? After all, there are no do-overs, you lose you’re out.
I agree that Rafa’s chances improve in the semis and finals simply because, traditionally, Rafa improves as the tournament progresses.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Novak got very very nervous…..But we all know that Rafa gets stronger the longer he plays himself into a tournament and that has to be especially true this time. He would have way way more chance of capitalizing on Novak’s nerves in the semis or final.
Also, being practical, Novak is by miles Rafa’s biggest threat so the further on in the tournament the better in terms of Rafa gaining much needed ranking points.
But focussing on the quarters is dangerous anyway given Rafa’s nerves early in slams….he’s going to be way more vulnerable this year to an early exit.
This year is different. Any other year Rafa gets better at RG and more undefeatable, lest wonky knees that one time.
This year is different. Rafa’s mental strength is shot. He can be mentally tough enough one day and not at all another. Witness all tournaments for a long stretch now. That is the one reason why defeating Novak and / or winning RG this time around will be shocking. Even if Novak be very nervous should they both make the quarters. Novak is doing just fine when nervous these days.
I actually think Rafa won’t struggle as much in the early rounds because the expectations are not as high.
test
1 of 2 things will probably happen. Rafa will lose early and nole wins title OR rafa makes qf and somebody from bottom half wins title hopefully kei.
chloro,
I am in complete agreement with your thoughts posted @ 4:19 pm. Rafa has not been able to stay mentally tough and focused and that’s been in best two out of three set matches. He is up one day and down the next.
As you said so well, Novak is still finding ways to win when he is nervour or just not at his best. That’s the thing that stands out to me with him this year. Also, winning so many titles thus far this year will instill an enormous amount of belief and confidence. He is going into RG on a huge high this time.
If some are resting their hopes on Novak cracking under some supposed pressure, than I think they are going to be sorely disappointed.
I fully expect them to rig the officiating and install Carlos Bernades as the Umpire in the Rafa/Novak match should Rafa make it to the quarters.
Thank you, Roger, for the indispensable 25 second rule.
Which the current #1 breaks often enough too, especially after long rally (Imagine the horror of that !).
20 seconds in slams.
If Nadal gets tired after long rallies than may be he shouldn’t be playing so many of them. Timing is very important in tennis because the game is built on momentum. You think Mcenroe resorted to those antics simply because he had a short temper? No way. The more time you take, especially on important points, the more your opponent cools off. Tennis players are built on routines and the more time they have to think between points/games the less they react instinctively and instinct is the trump card of a good professional. Most of these guys go from one point to another in auto-pilot thinking very little about previous points/games. The more time they get, the more the nerves or simply, they end up over-thinking. You need to be a little familiar with the nuances of the game to appreciate why the rule is needed.
he shouldnt be playing 10 meters behind the baseline, thats for sure
you’re showing more and more of your colours anonymous. actually the same ones again and again.
I also expect RG to have Rafa play in Lenglen for his first match, prob the last match of the day on Tuesday.
No, I think they will but him there in the 2nd or 3rd round against a tougher opponent like Almagro or Mannarino. The court is smaller which will take away some of his defensive positioning (which these days might actually be a good thing).
Ritb, Bernades can’t officiate a Rafa match this year….at least according to that unbiassed and renowned newspaper the Daily Telegraph who are accusing Rafa of bad practice in getting Bernades banned from his matches.
Oh I do love the British press!!
I know @amy! That Simon Briggs Telegraph article is all over the net today, and the anti-Rafans are having a field day excoriating that rascal, Rafa Nadal!
I am just feeding my own paranoia, tongue firmly in cheek, suggesting the anti-Rafa brigade in the RG officialdom will seek to further hamstring Rafa by having an “anti-Rafa” Umpire officiate such an important match………….
ritb, Simon Briggs has been consistently bonkers this year! I think it was he who wrote an article recently along the lines of ‘1 million reasons why Murray will beat Djokovic to win French Open’ (Notice Rafa is not even in his reckoning here!)
Hard not to feed one’s own paranoia at the moment with Rafa catching so many bad breaks, really feel for the guy….
PS who was the umpire Fed berated for not penalising Rafa during their AO 2014 semi-final? when Fed really lost his marbles and started complaining that Rafa was grunting on some points not others!! do you think he’ll have him and others on speed-dial?!
Rafa banished to court 14!
“Rafa banished to court 14!”
*shivers*
Please stop @amy, my paranoia is at breaking point! I am seeing anti-Rafa bias everywhere, starting with the frigging draw of course!
Not only will they banish Rafa to court 14, they will put him last on the OOP so that his match drags into the Parisian darkness knowing full well there are no flood lights at RG, have Carlos Bernades in the Chair and equip him with night vision goggles ready to pounce on Rafa at the slightest Rule infraction……………..
haha ritb…
nothing very much would surprise me either….am in a bit of a rage today to be honest…!!
Brad Gilbert absolutely furious that Rafa and Novak are meeting in the quarters…saying that RG should have given Rafa the number 2 seeding. A lot of commentators cross as I am myself…how is this good for the tournament? OK Rafa has played poorly this year but he’s coming back from yet another bout of injury…he can’t be expected to be bloody superman every time beating everyone after a month or 2 back…..Really is about time the guy caught a break.
Also, if Rafa loses to Novak his ranking plummets…is that good for the game? I don’t think so and neither does anyone else.
RG would have to change its tournament rules for that. An arbitrary decision cannot be made at the last moment like that. Nobody thought Nadal would have a bad clay season regardless of his overall form. His drop in the ranking is too recent for them to realistically make a change.
^^Thank you @amy for articulating what most rational tennis fans feel about this whole matter. There is more to it than just, “oh, it’s Rafa’s fault”…….
ritb,
a lot of people upset/angry over the Novak/Rafa quarter-final…
aside from BG also the changeover crowd…Vallejo, Gibbs, Fetherolf….also Fowler…
who wants a top 5 with Berdy and co in it…?
Indeed. Imagine if Roger gets defeated by, say, the quarters. What kind of semi will RG and its audience get for that half, versus the other?
chloro,
could happen. Fed is much more vulnerable in best of 5 despite the French love in….(remember his surprise losses in both of the last 2 slams)
feeling thoroughly depressed by the whole thing, I have to say!
there must be a better way of doing the draw…Fed has had so many ridiculously easy slam draws the last couple of years…
They are willing to gamble that a 34 yr old Fed can make the final with an ideal cupcake draw (which he will). Nishi won’t last in clay best of 5 and Fed just creamed CryBaby on clay.
Fed will be getting himself fitted for his #18 jacket, shorts, shoes….!
A nervy one-legged Djoker in the final (after 2 long matches) with the crowd baying for blood on a boiling hot day…what can go wrong?
I still don’t think he’ll win….
I wouldn’t put it past the riggers (if rigging took place ;-)… to expect there just might be some reasonable chance of a fedal final the year rafa is badly inconsistent, and following a possible quarter final against the current unbeatable no 1, a semi-final against an improving Murrary… And possibly a schedule that gives the darling more days of rest and choice times of the day and the monster the opposite.
Carrying on with this little paranoia (or is it 🙂 ?) … where would Roger most like to beat Rafa one time (and at the same time complete a double career slam?
chloro,
haha, yes and which crowd would enjoy that most! jean gachassin would be practically having a heart attack if Fed was beating Rafa at RG!!
we’d be having the crowd singing the Marseillaise and fainting with joy….
what a horrible thought!
“Fed will be getting himself fitted for his #18 jacket, shorts, shoes….!”
*faints*
chloro says: May 22, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Well played @chloro! Mulder and Scully would be proud.
#TheTruthIsOutThere
Its such a shame you left out Monfils from the preview ! He always performs well at RG. Some people are even picking him to reach the final and here you are conveniently leaving him out of the preview and saying Federer is sitting pretty.
this isnt my preview. This is just a news item.
You will hear plenty about Monfils soon!
You’d have to be incredibly paranoid to worry about Federer at Roland Garros at 34. I’m actually surprised so many are worried about Roger winning as opposed to Novak who’d need only one RG win over Nadal to potentially get a very, very significant edge over him. Again, this isn’t Wimbledon. A draw like this for Federer at Wimbledon would be a legitimate cause to worry because no matter what, he’s a natural there. This is a different ball game and his Quarter is actually not a complete cakewalk either. IF he makes it to Quarters, yes, it’s relatively easier. But it’s a big IF.
You missed the point entirely I think (deliberately or not).
It’s not so much anyone worrying about Fed actually winning it at 34. It’s about trying to divine what aims were chosen for the rigging, IF parts of the draw were not random but actually chosen. In that case a scenario in which the rigging is done in good part to give Roger SOME chance like this one is not far-fetched… given …
have some, even quite a few, of the other Slams in the last say 8 years being rigged (partially), you ask?
I’m glad you asked…. see our other posts on tenngrand for the answer.
Does this slam draw have a strong sense of not-all-random, you ask?
I’m glad you asked. The asnwer is: Yes.
#NotEvenTheTwilightArea
^^@chloro, ROTFL!
Jeez, some people take themselves way too seriously. Who’s worried about Fed? Fed will be taken out by La Monf, he’s old, he can’t cut it in a 5-setter anymore no matter how much they try to wheel him through the draw……..
I have no idea what you’re tripping on-nor does my post concern draw-rigging. It’s about the paranoia over Federer winning which seems totally misplaced. Roger will always have “SOME” chance in nearly every draw he gets. He sits at 17 for a reason and it’s because he’s a damn good player. That is no reason to be so paranoid. I couldn’t be bothered about the various conspiracy theories on this website, regarding draw-rigging.
The problem with supposedly rigging the draw for Fed to win, is that even easy draws have not helped him in the last few years. Why hasn’t he won a slam since the 2012 Wimbledon? Remember this year’s AO anyone? Fed was knocked out in the second round by none other than Seppi! Who saw that coming?
No one can fix a draw so that Fed will win. Not these days.
@Anonymous, are you sure you are commenting about posts on this blog? Who is paranoid about Fed winning? What are you talking about?
Like @chloro said, you missed the point entirely. Seriously.
No-one is paranoid about the possibility of Fed winning. We just think it’s funny how easy Fed’s draw has turned out to be, like it has over the last 4 years, surprise, surprise………yet he couldn’t find a way to capitalize, and he won’t this year either.
To wit: no-one is bothered you can’t be bothered about the various conspiracy theories on this website, regarding draw-rigging.
^^^that
If your paranoia wasn’t centered around his performance, his draws wouldn’t be bothering you at all. Your rigged draw theory has too many flaws for me to sit pointing out and most importantly, I can’t seem to find the easy draws “over the past four years” you’ve been referring to at all so your post is even factually suspect. If my memory serves me well, he’s drawn Novak thrice in the past four years. I have no idea how that makes his draws easy. I recall him facing Simon and Tsonga, both Frenchmen with either posing a natural match-up problem for him and the latter being on form. He’s faced Delpo, who although injured is a very capable player in his own right. Djokovic has had the easiest draws for the past 2-3 majors barring this one and the rest don’t seem to be either easy or difficult. Of course, now Novak has his share of difficulty here. All that paranoia over Federer having embroidered #18 on some jacket when in fact it is Novak who’s posed for his biggest victory here is amusing.
You mean that he avoided Rafa’s half the last five years so he got the lesser of two evils for him.
Your phrasing is hilarious!!!
^That is irrelevant. Nadal has been landing with Murray. I’ll take Murray over Djokovic anyday. So effectively he’s had it easier. Barring 2011, Djokovic has made the final every single time.
Djokovic will make fruit salad of all opponents this year at the French open.
lets not complain about the draw, someone who is ranked # 7 doesn’t deserve an easy path.
#YouCannotBeSerious
Have you paid attention to how Wimbledon, e.g., assigns ranks?
oh come off it! 66-1 is an incredible record and speaks for itself.
Yes, someone who is ranked #1 and has ZERO Frenchies DESERVES an easy path. Didn’t realize the French Open trophy was THAT important…
Miew!
what on earth does language like ‘deserves’ mean?
Rafa isn’t #7 because he’s had a bad clay court season (the fact of which is easily relativised by his extraordinary former achievements) but because he was effectively out of the tour with injury from Wimby onwards in 2014. Otherwise, even with the bad results he would very likely be #2.
‘deserves’ is a very loaded word which I would argue works exactly the other way.
This is what makes me shake my head, @amy, that some people totally discount the FACT that Rafa’s ranking reflects 6 months of inactivity, months where he did not earn any ranking points. Rafa played badly in the last 6 months partly because he was out for 6 blooming months! If he had won Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome he would have been seeded higher, and not faced Novak early blah, blah, blah. As if Rafa should be SCARED of scary Novak!
So comforting to blame Rafa for our own helplessness, no? Rafa is no superman, he needs time to get up to speed, just like other normal players. Unfortunately, his best Slam has come too soon before he is in his stride. AS a result he may lose early. Too bad.
Nadal has not done anything to merit a ranking better than # 7. unlike Wimbledon French open doesnt take past clay court results into account to adjust seedings. Same rules apply for all players, they cant change an existing rule to help Nadal. and it doesn’t even matter what Brad Gilbert thinks, Nadal had his destiny in his own hands, if he had fared better at Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Madrid he could have avoided facing Djokovic.
this
Ricky,
Maybe you can clue in some of the Rafa fans who believe that this is all an evil conspiracy to stop Rafa, forgetting the fact that Rafa had his destiny in his own hands before the start of this tournament.
But then you would be accused of blaming Rafa! We must not do that! Oh no! It’s sacrilege!
No, it’s a fact that Rafa could have remained in the top four if he had done better at Miami, MC, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome. It’s not like it was a hopeless cause and there was no way he could possibly have stayed in the top four.
Why, you failed to make the argument yourself?
@64aces, we know. Trust. Me.
[polldaddy poll=8887032]
Not about the seeding.
Nadal’s draw is always loaded compared to Fed’s (not that Fed can win but propping him up to make the final is federazzi desperation at its finest hour).
this
The irony of so many years of rigging and _interesting_ scheduling is that it was done (not at every tournament perhaps but by all statistical appearances at many)…. for the sake of the one player that is supposed to need the least help.
This.
Thanks for the clarification. Because I know that you are able to make the distinction regarding the ranking. It was possible for Rafa to keep the #4 ranking. That was in his own hands.
As far as his part of the draw being loaded, you know that this has never stopped him in the past. His record of nine titles and one loss attests to that. So there are limits to what the tournament organizers can do to try and sabotage him. Rafa has shown that nothing stands in his way at RG. But this year is different because he has looked so vulnerable.
As I have said previously here, easy draws are not going to help Fed at this stage of his career. They haven’t helped him in recent years.
64aces,
I may not agree with you on other points, but regarding your comment @ 6:41 pm, you are absolutely correct.
Oh and I don’t need to hear anymore of some blaming Rafa for where he’s at right now. For one thing, Rafa would not have a problem owning up to it. The fact that he was out for six months seems so unfair but tennis goes on. Rafa did it in 2013, but he was two years younger and maybe that was a one-off. A miracle comeback. I am not mad at Rafa either. I am just saying that he did have it on his racket to hold the #4 ranking. He just was not able to do it. So we move on.
Clarification –
My post @ 5:59 pm was directed at hawkeye’s post on May 22 @ 8:08 pm.
they are not playing at Wimbledon where previous grass court results are used to adjust seedings, at the French open you are seeded according to your ATP Ranking, so how can they change an existing rule just to help Nadal?
No one here said they should.
Different tournaments have different rules, at the US open they have the final set tie-breaker. no other major uses that rule.
@64aces, calm down. I am not arguing with you, man! Jeez………….
You are right, no need to be-labor your point….
Lighten up.
@Rafaisthebest Seeding at French open is based on your ATP Ranking you can disagree with this rule but this rule is in place for as long as I can remember. I dont get what you are trying to prove? Wimbledon is the only majors that takes previous grass results into consideration to adjust their seedings. Someone who is ranked # 1 deserves an easier path, irrespective of how many French opens someone else has. when Federer was ranked no 1 in the World (without a French open) he didnt have to face Nadal before the Final. when Nadal was ranked no 1 or 2 he didnt have to face other members of big 4 in the QF.
Federer was seeded 7th for the US open 2013, despite the fact that he had won 5 Us open titles no other current player( at the start of 2013 us open) had more than 1. But Federer deserved the # 7 seeding because he was abysmal in 2013, his previous hard court results didnt help him.
Hahaha!
RT @jjvallejoa: “As for RF, he has the right sailor outfit for the inevitable yacht party he’ll throw to celebrate the draw.”
Fed’s half will play first on Sunday………
#Rig-onomics
Shocker.
If I recall, Federer, Murray and Nadal were all in the same half in 2013 and ’14 Wimbledon with Federer being in Nadal’s Quarter once. Stuff like this happens all the time. Scheduling- there are BOUND to be preferences. Professional tennis is a business. Not a charity run for individual fans. The player who brings the ratings gets the slot. Case closed. If that offends a “star” he can speak out. I mean if Nadal can stop an umpire from officiating during his matches for illegitimate reasons, he can do anything.
“..if Nadal can stop an umpire from officiating during his matches for illegitimate reasons, he can do anything.”
Rafael Nadal – prince of darkness! his malfeasance and omnipotence know no bounds!!
Since when do you get to say that Rafa stopped an umpire from officiating his matches for “illegitimate” reasons? If Rafa felt that there was a bias or unfairness from said official and then spoke up about it, what’s the big deal?
Why do I feel that if it was Fed who did it, then you would not have had any problem! Hmmm.
I could easily turn this around and say if Fed had done this you’d be accusing him of throwing his weight around, “influencing” results, etc. Nadal’s reasons for taking the guy out are borderline infantile and most importantly, the ATP and ITF are allowing it clearly demonstrating yet again, that Nadal is not some martyr having to win against odds all the time. Quite the contrary.
What you mean like Fed’s comfy draws and playing on Day 1 every year regardless of ranking.
Got it. Thanks.
What you mean like Fed’s cupcake draws and always playing on Day 1 every year regardless of ranking?
Got it.
Leave it to Fed to state the obvious, and some common sense:
“The rankings reflect what happened the last 12 months,” Federer said. “Of course if Rafa wouldn’t have been injured, from Wimbledon last year or French Open last year—I don’t remember when he played his last, but—you know, he would be very close to the Top 4. If not in the Top 4, maybe No. 1 or 2 in the world. Who knows? So from that standpoint I see the argument [about adjusting Nadal’s seeding], but at the same time I think it was going to be worse for somebody else other than Rafa. I don’t think it was going to be bad for Rafa because he’s looking at defending his title whoever he has to play through.
“It’s going to affect Novak more in my opinion in that regard than Rafa really.”
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2015/05/federer-possible-nadal-djokovic-qf-its-going-affect-novak-more/54983/#.VV-SfU2JjIV
and I don’t mind too much not meeting either of them or some others like Andy before a possible final 🙂
Frankly speaking, I don’t really understand what Roger’s trying to achieve with these statements of his regarding Nole. 1st in Rome, Now in Paris.
Is he trying to egg on Nole?
I don’t think Fed likes Nole much, do you?
I also wonder what Roger’s subtext is with all the Nole belittling….that’s what it feels like anyway….he’s been doing this for ages…
What makes it so funny is how Fedfans have recently cozied-up to Nolefans, for obvious reasons. Fed clearly didn’t get the memo!
yeah, Fed doesn’t like Nole much. Seems like he still can’t forgive Nole for his comments in the past.
And regarding cozying up with Nolefans, never really had anything against Nole. Always been an admirer of him!
Not you, @abhirf. You sound like you genuinely like Novak. I was talking about those Fedfans who have become Nolefans out of convenience i.e. because he has slowed down Rafa’s relentless march towards #17…………
thanks for clarifying 🙂
RT @jimcaple: “Sharapova on media re: Nadal slump: ‘To put up so many question marks (for 9-time champ), I almost think it’s a little bit disrespectful,'”
Thank you, Masha……
Whatever will be will be.
Vamos Rafa
Rafa can beat all comers at RG barring a misfortune or lack of fitness it doesn’t in which order he beats them in. When he was seeded 4 in 2013, he beat Djoker in the SF then rolled over Ferrer in the final.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!
http://twitter.com/rolandgarros/status/601720072860737536
#Understatement
^^The organisers too, Fed, the organisers. I hope you reserve a nice bottle of Moët & Chandon for them, they work so hard for you…………
Rafa was out for six months. However, his ranking did not drop outside the top four. That is why I say that it was in his power to keep his ranking. If Rafa had dropped out of the top four when he was out for so long, then that would be different. But it’s a testament to him that he won enough to keep himself there.
So the issue for me is that it was still doable for Rafa to stay in the top four. He had chances. But the losses to Raonic in the quarterfinals at IW, to Verdasco before the quarterfinals in Miami and then crashing out in Barcelona losing to Fognini again, put him in this position. Then the loss in the final to Murray where he was not competitive.
Rafa had his chances. So this business of rigging and conspiracies and whatever, doesn’t work for me. Rafa has never needed to depend on a favorable draw in the past at RG. Because he was that good. But he’s never come into RG ranked this low and on such a downward slope.
It’s not about blaming Rafa. It’s not about being mad at him. It’s just looking at what happened and being realistic. I also am not going to rely on Novak imploding at RG for whatever reason. Players need to win and they need titles to have good feelings and confidence.
I don’t know what to think about Rafa’s chances this year. All I can do is sit back and watch. I can hope, but I am not going to build it up so I can fall apart again. I wish Rafa well. I will support him always.
My TV feed running a special on Rafa and Serena. So nice to hear so may of the current pros giving props to Rafa for what he has achieved at RG so far. Fed calls Rafa’s numbers at RG sick!
Regression analysis on Rafa’s game? Really? Tennis is a simple game, don’t make it any more complicated than it really is:
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/rafael-nadal-is-80-percent-of-what-he-used-to-be/
Why not calculate Rafa’s dominance ratio at RG alone and compare it to everybody else’s? That would be a more representative sample to draw inferences about Rafa’s level at RG, no?
This is on the RG website:
“16 men made it into the main draw, and not one of them speaks Spanish! ”
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/articles/2015-05-22/mens_qualifying_not_a_spanishspeaker_to_be_found.html
What is the matter with THESE people??
Roland Garros web site is complete crap this year.
^^2nd that, a total un-user friendly mess.
https://twitter.com/tennisabstract/status/602462411526897665