(6) Tomas Berdych vs. (18) Ernests Gulbis
Ricky: Gulbis has been serving out of a tree this week; in nine sets after dropping his tournament opener to Lukasz Kubot, the Latvian dropped serve only once (in the second set to Kubot) while facing just seven break points (two combined against Facundo Bagnis and Radek Stepanek). He had some predictable hiccups against Roger Federer, but Gulbis’ first and third sets were near flawless. The world No. 18 is also coming off a title in Nice, whereas Berdych’s clay-court swing prior to Roland Garros was lackluster. The Czech was great against Isner (as usual) on Sunday, but he had at least some trouble with Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Roberto Bautista Agut. I think an especially competitive match, such as something deep into a fifth set, would favor Berdych based on his past experience with Grand Slam quarters, semis, and even a final (Wimbledon 2010). A supremely confident Gulbis, however, may be able to finish the job before it reaches that point. Gulbis 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Joey: Gulbis made a lot of Federer fans hate him on Sunday, but he probably couldn’t care any less. The Latvian took a MTO late in the fourth set and lost just four games from that point on. However, I will defend Gulbis and say that if he needed to take the MTO, that he took it at the right time. Either way, no matter; he’s in the quarterfinals of the French Open for the second time after scoring what he called the best win of his career over Federer. He now faces Berydch, who has been typically solid through the first week, dropping only two sets in the process. Berdych leads the head-to-head series 4-2, including a dominant 6-3 6-2 victory earlier this season in Rotterdam. Gulbis moves better on clay, but Berdych holds the advantage on the forehand side. Although the Latvian’s forehand gets talked about a lot for his awkward use of his left hand, he has managed that shot well throughout this tournament. I think Gulbis has the confidence right now to beat just about anybody, and his serve will get him through enough easy games to pull it off. I’m also predicting only one racket smash. Gulbis 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-4.[polldaddy poll=8096000]
Ricky: Encouragingly for Raonic, he tested Djokovic in a 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-3 battle in Rome last month. Unfortunately for the underdog, conditions in Paris should be more favorable for Djokovic and the world No. 2 is looking dominant right now. Djokovic was especially ruthless in a 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 beatdown of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Nobody has any real chance of beating him this fortnight other than, of course, Rafael Nadal. Philippe Chatrier also appears to be playing considerably slower than Lenglen, so it’s bad news for Raonic that they are playing this one on the main show court. Even if the No. 8 serves incredibly well, Djokovic’s defense will be too good. Djokovic 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-3.Joey: Djokovic has played unbelievably well thus far in Paris, aside from one sub-par set against Marin Cilic. He made a highly-anticipated round of 16 match against home favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga look like first-rounder. Djokovic’s ability to turn defense into attack is second to none on the tour right now. Meanwhile, Raonic became the first Canadian man to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam when he routined Marcel Granollers, dropping only games to the crafty Spaniard. These two played less than three weeks ago in and Raonic pushed Djokovic to the limit, with the Serb eventually prevailing 6-3 in the third. Djokovic was on the defense for much of that match, so he’ll need to be more offensive this time around to keep the match on his terms. Raonic has to serve huge and even go for some second serves as if he is hitting first deliveries. The No. 8 seed’s movement on clay is very strong for his size, but look for Djokovic to expose him on the backhand side. It should be close for a set or two, but the favorite is too focused on winning this tournament to lose this early. Djokovic 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-2.[polldaddy poll=8096004]
Birdman and Nole in 4!
Bold picks going for Gulbis, I like it. I’m going for Berdych in 4 sets though. He’s played really well the last two rounds and has become very reliable in best of five set matches. I fancy Raonic to get a set off Djokovic.
Djoko struggles against the giants so I doubt he would find this a pleasant experience. Providing Raonic holds his nerves he’d soon wear Djokovic down and move into his first slam SF where he’ll be taken care of by Berdych.
^^C’mon @nadline10, put a spell on Djoko!
This won’t be easy for djokovic. I am expecting at least a 4-setter. Winning this match is asking too much from Raonic, though. Djokovic is a diff beast in best of five matches and rafa is the only one who’l take him down here at RG.
I would like to see a gulbis-djokovic semi though
Seems like your wish going ot come true!!!
to tell you the truth I would love to see Milos win this one…not only that it would make Rafa’s life a whole lot easier with Nole being out, but because Milos comes from my hometown, I know his uncle and we cooperate at work, his parents are friends of my family etc…he moved away long time ago but his connections with his hometown remain strong…and let me offer another interesting thing: Milos has a close relative here (his uncle’s son) who looks exactly like him…they resemble so much… 🙂
unfortunately, Nole puts it right here: there are no secrets between these two…they know each other’s game so well and Nole will certainly be more up to the task and will allow no surprises this time…yet again, since Milos is working with Ljubicic right now and has improved tremendously I have some strong believes that he could trouble Nole if only his serve would work strongly…so let’s see…I vote for a five-setter and let the better man win… 🙂
as for Gulbi…hmmm…I am the one who highly respect his talent and I used to praise him but he has been the major disappointment for me so far and never lived up to the expectations…he is always great when playing top 4 players…but I am afraid he may disappoint today…I would love to see him beat Birdy but I don’t expect him to…Birdy in 4 is my prediction…and yes, I got it right yesterday for La Monf and Andy…so it may be that finally I begin getting my predictions right… 😀
Nole in 5
Gulbis in 5
Nole in 3
Gulbis in 5
Nole will win in either 3 or 5 sets.
I’ll say Novak and Ern both in 4.
Anybody watching the women? Sharapova fighting for her life!!!!
she is making a LOT of UEs…
Must be very loud.
How many times in a row is it now that the player who beat Fed in a major loses the next round? Eight or nine? Earnestststs is good but I don’t think he’s the one to break this streak.
Tommy-B in four.
Ahhh, Milos. A good run to be sure. If Missile’s serve is on fire and Nole has a mental drop, Nole in four (otherwise Nole in three).
Genie up a set and a break!!!! wOOt!!!
#GoCanada
#GenieInaBottle
I feel she is going to pull through. She’s getting more used to Muguruza’s game.
But golly the Spanish girl is impressive.
https://twitter.com/bgtennisnation/status/473799931392954368
https://twitter.com/jon_wertheim/status/473795697364312066
Now comes the big test for Mugu. Can she overcome the disappointment of losing that set.
Hawkeye: I’m rooting for your pin-up girl in the other SF
#BehindTheCouch
I’ve just noticed I typed SF instead of QF.
Suggest you stay behind the sofa………….
Let me be the only one to say both Gulbis and Raonic will win today. Because both are playing very well, and it’s about time for some big upsets. Gulbis won’t be much of an upset in my opinion, and if I had to pick one for sure I’d say that one. But Djokovic hasn’t had a shaky match in a while and I think with how Raonic has been playing lately, he can make him have a match like he did in the Australian Open against Wawrinka.
well, at least you nailed 1
I predict Rafa will be back on Suzanne Lenglen tomorrow.
#NID
Probably under the rain – showers are forecast 🙁
Sharapova planning to hand the baguette Mugu gave her back again.
VAMOS GENIE!!!!!!!!!!! VAMOS!!!!!
#GOCANADA!!!!
#GOMILOS!!!!!
#MAPLESYRUPRULES!!!!
#humb1e
Add me too to the Genie Army!!
C’mon GENIE!!
Genie FTW
That’s made your day Hawkeye 🙂
Home Genie brings her earplugs to her semi.
HoPe Genie brings her earplugs to her semi.
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/473834871794962433
Now how about Milos making it a double for Canada………………..
We will see what happens during the match, for sure, no? Milos will have to play his best tennis to have chances to win. Otherwise it will be impossible.
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/473835244580507648
Yay! Bouchard is making even deeper (Canadian) history!
C’mon Milos, you can’t let a woman take all the shine! 😉
Bravo Maria! I so much admire her aggressive game…and I was so much looking forward to this semi between Sharapova and Bouchard…I think I know for whom Grigor will cheer for…
I don’t know whether Maria left Grigor because of Bouchard or Grigor left Maria for the same reason…it will be a great match of these two beautiful ladies…although IMO Maria is clear favorite…
^^Wasn’t aware Maria and Grigor were now history.
yeah, if the commentator is to be trusted…but he said it more than once so I believe it’s the truth… 🙂
MaGrisha broke up? is that the personal problems Grigor was referring to when he lost? #dotell.
most likely..:-)
RT @scambers73: “Next prediction: Novak Djokovic to wipe the floor with Milos Raonic, probably in straight sets”
Genie gets the standing-O for her French name and for beating a Spaniard.
https://twitter.com/rolandgarros_FR/status/473834954657660929
RT @Mike_Dickson_DM: “From what I’m hearing (and to be confirmed) Murray v Monfils on main Chatrier court tomorrow, bumping Rafa/Ferrer onto Lenglen.”
unbelievable…yeah, let’s say it’s because of Monfils…but still Rafa is the No1…ah, those French… :-X
😡
Blink and you miss it, Gulbis up break on TBird already………..
milos is self-destructing…
Not watching the match live, only live scores. But looks like Novak is having good looks on Milos’s serves, which is not a good sign………….
TBird down 2 breaks, this is a beat-down………..
RT @NeilHarmanTimes : “Confirmation that Murray v Monfils is on Chatrier tomorrow. Absolutely the right call but Spain may not be too happy”
Silly Neil, why would Spain not be happy? This is not DC and Monfils is French, going deep in a tournament the French would love to see won by a Frenchman. Duh……….
Gulbis on fire. But, Berdich has just broken him. 4-1 to Gulbis now.
RT @scambers73: “No surprise to see @andy_murray v @Gael_Monfils on Chatrier on Wednesday. Great match in prospect. Rafa v Ferrer on Lenglen”
The British journos are going on and on about Monfils/Muzza being the match of the day tomorrow, it’s because they know it will be a damp squib. Monfils will put on a couple triple somersaults and fizzle out……..
Rafa/Ferru, otoh, will be the real clay court contest. No surprise though that Muzza/LaMonf will be on Chatrier, the French are entitled to favour the local boy……
A better solution to this would be back-to-back matches. Don’t get the simulcast of QF matches…
Both matches chould be on PC.
#Fail
2 DF’s to gift the set ::(
Raonic is a waste of space. He beats himself with his ROS and ground strokes.
Not watching the match but laughing at Raonic’s epic fails. Without his vaunted serve, what’s he got? Is he really gonna out-run, out-defend, out-muscle Djokovic? I mean, the serve is his biggest weapon, right? He ought at least to draw the set out to the lottery of a TB…………….
same can be said for Isner & karlovic. They have one big weapon: serve.
Exactly. Though he has improved, but his ROS and ground strokes still leave a lot to be desired. I sometimes think its difficult to get players to work on other aspects of their game when he is as tall as Raonic and has a deadly serve. I still think Raonic will be an exception to this. He comes across as someone who is willing to improve his game and looks focussed doing it.
First serve isn’t working and the game that I thought he had is non existent…Nole will soon be in the semis without breaking a sweat…
Raonic is not a tennis player he is just a server simply because of his height. Total waste of space.
http://tinyurl.com/mx2annc
For goodness sake. Berdy can play better than this. He’s not even making a match of it.
Djokovic/Raonic is only marginally better but it has a relentless inevitability about it.
Please God, don’t tell me we are in for a Djoker/Gulbis semi……………….
What’s so bad about that
Djoker vs anyone was not going to be good
talent wise, Gulbis is the best possible matchup to face Djoker
At some point Gulbis is gonna wake up and realize he is not in a 250 tournament, and reprise Gulbis-in-a-250 tournament-style. I reckon that realization takes place when he faces Novak in a Slam semi……..
or very soon vs. the Flower
agree
Ricky,
I absolutely agree that Gulbis is the best matchup for Novak!
Well at least a Djokovic-Gulbis SF should be fun to watch.
The way Berdy plays depends on which side of the bed he gets up.
unless he’s playing Isner
if he’s playing Isner, it doesn’t matter
Some people were worried Rafa was getting to the business-end under-cooked. He faces Ferru tomorrow and clearly Muzza, if Rafa gets past Ferru. Would be huge surprise if Rafa emerges from those 2 encounters undercooked. Novak on the other hand, appears to be sleep-walking himself through the draw…………….
game-wise Nole has lost more, plus a set to Cilic…I think Rafa is peaking.
Djokovic/gulbis is better than djokovic/berdych, because unlike berdych, gulbis actually has good movement. But he’s a nutcase so…….
Why can’t Gulbis play like this all the time???
He cant be bothered to most of the time.
^^Maybe Papa Gulbis threatened to donate his trust fund to charity if he did not do something with his talent! And genius Gulbis thought he needed to go deep in a major otherwise, how to pay for his debauched proclivities? 😀
I can only wish what you say is true and he could beat whatever player he wants whenever he wants
Milos also isn’t making a match of it…such a disappointment…I based my hopes on what I’ve seen lately from him, but he fails to do ANYTHING in this match…this is like a practice session for Nole..
why did people expect Milos to play him close?
How is 7-5, 5-4 not close with just one service break.
You are all being just a taaaad biased.
It’s Berdych that’s the epic failure here, not Raonic.
But I think its petty close……look at the score! I think Milos did as best he could considering! this is not a walk over for Novak!
Both the women’s QFs were like 200% better than what is on offer now……
Djoker is relaxed. He knows the match is in the bag, he just has to wait for Raonic to an UE at the right time. No sweat.
I used to think raonic would develop into a versatile player………I look like an idiot right now.
99% of players look like idiots vs Nole.
pfft.
I didn’t think he would be any good when he first showed up but lately he seemed to have progressed, seems I was right in the first place. I didn’t agree with those who said he was the new Sampras.
nadline is afraid
At least serve your way to a TB, Milos, even if you lose it, you can always say a TB is lottery…………….
Gulbis 2 sets up………….you cannot make this up. Has he even broken a racket yet?
I doubt it
7-5, 5-all. Jeez, if Ranoic was not “playing like an idiot”, surely he’d be up two sets now?
#Unreal
I don’t think anybody, realistically, expected Milos to beat Novak but judging by his good showing in Rome against Novak, we all expected him to make it a closer contest. He may still do, if he takes the 2nd set.
Maybe you are looking at the Berdych score.
🙄
Don’t worry, even THAT shirt could not blind me!
I can see clearly……………
I blame that stupid flowered shirt of his…………………
@hawkeye
I never called raonic an idiot-I was talking about my own predictions about Raonic’s game. I actually thought he would be similar to Sampras(albeit on a lower level) in terms of versatility.
Fair enough but my statement stands. Raonic is playing Nole closer than Rafa has last two meetings.
pfft.
I thought Raonic would be more like an Ivanisevic than a Sampras…
No comments on Berdych being schooled. All about Raonic’s “failure” because he’s losing to Djokovic?
Speaks volumes.
Rafa doesn’t need other players doing the work for him.
#VamosRafa
^^Not true. My comments at 4:08 pm, 3:59 pm, 3:53 pm, 3:44 pm, 3:11 pm are all about the Gulbis/TBird beatdown.
Sensitive, much?
Not sensitive at all.
BTW, which of those posts listed was a criticism of Berdych’s game exactly?
#RhetoricalQuestion
^^The way TBird is playing, no diagrams needed, tbh. Sometimes, it’s better to not say…..
#Mirage
Somehow I feel Berdych would be the one under attack if he was losing to Nole. God help him if it was by the score he was losing to Gulbis today.
My comments stand.
I beg to differ. Speking for myself, the reason I am being a tard hard on Milos is because I expected better from him i.e. I valued his game that high, especially given his impressive showing in Rome. Losing easily to Novak was an unexpected outcome.
Don’t make me laugh, when has TBird ever been a thorn in Novak’s flesh? You’re confusing Novak with Fed. Why would anyone attack TBird for losing to Novak, an expected outcome?
You could say the dissing is a compliment to Raonic…………
#Truth
If that’s the case, nadline must think Raonic is the second coming of Nadal.
its very interesting to watch Gulbiz’s game, he is a real Top 10 Guy
^^This is my fear, that Gulbis was telling the truth when he said he was a Top tenner…..
I guess I had my pink glasses on…that is how I ended up having SOME expectations from Milos…and for Gulbis…I wished for him to beat Berdy -the mental midget…
The tournament director needs to send a message to Berdy and Raonic they are playing in a QF at a Slam and people have paid a lot of money to watch them do so.
Gulbis is a bad matchup for Berdych, as he can do everything berdych can-plus better movement and more touch.
Gulbinator on the way to break the Fed curse!
How many times???? (has it been)
I think it’s active since AO 2012 Sf against Rafa..
That makes it 9 times the person beating Fed has lost in the subsequent round!
That’s what I thought. Will be nice not to hear it anymore. 🙂
Yup.. enough punishment already served to beat Fed :p
Okay, I fear for TBird’s mental state after this……….
hawkeye, I’m not afraid of Rafa playing Djoker in the final, I just want Djoker to lose some points.
You can do that without being so insulting to Raonic’s game. As I said before, he is playing him as close as Rafa has recently so cut him some slack.
#Afraid
Well, IMO, his game leaves a lot to be desired. I’m not going to lie. Not everyone will agree with me, but I’ve never been impressed with him at all.
Well that’s no surprise considering you’ve basically said the same about Federer’s game.
Hahaha, even Gulbis can’t believe what’s going on out there!
RT @darren_cahill: “Gulbis up 2 sets on Berdych. Ernie looking a bit flustered. Just walked to wrong end after a changeover. Everything going right. #unusual”
And Raonic has not even managed to win a set on a TB
Even the commentators are struggling to find anything positive to say.
^^Well at least he lost the TB to chance……… 😉
TB is a lottery.
It was far more exciting watching Rafa school Thiem and Lajovic.
I always feel that the TB is the death nell of the big servers because all their errors count as a mini break, so if you hold your nerve they just need to make one double fault.
Milos groundstrokes are whats killing him! His serves would work agianst anyone else but when he meets the likes of Novak and Rafa/Ferrer…its just not enough!
He’s beaten Muzza twice on clay.
In all fairness, Muzza has never been that good in clay…until lately, very lately!
Rafa has never had a problem with Raonic’s serve. He even bagled him in Barcelona last year. Rafa has beaten Raonic 5 times without the need for a single TB.
What does that have to do with anything I said?
I did not say Milos can play Rafa any better than he is playing Nole.
pfft.
At the best of times Berdy is not good as a front runner. But today he is not even in the same race as Gulbis.
Lol!!
SL is playing faster than Chartier. Any issues due to that for Rafa – Ferru?
Bresnik is looking po-faced in spite of what his charge is doing out there. Hilarious.
I think Djokovic’s BHDTL is the best shot in Tennis ATM.
The moment he hits it, his opponents start scampering all around!
Gulbis Djoko should be a great context. Both have powerful BHs.
You folks think Gulbis can take it to Nole? He has ran him close and I think hes not overwhelmed or wont be nervous. He sure wont be a bigger headcase than Berdy
Well Gulbis definitely can. He has got the variety in his game.
But depends which Gulbis turns up on the day!
One of the commies has just announced “we may well be looking at the next King of Clay”.
Gulbis?
^^^Funny haha. The match on Chatrier.
Next “King of Clay” ?
Pretty ignorant comment. It takes more than one RG win ( especially if you got somewhat lucky winning it) to be called what Borg and Rafa deserve to be called.
Is Cole Sla the “King of Hardcourt” this year?
They don’t come any more ignorant than some Nole fans who called him the new King of Clay after his MC win last year.
All rather unseemly, this rush to air brush away Rafa’s legacy…………….
^^^A tad premature this is the quarter final. I think it may have been Inverdale who said it.
hawkeye,”What does that have to do with anything I said?” That was a reply to Monalysa.
RT @SI_BTBaseline: “Novak Djokovic has been made to work hard by Milos Raonic, but leads 75 76 20. #RG14”
Not sure I’d be pleased If I was Milos…………….
Mustn’t know what they are talking about…
https://twitter.com/SI_BTBaseline/status/473866161147633664
I can’t comment on Berdy’s game as I am not watching it…but I am really disappointed at Milos because I expected him to fight harder on key points…however, it may just be that Nole is simply too good to be threatened by anyone atm…Milos is being fooled right now…this certainly isn’t looking like a quarterfinals…ladies gave us something to be excited about…at least Berdy is fighting as far as I can see…
RT @christophclarey: “Out here on Lenglen watching Gulbis (I think Berdych is playing, too). Extraordinary #sofar”
#FacePalm
#TBird
Classic, I love it.
He’ll be disappointed in the short term as expected but he will see that he had a great tournament and he can take this success into Wimby. No shame in losing to the hottest player on tour and one of the best in history playing at/near his peak.
He will win slams if he continues to improve the way he has shown.
Ljubicic has done wonders with his game.
Milos’ head is in the right place.
#Perspective
^^Agree on the 1st paragraph.
Yeah, kinda agree he looks to be a well-grounded young man.
I said from the beginning I thought Raonic would at best take a set if Nole had a letdown and Raonic served great.. He served pretty good at 69% and 20 aces but Nole didn’t let up. Too good.
With Gulbis beating Fed and laying that beatdown on Berdych (who had been playing great), who knows, he might take a set of Nole.
Hottest player on tour?…………..I thought Stan was the hottest?!!!…………….remember him?
The hottest player on tour is the world #1.
Over the last 52 weeks yes, but Nole’s won the bigger tournaments this year and last four vs Rafa. Nole has just three losses to Rafa’s six and his .890 win percentage tops Rafa’s .850.
For me, Nole’s the hottest player on tour this year so far.
Hottest is a subjective term like GOAT.
#SubjectToChange
hawkeye63@June 3, 2014 at 5:05 pm
Have you jumped on the bandwagon of the Federazzi or Djokovazzi?
Take your pick and believe what you will augusta08. 🙂
I do not think Rafa thinks he is the hottest player of the tour this year.
Who is to say, Raonic still has time to recover. It’s not over until the fat lady sings, is it?
gulbis-nadal final anyone?
Me Me Me. Gulbis can pull off what Berdy did in Wimby 2010 or Soderling did in RG 2009. I still feel so or let me say I am hoping so:-)
Soderling? Why, is Nole injured?
#WasntAware
Jeu: Dont even go there. Pleeeeeze.
Let the records show:
Ernests Gulbis is in the semis of a Slam;
He beat a Top 10 player in straight sets in the process.
Raonic has broken serve. There is still hope.
So does Milos have fight in him? Breaks Nole when serving for the match…………..
He has another break to recover if he wants to prolong this match…………
May be he wont win SF match, but Gulbiz has won many fans in RG.
His return winners are top class, good entertainer.
Djokovic closes it out 2nd time of asking.
Very successful tournament for Milos.
I hope he stays in Nole’s half at Wimby.
Standing-O for Nole for beating the underdog in straights. What a shocker!
https://twitter.com/rolandgarros/status/473873291586060288
https://twitter.com/BenRothenberg/status/473871782127366144
Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg · 18m
Gulbis jokes that he’s going to party tonight since he has two days to recover before the semifinals. “I need to celebrate!” #RG14
FOCUS man FOCUS
Both matches have been damp squibs for me. Hope tomorrow we get to watch some good matches; more entertainment and drama.
I’ll take a squib in Rafa’s favour on Suzanne Lenglen thank-you very much.
Congrats to Ricky’s prediction Djokovic 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-3.
Pretty much nailed it.
judy murray @judmoo · 3h
Today I wished a very special young man a happy 28th birthday. And got a very special hug. Jealous anyone? 🙂 #Rafa
Gulbis dominated. He was nervous serving first and third set, but that didnt affect his game at all!Game plan was doing everything better than Berdich have ever done.
He has 7 wins, 5 losses against top 10 players in Grand Slams.
And now he is in top 10 himself!
Steve Tignor @SteveTignor · 15m
There really is a first for everything: *Image of Ernests Gulbis holding up French Open winner’s trophy enters brain* #RG14
Sanju, it entered my mind also. What a crazy year of tennis it will be if that happens. First Stan in AO and then Gulbis here.
If that happens, then Big 4 (or 3 or 2), is dead! It will mean an end to their era.
abhirf@June 3, 2014 at 6:01 pm
Yeah, Fed is already dead.
Don’t worry augusta, Rafa will be dead too in a couple of years time.
abhirf (at 6:14 pm)
At least FIVE years after Fed
Five what??
As a passionate Rafa fan I don’t see Rafa last another five on the ATP circuit. Three more whole years would be plenty. Simply given his history with injuries. And with the incredible success they’ve had with the knee treatments he still suffers chronic tendinitis. Otherwise, sure, I’d wish him to go another five years. He has already lasted longer (at top and near top levels) than almost anyone hoped for.
chloro (at 6:48 pm)
It’s Hoffa’s syndrome in his left knee (under&behind the kneecap) that still bothers him.
He has had less pain after the stem cell treatment (in Nov. or Dec. last year), but it’s still there. I haven’t heard whether he’s going to repeat this treatment or not.
To win the FO would mean that Gulbis has to take out Federer, Djokovic and Nadal, all in the same tournament, best 3 of 5 sets, on clay. I think he would turn the sky red all by himself while he’s at it.
Well, he may not have to beat Rafa.
Who knows if it’s Ferru or Muzza turning up in the final..
How about a Gulbis/Monfils final? I almost want to see that only to witness the headlines and reactions of all tennis communities.
would be epic
Certainly would be an entertaining match for various reasons.
abhirf (at 6:25 pm)
THAT would make the legion of the Federazzi happy!
@augusta 6:39 pm
No.. That would make tennis fans happy!
abhirf (at 7:04 pm)
I have always wondered WHY Fed fans are embarrassed to admit that they are Fed fans.
They are trying to call themselves ‘tennis fans’, ‘tennis lovers’ and so on..
IMO abhirf (a confessed Fedfan) shows more objectivity than most of us here including myself IMO.
Some would call that a weakness. Not me though.
I don’t really know what I can say, but @augusta your statements probably reveal more about yourself than Fed fans or tennis fans.
I can’t find a reason why a tennis lover won’t be excited to see some new faces and some really gifted overdue guys like Gulbis – Monfils fighting it off for a GS title.
Just remove one of those tainted glasses and maybe you too will be able to enjoy it.
hawkeye63 (at 7:28 pm),
I admit that I am a Rafa fan (fan = fanatic). I am not trying to pretend to show “objectivity”.
I agree with chloro’s comment @ 6:48 pm. As much as I would love to see Rafa play as long as possible, I think it’s going to be three more years. He’s had the knee tendinitis, other injuries, all great players have to get old. He has lasted longer than many predicted and for that, I am grateful.
nativenewyorker7 ( at 3:52 am)
Rafa in Shanghai on October 8th, 2013 ¤¤ ”For the last five years, it seems like lot of people were saying I will not be able to play long the way that I play,” said Nadal, Olympic singles champion in 2008.
“But I am here again at 27-and-a-half years old and I really hope to have the chance to be here for a lot of more years.” ¤¤
http://sports.inquirer.net/123251/miracle-recovery-im-still-in-pain-says-nadal
Who’s pretending and how do you know this?
https://twitter.com/SI_BTBaseline/status/473887076283613184/photo/1
interesting character this Gulbiz.
Oh, this is cruel:
RT @linzsports: “What even is the point of you, Tomas Berdych?”
no it isn’t
^^et tu, Brutus?
No more cruel than calling Raonic a “waste of space”.
^^
#LetItGo
#MoveOn
#Tennis
#MilosDoesn’tCare
LET IT GO!
who did that
#DOYOU
Well, I just hope you don’t compare “What is the point of you” with “waste of space”. Don’t you? Or do you.
You didn’t. OK. Good.
TennisNow @Tennis_Now · 4m
Ernests is throwing his 1-4 record vs. Novak out the window. It’s 0-0, he says. #RG14
Go Gulbis 🙂
good logic
Oh God, please stop……
RT @hypotemuse: “I wonder if Judy’s ever pondered over what happens if you put Tomas Berdych in hot water.”
Easy, he’s no tea-bag for sure, more like a frog…………..would slowly get used to the heat until it kills him.
ESPN is live tweeting during a replay of the Genie match from earlier… Seriously?
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/473893529224097792
^^This is what Lindsay Gibbs thinks of it:
RT @linzsports : “Peak tweeting, ESPN. “
That’s epic
I think Rafa has to always celebrate his birthday at Roland Garros henceforth, even after he retires…………….
#tradition
https://twitter.com/bgtennisnation/status/473896764605726720
https://twitter.com/bgtennisnation/status/473897038032433152
There is no Respect in “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité”………….
DO YOU??
…..let him eat cake………
Muzza, you owe it to your good friend Rafa to blow Monf out of the water and teach the French a lesson for pushing Rafa out to SL court.
Why couldn’t they have put the men on PC and the women on SL instead of having both men’s and women’s QFs running concurrently on different courts.
Better still, as Hawkeye suggested, have all four QFs on Chatrier starting at 11:00am.
Imagine the agony for those with tickets for RC (expecting to see men’s QFs) being able to hear but not see what’s happening on the court next door. Bet we’ll see a lot people glued to their I-pads and I-phones.
What would they do if Roger was playing Ferru?
Federazzi indeed.
Shazza’s not dead yet!!! Mugu might be in trouble here.
https://twitter.com/ESPNTennis/status/473898230481051650
RT @TomPerrotta: “@ESPNTennis Can tell you how that one turns out if you’re interested…”
#EpicFail
#ESPNTennis
Pretty much what I thought. Preach it Tiggy… I mean Jon!
Jon Wertheim Says:
Milos Raonic played generally unimpeachable tennis against Novak Djokovic. He didn’t miss many shots. He showed off his improved movement. He stuck to his fightplan. But his second serve wavered, a played a few tight points in the second-set tiebreak. Against the best in the game, that’s sufficient margin to win. Djokovic took advantage and won the first two sets 7-5, 7-6. In the third, Raonic, visibly demoralized, capitulated 6-4.
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20140603/maria-sharapova-novak-djokovic-french-open-quarterfinals/#ixzz33bZutz8w
Preach it again Jon:
Ernests Gulbis: An A for his tennis and, charitably, a C for his social views. We’re awfully conflicted condemning athletes when they speak candidly and depart from the talking points. But, “A woman needs to enjoy life a little bit more. Needs to think about family, needs to think about kids” is a little too candid. As Martina Navratilova puts it, “Makes Don Draper look like a feminist.”
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20140531/french-open-midterm-grades-maria-sharapova-rafael-nadal/#ixzz33bb5FB1K
@hawkeye,
Right on quoting Jon Wertheim on Gulbis!
Well 3 out of 4 ain’t bad, no?
A:
The Big Four: Amid the chaos in the women’s draw, tennis’ four horsemen — Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray — are each in form.
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20140531/french-open-midterm-grades-maria-sharapova-rafael-nadal/#ixzz33bbPn9EO
@hawkeye63, are you done with the self-congratulations yet?
Just getting started.
https://twitter.com/Tennis/status/473907534172925952
Wow. Tennis.com has since removed that tweet!
Coleslaw not happy.
#FriendsInHighPlaces
#SwissNeutralityIsaMyth
However, the link is working. Rafa gets the award for Most Likely to WIN the Title.
Couldn’t agree more.
don’t think so.
I still got that tweet in my twitter feed!
^ was referring to the Stan tweet
@augusta 7.30pm
That’s because Fedfans believe that Rafa only have fangirls who just like Rafa but know nothing about tennis.
@augusta 7:20 pm
there is no one who is embarrassed to say he/she is a FED fan. Fed fans are proud of him. What’s there to be embarrassed about..
On the contrary I have seen many Rafa fans who claim to be real tennis fans but hardly enjoy anyone else winning a thing except Rafa!
#ExtremeFanatics
abhirf,
I just had to say thank you and bravo for your comment @ 6:17 am. That is something that has needed to be said for a long time.
ditto
#ToEachTheirOwn
abhirf (at 6:17 am),
I am proud to be a Rafa fan and I never pretend to be somebody else (for example “REAL tennis fan” or “REAL tennis lover”…)..
abhirf (at 6:17 am),
I add that in the language of the Federazzi ‘a REAL tennis fan’ has always meant ‘a Fed fan’.
I’m a REAL tennis fan (before, during and after Rafa).
Well I am proud to be a Rafa fan and can appreciate other players, just the way Rafa does. It’s who I am and I will always be true to myself. I love tennis and can enjoy other playes, while having Rafa as my favorite. There is no contradiction in that whatsoever.
abhirf. “On the contrary I have seen many Rafa fans who claim to be real tennis fans but hardly enjoy anyone else winning a thing except Rafa!”
That’s what I call being a true fan. I am guilty as charged.
abhirf says: June 4, 2014 at 6:17 am
Whoa!! Extreme fanatic……have to get my tape measure out to figure that one out. Far out, man………………..
……lemme see, who else do I enjoy seeing win on the ATP expect Rafa, or put it this way, who else, TODAY, gives me the same pleasure I get as seeing Rafa win? Hmmmm, big fat, none actually!!
That makes me an extreme Rafanatic then, tape measure agrees!
Vamos Rafa!!
I need some joy today, please win will ya? Though I must say, thank goodness I won’t be watching the match today…………….
#nerves
Just wish my command of the English language was as extreme as my Rafafaniticism!
sentence in my post of 7:51 am should read, “………..on the ATP except Rafa,…..”
I very much enjoyed Nole winning his first Aussie, Delpo winning USO and Muzza winning Wimby to name a few.
But, then again, I just might be pretending.
hawkeye63 says: June 4, 2014 at 12:58 pm
Who cares?
abhirf wrote:
@augusta 7:20 pm
there is no one who is embarrassed to say he/she is a FED fan. Fed fans are proud of him. What’s there to be embarrassed about..
On the contrary I have seen many Rafa fans who claim to be real tennis fans but hardly enjoy anyone else winning a thing except Rafa!
#ExtremeFanatics
With all due respect, if you exchange FED and Rafa in your post, the post is equally true. There are a great number of millions of fans of both, and among them many who are extreme to different degrees.
As I see it there are (a huge number of) ‘true tennis fans’ who exclusively back one player (and not only these two players), and there are (a huge number of) ‘true tennis fans’ who are not like that.
^^Bull’s eye, @chloro!
So abhirf, do you enjoy seeing Rafa win anything? Because no true Fed fan does. You enjoy other players winning because they are not Rafa.
^^^ True dat. (in my experience anyway).
I wouldn’t blame abhirf if he/she never enjoyed seeing Rafa win.
I actually enjoyed seeing Fed win up to 2005 when he took out Agassi along the way.
Roddick on Gulbis: funny
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLCc53gOh5I
@abhirf, you have to laugh at this! Who is this Alix Ramsey, a bloody comedian??
http://www.tennishorts.com/gulbis-flushes-federers-french-open-dreams-away/
“It was clear as soon as he went to the lav that there was something wrong. Roger Federer, like the Queen, does not go to the lav (he probably doesn’t carry cash, either, just like Her Maj); perfect in every way, his bladder control is the stuff of legend and no matter how long the match or how difficult the conditions, he can hold it.
But as Ernests Gulbis took a two-sets-to-one lead over the Mighty One in the fourth round on Sunday, Fed headed straight for the gents. This was not good. This really was not good.”
“As the third set ran away from him, he needed to find his majestic superpowers, his inner oneness – perhaps he had left them in the little boys’ room? Best go and look. Alas, all he found there was a line judge watching his every move (and that must put a chap off as he goes to perform) and a rumpled roller towel.”
Oh my, Ernie. For the first time in my life I will be rooting for you in your semi:
http://www.tennishorts.com/gulbis-batters-berdych-to-reach-roland-garros-semifinal/
“I think just for me it’s 0‑0 with him in matches,” Ernie said. “The way I’m playing now, I never played like this. I never felt like this. It’s just 0‑0. What was in the past, I don’t even consider. I beat him once, also in a bad match. He was changing racquet and he was playing really bad. So it’s 0‑0 for me.”
I then must say that I also belong to this group of FANATICS as I really, truly do not enjoy anyone else wining but Rafa…as long as Rafa is on tour I will cheer for him and I will pray that he wins trophies and beats everyone…I would never call it fanatic, I would simply call it TRUE FAN!
I know why Federazzi enjoy someone else wining majors. There are several reasons for it:
1. Fed can no longer win masters, let alone majors
2. if Rafa continues wining majors he will surpass Fed’s record on slams and that will destroy his ego and the ego of his fans, and it will put the story of the GOAT to rest
I think Fed fans are not being honest in saying how they appreciate someone else winning majors…I recall when Fed was wining everything, I bet if someone asked you then if you would appreciate Rafa beating Fed in Wimby you would react the same way as Rafans today…you can’t deceive Rafans…we know what is behind it…
And now it seems that if we wish Rafa to win it all we don’t come from this planet, we are not being fair, we are not objective, we are bad, etc….that’s ridiculous…doble standards…for me the weirdest thing is to claim you are a Rafan and then wish for or even be pleased to see Novak/Gulbis/Monfils win the trophy…I really think those fans need to check their loyalty…
I personally will be SAD, very SAD if Rafa fails to defend his title…and I am not ashamed of it and it certainly does not make me disrespectful of other players…I love Rafa so much that I truly believe he deserves to break the record and achieve the No 9…seeing Rafa the eight-time champion playing on Lenglen today and hearing stupid Fed-adicted commentators (who are only afraid of Rafa breaking Fed’s slam record!) saying that Nole is the future King of Clay really makes me mad…if Nole wins this thing 8 times I will consider him deserving…for now and most likely forever he will only be the one
desperately trying to win RG…he will probably get one at the end but that only makes him equal to what poor Fed managed at RG…Rafa is way out of their league…
natashao2013 (at 9:37 am)
— hearing stupid Fed-adicted commentators (who are only afraid of Rafa breaking Fed’s slam record!) saying that Nole is the future King of Clay really makes me mad—
I have always had a feeling that money in their bank account talks.
It’s quite funny, reading through the general press lately it’s not so much talk about Djokovic finally lifting his 1st RG trophy but about him beating Rafa at RG. James Blake does not think Djokovic is ready yet to de-throne the King of Clay:
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11027587
Vamos Blake!
rafaisthebest (at 10:26 am);
—reading through the general press lately it’s not so much talk about Djokovic finally lifting his 1st RG trophy but about him beating Rafa at RG—
That’s what it means to be a Fed fan (= “a REAL tennis fan”).
I also will be sad if Rafa doen’t win RG.
But I could still enjoy seeing Muzza or Ferrer winning.
For that matter, as long as it wasn’t Rafa in the final, I (think that I) could even take some enjoyment out of seeing Nole finally reach a goal he has strived to achieve for so long. He is a truly great player.
I’ve been a tennis fan a looooooong time before Rafa came along. I never thought I could enjoy tennis as much after Sampras left the game (I know I know I’m boring) until Rafa came along.
It’s getting quite ridiculous because this year I don’t think I actually enjoy watching his matches live because I’m so nervous!!!
#ToEachThereOwn
hawkeye63 (June 4, 2014 at 1:33 pm)
If Rafa doesn’t win (whatever), I show strong support to HIM !!!
That’s great augusta08. You are a fantastic rafan!!!
Respect.
hawkeye63 (at 2:23 pm)
I am very happy to be unREAL tennis fan!!! 😆
Yes!
My comment @ 3:37 pm was for Hawkeye. For saying that he can also enjoy watching other players win.
I am almost 100% sure (maybe 99.9% :-)) if Rafa does not make it to the finals Nole is the one who will lift the trophy…even if Rafa is in the finals, Nole still has HUGE chance to win…so, maybe it makes me “inappropriate” fan, but for me no one else stands a chance to lift the trophy except Rafa/Nole…there is no way either Ferrer or Murray (Monfils IMO is no danger to anyone, sorry Monf just being realistic here 🙂 ) can beat Nole…and Gulbi is a joker, he will not be able to put up with the pressure of the semis…
Yes, Novak can win and maybe he will win, but I will not run around my living room doing a victory jig if he does! Ditto for Gulbis, Ferru, LaMonf. Now, if Muzza wins…….I will be happy for him, because I actually like him, but not as happy as if Rafa had won. That is just me.
Now, according to @abhirf, that means I am not a real tennis fan but an extreme fanatic; couldn’t care less! That’s HIS label and HIS opinion, of which he is perfectly entitled. I quite respect @abhirf so I am not going to read malice in what he said. However, I am not going to pretend I will be happy to see Novak win just so I can be part of the “enlightened” real tennis fan set! I am quite happy to be a Rafan Neanderthal, thanks. Honest.
And guess what, there will be people out there who will be doing victory jigs if Novak or anyone but Rafa wins and I couldn’t care less. They could be Novak fans, Rafa fans, whoever fans…….
Just don’t, for one minute, think I am going to feel any less of a REAL tennis fan because I want Rafa, most of all, to win.
As @hawkeye63 says, to each their own.
Well, at least you cared about that comment, hey ritb? 😉
I can’t win’em all! (Nor would I ever try.)
spot on! I am in full agreement with everything you said! I happen to feel the same including the part on Murray to win as I also happen to like him a lot!
However, Rafa is part of my being and there is no one who can take his place… 🙂
and @abhirf, I also find him a very nice and down to earth poster, so I hope we can just agree to disagree…
Vamos Rafa!
^^My 2:48 pm rant was not aimed at you @nats, but the world in general! We have Federazzi out there, today I want to claim my own label, aimed at me: Rafarazzi!
hawkeye63 says: June 4, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Bring back @Conspirator, and I will care!
As I’ve said many times ritb, like you, I’m not here to please anyone, just to exchange thoughts and opinions with knowledgeable and passionate people in the clouds who care for the game of tennis as passionately as I do.
@Conspirator only shows up when there are delusional (shhh…) federazzi at work 🙂
^^Amen! That is why, like me, you are persona non grata on Roger-x blog!
#ThankGodForTheTolerantRickster
hawkeye63@June 4, 2014 at 3:11 pm
As for me, I am here to show my support to Rafa.
Gulbis is the only one other than Rafa who CAN beat Djoker
But he won’t
What is different in the last ten or so years from before, and we write about it here every once in a while is the internet, zillions of channels on tv and online to watch more than one match at more than one tournament simultaneously, and more global trade and travel and as a result of all that players playing more tournaments and traveling more, prizes and marketing deals for the top players now reaching ridiculous levels (many times the lifesavings of most people in a single year). (And with technology changes and more tournaments, more injuries all around. It’s an insane time for tennis players. And fans. 25 years ago it was quite different as far as all of this goes. Yes, people would still idolize their favorite player. But not to the same extent. The difference: we see them play more often. We see pictures, videos, transcripts of everything they do and say in public. Everything is scrutinized. We read endless comments by thousands of posters world wide analyzing every last bit of information that becomes public.And this only increases the fever pitch of any delusions / distortions we the fans and they the professional commentators and writers have. Let’s not forget the perception that is reinforced by most common culture today (via the media, people’s attitudes and more): the (irrational) perception that anyone who is highly successful and through their success has made an enormous income is as a result automatically more than human, a little bit of a deity, more wise, more to be emulated, etc, etc. The super starts from sports and from elsewhere are in many real senses _some_ of our current ‘gods’. Objectivity does not rule, much. And thus… we see Rafa as larger than life. And thus … Roger, especially in the first years of his enormous success, or rather the public and professional _perception_ of Roger migrated quickly and deeply into the mythological domain. Few, truly, few, who write about him are anywhere nearly as objective as they might believe they are. This level of mythologizing and bias was simply not possible twenty five years ago, for the reasons I mentioned above.
So if anyone wants to talk about objectivity, realism etc in tennis fandom, esp regarding the male players, bear this in mind.
Very well said chloro.
I’ll never forget the first time I found a live stream to a Sampras match around 2000. Barely watchable. Other than the majors (which were tape delayed as often as not). coverage of tennis was very spotty.
Just wondering chloro who thinks that they are being purely objective as a tennis fan (or commentator)? I can’t think of anyone.
Kudos to Ricky though. He’s as objective as they come. I have him pegged as a Rafan but props to him that I’m never completely positive.
So true, hawkeye, about tennis fans. Although some would have you believe that they are the exception, the one who really is nearly entirely subjective :-).
Even more true; what you said regarding our beloved rickster.
It may be sheer coincidence but two posters who articulate what I am so often thinking both live in Canada.
ed,
Perhaps it is not entirely a coincidence, perhaps it is in part due to the fact that conspirator, I mean hawkeye, and I live in that little country (population and GDP wise) bordering the still largest economical player.
As is the case elsewhere in the world with this kind of situation, it is very common for the people in the huge country to think that their way in the world is the best and their view almost unassailable. (I used to travel all over the USA for work and met thousands of professionals there.)… while many fewer people in the smaller countries tend to think this way.
Just to make clear: I don’t for a second suggest, that nny or ricky are among those USA citizens that have that kind of narrow and self-satisfied view of things.
Ricky plays his cards close to his chest but as an objective sports journalist he doesn’t allow his head to rule his heart. Deep down though I suspect he is usually rooting for Rafa.
He did (does?) have Rafa listed among his one or two favorite tennis player in his public profile. I forgot where.
https://twitter.com/RobKoenigTennis/status/474229990180265984