(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (5) David Ferrer
Steen: Ferrer actually won their last meeting in Monte-Carlo and has won two of their last three overall. The Monte-Carlo loss was one of three setbacks (two of which were huge upsets) Nadal has suffered this clay-court season, but this is a best-of-five format and on three previous occasions Nadal has thrashed his countryman at the French Open without dropping a set–including in each of the past two years. Thus, something tells me Nadal simply gets in Ferrer’s head at Roland Garros, beyond the simple level of the play/style matchup. Although the world No. 1 was complaining about his back earlier this fortnight, he had zero trouble against Lajovic in the round of 16. Ferrer, meanwhile, got past Kevin Anderson in a pretty comfortable four sets. I like the top seed in a close three sets. Nadal 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.[polldaddy poll=8096317]
Ricky: Monfils cannot ask for a better scenario in which to play Murray: on red clay and in France. Of course, both Monfils and the French crowd could ask for some other benefits, namely a slower recovery from back surgery on Murray’s part and the clay-court Murray of all years prior to this one. They are not, however, getting either one of those gifts. All systems are go physically for the Scot and he is playing the best tennis of his career on the slow stuff. His five-set thriller against Philipp Kohlschreiber featured outstanding tennis and he blitzed Fernando Verdasco in straight sets on Monday. Monfils also parlayed a five-set survival (against Fabio Fognini) into a fourth-round straight-setter (over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez). At this stage of a Grand Slam, you have to think a more experienced Murray is the one more likely to sustain the current level. Murray 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6.
Steen: Monfils won a five-setter in 2006 at the French Open and Murray has a clay-court win at the ’06 Hamburg event, but they have not met since 2010 and they are obviously different players now. Murray won more easily than expected against Verdasco on Monday, while Monfils beat a listless Garcia-Lopez despite a minor third-set hiccup. This should be a highly-entertaining match and cases can be made for both players to emerge victorious. I think it comes down to which man can keep a consistent level throughout the duration of the match without suffering any extended stretches of groan-worthy play. With the crowd behind Monfils, him I’m going to pick him in four sets. Monfils 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6.[polldaddy poll=8096320]
is Xisca wearing a wedding ring? 😉
I meant to say an engagement ring…
natashao2013 (at 4:42 pm & 4:43 pm)
I think, she is wearing this ring for decorative purpose.
When watching the match Rafa vs Ferru, she didn’t wear a ring:
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/474608851799801856/photo/1
Don’t think that is coming for sometime. Rafa is very clear, he ain’t settling down till his career is over. Don’t think that bothers her……..
#SensibleGirl
Petko fights back……….
no way, Simona looks so cool, so composed, ready to regroup…like she has just stopped by to have a cup of coffee and will move on to the finals…amazing…
Simona!!
Vamos!!
Simona says, “I try my best”
No wonder she’s winning……
How irritating is Neil Herman. He is tagging Andy Murray on the Rober Soderling victory pic against Rafa
Neil Harman @NeilHarmanTimes · 4m
Remember this chap? I wonder if @andy_murray may be striking a similar pose tomorrow @RSoderling pic.twitter.com/PWs5QO9kb9
^^snap! I just posted the same tweet on another thread…
Why not wait for it to happen to show in public how clever you are? Doing it beforehand, on the other hand,..
@augusta (5.52 pm),
Thanks! I kind of knew that but was just teasing people around here to get them thinking about it…BTW, this is lovely picture of Xisca…
@augusta08 says:
June 5, 2014 at 2:32 pm
It doesn’t matter how much evidence there is, if people want to believe that the French hate Rafa that’s what they’ll believe even if they can’t back it up.
nadline10 (at 7:05 am),
I think, people who believe that the French hate Rafa believe too much the Federazzi.