(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (7) Andy Murray
Ricky: The good news for Murray is that he played Nadal tough in a recent Rome three-setter, he seems to be well past his back-surgery issues, and he is playing the best clay-court tennis of his career (this is just his second-ever French Open semifinal). Unfortunately, that standard was still barely good enough to survive five-setters against Philipp Kohlschreiber and Gael Monfils. Nadal is not at his dominant best, but he has plenty of momentum after pulverizing Ferrer in the last three sets of their four-set quarterfinal. Since Murray won their first Grand Slam semifinal at the 2008 U.S. Open, Nadal has won four such meetings in a row–and none of those four meetings were particularly competitive. Nadal is simply far better than Murray at this point in majors, especially at Roland Garros. Don’t be surprised if this is a beatdown of the highest order. Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.
Steen Kirby of Tennis East Coast: Nadal just beat Murray in Rome, but it took him three sets. The Spaniard has won all five previous meetings on clay and he leads the overall head-to-head series 14-5. Murray has a had a great fortnight to reach the semifinals and it’s clear he is finally improving from back-surgery recovery time, but this is Nadal on red clay at the French and a back issue of his own has seemed better the past two matches. Murray is coming off two five-set matches, so I think this is the end for him…and in routine fashion. Nadal 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.
Joey Hanf of The Tennis Nerds: At one point Wednesday, with the sun fading in Paris, it seemed like both Murray and Nadal might have play their respective quarterfinals over two days. However, both men finished their matches in time and they were both rather bizarre contests. Nadal faced his first test of the tournament against Ferrer and after dropping the first set, he quickly found his best form and lost only five games in the next three sets. Murray played one of the craziest matches of the year, winning the first two sets against Monfils before dropping the next two. He then bageled the Frenchman in the fifth. The Nadal-Murray “rivalry” isn’t exactly a rivalry, but Murray has had some big Grand Slam wins over Nadal. He has beaten Nadal at the Australian and U.S. Opens, but clearly the Spaniard is different animal at Roland Garros. I haven’t seen Murray hit his forehand as well as he is now since Wimbledon last year, so I think he will push the favorite. But greatest clay-courter of all time simply does not lose in the semifinals. Nadal 4-6, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1.
Jared Pine of the Second Serb: Tennis fans had to wait almost three years for this rivalry to be renewed a couple weeks ago in Rome, and it was worth the wait. Nadal came back from a break down in the deciding set to win 7-5 in the third. Now the two are meeting in the semifinals, the same round in which 11 of their 19 previous meeting have taken place, including seven in a row. Both players struggled at times in their quarterfinals but finished strong to advance, and will be relatively well-rested for their semifinal. This has always been a bad matchup for Murray and it is only worse on clay. Nadal should have no real problem getting to his ninth French Open final. Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
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(18) Ernests Gulbis vs. (2) Novak Djokovic
Ricky: This is going to be an intriguing battle between Gulbis’ offense and Djokovic’s defense. Djokovic, of course, is not a strictly defensive player, but Gulbis has never been more confident and he will come out swinging freely and will not let up regardless of the score. That tactic, combined with the fact that the Latvian is playing by far the best tennis of his life, will keep him competitive for a while. However, this is Gulbis’ first trip to a major semifinal. Djokovic, on the other hand, has slam semis for breakfast and he even has six Grand Slam titles. Experience will be factor, as will Djokovic’s superior ability to that of–say, Roger Federer, Tomas Berdych, and just about anyone–to make Gulbis hit extra balls to finish points. Djokovic 7-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Steen: Gulbis and Djokovic have not met in three years. Gulbis has never taken a set off the Serb in in his four losses to him, but he does have a lone win in 2009 on a hard court. Gulbis is on an amazing run and has enjoyed a fantastic past couple of weeks, having now made himself a Top 10 player. Djokovic, though, is also on a long winning streak and has dropped just one set in his five matches this fortnight. Gulbis thrashed Berdych in the quarters, but Djokovic is at a different level. Again, my pick is the higher seed and favorite in straight sets. Djokovic 7-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Joey: One of my favorite quotes of the year was Gulbis saying that he has chosen to go on the “gluten-full” diet. Of course, his semifinal opponent is famous for his gluten-free diet and if you think Gulbis’ statement was just a coincidence, think again. He was taking a little jab at Djokovic and it will be interesting to see how the match plays out. Gulbis has been serving very well all tournament and his movement has been Djokovic-like. However, the world No. 2’s motivation to complete the career Grand Slam may be greater than Gulbis’ motivation to be world No. 1, and that’s saying something. The Latvian always says nothing short of winning the tournament is a success, but I sensed a level of relief from him after his quarterfinal crushing of Berdych. The tipping shot in this match will be Djokovic’s backhand down the line, which will feed right into Gulbis’ weakness, the forehand. Gulbis will certainly not tank like some have in this tournament, but Djokovic will be too good in a best-of-five match. Djokovic 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-6.
Jared: To say this is a dream semifinal would be a stretch since these two could have just as easily met in the first week in Paris. However, a match featuring two of the best two-handed backhands in the game right now is not the only thing that makes this a mouth-watering semifinal. This is a matchup of brute force and elastic defense between two friends, who even share a little bit of history at this event. Prior to this semifinal, Gulbis’ best result at a slam was the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2008, when he lost in three competitive sets to none other than the Serb. Djokovic has been a part of many thrilling semifinals at majors and this should be another one. Djokovic 4-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.
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https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/474586043782406144/photo/1
No wonder some people have the impression this is a strictly Rafa fan only site 😀
How do you manage to always get in first with this? Do you have an agreement with Ricky that everybody else is held up in a moderation queue?
^^^Apart from the possibility that @augusta08 has a bot on the prowl, stalking Ricky’s brain, waiting to pounce as soon as a Ricky Rafa-blog hits the Tenngrand pages!
It isn’t?
rafaisthebest (at 4:27 pm)
I am a follower of The Grandstand. Aren’t you?
My clumsy comment was meant as a compliment @augusta08! Yes, I am a follower of The Grandstand but you are always one step ahead of me, and everybody else from what I can see!!
Chapeau……
rafaisthebest (at 4:55 pm)
I keep my computer open.
But you must sometimes be away from the computer, even if it is only to go to the loo.
I’ve already cast my vote earlier today.
Djokovic in 4
Nadal in 4
Nole in 3.
Nadal in 4.
Rafa;
Djokovic.
Gulbis has the game to trouble Nole and he just might. Can’t really think of any reason why Gulbis should not win this, but I don’t think he will. It could be a blow out or a dog fight, 3 sets or 5 sets. Anything is possible but I thin Nole will win in the end.
In my opinion, Murray will only beat Rafa if Rafa is impaired in any way. Rafa is not playing his best atm, but I think he is playing well enough to see Murray off. Possibly, in 4.
Nole Says:
“I’m trying to focus the attention only on the next match, so I don’t think about eventual final,” Djokovic said, when he was asked how he saw his chances for winning the title were shaping up.
Isn’t he contradicting himself in the same sentence?
#Eventual
Eventual has a somewhat different meaning in some non-English languages, including French, than in English. In them it means something like “potential” or “possible”.
Don’t you speak a lot of French, hawkeye?
.C’est dommage mais je ne comprends pas le Francais
It’s funny. I can understand Milos when he speaks “French” but not a native Frenchman.
Hard to understand a native Frenchman or a native Quebecois ? 😉
One by one, they are beginning to desert the “Djokovic is favourite” ship……..
“Garber: I can’t say I disagree. I usually root for the underdog, but Murray seems to be out of his element. Actually, in many minds, Rafa is the underdog to win this tournament. Students of Experts’ Picks already know that we both tabbed Novak Djokovic to win. Now, I’m kind of leaning toward Rafa.”
http://espn.go.com/tennis/french14/story/_/id/11036470/french-open-andy-murray-shock-rafael-nadal
Oh dear…………
https://twitter.com/NeilHarmanTimes/status/474609829378785281/photo/1
Yeah, Soderling is a hero of the Federazzi and journos who talk with a British accent.
Do they remember that Soderling beat Fed at Roland Garros and afer that he was beaten by Rafa ?
I think Rafa still regards that as his worst defeat ever.
He’s only voicing what the British want to hear……….
Muzza never goes in for that unattractive belligerent triumphalism, least of all when he is facing one of his chums. He’s like Rafa in that respect.
RT @SI_BTBaseline: “Sharapova after another 3-set comeback: “At the end of the day, it’s not how you finish a first set. It’s how you finish the last set.””
#Respect
or more importantly how loudly you scream.
Vamos Halep.
Sharapova I beautiful and smart 🙂 “the scream” only makes her more distinctive, doesn’t it? 🙂
Sure that’s one word to describe it.
Please don’t bring WTA here!!!
Thank you!!!
^^Where are we supposed to “bring” it, pray tell? Or is it not “real tennis”?? 😀
rafaisthebest (at 9:57 am)
https://tenngrand.com/category/wta/
c’mon augusta…don’t be narrow minded 🙂 …the statement about who wins the last set is all it matters” is applicable to both ATP and WTA, don’t you think?
augusta08 says: June 6, 2014 at 11:04 am
and what am I supposed to do with that link, bookmark it? No thanks. What heading does the link fall under: Match Previews, Match Recaps, Best of the Day, Stats, Social? What?
One shouldn’t have to go on a fishing expedition, one should be able to access the WTA page easily, just like one accesses the ATP player pages. That is why I asked. Not too problematic, I hope.
Getting real tired of being told what to post where and ow to be a good fan.
#ToEachTheirOwn
#PostAndLetPost
#VamosRafa
#GoGenie
Extremely confusing Gulbis coach interview in Latvian.
Ernests played a great game against Berdych , but the next opponent – Djokovic – is well above the shelf . What are your thoughts on the upcoming game?
I believe that we have no chance against Djokovic . Novak will win the tournament. That’s what I said before the tournament , saying it now. That he is currently the best physically , technically and mentally , he has gained fitness is to finally win in Paris.
Is it right that the coach talks like that before the match? Have you talked about it with Ernest ?
Yes, last night just talking about this topic. In my opinion, he feels the same way .
Is it in some way will not affect his game?
Of course not . He plays his game , despite everything . But he is not so good . Maybe will get after six months , maybe a year later , as long as he continue to work just as hard as the last nine months . I hope that from now on we more often manage to reach at least the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam tournaments.
Next week Ernest will debut at top 10 in ATP ranking. This jump is not too fast and will not affect future starts ?
Too fast ? No, five years too late ( laughs) . He has worked hard and earned a place among the best. I know that it was one of his goals. But if he is now happy with the top ten, after a few weeks he will no longer be, he will want to be in the ninth , eighth , and so on. He will never be completely happy until he is first .
Returning to the game tomorrow . Djokovic is now a coach Boris Becker , once the trained by you . What is your relationship now ?
Our relationship is very good . After returning to the tour in Australia he had invited me to dinner, we also spent time together in Monte Carlo. In Paris Dominic spent a few trainings with Djokovic, we maintain good relations.
Commentary tournament official web site Bresniks indicated that for victory Ernest needs a miracle. With out that it will be impossible to win . Although Gulbis playing high-level tennis, it is still 10-15% lower than the average of Djokovic . Novak can play at a high level for several hours, so 3-4 geims in Set would be a great success .
What do you think about this??????I have never heard anything like this before!
Why they care only about rankings, winning Grand Slam should be top priority.
jaw on the floor
If Gulbis’s coach was an honest man he would follow-up on his pessimism about Gulbis’s chances tomorrow and ask Gulbis to forfeit the match.
As a possible “motivational speech”? Beyond the pale…………
^^^^Disagree. I know three people told by doctors they will never walk again and will spend the rest of their lives in a wheelchair. All three have responded by being motivated to prove the doctors wrong. In one instance my friend’s response was ‘in that case I won’t even get into a wheelchair’. He rolled himself out of bed and crawled on his hands and knees for six months. Today he can do 18 holes on the golf course.
Breznik his tapping into the ‘I’ll prove you wrong ‘ nature of his charge. It may not work.
As far as chances to win barring a “miracle”, I agree. Next to impossible.
Federer hand an outside chance had he reached the semis.
There is only one player with a “great” chance to beat Nole.
Gulbis is no Nadal or Federer.
However, he is doing what any good coach should do. Take off the pressure by lowering expectations and put all expectations and pressure on Nole as the heavy favourite.
Same as Uncle T choosing to publicly “complain” about Rafa playing his quarters on Lenglen as an affront, and notice how Rafa latched onto it in his presser. There is method to Uncle T’s action: building a sense of injustice in Rafa, motivating him to show up his “tormentors”.
It’s done…………#9thRG
@hawkeye,
Yes! That’s exactly what his coach is doing. It’s a classic move and a good one. Sometimes you have to look deeper than just the words themselves. He is doing this in the hope that Gulbis will go out there feeling no pressure with nothing to lose and go for his shots. That’s his only shot.
Gulbis is an interesting case. With his talent, the much more serious work he seems to have done last couple of years. and the growing desire he actually has the _potential_ to hang with Nole. Yes, he’d have to have a very good day, play at his best, make lots of good decisions on court and few bad ones. He does have the potential. Not the likelihood, no, but if he came to defeat Nole tomorrow (won’t happen) it would not be the shocker that it would be with most other players not named Rafa, Murray and Roger.
I have no idea whether he’ll keep up his hard work and consistency through the next 12 months but if we did then we’d see how he really measures up.
Ivan Ljubicic (@theljubicic)
Posted at 6 June, 2014 7:52 AM on Twitter
“@milosraonic will not hold serve once on grass #moderncoaching #iamin”
It’s as if the entire eastern bloc is with Djoker.Where does this confidence come from? that he beat Nadal in Rome? He’s made ONE final and lost in 4. Rafa is 8-time champion, but clearly not the favorite. Rafa has lost 1 set and 34 games. He’s had 3 6-0 sets. Nole has lost 1 set and 50 games and has zero 6-0 sets. And we’re to believe he is the favorite? I don’t get it. #doesnotaddup
What justifies the belief in Nole up to a point is that most years of the last three he is the only really tough opponent for Rafa even when Rafa is playing very well. However, it isn’t as lopsided as Rafa used to be for Roger, even when Roger was playing very well. And it is RG out of 5. All this is either helping or harming Nole between the ears. Mostly it must be generating a lot of income for the betting houses.
It’s called the power of desire @Jeu…………
Desires, pressed enough, are hallucinogenic, the lines between hope and expectation become blurred…………..
I really think Ernie’s coach is an IDIOT…complete idiot…and he surrendered before the match even started…he must know better than that…he should motivate his protégé not kill any hope in him…I would immediately fire him…
Gulbis probably wrote that response for him.
once I wrote my comment, initial reaction, I thought the same: nice bit of psychology. Better than saying “If Ernstststs plays his best game he has a good chance to win tomorrow”. In any case,except for mind games the words spoken before the ball do not win or lose a single point on court. Who knows what will happen tomorrow for sure (as opposed to what is likely)?
I’m going for Nadal in 3 and Djokovic in 4. Murray has played well this week, but I doubt he will have much left in the tank to push Rafa in a best of five set match.
guys did you see rafa’s today practice photos? they are concerning!
https://www.facebook.com/Rafael.Nadal.2014/photos/a.473230912736144.110221.472588616133707/714519358607297/?type=1&comment_id=714521925273707&reply_comment_id=714527535273146&offset=0&total_comments=2¬if_t=photo_reply
Rafa is just resting.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2649691/Andy-Murray-plotting-Rafa-Nadals-downfall-pair-face-French-Open-semi-final.html
Rafa’s every move is documented. Why don’ t they go and pester other players?
I actually have to agree about that picture of Rafa. It’s nothing to get concerned about at all. We have heard how intense Rafa’s practices are, so it’s to be expected that he needs to lean on a wall for a breath! 🙂
Rafa is absolutely fine!
It’s the Daily Mail. Needless to say more … 🙂
I gave my thoughts about Rafa/Murray on the other thread. I do think it’s going to be a competitive match. My pick is Rafa winning in four sets.
As for the other semi, I just don’t see Gulbis beating Novak here. He could take a set off him or it could be a three set win for Novak. I don’t think Gulbis can stay with Novak in a best three out of five set match. I know that he did it with Fed, but Novak is at a different place in his career right now. If Gulbis can be focused and keep it together, he might get a set off Novak. So my pick is Novak with the qualifier that it could be either three or four sets.
Rusedski was very sure Nole would win the title up till today now he thinks Nadal is looking very good and he won’t give the title away,Nole will have to wrest it away from him.
The ESPN guys rescinded their pick of Nole last week. Garber and someone else…wonder how many others are back-pedalling and thinking maybe it’s never wise to bet against the house/rafa.
I’ll say it again:
As far as this year goes, Novak will have to pry the RG trophy from Rafa’s feral fingers.
@chloro,
Right on! Rafa will fight with every breath in his body for that title!
Raga in 5, Nole in 5
Shit, meant Rafa
Shireling,
You’re up late! A Bruxelles…
And two bold predictions, nice to see :-).
Mine is 4 and 4.
I think that Murray is ready to shock the world…he’ll win in 4. …and Gulbis playing at a high level as well….he’s not afraid of anybody, inc his old friend. Gulbis in 4.
The boldest predictions are yours, scootd.
Based on what else, Murray in 4? Based on what else, Gulbis in 4?
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.