Six of the top eight seeds have advanced to the French Open quarterfinals, including Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Dominic Thiem. Karen Khachanov, who upset Juan Martin Del Potro in round four, will meet Thiem on Wednesday.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (5) Alexander Zverev
It will be a rematch of the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals championship match when Djokovic and Zverev meet again in the French Open quarterfinals on Wednesday. Zverev pulled off a massive upset at the O2 Arena for the biggest title of his career, leveling the head-to-head series at 2-2. It was 1-1 heading into London and 2-2 going out, as Djokovic had prevailed 6-4, 6-1 during round-robin action prior to his 6-4, 6-3 loss in the final. They have faced each other once on clay, with Zverev emerging victorious by the same 6-4, 6-3 scoreline at the 2017 Rome Masters.
The fifth-ranked German has already matched his best-ever slam result (he also reached the last eight at Roland Garros in 2018) with defeats of John Millman, Mikael Ymer, Dusan Lajovic, and Fabio Fognini. Zverev needed five sets against both Millman and Lajovic while beating Ymer in straights and Fognini in four. Djokovic has not come close to dropping a set, making mincemeat out of Hubert Hurkacz, Henri Laaksonen, Salvatore Caruso, and Jan-Lennard Struff. Even a considerable step up in competition level is not something that is likely to trouble the world No. 1 and 2016 French Open champion.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
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(10) Karen Khachanov vs. (4) Dominic Thiem
Thiem and Khachanov will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Wednesday. Their only previous encounter came last fall, also in Paris–albeit in a much, much different setting. On the indoor hard courts of the Paris Masters, Khachanov prevailed 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinals en route to the biggest title of his career. Now, of course, Thiem owns a huge surface advantage on clay. The fourth-ranked Austrian is the reigning Barcelona champion and he is bidding for his fourth consecutive trip to the French Open semifinals, including a runner-up performance in 2018. So far this fortnight Thiem has ousted Tommy Paul, Alexander Bublik, Pablo Cuevas, and Gael Monfils, raising his level significantly to destroy Monfils 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 on Monday.
Nothing suggested Khachanov would advance this far aside from the fact that he is quite clearly a force anywhere in Paris. The 11th-ranked Russian is 10-2 lifetime at the French Open, with two straight fourth-round finishes preceding what is now his first-ever trip to a Grand Slam quarterfinal. He accomplished the feat with victories over Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, Gregoire Barrerre, Martin Klizan, and Juan Martin Del Potro. Khachanov may be back to his 2018 form, but a big edge in experience deep in slams–especially at the French–goes to Thiem.
Pick: Thiem in 4
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Ok then, Theim vs Novak it is!!!
Tomorrow is gonna be a great tennis day for fans, especially for neutral fans!!!
Not ready to say he’ll win but, I’m just a little bit less nervous about Novak after the way he got the break back and was able to edge out the first set. Poor Sascha and that double fault.
Sascha still needs to prove himself in best of five matches. He’s doing a good job being focused and staying with each point. He won that 1st round five setter vs Millman. That didn’t seem like the best start for winning a GS and then he hung tough vs Lajovic over five sets and toss in a tough four set match win over Fognini — so he’s apparently dialed in. And the grunting – never noticed him grunting before.
More double faulting when he should be easily winning the point, the big points with his serve. Second set absolutely down the tubes.
It would be remarkable if Sascha could mentally recover now. He’d need Nole to have himself a serious mental dip. Stay with it, Nole! Idemo!
Sascha with break chances. No, no…
In Sascha’s first match he had more double faults than winners!!! I was there!!! It was a nightmare!!! Can’t understand how he still won!
Lucky you, Monalisa!
Indeed Elizabeth. My RG19 experience was just fantastic!!! Was worth every dime I spent! This is one off my bucket list!😜
I agree with luckystar!
Thiem is playing some seriously great tennis. And Zverve is looking Djokovic this good. I mean Does Zverve even have a forehand? Fognini could have been more tricky being badass about shots. Thiem will be ready for a dogfight. But, Zverve can give some favour to thiem by taking at least 1 set from Djokovic, and extend the match. Djokovic vs Thiem will be a real dogfight. Though I am still learning slightly towards Djokovic as Thiem might get pressure. Djokovic court cover is so exceptional. This Djoker may even beat in terms tennis longevity.
I mean Zverve is making Djokovic this good.
I mean this Djoker may even beat Federer in terms of Tennis longevity.
I doubt so. Fed may play till he is 40, I doubt Djoko can play for another eight years, so no, no one is going to outlast Fed in terms of the longevity of his tennis career and also in terms of his physical age when he finally retires ( I’m talking about singles players, not doubles players).
I think Djoko may be good for another five to six years at best but not saying he’ll still be at the top, maybe like Fed now, not no.1 but still fighting for some major titles?
Fed will retire after Olympics next year..he won’t play beyond next year
Zverve’s forehand sounds a non-existent entity on tennis. Tsitsipas is much talented and smart than Zverve. The only guy who can rule the tennis in next decade is Tsitispas.
Sacha lacked belief. His spirit was punctured when Novak stole that set away from him.
Thiem vs Novak will be a CRACKER
Ahah! But so will Rafa and Roger!! Lol!!
Great day for tennis indeed!!
Rafa in three. How many games will Fed get? 😀
Thiem v Novak. Has to be better than Sascha v Novak. I felt sorry for Sascha – a feeling I had for years on end with the Berd.
There will likely not be any semis on Friday. Terrible weather
they will get at least Fedal in and maybe both. won’t be that bad.
Atul, don’t you dare say that!!! I’m so looking forward to going to watch those matches! They’re expecting rain tomorrow but i’m hoping it won’t be as bad as the weather on Tuesday with the thunderstorm, although the sun was out.
The weather is worst even on the days after Friday, so at this rate or by your logic, the matches may not get played until next weekend, lol!!’
Fingers are crossed, Monalisa! Lucky You!!
Does someone know off the top the last time the top 4 seeds made the the semifinals of a major? I have no idea, but I’m going to guess maybe the 2012 AO? If you think about it, starting with Fed in 2013, one of the Big 4 has been in a slump or injured at all times. Fed has his slump in 2013 and injury in 2016. Rafa has his slump in 2015, as well as a couple injuries. Novak had his injury/slump in 2017 and first half of 218. Andy had his post-2016 injury/slump. 2012 was really the last time when they were all playing well at the same time, and they were all younger, even Fed. I remember thinking that 2012 was a really cool season because each of the Big 4 won a major.
Thiem has clearly shown that he is a top 4 player in the world now, not just in ranking. In the pretty near future, Fed will be gone, and it will be interesting to see if someone solidifies themself into that vacant top 4 spot. Simply reaching a top 4 ranking isn’t enough- they need to leave no doubt that they are one of the 4 best players in the world. Personally, my bet is onTsitsipas right now. He’s so young and still had plenty of maturing to do, but I just like his attitude more than the other young guys. I love that he is absolutely inconsolable after losing big matches. I like that he clearly has self-belief, but it also experiencing some very humbling moments. All great players had to go through that at some point. Zverev SHOULD be the favorite to fill Fed’s spot, but I see very little reason to believe he will fill it.
VR, I agree about Tsitsipas.
I like it that he suffers some setbacks, it’s from them that he may learn not to take things for granted, not to think too highly of himself, and to know that there’s still some way to go – forward and upwards – and he’s not there yet though he’s on the right path and soon may get there.
He’s ambitious, focused, smart and talented, hardworking, I mean what more to ask for from a young and promising player? Yes I love his attitude, he wants to win and feels sad when he loses especially when he’s so close to winning and he said he’ll try to learn from his failures. I think that’s some good thinking and attitude.
Among the young players, I like him the most – he plays like Fed, moves like him too. While Fed isn’t my fave player, I can appreciate his attacking and varied tennis. When people are comparing young SHBH players to Fed and longing for someone who plays like him to come along, it seems that it’s destined that none would come along. They call Gasquet and then Dimi ‘baby Fed’ but neither of them play like him.
When I saw Tsitsipas and the way he played, I told myself, he’s the one people are waiting for, the one to occupy the vacuum that Fed will create once he retires from tennis. Tsitsipas plays attacking but also thinking tennis; he doesn’t go for broke (unlike Shapo or Kyrgios), he’s also quick with his footwork so he’s also good with his defence too. He has big FH and BH so he’s good from both wings like a Djoko (unlike Fed or Rafa when their BHs aren’t as great as their FHs). The one area that he needs working on is his ROS, oh, and he needs to up his intensity where it matters so that he doesn’t get dragged into long points unnecessarily.
We are still waiting for a player who plays like Rafa to appear, may be harder to come by, as Rafa plays unorthodox tennis, hard to copy that.
VR, I agree about Tsitsipas.
I like it that he suffers some setbacks, it’s from them that he may learn not to take things for granted, not to think too highly of himself, and to know that there’s still some way to go – forward and upwards – and he’s not there yet though he’s on the right path and soon may get there.
He’s ambitious, focused, smart and talented, hardworking, I mean what more to ask for from a young and promising player? Yes I love his attitude, he wants to win and feels sad when he loses especially when he’s so close to winning and he said he’ll try to learn from his failures. I think that’s some good thinking and attitude.
Among the young players, I like him the most – he plays like Fed, moves like him too. While Fed isn’t my fave player, I can appreciate his attacking and varied tennis. When people are comparing young SHBH players to Fed and longing for someone who plays like him to come along, it seems that it’s destined that none would come along. They call Gasquet and then Dimi ‘baby Fed’ but neither of them play like him.
When I saw Tsitsipas and the way he played, I told myself, he’s the one people are waiting for, the one to occupy the vacuum that Fed will create once he retires from tennis. Tsitsipas plays attacking but also thinking tennis; he doesn’t go for broke (unlike Shapo or Kyrgios), he’s also quick with his footwork so he’s also good with his defence too. He has big FH and BH so he’s good from both wings like a Djoko (unlike Fed or Rafa when their BHs aren’t as great as their FHs). The one area that he needs working on is his ROS, oh, and he needs to up his intensity where it matters so that he doesn’t get dragged into long points unnecessarily.
We are still waiting for a player who plays like Rafa to appear, may be harder to come by, as Rafa plays unorthodox tennis, hard to copy that.
I had to look this one up to find it, but it seems the top four seeds made it through to the semi-finals of the 2013 AO as well – Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Ferrer(!)
Couldn’t find any other ones more recent than 2012, although on a number of occasions 3/4 made the cut, only for one seed to let the team down.
I agree about Tsitsipas’s attitude and him being inconsolable after losing big matches. As Rafa said, Tsitsipas hadn’t ‘suffered’ enough, when he was feeling down after Rafa hammered him at the AO. The Stan’s match was so close yet he couldn’t win it (despite all the BP chances in the final set), no wonder he’s so sad about it. Well, that’s another suffering that he could learn from, and he said so too, that he would try learning from this ‘failure’.
At least he could learn from these humbling experiences, that’ll keep his ego in check and not letting his head grows too big too soon. I know he’s full of self belief which is good, but sometimes I feel he’s bordering on arrogance, after first beating Fed and then Rafa lately.
I’m glad Stan taught him a lesson, imagine him reaching another QF and then beating Fed again to reach the SF, he may think that he’s already there with the top guys (which I doubt). I feel he needs another year or so, before he could really threaten the top guys for the slam titles.
I hope he learns his lessons well, stays positive and driven, and yet humble enough not to think too highly of himself though with his self belief intact.
Guys .blame my feeling..but this is looking like 2011 french SF..
1 Vs 4 and 2 Vs 3…3 upset 2 in semi n lost to 1 in final..history repeating ?
Btw watching djoko..I think french open is his .he looks way too solid..very consistent..so measured .I doubt anyone can beat him..
Stop it sanju!! For heavens sake!☺
This is nothing like 2011! Rafa is playing way bettet!
Amy, I agree with you!!
Stop this jinxing!!! Not a believer, lol!!😊
Fed upset djoko there ..not Rafa .djoko was on a roll with 43 match streak…I’m just drawing parallels..3 fed upsets 2 djoko to lose to 1 Rafa in final
If Rafa wins Tomm..you all can jointly strangle me 🙂
We will!!😁😁
Dude, did you watch Thiem play today????
Yes..kacha was also poor. Leaking errors .Thiem was very good..but see Thiem goes for broke .you can’t do it over 5 n redline..djoko will get one ball back n finally Thiem will miss..I’m not saying djoko will win in straights ..it maybe 4 but djoko will eventually win..
Don’t see why Djoko will sure win. I mean he’s not at his usual high standard throughout this FO, I mean who did he beat of note?
Sasha like I said, when and if he’s playing well, may cause some problems for Djoko. He did play well enough for a set with BP chances and finally had broken Djoko’s serve, but he’s just not the Sasha of 2017/2018, so he gave back the break and duly lost the set, from then it’s all downhill for him.
Thiem will be the real test for Djoko; Djoko at Madrid needed two TB sets to beat Thiem, and that’s after Thiem’s long match vs Fed. Thiem looks physically fresh here at RG, the Khachanov match hardly takes anything out of him physically.
I expect a hard fought match between them, may go four or five sets I feel. Djoko may win in four, and if it goes five, I favour Thiem.
Yes hard fought match..djoko in 4..3.5 hour match minimum
I hope Thiem will be on target tomorrow, he trips himself up by going for too much too often consequently making too many UEs.
Listen at this point in the tourney, everyone is supposed to look good!!!
Let’s see what happens tomorrow!
Vamos Rafa!!!!
Also sanju Nole and Dom may very well have to play on Saturday. That’s a game changer if Nole is knackered on Sunday!
I am not bothered about Sunday..I am worried first about tomorrow. Really worried for Tomm..nerves haywire
Try and be calm sanju! Please! I do qi gong when very stressed…
Dear Sanju! I do have exactly this feeling that Federer will beat Nadal and might lose against Djokovic. Has thiem any chance to beat Djokovic? I don’t think so. I think Djokovic has a slight edge towards Thiem.
But, one thing is quite guaranty if Federer beats Nadal and faces Thiem, Federer will rip apart Thiem in Final. Same goes with Nadal if makes it to the final and faces Thiem, Nadal will land in a landslide. But, I can’t see Nadal winning against Federer.
I’m not even thinking about the final..I think djoko Thiem will be a dogfight with djoko winning in 4 ..
Fed Rafa .I hope Rafa wins n my feeling of Rafa losing is not based on technicals but based on nerves of not wanting Rafa to lose n also that fed is underdog n may play freely n Rafa maybe one under pressure..fed was always underdog against Rafa at slams n Rafa always had pressure to win but fed had not beaten him since 2007 at slams n Rafa could count on that ..but after 2017 fed has beaten Rafa n fed knows he can beat Rafa n so does Rafa know that..so Rafa will be under pressure n fed always with hope .it will be about who controls nerves better..it will be a nervy match for sure even if fed plays freely .he will always be on guard given rafas legacy here..
Fedalovic JUNE 6, 2019 AT 3:14 PM
‘I can’t see Nadal winning against Federer’
If I had an Euro for everytime I’ve read that… 🙂
Yet if a Rafa fan said he can’t see Fed beating Rafa, then there would be a hissy fit! What an absurd statement! About the man who has won it 11 times and only lost twice? Bias is a terrible thing!
Will you be at the match tomorrow Mona?!
Don’t forget to blow kisses to our champ!💋💋
You could bring a poisoned umbrella if Fed is too.much of a nuisance!
HaHa!! I will be there Amy!!! And I will be screaming so loud especially if Fed decides to be a nuisance!
They will both be a bit nervous and both will come out of the gates! But Rafa’s got this!!!
Ok Mona dear!! I will be watching! You had better have a plan if things go wrong!! You could persuade someone to run on court and whack Fed with a large cabbage for example!
Hahaha, Amy- with a large cabbage! 😂 So random, but hilarious. How did you come up with a cabbage?? A hammer or billy club, sure. But a cabbage?? (Please don’t get up in arms, people, we’re kidding of course).
Omg too good of a line up tomorrow. Am calling in sick for work
Good! I need company! Will you be up for the beginning of Fedal at 12.50 Paris time?
You bet ! This is a match for the ages. And i watch every Rafa match which does not clash with work. And if it does, i am not very productive resorting to tracking the live scores and relying on tenngranders and tennis-x ers
tennis-xers!! Most of them are fed and Nole fans many of whom love Twitler!
We all have to cheer rafa on together!!
Nny will you be here on site with me, vmk and Mona for the fedal match? I hope so! I know it is pretty early American time.
Vr I hope you will be here again!☺☺ Good to see you today!
amy,
I am not an early riser at all. It will start shortly before 7:00 am my time. I can try to be here. I want to be with my fellow Rafa fans. That makes it easier!
😍