#21

think there’s a happy middle ground between the recent flux of the WTA and the stasis of the ATP. Osaka holding 2 slams is decent enough grounds for her being #1 though tbh, hope she keeps hold of it til the US Open

#22

We need something to occupy our attention while Djokovic wins the next eight slams.

#23

I think the reasons for the flux in the women’s game is the more worrying thing. With the exception of Serena, I can’t think of a player on the women’s tour who has been able to string together more than a season of grand slam-winning worthy form at a time since Venus faded.

It seems to be less healthy competition and more crash and burn from the players, who surge and then break down mentally or physically.

Anyway, my mate was at Roland Garros yesterday to see Woz, Rafa and Novac (unfortunately Serena didn’t squeak into his session). Apparently getting great tickets is so much easier, cheaper and more straightforward than Wimbledon. His treat to himself in his 40th birthday year is to do the same for the US Open and Australian too. We’re off to the Queens’ club final in a few weeks.

#24

Hope you have better luck than I did. [I was at the Nalbandian v Cilic final]

#25

So gutted I missed out on Lopez v Karlovic on clay. That must have been… a tennis match.

#26

I reckon Fredo Murray is deliberately tanking these days, just to have an excuse to split with Soares and team up with his hobbly little bro.

#27

part of the reason for it is just that there are loads of talented attacking players without much of a B game on tour at the moment, who can take anybody out and lose to anybody.
tbf Kvitova, Muguruza, Azarenka and Kerber have all won multiple slams across different seasons this decade even if none of them have racked them up like people expected them to. don’t think the latter two have underperformed really. former two (esp Mugu) def have and it’s hard to fully put a finger on why. anyway i think Osaka has a more complete game and probs more of a winning mentality than any of them & will end up with a lot more in the long run

I’m off to Rosmalen again which is the week before Queens. going for QF day again. proper excited

#28

also think mens slam results are never really gonna be a fair comparison because the favourite’s always more likely to come out in top in a best-of-5 match than BO3, regression to the mean and that

#29

In the latter stages of a tournament, sure, but you don’t see bagels all over the shop in the men’s game.

#30

fewer breaks of serve in the mens game cos they serve bigger and more aces so get way more free points in their service games though, reckon a womens bagel is equivalent to a mens 6-1 or 6-2

#31

And today’s comedy player is Sloane Stephens. Six service breaks in a row.

#32

Tsonga being the French number 10 now blows my mind a bit

#33

I’m surprised he makes their top 100 at the moment.

#34

I was just trying the two Sporcle quizzes on men’s players who’ve won more than 20 matches at RG and also at Wimbledon. Got over half on both, but embarrassingly couldn’t get Wilander for the former or Tsonga for the second, which given that I’m actually watching Tsonga on Eurosport is a bit funny.

[Also missed two other French Open champions during my adult life]

#35

just checked and the British number 10 is world number 408 Alex Ward

#36

who is retired

1 Like
#37

good timing


would not have guessed Italy have even more top 250 players than France

#38

Osaka - Vika 2nd set has been immense
bit sad that if Vika loses she’ll be unseeded again for Wimbledon and probs get another nightmare draw

#39

Would be loving this mens draw if the finalists didn’t feel so inevitable. Stan back on top and Kei doing his 5th set warrior thing :heart: . rest of today’s matches look fun too

#40

Caught the end of the Stan match. Tittypass is quite an intense chap isn’t he! I have never seen a man so absolutely nailed on to lose from the off take as long as Paire did to do it.