Tennis Thread - Grand Slams & The Tour

I hate to be that guy but I’ll be indoors, watching the tennis on Chatrier either side of what I hope will be a lovely lunch. It’ll be a huge bonus to get to stroll round the outside courts though - that’s often the best thing about Wimbledon.

 

Don’t feel bad! It’s great you're guaranteed seeing some play tomorrow.

And I agree…I can never sit still long at Wimbledon..I love walking round, stopping at each court for a few minutes. Even going to the practice area.

 

What I didn't realise is how close to the Parc des Princes Roland-Garros is. I've been to the Parc des Princes and had no idea it was was more or less over the road.

My pal used to be the head of press at Roland-Garros so he's going to give me the whole tour. I'm only going off Google Maps but it looks a lot more spread out than Wimbledon.

 

Yes it’s very central. A beautiful place.

That’s fantastic that you’re getting a guided tour. Wow.

A few years ago my old Maths teacher from school got a job at the LTA and I had a similar experience at Wimbledon. I had to pretend I always enjoyed those boring trigonometry classes after all!

 

Swiatek v Osaka a cracker so far.

 

Wonderful isn’t it.

I was really hoping Noami would put up a good fight.

Im trying to follow both it and Coco too. She’s just gone a set up.

 

The draw at RG has certainly thrown up some mouthwatering matches these first few days eh.

Murray v Stan with their 6 combined grand slams. Rafa v the number 4 seed. And now this one. Two multiple slam winners.

 

Gosh. Match point saved. Broken back. This is quality

 

Osaka choked near the finishing line. It was in her hands. Will she get another chance?

 

What a match that was! Wow!

 

What a brilliant place Roland Garros is. I know that corner of Paris reasonably well having ridden my bike round the Bois de Boulogne / Longchamps circuit when I've been staying in the city for work, but I didn't realise just how close Roland Garros and the Parc des Princes are.

The weather wasn't the best so my glimpses of outdoor tennis were few and far between but to be on Chatrier for the Djokovic match was great even if it was a bit of a cruise for him. That's to be expected at this stage of the tournament, I guess. I got a little peek behind the scenes in the press room, press restaurant and bar too and had a nice lunch.

The whole area around the Simonne Mathieu court with the greenhouses was lovely and the atmosphere across the whole of Roland Garros was very Parisian – upmarket and chic although without being (too) snooty.

There was a lot of talk about how empty the main courts have been during the day and what the tournament organisers can do about it, although the Djokovic match was well attended. Anything on between 12 and 3 is going to struggle no matter what they do – nothing gets between the French and a nice, long lunch. But, like a lot of sports events that have become expensive, there's a sense that the sport itself is optional, almost a sideshow and of secondary importance to just being there. Perhaps that changes later in the tournament as the matches get bigger.

Admittedly, I probably fell into that category too because I am not sure I'd spend 125 euros on a ticket for tennis, although I at least made the effort to watch as much as I could while I was there.

All in all, though, there's something very pleasing about the colours. The clay, the greenery of the surroundings, the upmarket feel of the whole place.

 

So glad you had a good time. In fact I sent you a small PM wishing you a nice day but don’t think you would have seen it in time!

When I heard on the news yesterday they’d introduced a drinking ban to try to quieten the rowdy behaviour of the first few days, I was hoping it wasn’t linked to your day there!

 

I just saw your PM. Thanks for that.

Even at the subsidised press bar prices I wasn't feeling rich enough to get rowdy! The price of a bottle of rosé was pretty punchy.

 

What’s next for you? Flinders or Flushing?

You’re on your way to doing the set!

 

Well done Coco!

 

Sabalenka doing her traditional ‘trying to lose from the jaws of victory’ routine but well done, she’s won the first set somehow!

 

He was my original tip to win it but I really hope he doesn’t.

An alleged wife beater. Not nice

 

Novak doing his usual gamesmanship of looking like he’s about to collapse at any minute, distract his opponent and then to only to come back and win.

Now he’s bleating he might not play the next round. Well cheerio then if you can’t. You won’t be missed.

Meanwhile the thoroughly unpleasant alleged woman hitter comes back from two sets to one down to make the quarters.

I tipped him to win the tournament (through gritted teeth) and he has that habit of winning matches from unlikely positions (as does Novak).

Would love Alcaraz to win it through. A true champion in all senses.

 

Well he clearly injured his knee some more during the match. He got lucky that he had enough treatment and pills to get through the match. On another day he might not have.

"I had slight discomfort in the right knee for a couple of weeks but it was not an injury which was concerning - until today," Djokovic said.
"The late finish did not help the sleeping, the biorhythm and recovery, but I actually felt good in the circumstances.
"Then I slipped, one of the many times I slipped, and that affected the knee. I started feeling the pain.
"The reason why I continued was because I wanted to see if an extra anti-inflammatory was going to kick in and reduce the limitations - which is what happened."

As for distracting his opponent I've never understood the reasoning of an opponent forgetting how to play tennis when a player is injured. They should be professional enough to finish it off. I remember the media making a bit song and dance about it when Djokovic played Murray one time. I said the same thing then - Murray to stay focused and finish the job or risk going home.


Tsitsipas is still in, will see if he'll step up to win his first grand slam, first big test v Alcaraz.

 

Chris Evert talking out of her ***e in the commentary box not for the first time.

 

Well done Coco

 

Yes seems it was genuine last night.

Sorry for him.

 

Tsisipas no threat to Alcaraz.

The injury concerns in the pre tournament previews about Sinner and Alcaraz that gave the impression of an open men's draw hasn't really materialised.

 

I hope @I Blame Pozzo is ok? Not seen her on this thread for a few days

 

Devalued tournament now, with the GOAT withdrawing ?