2013 French Open

**Sir David Gray** · 26-05-2013 07:01 PM

With the football season finally finished, I need to recharge the batteries over the next couple of months before getting going again in August.

Until then the tennis will be the main attraction with the French Open and Wimbledon taking place over the next 6 weeks or so.

Up first is Roland Garros which started today and there's already been some great matches.

Earlier on Gilles Simon battled back from two sets down to defeat Lleyton Hewitt in five sets in the men's draw and in the women's draw, Venus Williams is fighting to stay in the tournament against Urszula Radwanska. It's one set all at the moment with both sets going to tiebreaks but it's not looking great for Williams at the moment as Radwanska has a double break in the decider at 4-0.

Little sister, Serena, had no such worries as she beat Anna Tatishvili 6-0 6-1.

**Sir David Gray** · 27-05-2013 03:25 PM

Venus Williams went out last night after losing 6-4 in the third set against Urszula Radwanska.

Today Britain lost one of its three women as Laura Robson lost to Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-2. Only Heather Watson and Elena Baltacha remain now and there are obviously no British men in the draw following Murray's withdrawal last week.

Rafael Nadal had a slight scare against Daniel Brands. He lost the opening set 6-4 and the second set went to a tiebreak which he was 3-0 down in. However he recovered to win that tiebreak and never really looked back.

He eventually won 4-6 7-6 6-4 6-3 and will now play Martin Klizan in round two.

Interestingly, he could face Lukas Rosol, the man who beat him at last year's Wimbledon, in round three.

**Sir David Gray** · 27-05-2013 05:55 PM

Fantastic match on right now between Tomas Berdych and Gael Monfils.

Monfils was two sets up but Berdych has come back to level the match at two sets all.

1-1 in the decider at the moment.

No tiebreaks in the final set so it could be on for some time.

**Sir David Gray** · 27-05-2013 06:40 PM

Berdych is out after losing 7-5 in the final set to Gael Monfils.

Biggest upset so far in the tournament.

***PatHead*** · 27-05-2013 08:16 PM

What channels is it on this year Falkirk and how is the name change coming on? (Notice STV had some coverage?)

**Sir David Gray** · 27-05-2013 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by PatHead

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

What channels is it on this year Falkirk and how is the name change coming on? (Notice STV had some coverage?)

It's being shown on STV/ITV, ITV4, Eurosport and Eurosport 2.

Still no further forward with the name change! I'm really not very creative!

**Treadstone** · 02-06-2013 05:45 PM

Federer levels . Simon will be hard pushed to even make the decider competetive in my view.

**Sir David Gray** · 02-06-2013 06:15 PM

Just in from work and watching this just now.

Quite shocked that Simon has taken Federer to five sets, regardless of what the outcome is.

Federer currently serving at 4-2 up.

**Sir David Gray** · 02-06-2013 06:28 PM

What a game this has been.

Federer serving at 5-3.

It's gone from match point to break point and now to match point again!

**Sir David Gray** · 02-06-2013 06:31 PM

Federer through in five, 6-3 in the decider.

He plays Tsonga in the quarter finals.

**Sir David Gray** · 02-06-2013 07:43 PM

There has to be a mention for Tommy Robredo as well.

At 31 years old, he becomes the first player in almost 90 years to come back and win from two sets to love down in three consecutive Grand Slam matches.

He'll have his work cut out in the quarter finals though against David Ferrer. He's done well though as it's his best Grand Slam performance for four years.

**Treadstone** · 03-06-2013 10:38 AM

Scheduling at Rolly G is quite bizarre. Lost quite a lot of play to rain yet Federer and Tsonga already in quarters. At Wimbledon 'Magic Monday' has all 32 players involved in the last 16 in action, I think it works quite well although the weather has to hold up the second week. Hope the schedule stands up unlike the US Open where the organisers seem determined to give one half of the draw an advantage.

Still sticking with Novak and can't see past Serena although impressed with Radwanska on Sunday after being quite ordinary before that her best match for a couple of months. Doesn't hit enough winners to trouble SW and MS though.

***JimBHibees*** · 03-06-2013 03:09 PM

http://tennishasasteroidproblem.blog...st-tennis.html

Got to be said really like tennis however have grave concerns about some of the top players. For Nadal to come back from 8 months off and be absolutely back to his best has got to be questionable. Also Djokovic who went from a guy struggling to play 3 sets to be able to play full out for 5 sets quite easily is again questionable.

Saw an interview with Jimmy Connors on Sky last week and he said pretty much the same thing with regard to these 2 guys. Personally I think he was insinuating something a bit more sinister to be honest. The link I have put up was quite interesting to me however given the levels of testing is nowhere near other sports I think there is a credibility issue for some.

**Treadstone** · 03-06-2013 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by JimBHibees

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

http://tennishasasteroidproblem.blog...st-tennis.html

Got to be said really like tennis however have grave concerns about some of the top players. For Nadal to come back from 8 months off and be absolutely back to his best has got to be questionable. Also Djokovic who went from a guy struggling to play 3 sets to be able to play full out for 5 sets quite easily is again questionable.

Saw an interview with Jimmy Connors on Sky last week and he said pretty much the same thing with regard to these 2 guys. Personally I think he was insinuating something a bit more sinister to be honest. The link I have put up was quite interesting to me however given the levels of testing is nowhere near other sports I think there is a credibility issue for some.

Tennis has to get a bit tougher, but think the blogger behind this website is a nut or a cycling fan.

***JimBHibees*** · 04-06-2013 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Treadstone

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Tennis has to get a bit tougher, but think the blogger behind this website is a nut or a cycling fan.

You are maybe right about the blog however if you had listened to the Connors interview there was IMO a definite edge to what he was saying. When you look at some of the quotes on the site from well respected tennis people I think it is pie in the sky to suggest that tennis doesnt have these issues. When you look at the level of physicality in Djokovic and Nadal games to me it doesnt stack up that they are so much fitter and stronger than the other players especially when as Connors indicated Djokovic was struggling to play 3 sets less than a year before his unbelievable improvement.

To me Nadal is too strong also his game is wonderful but alot of it is based on outstaying the opponent especially on the most taxing surface clay. His recovery from being out for 8 months is again to me highly suspicious. I think there are valid questions to be asked especially when it was highlighted at the Australian open that tennis has much less blood testing than other sports.

**Treadstone** · 04-06-2013 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by JimBHibees

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

You are maybe right about the blog however if you had listened to the Connors interview there was IMO a definite edge to what he was saying. When you look at some of the quotes on the site from well respected tennis people I think it is pie in the sky to suggest that tennis doesnt have these issues. When you look at the level of physicality in Djokovic and Nadal games to me it doesnt stack up that they are so much fitter and stronger than the other players especially when as Connors indicated Djokovic was struggling to play 3 sets less than a year before his unbelievable improvement.

To me Nadal is too strong also his game is wonderful but alot of it is based on outstaying the opponent especially on the most taxing surface clay. His recovery from being out for 8 months is again to me highly suspicious. I think there are valid questions to be asked especially when it was highlighted at the Australian open that tennis has much less blood testing than other sports.

Djokovic sends up red flags with the semi and final at the Aussie open in 2012. Testing has to be more stringent and more accurate, blood samples should be the norm for ALL dope tests. Nadal is paying the price for his game in the last few years. I expect his hard court schedule to be scaled down even from its flimsy current attendance.

**Sir David Gray** · 03-06-2013 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by JimBHibees

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

http://tennishasasteroidproblem.blog...st-tennis.html

Got to be said really like tennis however have grave concerns about some of the top players. For Nadal to come back from 8 months off and be absolutely back to his best has got to be questionable. Also Djokovic who went from a guy struggling to play 3 sets to be able to play full out for 5 sets quite easily is again questionable.

Saw an interview with Jimmy Connors on Sky last week and he said pretty much the same thing with regard to these 2 guys. Personally I think he was insinuating something a bit more sinister to be honest. The link I have put up was quite interesting to me however given the levels of testing is nowhere near other sports I think there is a credibility issue for some.

I would be very surprised if either Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic had taken any illegal substances.

Stunned, in fact.

**Sir David Gray** · 03-06-2013 05:30 PM

Some match on just now between Richard Gasquet and Stanislas Wawrinka.

It's into a decider and it's 5-5.

**Sir David Gray** · 03-06-2013 05:48 PM

Wawrinka wins 8-6 in the fifth set and comes back from two sets down.

***JimBHibees*** · 04-06-2013 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by FalkirkHibee

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

I would be very surprised if either Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic had taken any illegal substances.

Stunned, in fact.

Personally wouldnt be stunned in the slightest.

**Sir David Gray** · 04-06-2013 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by JimBHibees

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Personally wouldnt be stunned in the slightest.

I just don't see the likes of Nadal or Djokovic, who are two of the most high profile sportsmen in the world at the moment, sacrificing all of that by taking dodgy substances.

If they have, I would be incredibly saddened as I look upon them as two of the greatest athletes in the world.

It would be horrible to think that they had actually achieved a lot of their success by cheating.

***PatHead*** · 05-06-2013 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by JimBHibees

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Personally wouldnt be stunned in the slightest.

If Lance Armstrong could get away with it for years you never know, Tiger hid his secret life for long enough...............hope not though as I admire both these guys. BTW have always wondered about the Williams sisters as well.

**jodjam** · 04-06-2013 03:25 PM

Federer a set and a break down to Tsonga

**Treadstone** · 04-06-2013 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by jodjam

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Federer a set and a break down to Tsonga

Federer oot. Walloped.

**Sir David Gray** · 04-06-2013 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Treadstone

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Federer oot. Walloped.

Quite surprised by that scoreline.

Tsonga certainly has it in him to beat Federer. He did it a couple of years ago at Wimbledon in five sets but to actually go out and beat him in straight sets is very impressive.

It gives Tsonga a great chance now of reaching only his second Grand Slam final after his appearance in the 2008 Australian Open final. He'll now play David Ferrer in the last four who is looking to reach his first ever Grand Slam final.

However the eventual winner will surely come from the winner of the other semi final, which is undoubtedly going to be between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

**Treadstone** · 05-06-2013 09:03 PM

After yesterdays 2 stunning Ladies QFs it was a bit disappointing today. Sharapova match was good without being engrossing and Nadal and Djokoviv outclassed their opponents. Looking forward to their semi and the two Ladies semis. Both could be classics and I expect Errani to put on a good show unless Serena turns the power on early.

**Sir David Gray** · 05-06-2013 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Treadstone

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

After yesterdays 2 stunning Ladies QFs it was a bit disappointing today. Sharapova match was good without being engrossing and Nadal and Djokoviv outclassed their opponents. Looking forward to their semi and the two Ladies semis. Both could be classics and I expect Errani to put on a good show unless Serena turns the power on early.

Fully expect Serena to be in the final. I can't see any way that Errani will beat her.

The Azarenka v Sharapova match will be a harder one to predict although I'm going to go for Azarenka.

I'm going for a Williams-Azarenka final.

For the men, I think it will be a Djokovic-Ferrer final with Djokovic winning in straight sets.

I really hope the Djokovic-Nadal semi on Friday is delayed until at least 5pm as that is when I come home from work. I'll be gutted if I miss that and it really should be the final.

**HUTCHYHIBBY** · 06-06-2013 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Treadstone

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

After yesterdays 2 stunning Ladies QFs it was a bit disappointing today. Sharapova match was good without being engrossing and Nadal and Djokoviv outclassed their opponents. Looking forward to their semi and the two Ladies semis. Both could be classics and I expect Errani to put on a good show unless Serena turns the power on early.

Even though she lost I enjoyed watching Kirilenko yesterday! :-)