French Open 2020

Pigeon_Killer · 27 Sep 2020 at 11:10

The French Open started today and Murray's facing Warwinka at 2:30PM. They faced each other in the semi finals in 2017 and their marathon 5 set match broke both players, Murray's hip and Warwinka's knee. I think that was the end of both players at the highest level but hopefully I'm wrong.

Think Djokovic will win the title this year, Nadal needs the heat to get his weaponised topspin going and it's just not going to happen for him at this time of year. They've also changed the balls this year which he's not happy about so unless someone can stop Djokovic it should be number 18 for him.

Pigeon_Killer · 27 Sep 2020 at 17:12

Badly outgunned so far today, ball's sitting up and Wawrinka's twatting it back.

Edit: 6-1 first set. Murray's serve is off today and in the slower conditions his fitness and speed around court is basically useless as the rallies are too short.

Edit: 6-3 second set. Ball's sitting up too much and Wawrinka can't miss. Beginning to wonder if some of the younger big hitters might actually give Djokovic some troubles with the ball behaving like this.

Pigeon_Killer · 27 Sep 2020 at 18:26

That was uncomfortable to watch. Murray's clearly lost a bit of pace around the court but also with his serve and groundstrokes.

Needs a change of plan, as the commentators said, if he wants to be competitive in the majors again. Wouldn't mind seeing him back with Lendl but can't see it happening.

Pigeon_Killer · 28 Sep 2020 at 13:57

Thiem looked very good against Cilic, beat him convincingly in 3.

Williams up next then Nadal but a lot of games have been delayed due to the weather which looks bad all week.

Edit: Williams screaming her head off after playing the softest of backhand slices, STFU woman!

Pigeon_Killer · 29 Sep 2020 at 16:54

Got to hand it to the Brits, all have socially distanced themselves from the second round.

Pigeon_Killer · 29 Sep 2020 at 17:18

marc2003 said:
Could you please direct all your STFUs to that wazzock Inverdale.

I can't stand him either, no idea how he keeps getting work after the amount of controversies he's been involved in.

On the plus side, the rest (mainly Courier) are all good to listen to so I put up with Inverdale.

Pigeon_Killer · 3 Oct 2020 at 14:13

Didn't watch Murray's match but did watch Nadal yesterday and he's looking good despite his complaints. Only problem for him is Djokovic, Thiem and Tsitsipas also look very good and I fancy Thiem to beat him in the semis.

Pigeon_Killer · 4 Oct 2020 at 11:03

Yeah, massively impressed with Swiatek. Beat the 15th seed convincingly in the first round and that hasn't turned out to be a fluke. Berten's getting smashed as well currently.

Edit: Murdered her 6-1, 6-2. Nadal up next.

Pigeon_Killer · 4 Oct 2020 at 11:57

Weather's not great but Nadal has a match on his hands. If he makes it through, I think Zverev could do him.

Edit: Maybe not, he's engaged beast mode now.

Pigeon_Killer · 4 Oct 2020 at 13:32

Korda played pretty well considering his experience, scoreline doesn't reflect the game tbh. Nadal certainly isn't looking as good as he does in the hotter weather.

Zverev getting hammered by Sinner in the other game.

Pigeon_Killer · 4 Oct 2020 at 14:14

Haven't watched Sinner before so assumed Zverev was having another off day but christ does Sinner hit the ball well. Hard, accurate and winning points quick.

Edit: Impressive, very impressive.

Pigeon_Killer · 4 Oct 2020 at 15:36

Gaston needs to be careful, he'll start losing points if he takes any longer with his serve.

Edit: Zverev reporting a sore throat, a fever and trouble breathing as the reason he lost. WTF is wrong with these people? If he comes back positive for COVID he should lose his winnings and have a 6 month ban.

Pigeon_Killer · 5 Oct 2020 at 13:09

The commentators on Eurosport kept pointing out the crowd were in pockets rather than spread around the court so perhaps they just have a very slack attitude towards COVID.

Pigeon_Killer · 5 Oct 2020 at 13:43

Tsitsipas game is pretty good, hoping Dimitrov takes this tiebreaker. Djokovic batters both though

Edit: Djokovic looks like he's struggling with the pace but he's already had COVID, perhaps there is another illness going around?

Edit: Zverev tested negative for COVID which is good news for Sinner and the rest of the tournament.

Pigeon_Killer · 6 Oct 2020 at 13:48

Only the 7th seed Kvitova left now, Svitolina's just been beaten in straight sets. Got to fancy Swiatek to continue her demolition job to the title now.

Thiem up next then Nadal this evening :cool:

Pigeon_Killer · 6 Oct 2020 at 17:46

Match of the tournament so far, can't pick a winner even if Thiem takes this breaker and the third set.

Pigeon_Killer · 6 Oct 2020 at 18:52

Really want a 5th set, standard of tennis has been ridiculous in this match.

marc2003 said:
Kenin is seeded 4th and still in.

Missed that, assumed the other game today was a quarter final but it was only the 4th round.

Edit: They're not going to start a match after 10:30 at night are they?

Pigeon_Killer · 6 Oct 2020 at 22:41

Yeah, he's a fantastic talent but Nadal has little in his arsenal to hurt him with the weather this cold. No pace or spin to the forehand he'd be dominating with usually.

Quite like the high looping cross court forehand he's playing now though, opens up the court for the shot down the line.

Edit: I've watched tennis for almost 12 hours today

Excellent performance from Sinner, dominated most of the points in the 1st set, a lot of points in the 2nd but look mentally beaten in the 3rd. Semi finals will be very tough for Nadal but there's no way he's beating Djokovic this year.

Pigeon_Killer · 8 Oct 2020 at 14:53

Swiatek is basically the Ivan Drago of the tennis world. As powerful as the hardest hitting men, capable of ridiculous amounts of spin and has a team of coaches, tacticians and psychologists to back her up. She's a cheat code.

Pigeon_Killer · 8 Oct 2020 at 15:24

I thought she was well old, only 31 and retired in 2018.

Would love to know Swiateks string tension, she can't be generating that much power from her size or technique at only 19. Does hit through the ball fast though.