What happens if say Djoko loses in the quarters or semis, how many points then?
As far as the women go, I’d love to see Schiavone repeat her win. She is so scrappy and so different from the stable of 6’2" Russian women who are currently dominating the WTA. I love to watch her play.
Sharapova played as good as I’ve ever seen her play in Rome. I normally don’t like her because she is unsportsmanlike (e.g. she’ll take convenient bathroom breaks or call out the trainer when her opponent has gained momentum), but I have to say that she is playing with a joy that I find endearing. Maybe separating from her father (and getting engaged) was the best thing for her. She looked so happy and relieved to win in Rome that I’ll probably root for her against most players.
Sharapova is one of the few players who can beat Wozniacki because she goes on the offense and doesn’t allow Wozniacki to play her game.
Wozniacki is very consistent, but is a defensive player. She is winning a lot because she is so consistent and wears her opponent down. If a player like Clijsters, who plays to win vs. playing not to lose, can keep her confidence throughout the entire match, she will beat Caroline every time. But women’s tennis is plagued by erratic play. You’ll see players go from hitting the ball crisply and confidently, to not being able to get the ball over the net – all in the same match! It’s maddening.
As far as the American women go, McHale is a much better, all-around player than Oudin, IMO. I’ve seen her play a half dozen times and was impressed by her poise on the court for such a young player. I think she’ll continue to move up. Oudin is a head case. Until she can exorcise her demons, she won’t be a serious contender except for the occasional brilliant run a la the Safins.
Reported so that this can be merged with the existing thread.
What are Del Potro’s chances at the US Open? Man, when he won it a couple years ago, I thought he was ready to join Nadal, Fed, and Djoker at the top. Shame he got injured.
Brian
A couple of years ago, and yes, they’re the only one that does this. It’s something a little different, and it does ease the scheduling burden a bit since clay matches tend to go particularly long. Some of the players don’t like it much, but so what?
Done.
Federer looked fine in his first round. He only had to work a little in the 3rd set, but honestly, it was an easy round.
Wozniacki just bageled her opponent in the first set.
Here’s how it works for the men. I think you get 25 points for qualifying, and then the points go like this:
10 points for a loss in the first round
45 in the second
90 in the third
180 in the fourth
360 in the quarterfinals
720 in the semis
1200 for reaching the final
2000 for winning the championship
Maybe it’s the gluten free diet http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/23/us-tennis-open-men-djokovic-idUSTRE74M3BH20110523
I feel for him as I gag on gluten free bread, but he undoubtedly looks healthier. I’m going to stick with my Nadal prediction - but I’m nervous!
Isner just took a set of Nadal, so they’re even at one set each. The set lasted 55 minutes and went to a tiebreak, and if Isner wants to win he probably needs to do that two more times.
Well Isner did the same thing in the third set. Isner up two sets to one. Major upset brewing.
And Isner won set three (56 minutes) in a tiebreak, so evidently he can do it twice.
Nadal is up a break early in the fourth.
Tennis Channel just reported that Nadal has never gone to a 5th set at French Open. Until today, as he just won the 4th set pretty easily.
It’s good to see Isner take a couple of sets off of Nadal, but I can’t see him holding it together long enough to actually beat Nadal. They just said this will be the first time Nadal has played a fifth set at the French, so John gets another spot in a record book!
Tsonga looked good Sunday, but I doubt he will make it too far into the draw. I just love watching him play, he has so much charisma, it makes up for weaker aspects of his game.
Yup, Soderling beat Nadal in four sets in 2009, and not that many guys have given Nadal a real challenge at the French: he won the tournament without losing a set in 2008 and 2010, and by my count, he has lost 10 sets lifetime at the French before today. We’ll see if Isner can bounce back. It’s 1-1 in the fifth.
Yes Nadal now looks in control.
You won’t believe what time it is in NZ, I only got up to see the Erakovic scores - at the moment she is up 5-2.
Come on Marina!
Nadal gets a break at love, and now leads 2-1 in the fifth.
Isner holds and of course I have to leave to go to work! I think I can go, confident that Nadal will end up winning. It would be pretty great if Isner does pull off the upset this early!!