Big Reilly Opelka, all 6ft 11 of him through to the semi finals in Rome. A giraffe flourishing on the clay.
10th Italian Open for Rafa today.
Roland Garros starting tomorrow week.
Nadal will go in as a strong favourite. He’ll be seeded no 3.
Djokovic could potentially have a Tsitsipas/Thiem/Nadal route which would be very tough.
I’d have Tsitsipas as the most likely outside of Nadal and Djokovic. Something seems off about Thiem, I think he must be struggling with injuries.
The draw will be crucial. Think Nadal particularly needs to spend as little time on court as possible in the second week.
Interesting that Nadal is now 5 years unbeaten against Djokovic on clay.
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It’s more of a mental thing with Thiem that was why he said he stepped away after the Australian Open. Be interesting to see how he goes in the French.
Federer loses in the first round in Geneva.
I’m very surprised at the lack of tennis he’s played. I know RG is not going to be a priority for him at this stage but I’d really thought he’d have tried to get as much tennis under his belt in the past 2/3 months as he could with Wimbledon approaching shortly.
RG not starting for another fortnight, I thought it was usually the week after Rome? Have they changed the calendar this year?
Usually it is the week after Rome maybe it is extended due to covid regulations or some other such bullshit.
The draw for the French Open is done. Nadal is seeded 3 for the French and folks give out about the Wimbledon seedings. Nadal is in Djokovics half of the draw so could be a tasty semi final.
Djokovic/Nadal on one side.
Djokovic should cruise to the SF, I really can’t see anything of difficulty for him to that stage. Federer won’t go far in this and he’s the highest seeded player there he could meet prior to the SF. The other seeded players he could meet are:
R3 - Humbert
R4 - De Minaur/Goffin
QF- Berrettini/FAA/Federer/Fritz
I’d be utterly shocked if he doesn’t make it to the SF without any trouble.
Nadal has it a fair bit tougher on his side
R3 - Sonego
R4 - Sinner/Monfils
QF - Rublev/Karetsev/Bashiashvilli/Schwartzman
Sinner and Schwartzman have the ability to put it up to Nadal at the least and are both probably at their best on clay. Looking at that draw I expect Nadal to go into that semi final having spent 4/5 hours longer on court than Djokovic.
Thiem and Tsitsipas have been kept apart until the semis. I’d really fancy Tsitsipas to make the final as Thiem is not on it. Zverev is on Thiem’s side of the draw and I think he could take Thiem if he’s not at his best in the quarters.
I don’t give Medvedev much hope here and think he will exit early
I think Tsitsipas E/W is a great bet for this. I’d be surprised if he’s not in the final.
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So to recap
Tsitsipas v Nadal/Djokovic final
Zverev to make the semi
Thiem to go at the quarters or before
Federer and Medvedev gone before R4
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I don’t expect much from Federer and can’t see him making the second week. I’d say he would be happy with that getting in the match practice before Wimbledon. Thiem is struggling mentally at the moment.
Thiem gone to a deciding set in the first round.
Andujar breaks at the start of the 5th.
This is code red for Thiem. I’m not all that surprised as he has been so under par in the past few months.
Thiem responding now.
Coming out of this sort of a situation could really spark him into life for the remainder of the tournament.
Thiem breaks back and looks to have sparked into life.
Thiem gone.
Jesus.
He needs a shrink at this stage, seems to have any nerve he had.
Really should have backed Tsitsipas EW.
Mentally finished. He would be best off sitting our Wimbledon and getting himself together for a hard court season.
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Is Thiem suffering from depression/mental health issues? That does seem to be what’s floated out there in some quarters.
Wilander made comments to that effect a month or so back but Thiem denied it.
He reminds me of Nadal 2015/16 when he just didn’t have any belief or conviction in himself. Thiem is a player who relies on his energy and ability to hit the ball freely and he’s not confident in his ability to do that then he’s in serious bother.
Zverev is danger of dropping the first set here.
5-3 down.