May/16
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Wilander says Rafa Void hollows Roland Garros event
10 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
Mats Wilander: “Winning Roland Garros without Rafael Nadal – it’s not an authentic Roland Garros, and Djokovic knows it.”
That’s a very interesting and provocative opinion by Wilander. When one ‘larger than life’ player like Nadal practically owns an event as Rafa does Paris there is a gigantic void when that player’s presence is absent. But the French Open is still the French Open and who ever survives and prevails on Sunday is deserving of full credit and respect regardless of who or how he beats the rest of the players. This quote by the seven time major winner Wilander surely will spark an interesting debate.
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Gaurang · May 31, 2016 at 12:36 am
Djokovic already defeat Nadal in straight sets last year and a few weeks ago on clay. In the last 2 years, Rafa has not won a single set against Novak. I dont think Rafa’s absence should downplay the trophy for whoever wins it.
Rob · May 31, 2016 at 6:25 am
Does that comment hold with Roger s victory without a Rafa challenge at the end?
Harold · May 31, 2016 at 7:40 am
Wilanders first French was the year Borg stopped playing after winning 6 out of 7 years, does his count?
Wilander is one of my favorite players of all-time, but after the Harrison prediction, he cant be taken too seriously..,
Scoop Malinowski · May 31, 2016 at 7:46 am
That’s right Gaurang – fifteen straight sets by Djokovic over Rafa – why would anyone think Rafa would suddenly now win three out of five off Djokovic when Djokovic has won fifteen out of fifteen? Djokovic has crumbled Rafa –
Scoop Malinowski · May 31, 2016 at 7:48 am
Rob: I would suppose it does indeed – even more so because Rafa was prime back then – Rafa now is a beaten up slightly faded less confident version –
Scoop Malinowski · May 31, 2016 at 7:49 am
Good point Harold – Harrison prediction wasn’t that wildly off don’t forget Harrison did get into the top 45 –
Dan Markowitz · May 31, 2016 at 8:59 am
Scoop, there’s a yuge difference between being no. 3 in the world and no. 45. And what was he 45 for a week? That’s like saying Vince was a solid top 20 player (btw, Vince texted me that UCLA’s McKenzie McDonald won the NCCA singles championship this weekend, doubles too).
Has any former great slam winner been as milquetoast in his post-career career as Wilander. The guy has been a dud as a coach and his senior tennis career has been equally weak.
Scoop Malinowski · May 31, 2016 at 9:17 am
Dan you have made a few hare brained predictions as well including one that had you pegged to crawl through the US Open food court barking like a dog lol – all the great pundits including Wilander misread and innacurately project a young player’s future – there is no doubt Wilander is a brilliant tennis mind – Wilander just hasn’t hooked up with the right player – Golovin Safin and Keys just didn’t work out – Keys is looking good right now and I picked her to win it all last week on facebook – mcEnroe had two failed coaching flings with Bruguera and Philippoussis who he said both just didn’t listen to what he suggested – just because mcenroe and wilander have not achieved big successes as coaches it does not mean they are weak or timid as milquetoast implies – connors didn’t do anything remarkable as a coach either –
Dan Markowitz · May 31, 2016 at 12:19 pm
Connors did infinitely better with Roddick than Mac and Mats. I’m not knocking Mats, it’s just that when you predict Harry’s going Top 3 and now he’s Top 200 at 25 or whatever he is, it makes you wonder how closely Mats is watching the game.
Scoop Malinowski · May 31, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Harrison was looking very good back then beating guys like Ljubicic – that loss to Stakhovskiy on grandstand was crushing – he never really recovered – that was supposed to be his breakout on grandstand but he blew it in five sets with a match point – Certain losses are just devastating like that – Roddick didn’t show any new twists with Connors —