By Henk Abbink
Today is THE big day! The whole tennis world will be watching over Novak’s and Rafa’s shoulders what, maybe, should or could have been the Roland Garros final. That is IF the Roland Garros organizers would have followed a Wimbledon-like seeding system. On the other hand, warriors Ferrer and Tsonga have been looking strong enough to be worthy contenders for a first Grand Slam crown. So, maybe, just maybe, today’s semis line-up is correct. One thing is sure: whatever the outcome of today’s expected battles, we’ll see one new finalist. There can be no doubt either that these are the four guys that fully deserve to be the main event on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Bookmakers are giving the edge to Nadal and Ferrer reaching the finals. I will refrain from any predictions other than, after seeing the draw, expecting both Spaniards to go all the way. However, both Tsonga and Ferrer have slaughtered their way to the semis. So, things could go both ways. Novak looked better in his first matches but if he plays like he played against Kohlschreiber and Haas, then I believe even an 85% Rafa will beat him.
All four players seem to be physically 100%. So let’s hope all four will be playing at 100% too and that they will stay injury-free during their matches. That will assure we will see some rollercoaster, exciting top clay tennis and that, no matter who wins, tennis will be the ultimate winner!
On the wheelchair tennis front, some exciting matches are expected in today’s finals. French World No. 2 Stephane Houdet will face Japan’s World No. Shingo Kuneida in the Men’s singles final. On the women’s side, after the surprise upset of World No. 1 Aniek van Koot by Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock, the unseeded German will battle it out with Dutch World No. 2 Jiske Griffioen.
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« Previous 1 2BoDu · June 11, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Grand Slams Winning Percentage (Open Era)
1. Borg .892
2. Nadal .882
3. Federer .868
4. Laver .857
5. Sampras .842
6. Djokovic .839
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Reliability-Zone/Reliability-Gland-Slams-Career-List.aspx
Henk · June 11, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Gustarhymes: I think you’re hitting the nail right on the head. It’s just another one of the wishful- thinking ‘predictions’ gone sour.
The ‘ambience-creating’ seems to be part of today’s blog posts and reporting. It’s that sound-bite marketing that seems to work so well in American politics also: just mention an untrue statement ad nauseum and then hope for enough ignorant listeners and readers to ‘parrot on’ the lies and a ‘new truth’ is born….
Along the way they also forget history and the fact that their ‘gentleman’ player Novak can almost claim a Grand Slam in retirements (2x at the French, once in Wimbledon and once at the Australian – as the defending champ, mind you!) Only the US Open is missing. Who knows, he may complete the Grand Slam in retirements before finally winning the French, so they’ll have at least something ‘to boast about’ that none of the other top players have.
Dan Markowitz · June 11, 2013 at 3:37 pm
Henk,
Where’s the “respect” for the players that you were championing in one of your earlier posts on this subject? I think the “history” you’re citing in regards to Djokovic’s retirements at the slams and in general, is “ancient history.” When’s the last time he retired in a slam?
Also, when I was in Toronto last year after Wimbledon and the Olympics, the only Top 5 player who played beyond the first round was Djokovic, who won the tournament. Federer, Nadal, Ferrer didn’t even show up and Murray, Del Po and Tsonga either lost in first round or retired after it.
Djokovic has been the ironman of the tour over the last three years.
Henk · June 11, 2013 at 4:21 pm
Dan, my respect for Novak and/or others throughout my posts has been more than obvious. Ã’m not the one bringing up untrue statements or the gentleman-comparison, so examples of a less gentleman-like attitude are more than in place,’ancient’ history or not. Just sticking to facts not fiction.
Don’t really see what Toronto 2012 has to do with all this, so you lost me there.
Scoop Malinowski · June 11, 2013 at 7:30 pm
It’s not wishful thinking about Djokovic. I see an amazing special champion inside him, the best player I have ever seen when he’s at his best. He has taken tennis to a new level above prime Fed and Rafa which was considered impossible. Nadal is an all time great also, no doubt, he’s the king right now, I place him slightly ahead of Roger, but Djokovic I feel will eventually dominate Rafa again like he did in 2011. I feel Djokovic is not the complete matured product yet, when he puts it all together he will take down Rafa in Paris. It’s just like when Rafa was young on grass, I always knew Rafa was going to master it and eventually best Roger. It took years but he did it. I remember most of the pundits all said he was a clay court specialist but I saw that he had the mind and will and the talent to take down Roger at Wimbledon. I always believed it and posted it at the old tennisweek message boards. Now I strongly believe Djokovic will overtake Rafa on clay, it’s not wishful thinking or hopes, it’s based on the qualites of Djokovic as an athlete and champion. He’s got the goods, he has Muhammad Ali qualities of greatness and ability to entertain and make people laugh and smile. Total respect for Rafa, but I just believe Djokovic, when all is said and done will be the ultimate champion of tennis history, taking tennis to a new level above and beyond Rafa and Fed.