Three Players To Watch During The French Open

Also curious to see the performances of Medvedev, Shelton, Fritz, Gauff, Cirstea, Kenin in qualies (she made final a few years ago), Paul, Foe.

Catherine, We just found the best possible option for Raducanu to hire as her next coach. Nobody is more qualified than Boris Becker. He is exactly what Emma needs when she returns. If she doesn’t hire Becker, she’s a fool. Kenin was doing pretty well this year too, that’s a bad loss. Pablo Cuevas lost to Shang, probably his final grand slam match.

Sam, Rune is no dummy, I think he likes his own chances too. Can’t recall any grand slam contender declaring, “I am the favorite to win this title.” This year is unique, I think there are five equal favorites – Novak, Rune, Carlos, Med and Stefanos. With Rublev, Khachanov, Fritz not far behind. Djokovic is 36.

Matt, Medvedev looked so good on clay it’s possible he was faking how much he disliked it, he has the game and variety to do well on all surfaces. He’s a big threat to win RG. Yes I remember that Med meltdown or tank job vs Young it was in Savannah many moons ago. This may be the last time DY is mentioned, he’s finished.

Interesting info on Guillermo Coria… what they don’t tell you is that Coria came from a family with fewer resources, he didn’t come from the families of children of clubs like Zabaleta and Gaudio did, for him it was always a struggle to excel despite his height and weight. There is another interview where he tells how he sneaked into hotels because his family couldn’t pay for them. Imagine being a kid from South America who travels alone to Europe and sometimes you don’t have to eat and your rivals know that about you, and you know that life is wild and very tough in competitions. I think that’s why he didn’t belong to the circle. intimate of the beginnings of the Argentine legion of the early 2000s.

Sam, didn’t Rafa try to claim a few years ago he wasn’t obsessed with winning like Novak, he plays more for the joy of playing? Skipping 2023 sure will drive up ticket sales and sponsor $ for the Rafa return or farewell tour in 2024.

Sam that was really dirty by Rafa when he was taking those veiled cheap shots at Djokovic, alluding Djokovic’s obsession to win was unhealthy compared to his own. It really showed desperation, insecurity, jealousy and lack of character to do that.

Sam, Rafa thought he had the total protection of the tennis establishment and deep state. His mistake was underestimating Djokovic and Nolefam, who are the most dedicated, devoted and doggedly loyal sports fans in the world. Very intelligent and they see every cheap shot launched at Djokovic and they always respond correctly and nicely and they expose the injustice and unfairness. It’s really impressive. Nolefam saved Djokovic from the vicious tennis media hate mob. A wonderful thing to Witness. And the work isn’t done yet. Let me ask, If Rafa is such a great fighter, why not at least try to play RG? We saw his training videos, no sign of any injury or limp, just a head down dejection about low confidence and poor form. I believe Rafa fears most of all losing badly like he did to McDonald at AO or how Federer lost to Hurkacz at Wimbledon 60 in the third. Rafa does not want to take the chance of losing badly like that, which would terribly damage is ego, image and aura of invincibility. If Rafa was truly hurt he would not have trained so hard for the last two months. But he tried.

Sam, and the illusion of injury sustains Rafa as an attraction, he will be used to sell tickets, attract sponsors and sell Nike, Babolat products next year. If he loses badly at RG this week it is THE END of Rafa, the king of clay image. Now there is still buzz and fake belief that OH Rafa can still do damage just as long as he’s healthy, but it’s all smoke and mirrors and hocus pocus. Rafa is 1-9 in his last ten matches and he looked ordinary losing to McDonald at AO, the same McDonald who just lost to Korda in three sets. The king of clay throne has been vacated and a new king will be crowned next week.

Maybe the biggest upset of this FO is the no. 1 seeds Siniakova and Krejcikova losing in first round to Hozumi and Eikeri in three sets. The Czechs have been the dominant WTA doubles team for three years. They have won 7 grand slam titles since 2018 including 3 in 2022 and they didn’t play French Open. They won it the last time they played in 2021… disturbing to see Thiago Seboth Wild win the biggest match of his life and then be asked by the rotten media about a lover’s quarrel he had with a former girlfriend. If this does not prove the tennis media is more interested in gossip, drama and negativity than the actual tennis, nothing will… Fognini has revived, crushed the slumping Felix and is rolling in round two.

Big surprise to see Korda lose to Ofner in three sets. Korda was sharp in dismissing McDonald and has done damage in Paris in the past. Maybe he took Ofner lightly? Anyway you cut it, it’s a bad loss for Korda who could have cracked the top 25 or 20 with a good run at FO.

Sam, Rafa will do what he’s told, he’s fine with being milked for maximum profits. Yes Djokovic is looking supreme and confident. Looked like at the henadshake Fucsovics said to him, “I’m sorry you are the goat.” Djokovic’s reaction of humility and acceptance seemed a response to that.