With all the rain only two matches have been completed in two days – and the two defeated players have been highly critical of the court conditions. Simona Halep and Agnieszka Radwanska both lost and ripped the tournament. Halep said “it’s impossible to play on the court and Radwanska blasted “it’s not a $10 000 it’s a grand slam. How can you allow players to play in those conditions?” The part I find strange is that the winners of the matches (Stosur and Pironkova) did not complain about the courts. They just played and won. It’s similar to the French Open final a few years back when Djokovic rallied back to win eight straight games from Nadal and was a break point away from a double break lead in the fourth set when Nadal shut down and verbally forced the chair umpire to stop the match because the courts were dangerous because of the persistent light rain. Djokovic was quite happy with the conditions and despite a tendency for slipping back then he was dominating Nadal despite the poor conditions. Of course when they finished the match the next day Nadal was able to save the break point and eventually break back and win 7-5 in the fourth set. Fred Perry once said great champions shouldn’t have to play in such horrid conditions but tennis is still predominantly an outdoor sport and through history clay court tennis has been contested in wet and rainy conditions until it’s deemed too dangerous. It’s just another twist of tennis that this French Open will be affected by the elements of mother nature and how it plays out will be perhaps even more interesting than if the conditions were picture perfect…. The raging intensities of Stan Wawrinka and Serena Williams have stood out for me. Serena’s hunger and desire to win this event appears to be as great – if not greater – than ANY tournament she’s ever played. Her fist pumps and screams during the Kiki Mladenovich match were a big factor in her surviving that scare. Wawrinka is also extremely fired up to defend his Roland Garros title. The formerly stoic player is now almost like a totally different person on the court. Wawrinka screams and exhorts himself on and also demonstrates positive body language with a raised clenched fist. Of course these emotional adjustments have lifted Stan from a fringe outsider into an elite superstar of the sport. Raonic should consider following the example of Wawrinka.  — Scoop Malinowski
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Moskova Moskova · May 31, 2016 at 3:49 pm
would love to see wawa or gasquet come thru but fat chance
Dan Markowitz · June 1, 2016 at 2:13 pm
Wow! What happened to Gasquet?!! I was watching till the end of the second set this morning, and Gasquet had come from a break down in the first set to win it and a break down in the second set to bring it to a breaker, and then I see he only won two more games in the final two sets.
Richie must’ve either gone kaput or Murray, as he’s done throughout this tournament, must’ve picked up his game immensely. What is it with the Brit? He’s not even yelling at his box much when he’s playing poorly. (I like that ultra-British looking guy he’s got in his three-man setup who’s got the blond hair with the curls. He looks a little like Dudley Dooright. Maybe Murray was right to put the ouster to Vallverdue and then Amelie. Neither one of them was too boisterous. Now he’s got three guys, one his coach, Delgagdo, who look more into the match than Andy).
I see Gulbis went down meekly again. He was a lucky bloke to get as far as he did. Now he better think out of the box and hire Spadea. Would I hire Spadea if I were Gulbis. I think I would if I talked to him and got his assertion that he’d work hard and travel with Gulbis because if Gulbis is looking for a technician, it’s Vince. Seriously, the guy knows as much or more about technique than anyone.
Again, all the young guns have gone vamoose except for Thiem and he’s not going to last much longer.
Scoop Malinowski · June 1, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Andymal vs Stanimal is going to be a very interesting bloodbath match – they have had tense battles before – that will be the match of the tourney so far making up for the lost Djokovic vs Nadal – I think Thiem vs Djokovic can be epic too because Thiem was giving Djokovic hell in miami and he could be even more troublesome on clay – I see Thiem edging Goffin and Djokovic mauling Berdych yet again –
Dan Markowitz · June 1, 2016 at 5:14 pm
I see Goffin beating Thiem. I would be surprised if the Austrian is ready to make that leap. What can you say about Gubis? After the first set he wasn’t competitive. He might be at the breaking point where he can’t recover and be a top player again. He’s getting up there in age and injuries.
Scoop Malinowski · June 1, 2016 at 8:14 pm
Goffin and Thiem are way way ahead of Gulbis right now they are far superior players with far greater success this year and far greater confidence – for Gulbis to win one set vs Goffin was very good –
Doogie · June 2, 2016 at 3:17 am
Talking about Gulbis and Thiem in same league is bullshit – Thiem is far ahead. Anyway big match for the Austrian today.
Matchup is not really good for Thiem but I see him winning because clay is his favorit surface (Goffin prefers hardcourts).
The hotter it is today (and courts faster) the better for Domi because of his spin on fhs and kick serve. Weather predictions are not good – anyway I fancy Thiem to come through and even give Djokovic a really, really tough fight.
Thiem vs Goffin and (hopefully) Thiem vs Nole are must seen matches!
@Murray – Gasquet was on very high level for two sets. The long 2 sets for too much for the French (who had injury problems this year) – last 2 sets were walk in the park – pity for Gasq.
I see Murray winning vs Stanimal too
Scoop Malinowski · June 2, 2016 at 8:28 am
I see Stan over Andy in an epic battle – just a little better on clay than Andy – Goffin is not one to be taken lightly – tough to call that one – could be another epic –
Moskova Moskova · June 2, 2016 at 8:47 am
let the bloodbaths commence !! 😉 haha
Hartt · June 2, 2016 at 10:41 am
Congrats to Thiem for winning his match in 4 sets. He is doing so well for a relatively young player at 22. Expect Novak will win, but hope it is a competitive match. Think Dominator will be in Top 10 now.
Hartt · June 2, 2016 at 10:44 am
Just checked – Thiem will be No. 7 in the rankings.
Scoop Malinowski · June 2, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Hartt: for sure it will be a very tough match for Djokovic – might even be an upset – Thiem is a beast and he had Djokovic in all kinds of trouble in miami – despite converting just ONE break point chance out of FIFTEEN – I saw the match live down there and Djokovic was pushed to his limits – I expect a very very difficult struggle for Djokovic to subdue this ambitious young future kingpin – and the upset is very possible – VERY possible –
Doogie · June 2, 2016 at 1:00 pm
@scoop:
The problem is: Thiem has to play TOMORROW!!
This is a bad joke – he has no day rest last 5 days. For a 21th year youngster this could be crucial.
Todays match was very intensive: Goffin ran out of gas in middle of 3rd set. And Thiem has to be super fit against the human wall.
This will be a factor :(( Anyway he will give Nole a fight but winning without rest?? I doubt it unfortunatly
Dan Markowitz · June 2, 2016 at 2:50 pm
Uh, Doogie, Djoko has to play tomorrow too. And Doogie, Thiem won like the last 12 games of the match. How tough could it have been. Goffin basically collapsed so Thiem played 2.5 tough sets maybe, he’s 22, tiredness should not be an excuse. But we have two very desirable semis.
I’m going Djoko and Murray with Djoko winning his first French and his 12th slam.
Jg · June 2, 2016 at 7:35 pm
I was in dead last place in my French open pool, but I picked Thiem to go to semis and Stan to get to his semis, only way I lose is if Murray wins it all.
Dan Markowitz · June 2, 2016 at 8:25 pm
Nice comeback.
Scoop Malinowski · June 2, 2016 at 9:22 pm
Doogie: Can’t underestimate Thiem – this kid is special – he will be ready to rumble – and I believe he will have new ideas on how to topple Djokovic based on what he learned in miami – I expect an epic battle –
Doogie · June 3, 2016 at 3:34 am
@dan: Imo it makes a difference if a youngster has to play 4 sets the day before or a 29 years old Number1, who is there for over 200 weeks.
But I agree fatigue should not be an excuse in professional tenns.
@scoop:
Cant wait for the match to start: It will be a cracker, not only for us Austrian.
Thiem will try to dominate with his FH and has nothing to loose.
Great match to come for the tennis world