Nadal at #5 can lead to an interesting Roland Garros

[Fiji]

Originally Posted by jm1980

It'll be more interesting if Nadal gets Soderling'd or Rosol'd before the QF.

It would be a very interesting tournament from then on. Maybe we'd even see the old man try harder.

I suspect Djokovic will win RG without even facing Nadal there this year. I think Nadal will lose early, R16 or so.

[ultradr]

Originally Posted by Fiji

I suspect Djokovic will win RG without even facing Nadal there this year. I think Nadal will lose early, R16 or so.

If Nadal loses early, my bet will be on Federer.

[tudwell]

Originally Posted by ultradr

If Nadal loses early, my bet will be on Federer.

The problem is it's no longer entirely in his control. If Djokovic plays his best tennis, I'm not sure it matters how well Federer plays. He could still win, of course, but I wouldn't put him as the favorite, even if Nadal makes an early exit.

[boredone3456]

One thing is for sure...if Fed draws Nadal in the QF of RG there will be about 6 bazillion "draw is rigged" threads followed by the thud of the string of instant heart attacks of some Fed fans.

[merwy]

Originally Posted by ultradr

If Nadal loses early, my bet will be on Federer.

It's hard for me to have much faith in Federer after his horrendous claycourt displays against Djokovic. Damn it, I remember I canceled an important appointment just to be able to watch that RG semi and it was one of the worst Fed matches I remember watching. Of course the year before that he did good, so who knows how he does this time.

[NadalAgassi]

Originally Posted by Fiji

This will actually end up being Djokovic's draw at RG. If you have been following the draws since the USO, Djokovic has been getting cake draws since then. ITF wants him to win as many slams as possible. Now that Federer breaking the slam record is old news, they figure someone going for the new slam record, Djokovic, will bring interest back into the sport. So he ends up getting clown draws at the slams. This will be trend from now on. Djokovic gets the easiest draw possible. He will always draw Ferrer.

I actually believe this is largely true as well.

[malbaker86]

Originally Posted by merwy

It's hard for me to have much faith in Federer after his horrendous claycourt displays against Djokovic. Damn it, I remember I canceled an important appointment just to be able to watch that RG semi and it was one of the worst Fed matches I remember watching. Of course the year before that he did good, so who knows how he does this time.

yea last year in Rome and RG was one of the most flat Fed performances i've ever seen in a big match against Djokovic. It was like we were all waiting for a little bit more from em and never got it

[kalyan4fedever]

Originally Posted by merwy

It's hard for me to have much faith in Federer after his horrendous claycourt displays against Djokovic. Damn it, I remember I canceled an important appointment just to be able to watch that RG semi and it was one of the worst Fed matches I remember watching. Of course the year before that he did good, so who knows how he does this time.

It is suspense every match now with feddy he either plays too good or plays totally worse

[augustobt]

Originally Posted by merwy

It's hard for me to have much faith in Federer after his horrendous claycourt displays against Djokovic. Damn it, I remember I canceled an important appointment just to be able to watch that RG semi and it was one of the worst Fed matches I remember watching. Of course the year before that he did good, so who knows how he does this time.

Sorry, but I think that you should expect that. Federer's back was really bad after he won the title in Madrid, remember that he almost skiped Rome, and in Rome he lost to djoker in straights. Then, in Roland Garros, performances losing sets for Ungur, Goffin and fought back being 2-0 down from Delpo... I knew that Nole would prevail in 3 or 4.

Federer should get in a better shape. I know that his age is coming, but that is crucial to his game. And anyway, if Rafa is out, I think that Federer is the top contender for Roland Garros '13.

[iriraz]

Originally Posted by malbaker86

yea last year in Rome and RG was one of the most flat Fed performances i've ever seen in a big match against Djokovic. It was like we were all waiting for a little bit more from em and never got it

Last year he pretty much struggled throughout the French,not just against Djokovic.
Also,by playing just 2 events(Rome and RG) on normal clay it`s tougher for him to get used to the conditions compared to the others who might add Monte Carlo or other 250 or 500 clay events to their schedule.

[malbaker86]

Originally Posted by iriraz

Last year he pretty much struggled throughout the French,not just against Djokovic.
Also,by playing just 2 events(Rome and RG) on normal clay it`s tougher for him to get used to the conditions compared to the others who might add Monte Carlo or other 250 or 500 clay events to their schedule.

this is true and i don't think we realize that he's played A LOT of matches in the course of his career and he's on the wrong side of 30 and still making deep runs in just about any tourney he enters. that takes a tole on you in a sport like tennis.

[TTMR]

Originally Posted by Fiji

This will actually end up being Djokovic's draw at RG. If you have been following the draws since the USO, Djokovic has been getting cake draws since then. ITF wants him to win as many slams as possible. Now that Federer breaking the slam record is old news, they figure someone going for the new slam record, Djokovic, will bring interest back into the sport. So he ends up getting clown draws at the slams. This will be trend from now on. Djokovic gets the easiest draw possible. He will always draw Ferrer.

Yeah, a whole two slams; they must be rigging it. Incontrovertible proof right there. Let's go back three slams and see if the "tough draw" pattern for Federer continues--oh wait, it doesn't.

I love the "Fed always gets tough draws" whiners because no matter what the draw is, it's always a 'cakewalk' for Nadal/Djokovic, and always a gauntlet for Federer, even if they draw the same players.

Let's suppose the bottom of the top eight are seeded as follows: 5. Ferrer, 6. Berdych, 7. Del Potro, 8. Tsonga.

If Djokovic draws any of the above, it's a cakewalk draw.

If Nadal draws any of the above, it's a cakewalk draw.

If Federer draws Berdych, Del Potro or Tsonga, it's a 'tough draw'.


I guess Djokovic and Nadal should be blamed for Federer's slam struggles with these big hitters, that way we can attach another asterik to any champion whose given name is not Roger. God forbid anyone other than Federer ever wins anything legitimately.

[Big_Dangerous]

Originally Posted by Fiji

I suspect Djokovic will win RG without even facing Nadal there this year. I think Nadal will lose early, R16 or so.

I don't know, there's a lot of time between now and RG, and I suspect Rafa will be in terrific shape by the time RG rolls around. I don't see anyone taking him out early there. I mean he plays so well there and most players, especially the ones outside the top 5, feel like they have no chance against Rafa @RG. The guy's only ever played 1 bad match there...