2011 Clay court season: Thoughtful discussion

[stringertom]

That Sunday in Paris Was Special!

I thought 2009 was interesting too.
Bit biased, but 2009 was nice.

The rain held off just long enough, didn't it?

 

[aceX]

Soderling seems to be in good form. I think he could beat Rafael. What does everyone else think?

 

[stringertom]

As Good a Chance as Any

Soderling seems to be in good form. I think he could beat Rafael. What does everyone else think?

He has the one trump card everyone else doesn't...he's done it before. He must channel '09 emotions and ignore last year's final and any thoughts of it. The different ball will help penetrate more, so staying aggressive will be key. Maybe watching tape of the Isner match will help.

 

[aceX]

Well, Nadal won the one that matters!

Federer attacked his way to the French Open final!

 

[stringertom]

Overall Grade: A minus!

I will give the '11 Euroclay season an overall grade of "A Minus". The Djok run, had it culminated in a RG title, would have earned the full "A". Also, if Fed had been a little more solid and made the circuit a three-horse race prior to RG then I would upgrade to the solid "A". The second tier of challengers could have contributed by becoming higher hurdles to clear...Sod, Ferrer et al. Djokdal was great, Delpo/Denko titles added some flavor, Fed RG was a spice to the stew, and Nadal's continued success at RG finished the creation with a little zest. Congrats to the competitors!

 

[aceX]

Pretty much when people look back at it they're going to remember Djoker's run and Nadal's 6th French Open title

 

[TennisFan3]

B+ overall. Almost everyone played crap except Novak in Madrid/Rome - before the F.O.

Nadal played the worst that he's ever played on clay; nonetheless managed to win another F.O.

What salvaged the clay season was Fed's resurgence in the F.O and the way he made it to the finals - which created some excitement from the 2 horse race.

 

[stringertom]

Could Have Been True "A" if FO Had Lights

B+ overall. Almost everyone played crap except Novak in Madrid/Rome - before the F.O.

Nadal played the worst that he's ever played on clay; nonetheless managed to win another F.O.

What salvaged the clay season was Fed's resurgence in the F.O and the way he made it to the finals - which created some excitement from the 2 horse race.

Delpo's bad luck to be suspended at 1-1 due to darkness...otherwise we might have had a thriller early on at RG. That would upgrade, eh?

 

[TMF]

B+ overall. Almost everyone played crap except Novak in Madrid/Rome - before the F.O.

Nadal played the worst that he's ever played on clay; nonetheless managed to win another F.O.

What salvaged the clay season was Fed's resurgence in the F.O and the way he made it to the finals - which created some excitement from the 2 horse race.

Rafa never played an A game in his life.

This is his grade:
2005: C
2006: C
2007: C
2008: B
2009: F
2010: B
2011: D

:roll:
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:roll:

 

[aceX]

Too bad djokovic couldn't string together two slams

 

[PSNELKE]

Rafa never played an A game in his life.

This is his grade:
2005: C
2006: C
2007: C
2008: B
2009: F
2010: B
2011: D

Some bitterness still available. 3 majors in a year. 2008 FO+Wimb- FO humilation of Fed - Wimby beating Fed in an epic.

As for 2005-2007, he was still able to beat Fed(in his prime) with medicore tennis on clay. :lol: