2026 French Open - Men's Discussion

[helterskelter]

And what's wrong with low-profile? It's nice sometimes to have a match that doesn't seem bogged down by the weight of historical achievements.

Let the players play!

Nothing wrong with it! I was telling @JMR the other day that the less a slam has to do with a grand historical narrative, the better. That's why a final between two ATGs at the peak of their powers - especially if they are the only two ATGs at the peak of their powers currently on tour and thus the final was known to all from the outset of the event and even long before it started - is only the dream final in the sense that a nightmare is a dream.

I said Arnaldi v Cobolli would be hilarious, not bad.

 

[Gazelle]

I'm not ready for Arnaldi in a slam final.

 

[ibbi]

I'm not ready for Arnaldi in a slam final.

I am.

 

[ibbi]

Please end the match, Mateo. Don't freakin' hurt yourself.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Tini is suffering.

 

[ibbi]

It's like when Joe Frazier couldn't come out of his seat in 1975.

 

[ibbi]

Tragic, man. Watching him sat there wanting to get out of his seat when the umpire calls time but knowing he shouldn't is one of the sad, sad scenes I've seen on a tennis court.

 

[veelium]

Sad but the expected ending of a deep Berrittini slam run nowadays. I'm suprised he held up this long.

Hope he gets fit for Wimbledon, should be able to go deep with this form.

 

[YellowFedBetter]

I’m not speaking of what just happened of course, but other than Med going out early, this is the most I’ve enjoyed a slam since Wimbledon 2013.

 

[NaDjoFed]

So we are going to have at least one new slam finalist, maybe two if mensik wins. And a new slam winner

 

[Borg Number One]

That’s so unfortunate! I hope Matteo Berrettini recovers soon as he was playing great tennis again. Hopefully he’ll be in good shape for Wimbledon.

 

[The Aceserver]

Does anyone know if it’s an abdominal thing for Berrettini again?

 

[jazzu4ia]

...wOw ! ...Cambagnolli VS Ronaldi huge battle comin g !

 

[NYTennisfan]

The upside with upsets is that they make for great storylines in the 1st week but the downside is that it makes for lackluster matchups in the 2nd week.
The quarterfinals have been lacking and the semifinal matchups aren't intriguing. It's better than Sinner mowing through everybody but once Jodar and Fonseca were knocked out it kind of killed the intrigue IMO.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

@Kralingen did it smh

 

[JMR]

The upside with upsets is that they make for great storylines in the 1st week but the downside is that it makes for lackluster matchups in the 2nd week.
The quarterfinals have been lacking and the semifinal matchups aren't intriguing. It's better than Sinner mowing through everybody but once Jodar and Fonseca were knocked out it kind of killed the intrigue IMO.

I mostly agree, but would add that Zverev vs. Mensik is a pretty dramatic pairing. The match itself could fall flat, of course, but in theory this is just the kind of matchup we'd like to see toward the end of a slam. Despite his past choking tendencies, Zverev is a proven and credible slam finalist candidate, and Mensik at 20 is already a Masters champ who has beaten Sinner this year.

 

[Aabye5]

I think Arnaldi/Cobolli would be a much more fun match too, health allowing.

They have split their h2h on the main tour, with Cobolli winning their last match at last year's French in 4. We'll see who brings their best on Friday.

 

[Borg Number One]

Does anyone know if it’s an abdominal thing for Berrettini again?

Apparently it’s a hip injury.

https://www.facebook.com/100044150210557/posts/pfbid08nhzoE5A2bStbvaBtU9k5X5Gi8hqpDJDGkk4Hi7WoBKt4DriJLpM9cXUxmrAs75nl

 

[Vincent-C]

.

 

[TennisXpert@2023]

The semifinals will be very intriguing for the “real” tennis fans, not for gloryhunters and stat-hounds.

 

[MichaelNadal]

@MichaelNadal approved?

Nope lol

 

[Tallawah Tennis]

FAA will be disappointed but he's reached the Quarter Finals of the French Open for the first time to my knowledge and that is something positive to take away.

Cobolli plays aggressive tennis, there's absolutely nothing grinding or counter punching from him, it's hit hard, ask questions later.

Agree that man, good job by both to get this far. Excellent by Cobolli to get it done in 4, keeping his momentum going.
Poor Berrettini, sad he went out like this. Arnaldi continues his quest, seemingly a favourite of Destiny en ce moment, n'est-ce pas. Ranked 104, what a feat to get through to the sf.
Apparently he and FC are good friends, will be interested to see how they compete with each other.
Looking forward to the sf, hoping for a Mensik/Cobolli final, let's see if Destiny will oblige.

 

[YellowFedBetter]

This has to be the biggest underdog SF slam run of the century right?

 

[MichaelNadal]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2062264461889519775

 

[RSJfan]

also, I would be quite suspicious of anyone who doesn't love pizza and pasta, regardless of his nationality)

 

[MichaelNadal]

@MichaelNadal approved?

https://twitter.com/x/status/2062287714897011164

Ok this helped

 

[Kafel69]

CO-BOW-LEE !!!

FORZA

 

[Kafel69]

They have split their h2h on the main tour, with Cobolli winning their last match at last year's French in 4. We'll see who brings their best on Friday.

they've played 3 other times in Qs, Challengers, etc. All 5 meetings on clay. Pretty crazy. Arnaldi up 3-2

 

[NYTennisfan]

I mostly agree, but would add that Zverev vs. Mensik is a pretty dramatic pairing. The match itself could fall flat, of course, but in theory this is just the kind of matchup we'd like to see toward the end of a slam. Despite his past choking tendencies, Zverev is a proven and credible slam finalist candidate, and Mensik at 20 is already a Masters champ who has beaten Sinner this year.

I think Zverev is going to beat him soundly tbh. Mensik hasn't been at this stage in a slam and he's had more down moments than up in his career thus far, even in this tournament almost losing to far inferior players, so I think the Fonseca performance was a bit of a one off. Also, Z is way fresher than him.

 

[MichaelNadal]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2062280628586807718

 

[tudwell]

After all his “Connors in 5” rallies to stay in and win the Tiafoe match, I really wouldn’t mind seeing Arnaldi go all the way. What an insane effort that would be from a guy who would probably never make another slam quarterfinal again lol.

Shame Berrettini’s hurting again. Hope he’s fit for grass because he gave Alcaraz and Sinner some decent matches in recent years. He still gives the best players in the world something to think about.

 

[ibbi]

What an insane effort that would be from a guy who would probably never make another slam quarterfinal again lol.

Hey, Arnaldi was 4th round here and at the US Open a couple of years ago! He’s had a rough couple of years since, but he’s no scrub!

 

[tudwell]

Hey, Arnaldi was 4th round here and at the US Open a couple of years ago! He’s had a rough couple of years since, but he’s no scrub!

Quarterfinal was an exaggeration but “semifinal” or “final” just didn’t have much punch lol.

 

[SonicNirvana]

I work overnights. I had a steak egg and cheese from mcds and that put me down fast lol

Ahhh fight the good fight brother.

 

[RSJfan]

Hey, Arnaldi was 4th round here and at the US Open a couple of years ago! He’s had a rough couple of years since, but he’s no scrub!

5-0 H2H verse Fils.

 

[Vincent-C]

Go, Fed

 

[tennis24x7]

Tiafoe 1.0 shows up at the worst time. Honestly, I still think he can win (not saying he will) but if he does, he's done himself no favors for the next round.

Expect to always lose, that is a certainty. Just does not have the IT factor when it comes to putting his foot down.

 

[Nostradamus]

I'm not ready for Arnaldi in a slam final.

can Coballi beat Zeverev ??

 

[Vincent-C]

can Coballi beat Zeverev ??

Zeverev is not making the final

 

[Nostradamus]

Zeverev is not making the final

Mensik ??

 

[Vincent-C]

Mensik ??

Book it.

 

[YellowFedBetter]

I made the mistake of going on r/Tennis and reading a Zverev thread…I won’t say what I really want to because I’m on my last strike here, but seriously, what a miserable cesspool. I couldn’t care less about Z either way but I almost want him to win just to see the meltdowns.

 

[Smecz]

Now this is the best situation,we have Four Players who never won the slamAmazing!!!

 

[junior74]

Lots of surprises and an alarming number of retirements.

I hope the winner of Mensik/ Zverev wins. Mensik preferably.

 

[jazzu4ia]

...for this finale to be prestigious and exciting, this dinosaur, Zverkovski, must be out of the way...Yakoob Mecirk vs Flavius kobosta is the ideal ending for this amazing RG...do your jinxes for this sunday pair !

 

[clayqueen]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2062281652752027662

 

[jazzu4ia]

...it was great luck that we got rid of the Sinkarazovics...if we get rid of Zverkof too, it would be perfect ! ...

 

[mightyjeditribble]

...it was great luck that we got rid of the Sinkarazovics...if we get rid of Zverkof too, it would be perfect ! ...

Emperor Zveremagne will rule Paris!

 

[Sentinel]

Delete

 

[Larry Duff]

I used to watch Evan King when he played college. His hair has grown.