If you could design a Very Tough French Open Draw For Nadal, what will it be?

[ctbmar]

If you could design a Very Tough French Open Draw For Nadal, what will it be?

1st round : Almagro / Acasuso (Dangerous rising clay courters)

2nd round : Safin (Temperamental Power Hitter, never played before)

3rd round : Moya (Mentally tough to play against mentor)

4th round : Berdych / Baghdatis (Attacking players)

Quarters : Nieminen / Gasquet (Consistent Shotmakers)
or Blake / Hewitt (Mental aspect because of losing Head-Head record)

Semi-final : Nalbandian / Davydenko / Kiefer (Never played before, sluggers)

Final : Federer (2nd best on clay this year)

 

[LowProfile]

I agree with most of that, but Blake on clay is a no-no. Blake would struggle to win a single game against Nadal on clay.

 

[Andres]

I pretty much agree, but with some changes.

1st round : Moya

2nd round : Almagro / Acasuso

3rd round : Safin / Blake / Roddick (in case they made this far)

4th round : Berdych / Karlovic / Ljubicic

Quarters : Robredo

Semi-final : Federer

Final : Nalbandian

 

[VamosRafa]

Moya definitely would be a concern. Blake would be a great draw on clay, and also Baghdatis. I don't think they would touch him on clay.

 

[Tezuka]

1st round: Richard Gasquet

2nd round: Mariano Puerta

3rd round: Sebastien Grosjean

4th round: Gaston Gaudio

Quarters: Guillermo Coria

Semis: David Nalbandian

Finals: Roger Federer

 

[VamosRafa]

1st round: Richard Gasquet

2nd round: Mariano Puerta

3rd round: Sebastien Grosjean

4th round: Gaston Gaudio

Quarters: Guillermo Coria

Semis: David Nalbandian

Finals: Roger Federer

That would be a good draw, with the way Gasquet and Coria are playing. I can't see Coria even getting to the Quarters. Grosjean has no weapon to hurt Rafa, except maybe the French crowd. Rafa frustrates the heck out of Gaudio. Puerta is suspended. Nalbandian and Federer would be tough.

 

[Tezuka]

hahaha my draw is crazy

 

[Tezuka]

hahaha if puerta stops putting needles in his butt. he'd be right there

 

[brucie]

hahaha my draw is crazy

You may as well say Vilas is your saying Puerta, as hes banned!

How about making him play Federer first round or better get Henin Hardenne to play just so he has no pride in winning haha!

 

[Tezuka]

hahaha nice brucie

 

[andyroddick's mojo]

fernando gonzalez as fourth round. He hits extremely hard and almost won a set against nadal previously.

 

[Koaske]

fernando gonzalez as fourth round. He hits extremely hard and almost won a set against nadal previously.

Nieminen was two games short ending Nadal streak so he almost won in Barcelona.

 

[akj27]

you guys forgot igor andreev

 

[Grimjack]

Every possible draw for Nadal is a disaster. Because he won last year, but has yet to put up any meaningful result at the other three important venues, the best he can hope for is to tread water in Paris, and the only way he can do that is by winning the whole thing. Any other result, and his year is a shambles, because he already screwed up the AO, and has no shot in hell of being relevant at the two upcoming slams.

Any draw is difficult when, win or lose, you have nothing to win, and everything to lose.

Pity he couldn't be bothered to show up when all the other players were fighting for history down under. :roll:

 

[Roger is Boring]

much luck to the spanish raging bull in tomorrow's final!defeat arrogant prissy federer and show him whos really king!vammooooosssss!!!

 

[VamosRafa]

Every possible draw for Nadal is a disaster. Because he won last year, but has yet to put up any meaningful result at the other three important venues, the best he can hope for is to tread water in Paris, and the only way he can do that is by winning the whole thing. Any other result, and his year is a shambles, because he already screwed up the AO, and has no shot in hell of being relevant at the two upcoming slams.

Any draw is difficult when, win or lose, you have nothing to win, and everything to lose.

Pity he couldn't be bothered to show up when all the other players were fighting for history down under. :roll:

Another post from the "neutral" fan who says he doesn't favor Roger over Rafa. To paraphrase Grimjack, "I'm just a tennis fan, calling it as I see it, thank you very much."

You may be selling that, but I ain't buying. I have no problem with your posts, as they smack of a huge Federer fan, and that's just fine. There are many here.

But don't claim you are neutral. Talk about being disingenuous.

 

[FedererUberAlles]

Another post from the "neutral" fan who says he doesn't favor Roger over Rafa. To paraphrase Grimjack, "I'm just a tennis fan, calling it as I see it, thank you very much."

You may be selling that, but I ain't buying. I have no problem with your posts, as they smack of a huge Federer fan, and that's just fine. There are many here.

But don't claim you are neutral. Talk about being disingenuous.

Maybe you're just paranoid.

 

[jackofromalsager]

i think gaston gaudio is quite a big threat to him he plays well against nadal. i think ?

 

[Mikael]

Take Berdych and Ljubo out of those draws if they are supposed to be tough for Nadal on clay.

 

[VamosRafa]

Maybe you're just paranoid.

No, just calling it as I see it. ;-)

 

[Feña14]

1. Almagro
2. Safin
3. Moya
4. Berdych
Quarter. Gonzalez
Semi. Nalbandian
Final. Federer

 

[VamosRafa]

1. Almagro
2. Safin
3. Moya
4. Berdych
Quarter. Gonzalez
Semi. Nalbandian
Final. Federer

Now that would be a tough row to hoe, I agree.

Anyone who draws Almagro in the first round is not going to be happy.

Safin's form is questionable at the moment.

But Gonzalez is playing some of the best claycourt tennis we've seen over the past month. Forget Gaudio and Coria -- he really is getting into form.

As for Nalbandian, it's hard to assess how he'll do against Rafa as they never get to meet. But in terms of mental stability, Rafa has the edge.

I wouldn't be surprised if Rafa and Roger meet in the RG final -- but an upset may happen in the meantime. What will surprise me is if they both play Hamburg next week.

 

[FedererUberAlles]

No, just calling it as I see it. ;-)

You're obviously in denial.

 

[VamosRafa]

You're obviously in denial.

You are right. I'm in denial. And I'm happy to stay in this state. ;-)

Your thoughts on whether Rafa and Roger will go to Hamburg after this???

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

I tried to think of one but it is very hard. It is like asking to design a very tough Wimbledon draw for Federer, good luck, ROTFL1

 

[VamosRafa]

I tried to think of one but it is very hard. It is like asking to design a very tough Wimbledon draw for Federer, good luck, ROTFL1

Very good point. ;-)

 

[Feña14]

Now that would be a tough row to hoe, I agree.

Anyone who draws Almagro in the first round is not going to be happy.

Safin's form is questionable at the moment.

But Gonzalez is playing some of the best claycourt tennis we've seen over the past month. Forget Gaudio and Coria -- he really is getting into form.

As for Nalbandian, it's hard to assess how he'll do against Rafa as they never get to meet. But in terms of mental stability, Rafa has the edge.

I wouldn't be surprised if Rafa and Roger meet in the RG final -- but an upset may happen in the meantime. What will surprise me is if they both play Hamburg next week.

Very true, Safin is a bit of a gamble so maybe a player like Acasuso would be better. Possibly even Massu in the earlier rounds if he manages to just miss out on a seeding.

Nalbandian or Gaudio I reckon would be good for a semi final opponent. Totally agree about Gonzalez though, Nadal V Gonzalez would be a great match up at RG. I remember Gonzalez v Ferrero in 2003 when Ferrero was the man to beat on clay and Gonzalez really troubled him.

 

[jhhachamp]

If you could design a Very Tough French Open Draw For Nadal, what will it be?

1st round : Almagro / Acasuso (Dangerous rising clay courters)

2nd round : Safin (Temperamental Power Hitter, never played before)

3rd round : Moya (Mentally tough to play against mentor)

4th round : Berdych / Baghdatis (Attacking players)

Quarters : Nieminen / Gasquet (Consistent Shotmakers)
or Blake / Hewitt (Mental aspect because of losing Head-Head record)

Semi-final : Nalbandian / Davydenko / Kiefer (Never played before, sluggers)

Final : Federer (2nd best on clay this year)

Good picks IMO except for Baggy. I think he would be blown out by Nadal on clay, he just lost to Roddick on clay. I don't see Blake making it to the quarters, so Nadal won't have to worry about him on clay.

 

[jhhachamp]

3rd round : Safin / Blake / Roddick (in case they made this far)

4th round : Berdych / Karlovic / Ljubicic

Keep in mind that Nadal could not play Roddick until at least the quarters and Ljubicic until the semis if they hold their current rankings.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Keep in mind that Nadal could not play Roddick until at least the quarters and Ljubicic until the semis if they hold their current rankings.

Where do you think they should seed Roddick at the French? Since I am so biased against Roddick my own words on him hold little credability, even according to you(remember you telling me that during the Roddick-Andreev match at Wimbledon last year)you are a better judge of that than me probably.

 

[Andres]

Keep in mind that Nadal could not play Roddick until at least the quarters and Ljubicic until the semis if they hold their current rankings.

Yeah, I know, but I'm just putting the most difficult draw for him, IMO, despite the rankings. Moya on first on purpose, in order to TRY to demoralize him

 

[jhhachamp]

Where do you think they should seed Roddick at the French? Since I am so biased against Roddick my own words on him hold little credability, even according to you(remember you telling me that during the Roddick-Andreev match at Wimbledon last year)you are a better judge of that than me probably.

Well, as far as I know they will seed him whatever he is ranked at the cutoff which will probably still be 5 unless Davydenko wins Hamburt or something.

I think Roddick at his best is around 30 or so in the world on clay. He showed some good form in Rome before he apparently got injured, so maybe he is playing near his best on clay right now. Either way, if the seedings were based on red clay ability, I would put him around 30 I think, maybe even lower.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Well, as far as I know they will seed him whatever he is ranked at the cutoff which will probably still be 5 unless Davydenko wins Hamburt or something.

I think Roddick at his best is around 30 or so in the world on clay. He showed some good form in Rome before he apparently got injured, so maybe he is playing near his best on clay right now. Either way, if the seedings were based on red clay ability, I would put him around 30 I think, maybe even lower.

Yeah about 30 sounds right to me too, although I could live with something in the top 16. I dont think he deserves a top 8 seed; but then again I accept the French do their seedings strictly by ranking, or almost strictly, so in that sense there is justification to his #5 seed or whatever it is. I just think they should factor surface ability in more, but that is not their approach, unlike Wimbledon who do.

Remember all those years with Pete Sampras the #1 seed at the French, even over a player like Muster who one year was fighting with him for the #1 ranking at the time, and owned clay, ROTFL!!

 

[d_frank]

I pretty much agree, but with some changes.

1st round : Moya

2nd round : Almagro / Acasuso

3rd round : Safin / Blake / Roddick (in case they made this far)

4th round : Berdych / Karlovic / Ljubicic

Quarters : Robredo

Semi-final : Federer

Final : Nalbandian

im sorry, but how you have federer on the same side of the draw is beyond me.

 

[Andres]

You apparently didn't read Steve's post, and my reply AND the original title

"If you could design a Very Tough French Open Draw For Nadal, what will it be? "

That's the toughest draw I can design for Nadal, despite the rankings.

 

[d_frank]

Yeah i understand the concept, but it would make more sense to switch federer and nalbandian

 

[Moose Malloy]

If you could design a Very Tough French Open Draw For Nadal, what will it be?

I tried to think of one but it is very hard. It is like asking to design a very tough Wimbledon draw for Federer, good luck, ROTFL1

How about one for Fed at W?

1st:Arthurs
2ndhilippoussis
3rd:Lopez
4th:Karlovic
QF:Ancic
SF:Roddick
F:Nalbandian

 

[diegaa]

How about one for Fed at W?

1st:Arthurs
2ndhilippoussis
3rd:Lopez
4th:Karlovic
QF:Ancic
SF:Roddick
F:Nalbandian

Lopez? why is that?

 

[Moose Malloy]

He is a lefty who plays well on grass

 

[Shaolin]

1. Andreev
2. Acasuso
3. Ferrero
4. Gaudio
QF. Almagro
SF. Nalbandian
F. Federer