If you had tickets for one match at the FO, which top player would you watch?

Which top player would you see at the FO this year if you could watch only one match?

  • Total voters
    72
  • Poll closed .
socallefty

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
Which top ATP player would you go see if you could watch only one match in the first week of the French Open this year? I would go see the defending champion who also won twice before in 2021 and 2016.
 
socallefty said:
Which top ATP player would you go see if you could watch only one match in the first week of the French Open this year? I would go see the defending champion who also won twice before in 2021 and 2016.
Click to expand...
Of course you do, but at Roland Garros (or in any other GS tournament) there is no one equal to the Spanish bull.
Additionally, it will be the first time Nadal will play his favorite Major tournament as a 14-time tournament champion.
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022.
:alien:
 
DSH said:
Of course you do, but at Roland Garros (or in any other GS tournament) there is no one equal to the Spanish bull.
Additionally, it will be the first time Nadal will play his favorite Major tournament as a 14-time tournament champion.
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022.
:alien:
Click to expand...
I would have picked him on clay till 2022. I feel like he is too injured to be entertaining for me now. I’ve seen him live many times already and so there is no urge to see him one last time. For me it is between Alcaraz and Djokovic now in terms of players I enjoy watching the most, but I have more years to enjoy Alcaraz in the future.
 
Last edited:
socallefty said:
I would have picked him on clay till 2022. I feel like he is too injured to be entertaining for me now. I’ve seen him live many times. For me it is between Alcaraz and Djokovic now in terms of players I enjoy watching the most, but I have more years ro enjoy Alcaraz in the future.
Click to expand...
No, Nadal is and will be until he retires the top attraction to see on the clay of Paris.
There is no point of comparison, none.
:D
 
I would have chosen Rafa in his prime, hands down, no question. These days, I'd be worried the entire match. :oops:

I've seen both Rafa and Djoko elsewhere too. I've not seen either Alcaraz or Sinner yet, but at the moment I'll choose the Italian.
 
Rafa, followed by (pretty much) a tie between Novak and Carlos.
Oh, and Iga, probably followed by Rybakina and if healthy, Muchova. (If I had earplugs, possibly Sabalenka.)
 
Hitman said:
Would not surprise me.
Click to expand...
I don't think so. Would be so suspicious: ) They might face R2 or R3. Somehow i don't feel they will face very early this year.
Actually with Nadal he can face anyone early Alcaraz or Sinner aswell i won't surprise if he face one of them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RS
Phenomenal said:
I don't think so. Would be so suspicious: ) They might face R2 or R3. Somehow i don't feel they will face very early this year.
Actually with Nadal he can face anyone early Alcaraz or Sinner aswell i won't surprise if he face one of them.
Click to expand...

Nadal could be protected and placed into Med's quarter.
 
Hitman said:
Nadal. And yes, I am actually going to watch his first match for real. I will be in Paris that weekend.
Click to expand...
How many times have you visited Paris, Hitman? More than twice, right?

Seeing Nadal live at RG in his last hurrah seems like an unforgettable experience! You really love to do tennis travels (like when you visited Mallorca and gifted us those pictures from the Rafa Nadal Academy Museum!).
 
Why would anyone choose anyone but the clay GOAT?

tumblr_o7p56uVt1d1rpqu91o2_400.gifv
 
was surprised a bit when first time found out that paris is pretty small by its area btw
 
I have seen Nadal at RG before (in 2006 Final and 2012 Round of 16) - entertainment personified, certainly wouldn't mind one final spectacle.
One of my friends has tickets for 7 June, which should be Men's SFs day if I'm not mistaken. Djokovic / Alcaraz / Sinner would be great too
 
Krish872007 said:
I have seen Nadal at RG before (in 2006 Final and 2012 Round of 16) - entertainment personified, certainly wouldn't mind one final spectacle.
One of my friends has tickets for 7 June, which should be Men's SFs day if I'm not mistaken. Djokovic / Alcaraz / Sinner would be great too
Click to expand...
Damn, you saw him CRISPY AF both times lol
The way he was running around in 06 hitting insane shots must have been something else
 
MichaelNadal said:
Damn, you saw him CRISPY AF both times lol
The way he was running around in 06 hitting insane shots must have been something else
Click to expand...

I wrote up a very brief summary of the 2006 final on TTW, just found the thread: https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/fedalovic-a-spectators-view-episode-i.575987/

In 2006, I noticed his raw foot speed and court sense were just CRAZY. This was a guy packed with confidence, right in the middle of that 81-match win streak. I was sitting at an angle behind one of the ends, such that I could almost see Nadal CC forehands being hit directly to me. You get a good sense of just how high those balls kick up on the surface - Federer was taking on a bunch of them at shoulder height the moment he was either pinned on or just behind the baseline.
Still early in his RG reign and Rafa didn't quite have that same aura or confidence. It had to be forcibly constructed by wearing down the opposition

2012 was much the same. If anything his anticipation was better and he played much more "front footed" and aggressive. I call it "slasher mode" - lot of hard cuts at the ball of both wings. I didn't notice any obvious difference in ground speed or court coverage. Conditions were generally heavier and more overcast, hence the ball didn't kick up as much - had it been sunny throughout the 2 weeks the results may have been even more one-sided.
 
I already watched Djokovic everywhere except the Australian Open. I watched the first half of his semifinal against Murray in RG2015. Unfortunately they had to stop it and finish on Saturday, with different crowd. Watched him 4 times in Wimbledon and 5 times in NY already. Most were good memories.

I would like to watch Alcaraz once. Not a fan (at least not now, maybe I'll be after Djokovic retires) but every tennis fanatics I know say he is one of the most spectacular top players to watch live. Apples and oranges compared to him on TV...

I won't be at the FO but I get why a lot will want to see Nadal. It will be his last and everyone knows it. He won 14. He will be the most expected player this year. But will he play? No one knows right now.
 
Krish872007 said:
I wrote up a very brief summary of the 2006 final on TTW, just found the thread: https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/fedalovic-a-spectators-view-episode-i.575987/

In 2006, I noticed his raw foot speed and court sense were just CRAZY. This was a guy packed with confidence, right in the middle of that 81-match win streak. I was sitting at an angle behind one of the ends, such that I could almost see Nadal CC forehands being hit directly to me. You get a good sense of just how high those balls kick up on the surface - Federer was taking on a bunch of them at shoulder height the moment he was either pinned on or just behind the baseline.
Still early in his RG reign and Rafa didn't quite have that same aura or confidence. It had to be forcibly constructed by wearing down the opposition

2012 was much the same. If anything his anticipation was better and he played much more "front footed" and aggressive. I call it "slasher mode" - lot of hard cuts at the ball of both wings. I didn't notice any obvious difference in ground speed or court coverage. Conditions were generally heavier and more overcast, hence the ball didn't kick up as much - had it been sunny throughout the 2 weeks the results may have been even more one-sided.
Click to expand...
Brewhouse_Spread_SarahNewman_Atlanta-16_og6dml.jpg


Awesome write-up :D
 
While I expected Nadal to get the most votes in the poll, I am shocked by the few posters who are interested in seeing the best young players Sinner and Alcaraz. More people want to see Djokovic than the two of them together which is surprising.
 
socallefty said:
While I expected Nadal to get the most votes in the poll, I am shocked by the few posters who are interested in seeing the best young players Sinner and Alcaraz. More people want to see Djokovic than the two of them together which is surprising.
Click to expand...
Opportunity cost I’d think. I figure you can see those two for the next decade at least. Djokovic and especially Rafa are on their last legs and may not even play another RG.
 
Kralingen said:
Opportunity cost I’d think. I figure you can see those two for the next decade at least. Djokovic and especially Rafa are on their last legs and may not even play another RG.
Click to expand...
I think for Nadal to play in the 2025 edition of RG would be even more special.
It would be the 100th anniversary of the French Internationals (open to players of all nationalities) and of course, it would also be the twentieth anniversary of the first participation and title of his most iconic figure.
8-B
 
socallefty said:
While I expected Nadal to get the most votes in the poll, I am shocked by the few posters who are interested in seeing the best young players Sinner and Alcaraz. More people want to see Djokovic than the two of them together which is surprising.
Click to expand...
I am not shocked at all by that. They are near the end of their careers and one is in his last year.

Had the privilege to see Rafa at the USO the last year he won it. Was very special. Cannot imagine how awesome it would be to see him at RG.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
If you could watch ONE Grand Slam match, which one would you pick
Replies
10
Views
1K
Cyan
Cyan
R
Australian Open tickets
Replies
0
Views
648
rod99
R
J
FO FINAL: several top players didn't bother to watch the match.
Replies
40
Views
3K
dugger5688
D
Aussie Darcy
If you had told me at the start of 2016 that..
Replies
12
Views
1K
Mr.Lob
Mr.Lob
P
If you could watch just one more match?
Replies
29
Views
2K
The Green Mile
The Green Mile
Back
Top