Importance of this French Open

[noeledmonds]

There are obviously 2 massive favourites for the FO this year in the form of Nadal and Federer. If either of these favourites win they will seal their place in history as they each can match long standing achivements. Here is a look at what is at stake:

If Federer Wins...

- Federer becomes just 3rd player of all time and 2nd player in the open-era to hold all 4 grand slams simultaneouly
- Federer becomes 3rd player to win 4 or more conecutive grand slam titles and 2nd player to do so in open-era
- Federer reaches a record 8th consecutive grand slam final
- Federer gives himself the chance to achive the notoriously difficuly French Open-Wimbledon back to back double and then the ultimate achivement in tennis, The Calendar Grand Slam

If Nadal Wins...

- He becomes just the 2nd player to 3-peat the French Open since it opened to all international competition in 1925
- He becomes the only player to have won 3 consecutive French Open titles at his first 3 attempts and extends his perfect record at the event to 21 matches

 

[R.Federer]

hopefully federer after that win against nadal will put that mental block out the way and win this years french open, nevertheless it will be very interesting and exciting this year

 

[federerfanatic]

I have no doubt Roger will win the French Open this year.

 

[PrinceO3TourOS]

I bet for Roger too

 

[drakulie]

I don't think either of them will see the final, unless it is from their living room.


Hey ROG! You could watch it with me!

 

[ACE of Hearts]

I hope i am wrong but there could be an upset with Roger.His serve needs to get better then what i saw at times in Hamburg.

 

[Fries-N-Gravy]

Roger is going to win

 

[Gillian]

I think this FO is huge too -- but I remember thinking last year's FO was also huge at the time!!

 

[Rhino]

If Federer Wins...

- Federer becomes just 3rd player of all time and 2nd player in the open-era to hold all 4 grand slams simultaneouly
- Federer becomes 3rd player to win 4 or more conecutive grand slam titles and 2nd player to do so in open-era

These two points are the same, no?

Yes there is a lot at stake this year, and it seems Roger is in the best position to pull it off than he has ever been.

 

[tennis_hand]

I bet they won't meet in the final. 1 is going down before that.

 

[Wolbo]

- ... then the ultimate achivement in tennis, The Calendar Grand Slam

I don't see how the Calendar Grand Slam is a greater achievement than holding all 4 slams simultaneously. It just sounds nicer...

 

[noeledmonds]

These two points are the same, no?

Not quite the same if I make this clarification. If you don't enter all the grand slams in the year but win the ones you have entered you can still win consecutive slams at the grand slams events you entered. For example in 1974 Connors won 3 grand slams (not FO) but he did not enter the FO, so he won 3 consecutive grand slams that he entered.

I don't see how the Calendar Grand Slam is a greater achievement than holding all 4 slams simultaneously. It just sounds nicer...

Historically it is greater, more prestigious and harder to achieve. "The Grand Slam" has been defined as winning all 4 grand slams in a calendar year and it is only more recently that "The Non-Calendar Grand Slam" has been recognised. It is the same that year end number 1 ranking is considered better than holding the number 1 ranking before the end of the calander year, even though the ranking is still based upon a 12 month period.

 

[Gizo]

If Federer Wins...

- Federer becomes just 3rd player of all time and 2nd player in the open-era to hold all 4 grand slams simultaneouly

And perhaps crucially, he'll become the 1st player of all time to achieve this over 4 different surfaces

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Federer will have to beat Nadal in completely different conditions at the French Open. Here's how the ball bounces at Roland Garros. http://youtube.com/watch?v=j8duIvn6RZM

 

[Gizo]

If Nadal wins, he'll become the 7th player of all time and 5th player in the open era to have won the French Open at least 3 times.

 

[Zaragoza]

I think this proves the importance of the French Open as a Grand Slam event, not less important than Wimbledon and US Open but I know it´s impossible to agree about which one is the most important. Fans, players...have different preferences but it´s not right to underrate a Grand Slam just because you/your favourite player didn´t win it (and I´m not calling Fed fans but tennis fans in general).
Sampras won 14 majors and most of people don´t consider him the GOAT because he never won the FO. 7 Wimbledons and multiple USO and AO aren´t enough to be considered the GOAT if you don´t win the FO. This proves the importance of the FO.

 

[BigServer1]

Federer will have to beat Nadal in completely different conditions at the French Open. Here's how the ball bounces at Roland Garros. http://youtube.com/watch?v=j8duIvn6RZM

Still clinging on to the "different conditions" excuse, huh? Last time I checked, Federer beat Nadal on red clay. The physical circumstances haven't changed, but Federer's mind is in a better place after this win. He now KNOWS he can beat Nadal on clay, something he couldn't say last year...

 

[Nadal_Freak]

French Open has ALWAYS been my favorite slam. Even before Nadal. All the slams are important. I guess traditionally Wimbledon is the most important but not the most enjoyable.

 

[DragonFly]

I guess this year's french open is just as important as last year's french open. Same pressure on Fed, and he comes to this Open with three consecutive Opens under his belt, again

 

[laurie]

I've been attending the French Open since 2004 and I love it. I'll be going in the 2nd week.

I also find that seeing clay court Tennis live is much nicer than on television.

I think it's maybe too big an ask for Nadal to defend his title. I think Federer will win the French Open.

 

[Rhino]

yes, it's pretty bloody important... big deal woooooooogh who, lucky us baby

 

[sureshs]

- Federer becomes just 3rd player of all time and 2nd player in the open-era to hold all 4 grand slams simultaneouly

Actually 5 players have won all 4 Slams - Budge, Laver, Perry, Emerson and Agassi.

And he would be the 3rd player in the Open Era, because Laver also won a Calendar Slam in 1969, in the dawn of the Open Era.

And of course player should be replaced by man in above, as many women have fared better.

 

[Tennis_Monk]

This Frenchopen is no Less or More important than any other French opens. It may be personally important for a few players like Federer.Very likely that Federer may not win this year . But he will win his French open sooner or later. He is too good a player to not win a French Open. For Nadal , he already won twice. the importance is more Mental. He want to continue to be King of CLay (or Emperor of Dirt ).

 

[Fedace]

Roger Cannot win cause he is just as good as Nadal on clay, it is matter of skill. rafa has more skills than federer on clay.

 

[ACE of Hearts]

I wanna see Fed vs Nadal in the final and Fed winning in straight sets and see Fed going down on the red clay sobbing and then when he is getting his FO trophy, they start playing, Your simply the best by Tina Turner and Nadal tries and swipe the FO trophy only to fall on the dirt!What a sweet ending.

 

[noeledmonds]

Actually 5 players have won all 4 Slams - Budge, Laver, Perry, Emerson and Agassi.

And he would be the 3rd player in the Open Era, because Laver also won a Calendar Slam in 1969, in the dawn of the Open Era.

And of course player should be replaced by man in above, as many women have fared better.

I said "hold all 4 grand slams simultaneouly" not just win all 4 slams at some point in their career. If you do insist on making pedantic critisisms at least make correct ones!

 

[DragonFly]

Roger Cannot win cause he is just as good as Nadal on clay, it is matter of skill. rafa has more skills than federer on clay.

Isn't "how good he is" dependent on skill? So if Fed is just as good as Nadal, then they should have the same skill.