Let's talk about the bottom half of the draw – who will come through?

Who'll come through the bottom half?

  • Total voters
    30
  • Poll closed .
Sysyphus

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
The top half of the draw seems all but a formality at this point. Because let's be real, it's Isner's to lose. Wait what…

In any case, the bottom half of the draw seems much harder to forecast. No one is a standout odds favorite to emerge as the challenger from that side. Let's have a brief look at the most obvious candidates:

Alexander Zverev

Case for: He's playing the best tennis at the moment of anyone in the bottom half. Won Madrid and was very close to closing out Mighty Bull in Rome before the latter did his rain dance.

Case against: Has the obvious downside of having never made a slam quarter in his life, hasn't converted excellent Masters runs into slam performances in the past. Does he really have the physical and mental fortitude to prevail in six straight best-of-five matches on clay?

Dominic Thiem

Case for: He's a defending back-to-back semifinalst at Roland Garros, losing both times to the eventual dominant champ (albeit meekly). No doubt has better stamina than Zverev.

Case against: Looking pretty out of it in Lyon this week, and an odd choice in playing that tournament in the first place. Frankly hasn't looked at his best since injuring his ankle during the sunshine swing.

Nolé Djokovic

Case for: Has made and lost plenty of French Open finals to Nadal in the past, so this would be nothing new to him. In all seriousness, his track record is miles ahead of the fledglings he is competing against. Is he slowly finding respectable form just in time?

Case against: Klizan, Taro Daniel. Fitness. Is peace and love really compatible with warring your way to a French Open final?

Grigor Dimitrov

Case for:
ap,550x550,16x12,1,transparent,t.u2.png

Case against: Is Grigor Dimitrov.

Pablo Carreño Busta

Case for: Is a first-rate meme.

Case against: Is a first-rate meme.

I leave the ball in your court: who will prevail from the bottom half of the draw?
 
Last edited:
AiRFederer

AiRFederer

Hall of Fame
Who I want: Novak. It means he's back to his level if he reaches a final of a GS.

Who I think: how the hell should I know? It should be Zverev but can he really go from never reaching a slam QF to the Finals?
 
mike danny

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Slight correction: Djokovic only lost twice to Nadal in the FO final, so plenty is pushing. He did lose plenty of time to him at FO in general, which is a more suitable statement.

As for who will get through, I am going to make a bold statement and say Zverev.

Thiem hasn't been playing at last year's level on clay. And the fact that he is fighting tooth and nail to win a 250 against Simold is not exactly an encouraging sign.
 
D

Deleted member 756486

Guest
Djokovic or Thiem, depends which version of Djokovic shows up.
 
Red Rick

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
Sysyphus said:
Grigor Dimitrov

Case for:
ap,550x550,16x12,1,transparent,t.u2.png

Case against: Is Grigor Dimitrov.

Pablo Carrño Busta

Case for: Is a first-rate meme.

Case against: Is a first-rate meme.
Click to expand...


I didn't realise it until now, but now I need one of those in the RG final of 2018 in my life.

Which makes it 100% sure it won't happen.

Things I want never happen.
 
Red Rick

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
Sysyphus said:
far more, because there won't even be the illusion that he could do something
Click to expand...
I present to you, previous posters without illusion about players being able to do something in a Slam final

babbette said:
Federer in 50 minutes.
Click to expand...

don_nguyen11490 said:
Federer might as well bring a cake some wine and a few dancers to the final now.
Click to expand...

Serendipitous said:
Federer in 3


6-0 6-2 6-0
Click to expand...

boojay said:
I disagree with one of your set scores.
Click to expand...

grafrules said:
I believe Roddick has about as much chance of winning as Seles had of beating Graf in the 92 Wimbledon final. :)
Click to expand...

ACE of Hearts said:
If Roddick beats Fed, i will eat my shorts,LMAO,impossible!Anything can happen but still.
Click to expand...

FedFan_2009 said:
People don't seem to understand the magnitude of Sunday's beatdown is going to be.

6-2, 6-0, 6-2
Click to expand...

DoubleDeuce said:
#15 is in the bag.

I kinda feel sad for Andy. He has been living in Roger's shadow, and seems like there is no way out.
Click to expand...

Tony48 said:
This is gonna be worse than the 2008 USO final.

6-1, 6-1, 6-4
Click to expand...

martini1 said:
What's the point of watching sports if there is no possiblilty of an upset?

Roddick got a shot, but it is a very long shot.
Click to expand...
 
MichaelNadal

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Sysyphus said:
The top half of the draw seems all but a formality at this point. Because let's be real, it's Isner's to lose. Wait what…

In any case, the bottom half of the draw seems much harder to forecast. No one is a standout odds favorite to emerge as the challenger from that side. Let's have a brief look at the most obvious candidates:

Alexander Zverev

Case for: He's playing the best tennis at the moment of anyone in the bottom half. Won Madrid and was very close to closing out Mighty Bull in Rome before the latter did his rain dance.

Case against: Has the obvious downside of having never made a slam quarter in his life, hasn't converted excellent Masters runs into slam performances in the past. Does he really have the physical and mental fortitude to prevail in six straight best-of-five matches on clay?

Dominic Thiem

Case for: He's a defending back-to-back semifinalst at Roland Garros, losing both times to the eventual dominant champ (albeit meekly). No doubt has better stamina than Zverev.

Case against: Looking pretty out of it in Lyon this week, and an odd choice in playing that tournament in the first place. Frankly hasn't looked at his best since injuring his ankle during the sunshine swing.

Nolé Djokovic

Case for: Has made and lost plenty of French Open finals to Nadal in the past, so this would be nothing new to him. In all seriousness, his track record is miles ahead of the fledglings he is competing against. Is he slowly finding respectable form just in time?

Case against: Klizan, Taro Daniel. Fitness. Is peace and love really compatible with warring your way to a French Open final?

Grigor Dimitrov

Case for:
ap,550x550,16x12,1,transparent,t.u2.png

Case against: Is Grigor Dimitrov.

Pablo Carreño Busta

Case for: Is a first-rate meme.

Case against: Is a first-rate meme.

I leave the ball in your court: who will prevail from the bottom half of the draw?
Click to expand...

OP for president :)
 
Zebrev

Zebrev

Hall of Fame
Think Thiem a bit too tired now, 3 three set matches right before the French.

Djokovic is mentally back, but it will take time to build back his conditioning. Doubt he can handle too many 3 set matches right now, let alone 5 sets.

Golden Giraffe.
 
BeatlesFan

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
The only player in the bottom half who has the balls to challenge Rafa in a slam is Nole. If he somehow could channel for 2 weeks his 2015 form and fitness, the title could be his. But that's not happening, life doesn't bequeath such miracles. Everyone in the bottom half except Novak do not have the mental fortitude to hang with Rafa for three sets, never mind four or five. None of them except Djoker could actually serve out a match against Nadal on Chatrier.
 
D

Deleted member 756486

Guest
BeatlesFan said:
The only player in the bottom half who has the balls to challenge Rafa in a slam is Nole. If he somehow could channel for 2 weeks his 2015 form and fitness, the title could be his. But that's not happening, life doesn't bequeath such miracles. Everyone in the bottom half except Novak do not have the mental fortitude to hang with Rafa for three sets, never mind four or five. None of them except Djoker could actually serve out a match against Nadal on Chatrier.
Click to expand...
You’re right, it may seem crazy but the “best” hope of Rafa not winning this is someone relatively unknown knocking him out early.

That won’t happen either so don’t bother praying Fed fans.
 
West Coast Ace

West Coast Ace

G.O.A.T.
Tennis needs Zverev to win. Badly.

Most of you think he's arrogant; rip his game. And yeah, hasn't done squat at the majors - but there's always a 1st time and with depleted field now is much more likely. Especially since he was a few games away from pulling the Rome upset. But he's the only guy who we can say has the game, has the confidence, has the results to back up the confidence. And tennis needs someone other than the usual suspects to step up.

If he plays Nadal in the F and either pulls off the amazing upset win or at least wins a set and goes out on his shield in heroic fashion it will be the best thing that could happen to tennis, short of Federer finding Ponce de Leon's stash, drinks it all, and announces he's playing until he's 50.
 
Northern

Northern

Hall of Fame
Zverev, no doubt in my mind. Who needs to be good at Bo5 when you can close matches in 3 sets? He has a great chance against Nadal in the final as well, especially if the weather is not too hot and dry.

Lol'ed at the Dimitrov arguments.
 
Plamen1234

Plamen1234

Hall of Fame
BeatlesFan said:
The only player in the bottom half who has the balls to challenge Rafa in a slam is Nole. If he somehow could channel for 2 weeks his 2015 form and fitness, the title could be his. But that's not happening, life doesn't bequeath such miracles. Everyone in the bottom half except Novak do not have the mental fortitude to hang with Rafa for three sets, never mind four or five. None of them except Djoker could actually serve out a match against Nadal on Chatrier.
Click to expand...


Vintage Djokovic have never defeated Nadal in good form at RG.2015 defeat was when Nadal was in bad form so I dont see how Novak can challenge him now especially with his current form
 
D

Deleted member 757377

Guest
Nole's plan was to give Fedal one more year of light and then beat them again at RG and Wimbledon.
 
BeatlesFan

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Plamen1234 said:
Vintage Djokovic have never defeated Nadal in good form at RG.2015 defeat was when Nadal was in bad form so I dont see how Novak can challenge him now especially with his current form
Click to expand...
I didn’t say he could challenge or beat Nadal and made it plain. I merely said he’s the only one with the balls to do it if he could turn back the clock to 2015.;)
 
Plamen1234

Plamen1234

Hall of Fame
It should be either Zverev or Thiem.They are the second and third best clay court players right now but who knows
 
Last edited:
Fridge

Fridge

Professional
Honestly I see it as either PCB or Nole.
Nole can get hot and steam role his way through but the question is IF he will.
PCB is a solid player. I dont know why he gets smashed on this forum when in reality he has worked hard and totally deserves all of his success. If Rafa loses Im gonna put my money on PCB.
 
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