With just one masters left, who's the current favorite for the French?

[Sysyphus]

The plot is thiccening, and surely there are more twists to come.

The majority of the (very prestigious and important) clay warm-up swing has now elapsed, and only Rome remains for the big guns.

As soon as last year's final was finished on Chatrier, Nadal was immediately the unrivaled prohibitive favorite to lift the trophy once more in 2019. But with Novak Djokovic making a remarkable comeback to win the next three Majors, he entered the mix as a strong number two. However, with the Serbian seemingly losing the plot after his Australian Open triumph, his momentum slowed a bit, but Nadal also ceded the opportunity to inspire confidence in that vacuum. Instead, Dominic Thiem sprung forth from their shadow, and established himself as the clear third favorite with impressive wins in Indian Wells and Barcelona, beating Federer and Nadal along the way.

Nonetheless, surely most of us can agree that the two leading favorites can be none other than the eleven-time champion and the reigning three-slam champ. With their odds being neck-to-neck at the moment of writing, I wonder: Who does TTW consider the favorite for the French Open crown, two weeks out?

thiem

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Berdych

 

[MeatTornado]

Until I actually see him lose in Paris, it's Nadal.

 

[Steve0904]

Gotta be Novak right now. But I still think this comes down to one match about a month from now between Djokovic and Nadal for the RG title, and it would not surprise me in the slightest if Nadal was playing really well by the time that match comes along.

 

[StrongRule]

Until I actually see him lose in Paris, it's Nadal.

Are you serious? And in 2015 you also expected him to win?

 

[TheAssassin]

About the same, all three of them.

If Nadal does poorly in Rome, I'd probably give the edge to Djokovic.

 

[Standaa]

It’s like 50 % Djokovic 50 % Nadal. The rest can have the rest.

 

[Tony48]

I'd say Novak is the favorite by the tiniest of margins. Followed by Nadal of course, and then Thiem.

 

[StrongRule]

People should really stop overrating Nadal. So far he didn't do anything this year which can convince me that he can win RG. Some are giving too much credit to his clay dominance. As great as it was, he can still play bad on that surface.

 

[Steve0904]

I have a question for everyone who votes for Nadal (not that there's anything wrong with voting for Nadal on clay). But my question is this: If Nadal had beaten Tsitsipas yesterday and proceeded to get clobbered again by Djokovic like he did in Australia, would that have changed your opinion at all?

Honest question, I'm not saying anyone is wrong by going with Nadal. Just truly interested.

 

[Sysyphus]

TTW looks about as torn as the betting market, with four votes each for Earth's Mightiest and Mallorca's Epicest at the moment of writing. And a big fat zero for Austria's Brightest. (And a substantial minority for Berdych.)

 

[TheIntrovert]

I have a question for everyone who votes for Nadal (not that there's anything wrong with voting for Nadal on clay). But my question is this: If Nadal had beaten Tsitsipas yesterday and proceeded to get clobbered again by Djokovic like he did in Australia, would that have changed your opinion at all?

Honest question, I'm not saying anyone is wrong by going with Nadal. Just truly interested.

Nope. Nadal on the Parisian clay in the BO5 format is a whole other animal. It’d take a very brave person to bet against nadal in such circumstances in my opinion

 

[Standaa]

Berdych

You!

Get yourself checked!

 

[StrongRule]

Nope. Nadal on the Parisian clay in the BO5 format is a whole other animal. It’d take a very brave person to bet against nadal in such circumstances in my opinion

This statement is just based on nothing. Every year when he won RG he won a few clay tournaments as well. What makes you think that he is better in BO5 format? Especially now when he looked tired in the third set against Tsitsipas.

 

[MeatTornado]

Are you serious? And in 2015 you also expected him to win?

In 2015 Nadal had been lost for nearly a year.

He's still been okay in 2019. If the masters were best of 5 like RG, I think there's a decent chance he still would have beaten Fognini & Tsitsipas.

 

[StrongRule]

In 2015 Nadal had been lost for nearly a year.

He's still been okay in 2019. If the masters were best of 5 like RG, I think there's a decent chance he still would have beaten Fognini & Tsitsipas.

I had the impression that he was physically tired against Tsitsipas in the third set. If that's true then BO5 should only be worse for him. I wouldn't say his level was "okay" in these two matches.

 

[MeatTornado]

This statement is just based on nothing. Every year when he won RG he won a few clay tournaments as well. What makes you think that he is better in BO5 format? Especially now when he looked tired in the third set against Tsitsipas.

It's not so much about him being physically stronger in Bo5. It's about his opponents being mentally weaker. Do they believe they can keep it up and beat him over 3-4 hours on that court.

Signs are beginning to point to yes, but I won't believe it until I see it.

 

[Standaa]

In 2015 Nadal had been lost for nearly a year.

He's still been okay in 2019. If the masters were best of 5 like RG, I think there's a decent chance he still would have beaten Fognini & Tsitsipas.

Also, Nadal doesn’t care about the Masters anymore.

 

[BGod]

Fognini deserves to be a poll option.

I think Nadal going 0 for 3 so far had chipped away at his odds. Currently Nadal only leads Novak 2.22 to 3.06 and I can only suspect that would fall if Djokovic won Rome.

I am going Novak but Bo5 us different of course.

 

[Sysyphus]

Fognini deserves to be a poll option.

He really doesn't.

Dark horse, sure, but not a serious pick for being the favorite.

[inb4 someone replies with fog middle finger gif]

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Djokovic! Who can beat this guy 3 out of 5 when he's focused?

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk

 

[jm1980]

I have a question for everyone who votes for Nadal (not that there's anything wrong with voting for Nadal on clay). But my question is this: If Nadal had beaten Tsitsipas yesterday and proceeded to get clobbered again by Djokovic like he did in Australia, would that have changed your opinion at all?

Honest question, I'm not saying anyone is wrong by going with Nadal. Just truly interested.

It wouldn't mean much since Madrid is the most dissimilar to RG

 

[Zoid]

I'm going with Nole on this one - 12-3 in his last fifteen matches with Rafa, and Rafa is only looking worse for wear compared to when Djokovic started on this head-to-head tear. In prime condition and hungry for another NCYGS.

Thiem will be a threat but I worry he is still too one-dimensional to get through the draw without using too much energy.

Rafa is rafa - expect him to turn up in Paris, but I still give Nole the edge. Has Rafa's number big time

Fed? needs a nice draw, hot and sunny conditions and a good serving day/s in the back end of the tournament. Who knows though, guy can play a bit.

Zverev? hahahahhahaa

Tsitsi? Nah

 

[True Fanerer]

Still saying Nadal even though he lost to the great vlogger. Djokovic is playing better right now, but I'll stick with history for the time being. Nadal needs some life in his legs and a confidence boost of some kind.

 

[NBP]

Djokovic can beat Nadal 6-3 6-2 in Rome and I'll STILL say Nadal

 

[MeatTornado]

Djokovic can beat Nadal 6-3 6-2 in Rome and I'll STILL say Nadal

Actually, that might be the only thing that would change my mind.

 

[Standaa]

Still saying Nadal even though he lost to the great vlogger. Djokovic is playing better right now, but I'll stick with history for the time being. Nadal needs some life in his legs and a confidence boost of some kind.

Tsitsipas is a lion sitting in a middle of a street like an idiot fainting a meeninkful meenink.

 

[duaneeo]

Zverev? hahahahhahaa

Zverev is one of the few players who isn't intimated seeing a Big-3 across the net. If he goes far enough at Roland Garros to meet either Djokovic or Nole, his chances of winning would be better than any other player.

 

[True Fanerer]

Tsitsipas is a lion sitting in a middle of a street like an idiot fainting a meeninkful meenink.

Don't let him drive your car or your lawnmower for that matter.

 

[Luka888]

Nadal, Djokovic and Thiem in that order. Djokovic might be on fire, and he did say RG is his target. Well we have to wait

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

You!

Get yourself checked!

Doctors told me I had 30 days to live. Thanks a lot @Sysyphus now I can't even die in peace I'll just be counting down the days instead.

30 more days of my memes.

Rest in Federer in Del Potro.

 

[BasilashvilitheGOAT]

For someone other than Federer, Nadal or Djokovic to lose there would need to be someone who just plays really really well for three sets and I can't see that happening for all three of them.

 

[Standaa]

For someone other than Federer, Nadal or Djokovic to lose there would need to be someone who just plays really really well for three sets and I can't see that happening for all three of them.

Fed?

The third one should be Tim Thiem.

 

[rUDin 21]

Djokovic and Nadal 50-50 despite Madrid title.But the question remains is Nadal in 2015 form again?
2015 SF 3R & F up to Rome
2019 SF SF SF.

 

[Third Serve]

About 50/50 between Djokovic and Nadal. If you held me at gunpoint over a canyon with three seconds to live, I'd pick Djokovic

 

[I Am Finnish]

Fedr

 

[axlrose]

Still Nadal, followed by Djoko and Thiem.

 

[uscwang]

Clay performance so far this season:
Thiem
Djokovic
Nadal
Fognini
Tsitsipas
Federer

RG will most likely be between Nadal and Djokovic. But Thiem, Federer, Tsitsipas, and Fognini have some chance there.

ROME will be important.

 

[MichaelNadal]

The FO is going to be messy

 

[Tshooter]

...If Nadal had beaten Tsitsipas yesterday and proceeded to get clobbered again by Djokovic like he did in Australia, would that have changed your opinion at all?...

No.

Beat Nadal Bo5 on clay or go home.

On the other hand it’s within the realm of possibility that Djoker can sleep walk to a Grand Slam.

 

[augustobt]

There's one guy who only lost 2 (morally 3) matches playing on the clay courts of Roland Garros. This guy will always be the main favorite there.

 

[Tshooter]

Zverev is one of the few players who isn't intimated seeing a Big-3 across the net. If he goes far enough at Roland Garros to meet either Djokovic or Nole, his chances of winning would be better than any other player.

 

[NoleFam]

Clay performance so far this season:
Thiem
Djokovic
Nadal
Fognini
Tsitsipas
Federer

RG will most likely be between Nadal and Djokovic. But Thiem, Federer, Tsitsipas, and Fognini have some chance there.

ROME will be important.

I actually would put Fognini 3rd and Nadal 4th which would seem like blasphemy since we are talking about clay, but the real Nadal has not shown up yet.

 

[kishnabe]

Fognini (Masterclass MC, and pushed Thiem). Has the game to keep on Par with Big 3 on Clay.

Slightly hoping Federer sneaks it out, with Early Djokovic/Nadal loss.

 

[NuBas]

Would be happy to see Thiem winning RG.

Djokovic, Thiem, Nadal are obvious contenders.

Zverev, Tsitsipas, Federer, Fognini, or even Monfils may reach QFs. Hope Wawrinka or Nishikori does well here.

 

[helterskelter]

There's one guy who only lost 2 (morally 3) matches playing on the clay courts of Roland Garros. This guy will always be the main favorite there.

Hater alert! That should read “only lost 2 (morally 0) matches.” What did Bull do to you to make you fake moral losses of his?

 

[Harry_Wild]

Go Rafa!

 

[Tshooter]

Fognini (Masterclass MC, and pushed Thiem). Has the game to keep on Par with Big 3 on Clay...

Fognini has zero chance to win a Major. His wife has a better chance of winning #2.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I still think in B05 that Rafa is the favourite for RG.

 

[Tshooter]

I still think in B05 that Rafa is the favourite for RG.

I agree and irrespective of the outcome he will be the moral victor.

@vive le beau jeu !