French Open / Roland Garros

So the best tennis tournament in the world has ended again and with a familiar outcome.

Congratulations to Rafael Nadal! I remember in 2002 when Sampras ended his career, many people talked how long it would take for a player to win 14 Grand Slams again and Pistol Pete also held the (open era) record for most wins at the same tournament back then with his 7 Wimbledons. Now a guy has won 14 (!) French Opens. For me this is probably the greatest achievement in sports. Tennis is the most difficult sport to get to the very top and to stay there. And the French Open are the hardest Grand Slam to win, cause they take the most of everything: You need to play variable, because it's harder to make a point there and because of the duration of points it, so you have to be absolutely well balanced on defense and offense. You get less easy points than on other courts. For the length of the match it's also the ultimate fitness test and therefore also the hardest test in terms of mental strength.

And of Nadals all 14 French Open titles this is one of the most remarkable. To be honest, this year for only the second time probably (the other one being 2015, when Nadal was in a slump), I had Nadal not as the top favourite, since he seemed not fully healthy and I had Djokovic and Alcaraz ahead of him. But he proved again that he has a will and energy like nobody else, especially at Roland Garros. Despite his injury and the hard draw.
The match versus Djokovic was outstanding and I have rarely seen such a physical battle like his semi against Zverev. Over 3 hours for two sets? Only the Madrid semi 2009 between Rafa and Djokovic comes to my mind. Of course that match had a sad ending (all the best to Sascha), it would have been interesting to see the outcome if they could have played it fully, as this was probably Nadal's weakest performance this year, but I think he would have found a way to win. The other match in which he struggled a bit was against Auger-Aliassime, which is partly due to the Canadians strong showing, but also I personally think, cause Rafa had a short night after watching the champions league final.

The draw sadly was quite a joke this time. Four of the top 5 favourites were in the upper half, with only Tsitsipas being on the other side. And the Greek couldn't cope with the pressure and he really needs to adress his backhand troubles. This shot has become a bit weaker recently.
And this helped Casper Ruud to get to the final. I really like the Norwegian, who is one of the kindest players and I think if he works on his backhand, he can become a very good player, but yet he is one of the weakest top 10 players in recent years and one of the weakest grand slam finalists I've seen along with Kevin Anderson in recent years (though at least not as bad as in the early 2000s, when players like Rainer Schuttler or Martin Verkerk made finals).

I was really impressed with Zverev in his last two matches, which were easily the two best grand slam performances of his career. He served incredible and was mentally much calmer than usual and less error prone and even held himself quite well in rallyes against two of the three best baseliners (and players) in the world with Alcaraz and Nadal. So the injury came at a very bad time for him.

Speaking of Alcaraz: The match against Zverev was one of the first, where I really saw nerves of him. He played a terrible first set. But still he fought back (as he did earlier against Ramos-Vinolas) and showed a real Nadal spirit. I repeat, what I said often within the last months, though not here I think: I've never seen an 18- or 19-year-old player that complete. Alcaraz has everything. Forehand, backhand, offense, defense, speed, drop shots, return, awareness on the court, mental strength, fitness and from what I've heard and seen modesty and the will to work hard. Kudos to Juan Carlos Ferrero (who was a great, underrated player himself), who helped to form him. Serve could be better and he still overhits the ball quite a time, leading to unnecessary errors, but those two elements are typical for a young player and will certainly get better. Never been as confident before with a player, that he will certainly win slams and as of now I actually would make him the favourite for the US Open later this year.

As for the women:
Two years ago, when Swiatek won her maiden French Open title, just aged 19, I was deeply impressed by her performance, especially how she beat Halep, which back then I considered the best clay courter in the world. I thought Swiatek would be able to dominate Roland Garros in a way similiar to Nadal. She didn't deliver last year, but well right now she is unbeatable on clay and the best by quite a margin on hard court. Her development on the latter surface isn't surprising, cause obviously clay court tennis is the base for tennis generally and if you adapt your strokes a bit, great players in this era will also play well on (outdoor) hardcourt. Women's tennis really needs a few other players to make a huge step forward to have some competitors for Iga. Osaka on hard courts will usually be one, if she beats her mental troubles and finds her form again, maybe Andreescu, if she stays healthy, but other than those two it's hard to see right now. Anisimova needs to cut her errors, I like Fernandez a lot, but at offense she isn't even close to Swiatek. As for the younger players I haven't seen Kasintseva or Fruhvirtova playing and they really need time.
Of course I know Gauff is only 18 and already made the final at Paris, but honestly I think as with Ruud this was partly thanks to the draw. She served better than before, but still she needs to improve her forehand.

Betting faves are now Alcaraz, then Djokovic, then Tsitsipas, Rune, Sinner, Medvedev.......

Alcaraz wins and that's 2 slams on 2 diferent surfaces - Djokovic wins that's 23 Slams and more to come ....... This is likely Djokovic's last run in the French imo ......but if he wins it - it's a huge year @ 36 years old with 2 slams......or more

Only a few days away from these big players getting started - and the draw is tomorrow 1 PM UK Time - since Djokovic is the 3rd seed he could be in the Alcaraz half.....or not........

The past vs. the future:

Djokovic, Alcaraz, Tsitsipas, Rune into the 3rd round (Rune in a walkover) - Medvedev (#2) and FAA (#10) out and on the female side Garcia is out (#5)

Jannik Sinner (#8) out! The men's side is right there for the taking ffs #2, 8, 10 already outta here ........on the ladies side #1 in the world Iga Świątek turns 22 (yesterday) - you don't know about her....... but I bet you want to ........and rolls on like a bad ass machine........love her.......

Taylor Fritz - OUT......... so another top 10 male gone......Rybakina out due to illness.......clearing the path for Świątek who celebrates her rival leaving by winning 6-0, 6-0 in less than an hour .......she's amazing .......

Big day tomorrow ......Alcaraz vs. Musetti .....which could be something.....

This should be the actual trophy. Nadal probably wouldn't have won all those years if he had to eat one of these afterward every time. 

Into the Semi-Finals:

He was amazing in that 2nd set tie-break - won it - 7-0......

In the last 5 years, out of 20 Grand Slams, he has won 10 of them - and 2 times the governments of Australia and America wouldn't let him play which is not remotely like "but.....but.... Nadal was injured!" .....GTFO

I remember Zverev ' accident...terrible...
Something similar happened to me in the past, but I didn't end up in Roland Garros semifinals the following year...

Karolína Muchová surprises everyone in a great match.......and somehow beats Sabalenka - saved a match point too!........she earns the right to face Iga Świątek in the final....... obviously rooting for Świątek........ because she's awesome........ while also being adorable and what not....

Alright - prediction time - I'm going to say Alcaraz in 4 but if Djokovic wins it, I'll just be insufferable tbh

Cam Williams 2 cents on the match

I just saw something incredible from Alcaraz in the third game of the second set.