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French Open Day 6: Federer and Wawrinka Score Routine Wins

March 28, 2020
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French Open Day 6: Federer and Wawrinka Score Routine Wins

How is everyone doing? Today was a pretty interesting day in Paris with some good matches. Like I said in my last post, I would be focusing mostly on Roger, Monfils, and Stan. Roger and Stan both won their matches 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 while Monfils had another five set marathon with Cuevas, finally winning 4-6, 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. The seeds Berdych, Tsonga, and Simon also progressed to the next round. Finally, Gabashvili defeated Rosol while Nishikori already had a walk over after the withdrawal from Becker.

  • Federer vs Dzumhur
It was the first time I caught a glimpse of Dzumhur and my impression in the warm-up was that he was small and doesn’t have the weapons to bother Roger. In fact, I went to the gym after the second break in the second set because there was nothing left to see. Dzumhur hit a few decent shots at the start, but it didn’t take long for Roger to take advantage of his lack of firepower and break him in the third game. In the second set, Roger broke right away in the opening game and again in the fifth game, at which point I left the match.

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Roger got broken back when he served for the second set at 5-3 but made up for it by breaking Dzumhur in the next game with a scintillating backhand pass. In the third set, it was more of the same as Roger broke in the fourth game and again at 5-2 when Dzumhur was serving to stay in the match. The match stats were good and Roger was a staggering 6/8 on break points. Ok just kidding. It’s not all that hard to break when your opponent is 5’9” with very few weapons to speak of. Either way it was another good performance from Roger and he has expended very little energy so far.
  • Federer vs Monfils
Monfils on the other, who is his next opponent, has done his best to tire himself out with two five setters and a four setter. Today Monfils was a break down in the fourth set and probably the only reason he is even in the fourth round is the crazy French crowd. I felt sorry for Cuevas who is a down-to-earth guy and was basically abused by the rampant French crowd. But hey, I guess they are really desperate since their last male slam winner was in 1983 while at the same time producing loads of top 100 players. Whatever the case may be, Roger now plays the guy Fedfans hoped would lose today. And even though the French like Roger I’m sure they will try to inject Monfils with adrenaline one last time. Monfils is a showman and feeds off the energy from the crowd. He has also won his last two meetings with Roger. Yes, he has already expended a lot of energy, but he is one of the best athletes in tennis and Paris is the last place you want to play him. Given Monfils’ court time so far, I would usually have said Roger in four.

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But now I’m not so sure anymore. Monfils is without a shadow of a doubt one of the most talented players in the sport and contrary to Dzumhur, has the weapons to seriously hurt Roger. I expect Roger to win, but it may be harder than I initially thought. Roger’s draw is probably gonna be a lot harder than people initially thought as well. Stan won today and he looked damn comfortable out there against Johnson. He now plays Simon who needed five sets to get past Mahut. Bar something unpredictable again from Stan, I expect him to get through Simon. And I doubt he would tank against Roger this time. Then there is Berdych and Nishikori as well. I think if Roger plays Monfils/Stan/Nishikori before the final that would be a decent test. But whoever he plays he needs to take advantage of this draw because it won’t get much easier. I’m looking forward to Roger playing Monfils anyway, even if it’s only to see the crowd’s reaction.
  • Tomorrow’s Matches
So tomorrow is the top half’s turn again where there is a bunch of interesting matchups going on. And this time it’s the Djoker’s turn to get Chatrier while Nadal and Murray have to settle for Lenglen. The Djoker will play rising star Kokkinakis which should be a good gauge of his form. Nadal plays Kuznetsov who I don’t know much about while the Murray vs Kyrgios match is one to look forward too. Finally, in the battle of the youngsters Sock and Coric will face off in another interesting match to decide who will face Nadal in the fourth round.
  • Highlights
  • Federer Presser
The is in your court.
Posted in French Open, Grand Slams.

23 Comments

    1. Hey Guys, been a while, but I’m still here. Couldn’t find the place to comment till just now. Anyway, Roger is playing great, and the ultimate of course would be Roger playing Rafa, and Roger winning, but I’m not holding my breath. Hope you all are doing great, and GO ROGER!!!! G

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      Ajay Reply: May 29th, 2015 at 10:02 pm No way Roger is beating Rafa in the final. If Nadal makes the final its over.

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      Ru-an Reply: May 29th, 2015 at 11:42 pm It’s hard to argue with this logic

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      Ru-an Reply: May 29th, 2015 at 10:03 pm Hey, Gary. Welcome back ;-)

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    1. I think Federer really needs to concentrate in the Monfils match. I am sure the crowd will get behind Monfils again to give him some energy. Also if Fed does play Monfils/Stan/Nishi and wins I think he must be almost 50-50 to win the finals if it is Djokovic or Murray. Also hoping Djokovic is fresh going into the Nadal match and Nadal is a bit tired from maybe a tough match vs Sock. Djokovic really deserves this one a lot. Also Murray looks like a sure bet to reach the semis if you ask me. Roger’s 4th round match against Monfils is actually by far the toughest match among the big 4’s 4th round matches (when it happens). Also Monfils will definitely feel a little tired initially and Federer should definitely try to impose himself early on in the match. I think in the past 10 years at least Roger has only lost to Djokovic, Nadal, Murray and Del Potro thrice in a row and I would really think he will get the job done. Also as long as it is not over 4 sets it won’t really be a problem because after the quarters Roger has 2 days to rest for the semis. All in all it is definitely in Roger’s hand to make the finals. Even if it requires 1 or maybe even 2, 5 setters.

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      Ru-an Reply: May 29th, 2015 at 10:06 pm Yeah, I forgot about the extra day’s rest because Roger started in Sunday Ajay. It seems everything was perfectly lined up from the start for him to win this. But yeah, it looked like that at the USO too.

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    1. Hi Ruan, you are right about crazy French crowd and Monfils was actually 2 breaks down in 4th and then Cuevas crumbled under pressure, he was serving for 5:1.I was cheering for Cuevas cause as you said Monfils can hurt Roger but Monfils is not playing his best French open at all, he is loosing his serve very easily, hope it will continue this way.. He is game is up and down all the time. But as you said Paris is last place you want to play him, crowd were as loud as football fans, even singing national anthem. Hopefully Roger will silent them early in the first set.

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      Ru-an Reply: May 29th, 2015 at 10:39 pm Wow. Thanks for adding that Pete. Unreal. Can’t believe Cuevas had 5-1! Some Fedfans are probably devastated.

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      Ru-an Reply: May 29th, 2015 at 11:31 pm Just a correction here Pete Cuevas led 4-1 not 5-1, but he did have the double break.

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      Pete Reply: May 30th, 2015 at 4:09 am Sorry I meant to say serving for 5:1 lead,ye he was 4:1 and and on his serve,pity either way

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    1. Hey, Ru-an! You are getting on a serious roll with these back to back great posts. Congratulations.. Onto Monfils – I really really hope that Monfils will be burned out by Sunday. Won’t count on it though. I am more counting on Roger being the better player on clay now than he was when he played Monfils in Monte Carlo. He looked good today so we’ll see. I am hoping for straight sets or 4 sets – anything more and his chances for winning the tournament will diminish significantly… An interesting stat – Stan and Simon are 2:2 head to head with Stan winning a 5 setter here against Simon in 2012 and Simon beating Wawrinka in 3 sets last year in Shanghai. So that match up is a toss up as well. I almost want Wawrinka to win again but also in 5 sets. Or vice versa. But Simon doesn’t mind long matches. While Wawrinka will get tired from a long match.. Hey, if Nishikori got a walkover, Roger should be getting easy matches as well. Just saying. Fair or not fair. At this point Roger needs all the help he can get. He is not 27 anymore. Anyway.. :-) )

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      Ru-an Reply: May 29th, 2015 at 11:11 pm Yeah, Simon would be a tough opponent as well in Paris. And yes Nishikori is fresh and plays Gabashvili next. Birdshit on the other hand just had a 4-setter vs Paire and plays Tsonga next. :))

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      Veronica Reply: May 30th, 2015 at 2:17 pm ” ….will try to inject Monfils with adrenaline……” :-| What a funny but most apt description, Ru-an!! The French crowd is like a life supporting machine for Monfils. He would have long been dead and gone if not for them. And that’s where he is so dangerous. You wouldn’t want to play against an inspired, energy-sucking Monfils. Roger will get lesser support. He has to be mentally prepared for this and not allow the crowd to rattle him. If the crowd can pull Monfils through another victory, the tourney will lose some of its intrigue and excitement as The Clown will be true to his name and completely collapse in the next round. You can bet your money on that!

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      Ru-an Reply: May 30th, 2015 at 2:22 pm :o)

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    1. What a great blog. For me it is all about Wimbledon, if Roger can beat a few of the top guys here on clay it will make him almost impossible to beat until finals, I think.

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      Ru-an Reply: May 30th, 2015 at 10:53 am Thank you, Colonel! ;-)

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    1. Initially I was thinking Roger in four but after listening to Fabrice Santoro on ITV ttonight I decided to go with Roger in five, losing the first two sets and coming back for the five set win. If I take a guess at the exact scoreline I would go with 2-6 6-7(4) 6-2 7-6(2) 6-3. Just plucked the tiebreak scores out of thin air but the other stuff I feel might be about right, first set to Monfils comfortably, close second set as Roger gets into the match, letdown from Monfils in the 3rd, close 4th set and then a fairly easy 5th set. Pretty similiar to the US Open match. Obviously I would love to be wrong and watch as Roger destroys him and the French crowd 6-2 6-2 6-1.

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      Ru-an Reply: May 30th, 2015 at 8:42 pm I’d be amazed if the sets turn out anything close to your prediction Charlie, nevermind the tie-break scores. And I don’t say that because I think your prediction is poor. I say that because for it to be right you’d have to have supernatural powers.

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      Vily Reply: May 31st, 2015 at 1:32 am I would be shocked if Roger lost the first set 6:2. I really hope that Roger puts on a clinic. He should shut that Parisian crowd down and get through quickly. I think that he’ll come out super focused and I’m actually looking for a straight sets shut out. There might be a tiebreak thought and he’ll need to be clutch there..

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      Charlie Reply: May 31st, 2015 at 9:29 am Yeah when I said about right I really meant that I may have got a few things wrong like the exact score within the sets or whether Roger goes two sets down or just two sets to one down, or just loses the first set, but something tells me that Roger is still due his one sloppy match of the tournament where he plays badly and either gets through it and continues a long way into the tournament or loses. As I said though, no one would be happier to be wrong than me.

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      Charlie Reply: May 31st, 2015 at 9:30 am Dammit, accidentally subscribed to receive updates by e-mail again……..

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      Ru-an Reply: May 31st, 2015 at 11:06 am Ok, but you are asking me about it in the wrong place again, so I can’t help you.
 

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