the French Open

[yertle-the-turtle]

grand slam time is upon us...

who will win?

i'm putting my $ on Ferrero assuming he hasn't withdrawn yet and his shoulder isn't dodgy.

 

[cujo]

Is Henman playing?

Why can't he win?... It would be nice to see him finally get a championship.

 

[brettig]

Henman will never win Wimbledon let alone the French.

I think this will be one of the most open slams in years. Hewitt Isn't without a chance, he did beat Moya on clay the other day!

 

[cujo]

Poor Tim... all of England on his shoulders... I agree, he won't ever win... but it would be nice if he could.

 

[brettig]

He's like Coldplay. Nice enough guys but...

Just not quite the talent - there will always be one guy in any given Slam who will have him covered. That second serve is about as reliable as Anna K's.

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

actually from various "research" done on the 'net, people (all brits, go figure) seem to think the hen is a snivelling (that word comes up a lot) idiot. still, that's not representative, and i genuinely like the guy, but sadly enough, brettig is right - he's simply not good enough (although he'd probably kick my ass). i want him to win wimbledon one day, though, ain't gonna happen, but wouldn't it be great if he did? he did beat grosjean at one of the masters, though, didn't he, although he did lose the next round.

it's tomorrow. my eyes will be turning orange from staring at all that clay.

 

[MissVelvetDress_75]

He's like Coldplay. Nice enough guys but...

Just not quite the talent

HEY!

 

[brettig]

Haha how did I know that was coming. My relationship with Coldplay is...complex. I do own both their albums!

 

[MissVelvetDress_75]

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

back to the tennis...

Federer is out! What an upset!

I was too tired to finish watching the Scud against Alex Kim but he didn't play too well in the first set.

 

[The_Sweetest_Thing]

I will not even respond to the above Coldplay comment

Henman's best bet is on grass, not clay. I don't give him a shot at this tourney. Sorry.

I have my money set on Serena, as much as I hate the Williams sisters, to win. BTW - did Henin get married? She's listed as Henin-Hardenne now Clijsters (2), Dokic (10)!

The men's game is a bit tougher to call. Hewitt is ranked first, granting him a great draw. He has a chance Then again, Kuerten's 15th, but he's won so many times.

Uugh, I was just reminded of the reason why the French is my least favourite tourney. It's because all the seeds get knocked off and you'r left with a bunch of clay court specialists. Guys you'd never see otherwise, but who are brought up playing the baseline game. Costa, Ferrero, etc. Even Kuerten, as much as I love the big-haired guy, I have to admit to myself that if he doesn't start winning anything else...

Anyone think Andre has a chance?

And psst! Check this out: 2nd round: Phillipoussis vs. Moya.

Can't wait to see some good tennis. It's been way too long.

 

[MissVelvetDress_75]

coldplay fans




lol sorry *hands tennis thread back*

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

what a great match Harkleroad-Hantuchova was. Real edge of seat stuff. as was Saretta-Kafelnikov.

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

ok, seems like I'm the only one here who actually gives a crap about the tournament.

what a day it was today. just when i thought it wouldn't get more shocking than clijsters' horrible first set against maleeva, venus proceeds to lose.

 

[Popmartijn]

Today was a nice day.
OK, there is only one Dutchman left, but he did win today. Verkerk beat Schuettler (who was 11 seeded) in straight sets. But I don't know if he can beat Moya (his opponent in the quarter finals). The Spanish are born on clay. On the other hand, he did beat that guy from Peru, who also seemed to be born on the clay.

For the rest I didn't watch that much tennis today. There was also the Formula 1 in Monaco and the Dutch Cup finals (football). Unfortunately, my team lost Apparently the referee didn't want them to win...

C ya!

Marty

 

[Salome]

He's like Coldplay. Nice enough guys but...

Just not quite the talent

marry me

and the Dutch Cup finals (football). Unfortunately, my team lost Apparently the referee didn't want them to win...

Bossen ruined my weekend


well, I hope Agassi can do it somehow
but if I was a betting man I'd try to to figure out who of the spanish players is showing his best form

 

[The_Sweetest_Thing]

clay court

 

[brettig]

Coldplay should do a gig on centre court at Roland Garros, then we'd all be catered for.

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

i want to see salome and brettig get married

 

[Flaming Friar Sr]

and the Dutch Cup finals (football). Unfortunately, my team lost Apparently the referee didn't want them to win...

Originally posted by Salome Bossen ruined my weekend

ah, well i won't laugh out loud, but.....

to stick to the thread: verkerk will probably win, being the little deus ex machina he is

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

I was surprised with Verkerk, considering he's usually a no-hoper and Rainer was in form.

(and the Dutch Cup final...sounds like Ajax-Feyenoord...forza Ajax! )

 

[Flaming Friar Sr]

(and the Dutch Cup final...sounds like Ajax-Feyenoord...forza Ajax! )

alas..... it was utrecht-feyenoord this time (but any ajax fan grins at the final result: utrecht 4 - feyenoord 1 - it really made my day!!!)

nice to see you like ajax though!

 

[Popmartijn]

Today was a nice day.
OK, there is only one Dutchman left, but he did win today. Verkerk beat Schuettler (who was 11 seeded) in straight sets. But I don't know if he can beat Moya (his opponent in the quarter finals). The Spanish are born on clay. On the other hand, he did beat that guy from Peru, who also seemed to be born on the clay.

I'm still not fully convinced he can make the semi-finals, but...
At the moment Verkerk has won the first set from Moya (in less than 30 minutes!), so there is hope. Especially when he can keep up the pace.

Marty (following the match through the real time scoreboard of Rolland Garros)

P.S. 1-1 in the second set.

Edit: he has won the second set too! (6-4) This cannot go wrong...
(hoping)

 

[Popmartijn]

Hello,

Verkerk beat Moya! Yay to him. However, it was a close call as the match wasn't decided until the 5th set. Verkerk won the first two easily, but he lost the 3rd and 4th set. At that point I thought he was going to lose the match. Fortunately, he fought back and decided the match at 8-6. Congrats and a terrific debut on Rolland Garros!

C ya!

Marty

P.S. For those interested, the full score is 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 8-6

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

very very cool. i loved the roland garros website press report.

"sjeng schalken maybe...but martin verkerk!? no way!"

genuine surprise.

 

[Flaming Friar Sr]

go martin

 

[Popmartijn]

very very cool. i loved the roland garros website press report.

"sjeng schalken maybe...but martin verkerk!? no way!"

genuine surprise.

Yes, but also understandable surprise. Until 1 1/2 weeks ago Verkerk hadn't won a single match in a Grand Slam tournament (not counting qualifications). Even for the Dutch he was quite unknown. OK he'd won his first ATP tournament earlier this year (Milan), but shortly after that he lost 10 matches in a row. Only recently he started to play better again (reaching the semi-finals in Sankt-Pollen (sp?) shortly before Rolland Garros).

BTW, Verkerk had made appointments to play in the Dutch tennis competition last weekend as he didn't think he would survive the weekend in Paris. I don't think he's very sorry he couldn't be here...

C ya!

Marty

(edited for spelling mistakes)

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

I saw the highlights of his match against Moya (due to time zones I decided to go to bed instead). He's got the most hilarious facial expressions ever.

 

[Popmartijn]

I saw the highlights of his match against Moya (due to time zones I decided to go to bed instead). He's got the most hilarious facial expressions ever.

You mean...

C ya!

Marty (who has seen funnier expressions by Verkerk)

 

[yertle-the-turtle]

yes! that picture specifically!