draw is out. No Murray, who withdrew, so Rafa slides up to 3 and Ferrer to 4.

Fed draws Ferrer, Djoker and Nadal in the same half.

Federer still has a tough draw with Tsonga, Berdych, or Ferrer all looming on that side, but I hope he can make a run at one more French final.

Haven't really looked at the women's side yet, but given that Gisela Dulko is retired, Dominika Cibulkova is my new favorite, for obvious reasons.

The long GS wait from Australia is over. Gonna be a fun few weeks of tennis!

I'll be there next Wednesday! Cant wait.

I'm a huge tennis fan, but dunno why you started a French Open thread...we all know Rafa is just going to run the table yet again.

I have a weird relationship with the French Open. Of the four majors, it's my least favorite, but at the same time I'm always inordinately excited about it because by the time it comes around, it has been FOREVER since the Aussie Open.

We all know the biggest news out of the French Open right now is Roger's haircut and that he joined Twitter.

I kid. But seriously.


This is one of the most exciting sporting weekends! Huge day in motorsports tomorrow as well!

Fed got a great draw, the draw at this stage of his career he as to get.

I think Joker is focused to win this one. It would cement him among the all time greats. Nadal is of course a beast on this surface and it is hard to count him out.

Fed will make the final. His draw is that easy. Tsonga is in hi draw but Tsonga is not strong on clay. I know that is hard to believe considering he is French but he is not.

quote:

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I think Joker is focused to win this one. It would cement him among the all time greats

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Agreed. Every year the French is the #1 and Aussie #2 goal for him, because then he could say he completed the career grand slam in the same period as Rafa.

That being said, I just do not see Djoker beating Rafa in the semis. Unfortunately from then on out, it will be Rafa beating Fed in 3 or 4 sets

And just when I crap on Tsonga's chances he looks incredile. The guy has lost some weight and is just murdering the ball. He always had all the shots but was just too heavy. Now it looks like he can make a charge.

As for Federer look for him to make his last assault at Wimbledon this year. It is really has last chance to win a major. He can't beat Murray and Joker back to back anymore. Frankly he could get some help this year if someone were to sneak up on Nadal. Federer can beat Joker on clay but not Nadal. So his best bet is Joker taking at Nadal in the semis.

Just came back from watching Federer live! He looked great but I know against a much weaker opponent. I was guessing his reaching the quarterfinal of the majors streak would end here but I may be wrong. Still early to tell. Also saw Ferrer play too. What a beast!

No. Fed will walk into the quaters Again, his draw is ridiculously easy. Once he reaches the quarters he will run into Tsonga. If he can get through him he will walk over Ferrer into the finals. The only obstacle is Tsonga at this point.

I think that's a reason why Fed hasn't won more in Grand Slams in recent years, because his competition to the semi-finals / finals hasn't been that strong, so he hasn't been as prepared as players like Rafa / Murray / Djoker who faced almost always tougher draws.

ehh. no. He has just lost a half step and a bit of action and speed so he has to be even more precise than he once was. He's just getting old. The fact that he has been able to push guys like Rafa/Nadal/Murray as much as he has at his age is unbelievable.

Time for things to get interesting. Feeder is just rolling amd Nadal has looked vulnerable. But again Nadal does not care about 5 set sieges.

I guess Federer stays alive in reaching the quarters. I'm not a Tsonga fan with his ridiculous victory dance thinking he's all that. But for sure that quarters match will be tough.

Thigns looked dicey there for Federer. The clay neutralizes his serve. Plus he was not playing a puchover. Simon is a good player.

Tsonga looks like he is going to roll over on Federer. The guy looks very strong out there. At this point Federer just can't sit back on the basline and bang it out with people. He has to attack the net and on clay that is a recipe for disaster. Hope I am wrong.

Fed didn't look the same after he fell and rolled his ankle? foot? He was in control at that point.

Good to see him still get the win. 36 consecutive QF's. Unreal.

That all being said, and while I want him to win...Tsonga might steamroll him in the QF's.

Agree Bunk. Tsonga since losing some weight is moving like a different person.

Highly doubt Tsonga "steamrolls" Fed. I see it playing out very similarly to today's match. Fed might be caught off guard by Tsonga's improvement, but it will end in 5 either way.

He won't be caught off guard. Federer will be ready. What I am talking about is Federer is not the same guy he was 4 years ago. Against Murray at the Australian his shots were not near as crisp in the 5th set as the were in the 1st.

Well that was murderous. Tsonga looks tough. I just do not see Ferrer slowing him down. Now Joker or Nadal is another story in the finals.

Yup. Steamrolled. Hate that I was right

This makes me wonder about Tsonga. The guy has always been just a little too heavy. Why? The guy could have doubled his carerr earnings. We are talking about better than Ferrer and possibly until two years ago Murray.

I don't like how they are making the men play at the same time. In the quarters is does not hurt to stagger the main matches so more people can watch both matches.

Come on guys, I get Fed is out but there is some good tennis out there to talk about. did we lay in a dark room for weeks when Borg went nuts at 26 and dropped off the face of the earth? The King is dead, long live the king.

I'm ready to see Tsonga against the winner of what should be an epic semifinals on the other side.

Roger had nothing to complain about for his draw, but look at those QF opponents for the top 4....robredo, wawrinka, haas, and Tsonga. Good lord. One is not like the others.

Agreed. But again one looks at the seimfinal draw as the key indicateor as well as some heavy hitters on the early rounds. Federer did not have Joker or Nadal on his side and that hard hitting Czech was somewhere else.

Question. What the heck happened to Soderling? Did he join a commune?

Well crap Federer did have that hard hitting Czech in his draw.

Nadal

Heatd Soderling had mono that him out for a while. But not sure whats up with him now.

great job, serena!