Boris (Boom Boom) Becker is sent to the hole

[Softball Bat]

I took a look at the French Open draw and see that Djoker and Nadal (seeded just 5th) will meet in the quarterfinals if they both get there.

The winner would face Alcaraz (seeded 6th seed) in the semis, if they get there.

Yikes.

[L45B]

Yup, it’s a top heavy draw. Which bodes well for Medvedev at the 2 slot. Tsitsipas and Rublev are in his half.

But we know full well that the rogue specialists come out of the woodwork in Paris, those unknowns are the ones to be weary of.

Nadal might be playing Wawrinka in the 2nd round. Youch.

[Softball Bat]

Tsitsipas

He really got a break with this draw.

He avoids Nadal, NoVax and Alcaraz -- and would potentially face Medvedev in the semis, on Medvedev's least favorite surface.

It is never easy to win 7 straight matches to take the french, but Tsitsipas' road to potential victory sets up about as well as it possibly could for him.

[L45B]

He has a great draw no doubt. He’s been inconsistent this year. There’s guys in his quarter who can beat him (Shopaholic) but all guys he should beat. If he plays anywhere close to the way he did last year (nearly beating NoVax), he should be in the finals.

[Softball Bat]

Too bad Thiem has taken such a step backwards, I felt like he was the next guy up on the clay a few years back but hasn’t gotten his game back to even top 100 form.

Yeah, he just got rolled out of the French in straight sets in the 1st round.

[L45B]

This year’s RG tourney is going to be an unseeded no-name’s paradise, I can feel it.

I mean, it usually is.

[Softball Bat]

This year’s RG tourney is going to be an unseeded no-name’s paradise, I can feel it.

Good call, and this youngster could be one to go far.

19 year old Holger Rune knocked the 14th seed (D. Shapovalov -- of jump backhand fame) out in the first round in straight sets.









Rune can cover the court like nobody's business.

[Softball Bat]

19 year old Holger Rune

Rune will square off against Tsitsipas (4) in the round of 16.

Should be a tough match, but I think Rune has a good shot at winning it.

[Softball Bat]

I took a look at the French Open draw and see that Djoker and Nadal (seeded just 5th) will meet in the quarterfinals if they both get there.

The match-up is set.

NoVax cruised past D. Schwatzman in straight sets, dropping only 7 games.

Rafa had to go 5 sets to take out F. Auger-Aliassime.


A. Zverev will face C. Alcaraz in the other quarterfinal of the top half of the draw.


I like Alcaraz over Zverev.
Leaning slightly toward Nadal over Djokovic -- but wow, this is a tough call.

[LTS TRN 2]

It's the Joker's revenge. He's on more than a mission--it's personal, but not against Rafa (and they don't like each other), but rather against the Hoax and the hooknosed hoaxsters who cheated him of the Australian.

Make no mistake, Joker represents the entire Guy Faulks spirit in these treacherous and trying times. No knock at all at the greatness of Nadal. :wink:

[Softball Bat]

NoVax is younger, probably healthier, and should be more rested.
And as you say, he is a man on a mission.

But the surface favors Rafa -- and the crowd will be very much on his side.
They might help will him to victory here.


If these two guys have a war, Alcaraz might be waiting there to devour whoever comes out on top.

[Softball Bat]

19 year old Holger Rune

Rune will square off against Tsitsipas (4) in the round of 16.

Should be a tough match, but I think Rune has a good shot at winning it.

Rune did it.







Medvedev got knocked out (by Cilic), so the bottom half of the draw could be there for the taking.

I think Rune has a realistic shot at making it to the finals.

[L45B]

Alcaraz vs Rune would be a great youthful finals for sure, would love to see that.

I think Djoker is going to get there though. I’m gonna call Zverev over Alcaraz in five sets.

I think Rublev pops out of the bottom half, but still wide open for any of those guys.

[Softball Bat]

I’m gonna call Zverev over Alcaraz in five sets.

Wow.
Interesting.

[Softball Bat]

The quarterfinal match-ups are set, so I will call my shots.


Djokovic (1)
Nadal (5)

Zverev (3)
Alcaraz (6)

Ruud (8)
Rune

Rublev (7)
Cilic (20)



Nadal
Alcaraz
Rune
Rublev

[LTS TRN 2]

Joker, Alcaraz, Ruud, Cilic....

[L45B]

five four sets :o

[Softball Bat]

Zverev says “fuck y’all”. That was an impressive match just now.

Yes.
That was a big win for him.
He has been known to be mentally shaky, but this was nails.

I’m gonna call Zverev over Alcaraz in five sets.

Very nice!

[LTS TRN 2]

Wow, Nadal in 4. Is he the GOAT?

[Softball Bat]

You could make a case for it.
He is the greatest ever on clay, and nobody is close to him.

Like Secretariat at the Belmont Stakes.

[Softball Bat]

Ruud and Cilic both advance.

Ruud kept Rune on his heels for much of the match -- and Cilic hit some BIG shots at BIG moments.
Props to both of them.


I went 1-3 with my quarterfinal selections.
Awful.

I'll try again with semifinal picks.


Nadal v. Zverev
Ruud v Cilic

Picks -----> later.

[Softball Bat]

I'm taking Nadal and Ruud.

Not Ravishing Rick. :)

[L45B]

Have to agree there, Bat.

Rafa’s toughest match remaining is going to be against Zverev. Wouldn’t be surprised if it goes five.

Ruud is just a solid player. To me, doesn’t have any devastating weapons but his game is tight. I think he beats Cilic but will be overmatched in the finals.

I’m so pissed that I didn’t bet Rafa in his match vs Djoker. Rafa an underdog at Roland Garros???

The thought that if he wins this tournament for the 14th time (which I think he will), he will be 50% complete of a calendar grand slam, at his age and given the injuries he’s had to endure. That alone is GOAT-worthy.

[Softball Bat]

Only two men have won majors over the age of 36 (Nadal turns 36 on Friday).

Federer - 2018 Aussie Open (36 and 5 months)

Rosewall - 1972 Aussie Open (37 and 2 months)

[L45B]

Dude might be going 14 for 17 at Roland Garros lifetime.

97% is one helluva free throw percentage.

[Softball Bat]

Nadal v. Ruud in the final.

Rafa was in a helluva war with Zverev before the unfortunate injury occurred.

The match was cut short and the King of Paris was able to conserve some energy for the final -- which he might need.

Ruud will be another battle.


Prediction later.

[Softball Bat]

Btw, a climate change weirdo put on a public spaz show during the Ruud-Cilic match.

Tied herself to the net.











ME, ME, ME, ME, ME, ME...





#loser

[Softball Bat]

Nadal v. Ruud in the final.

Ruud will fight hard, but I can't see him having enough to overcome Rafa.

Nadal wins in 4 sets.

[Softball Bat]

Ruud was a dud.

Rafa totally outclassed him, dropping just 6 games.

Nadal's 14th French win, which is just surreal.

Props!

[L45B]

Ruud was a dud.

Like I said, he’s a solid top 10-15 player with nowhere close the weapons to beat Rafa at RG, especially on his first try at a grand slam final.

Rafa getting thru that top half of the draw, even despite Zverev’s injury (I still think Rafa would have won that match) was simply incredible.

Is he finished winning this tournament? Is he finished winning grand slams? I doubt it. But it’s not getting any easier for him as the years go by.

[Softball Bat]

A short case for Nadal as the GOAT...


- He has won the most majors (22).
- He has won each of the majors at least twice, which is something only he and Djokovic have done in tennis history.
- He has completely dominated one major (The French Open) to an extent that nobody could have ever imagined. Borg won 6 times and people thought that was insane domination. 14 French Open titles? Unreal.
- He has a 24-16 record v. R. Federer.
- He and Djokovic are essentially even (30-29 in favor of Djokovic)

[L45B]

All fair points, Bat.

If or when Djokovic overtakes the number of majors, every bullet point of yours can be used to boost his own argument.

He’s won six Wimbledon titles to date, and that’s not the major he’s won the most (you know the answer).

27-23 against Roger I believe.

[Softball Bat]

I am personally not comfortably placing Nadal as the GOAT.
Just pointing out that a case can be made for him.

Indeed, NoVax figures to have a couple more good years where he could tilt things more his way in such a discussion.
We'll see.

Nadal detractors might make the claim that, yes, he has the most slams, but winning so many of them on one surface makes him a bit of a "one trick pony."
But as noted, he is alone in history (with Djokovic) as the only guys to win each major at least twice.
That helps bolster the case for Rafa.