Some French news

"Jo-Wilfried Tsonga says the chances that a French man will win Roland Garros are zero.

"Let's be clear, there is no chance that a French win Roland Garros," he told reporters in Rome. "There is no inevitability in my comments. It's just an observation. But not to be able win a Masters 1000 clay, then a Grand Slam seems impossible."

Yannick Noah, who was the last French man to win Roland Garros in 1983, told L'Equipe that he was disappointed with Tsonga's statements.

"It is useless to say, 'This year I will win," Noah said. "However, dreaming of winning, that's fine. The worst thing is not even dreaming of victory. What happens is that the French do not even dream of winning. French players perform better on other surfaces, which is a shame because they do not have the chance to play well at home."

Tsonga always says is as it is, and I like it about him.

Tsonga is of course right. As long as Nadal is around then the french, together with everyone else have no chance, although we Brits have an outside chance me thinks

As long as Nadal is around and carrying on his anti tennis ungamesmanship no one else will win RG. Let Nadal play with 20 secs rule and without moonballing and we see the result then.

So you're confident Nadal will win it this year?

"Let Nadal play with 20 secs rule and without moonballing and we see the result then. "
That'll be the day....but if anyone can enforce it it should be the French.

I am nole yes. It's hardly brave guessing by me but this victory over your man this week was important.

I am rooting for Feds, as I always have, but like you mentioned in an earlier post, it would be amazing if he could win on that court at this point in his career.

@wow, I know exactly what you are saying and mean mate, but he is going to play like that, and that will make it difficult for everybody. Be interesting to see if anybody can counter his game. It's going to be a fascinating tournament.

I hope somebody comes from "nowhere " and gets to the semis but hard to know who that might be. Any idea?

Berdych.

I too would like the balls to play like last year, that would give all players more chance to compete more with skill and less with fitness.
That's what we all want to see, don't we?

@wow, I know exactly what you are saying and mean mate, but he is going to play like that, and that will make it difficult for everybody. Be interesting to see if anybody can counter his game. It's going to be a fascinating tournament.
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MCH, I am sure someone will beat Rafa this year. Nole still has the game to win over Nadal and who knows Fed might pass him as well. Murray played really well at RG last year,let's see if he can bring in the same form. Losing so many matches up to build up has relieved pressure from Murray which might act in his favour.

I know what you mean nole, but I don't dig so deeply into the smaller details of tennis.
The organisers will set up the courts, balls, and schedules as they see fit and I just sit back and enjoy the tennis.

They could knock Yorkshire puddings over the net to each other this year, but Nadal will hit them best. That I am sure of.

nole has a chance so you must be excited?
Murrays form is extremely worrying but he seems to like the bigger occasions? until he meets the biggest players on the very biggest stage that is

Agree with all of that wow. Can't wait for that tournament to start now. I will admit one thing, if somebody stands there at the end, with the trophy raised, and has beaten Nadal then that man will be one heck of a champion. As you guys are saying, they will be battered and bruised trying to live with Nadals very special style of play which nobody has managed to suss out at RG.
Good luck to that man.

I can only dream that that man will be Roger Federer but I will be stunned if he ever wins another Grandslam. He is great, but another victory at that level would astound me.

"The organisers will set up the courts, balls, and schedules as they see fit and I just sit back and enjoy the tennis."

that's where we differ, I can't enjoy Nadal's tennis. I really can't.

I know nole I know lol

I think that if nole wins the FO then he may go on and win the lot. Imagine that.

I honestly believe there is only 1 tennis player who can stand in his way at this time. It will be hard for him but he is a big strong tall fella and has all the shots.

Hope I am around to see it, cos me job is killing me

that's where we differ, I can't enjoy Nadal's tennis. I really can't
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Neither can I.

"Hope I am around to see it, cos me job is killing me "
you should've been a tennis pro

I have a very weak backhand and most decent players would notice

My sliced backhand usually gives my opponent an easy half court put away, and if I am hurried and have to try a top spin backhand, well the ball usually hits the top of the fence surrounding the court about 10m over my opponents head
Got a decent serve volley game though lmao

Beef up a bit and just moonball to the T line and you're sorted!

Heeyyyy how do you know I am NOT beefed up already? Not all truck drivers are clones of each other
I do moonball and it definitely buys me some time and works, haven't you tried that shot?

No, I'm a flat hitter.

that's where we differ, I can't enjoy Nadal's tennis. I really can't
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Neither can I.
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But it doesn't mean it's not fun to watch teh challenge he represents to the good shot makers. He is the benchmark when he comes to retrieving and sttill manages to lose about 10 to 15 matches a year. Those make as many great matches to watch.

"But it doesn't mean it's not fun to watch teh challenge he represents to the good shot makers. "
NO, it's not fun for me in the least. I hate watching shot-makers net an overhead in exasperation previously having hit 5-6 winners.
It's like watching someone die slowly, that's how it feels to me literally, and I am not a masocist.

I hate watching shot-makers net an overhead in exasperation previously having hit 5-6 winners.
It's like watching someone die slowly, that's how it feels to me literally, and I am not a masocist.
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But that is what makes Fed and Nole wins over him more interesting than they would be otherwise. I agree that the balance has been too much on his favour (slow courts, extending time between points) and has simply reduced the most talented player ever into a poor loser. And that is wrong. Winning Wimbledon in the 90s meant something different than winning the FO. Now it's ridiculously slow and all clay specialists thrive on it.

"Now it's ridiculously slow and all clay specialists thrive on it. "
I know.
I don't know it things can/will ever revert.

Too many factors are in play, not just tournament directors and the surface, but gear manufacturers and that's when things slip out of control...
And that's even before we go to EPO talk...