TENNIS: French Open 2019 SFs and Fs
Jun. 10th, 2019 04:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllFriday: I didn’t watch any tennis, just followed one of those live updates. I’ve got increasingly irked that the women were forced to play at the same time on Longlen and Simon Matthieu, well before the men - so why wasn't one match on Chatrier? It would mean that a finalist hadn’t played previously on Chatrier, which is hardly fair, and it doesn’t treat the two genders with equal respect. I know the women weren't names, but they had won through to the same stage of the championships.
Both ladies’ semis see-sawed hugely. Konta ought to be bitterly disappointed with this result as she led in both sets. Barty found a way back after her stunning reversal, and went into the final the slight favourite, having had more experience and having more shots. I realised I hadn’t really seen her play in this French Open, either.
As for the men, Nadal continued his dominance here over Federer. The weather was apparently much the same for this semi as for the following one, in which Thiem coped better than Djokovic. I saw a quote saying Djokovic was playing Thiem, the conditions and himself, while Thiem was just playing his opponent. Play was suspended for the night with Thiem up a break in the third set.
Saturday: I was excited about a Day of Tennis, but it became apparent that that decision to suspend play the previous night meant that they lost out on playable weather in daylight (possibly because of pressure from Djokovic and his team, because he didn’t like the windy conditions?) This slightly put me in Thiem’s camp. Again, he seemed to cope with the conditions better. The wind and the net had a huge impact on winning service games.
I also think Thiem’s game has developed a bit since last year. Djokovic wasn’t getting the results he wanted from coming in.
A very long rain break meant that the women’s finals were pushed back yet again. Lots of drama, more breaks – Thiem not converting two match points on his serve!! But he did win the last with a winner.
Right result, but having to play fouor days running favoured Nadal (even more) although I’d expect Thiem to give a better account of himself this year than he did last year.
And then the women’s finals: Barty seemed the more settled, and Vondourosova couldn’t string together enough to worry her. Her dropshot was mostly ineffective, with Barty prepared for it, fast enough for it and capable enough at the net to return it with interest. Vondourosova showed a little more good stuff in the second set, but could not challenge Barty’s lead. Excellent ending for a new Aussie star, who just had too much, and a beginning (perhaps.) As discussed, the volatility on the women’s side showcases talent but means that stars aren’t coming through. However, I’d suggest we look at the young ages of the two finalists and Osaka and think of it as a time of transition. It’ll also be interesting to see how the players transfer to the grass.
I couldn’t be bothered to watch the men’s doubles after all that.
Sunday: I was only able to watch the first six games, but there were some enjoyable rallies, and they were making a match of it, with Thiem having broken Nadal, only to be broken back.
And apparently Nadal won it in four – the last two sets coming easily – winning the French Open a staggering twelve times. It feels as if he hasn't been given enough attention in the media for this.
Both ladies’ semis see-sawed hugely. Konta ought to be bitterly disappointed with this result as she led in both sets. Barty found a way back after her stunning reversal, and went into the final the slight favourite, having had more experience and having more shots. I realised I hadn’t really seen her play in this French Open, either.
As for the men, Nadal continued his dominance here over Federer. The weather was apparently much the same for this semi as for the following one, in which Thiem coped better than Djokovic. I saw a quote saying Djokovic was playing Thiem, the conditions and himself, while Thiem was just playing his opponent. Play was suspended for the night with Thiem up a break in the third set.
Saturday: I was excited about a Day of Tennis, but it became apparent that that decision to suspend play the previous night meant that they lost out on playable weather in daylight (possibly because of pressure from Djokovic and his team, because he didn’t like the windy conditions?) This slightly put me in Thiem’s camp. Again, he seemed to cope with the conditions better. The wind and the net had a huge impact on winning service games.
I also think Thiem’s game has developed a bit since last year. Djokovic wasn’t getting the results he wanted from coming in.
A very long rain break meant that the women’s finals were pushed back yet again. Lots of drama, more breaks – Thiem not converting two match points on his serve!! But he did win the last with a winner.
Right result, but having to play fouor days running favoured Nadal (even more) although I’d expect Thiem to give a better account of himself this year than he did last year.
And then the women’s finals: Barty seemed the more settled, and Vondourosova couldn’t string together enough to worry her. Her dropshot was mostly ineffective, with Barty prepared for it, fast enough for it and capable enough at the net to return it with interest. Vondourosova showed a little more good stuff in the second set, but could not challenge Barty’s lead. Excellent ending for a new Aussie star, who just had too much, and a beginning (perhaps.) As discussed, the volatility on the women’s side showcases talent but means that stars aren’t coming through. However, I’d suggest we look at the young ages of the two finalists and Osaka and think of it as a time of transition. It’ll also be interesting to see how the players transfer to the grass.
I couldn’t be bothered to watch the men’s doubles after all that.
Sunday: I was only able to watch the first six games, but there were some enjoyable rallies, and they were making a match of it, with Thiem having broken Nadal, only to be broken back.
And apparently Nadal won it in four – the last two sets coming easily – winning the French Open a staggering twelve times. It feels as if he hasn't been given enough attention in the media for this.
