Quality Tennis Discussion / 2014 French Open contest

**Posted by funches** 6/04/2014 1:55 pm

Forehand_lob wrote:
I've decided I'm going to hit the DC tournament this year, at least the semis and final. If Stephens makes it that far, I'll see how she's progressed as per her doubles performance back in 2011.

If Stepehns makes it to the final, it will be something she's never done to this point at any tournament.

**Posted by Forehand_lob** 6/04/2014 3:54 pm

funches wrote:
Forehand_lob wrote:
I've decided I'm going to hit the DC tournament this year, at least the semis and final. If Stephens makes it that far, I'll see how she's progressed as per her doubles performance back in 2011.
If Stepehns makes it to the final, it will be something she's never done to this point at any tournament.

True, but I have tickets to the night session where some of the QFs are played and then the semis in addition to that. The WTA part is the equivalent of a ATP 250, so I might get to see some up and comers or veterans coming back from injury/in need of points.

There's no guarantee that Sloane will make it that far. In fact, odds are probably low.

**Posted by funches** 6/06/2014 10:11 pm

I think Halep will beat Sharapova. Assuming she's not overcome by nerves, It will depend on her ability to neutralize Shazza's blistering forehands hit right at her. If she can get them back deep, she will take control of the points and use her angles and ability to take the ball early to get the ball away from Sharapova's hitting zone. If she hits the ball short, Sharapova will win.

I know all about Sharapova winning 19 consecutive clay matches that extended to three sets, but Halep can win if it goes three sets. She is 8-1 this year in three-set matches. Yes, the one loss was to Sharapova, but Halep is a great three-set player in her own right.

**Posted by funches** 6/07/2014 11:42 am

Felt like Halep definitely could have won the match, but Sharapova should have won it and did. Overall, she was the better player today and other than her always shaky second serve, she did not have the long dips that hurt her in the previous three rounds.

After going ahead 2-0, Halep had game points in the next three games and did not win any of them. If she had gotten out to a huge lead, she would have had a better chance to win. As it was, the match was determined by just a few points here and there.

**Posted by Forehand_lob** 6/09/2014 12:42 pm

The results...

funches - 90
Forehand_lob - 87

Congrats, funches! You've broken the Forehand_lob streak!

Had I picked Halep in the final, my Reeshard pick would have given me a 2 point edge. But, I didn't, so I lost.

Watching the women's final, I got the feeling that Halep is Henin 2.0. Is that crazy? She doesn't have the aristry of the one-handed backhand, but she's got a compact power game and a pleasing sense of strategy and point construction.

**Posted by funches** 6/13/2014 12:14 am

I agree with the Henin comparison. Not quite as much power as Henin, but more power than anyone seems to realize and enough power, I believe, to win slams on any surface.

Last edited by funches (6/13/2014 12:14 am)