Here it is as promised…my French Open preview. The second Grand Slam tournament of 2014 gets underway tomorrow from Roland Garros. So, is Rafael Nadal still the overwhelming favorite on his beloved red clay? I think no…not the overwhelming favorite by any measure but certainly still the favorite or at least the co-favorite along with world number two Novak Djokovic. Rafa has looked vulnerable since the start of the tennis season this year, even on clay! Think back to Madrid when Kei Nishikori had him on the ropes until succumbing to his body breaking down and being forced to retire. Also, Djokovic defeated him in the final in Rome, even after dropping the first set (which by the way has never happened in the history of these two players, if Rafa wins the first set against Nole in the past, he won the match!). So, Nadal and Djokovic are the co-favorites and I could feel pretty comfortable going “out on a limb” so to speak and saying that if the final is between these two (#1 and #2), I will predict Novak Djokovic wins his first French Open and completes the career Grand Slam. BUT…slow down people…we are now talking about five set matches, “Big Boy” tennis here so Rafa could get it done for sure. And then there are others…starting with world #3 Stan Wawrinka. Stan has been a bit up and down since winning his first Grand Slam title in Australia. Still, Stan has the game to beat both Rafa and Djokovic (oh yes, he did that down under) and is a real threat to pull the “upset” in Paris if he is at his best. And then there is my guy, the GOAT, Mr. Roger Federer, now a father of four (two twin girls, two newly born twin boys). Roger came back from paternity leave in Rome after missing Madrid and looked rusty losing to J. Chardy in his first match. But Fed has had a really great 2014 after a dismal 2013 (at least by his immeasurable standards). Roger won Dubai, reached the final at Brisbane and lost to Hewitt, lost in the quarters down under (disappointing) and has also played in two other Masters 1000 finals, Indian Wells, losing to Nole in three sets (third set tiebreaker) and in Monte Carlo to good buddy Stan Wawrinka (think the emotion got the better of him). So, of course Federer is always in the conversation to take the title if things fall right for him in the draw. People often forget that Roger Federer has been the second best clay court player in the world for a decade…losing five finals to none other than the King of Clay, Rafa and winning his one French Open title in 2009 when Robin Soderling did him the grand favor of defeating Nadal. Andy Murray remains a question mark, he has looked very shaky after his back surgery and is currently searching for a new coach after parting ways with Ivan Lendl. Still, Murray when on his game is likely to be in the mix, at least into the quarters and perhaps the semifinals. David Ferrer is like the energizer bunny and just keeps on coming and like his fellow Spaniard, Nadal, is a clay court specialist. Kei Nishikori, if healthy enough, could be a real threat to unsettle the presumed natural order of things atop the men’s tennis hierarchy. Up and comers, G. Dimitrov and M. Raonic could factor in as well along with Thomas Berdych who if things go according to plan would face Federer in the quarters.
On the women’s side..we start with the favorite, world number one Serena Williams. If she is healthy and on her game she wins. Both Li Na (#2) and A. Radwanska (#3) will test her along with Maria Sharapova who has been very up and down but looked very good in Rome until losing to Ana Ivanovic. Ana is poised to move back into the top ten and is playing some very good tennis. Victoria Azarenka will be MIA again due to her foot injury (bummer, no Redfoo in the house at Roland Garros) so some of the young players will get a shot at upsetting the apple cart. S. Halep of Romania (currently ranked #4) is a threat and Eugenie Bouchard of Canada is the new “darling” of the women’s tennis world. Still when all is said and done, Serena remains the clear favorite on the women’s side…but we all know anything can happen at a Grand Slam.
Looking forward to a great two weeks of tennis which will begin live on Tennis Channel tomorrow. Great way to kick back and enjoy Memorial Day weekend if you are not enjoying a wonderful trip!
Tonight, the Heat and the Pacers face off in game three of the Eastern Conference finals. The game is in Miami and the series is tied 1-1, advantage Heat. Pacers lost a close one in Indy, should not have let that happen! Paul George was diagnosed with a concussion after game two but word is he has been cleared to play tonight. One hopes he really is “cleared” to play with all the controversy in the sporting world over proper handling of concussions. That being said, the Pacers need him and cannot and will not win without him.
Moving to Pop Culture, saw the new movie Blended with Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. This is their third collaboration, the first one…The Wedding Singer! It was cute, Drew is so full of sunshine and Adam is always hilarious so let the critics say what they want, I found it a great “feel good movie” to see and kick off the holiday weekend!
Until tomorrow..
P.S. Almost forgot, (how could I?), there is this little car race on tomorrow, the greatest spectacle in auto racing..the Indy 500! Guess with no Dario Franchitti it dimmed in significance for me personally, but still a great watch! Start your engines….
