Who will win the French Open?

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

Niki Tehranchi
by Niki Tehranchi
30-May-2008
 

The French Open, or rather the Roland-Garros tournament, as it is known to Franco -phones and -philes, is in full swing and its outcome, for the first time in several years, is totally speculative.

Tsonga is out with an injry (sorry JJ, I know he's your favorite player). Djokovic is confidently coming off a victory at the Australian Open and no longer the new kid on the block. After a very lackluster performance at the U.S. Open, Nadal seems back in full force. And of course, as always, there's the Federer factor. Is he going to beat his losing streak at the French Open, which he has never won? I am almost biting my nails in excitement.

On the women'side, it's wide open as well (please no dirty jokes). The powerhouse Henin is gone. Poor Marion Bartoli was upset early (her father is probably making her walk on her knees as we speak). Serena is off which people are making seem like it's a huge upset but come on, her head is NOT in the game, hasn't been in a while (too many boyfriend troubles I guess) and it shows. I believe at the time I am writing this Venus is the lone American left. I admire her a lot, what a tremendous athlete. Now that's someone whose head is in the game. Last year in January 2007, she text messaged her coach saying she was going to win the U.S. Open. Seven months later, she proved it magnificently in New York. Jelena Jankovic looks poised to give anyone in her way a hard time. Sharapova, the number one seeded after Henin retired, only squeezed past the first round by the hair of her chinny-chin-chin.

It's starting to get exciting again. I remember as a kid watching Roland Garros in the eighties. Maaaaan. I am probably a bit too nostalgic but come on. The showdowns between Lendl and McEnroe. Martina Navaratilova against Chris Evert. Boom Boom Becker stunning everyone. Yannick Noah's emotional win. Kinda the golden era don't you think? (I know people are going to jump down my throat because to many, the seventies were the ultimate in tennis, and they are probably right, but hey I wasn't born!)

After the eighties, I kinda lost interest in tennis. Not that weren't great players involved, like Agassi, Sampras, Seles, Sabatini, and Graf, and of course the Williams sisters. I don't know why, it just wasn't as dramatic though. I read McEnroe's bio, and of course he blames it on the powers that be (shocker, I know).

I am definitely looking forward to the resolution of this Grand Slam. I would love to see Federer win Roland Garros finally. I am not one of those who subscribe to the point of view that he is just another boring Swiss. Those people did not see a young Federer play, full of rage, slammin his tennis racket on the floor again and again until it broke, prompting an older and wiser Boris Becker to tell the scout who had taken him to the game to check out Federer to call him back when the kid had regained his mental health :) Federer has just as much if not more passion for the game as any of the players. It's just that he has achieved a zen like quality, a sang froid that allows him to study his opponent, often losing to him in the first round because he is busy analyzing him, and then wiping the floor with him. A final involving either Nadal or Djokovic would be a great spectacle.

Yes, I am a big Djokovic fan (sorry again, JJ, I know you don't approve). All those Serbian kids, Novak, Jelena, Ana have really won me over. Anyone who manages to train for tennis in an empty Olympic size swimming pool while NATO bombs are dropped on their tiny heads is okay in my book. And of course there are all those funny stories about Djokovic's parents running the pizza and pancake themed restaurant, or his sweetly mocking impressions of his fellow tennis players. Heck I even like their karaoke!

Whatever happens, it will be an exciting tournament, for sure! I can't wait...

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

Recently by Niki TehranchiCommentsDate
First day of school
3
Aug 15, 2012
What would you say?
15
Jan 31, 2012
Rebound girlfriend
7
May 11, 2011
more from Niki Tehranchi
 
Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez

Federer vs Nadal

by Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez on Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:51 PM PDT


  •  
Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez

Niki......I need to ask

by Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez on Sat Jun 07, 2008 03:05 AM PDT

Niki,

In a couple of years, I need to make a major decision as to my long term career plans.

I know that you have mentioned that you are an attorney. Was it worth it? Was it the right path? If you could do it all over again, would you still have chosen law school? What has been the most rewarding aspect of being an attorney for you?


  •  
Red Wine

Si los mejicanos sois

by Red Wine on Sat May 31, 2008 10:28 AM PDT

Si los mejicanos sois alegres y es por tequila.. jejejeje ,ven pa europa, te estare esperando :=) .

 

Niki jan i just was honest ... i always read your posts and i like them :=) .


  •  
Niki Tehranchi

Dear Redwine

by Niki Tehranchi on Fri May 30, 2008 05:13 PM PDT

You could state your opinion without taking potshots, I think. Yes, you are hundred percent right, I know nothing about tennis.  I have enjoyed watching it on and off for the past 20-odd years and I occasionally (very occasionally) have played it.

 

Nadal is superb on clay.  One could say unbeatable. The fact that he is equally proficient with his right and left is a nifty little trick that was the outcome of his uncle's genius.  There is actually a funny piece on the Onion last year after he won yet another French Open about the fact that he must be made out of clay himself to be able to play so well on that ground, which has overwhelemed even the most experienced players, like Sampras and Federer.

 

But to call him the best tennis player?  That is a little premature.  Nadal is still young and may get there some day.  But as it stands now, I would argue that the names Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer fit the bill better. 

 

Borg won 11 Grand Slams, including 6 at Roland Garros setting a world record.  He also did it by wiping the floor with his opponents with a regularity rarely seen in tennis.  Sampras won a record 14.  Federer, who is still only 27 years old, has already won 12 Grand Slams.  But more than that, many of his peers, including Nadal, view him as having the potential to be the greatest player in history.  

 

 


  •  
Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez

Redwine

by Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez on Fri May 30, 2008 05:01 PM PDT

Se te olvido decir que somos muy alegres. :o)

Muchas gracias por la invitación, muy amable de vuestra parte.

Vuestro nombre me recuerda de la canción Red, Red Wine.

 

Solh va Doosti (paz a vosotros)

Nadia (AKA)


  •  
Red Wine

To Natalia

by Red Wine on Fri May 30, 2008 04:39 PM PDT

Natalia .. Sabes por que me caen bien los mejicanos ? 1-por vuestros boleros y mariachis 2- las mejicanas guapas en telenovelas.

Cuando vengas a europa,aviseme... tu y yo beberemos vino ,escucharemos a luis miguel y discutiremos sobre los buenos republicanos gringos :D . 

 


  •  
Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez

¡Oye! Redwine

by Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez on Fri May 30, 2008 03:56 PM PDT

como eres gracioso. ¿Un poquito menos de vino, no crees tu? hahaha

Solh va Doosti (paz a vosotros)

Nadia (AKA)


  •  
Red Wine

no sabes nada de tenis nena !

by Red Wine on Fri May 30, 2008 03:36 PM PDT

loooooooooool ... federer inja bebareh ? hahahahaha

serbian players ? hahahahahahaha

Nadal es el campeon, es el mejorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr .

adios federer hahahaha


  •  
Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez

Sepaas!

by Natalia Alvarado-Alvarez on Fri May 30, 2008 01:35 PM PDT

Thanks for letting us know Niki. I have been so busy that I have not seen a game since Agassi's last game.  Please keep us up to date. :o)

 Abarmard,

That was really funny and true. :o)

Solh va Doosti (paz a vosotros)

Nadia (AKA)


  •  
Kaveh Nouraee

I love this game

by Kaveh Nouraee on Fri May 30, 2008 01:34 PM PDT

As much as the current group of players are certainly skilled and talented, I can't help but feel that they don't have the same passion for the game as the greats mentioned above, particularly on the men's side.

 


  •  
Niki Tehranchi

Aravane Rezai is out

by Niki Tehranchi on Fri May 30, 2008 01:12 PM PDT

She was out at the first round but made a valiant effort, 7-6, 6-4 I think.

 

Cue for 200 people to comment she is not a "true" Iranian but a French sell-out *LoL*

 

People, please spare us.  We get it.  You don't approve.


  •  
Jahanshah Javid

Thanks for the reminder

by Jahanshah Javid on Fri May 30, 2008 01:03 PM PDT

I wasn't aware the French Open was on TV. Thank you for reminding me. I looked for ESPEN2 where lots of tennis games are shown and... fantastic! They're showing the French Opem stuff!

Too bad Tsonga is out. I want unknowns and underdogs to win. Federer is great but boring, Nadal has got too much attitude and his half-pants are ridiculous, and Jokavic is an arrogant prick. Is the French-Iranian girl still in? My god... Serena has put on some weight again...Jeez she was looking so fit a while ago...


  •  
Abarmard

It is exciting

by Abarmard on Fri May 30, 2008 12:23 PM PDT

Love Tennis.

 

If it was politics someone would ask, if you like serbian players so much why are you in the US and not move there?

 


  •