Men and Womens Final

[rcgills]

I've nothing against the French on the whole - I lived out there for 4 years and I could count on one hand the number of people I met there who I actually disliked. I just dislike them at Roland Garros. Oh, and when they're celebrating winning the World Cup/European Championships, they can be pretty unbearable then too, although in all honesty I expect the English would be the same. Not that we'll ever get to put that to the test, mind you

[igor5]

Boring boring final today but I think and tomorrow we are going to see similar scenario......
FedEx is going down big time, maybe one set for him but Nadal is on fire in the moment and i would say boring three set match, with the kid smiling on the end of the day

[johnnybgood]

I am joining you folks on your states about french arrogance. My wife is working for french based company and even though soem folks there speak english as well as german, they are using only french. I think thats because they lost all their wars against england 1000 years ago and last war against germany, all that raised their complexes in the world.

For tomorrow, I simply cannot miss those odds from 3,00 and above on Federer. Not just because he beat Nadal month ago, that match both were not on that lever they are playing now, but because thats last missing trophy for Federer. He showed some weaknesses along the tournament, but any time when he needed great service or winner he hit it. Medium bet for me and will enjoy that game tomorrow.

Cheers

[Wittmann 44]

As easy as I thought it would be for Henin.

Terribly one sided and like Ig0r I think tomorrows game will be similarly one sided. If I wasn't heavily on Nadal as is I would be probably getting on further. Federer has been patchy yet the players he has met have had terrible histories and mental baggaged against him that they could not overcome (Robredo , Davydenko). Davydenko should have made it much more akward but folded. Nadal has the strongest mental attitutde on clay of anyone currently playing and with his history why shouldn't he - You'll never get Nadal anywhere near this price after tomorrow for the next few years if things continue as they are. Hamburg was slow, Nadal was tried and it is Fed's favoritye clay event - the upset was not as big as people make it out to be.

[Wittmann 44]

Re Roland Garros I've been there twice and Wimbdeldon once - Roland Garros is far easier to get into(online draws, online applications) and has a far less elite attitude than Wimbeldon which has a completey outdated and archaic method of allocating tickets. A genuine tennis fan has a far better chance of getting to RG than to Wimbeldon in my opinion. That means less of the people who go to be seen and to enjoy strawberrys and Pimms like Wimbeldon.

French fans like to cheer their own and when Henin is playing anyone other than Mauresmo she is French for all intensive purposes. They tend to pick sides at games - Myskina was a very unpopular winner for example against French speaking Dementieva. At Wimbeldon its all a bit polite and no one gets too hot under the collar about things. The Italian crowd at Rome is easily as partisan - its just smaller.

The coming in late cracks me up as well but its not just at RG. Look at Wimbeldon and the other slams and you'll see the exact same thing.

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by Wittmann 44

The coming in late cracks me up as well but its not just at RG. Look at Wimbeldon and the other slams and you'll see the exact same thing.

Oh yes, I know it happens at all tournaments. In fact, I've been guilty of it myself a few times at the Madrid Masters, although in my defence that's because it's impossible for me to get to the centre of Madrid by 6pm after work.

All I was saying that the only reason I can see for them booing Ivanovic in that last game was because the final was going to be over so quickly and they weren't getting much for their money, yet I'm sure many of those booing would think nothing of turning up a few games late. Admittedly, that's nothing more than a supposition on my part, but damn it, I don't like them and I want to rant about them

And I know some all crowds are partisan to some extent, but I'm not just talking about when French players are involved. At RG they just seem to like booing players. Any time any player (barring the French and anyone else the crowd happens to like) dares to challenge a call and get the umpire out of the chair to have a look, the whistles start.

[edtkh]

10pts Federer to beat Nadal (3.05 @ Betfair)
30pts 37 Games or More (1.57 @ Ladbrokes)

For the life of me, I can't see how this game will conclude in straight sets and it's not rocket science given the pedigree of the pair in question, any match that goes to 4 sets would almost certainly exceed the 37-game threshold. Terrific value to be had there IMO.

This isn't so much something that should be looked at as purely from a punting perspective. 3.05 is still a tad too high for Federer who'd unearth a chink in Nadal's armour just three Sundays ago. As a matter of fact, I can certainly see Federer winning the French Open some day given the fact he's taken something on board each time he has played Nadal on this surface.

While much could be said the slower courts in Paris should actually play in Nadal's hands (as opposed to the faster ones in Hamburg), it's easy to overlook the fact there's so little seperating the pair IMO. It's easy to forget Federer completely blew Nadal away in the first set last year, only to see his game fall apart later on - that said, his 2006 performance was certainly a notch better than the corresponding clash at RG in 2005.

While Nadal should rightly start this as the favourite, it certainly wouldn't surprise me that greatly should Federer emerge victorious - and I'd certainly like to have a few bob in my pockets while watching a piece of tennis history in the making. Enjoy the game.


Cheers & Good Luck!

Starting Bank : 100.00pts
Current Bank : 100.82 pts
Profit/Loss : 0.82 pts

[edtkh]

Originally Posted by rcgills

Oh yes, I know it happens at all tournaments. In fact, I've been guilty of it myself a few times at the Madrid Masters, although in my defence that's because it's impossible for me to get to the centre of Madrid by 6pm after work.

All I was saying that the only reason I can see for them booing Ivanovic in that last game was because the final was going to be over so quickly and they weren't getting much for their money, yet I'm sure many of those booing would think nothing of turning up a few games late. Admittedly, that's nothing more than a supposition on my part, but damn it, I don't like them and I want to rant about them

And I know some all crowds are partisan to some extent, but I'm not just talking about when French players are involved. At RG they just seem to like booing players. Any time any player (barring the French and anyone else the crowd happens to like) dares to challenge a call and get the umpire out of the chair to have a look, the whistles start.

It's hard to disagree with Serena Williams' mum for accusing the French of "lacking class" in the aftermath of the Williams-Henin clash in 2003. Truth be told, they're as misguided and ignorant a bunch of mugs as they come as far as tennis spectators are concerned - that lot's support would be better served backing their rugby union side in the fall when they host the World Cup...

I don't think it's an exaggeration to suggest they lack the most fundamental social etiquette as far as tennis goes.

[asto85]

I dont think Nadal should be the favourite he seems to be, however its not easy to pick the winner and with these two and shot placement/ reaction time combined with the event I think total games is the punt to be on.

[Zozo the Duke]

Nadal – Federer

Pick no1: Federer --> Odds: 3.04 @ Pinnacle --> Stake: 3/10
Pick no2: over 41.5 games --> Odds: 1.90 @ 10Bet --> Stake: 3/10

I think that no one had doubt which players will play in the final of Roland Garros this year. Nadal the king of clay and is without doubt the best player on this surface. Federer had small downtrend last few months, but raised his level one again and now he looks as good as before. I have noticed that he has improved his tennis on clay and managed to beat Nadal in Masters in Hamburg.

Federer needs to win Roland Garros and with that he will complete a personal Grand Slam and will give him a chance with winning Wimbledon and US Open to win all 4 tournaments in one year. I think that he has never been so motivated in his career, he is very close of winning the tournament, plays great tennis at the moment.

Nadal is motivation is on very high level too. He knows that this is the only surface that can dominate over great Roger, but I think that Federer lowered the difference which has been very obvious in previous years, when playing on clay.

I expect great match, and great fight. I believe that Federer raised to the challenge and is capable of winning this tournament despite the bad record against Nadal (4:7). I expect 5 sets this year and finally Federer to prove that he is absolutely the best player in the world at the moment, not like previous two of their matches in Roland Garros when Nadal won in four sets.

[rcgills]

I'm going to have to go with unders for the games here, I think. I can see Federer maybe taking a set, but even 4 sets could well stay under the 41.5 game limit. I'll leave it there, as the game's about to start anyway, so:

Federer v Nadal under 41.5 games @ 1.833 3pts

GL all, and here's hoping for a decent final

[rene]

very nice match between Federer and Nadal

6-3 in the first

great tennis

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Thought it was turning into one of them days. 10 break point opportunities in the first set and Fed couldnt take any

Finally broke here now in the 2nd. I wouldnt say anyone is playing exceptional at the minute but im happy to be on Fed still as it stands

[rene]

these both players are in another class than the rest of the top20 of ATP.
sensational nerves,top condition and a very good overlook...

And don´t forget Federer is 25 years old and the spanish Nadal is 21 years old.Not old professionals on the court...

[edtkh]

Looking at the way the game's panning out, there's just no way Federer is going to win this. It's criminal to not convert a single break point in 10 attempts (as was the case in the first set). His body language has certainly done little to suggest he believes in his chances...

I'm just hoping this will drag long enough to last at least 37 games...