Welcome to the Topspin message board - the place for all Tim Henman fans!
This message board was set up primarily for members of Tim's official fan club, Topspin, but if you're still interested in what Tim's doing with tennis now he's retired then you're welcome to check here for news.
Please note - If your message is short you can type it all in the "subject" box so it appears in full on the board.
ROLAND GARROS 2015 - DAY 3 IP: 46.255.183.159 Posted on May 26, 2015 at 09:11:15 PM by David Barnes
ROLAND GARROS 2015
TUESDAY 26 MAY - DAY 3
Yesterday's official programme carried a charming piece by the legendary Philippe Bouin (formerly of L'Equipe), who had watched a practice session of Roger Federer's, last week here at Roland Garros. He related how Stefan Edberg had intervened when the great man was having trouble with a backhand, firing a textbook shot across the net with all the nonchalance so often exhibited in his own matches - one-handed, a long backswing followed by a follow-through "of extreme smoothness, the body in perfect balance and the arm, relaxed yet firm, so as to deliver whatever shot was required. Of great artistry; simple, uncluttered, and you never tire of seeing it". One often makes the same observation after reading M Bouin's lucid and elegant prose.
Federer is one of a number of players with an outside chance of claiming the title this week, opinions differing over whether the in-form Novak Djokovic or the out-of-form Rafa Nadal is the favourite. Andy Murray is spoken of as an interesting each-way bet, as is Stan Wawrinka, but the brouhaha over an unflattering article the other day about the Swiss Lothario, on the official Roland Garros website (hastily removed once he complained) may have unsettled him and may yet affect the quality of his game over the fortnight. You can still find the article, or most of it, incidentally, as part of a piece from a few days ago on the 'MailOnline' website. Hurrah for fearless British journalism . . .
Kei Nishikori, buoyed by the presence of four other Japanese players in the main draw (they all lost in the first round, but it's the taking part that matters . . . ) must like the look of his opponents in the next few days, the first real challenge probably being either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals. Murray's prospects also look encouraging; Nick Kyrgios in the 2nd round may be as tough as it gets until, possibly, David Ferrer, in the quarterfinal, if the 'other' Spaniard's first ten days here go according to plan.
Although not playing today, Andy Murray featured in the morning's activity in the Press Bar, by virtue of being the subject matter, along with Gael Monfils, of the winning article for this year's Prix Denis Lalanne, named after the ex-L'Equipe journalist (now 89 years old, and still very much alive, as he demonstrated at this morning's ceremony). The prize is awarded annually for the best French language article written during the preceding year's Roland Garros tournament, and today it went to Franck Ramella, a reporter with L'Equipe, for a piece about Andy Murray's heroic five set, three and a quarter hour, quarterfinal demolition of Monfils, out on Suzanne Lenglen court. His article concluded that Monfils le tennisman was both magnificent and tragic, condemned to an accursed life of over- and under-achievement. Powerful stuff . . .
As was Rafa's performance, in part at least, against his first round opponent, Quentin Halys, making his Grand Slam debut at 18 years old; an age when Rafa was helping Spain win a Davis Cup final and was just about to win his first Roland Garros title (also on a first Grand Slam appearance). Rafa powered through 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in just under two and a half hours, but it was the usual hesitant Grand Slam start for the Spaniard, looking for his unprecedented tenth Roland Garros title. He's got a fancy new computer chip built into his Babolat racket, and prompted by Fabrice Santoro, he talked about it in his on-court interview afterwards (no doubt much to the sponsor's delight). Somewhat embarrassingly, one read-out was shown on the giant screens courtside, revealing that a mere 55% of his forehands, and 41% of backhands, had managed to connect with the racket's central 'sweet spot', although with Rafa's style of hitting this may not matter as much as it would with more orthodox players.
Still much work to do, Rafa, as the fortnight rolls on, although the Spaniard said in his press conference that he was "happy the way that I played" against an opponent "who wants to hit winners from everywhere". He was momentarily distracted by a group of young fans on the raised walkway outside, who had spotted him and unfurled a banner that read 'ONLY ONE KING OF CLAY, AND IT'S NOT DJOKO. VIVA RAFA'. Sweet, and it may yet prove to be the case a week next Sunday - at all events the incident represents a better form of adulation than an out-of-control teenager charging on to the hallowed clay of the Philippe Chatrier court itself to celebrate his idol .
____________________________
David Barnes/Topspin, 2015
Replies: There have been no replies.
You must register before you can post on this board. You can register here.