Tennis(Roland Garros)

2* Kuznetsova -4 -106 (WTA)

1* Bopanna/Qureshi +293
For one of the most dominating teams in doubles history the Bryans have collected only one French title way back in 2003. They seem to fall short at inopportune times here at Roland Garros despite their domination on the doubles circuit. Already with three clay titles this year I think they fall short again versus the Indo-Pak express team who have finally found some form on the season and are serving extremely well so far in the tournament. The Bryans have been challenged in all their matches here so I think this will be another close affair for them against a great doubles team and warrants a play on the underdogs.

loving KUZ again huh....

Indos take the first set in a tiebreak, UP A BREAK IN THE SECOND!!!!!

5-4 indos, on serve in the 3rd....

rolled over today hopefully doubles hits to limit the damage.
0-3 -4.12

remaining
1* Bopanna/Qureshi +293 (5-5 in the 3rd)

3* Nadal to win the French Open +112
1* Murray to win the French Open +2200

Placing my trust in Rafa and Murray tomorrow

(96-122 -12.71 YTD)

add-on

2* Nadal to win the French +232

0-2 -2, Murray future and the Indo-Pak doubles

(96-124 -14.71 YTD)

Remaining
3* Nadal to win the French Open +112
2* Nadal to win the French Open +232


Saturday

3* Schiavone +110 (WTA)
Defending champion versus surprise contender, Fran versus the Golden Flower. Li's obviously had the more impressive run to the final taking out three consecutive top 10 players in Kvitova, Azarenka, and Sharapova and has benefited tremendously from her coaching change. She's an absolute ball machine off both wings as her previous opponents found out but she gets in real trouble when she's forced to hit on the run. All three top 10 ladies she faced played very similar styles of tennis; big baseline hitting, not a lot of variety or net approaches, wanting to out hit Li or hit big and force her into errors. Azarenka was the most surprising of these as she's capable of variation in her game but the pressure of being the new favourite must have gotten to her. Li took full advantage of this, gladly getting into a stationary baseline duel and playing into her strengths. Three consecutive opponents playing the exact same way, she was never put in an uncomfortable position aside from the first set against Kvitova.

Schiavone represents a huge change of style. Having a wide assortment of shots, volleys, a great mix of paces, and excellent defense. She's a true claycourter, relying on tactics and the use of the entire court to put her opponent in difficultly and she will do what none of the previous top 10 women could do...make the Golden Flower move! She will be on the run the entire match, either moving side to side or being forced to the net, anything to put her out of her baseline comfort zone. They met in the French last year and Schiavone pulled this off with great success winning 6-4, 6-2. Since then? The Italian is now a French Open champion, Li was a runner up at the Australian and although she's improved her play on dirt this is not the type of opponent she fares well against.

Schiavone to draw on last year's experience and repeat on her beloved clay in straights.

nadal future looking beautiful right now.

Simply too good, precision hitting and Schiavone couldn't get her to budge. Li hit well on the run when she was brilliant at the net, little tight near the end but dominated this one. Killed my write up

(96-125 -17.71 YTD)

2* Thiem -123

just tailed a friend who mainly watches juniors/prospects

ugly 2nd week to the tourney but came out on top, quest to the hallowed even ground continues.

2-1 +5.54

(98-126 -12.17 YTD)

way to go on the Nadal future. you had the guts to go with the King of Clay ... congrats and thanks for the write ups!