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The red clay of Roland Garros is the challenge that awaits the talented (don’t laugh) players of the tour. The French crowd will a test by themselves. They hate Americans, despise the ‘wannabe Frenchmen’ (Canadians), and abhor the rotting teeth of the English. The Safin-reincarnate, J-man, is the defending champion. Him defending is unlikely, but the same was said last year for defending his final. The odds makers are split between reigning No.1 and defending USO and YEC champion, Vanessa Child, and two-time Aussie finalist, and defending French Open and YEC finalist, PSALT. Neither are runaway favorites however. Child is known for being shaky in early round matches and she has Leftys in her draw. Leftys is not the best claycourter around, but she can still get an upset if Child isn’t settled in by then. PSALT on the other hand, has a very easy draw, but could still lose to Stroganoff in his RD16. If he gets past that, he will likely get to the semis at least. PSALT also in becoming well known for being a constant semifinalist or finalist, even with four Major finals (including the YEC) he has yet to take a title. The other favorites are NEA and Trinky.
Matches to watch,
Doublea-Edelstein, RD32 – Despite his poor play lately, you would be crazy to count out a player as talented as Edelstein. Doublea hasn’t been great either, but can make a run if he refuses to play traditional, backboard, clay tennis. The winner plays NEA, and both need to find good form ahead of that match to attempt to even make it close.
Child-Leftys, RD16 – As mentioned before, Child is famous for poor play in early rounds. Leftys has a very good chance for an upset if she can get her game together. Leftys is superb mentally, but it can’t help her the many times she just isn’t able to get her rather fragile game clicking.
NEA-Doublea – NEA is quite possibly the most talented player from his generation, but a knock on him that is still constant is his ability to really step up in important matches. He did make a great run to the Wimby semis a few years back, and has a few quarters, but for the most part is outshone by lesser players in Slams. Doublea has an advantage in Slams, but I don’t think it is big enough to overcome NEA’s sizeable advantage on clay.
I have interviews with NEA and Doublea. NEA first,
Q. You have complained over your draw (what else is new?), why? Are all the Majors out to get you?
NEA. No it is just my typical bad luck. I am ranked third yet the draw would suggest I am seeded somewhere in the teens. It is absolutely ludicrous, I have on easy match in the round of 32 and then it is just completely and utterly ridiculous. The defending champion in the Quarter-Final? For a third seed? For Gods sake. Then I see PSALT's and Dav's draws and wish I wasn't such a good player, well kind of.
Q. You have had words with Dave lately. What is the problem there?
NEA. Nothing really. I have expressed my views on some things and he just generally denies them and diplomatically knocks them back. He clearly has a lucky draw; he strolls unchallenged into the Quarter-Final yet he comes out complaining. How, exactly, does that work? He is somehow higher than me in the race ranking system as well, how? Do you know how? I don't. Clearly I have had a better season thus far, fair enough he beat a mediocre - to say the least - draw to reach the Final of the Australian Open but, please, give me those players anyway it was like the route through to a Tier III!
Q. J-man is the defending champion; do you resent him for that? I mean, you are a traditional claycourter, he is not. Do you feel that you are more deserving to win the French?
NEA. No, definitely not. That would be an absurd suggestion to make. He has done great here over the years and shown his claycourt ability in a different way, but it would be rude and disrespectful to suggest it is any less deserving of the title. The way the French crowd are I think they would favor me if we met, and I would use that to my advantage, but I think, given his record at Roland Garros, he will take me out. I did beat him recently at Myskina though and I feel I am perfectly suited to beat him on clay, especially in my current form, so I would be confident yet skeptical.
Q. You, along with Stevos, have been proclaiming PSALT as the player who will claim the French title. Are all three of you becoming friends or something? What happened to hate that would shine in yours and Stevos' eyes when you spoke of him?
NEA. I don't know about Stevos, I cannot speak for him. I have mostly gotten along well with Stevos, we tend to share a mutual respect and understanding and recently have become friends. PSALT is different of course, we have really had our differences in the past, but now I kind of respect the guy in a weird way. He just doesn't bother me anymore and I don't think I wind him up as much either, we have moved on from that and as a result I think both of our games have been allowed to flourish.
Q. What are your thoughts on Sheila? I did a piece on her for the Nadal Champ.. What do you think of her getting endorsements in spite of her horrid play?
NEA. Sheila? Who is that? Do you mean that player Jbors? I know he was recently dropped by Nike due to his horrid play...but I don't know of any Sheila. (Get an issue of Playboy)
Q. Pick the four semi-finalists, the finalists, and finally, the winner.
NEA. Hmmm.
PSALT v dav6789, with the winner being PSALT (dav tends to struggle against good players).
J-man v Tricatrina, with "The Queen of Clay" (that means Tricatrina, not a pun on j-mans personal life) knocking out the defending champion in straight sets.
I think PSALT will overcome Tricatrina in the Final to take his first Grand Slam title, I just hope he plays somebody better than dav6789 (woo! I can count) to reach the Final...
For those in the dark of the comment about J-man’s personal life, check the entry list for Tina Turner impersonators over in Vegas from a few weeks back…
Doublea now,
Q. Compared to last season, you had a bad clay warmup. Do you have any confidence in your ability to make a run here? John then NEA, and that's just your first two matches!
Doublea. I actually have to say that I have gained confidence during this claycourt season. I had an awful hard court season, and I actually managed to have a solid run at the Henin-Hardenne Open and win the Tier IV event, which was key to giving me something positive to think about this season. John Edelstein is having a year not equal to his standards, and I hope I can beat him. N_E_A will be tough, considering that this is his favorite surface. If I manage to play with nice variety though, mixing fast and low-paced shots like last year, I think I can have a good run here at Roland Garros.
Q. People always say how 'nice' you are, while the same people call you boring due to your politeness. You have never attracted as much a attention as player like NEA, Stevos, PSALT, or Jbors, players with a more.... outgoing, not quite the right word though, personality. What do you think of that?
Doublea. They're right, I am not the outgoing type, and I'm fine with that. It allows me to focus on my tennis... you know, if there is such method for 'winning fans', I try to do that with my tennis, not with what I say. You can say that I'm much more in the style of dav6789, in a sense.
Q. Who in your opinion will win this title? PSALT is getting attention, as are the normal favorites.
Doublea. Right now, NEA and PSALT are the only players from your generation to crack the top 5. They both are considered to be the top two players, and many agree that they will be the 'Child and Edelstein' in a few years. Do you agree? Will any other members catch up to them anytime soon?
Doublea. PSALT, definitely, will be the next 'Child or Edelstein'... he's proven how he can rise up to the occasion already. N_E_A, perhaps, but he needs to learn to step up the occasion more often before he can hit a World Number 1/2 ranking, in my opinion.
You know, jbors47 and Stevos both have so much potential, and I see them perhaps challenging the top guns at a consistent basis in one/two seasons. You can never forget J-Man... if he learns how to play more consistently, he'll probably be Number 1, ahead of Number 2 by double the amount of points. Leftys_rock isn't doing as well as I expected at the Grand Slam level, but if she can get that sorted out, then she'll definitely be a force. Dav6789, of course, can't be forgotten... he has already proven that he rises up to the occasion... of the young generation; I would consider him the second best 'big match' player, behind only PSALT.
Picks,
RD32
Child def Nortan 6-4 7-5
Leftys def Valkyrie 6-4 7-6
Mollusk def Aztec 7-5 3-6 6-4
Dave def Rhomberg 6-2 6-4
Bizet def Tennis Fan 6-3 3-6 6-4
Jbors def Agassi 5-7 6-4 7-5
Stroganoff def Dreyfus 3-6 6-0 6-4
PSALT def Chikita Benita (is a knock on the whole event that a player that bad is event allowed in the gates) 6-0 6-1
NEA def Beta 6-4 6-2
Doublea def Edelstein 6-1 3-6 7-6
J-man def Adelaide 6-2 3-6 6-2
Yodavitch def Ronatta 6-4 2-6 6-4
Duke def Tricatrina 6-4 6-7 6-2
Avolt def Phobe 6-4 6-4
Stevos def Benchwarmer 6-4 6-7 (choke! choke!) 6-4
Sarahginia def Jennacourt 6-4 3-6 6-2
