Roger Federer Withdraws From The French Open, His First Grand Slam Miss This Century

2009 seems like yesterday and yet a lifetime ago. Weird. Hopefully, as Sean said, Roger will be good to go for the grass season and the Olympics not mention the USO. All tournaments he’s done really well at.

Also great news for Rafa to be sure. He moves up to the 4th seed which at least makes some sense. Betcha’ the FTF is cringing over this…which happens to delight me to no end.

May 19th, 2016 at 12:32 pm

Sad that he will end the consecutive slam entry streak, but considering that Fed is arguably the GOAT of managing schedules it is the right decision if he is not ready.

I’m glad he withdrew in time to reshuffle the seeds.

May 19th, 2016 at 12:35 pm

This so-called streak was as credible as his Lowly colleagues in the Roddick era.
It’s not like Kei or Berdych couldn’t beat Fed, even after the double bagels that Goffin, the Fed love muffin poster owner, dished to Berdych!

May 19th, 2016 at 12:45 pm

Sad to see him go out this way.

May 19th, 2016 at 12:49 pm

agree RZ.

My goodness, he deserves a better picture.

May 19th, 2016 at 12:52 pm

What a bad luck streak for Fed this season: knee, flu and then back.

I guess in once sense it does balance the draw, and his slam participation streak was bound to end sooner than later.

May 19th, 2016 at 1:21 pm

*one not once

May 19th, 2016 at 1:22 pm

This is too bad, but you will note Roger says he looks forward to returning in 2017, so talk of him retiring this end of year sounds premature. Only if he was injured all year long do I think he would change his mind. It is a withdrawl like this which really illustrates what an incredible champion he has been over his career. How in the world he made 23 consecutive grand slam SF in a row (#2 had only 14) and 36 grand slam QF in a row (#2 is only 23) is insane. Even when top players are playing at the top of their games, they sustain at least small injuries. How he managed to accomplish the above when clearly being injured at times is amazing. A bit of luck and some amazing talent.

May 19th, 2016 at 1:25 pm

@Jane – In some ways it is probably better that it all hit at once, rather than in separate bursts. My guess is that once Fed got to slowing down on his training and playing due to his knee and then flu, other ongoing issues stopped being viewed as small tweaks or slight annoyances and started to seem more important.

May 19th, 2016 at 1:51 pm

@Dan the Man – I think the 23 consecutive grand slam SF in a row and 36 grand slam QF in a row are underrated in terms of records. It shows remarkable consistency in getting to the 2nd week of grand slams throughout the year each year, on different surfaces.

May 19th, 2016 at 1:53 pm

next year fed good back or not shouldnt bother with clay at all play up to the start of the clay season then have long rest till halle he would be 35 going on 36 no chance of grinding out title wins on the red dirt save whats left for surfaces which still have the quicker points and chance of winning even without clay surly fed still could be in top 3 n world??

May 19th, 2016 at 2:30 pm

Amazing streak in GS, that is a record that will never be broken with this generation. As jane said, it had to end sometime. There is a silver lining here, in that he has extra time to prepare for Grass ( provide he gets healthy soon. )

May 19th, 2016 at 2:49 pm

Did he say who I’m supposed to root for now??

May 19th, 2016 at 2:59 pm

RZ: I agree. Those slam semis and quarter streaks are totally underrated. I love that Novak has pulled in second behind Fed in those streaks because it shows great consistency at the highest levels on all surfaces

May 19th, 2016 at 3:15 pm

Jane: Yes, to me those may be the most unbreakable records in tennis. Someone like Djokovic has a slight shot at that QF record if he can keep his current level and gets some breaks along the way, but it would still be a very slight chance (probably under 5%) and would require no major injuries and avoiding very hot players in the early rounds, for years to come now. Those records will still be standing in 50 years.

May 19th, 2016 at 3:32 pm

Fed returning in 2017?. It is natural that we all hope for the best but it isn’t realistic. He won’t win Olympics or Wimbledon…will he want to come back….?

Rather go out with dignity towards the end of this year. Short of a miracle he won’t be at WTF this year. If he hadn’t been damaged the story might have been different, but it is what it is.

May 19th, 2016 at 3:57 pm

skeezer Says:
Amazing streak in GS, that is a record that will never be broken with this generation.
—
Please…is this necessary?

May 19th, 2016 at 3:57 pm

The #1 trending topic on Twitter right now? Roger Federer. Some people are posting pop culture facts using #TheLastTimeRFMiisedASlam

May 19th, 2016 at 4:02 pm

WogBoy

Where are you? You are Missed. Get back here asap. Don’t let the strange one(s) from “Planet Weird and Nasty” stop you.

U listening Mate?
PS: Bring your garlic with you and I’ll help to put it on his/her/their doors.

May 19th, 2016 at 4:36 pm

Yeah wog boy, come back. :)

May 19th, 2016 at 4:40 pm

Wow you want WB back? No thank you. He and TB have no cred left…imo. Too each there own.
Now watch, I made him come back with that….lol ;)
Wait for it……..wait for it….

May 19th, 2016 at 5:17 pm

This century only started 16 years ago. This will come as a surprise to recent historians but it’s also true.

May 19th, 2016 at 5:21 pm

Skeezer

You shine when Wogboy brings his challenge. Not come back? That’s like asking Federer to hold an immediate “Farewell” ceremony for his tennis raquet. Without Wogboy….I won’t come back….and I know how much that will hurt you….(I dream on). SO I AM WAITING. WAITING as you instructed.

As to TB….he hasn’t won his spurs….so if he comes back we’ll just wait and see…however there’s equal if not worse threats No? Yes?

May 19th, 2016 at 6:08 pm

sad story for tennis and roger fans..hope he comes back at Wimbledon…there is a saying here in Ethiopia “aging dosn’t come alone”…

May 19th, 2016 at 7:27 pm

skeezer – “Amazing streak in GS, that is a record that will never be broken with this generation.”

Not sure.
Current players:
Fed – 65
F. Lopez – 56
D. Ferrer – 53
F. Verdasco – 51
T. Berdych – 50
Nole -45

The Spaniards do not have the career time left. Berdych does. 50 so far for the 30 year old. Started when he was 17. No the person you would think is chasing Fed’s consective streak record, but he is. And Djokovic has never missed a Slam since 1st qualifying for one as an 18 year old. With luck if he stays injury free, he might also match or surpass this Federer mark.

Also – Iron Men of the past, up to the late 80s, skipped Slams that were not worth the trip. So players like Connors. Borg, Lendl skipped many. Also, sports science had not advanced enough to keep players on court even with chronic injury. So it is illustrative of times more recent than the Open Era.
Fed’s ‘rivals”, if you wish to call them that, none have a chance of matching or eclipsing him save Djokovic and Berdych .

Kudos to Edberg for being an overlooked iron man. 55. 13 straight years of making each Slam, even before the AO was considered a bona fode 4th Slam, and the French Open came up with better prize money.
And bigger kudos to the Bryan Brothers, who have been able to have BOTH of them show up for 68 straight Slams. (They also have 439 weeks as the #1 doubles team.)

May 19th, 2016 at 7:39 pm

The big question is: Who will have to deal with Nishikori in the QF now? The other 3 won’t be so tough. The other question is, can we watch the live draw? And what is the exact time of the draw?

May 19th, 2016 at 8:15 pm

Sad for Federer fans, but seems like a wise decision.

May 19th, 2016 at 8:32 pm

Fed made this mistake in 2013 also – when he lost early at Wimbledon – by playing two (lower) clay court tournaments and losing early in both, when he had an injured back. He made the same mistake here – trying to play injured in clay tournaments. Should have just skipped the entire clay season as he had planned earlier, and just focused on fitness after his surgery. Trying to come back early in Miami, then clay attempts – that’s desperate. and not smart.

His back must be serious. That’s what ended Agassi’s career. And many others.

Time for the seniors tour.

May 19th, 2016 at 8:39 pm

Dan the Man – “How in the world he made 23 consecutive grand slam SF in a row (#2 had only 14) and 36 grand slam QF in a row (#2 is only 23) is insane.”

—————-
It takes consistency, talent, incredible luck to avoid going down in matches he played and should have lost. Luck on good health, injury avoidance.
Only players that come close are Djokovic for both semis and QFs, and Connors, Lendl, and Djokovic for QFs. Djokovic had 14, was stopped by Stan at the 2014 AO QFs, now on another streak of 8 straight. 22-1
Djokovic and Connors tied at 27 straight QFs, with Djokovic’s streak active

May 19th, 2016 at 10:05 pm

So sad me Feddy Bear has withdrawn. I wouldn’t have minded Nadal in Djokovic’s quarter. Anyway who wouldn’t feel nostalgic for those magical days starting with Feddy winning Wimbly 2003? It has been a yawn fest since 2015. Even Djokovic fans are bored. I am sure Djokovic is. One of his fans suggested that maybe Djokovic is losing points and sets in early rounds to stimulate interest and finally maybe he lost Rome just to make the competition seem more real than it actually is. His grinding style, his not being a fresh face, no rivals, all make this the most boring period ever. Feddy, even when dominating, was a joy to watch with his effortless grace. Too bad his best days are over.

May 19th, 2016 at 10:10 pm

Tennis as a pro sport is bigger than one player, Lackie. ERach big star has their own fans convinced that the sport will never survive the loss of Michael Jordan, Chris Evert, Pele, etc. etc. But they do.
The increase in fans and prize money since Fed had his heyday in the weak era suggests Federer is no different. Though his worshippers are more intense than the usual sport star’s following thinking their player is a demigod. To Rogers fans, he IS God.
Why would anyone wish for the ‘magic’ of a big fish in a small pond time, when that weak era gave way to the far more competitive time of the Big 4?

May 19th, 2016 at 11:18 pm

@cf1

Still going off bout weak era. hahaha. Keep telling yourself that man. Fed has played 5 matches in the last 4 months and he is still #3 in the world. Hes closer to 40 than he is to 30 in a few months. Give your bucket a shake. Its a weak era now.

May 20th, 2016 at 12:37 am

Lakie, if this is a boring time in tennis, what are all these people wittering about on this page?

THAT’ S what bores me. I couldn’t give a flying asterisk about winning streaks or “legacies” (that pretentious word), or what will or will not happen in the next 50 years. After all, a good number of regular posters are middle-aged and won’t live another half century anyway.

As medical science advances, there will be more and more ways of boosting performance, and if the human race in general survives that long, all sports will degenerate into artificial spectacle. The Djokovic “egg” is already questionable, simply because young players working their way up the rankings couldn’t afford it. Downright cheating is not necessary, just money.

May 20th, 2016 at 12:53 am

He is #3 simply for his making the Finals at Wimbledon and USO. And Cincinnati. His “banked points” are going to be fading away unless he duplicates similar feats. Doubtful. He’s missing the FO and is currently 13th place in the race to London, likely to be 15th to 17th when that event is done. Not gloating, I wish him health and a good return back – just stating a act. At this rate, he will be lucky to get an invite to the YEC.
I don’t need to tell myself weak era, BTW. Fed will always be considered a great player, despite that. But more and more writers are talking “weak era” because it is unavoidable. You just can’t skirt it.
Not if you are going to objectively assess the careers of Nadal, Murray, and Djokovic in comparison. Roger got 12 of his 17 in the weak era. 5 afterwards. 2007 marks the emergence of the other 3, and 2008 their arrival. (Rafa winning Slams off clay, Dokovic good enough to win one and frequently beat Federer at other events, Andy of course good enough to make the Finals at the USO and win Masters titles against Fed. Most tellingly, Roger never has beat Rafa at a Slam since 2008. Rafa’s slamming the door on Fed more than anything meant the weak era was over and real competition existed.

May 20th, 2016 at 1:08 am

@cf1

We get it. You bring it up in 80% of your posts. You need some new material. In the last 52 weeks only 2 players have accumulated more points than Fed. I understanding how a rolling ranking works. And do you honestly think if fed is healthy from the grass season until the end of the year that he will still be 13th at the end of the year?

May 20th, 2016 at 1:17 am

@cf1 And hes been in 3 times as many slam finals as Nadal in the past couple years. The guy that has “slammed the door” on Fed. Hahahaha.

May 20th, 2016 at 1:19 am

“But more and more writers are talking “weak era” because it is unavoidable. You just can’t skirt it.”
This is true. The weak era is now.

May 20th, 2016 at 1:29 am

I think Faderer likely broke the record for showing up at the most tournaments and not playing in a single year!

IW – didn’t attend
Miami – showed up, did not play
Monaco – played
Madrid – showed up, did not play
Rome – gathered info, according to his own words
RG – showed up, won’t play

In this respect, he is becoming similar (not quite the same though) to smiling’ Mo Lahyani – Mo also showed up at all tournaments listed above and played only two less than Roger. Small distinction, Smilin’ Mo is a ref…

May 20th, 2016 at 1:43 am

@cf1

So I guess Djokovic has only won 5 of his 11 in the “strong era”. The last 5 don’t count, 3 out of those five were against an old timer who 8 years past his prime. But if you want to count them than you would have to count Feds win against Agassi in Aus2005 because Agassi was younger than Fed is know, and is an alltime great and had so many less matches in his legs that Fed does. Oh and wait…..do you count Nole 2008 Aus? When exactly is the cut off……were does this weak era start?? was it August of 2007 or 3 months later in Melbourne? You throw down stats and numbers to prop up your favorites stats. Oh ya I guess Rafas first 3 Roland Garros don’t count either….weak era.

May 20th, 2016 at 2:31 am

Federer will win Wimbledon & retire 👏👏👏

May 20th, 2016 at 3:30 am

Very sad Monfils has pulled out of FO. Apparently, he has recently been hospitalized for a viral illness. :( And he’d been having such a good season too. Get well Gael!

May 20th, 2016 at 4:26 am

Yes, it is a shame Monfils has pulled out…he’s one of my favorites :(

May 20th, 2016 at 4:33 am

Is anyone watching or listening to the draw? It should be under way by now, I think.

May 20th, 2016 at 4:34 am

I am also unpatient for the draw, could not find anything atm…it is 10:41 AM in France, perhaps we will have it at noon.

May 20th, 2016 at 4:41 am

The draw is live now folks. Andy starts with a qualifier.

May 20th, 2016 at 6:17 am

Top half
Nole Tomas Nadal Tsonga….

Bottom Half
Andy Stan Miles Kei

May 20th, 2016 at 6:25 am

j-kath-Happy with Murrays draw?

May 20th, 2016 at 6:29 am

http://www.eurosport.co.uk/tennis/french-open/2016/novak-djokovic-to-face-yen-hsun-lu-in-same-half-as-rafael-nadal-andy-murray-to-face-qualifier_sto5578836/story.shtml

Courbon
The draws are reasonably even I think….I hope. What do you think?

May 20th, 2016 at 6:31 am

No Nadal vs Djokovic final
Even seeded 4 Nadal couldn’t avoid Djokovic
I think the French want to see Djokovic vs Murray final

May 20th, 2016 at 6:32 am

Have to leave….see U later.

May 20th, 2016 at 6:32 am

J-Kath-Yes, I think is quite even draw.Speak to you later

May 20th, 2016 at 6:37 am

Ladies and Gentelman,
lets conspiracy theories,
start now!

May 20th, 2016 at 6:40 am

I knew it would be Djokovic and Nadal in the same half. I will say this: If Wawrinka is playing good enough to actually make it to the Semi-Finals, I don’t see Murray beating him. He has been beating Murray lately and isn’t intimidated by Murray.

May 20th, 2016 at 6:48 am

There is No one before the Semi-Finals for Djokovic that even scares me actually.

Nadal has Fognini, Thiem and Goffin/Tsonga.

May 20th, 2016 at 6:52 am

Dave

Why did the French put Nadal Djokovic same half ?
Who knows ? If Federer was playing
Djokovic Nadal quarter final most likely
But Nadal Djokovic must win 5 matches before they meet ? Nothing is set in stone yet Nadal more likely to lose in early rounds than Djokovic
The French are sick of Nadal they don’t want him in the final agajn

May 20th, 2016 at 6:58 am

I am glad,that Nishikori is not in Novaks half. Nishikori can be more challenging then Rafa, if he has a very good day.

May 20th, 2016 at 6:59 am

If Nadal makes semi final against Djokovic
I’d favour Djokovic but if it was the final
Nadal would have been my pick

May 20th, 2016 at 7:01 am

Nishikori hasn’t done jack shit at Roland Garros

May 20th, 2016 at 7:08 am

The draw is quite even, indeed. It is up to Nole now to raise his level at the FO and he must be careful and not underestimate any of his opponents. And he has to stay healthy also…and a bit of luck is also necessary :)

Pauly,

I guess the French do not want to see another Rafa-Nole final.

May 20th, 2016 at 7:11 am

I just wanted Nadal Djokovic final
Hopefully better than 2014 which was dull match
It is what it is let’s move on
I think Nadal will struggle to make it to the semi final
Whereas Djokovic will do it easy

May 20th, 2016 at 7:14 am

We can never know that…we will see. Hope you are right.

May 20th, 2016 at 7:17 am

Actually, Looking at the draw a little more closely, if Cuevas got to the QF instead of Berdych, he might be more difficult for Nole on clay. I don’t see Ferrer being so difficult for Nole at this point in his career. He is slowing down this year a lot.

Murray has some easy matches to start as well. No one difficult until the QF’s it seems. Wawrinka could have Klizan second round. Klizan is like Wawrinka, very hot and cold. If he is hot, that could be a good match.

May 20th, 2016 at 7:17 am

Pauly,

I still think Nadal will make it to the Semi-Finals. He is playing to well at the moment not to do well. I think the Nole match will go a minimum of 4 hours. If it took them 2 hours and 25 minutes to play 2 sets in Rome, it’s going to take longer in a best of 5 set match. We will see what kind of form they are both in. The weather forecast seems cold and wet. 20 to 21 degrees is the average high for the next few weeks. Not very hot.

May 20th, 2016 at 7:33 am

If Nadal makes the Final
He will win 10
If Djokovic makes final
It’s not clear he will win it

May 20th, 2016 at 7:49 am

Tricky draw for Novak and Nadal. RBA and Cuevas can trouble Novak until the SF. Rafa has Thiem in R4. Tsonga/ Goffin is no match for Nadal on clay. If Novak and Nadal are to meet in the SF, my pick would be Nadal. He pushed Novak to the limits in Rome, think he will win. Wawrinka and Murray has got very easy draws until the semifinals. Murray or Nadal win the title.

May 20th, 2016 at 7:56 am

@Dave
Stan beat Andy at WTF in 2015. For whatever reason Andy doesn’t seem to do very well there. Before that it was USOpen 2013, just before Andy’s op., so again, I’m not giving that win much credence. Famous last words of course.
Let’s see how they’re both playing till we make predictions.
I like Andy’s draw up to the quarters, and that’s fine. He’s gonna make those big guys run and run.
@Pauly
What do you think of Rafa’s draw? Don’t think those guys Dave mentioned will trouble him too much.
Where has Kyrgios fallen? Most likely of kids to make trouble.

May 20th, 2016 at 8:15 am

mat4 will explain how the draws are rigged. Soft draw for Djokovic. It has been the same story since AO 2014.

May 20th, 2016 at 8:18 am

Margot

Kyrgios is in Nishikori’s quarter.

May 20th, 2016 at 8:28 am

Nadal will only beat Djokovic if the weather is hot dusty
If it’s cool Djokovic will be favourite
I just hope Nadal can make it ?
I think Djokovic will make it easier

May 20th, 2016 at 8:32 am

Fognini Thiem Not easy
I just hope he can reach semi final
Djokovic must easier draw Coz he’s number one

May 20th, 2016 at 8:38 am

lakie

please lets not call names of posters to annoy like a monkey annoys a dog…it is really boring when thus blog changes to a battlefield…lets just talk about objective tennis…please

May 20th, 2016 at 8:45 am

Agree Dave,

If Nole didn’t have Nadal in his semis his draw would look as easy as it gets.

Nadal indeed looks tuff, Fognini, Thiem and Tosnga (with the french crowd fully against).

Murray also got Kei in quarters which is the worst quarters, so it balanced the draw.

Can’t see Murrya losing before Quarters either. Only Nadal can face a upset and that is a big big if dependong on which Fognini decodes to play and the weather against him (cold dump day).

Other than that the most excitong matches will be Murray x Kei Quarters and of course Novak x Nadal semis clash

May 20th, 2016 at 8:46 am

@Kath
Interesting. He could take Kei out, I think.

May 20th, 2016 at 8:58 am

Sisay,

I am your biggest fan. :)

May 20th, 2016 at 9:02 am

Daniel,

I think everyone is overlooking Stan. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he catches fire. The weather forecast has not changed in Roland Garros. There are no hot days whatsoever. Lots of rain. All the conditions are against Nadal. I still expect Nadal to do very well. He won’t let anything get him down. Murray literally has no one who could beat him in the first 4 rounds. He and Nole have the easiest first 4 rounds of anyone.

May 20th, 2016 at 9:06 am

VP @9.02
Lol :)

May 20th, 2016 at 9:08 am

If Stan indeed catches fire, than Murray will have Kei, Stan and Djoko/Nadal finals, very tough road.

Agree, his and Djoko’s first 4 rounds they won’t lose a set.

May 20th, 2016 at 9:10 am

Also, I don’t agree that Roberto Bautista Agut could be tricky for Nole. He absolutely dominated him a few weeks ago on clay. It was a huge mismatch. Bautista Agut also didn’t look good against Federer on clay. He looks good against many players, but against the top players, his weaknesses get exposed more.

May 20th, 2016 at 9:10 am

Also, it wouldn’t surprise me if Cilic beat Raonic to play Wawrinka in the QF’s. He just beat Ferrer today in straight sets and could be catching fire at the right time. I like Cilic as well.

May 20th, 2016 at 9:14 am

Weather for Paris looks awful next 15 days, hope all the rain forecast happen more at night or early morning so they can finish the macthes properly.

May 20th, 2016 at 9:32 am

Fognini will win the French open

May 20th, 2016 at 9:33 am

The SCHIZOPRENIC Italian has the talent hopefully his mind can work well if it does he will win Roland Garros 2016 😂😂😂

May 20th, 2016 at 9:34 am

The draw is not as even as it looks. The best 2 clay players are on the same side. Novak being Novak will make it complicated by struggling against Cuevas or somebody else but at the end he should take it all. It sucks that the semi will likely be the real final again. And whoever wins the semi might be mentally drained to go to the final. Nadal has done it already but he faced a player he had in his pocket. It’s different this year, whoever makes it on the other side will be pumped up.

This draw is similar to the AO 2016. Novak had to face the second best hard court player at the time when he was healthy (to remind you, it was the Goat) in the semis and then played Andy in the final. Novak will need some luck but everybody else will need more luck than Novak.

The betting odds shifted slightly. At one site Novak is 10/11 (still extremely high), while Andy overtook Rafa; 9/2 vs 11/2.

May 20th, 2016 at 9:38 am

Daniel

Ever heard of ROOF ?
Why isn’t there cover in Paris ?

May 20th, 2016 at 9:42 am

sisay, does pointing out the obvious annoy you? tut tut, you might with profit seek professional attention. Might improve your life and who knows, allow you to participate intelligently in conversations.
Murray has a tough quarter. So do Nadal and Wawa.
Only guy having a smooth path to the semis is Djokovic but anki thinks it is a tricky draw for him. Maybe it is double bageled Berdych potentially waiting in the quarters which makes his/her poor heart quake? What according to these fans would be a soft draw I wonder? ?

May 20th, 2016 at 9:45 am

“Even with Rafa winning Monte Carlo and Barcelona and Murray’s excellent clay form, Novak is still the clear favorite,” U.S. Davis Cup captain and Tennis Channel commentator Jim Courier told USA TODAY Sports.

Courier continued: “Novak has continued to stay above the pack since Australia. He’s taken a few losses, but also won three of the five big events between Melbourne and Paris. In my eyes, the conversation remains ‘Novak versus the field.’”

May 20th, 2016 at 9:54 am

Margot

Kei and stamina don’t always work together. I think Kei is a stunning player but I’m more anxious about Stan getting on a winning roll than Kei v Andy. (Provided everyone is where they should be at the various stages).

May 20th, 2016 at 10:08 am

Some may not agree, but imo Andy has the type of draw he can play through. I like it for him. “IF” he holds form, it’s a draw that can give him momentum as he goes through.

May 20th, 2016 at 10:24 am

French will eventually have to give up and use a roof. This year USO starts theirs so they will be the only Slam without it
But who knows when they will get one…

May 20th, 2016 at 10:30 am

.S. Davis Cup captain and Tennis Channel commentator Jim Courier
—
Anyone who thinks wearing a suit as a Davis Cup coach is not that smart. Just saying.

May 20th, 2016 at 10:35 am

Posting on multiple threads so everyone has a chance to see this….

The racket bracket challenge has been created! Enter at http://www.tourneytopia.com/RacquetBracket
FrenchOpenATP/TennisXFrenchOpenBracket/default.aspx. If you see a pic of Andy on the yoga ball, you are in the right place.

Entries need to be made by May 22 at 5am ET – that’s less than 2 days so get cracking! If you are using a different name on the bracket challenge, please leave a comment with your Tennis-X name so we know who you are.

May 20th, 2016 at 10:51 am

Nothing ties the Federista Fanatics up in knots more than the growing tendency to look at the 2002-7 period as the “Weak Era”

=======Here’s kjp’s contribution, again:
:So I guess Djokovic has only won 5 of his 11 in the “strong era”. The last 5 don’t count, 3 out of those five were against an old timer who 8 years past his prime. But if you want to count them than you would have to count Feds win against Agassi in Aus2005 because Agassi was younger than Fed is know, and is an alltime great and had so many less matches in his legs that Fed does. Oh and wait…..do you count Nole 2008 Aus? When exactly is the cut off……were does this weak era start?? was it August of 2007 or 3 months later in Melbourne? You throw down stats and numbers to prop up your favorites stats. Oh ya I guess Rafas first 3 Roland Garros don’t count either….weak era.”

==============
Sadly for kjp and others, there is no 1 for 1 correlation with the high difficulty of certain wins and losses Fed had in the weak era arguing there was no weak era at all.
Fed of course faced an in-form and focused Marat Safin on occasion, or Haas and Nalbandian between injuries, and young Rafa. And a few others. But the overall level of competition was lower, which padded Fed’s records.
That does not mean Fed is not a great player, but one who got most of his accomplishments in a time of lessened competition. Of course, the weak era did not start with Fed, but the Legendary Leyton Hewitt, who had 75 straight weeks as Number #1 right before Fed battled the same *snort* – fierce opposition to get 234 straight weeks and 12 Slams. And writers and fans see a demarcation point between 2007 and 2008 where 4 other guys capable of winning Slams as much as Roger could, arrived.(Rafa became an all-court player winning off clay, and Andy, del Potro, and Novak were all court players that came into form, Tsonga was a threat then, too.)
Again, Fed never beat Rafa again at a Slam after 2007.

May 20th, 2016 at 3:47 pm

“tut tut” … what a familiar saying.

May 20th, 2016 at 4:13 pm

@cf1

All you ever post about is how Fed won all his slams in a weak era. Literally, 8 out of every 10 of your posts since you started posting here makes mention of it. Get some new material. We get it. Fed only has won 5 slams that count, Rafa has won 10 (anything before 2007 or after 2012 doesnt count) and Djokovic has won 4 (anything before 2007 or after 2012 doesnt count) only the 5 years from the end of 2007 till 2012 count. 2012 until present is obviously the weakest era as Fed has been in the top 3 almost that whole time as well as a stretch at number 1 and he isn’t even very good. Hes only won 5 countable slams and he is almost a decade past his prime. Hes only played like 12 matches this year and hes still in the top 13 in ytd rankings. Hahaha. Cf1 logic.

May 20th, 2016 at 4:34 pm

I think a lot of credit should be given to Federer for this decision. Not criticism or talk of his retirement. There is no point. It is what it is. I would much rather him have a chance of winning another tournament than risk his career even further. I don’t expect him to win another slam, but I do expect him to be in with a chance. To my mind, he has increased those chances skipping Paris.

Nadal had the right idea with injuries in the past, to take blocks of time off and then recuperate. He will be hitting 30 years old in May and Nadal is still going strong, may be not as before, but he is still working at it and very much in the mix. Has to be admired. Federer too, when you put things into perspective, this is the FIRST time he has had any sniff of injury which has kept him out of tennis and missing consecutive tournaments (though he has made an effort to return).

That is a first in almost 18 years on tour. Miracle man.

May 21st, 2016 at 8:03 am

“A lot of these medical issues are private,” said Dr. Mark Kovacs, a former United States Tennis Association employee who consults with them now. “So it’s hard to target exactly what [Federer and Nadal] have. But they have surgery for tendon problems and ligament problems. It’s very common. And healing times are reduced significantly from what they used to be. Achilles? People come back from that; that’s one of the most challenging ones.

“Part of the reason players play longer now is that most injuries are fixable.”
Kovacs and Dr. Paul Lubbers, the Senior Director of Coaching Education and Performance for the USTA who also deals with Sport Science for the Organization, talked about how players take advantage of science to find ways to play longer than they used to. “Federer has had injuries and then come back [and now he’s out again],” Lubbers said. “But you have to think about what does it mean to come back. Playing a week long tournament and being able to be successful for a week?

http://articles/2641300-are-roger-federer-and-rafael-nadal-broken-down-beyond-repair

It is interesting to hear what the coaches and the scientists are saying, but we kind of know this anyway as tennis fans.

Wishing Roger all the very best in the recovery process. I guess his next tournament will be Halle? Won’t be the same without him, but Novak, Murray and Nadal – one of them for the win! My bet is on Novak.

May 21st, 2016 at 8:08 am

kjb,

ignore CF1. They are bored. With Fed not around, they have nothing interesting to write about.

All old news.

May 21st, 2016 at 8:10 am

Colin so true what you said about the possibility of sports degenerating into artificial spectacles.

May 21st, 2016 at 8:29 am

cf1 this is most certainly not the strong era of the Big4. It is the weak era of the Big1 and the trouble is, this is the same guy who could win just 1 slam when Fedal were at their peak. Clearly their decline has contributed to his rise. The only excitement we have these days is reciting boring stats, wondering about the dominant one’s moods and watching Big1 making mincemeat of old tired Feddy and labeling it the greatest match of all time! I don’t know why the young ones are not coming up. Maybe they are paid too much money. They do not have the hunger to maintain the rigor of the daily regimen required.

May 21st, 2016 at 8:46 am

What should be admired, revered, honoured is the fact that these ‘oldies’, 30plus somethings are still outgunning the ‘young’ ones who have been on tour for more than 8 years now and still not able to overtake Olderer Federer, Not as old Nadal (but counting), and more than young, but less than the oldest Murray,

Novak is just 28 – tomorrow – at his peak? or is this where the decline starts? He is almost unreachable this year.

We should all be proud of living and being able to witness this time in tennis. The older players still have the hunger, hence they are on tour, but WHY is it that the younger ones still cannot make the breakthrough? Let’s face it, they have had enough chances. It takes a special player to hold off the younger, hungrier lion cubs – can’t see it happening though.

Thought Kei was in with a chance. He is on the edge at times of breaking it, may be he will this year?

It is as if these four have put up this impenetrable fence around them.

Will take something else to break it down.

May 21st, 2016 at 9:03 am

The weak era was Roddick, Ljubicic, Blake, Hewitt & Safin in the top 4.
Robredo in top 7. Roddick never reached semi of masters Cup because he choked on 3 match points to Fed to lose the 2nd set tiebreak. Just like he choked on 4 set points in the wimbledon 2nd set tiebreak.
You have to be an Olympic medalist, masters cup finalist & grand slam real deal to be top 3 now. Not davis cup cheater.
That’s why fed loons are upset that people can see through the weak era lies of 2002-2006.
There are morons who believe that a weak draws with fluke Roddick was better than the beat downs that fedalovic handed to Roddick.
Djoker with 6-1 6-2 on grass over the so-called legend Roddick lmao!!!

May 21st, 2016 at 2:39 pm

@Gee/Baa

All you “Djoko loons” are upset that people can see through the weakest of all weak eras started in mid 2012 when grandpa Fed regained #1 in the world and continues to be in the top 3 even after only playing 12 matches this year so far. I will also mention that hes has been in more slam finals than anyone other than Djokovic in the past 2 years.

May 21st, 2016 at 5:57 pm

Baa – Funny thing about Roddick – for all his bad footwork and flawed tactics and questionable backhand, and not being close to the Big in talent and performance – he joked when he retired that one reason he was doing it was to protect his positive H2H over Djokovic at 5-4. “I might be the only one left in a few years”, Andy said.
He indeed is pretty much is the only one left with a pos h2h over Novak, right now.
Equally, if not more impressive, is how Rafa mowed down all that opposed him BUT for Djokovic and Davydenko.

May 21st, 2016 at 6:33 pm

Another funny thing about Roddick is that he has more slam finals and more master 1000 titles than any other active players other than the big four. And Djokovic wont be able to retire with a positive head to head against everyone. He never beat Safin.

May 21st, 2016 at 8:13 pm