This crazy French Open is making me queasy.
I’m discombobulated. . .bitten by the upset bug. . . suffering from clay-induced vertigo. . .my thoughts are bobbing up and down like buoys in a stormy sea. . .then diving and leaping like Gael Monfils on a clay court.
Excuse me while I get my bearings. Or should I say: barings?
From GTT’s legal department: No comments printed in this post shall be found to “jinx” Roger Federer, regardless of the outcome of this tournament. (I’m so superstitious, I might add this disclaimer to the top of the home page.)
The best commentator-speak of the moment: Suddenly, the French Open men’s draw is as open as the women’s. At least the ladies have a former RG champion still in the mix, along with the World No. 1/last year’s runner up. Roger Federer stands alone on the men’s side, like a solitary polar bear roaming the icy tundra in a nature documentary. Will the earth crack beneath him before he snags his prize?
Fedophile test: What do you feel when looking at the following head-to-heads?
- Federer vs. Gonzalez: 12-1
- Federer vs. Monfils: 4-0
- Federer vs. Del Potro: 5-0
- Federer vs. Robredo: 8-0
- Federer vs. Soderling: 9-0
- Federer vs. Murray (who lost today to Gonzo): 2-6
Fed Fan = surging emotions of excitement and happiness
Fedophile = a slow, creeping sense of impending doom
Change of topic: Who is crying harder right now, Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal? (I pick Nole, for losing to Kohlschreiber, who then lost to Robredo in the next round.)
Have the hiccups? This should help: Robin Soderling, 2009 Roland Garros Champion.
Guess who texted Soderling: “Congratulations, and thank you for not letting Nadal break my record.’”?
Please Tennis Gods, stop the madness and give us a Safina vs. Serena final!
If forced to root for dark horses, I’d pick Monfils and Stosur. Does Kuznetsova qualify as a long shot, or not?
The cheering hierarchy of the Parisian crowd:
- French
- Underdogs
- Players on the brink of straight-set demolition (which explains Sharapova’s unexpected boost today while flaming out to Cibulkova)
- Anyone not named Serena Williams or Rafael Nadal (at least after what Uncle Toni said.)
We need a little help from our friends: Please join us on Wednesday for a Tennis Party! We’ll send an invite via Twitter – or just check in during Fed vs. Monfils.
I know how you feel, Andy: Photo by REUTERS/Regis Duvignau (FRANCE SPORT TENNIS) via Daylife
Fed Bear bares it all: AP Photo/Bernat Armangue via Daylife
Tags: Djokovic, Federer, French Open, Monfils, Nadal, Roland Garros, Safina, Serena, Sharapova, tennis
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Brilliant post, chere Freaky.
I’m feeling impending doom.I just have a bad feeling about that guy whose name starts with S. (Yeah, I’m very superstitious.)
If Gael wins, I’m Ok with that. If Serena wins: excellent! But I’m not even allowing myself to write out the names of those for whom I’ll cheer: RF and DS.
My rowboat is tilting.
(But at least Maria made it through a few rounds.)
i am still pulling for Roger even with Super S looming in the horizon…..Prayer is the answer.its the most powerful thing, i believe.
Fantastic post =D
I passed the Fedophile test with flying colours. “a slow, creeping sense of impending doom” pretty much sums up how I feel right now. Suddenly Gael Monfils looks like Novak Djokovic, and Del Potro/Robredo both bear semblances with Rafael Nadal.
Something like that.
Borg’s records aren’t meant to be broken. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had voodoo dolls of Rafa and Fed.
I have nothing more to say, except that I love the word “discombobulated”. Yes I do.
I keep going back and forth, back and forth. Tomorrow will be the worst, I think. One match at a time. Dootsiez is right, 0-4 Monfils looks like a combination of all of Roger’s worst nightmares rolled into one.
But what is up with Soderling? Deal with the devil, indeed.
Have faith everyone.Lets all be reminded that Roger has beaten Soderling in Madrid.Sure, if and when Soderling gets into the Finals and meet Roger, he will surely put a great fight but true champion will always prevail in the end.
Nice post! Let’s send + positive vibes to Roger for the match against Monfils! Roger can do it, believe in him!
Hi all! Definitely stressing about Monfils! Not so much about the others. . .yet. I’m more worried that Monfils will beat Roger and Soderling will beat Monfils. That’s the worst case scenario I’ve made up in my head. I’m a sick, sick person!
But at the same time, I completely agree with all of you who want to send positive vibes and keep the faith etc. etc. That’s what good fans do!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ vibes.
He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.All TOGETHER NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
echoing what anne says…
He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.He will win against Monfils.
now we move on to Delpo…..He will against Delpotro.He will win against Delpotro!He will against Delpotro.He will win against delpotro!
He will crush Monfils in an elegant and gentlemanly way. In straight sets. Oh yes.
You were spot on!
Whoo hoo! That’s the spirit!
(good thing I put that disclaimer in!)
Died in the wool fedophile here – a slow, creeping sense of impending doom. That parisian crowd hierarchy of cheering – surely because he can speak french fluently he’s practically french? So he falls into all four categories? So they’re going to be cheering for him more than the other guy?
Anyway I think I’m going to start praying really hard.
im just looking forward to another tennis party!
Hey guys, you are just great! I love this blog. Even in my deepest pain (still feeling that dull pain in my chest when I think of my poor little Rafa boo hoo), you make me smile [major achievement]! My second favourite player has always been Rog and I know it’d be lovely for him to win but…sometimes I’m not sure. I would kinda prefer for RG 2009 to be remember as the ultra-freak year when all the greats were doomed…but then I think of the Sod and regain my senses…GO ROG GOOOOO!!!
Here’s to more fun on these pages. Keep up the great work!
HI Laura, Thanks so much! Glad you enjoy GTT!
I think most Rafa fans (even the hard-core ones) will be cheering on Fed if he’s facing Soderling. . .
D: Impending doom all the way. I mean, what other option do I have?
I dreamed last night that Roger won in four sets, and I’m holding onto the belief that it was a psychic flash.
Murray losing to Gonzalez wasn’t really a surprise–that he got bageled definitely was. A Soderling-Anyone final is puke-worthy.
Sense of doom, no doubt about it!
I’m so nauseous… seriously, Fedophiles should have the day off, don’t you think? How is it possible that evil capitalism expects us to work today? It should be an international law – “All Fedophiles are automatically awarded holidays when Roger Federer is playing, starting on the quarterfinals of every Slam.”
And Borg… he SCARES me. I’m quite sure this dude is certain the HE is the GOAT, that in “planet Borg”, Pete Sampras doesn’t exist and that he believes a Roger title on the Clay Slam is a no, no. It’s a scary thought, considering how Borg’s voodoo already worked for both Roger (last year in Wimbly) and Rafa.
You’re right! I’d forgotten about him hexing Roger last year. He’d better not use his evil powers to get Soderling to the title!
C.F. – I think you are RIGHT about Borg. He just hides his ego well behind that ice man exterior. I guess he was so busy hexing Rafa this year that he forgot about Roger.
Good thing the match was on at about 6am, L.A. time. I had no problem watching the match! But I’m too mentally exhausted to be productive.
I want Roger to win. I want Roger to win.
I just don’t feel good about it.
He is not taking charge of these matches. He has got to get Monfils down early before the crowd goes against him.
I was watching some of the Haas match last night, and after it was over, Brad Gilbert (after dissing Roger the entire match) said that in the end, real champions win with heart. They never give up. So although Monfils is going to be tough, given the atmosphere, we have to believe in Roger. And look at how dominant Nadal and Djoker were in the early rounds, and Roger struggled, but which one is still playing?
GO ROGER!
Liz-
Thanks!
Two sets up. He is following my game plan.
Close out it. Close it out. Close it out.
The sun came out from behind the clouds, and the Tennis Gods are smiling upon us!
HURRRRAYYYYY!
I hope Fed can win this year
He’s one step closer, at least! 20th straight Major semi! Awesome!
(my word verification = heavyset rf)
Gotta Believe !
I thought Rogi played the match quite well. He played a solid first set and went for his shots in the first set tie break that allowed to gain crucial lead and momentum. from that point on it was close to cruise control. Federer’s past is so exceptional that it overshadows his good matches these days. 6 more sets stand between him and the French Open trophy.
Go Federer !