Roland Garros Men's QF: Nadal nears number nine

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

So much action at Roland Garros. I think we really should just go straight into it. At this stage, the time for words have passed and it is time for action. And it is about that action I shall now write words.

Groth [yes, that Groth] and Golubev have combined for a surprising but deep run at the French. They have now made the semifinals with a 6-3/6-3 vicory over Kubot/Lindstedt in an hour and a minute. They broke service three times but never had to face a break point. They served four aces and won 92 per cent of their service points, but that is no surprise. Groth in particular is a huge server. They play Benneteau/Vasselin next and that should be a good match. The eleventh seeds are the highest seeds left. We had surprise Aussie men's doubles winners. Will the same happen at the very next slam? The Aussie and his Kazakh partner will certainly hope so.

In the other match in that half of the draw, Monaco/Gonzalez of Argentina very nearly removed the eleventh seeds. It took the Frenchmen two hours and forty minutes to finally come through and avoid the upset 7-5/4-6/7-6. They won 128 points, just four more than their South American opponents. They both had three breaks but the Argentinians faced fourteen break points [four more than their opponents] and managed to save 11. The Argies have come far this tournament, knocking out fourteenth seeds Butorac/Klaasen. The eleventh seeds should be favourites for the title and their semifinal, but the favourites haven't had the best reults at this edition of the biggest clay tournament in the world.

The doubles seeding will be intriguing when it comes round to [very expensive] Strawberries and cream time.

Right, well I suppose I should talk about what happened in the singles then.


MARQUEE MATCH: NADAL d. FERRER
...I said aggression was needed. Nadal decided it was not. He probably knows best. Ferrer gave it everything he had. Absolutely every last ounce of energy, every single bit of him pushed Nadal to the very limit, but to no avail. Nadal has mastership over Ferrer for one reason: talent. Nadal simply has more talent. He doesn't work harder, he doesn't train harder, he doesn't even put as much into matches as Ferrer does. But Ferrer needs to maximize his talent just to compete. Nadal needs only to use a small percentage of his talent to out-do Ferrer. Therein lies, unfortunately, the difference. Ferrer has, to borrow a cliche, maximized his talent like no-one else. Nadal forced Ferru to be aggressive and then, once Ferrer was playing a game he isn't comfortable with, he could move in for the kill. Nadal is almost like a predator. If he smells blood you are in trouble. It took Nadal an hour and thirty-four minutes to split the first two sets 4-6/6-4 but he needed just one hour after that to sweep the next two sets 6-0/6-1. Ferrer failed to hold serve in either of the last two sets. They combined for 54 winners but 81 unforced errors. Ferrer forced this to become the kind of match he wanted it to. It became a dogfight, but even in that kind of a match he could not find a way. The rallies were long and so grueling. They both had fourteen break chances, but Nadal broke 9 times whilst Ferrer broke just thrice. Essentially Ferrer played as best he could but once Nadal decided that was it, that was it. There is nothing you can do. Nadal faces Murray next and it will be a good showing from the Scot if he can take a set. He has had an excellent Roland Garros with a fortunate draw, but Nadal is so far out of his league on this surface it's nigh on impossible for him to win.
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Un autre match intéressant: DJOKOVIC d. RAONIC
...Djokovic proved too strong for Raonic. He was able to consistently get the Raonic serve back in play any how, any way. He also made sure that once he had that return in play he would neutralize the rally and then slowly take control. He consistently used the same tactic over and over but Raonic was unable to do anything against it. That was the key reason he won 7-5/7-6/6-4. It was an incredible display from Djokovic. His opponent hit 49 winners, 21 aces, but yet Djokovic still managed to find 9 break points and converted three. His opponent had a set's worth of aces but Djokovic was also no slouch. He hit 37 winners and just 19 errors. Djokovic not only managed to perform well defensively, but also offensively. Making just 19 errors is fantastic. Two hours and twenty-two minutes of play and just 19 errors. Djokovic has Gulbis next and that is going to be a very tough match for Djokovic because Gulbis can live with Djokovic in the rallies but has more creativity and a fair bit of power, too.
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FOURTH ROUND : GULBIS D. BERDYCH
...Who saw this coming? I did not see this coming. This wasn't an upset, this was a demolition job. Gulbis literally ripped Berdman apart. Gulbis simply had it all -- variety, power, speed and imagination. He actually used his tennis brain as well as all that magic contained in his Wilson wand. Gulbis has always had the potential to make a deep run at a slam and he has finally done that. If he beats Djokovic, he will have made his first grand slam after progressing past the second round just twice at this level. That is a serious achievement. Gulbis needed just under two hours to dispatch Berdych 6-3/6-2/6-4. He blasted 31 winners to the Czech's 17. He himself had only 17 errors with the Czech missing 25 balls. The Czech was not given a chance to get into this match. Gulbis even won 44 per cent of receiving points. He also won 91 points, 30 more than his opponent. This was not the Czech's day. Throw in ten aces and five breaks for the Latvian and there is no doubt who the winner was here. That is all that needs to be talked about with regards to the match, the utter domination from the Latvian. If he plays like that against Djokovic, Djokovic is going to be forced into going into champion mode. If Gulbis does play like that can Djokovic play in 'Champion Mode' for five sets?
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FOURTH ROUND : MURRAY D. MONFILS
...Another mystifying match from La Monf! I can't even, I don't even. I will leave you with the score, but I really don't know what to make of this match. In three hours and fifteen minutes, Murray came through 6-4/6-1/4-6/1-6/6-0. I am confused as you no doubt are. All I will say is that being a Monfils fan is difficult and he has actually had a very good tournament. Murray plays Nadal next. So I guess he will have to wait until next year to make his maiden clay court final.
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Any other notes?

* - Nadal turned 28 on Tuesday. I'm surprised at that. How's this -- in less than two years Nadal will turn thirty. People always talk about Federer and the big 'R' word [clue: it's ten letters long] but what about Nadal and the big 'R' word? Also, Djokovic and Murray turn 27 or have done this year. All three are close now to 30 and have had injuries recently.

* - Dementieva is the only player ever to beat both Serena and Maria in a tournament. She beat them in Canada in 2009.

* - Gulbis is looking to extend his win streak against seeds in slam. I think it's about six if he beats Djokovic.

* - Nadal has to win to remain number one. Federer is safe in the top four. Both will be top four seeds for Wimbledon. Murray is likely also to be seeded thereabouts.

* - Well, I guess we have our four semifinalists and I picked two of them. That's pretty good for me. I picked none of the ladies semifinalists. I hardly think that is my fault, however. I got some of the quarterfinalists right.

* - I think Djokovic versus Gulbis is going to be the better semifinal. Murray/Monfils was much better than I thought it was going to be, although Monfils just ran out of energy. Murray/Nadal is a foregone conclusion. Djokovic could lose to Gulbis. I could even see Gulbis beating Nadal. It's one in a thousand, but Gulbis is a one in a thousand player.

* - I said Ferrer would get 15 games and I was wrong. He won a set yes still only managed 11 games. Mayer won 9 and didn't get a set. Nadal really is incredible. I don't see him being tested by Murray too much.

* - Raonic has now reached his first major quarterfinal. The first of many, no doubt. With a good draw, he should make the quarterfinals, if not more, at Wimbledon.

* - Soderling is apparently hitting balls and thinking of a comeback. And we all know what he did. Yep, he won Bastad.

* - From 2015 Queens, will be a 500 level event

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