French Open 2017: June 5th Men’s Singles Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Andy Murray (GBR) [1] vs. Karen Khachanov (RUS) – Murray should win, but I think he’d prefer to be playing Isner. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) [3] vs. Gael Monfils (FRA) [15] – Match of the Day in my view Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs. Kei Nishikori (JPN) [8] – If Nishikori can’t stay on top of the baseline and…

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French Open 2017: June 5th Women’s Singles Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) [21] vs. Simona Halep (ROU) [3] – Halep seems to be the favorite in what has been an all-around crazy French Open.  I think Halep can ground CSN’s game. Caroline Garcia (FRA) [28] vs. Alizé Cornet (FRA) – Cornet is a contender. Elina Svitolina (UKR) [5] vs. Petra Martic (CRO) – Svitolina has had…

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French Open 2017: June 4th Men’s Singles Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Philippe-Chatrier Court (11 a.m. start) [15] Gael Monfils (FRA).vs [24] Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-5 – to be completed – Once a match starts, I always stick with my original pick even if someone is down 0-6, 0-6, 0-5. This looks like a 50-50 match. [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs [19] Albert Ramos-Vinolas…

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French Open 2017: June 4th Women’s Singles Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Philippe-Chatrier Court (11 a.m. start) [8] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs [11] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) – This is a tricky match to predict.  I am not sure where either player produces enough pressure to break the other down.  I think Kuznetsova has more firepower and winning experience in Paris, but she is…

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French Open 2017: June 3rd Men’s Singles Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Andy Murray (GBR) [1] vs. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) [29] – I hope this is of the level of their Olympic and Davis Cup matches last year. Richard Gasquet (FRA) [24] vs. Gael Monfils (FRA) [15] – Gasquet has looked sharp. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. Marin Cilic (CRO) [7] –…

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French Open 2017: June 3rd Women’s Singles Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Alizé Cornet (FRA) vs. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) [9] – This match has me stumped.  I love Cornet’s ability to produce big wins, but Aga’s style may not be bothered by Cornet’s counter-punching as much as an attacking player’s game would be. Elina Svitolina (UKR) [5] vs. Magda Linette (POL) Daria Kasatkina (RUS) [26]…

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French Open 2017: June 2nd Men’s Singles Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD: I wish I had a Ticket to This Slate of Matches Court Philippe-Chatrier (11 a.m. start) [4] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) – Rafa’s biggest concern may be peaking too early in the 2017 clay season.  He should ease into the final 16. [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Diego…

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French Open 2017: June 2nd Women’s Singles Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD   Court Philippe-Chatrier (11 a.m. start) [4] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) vs [27]Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) – The defending champion seems to have found an ideal time for shaking off a 52 week hangover from winning the 2016 French Open. Venus came close in 2002 – could 2017 be the year? [10] Venus…

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Tennis in Literature

Originally posted on Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life:
In this brief break between Cincinnati and the US Open, I thought I would give a few examples of our great sport popping up in major literary works (my list is not this exhaustive). Prelude: The Tennis Court Oath and More Jean Jacques Rousseau mentioned court/real/royal…

French Open 2017: June 1st Men’s Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Court Philippe-Chatrier (11 a.m. start) [3] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) – Something tells me this might be complicated at some point, but I think Stan Wawrinka finds a way to winning 3 sets even if it takes him 4 or 5 sets to do it. [15] Gaël Monfils (FRA)…

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