The draws are in.....

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/d...s/ms/index.html

I wish I knew how to post a URL better, and I'll save my analysis for later. One thing tough for my boy Olivier Rochus.....Gaga, I thought you were being too kind to even mention Rochus in your preview, but he sure has a favorable draw. Go Ro!

Thanks for getting the conversation started, I think we should either restrict the conversation here to the draw or set up separate men's and ladies threads.

Since you've commented on the men's draw, I'll second your note on Rochus--did he write the computer program for the draw? He should cruise to the 4th round at least, though Stepanek (or Baghdatis?) should prove a challenge at that point. The semis are a possibility, given that the top seeds in that quarter are Roddick and Ljubicic. I'd probably bet on David Ferrer if I were forced to make a choice, but Olivier's in the mix.

Although Nadal has a nasty opening match (Soderling), overall, Federer has a much more dangerous section. Compare the top seeds in Nadal's half (Ljubicic, Roddick, Blake) to Feds (Nalbandian, Davydenko, Robredo). I'll say more when I have more time to look.

edited to add: Wow! Just spotted the 1st round match between Fernando Gonzalez and Marat Safin.

[ May 26, 2006, 05:42 AM: Message edited by: JC ]

Pierce pulled out Now I don't care about the FO.

Kidding...I'd like to see Hingis and Venus do well and I'm definitely not a fan of either. I just think it'd add to Hingis' story and hopefully spark some life back into the Williams'.

I haven't checked the women's draw yet, but the men's draw is full of fun first rounders ...

Federer/Clement - opening against a Frenchman will have the stadium pumped up.

Acasuso/Santoro - the French veteren could give the darkhorse a frustrating lesson.

Roddick/Martin - Martin's a solid player and Roddick is injured. Looks like Andy could go out in Round One to me.

Blake/Srichaphan - Paradorn has fallen off the map and they're both better on fast surfaces, but a dangerous first round opponent for James.

Monfils/Murray - A rivalry for the future?

Safin/Gonzalez - Woo Hoo! Talk about hard hitting.

I think Roger has a very tricky draw. He'll open against Clement and then could face Massu, Berdych/Kiefer, Robredo/Acasuso (Santoro), and then Nalbandian/Gaudio. All players who are either quite well-versed on clay court tennis or who have given Roger trouble in the past.

Nadal, on the other hand, has it home free at least until the quarters. Then possibly a tough match against Almagro?

[ May 26, 2006, 05:58 AM: Message edited by: Gaga4Gaby ]

Whats wrong with Roddick??

He hurt his ankle.

damn! frown

The bottom half of the women's draw is heavy, with Henin-Hardenne and Petrova in the top quarter and Hingis and Clijsters in the lower quarter.

I don't like Momo's first rounder against Shaughnessy. Meghann has been playing well again and well, Amelie as the top seed in France ...

Venus's draw is okay until Schnyder in the 16s.

Hingis could face Zheng in the 3rd round, a potential tough match, but she's in Clijsters quarter and Kim hasn't looked motivated lately ... I like Martina's chances to get to the semis.

Jesus, someone's got it out for Roger. I think Toni Nadal might have rigged the draw. Here's Massu for you in the 3rd Round! Then why not take Feli Lopez, Volandri, or Berdych in the 4th!! Quarters? I think you might enjoy a bit of Robredo (or Acasuso). And for your semis, I have a nice choice of Nalbandian, Grosjean, Nieminen, Henman, Gaudio, Ferrero, Moya, or Davydenko. Sure, your half has several past champs in it, the Olympic Gold Medalist, three of last year's semifinalists, and two of the hottest guys on tour lately in Acasuso & Robredo.

But Nadal has Hewitt, Roddick, Johansson, and six of the 8 wildcards! So it's totally even.

Seriously, the first whiff of trouble Rafa gets is in the quarters? That's BS.

As far as Blake goes, Srichaphan is the WORST clay court player in the draw. He has a DREAM first roud. Almagro in the 2nd round? Not so dreamy. He will very likely not make the 3rd round.

If Andy were healthy, I'd say he had a very solid draw. He's not healthy.

Ginepri is in Roger's half. He honestly has the best chance to get to the 4th round, but there would be Acasuso or Robredo waiting for him. Followed by Roger. But I think he could take Ancic in the 3rd, honestly.

Okay, sigh. Go Roger! Show those conspirators who da boss!!

[ May 26, 2006, 10:58 AM: Message edited by: bridgeportjake ]

Shahar Peer looks unstoppable these days. She should have no trouble with Savchuk. Pironkova took out Venus at the Australian, making that an interesting second round opponent. Then Dementieva, the greatest mystery of them all.

Good to see Golovin back, bu she may not outlast Zheng in the first match. Either way, Hingis in the 3rd will be too tough.

Castano can handle Nakamura, setting up an intriguing match with Dechy in the second. I like the winner of that over Hantuchova, or even Dominguez Lino (who I think will upsent Daniela unfortunately).

Kim has to like her draw, until Martina in the quarters of course. It should allow her to build her game through the first week.

Mirza/Miskina in the first round ... doesn't look promising for Sania. Sigh. She's having a Sophomore Slump. Justine will be set until the 4th Round. Ivanovic/Myskina should be a win for her as well. Of course, the QUARTER FINAL against Petrova is definitely a red-letter match.

Francesca Schiavone ... has her paisan Penneta scheduled for the 3rd round, ouch. Then Kuznetsova in the 4th!! Dang. I'm not sure Schiavone can hit the quarters, where she could beat Sharapova or Safina (or possibly Safarova, but I'm not holding my breath). The Sharpy/Safina 4th rounder is another "gather round the tube" match.

Assuming Momo can take care of Meghann (poor Meghann, what a shitty reward for winning a tournament), and Dushevina (again, a potential scary match), she looks great in the 3rd. However, Vaidisova in the 4th is the type of match that is a huge red flag - Ivanovic was the one who beat her last year, and Nicole is looking for a big win to stamp her as a future GS champ. I think she'd win the quarterfinal against Venus.

Then there's Krajicek. Yes, she just lost to Myskina, but it's hard to put too much credence in semifinals of small tourneys a few days before a slam starts. Particularly when the draw comes out and you're set to face Schnyder in the first round. THAT is the first round match of the tourney, and an upset special. Whoever wins that, just put them in the 4th round. Either could get to the quarters, too, because Venus can lose to Peng, Sprem, or Likhovtseva, if she feels like it. Fascinating eighth of the draw.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Kuznetsova. Nick's pick for an unseeded advancer is Santangelo, who would meet the Kooz in round 2. Na Li could be next. Then Schiavone/Pennetta. The Kooz is clearly motivated and talented enough to get to the semis -- she's the favorite in my mind -- but WILL she? I guess that's why they play the game...

Go MOMO! Go Francesca!!! Go Shahar, Vania, Catalina, Sania, and of course, Martina!!!!!

Oh, also put a star by the second round potential match of Jamea Jackson v. Groenefeld. Hopefully it happens, because there's a Fed Cup revenge factor at play... Winner gets Kirilenko, another intriguing presence...

Tough for both Martina and Roger...but we all know how unpredictable clay is...JHH and Petrova have to be bummed that they meet as early as the quarters...Momo and Kooz to the semi's in the top half, Hingis and Petrova in the bottom...

Okay for some reason there are 13 Q spots for the women now that Mary has pulled out. Shouldn't one of these be a LL spot? Sucks that Mary didn't make this announcement a few days ago so Oprandi could have gotten direct entry... Hopefully she'll snag the LL/extra Q.

Can you believe ESPN's headline is: "Federer gets favorable draw at French." It's pathetic how little care and attention they pay to tennis.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Actually, it's from the AP story -- "Federer was given about as favorable a path through the French Open as he could have hoped..." Are these people on drugs?

[ May 26, 2006, 10:50 AM: Message edited by: Larry@LA ]

OK, lets not get carried away for Roger.

Clement (1R) and Massu (3R) are not the threats they were in past years and both have done nothing on the European clay this year or ever at the French.

Gimelstob/Qualifier is a gimmie in the 2nd. Berdych/Kiefer in the 4th is perfect, they'll raise Roger's level but not enough to actually beat him....the Olympic win for Birdman was a fluke.

Robredo or Acasuso wont bother Roger too much, but Nalbandian in his half makes it tough.....not sure Nalbo will get there though, he's losing to everyone this week.

Rafa does have an easier draw, but Roger wont lose too much sleep over his. You never know how a draw is going to fall apart anyway.

The Roger-Rafa showdown will happen, and I still like Roger's chances......he wins in 4 sets.

Well from what I read this morning, it does sound like Roddick is gonna give it a go. I guess he is holed up in his hotel room, been getting therapy on it, and Ginepri went and visited him the other day, and said the ankle was feeling better. I for one am hoping he can play.

Clement has withdrawn due to some injury, so Federer gets a qualifier instead.

Apparently Roddick will play.

I thought Nadal had the more dangerous first round match even if Clement had played. Clement has only won one match on clay this year, whereas Soderling beat Davydenko in Monte Carlo. Of course, Nadal is very unlikely to lose, but I do think Soderling will battle him.

Really excited about play beginning today. I am off to the gym shortly, then going to plant my keister in front of the tube for many hours today to watch some hopefully awesome tennis from Paris.

I love the French Open. Its my second favorite slam...Wimbledon being my favorite. Clay court tennis is when you really get to see who can endure long rallies and who can really construct points. I was so pleased to see that play begins on Sunday...that way I've got 2 days to watch before I have to go to work and tivo it.

For the men I think there is no doubt that Nadal is the overwhelming favorite. As much as I love Rafa and his phat ass I would like to see Roger win this to hold all 4 slams and then hopefully he will go on to win the calendar slam.
Is Roddick playing or is he injured? Blake should get past Srichipan but doesn't have an easy task second round. Blake should've prayed he stayed away from any clay court specialist. I'm pulling that he at least makes the second week though. I know thats a tall tall order but damn....American men need to get it together on the dirt. The showing or lackthereof is pathetic.

Happy tennis everyone

For the women...I don't think there is a clear favorite. Justine is not 100%. Australian Open title or not...Mauresmo did not have to earn that. Henin was CLEARLY out of sorts and that is still a title with an asterik next to it as far as I'm concerned. This will be the ultimate test for her because she's seeded #1...the first French person to be seeded #1...its her home slam...and a lot of times its harder to win your second slam than it is your first. Just ask Maria Sharapova. I'd love to see Venus do well here to really build some confidence going into Wimbledon. I'd like to see Clijsters do well too. I'm not a big Hingis fan but I wouldn't mind seeing her do ok and then get thrashed by someone lol.

Mashona Washington is playing great at the moment!

It was a pretty good first round as weall get to see the top players breathe a sigh of relief as they win their first match. Hard to believe that Venus Williams is the only hope for American women. I usually dont pull for her but I will in this case. Nadal had his hands full in this wind today and I am glad he got through. I have a feeling its gonna be a great tournament.