Roland Garros 2012 Day 2 Open Thread

AP

Defending champion Spain's Rafael Nadal walks past fans as he heads to a training session for the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Saturday, May, 26, 2012.

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When I first looked at the men's draw (finally!) and saw that Andy Roddick drew Roger Federer in the third round, I figured the American wouldn't put up much of a fight in the first round against Nicolas Mahut. I missed the match. Just as well.

Today, Roland Garros begins in full. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic begins his quest for the Novak Slam against Potito Starace after which American Ryan Harrison faces off against Frenchman Gilles Simon. Another American man out in the first round? Perhaps Harrison has an upset in him.

World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka is first up on Court Philippe Chatrier against Alberta Brianti of Italy. That should go fast. Defending champion Li Na takes on Sorana Cirstea in a match that could get interesting depending on which Sorana shows up.

Roland Garros 2012 Open Thread

Between planting and campaigning for a primary election two weeks from this coming Tuesday, I'm unable to see much of anything. Surely the draws for Paris came out recently, no?

Please, readers, cover the second Slam of the season. I'll do my best to post daily Open Threads throughout the event and any summaries I can get to because I'm sure I'll find time to watch at least a match a day.

Enjoy.

Like Old Times

The more things change, the more they remain the same. Surely one of our readers will tell us the last time Serena Williams and Roger Federer won titles in the same week, but it feels like a lifetime ago in tennis time.

Federer managed to win defend this big title without having to face a single one of his rivals. He returns to the No. 2 ranking, and even gained ground on Novak Djokovic, who lost to compatriot Janko Tipsarevic in the quarterfinals.

Serena knocked out the World No. 1 and World No. 2 players without dropping a set to either. It was her first title on European red clay in a decade. Her last clay title overseas? Roland Garros 2002. Talk about a long time between drinks.

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Rome, my favorite clay court event, began yesterday. Use this as your open thread for action at the Foro Italico.

Drive By

I will try to be back for Rome, though I make no promises. It's planting season, after all.
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US Davis Cup Team Tears Up The Clay

AP

Years ago, I often repeated a kernel of truth that Jim Courier often proclaimed. American men's problems on clay, he said, stem not from some inability to play tennis or construct a point, but from a mental barrier that causes them to over-adapt their games to the surface instead of relying on their core strengths.

Years ago, I often said that John Isner was a big match player who would relish the pressure of a Davis Cup tie and that if the previous captain wanted to take more risks, he'd put the giant American on the team, even when his ranking didn't warrant it.

Today, Captain Courier has led the US Davis Cup team under top American John Isner to two straight victories on clay away for the first time in forever.

Today, the 3-2 victory over France proves, if proof in tennis even exists, that the 5-0 victory over Switzerland was no fluke. That was indoors, this was out. No, he hasn't done it alone, but Isner hasn't lost a rubber. Stanislas Wawrinka, Roger Federer, Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga couldn't counter the bigness of his belief or his big game. His belief in his big game. On clay. Away.

Kudos.

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AP

In women's tennis, Serena Williams won her second title in Charleston on the green grit, dropping a single game in the final. If she can bring that form to the final stages of a Slam, she can win big again. If she can't, then she probably won't. It's entirely up to her.

US Clay Court Open Thread

It's spring and that means tennis turns to the slow stuff. Who's going to take the titles in the States?

Miami Open Thread

The draws for the Sony Ericsson Open are out. You can see the ATP draw here and the WTA draw here.

Neither draw seems all that balanced to my eyes, but particularly the WTA draw where the third quarter is loaded, loaded, loaded.

I was going to attend the second week of the event this year to cover it live, but my mother became ill and I had to spend the week in Milwaukee the week before last, so I cannot attend Miami after all. She's doing much better, but I need to stay in Maine and catch up on planting, planting, planting. Spring has arrived early, and I'm already a bit behind.

Indian Wells Open Thread

Reuters

No matter what else happens today in Indian Wells John Isner's defeat of the reigning World No. 1 yesterday, which earned him an appearance in his first Masters final and entrance into the Top 10 for the first time in his career, will be the the story of the event.

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Ah, tennis.

Talk about it.