<p>Berdych vs Monfils - kind of like Berdych vs Raonic. Two big, strong guys that could beat anyone in the world and lose to many players outside of the top ten depending on whether they’re having a good day or a bad day.</p>
<p>I had a look at Monfil’s stats - why isn’t he doing a lot better? He has the athletic ability and the shots but he seems to just have a tough time getting the W against players that you’d think that he’d beat.</p>
<p>Watched a little of Roger’s match this morning. He wasn’t playing his best (backhand did not look sharp) but it may be that he was bored. It was surprising to see the difference in pace and placement between Fed and his opponent.</p>
<p>Serena is already doing better than she did last year :)</p>
<p>She needs to work harder in her next match. Tsk, tsk, tsk, giving up a game!</p>
<p>“I had a look at Monfil’s stats - why isn’t he doing a lot better?”</p>
<p>Imo, Gael isn’t very efficient and he often finds himself in GS down 2-0 then has to battle back to win. By week two he’s been on court twice as long and has nothing left in the tank. He also stands way behind the baseline and does a lot more running then he should be doing - which ends up tiring him out, too. </p>
<p>Very ho hum day so far (I’m a few hours behind) on TV at least.</p>
<p>I had a look at Berdych - Monfils H2H and Berdych has beaten him all three times. One was a three setter but the set scores weren’t close. I think that Monfils is fun to watch but that his style has to take a toll on his joints. I haven’t seen any scores yet so I assume that they’re playing tomorrow.</p>
<p>Conditions today didn’t look great. I saw people in the stands with coats on and Llodra was warming up with pants and he was wearing two shirts in the match. Looks like it was chilly and windy on court.</p>
<p>Miserably cold and damp in Paris. Makes me not feel so bad about our horrid weather this weekend. 10 day forecast looks like more of the same lousy weather in store. I’ve been to enough tennis in crummy weather to last a life time and feel very sorry for the fans. </p>
<p>Monfils is always injured. That’s why he needed a WC to get into RG.</p>
<p>Who is this guy Brand and how did he win the first set?</p>
<p>Big and strong - reminds me of Marat (body wise.)</p>
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<p>For those of you who play tennis and may not be aware, there is a great outdoor cold weather sport called platform tennis.</p>
<p>Google for more info.</p>
<p>Several of the country clubs around here have platform tennis, but I don’t belong and hate the cold. I play tennis indoors from Sept-May.</p>
<p>I’m not a platform tennis player. I can play table tennis well but there aren’t large numbers of players locally. I like squash and racquetball too but haven’t played those in a long time.</p>
<p>Monfils playing unreal! 2 sets up over Berdych!</p>
<p>Monfils lost the third set in tie break. Let see if he can keep up his level of play.</p>
<p>Is he wearing knee braces? The previous matches that I’ve seen him play he had them on and he had problems because he slides around so much, even on hardcourts.</p>
<p>And he loses 4th set. I’m turning this off. One of the worst players ever, honestly. This is worse than Almagro’s tank.</p>
<p>Well, three tie-breakers, one 6-4 set and it’s all tied up. Could go either way from here. Doing this well against Berdych is not bad.</p>
<p>Well he came through in the 5th. Great win for him.</p>
<p>Big upset for Berdych. Does Monfils have enough left in the tank for his next matches?</p>
<p>^ Probably one or two. Then he’ll start running on fumes.</p>
<p>Yes, if one hates the cold, platform tennis is usually not an option … though winters lately have been pretty mild.</p>
<p>And, unf o rtunately it is mostly a private club sport.</p>
<p>I am very lucky, there are courts at a nearby county park.</p>