An ‘extreme’ French-Open
View(s):Roland-Garros is the name of the first fighter pilot to shoot down another aircraft in aerial combat. The French man made aviation history and changed the way wars were fought and it happened in the First World War a century ago. The Tennis stadium in Paris got his name for this bravery. Today the Roland-Garros stadium is the flagship of French Tennis which hosts the French-Open every May.
In sports in general, the impact of the early-development-strategy can be felt even in the final years of a sports-persons career. It seems, this year’s French Championships turned out to be a test of early-development-strategy of players. The extreme conditions that prevailed demanded shorter rallies to win. Surprisingly not many had the strokes or the tactical package suited for it. Big names tumbled right from the first round for this reason.
That was on the players’ side but the real trouble for the event appeared from all angles and the French are facing the challenge in the very spirit of their French hero pilot Roland-Garros. One would not be wrong to say that the 2016 French-Open was in the war footing from the start. Casualties of players appeared even before the event when Roger Federer withdrew. Doping took away another number; injuries took ‘king of clay’ Nadal, Azerenka and a few more. The playing schedule went haywire adjusting to the cold wet weather and the players had to accommodate 14 degree centigrade drizzle as an acceptable playing condition and it is best if nothing is said about the compromising schedule players were subjected to. All these had an impact on the spectator turnout which left the elegant grand stands of Roland-Garros nearly bare.
‘Go to net’ signal
Without exception, I believe every coach on the sidelines signaled their players to ‘go to net’. It is easily said than done if the player did not get the net game in their development. It is a torturous act to play long rallies on wet clay court. In critical matches the Roland-Garros clay courts were in the threshold of being muddy. Players were constantly pulling their feet from the sticky surface. It does not stop here. The tennis ball has about a quarter inch felt cover to slow down the speed in flight, but it also has the best water retaining capability. It was obvious that it picked up the wet clay and the ball probably became three times heavier.
In such unpredictable variables, the best option is playing at net. From what was seen, most of the players did not spend enough time to develop the net game. To play at net on clay is not the best tactical option. Net also demands early reading and very quick reaction. A player will get three times more time playing from the baseline. This comfort zone is often the reason for young players not developing the net game.
At Roland-Garros coaches were urging their players to go to net. It is certainly not a mistake on the part of coaches. These experienced coaches know that in such bad conditions making the opponent hit a ‘passing shot’ is an extreme tactical challenge that will win. On wet courts a successful ‘passing shot’ could be no more than one in five and the ball is too heavy to lob easily. Among the women too few had the net game.
McEnroe is in again
Even if you are not a tennis player you probably will know who John McEnroe is. He was not only easy to be noticed but a brilliant and successful. In the recent past at the age of 57 he is better known as a commentator. He is changing that. He is to be the consultant to Canadian Milos Raonic. Veteran McEnroe described him as a fellow North American. McEnroe did play this role to Borris Becker in the early 90’s but it was not totally successful.
Other famous players in the ring as coaches are Justine Hennen, Conchita Martinez, Boris Becker and the former French-Open Champion Spaniard Sergi Bruguera. In the quarter-finals of men the last man standing for France was Richard Gasquet and his coach was Sergi Bruguera. Gasquet won the first set against Andy Murray and was in the threshold of winning the second with a lead of 4-2 in the tie break. Then what happened needs a lot of explanation. Murray won the second set, then the third at 6/0 and the fourth at 6/2. Was Gasquet injured?
The $ 100 million club
The first event of the open-era Tennis began with the French-Open of 1969. Since then I believe that prize money is what the players wanted more than name and fame. Djokovic’s achievement up to now in this year’s French-Open is giving him the membership in the one hundred million dollar club. He has totaled that much as prize money during his career and the first to achieve this in professional Tennis. In the coming months two more may make it into this club. WTA and ATP are making sure that the players are better paid. This year’s prize money total at French-Open is 32 million Euros. Predictions are it will go up another 70% before it freezes.
George Paldano, Former int. player; Accredited Coach of Germany; National,
Davis-Cup, Federation Cup coach–. georgepaldano@yahoo.com