ALLEZ! ROLAND GARROS tennis thread (cont) as we head to the second week.[title edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

[Raahh]

I can't link , as I'm on my phone. And I now have to do BBQ things because dh has remembered he has a broken thumb

Aller! Richard!

RG has been a real shitter this year.

Putintseva is starting to look really hardcore in her reactions to winning points.

She's very good !

I agree with all of the above 😁

I was soooooo looking forward to this- and it's not just the lack of Rafa that is making it rubbish ( I've spent enough years waiting for him to recover from injury,)- there is something about the whole thing that feels odd.

There seems to be an inevitability about the outcome of the men and women that I don't like. Even in his best years, there was a vulnerability about Rafa. It didn't always feel like a 'done deal'.

And of course Serena has got the officials and the commentators in her pocket.

I want Stan and Gabi to win . I think it will be Novak and Serena though. I really don't want Djok to win, as I'm sure it really gets his goat that he can't be considered in the GOAT debate ( pun intended) if he hasn't won the French.

It's a 3rd set. Shame for the underdog.

Fucking Novak is a nasty-tempered shit.

I've just read that he also threw his racket in his match against Andy last month - he really, really should have a hold on his temper. Smashing rackets, benches, throwing them. Disgraceful behaviour.

Never, ever have we seen Rafa behave so appallingly, and yy, Raahh it does feel like this is a bloody 'done deal'. I don't get why the tennis world are so desperate for Novak to be 'better' than Roger or Rafa.

He'll never, ever be GOAT as far as I'm concerned. He is in no way a complete player, having hissy fits if its too hot, too cold, too windy etc, etc, etc. Always got an excuse. He's also not averse to feigning illness or injury if things aren't going his way.

And someone really should tell him that using the ball kids is NOT endearing, it doesn't make anyone like him more. His own on AND off court behaviour more than speaks for itself.

I'm really very cross. Hmmmppphhh.

And bollocking bollocks is Putintseva going to fall to pieces now ?

ARSE.

^ That'll be yes.

What a shame.

Putintseva great little fighter though. One to watch.

The lack of spectators is shocking.

She's only 21, plenty of years ahead for her to slaughter Serena. Can't wait.

Kiki Bertens just won !

Interesting semis. Would like to watch Gabi V Sam but bet we get stuck with Serena again.

Serena's posturing drives me mad. I'd love her to get beaten. Looking forward to Andy and Stan.

Apologies if this has been asked and answered but wtaf has happened to Marion Bartoli? She's disappeared!

Disappeared ? She's spent the past week and a half commentating !

She retired from playing after she won Wimbledon.

Apologies if this has been asked and answered but wtaf has happened to Marion Bartoli? She's disappeared!

No sorry I meant how painfully thin she is.

Ah, right. Possibly a combination of living on tour and she always was quite slender as a player.

I wouldn't usually comment on someone's weight but I loved her strength as a player. Those legs in those black tights looked like sticks.

she always was quite slender as a player I think we have very different ideas of what "quite slender" looks like Mrs V. I think Marion looks quite slender now, but as a player, not so much. This is her at the Wimbledon Champions Ball in 2013.

Marion

That's why I got such a shock. She looks strong and Amazonian in that picture but id never say slender. Now she looks like she'd get blown away in a sting wind.

And now.

And now.

Hmmm, I'm obviously remembering her wrongly.

Although, compared to Serena other players she was quite slender.

Maybe she's keeping fit a bit too much these days, I must admit I was shocked when I saw the condition of her facial skin the other day...this sounds awful but I don't know how to put it politely ? - I put it down though to her obviously being on the road a lot and perhaps not having the opportunities to eat well etc ?

I do hope she's alright, she gets on my nerves with all the Serena-gushing but she is very knowledgeable and I think she brings a lot to the team, especially in being able to relate to the players, having only recently (ish) retired.

(I do hope I haven't offended anyone, I don't ordinarily comment on weight/body/looks either).