Roland Garros 2006

[carole]

I'm not sure there is no pressure because our Marat is the best to put pressure on him even when it's not needed... He has said so many times that he wanted to win the French Open that i think he will again put pressure on him...
But i hope he can take it easy and telling himself: "okay it won't be this year maybe but i use this season to get my game back for the next one"... I try t stay optimistic but in a corner of my mind i realize that if he loses, he's going to lose a lot of points from last year (he was in the fourth round) and his ranking is going to be worst for the next tournaments... OMG i'm going on the negative way, help me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Annie]

OK Everyone!!!!!!!!!! you're always innocent until proven guilty.. so let's not start crying NOW... he is gonna win until he actually loses...that's my attitude ;D ;D ;D

[kuniochi]

carole said:

But i hope he can take it easy and telling himself: "okay it won't be this year maybe but i use this season to get my game back for the next one"... I try t stay optimistic but in a corner of my mind i realize that if he loses, he's going to lose a lot of points from last year (he was in the fourth round) and his ranking is going to be worst for the next tournaments... OMG i'm going on the negative way, help me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Calm down, it's not so bad. This is the end of this terrible clay season, remember. Thank GOD! After the grass there comes "the hard" and "in-doors" surface. He has nothing to lose there, because didn't play last year! ;D ;D ;D

[Tish]

All I am gonna say is that this time last year Marat may have played in the French Open but he was also not playing 100% because of his injury...I think that he has already surpassed this by being fit and by the looks of those photos taken on Page 3 he looks determined and in my books that can be a pretty powerful combination...and like Marat I will be hoping for him match by match as you never know what will happen

Marat - GO ! YOU GOOD THING... My eyes will be glued to the telly..

[tina]

we have to be positive and novak djokovic is with him[if he win-novak] :'(but i m on marats side -what a patriot i m

[sabz]

Soooo Gonzo is up 1st, okay not the best draw, but could have been a hell of a lot worse!
I think the main thing to do now is to stay positive, remember although the pressure isnt completely off, Marat is an underdog in this tournie (due to his poor clay court season)
So expectations are a lot lower. BUT if u look at the pics i posted (pg3) he looks so determined and focused and i truely believe Marat always saves his best stuff when he comes to a GS!
I KNOW he can do well - and i am really optimistic!!! ;D ;D ;D
think about it this way ladies, MARAT WILL BE ON OUR TV AGAIN!! (n fingers crossed lots of drool worthy pics )
DAVAI MARAT!! we all have faith!!

[blue]

There´s always pressure, but certainly the expectations are a bit lower this year. As for Gonzo, he´s currently killing himself in Düsseldorf, maybe he will leave some energy there, so he´s a little tired against Marat

[sabz]

from eurosport.com, found it very interesting!!

The draw for the 2006 Frenhc Open is out! It was the first time ever that the draw was made by computer at the French capital, which has already thrown up some intriguing first round ties, including Roger Federer versus Arnaud Clément and Rafael Nadal against Robin Soderling.

Other big names, such as David Nalbandian, Andy Roddick and particularly Fernando Gonzalez, who will have to face Marat Safin, also have tricky opening matches.

World number one Roger Federer's quest for a Grand Slam (over two years) will see him start off against Arnaud Clément, who will very much have the crowd behind him. The world number one rarely seems to settle down until the second round of tournaments, and he would certainly not relish facing the winner of this year's Open 13 in Marseilles. Clément, however, may not even make it out on to the court - the French favourite is suffering from a torn hamstring, and it is doubtful whether he will be fit by next week.

Rafael Nadal will also have to have his wits about him against Robin Soderling, who has slipped to 49th in the world due to a long injury but will be looking to climb back up the rankings. Despite the fact that he is no fan of clay, the Swede has already beaten Nikolay Davydenko on that very surface this season.

Andy Roddick (n° 4 seed) is perhaps the man entitled to have the biggest gripe with the computer, however - the American finds himself up against Spanish clay court ace Alberto Martin!

N° 3 seed David Nalbandian, whom many see as the only obstacle to a Federer-Nadal final, will have to overcome some hurdles himself if he intends to meet "Rog" in the semi-finals. The Argentinean will come up against a compatriot of Federer's - Stanislas Wawrinka, ranked 57th in the world and capable of beating anyone on his day. After that, Richard Gasquet lies in wait!

Gonzalez v Safin

Whilst a lot of players are currently bemoaning their fate, we should spare a thought for Fernando Gonzalez (n°9 seed) and Marat Safin. Both the Chilean and the Russian thought they had at least an outside chance of going all the way this year - but after being drawn together, one of them will be packing his bags early next week after what will surely be the tie of the round.

Possible Round of 16:

Top half of the draw

Federer (n°1) - Kiefer (n°13)

Ancic (n°12) - Robredo (n°7)

Good outside bets: Malisse, Berdych (n°20), Massu (n°32)

Nalbandian (n°3) - Nieminen (n°16)

Gaudio (n°10) - Davydenko (n°6)

Good outside bets: Gasquet, Grosjean (n°21), Santoro, Ferrero (n°24), Moya (n°30)

Bottom half of the draw

Roddick (n°3) - Stepanek (n°11)

Ferrer (n°15) - Ljubicic (n°4)

Good outside bets: Martin, Rochus (n°27), Verdasco (n°28), Chela, Baghdatis, Simon

Blake (n°8) - Gonzalez (n°9)

Hewitt (n°14) - Nadal (n°2)

Good outside bets: Almagro, Murray, Haas (n°23), Safin ;D , Mathieu (n°29), Serra

[yse]

www.rolandgarros.com/fr_FR/scores/schedule/schedule6.html

Order of play for sunday

[carole]

Great, Marat is not playing on sunday so i'll be able to see him on monday or tuesday! Finally a good news for me today!

[CaliforniaSuds]

What a horrendous draw! It's time for the congregation of the Church of Marat to join together in some ritualistic chanting -- get thru the first round, get thru the first round, get thru the first round. You can all rest easy knowing that High Priestess Sister Suds is in seclusion, in a trance-like state, fasting, celibate, and focusing all her positive energy on Marat.

By the way, does anyone know what's up with the Safinator site?

[SAFINNO1]

Hmmmmm first of all i admit i was saddened but not by the fact of Gonzalez but Nadal. I am genuinely optimistic about Marat's chance in RG and i believe a QF match with rafa would be higly entertaining

Even greated news i have just found out that all my exams 4 next week have been cancelled so i will be able to watch all of Marat's matches (hopefully more than 1)

Another russian has joined the draw
Evgeny Korolev (RUS)[32]def Kevin Kim (USA)[9]
6-3 3-6 6-4

UDACHI MARAT

[mari]

OMG I've just saw the draw!!!, this's suck..... Marat and Feña, my favourite players.........that will be very tight match

[sonya]

okey,i choose to be optimistic ;D i think he wants to be focused on the game & he really wants to make a result on rg...he gave himself a rest during past 2 tournies [ ],and now,he should be out of the agony...

after the darkest moment in the night,it's getting brighter

DAVAIIIIIIIII MAAARAAAAT!!!!!!!

[SAFINNO1]

Can kinda see a resemblence to Dinara here