Re: ATP WTA GS Roland Garros 5/25 - 6/8 2025
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2025 7:08 am
It is not that simple with slow court and the balance between offence and defense. With offense - we shall make a distinction between offensive mindset and offensive capabilities. Actually the same applies to defense vs court conditions. Slow court helps defenders - this is unconditional. But offensive players with a highest power/racket speed (Alcaraz/Sinner/Sabalenka) will still be capable to produce enough offense. But great defenders against good (but not great) offensive players are also rewarded on this slow court. It also awards variety, because rallies are longer. Therefore it is not entirely bad for Gauff. The only thing that is unconditionally bad for her - she is more reliant on high-jumping balls with great spin - and cold/dump weather takes it away.
This is why I say that Federer was unlucky that in 2005-2007 he never had this kind of weather at RG against Nadal. That would've helped him to do something similar to Hamburg 2007. Later it did not matter because his wheels, while still very fast - were slower than Nadal's. But in 2005-2007, while he was still at the very top of his physical prime, such conditions could potentially carry him to the victory over Nadal. His bh would've been less vulnerable.
Grass on the other hand rewards players with offensive mindset. It allows the players who are quite modest in the power department still get successful with offense (Hewitt, Henman)
This is why I say that Federer was unlucky that in 2005-2007 he never had this kind of weather at RG against Nadal. That would've helped him to do something similar to Hamburg 2007. Later it did not matter because his wheels, while still very fast - were slower than Nadal's. But in 2005-2007, while he was still at the very top of his physical prime, such conditions could potentially carry him to the victory over Nadal. His bh would've been less vulnerable.
Grass on the other hand rewards players with offensive mindset. It allows the players who are quite modest in the power department still get successful with offense (Hewitt, Henman)
