[quote user="le maitre couturier"]We have to consider also that in the 2010 edition of the RG, Justine Henin will play again & we know how much she loves the clay surafeces: she has won the French Open four times in her career & three of them in three straight years (2005-2006-2007) &, besides, when she decided to retire she was still the champion of the tournament. During this season she has already lost a slam final in Australia against Serena & she has been eliminated from all the other three tournaments she played (the last one yesterday in the Miami semis by Kim, as you well know), but her play looks very good & I think she will be the one to beat at the Roland Garros.[/quote]

I think you're correct--RG will be Justine's to lose. Depending only somewhat on who she plays, I hope she does just that--on centre court in Philippe Chatrier, where it will really sting. [;)]

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You wouldn't want it to happen against the Williams sisters or Jankovic or any of that cast of idiots would you?

What bad luck it is,that just as when Maria is due to win the French Open(different slam every 2 years - Wim '04,US '06,AO '08) Henin comes back...

Roger Federer says about

Roger Federer isn't worried about threats to possibly move the French Open from Roland Garros, with the relaxed Swiss saying that long-odds possibility lies well into the tennis future.

"For the venue to move takes a lot, so I think it's not going to happen maybe in my lifetime, when I'm still playing," said the No. 1 who has a title to defend at Roland Garros within two months.

"I definitely think there are always things to do better. It's super crowded, especially the first week or so. But you're working with a small space."

Paris has been abuzz with worries that growing crowds and a lack of ability to expand the grounds could spell the end of the venue. But the decision is not to be made until next February and alternative plans are also in the mix to try and save the situation.

One possibility would be to tear down the Suzanne Lenglen showcourt and replace it with one featuring a movable roof.

Federer says that beside a somewhat crowded atmosphere during the first week of the major, French Open officials do their best with what they have. "It's always very important for the tournament to try their best for the players, because we speak to the press. If we're extremely happy, we're gonna speak extremely well about the tournament."

Roland Garros to get 3D treatment (The Independent,4-15-10)

The revolution in 3D television entertainment is gathering pace around the world, with Japanese electronics giant Panasonic announcing that it will deliver next month's Roland Garros - French Open Tennis Tournament in three dimensions across Europe.

 

Panasonic has teamed up with the Federation Francaise de Tennis, Orange and Eurosport to broadcast the first live, multi-day sporting tournament in Europe in 3D.

The Paris tournament opens on May 23 and the final is scheduled for June 6 and is the tennis grand slam that attracts the largest European viewing audience, the companies involved announced in Cannes on Wednesday.

The 3D coverage filmed on the center court - Court Philippe Chatrier - will be broadcast live via ADSL and fiber to Orange subscribers throughout France in a dedicated Orange TV channel. In addition, professional-quality camcorders provided by Panasonic will enable behind-the-scenes footage to be shot for additional reports.

A full documentary in 3D will be produced after the event.

The entire tournament is to be transmitted in 3D to retail stores across France, while Eurosport will take the same signal and transmit via satellite to a further 3,000 stores in a further 58 European territories on Panasonic's VT20 3D plasma televisions.

Honestly, i don't think that's so a good news.[:^)]

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I agree with you, for a variety of reasons. 3D on the small screen remains a primitive technology, artificially imposed for commercial & control purposes. There is no "3D revolution." I will have to see it proven that a plasma screen can any more efficiently render 3D than it can the overhyped HD. [:P] The only upside I'm hearing is the possibility this experiment might generate feeds & streams of more matches that webcasters may appropriate. [;)]

 paul_pipkin:  

le maitre couturier:

Roland Garros to get 3D treatment (The Independent,4-15-10)

The revolution in 3D television entertainment is gathering pace around the world, with Japanese electronics giant Panasonic announcing that it will deliver next month's Roland Garros - French Open Tennis Tournament in three dimensions across Europe.

 

Panasonic has teamed up with the Federation Francaise de Tennis, Orange and Eurosport to broadcast the first live, multi-day sporting tournament in Europe in 3D.

The Paris tournament opens on May 23 and the final is scheduled for June 6 and is the tennis grand slam that attracts the largest European viewing audience, the companies involved announced in Cannes on Wednesday.

The 3D coverage filmed on the center court - Court Philippe Chatrier - will be broadcast live via ADSL and fiber to Orange subscribers throughout France in a dedicated Orange TV channel. In addition, professional-quality camcorders provided by Panasonic will enable behind-the-scenes footage to be shot for additional reports.

A full documentary in 3D will be produced after the event.

The entire tournament is to be transmitted in 3D to retail stores across France, while Eurosport will take the same signal and transmit via satellite to a further 3,000 stores in a further 58 European territories on Panasonic's VT20 3D plasma televisions.

Honestly, i don't think that's so a good news.

 

 

I agree with you, for a variety of reasons. 3D on the small screen remains a primitive technology, artificially imposed for commercial & control purposes. There is no "3D revolution." I will have to see it proven that a plasma screen can any more efficiently render 3D than it can the overhyped HD. The only upside I'm hearing is the possibility this experiment might generate feeds & streams of more matches that webcasters may appropriate.

I agree. I'm quiet suspicious about tv screens & 3-D too. I've tried to watch the 3-D on a plasma tv & result wasn't so good. Beside that, I hate the whole 3-D system. I've always been a film-lover & I really dislike to see all these new movies which are made up only with special effects & with no stories behind. i could be an old-fashined guy but old films were far far better than the 3-D ones. Chaplin directed white&black silent movies which are much more innovative than the actual ones still today & that's a fact. 3-D sport won't be better, maybe a pornographic film would be enhanced by 3-D & I don't consider them as cinema.[+o(]

[quote user="fking_crazy"]I see no one being capable of giving Henin a lesson at RG. Maybe Serena and Clijsters could try something. Clay isn't Maria's surface. If Maria isn't in the same draw quarter than Henin or Serena or Clijsters, she could reach the semis.[/quote]

kinda agree...if masha has a good draw that can save her from leaving at the early rounds..well we all know for a fact that masha is really not so so so doing well in clay ..Amelia Islands was an exception (i guess) but she still has the chance to be at semis...let us just see and wait for the draw....

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(Hi, Cleo! [H] [Y])

That Justine broke a finger yesterday may figure in slightly. It's not a critical digit but she's old enough now that such injuries don't heal quite as fast as they used to and can remain an irritant even a month from now. From the Fed Cup site:

An injury sustained in training has ruled Justine Henin out of the singles rubbers against Estonia in Hasselt, as hot-favourites Belgium seek a return to Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group.

The former world No. 1 is nursing a broken little finger on her left hand, which occurred during practice on Wednesday.

Belgium captain, Sabine Appelmans, explained how it happened: “She was at the net and the ball came over. She didn’t know whether to volley it. Instead, she took it with her hand and broke her finger.”

The full extent of the injury was not known until Friday morning, just hours before the draw. Initially, it was simply felt that Henin had bruised the digit, but x-rays revealed more serious damage.

As a result, Henin will play no part in Saturday’s singles rubbers. Her place has been taken by Yanina Wickmayer, who tackles Kaia Kanepi in the second match. Kim Clijsters will open proceedings on the clay surface against Maret Ani.

[quote user="@Sweet Cleopatra@"]hi Mr Paul, how are you? [H][/quote]

Not getting any younger but I can't complain. [8-|] You? How is school?

it's freak to think who gonna win at the RG.. dee is right.. possibly justine but i bet serena will not be able to go that far., after her knee injury.. but i hope so.. i may not know.. :))

i would be very glad if maria will have the title since it will be her very first gs title at RG.. :))