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Brian Swartz · 08-23-2022, 07:37 AM

Roland Garros 2088: Championship Week

It was definitely time to shake things up; only one of the top four seeds made it through their quarterfinal match. It's not hard to guess which one. Polychroniadis thumped (10) Ale Ballok, dropping eight total games. The other matches were closer. (4) Themis Xanthos got a set from Weigle but that was it: he's not a clay-court player and has never made it past the final eight here so this was not a huge surprise. After making the final a few years back, (2) Ranke Cananis can pretty much resign himself to never winning RG as he suffered his second QF defeat in as many years. Cananis thumped Papadias 6-1 in the first set, but then lost three close ones to close out his run. As for Faille, he joins the world no. 1 in making the semifinals without dropping a set, eliminating (3) Alexander Reimann 6-2, 7-6(8), 7-6(4). It was a lot tighter than his previous matches, but a big breakthrough nonetheless as both German players exit.

(6) Jochen Weigle hit the end of the line in embarassing fashion, not even putting up a fight against Polychroniadis. 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. Weigle's first Roland Garros semifinal and second time he's reached this point in a Slam - USO finalist last year - but clearly outmatched in this case. (7) Solitris Papadias was the first to extend (8) Ben Faille past the minimum number of sets. A back-and-forth match, but Faille was much the better player in the 5th and moves into the final.

He'd have to play better to challenge (1) Leon Polychroniadis's iron grip, and much to the surprise of many he did. It was a championship match to remember, and one that was very cruel to the rabid supporters of their homegrown underdog. After falling behind by two sets, Leon did what champions do, rallying for a truly epic 4-6, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, 8-6 triumph. 5 Slams in a row, and it appeared to be just experience in this one; the French phenom probably outplayed him overall by the slightest of margins, but Polychroniadis would not be denied and found a way to win.

I would be surprised if Ben Faille doesn't win Roland Garros multiple times in the future, based on how he did here. But that future is delayed at least one more year.

08-23-2022, 07:37 AM	#1267
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Roland Garros 2088: Championship Week It was definitely time to shake things up; only one of the top four seeds made it through their quarterfinal match. It's not hard to guess which one. Polychroniadis thumped (10) Ale Ballok, dropping eight total games. The other matches were closer. (4) Themis Xanthos got a set from Weigle but that was it: he's not a clay-court player and has never made it past the final eight here so this was not a huge surprise. After making the final a few years back, (2) Ranke Cananis can pretty much resign himself to never winning RG as he suffered his second QF defeat in as many years. Cananis thumped Papadias 6-1 in the first set, but then lost three close ones to close out his run. As for Faille, he joins the world no. 1 in making the semifinals without dropping a set, eliminating (3) Alexander Reimann 6-2, 7-6(8), 7-6(4). It was a lot tighter than his previous matches, but a big breakthrough nonetheless as both German players exit. (6) Jochen Weigle hit the end of the line in embarassing fashion, not even putting up a fight against Polychroniadis. 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. Weigle's first Roland Garros semifinal and second time he's reached this point in a Slam - USO finalist last year - but clearly outmatched in this case. (7) Solitris Papadias was the first to extend (8) Ben Faille past the minimum number of sets. A back-and-forth match, but Faille was much the better player in the 5th and moves into the final. He'd have to play better to challenge (1) Leon Polychroniadis's iron grip, and much to the surprise of many he did. It was a championship match to remember, and one that was very cruel to the rabid supporters of their homegrown underdog. After falling behind by two sets, Leon did what champions do, rallying for a truly epic 4-6, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, 8-6 triumph. 5 Slams in a row, and it appeared to be just experience in this one; the French phenom probably outplayed him overall by the slightest of margins, but Polychroniadis would not be denied and found a way to win. I would be surprised if Ben Faille doesn't win Roland Garros multiple times in the future, based on how he did here. But that future is delayed at least one more year. Last edited by Brian Swartz : 08-23-2022 at 07:38 AM.