See all the things you get to learn when you play in the bracket… I would venture one other person (at least) knew that… I am looking at you New Jersey! I hope you are all well and enjoying watching the players out in Paris trying to maintain with all this HEAT… How delightful for them… As the spring turns into summer, I am sure we will all be feeling it… ok, likely not me… BUT I will when I head to England… I will be needing an air conditioner… STAT! Anyway… the tennis has been a bit of fun… I am going to focus mainly on the seeds and as they whittle away I will add in the other scores as we go… well and by scores… who won… I mean, if you need an exhaustive list of all the winners and losers with all the stats, I am sure there is an app for that…

For the ladies… oh, my… #5 Pegula of the USA is out to Birrell in three sets… OUCH… that was a bracket buster… I mean, clay isn’t a natural surface for the billionaire, but now it is a fact! #14 Alexandrova of Russia loses her match in straight sets to Osorio… picked it! HAHA! Sakkari upset #12 Noskova (Czechia)… now, I haven’t spent a lot of time watching Noskova but, not really impressed… Sakkari is currently the hottest man on the women’s tour… I love her… sadly, no one chose that upset… oh well… #20 Samsonova of Russia is out in two sets to Teichmann – again, another failing Russian… unsure what is going on with them, but… oh well… c-ya! The rest of the seeds held… however, there were some notable scares on the lady front… Svitolina was taken to three sets by Bondar of Hungary and Baptiste was almost ousted by Krejcikova of Czechia… that was a dangerous draw and a GREAT first two sets… So, overall a very good first round for the seeded ladies…

Oh men… what a mess… yes, it was a bit of a mess… #30 Moutet of France lost his match in five sets to Kopriva so cute though… little frenchman… #9 Bublik of Kazakhstan takes a loss to Struff in four sets… it was a tight back and forth, but the German laid the smack down… #29 Griekspoor of the Nederlands loses to Arnaldi in four sets… two tie breakers and one heart broken… maybe next year… #20 Norrie of the UK takes a loss to Vallejo… he retired… Such a major win over Medvedev last year in the first round… now, back to the bottom of the barrel… sucks to be you… And speaking of #6 Medvedev… he takes a first round loss to Walton… two years in a row… Medvedev made the semis of Rome losing to Sinner, but that was his ONLY competition in the tournament… He has no balance on the clay, he likes steady feet… so… no soup for you! #23 Etcheverry of Argentina is ousted by Borges in three sets… Borges is consistent, but less so on clay… so, a bit of a shocker… just a bit… #7 Fritz is taken out by fellow American Basavareddy in four sets… I am not going to say anything… my mouth is zipped closed, but I may have smiled the entirety of this match, just watching it all go down… #12 Lehecka of Czechia is out in straight sets to Carreno Busta… I mean… this guy doesn’t have clay court experience… He is very good on the hard courts… but here, his game doesn’t work… Two notable matches were Wawrinka who lost to De Jong of the Nederlands (replaced #17 Fils)… Four sets… and it was nice to see Stan on the clay for the last time… he will be missed… and Monfils… also retiring this year… Monfils took a loss to fellow countryman, Gaston (in five sets)… It was nice to see him also… I did see him lose to Draper last year on Philippe Chatrier… well, the world keeps on turning…

Told you it was a blood bath… Now, what have you naughty boys and girls been up to? Hmmmm… nothing good… We have a tie on the women’s side… Len and Kresimir at the top… looking down… not a lot of options though… because you are ALL just behind… believe me… I can smell your decay… ashes to ashes and dust to dust… I am sure you will all knock it out in the coming rounds… but for now… this is where you sit…

Lady’s Draw

Name	Points	Champion	Runner-up
Len	44	Svitolina	Gauff
Kresimir	44	Rybakina	Gauff
Kelly	42	Rybakina	Sabalenka
Denise	42	Sabalenka	Kazakhstan
Rob	42	Sabalenka	Swiatek
Eric	40	Sabalenka	Swiatek
James K.	40	Swiatek	Sabalenka

I am going to point out something to you all… Something I do know, that likely you didn’t… Swiatek and Ostapenko have played six times in their careers… and Ostapenko has never lost… not even on clay… now, six times isn’t a lot, I understand… but, if it gets there… that will be in the back of Iga’s mind… for sure… but, maybe she will win… maybe…

Oh the men… yeah… Kresimir crushed you all… at least in the first round… very few risk takers and they paid off… but, you know how it goes… pick one lose the next one… so… here we go!

Men’s Draw

Name	Points	Champion	Runner-up
Kresimir	51	Sinner	Ruud
Rob	43	Sinner	De Minaur
Denise	42	Sinner	Djokovic
Kelly	40	Sinner	Zverev
Eric	39	Sinner	Djokovic
James K.	39	Sinner	Zverev
Len	37	Sinner	Zverev

Ruud has been playing well at least for the last bit of time… so, why not… I don’t like Djokovic or Zverev… so, on a wing and a prayer… plus, he has been to the final twice… but… Rob… what a fun selection… De Minaur… that must have been a late Saturday night… lots of crack and a dream perchance to slumber… yeah… I don’t see him walking out of the next round against Blockx… but… I like it anyway… And thank you for listening to me, not Aunt Fran…

I hope you all enjoy Round Two at Roland Garros… I know I am going to…

The Commish!