The 2006 French Open started today. This is a Grand Slam that is physically very hard to win due to the surface. It is totally grueling for the players’ bodies. Clay is so much slower and thus require incredible precision with ground strokes and long rallies.
My picks to win the French Open are:
Men’s Section: Rafael Nadal
Women’s Section: Justine Henin-Hardenne
Watch out for Amelie Mauresmo as well. She’s #1 and she’s the hometown favorite. I would also love to see Martina Hingis making a full comeback. I do not think she has enough weapons in her strokes to win in 2006 but I would love to see it!
Even though Roger Federer is considered to be one of the greatest ever, I do not think clay is his best surface. In addition, Nadal is just too tough for him. A clay court specialist such as Juan Carlos Ferrero, Gaston Gaudio or veteran Carlos Moya may surprise everyone.
Federer will prevail on guts and stamina and overcome Nadal this time around. Federer is a champion both in athleticism and in his will to win. Nadal won’t win this time (:
I didnt know you followed tennis so closely Susan. Do you play the sport?
TFK
I play some. But I enjoy watching and following the sport. I also try to attend the US Open each year. My game is more table tennis.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
I love table tennis! When I get in my zone Susan I hit the edge of the table on every shot, from unreturnable corners, to deceptive side shots, to right down the middle! haha I would love to play you ; )
P.S. I know Bobby played you Polgar ladies, it must have been great fun!
TFK
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“This site is where I provide chess fans and enthusiasts with updates on my chess activities as well as important chess news from around the world.”
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Susan, were you the Captain two years ago?
A source of motivation for our Womens team:
http://www.chessbase.com/eventarticle.asp?newsid=2017
Hehe. Kosteniuk is not playing against USA on board #1!!!!!!!!!!!
We are the winners now for sure!!!
Maybe she loves USA so much, she refused to play in this match!!!!
Bravo for the Russian Captain!!!
Tennis is cute. A lot of cash flowing there.
Susan, has any woman chess players made a million dollars from playing chess, as many men already have?
Do you have to pay taxes from your prizes to USCF or IRS?
I heard in China Xie Jun had to pay a lot of percentage to her Federation, from the money prizes she had won. Is this a rumor or a truth?
Why do the Russians have one more board with white? It’s not fair!
I know a story about John Nunn visiting the Polgar family, getting beaten at blitz chess and after that also in table tennis. Quite funny. It was a sort of physical training besides the chess for you and your sisters, wasn’t it?
Some people I think visit blogs because they have nothing else to do! I hate when anyone criticizes Susans Blog. The person who sarcastically quoted “This site is where I provide chess fans and enthusiasts with updates on my chess activities as well as important chess news from around the world” ….? If you look around the site you will see chess news of all types from Susans agendas of her scholastic and chess contributions in America to articles such as Topalov vs Kramnik to Olympiad updates, and besides the many puzzles and chess editorials, even interviews such as the one Susan did with Kirsan. Susan is a very nice and open person. To limit her to only chess topics would to me limit her great personality and interaction with her many fans. I like the idea that Susan would talk about her interests, her hobbies and all facets of her extraordinary life in and out of chess.
TFK
USA men win! Congratulations! To women, too!
“Some people I think visit blogs because they have nothing else to do!”
This sounds liek a Wikipedia definition of a blogger. C’mon, TFK, all of us here very much respect each other and Susan especially, otherwise we would not be visiting each day, sometimes more often.
Susan Polgar is a living legend of chess, who has never one-sidedly offended anyone in her Internet life. How much more do you need? Even with many jealous competitors and Internet “morons” lurking around, she has never reacted inappropriately. Name me another one of her caliber, among men or women.
So let’s talk about chances of winnign the Olympiad or a medal or two. Let’s prepare a reception for the medal team(s)!
I think US has an excellent chance in both tournaments.
This will be an inspiration for all, even ones who are not directly connected with the US teams. Let us pray for the best.
Thanks for your comments. I usually stick to chess. However, sometimes when bloggers make reasonable special requests such as discussing the Kentucky Derby or French Open, I try to oblige if I know something about it 🙂
In addition, it is to show that not all chess players are one sided, even a female chess player 🙂
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
No, I was not the captain 2 years ago. FM Paul Truong was the captain and probably one of the most successful US Captains ever with the team coming home with 5 medals.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
Rafael Nadal is the undisputed King of Clay.
Rafael Nadal is the undisputed King of Clay.