Guys, this is the last post of this blog as Nadal didnt win the Roland Garros 2009. I created this site only Rafa in my mind. Now that the title of the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) has firmly been tagged on the genius of Roger Federer, it’s time to look at the here and now. I'm ending this journey with an unfare question: Would Federer have won at Roland Garros had Nadal made the final?
With just 11 days to go for the first ball to be struck at his beloved Wimbledon, it would be safe to say that the genial Swiss is more challenger than king.
Federer’s journey to his maiden French Open title is crucial in determining where he stands in the men’s game today. Paris was something of a meant-to-be moment for the 27-year-old. Novak Djokovic, the ruthless, but equally unreliable Serb, lost early. Andy Murray, the crafty counter puncher, followed a little after. Somewhere in between, the French Open lost its undisputed No.1: Rafael Nadal, fourtime champion at Roland Garros and four times conqueror of the mighty Fed. Nadal’s exit dramatically opened up the draw for the former world No.1. In the final, he ran into an opponent, Robin Soderling, who could do no better than play into his hands. Then, when Andre Agassi, the last man to complete a career Grand Slam in 1999, presented the Coupe des Mousquetaires to Federer, you simply had to hand it to the script writer. Nicely planned, and neatly executed.
Despite the carefully woven designs of destiny, Federer still had to win his quota of matches. Tennis is not known to be a kind sport. So, even if Paris in the spring of ’09 was meant to be, it couldn’t have happened to a more dazzling talent and a more deserving champion. Unlike American Pete Sampras, who like Federer revelled on the grass courts of Wimbledon, the Swiss ace prepared meticulously for the French Open. While Sampras often skipped lead-up events, Federer went through the clay court season, year after year, living and learning, making adjustments to his tennis and temperament. He has won four times in Hamburg and been in finals in Monte Carlo and Rome. The door had to open, something had to give, the law of averages, call it what you want.
Had Federer beaten Nadal to win the French Open he would’ve crushed the demons of doubt that has dogged his career these last two years. It would’ve made him The One, instead of one among the top-10. It would’ve helped him crack the mental stranglehold Nadal (13-7 in head-to-heads with Federer) had established over him, with others like Murray (6-2) and Djokovic (4-7) following suit. The genial Swiss isn’t any slower than he was two summers ago, nor has the sharpness of his play softened, it’s just that Rafa has his number, quite literally. Federer can do almost anything on a tennis court, but he abhors repetition. Nadal, always respectful and seemingly resigned to Federer’s greatness, taunts him with his tennis. One more time, Roger. One more time, every time. That’s where Federer came apart.
Most of the top guns in men’s tennis, particularly the Americans, Andy Roddick and James Blake, have repeatedly said, it was easier to play and beat Nadal rather than Federer. So, while the world was busy applauding Federer’s genius, Nadal was building the wall. Nadal ripped off Federer’s cloak of invincibility last summer at Wimbledon, beating him in his own backyard, not with any newly engineered tactic or technique, but by the sheer tenacity of his craft.
That doesn’t make Federer any less a figure in tennis history. Given that he has played his tennis in an intensely competitive era, and winning as much as he has, makes him the greatest player of all time. But even if Federer wins Wimbledon this time, in a field that may or may not include Nadal, he’s a champion with a chink. The chink is called Rafa.
Day - 14
HAIL KING FEDERER!
Roger Federer won the French Open to tie Pete Sampras’s record of 14 major singles tennis titles and become the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam. Federer defeated 23rd-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 on the red clay at a rainy Roland Garros on Sunday.Sampras, who retired in 2002, never won the French Open in 13 tries. Federer fell to the court in tears after Soderling hit a return into the net to end the match.
The Swiss master equalled Pete Sampras’ long standing 14 Grand Slam titles in half the time the American took and is set for more even as his lone rival seems to be Nadal.
“It’s probably my best win because it was the one that presented the most pressure,” the champion said on French television. “Now I can play easier.”
Federer’s path to the championship was opened last weekend when Soderling beat top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who had stopped the Swiss in Paris in the past three finals. Third-seeded Andy Murray of Scotland and fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia also were knocked out before the semifinals.
Andre Agassi, the last man to win all four major tournaments in his career with his 1999 victory at Roland Garros, presented Federer with the Trophy in the middle of the court. He hoisted the Trophy above his head, kissing it and circling to show the crowd.
The 27-year-old Federer joins Agassi, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Fred Perry as the only men to win each of the four majors — Wimbledon and the U.S., Australian and French opens. The feat is “a great credit” in judging Federer against the sport’s greatest players, said Bud Collins, a broadcaster and tennis historian for more than 40 years.
“Roger is wonderful to watch, he is smooth, he is a good competitor,” Collins said in Paris in a June 4 interview.
DRAMA
Federer’s straight-set win wasn’t without drama. At the beginning of the second set, a man with a flag ran onto Court Philippe Chatrier and disturbed play as Federer was ready to receive serve. The man tried to put a red hat on Federer’s head and then jumped over the net as he was chased by security. Guards tackled him on Soderling’s side, picked him up and threw him over the geraniums on the court side.
“We are going to see history,” Agassi told reporters at Roland Garros on Saturday. “Roger, being the second-best clay court player over the last five years, earning his spot in the finals three different times, deserves this more than I did.”
Ranked No. 2 in the world by the men’s ATP World Tour, Federer defeated Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in his record 20th straight Grand Slam semifinal two days ago. Soderling beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6- 4 in the other semifinal.
HISTORY
Roger Federer won the French Open to tie Pete Sampras’s record of 14 major singles tennis titles and become the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam. Federer defeated 23rd-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 on the red clay at a rainy Roland Garros on Sunday.Sampras, who retired in 2002, never won the French Open in 13 tries. Federer fell to the court in tears after Soderling hit a return into the net to end the match.
The Swiss master equalled Pete Sampras’ long standing 14 Grand Slam titles in half the time the American took and is set for more even as his lone rival seems to be Nadal.
“It’s probably my best win because it was the one that presented the most pressure,” the champion said on French television. “Now I can play easier.”
Federer’s path to the championship was opened last weekend when Soderling beat top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who had stopped the Swiss in Paris in the past three finals. Third-seeded Andy Murray of Scotland and fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia also were knocked out before the semifinals.
Andre Agassi, the last man to win all four major tournaments in his career with his 1999 victory at Roland Garros, presented Federer with the Trophy in the middle of the court. He hoisted the Trophy above his head, kissing it and circling to show the crowd.
The 27-year-old Federer joins Agassi, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Fred Perry as the only men to win each of the four majors — Wimbledon and the U.S., Australian and French opens. The feat is “a great credit” in judging Federer against the sport’s greatest players, said Bud Collins, a broadcaster and tennis historian for more than 40 years.
“Roger is wonderful to watch, he is smooth, he is a good competitor,” Collins said in Paris in a June 4 interview.
DRAMA
Federer’s straight-set win wasn’t without drama. At the beginning of the second set, a man with a flag ran onto Court Philippe Chatrier and disturbed play as Federer was ready to receive serve. The man tried to put a red hat on Federer’s head and then jumped over the net as he was chased by security. Guards tackled him on Soderling’s side, picked him up and threw him over the geraniums on the court side.
“We are going to see history,” Agassi told reporters at Roland Garros on Saturday. “Roger, being the second-best clay court player over the last five years, earning his spot in the finals three different times, deserves this more than I did.”
Ranked No. 2 in the world by the men’s ATP World Tour, Federer defeated Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in his record 20th straight Grand Slam semifinal two days ago. Soderling beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6- 4 in the other semifinal.
HISTORY
Federer has won 14 majors in half the time it took Sampras. The American needed 12 years to win 14 Grand Slams; Federer’s run started six years ago at Wimbledon. Sampras never reached a French Open final; Federer has been to the last four. Federer was ranked No. 1 in the world for a record 237 straight weeks, and his run of Grand Slam semifinals also is the longest in history.
Day - 13
KUZNETSOVA WINS RUSSIAN ROULETTE IN PARIS
Svetlana Kuznetsova upset top seed Dinara Safina in the final of the French Open to claim her second major tennis championship here on Saturday. Almost five years after winning the US Open in New York, the seventh-seeded Kuznetsova defeated Safina 6-4, 6-2 in an all-Russian final at Roland Garros.
This is the Russian’s second career Grand Slam after her US Open triumph.
Watched by six-time French Open winner Steffi Graf, Kuznetsova crossed herself and ran off the court to embrace family and friends after she won.
“She’s better than me at the moment, but I was better than her today,” Kuznetsova said after the match. “She was tired.”
Saturday’s defeat at a cloudy Roland Garros left Safina empty-handed in a Grand Slam final for the third time as she tried to join her brother, former US and Australian Open champion Marat Safin, as a winner of major titles.
The 23-year-old Russian took over the top spot of the WTA Tour’s singles rankings from reigning US Open and Australian Open winner Serena Williams on April 20. She also lost the past two major finals she played. Ana Ivanovic of Serbia beat her last year at Roland Garros, while Williams won in the Australian Open final this season. Kuznetsova won her first major as a 19-year-old in 2004 and finished runner-up to Justine Henin at the 2006 French Open and 2007 US Open.
Kuznetsova is the only player to beat Safina on clay this season, having now done it twice. She beat the top-ranked player in straight sets in the final of a claycourt tournament in Stuttgart, a warmup event for the French Open. Safina beat Kuznetsova in the Rome final the week after that.
TIGHT MATCHES
After beating Samantha Stosur of Australia in the semifinals, Kuznetsova told reporters that to succeed against Safina, “I have to move her around definitely,” she added.
In the past two weeks in Paris, Kuznetsova said, she had learned to enjoy playing tight matches. When asked what the main thing was she would be doing during Saturday’s final, Kuznetsova said: “Just go out there and enjoy it.”
Kuznetsova prevented Williams from winning her third consecutive Grand Slam title by beating the secondranked American in the quarterfinals in three sets.
Safina lost only five games in the first four rounds. Her only three-set match was in the quarterfinals, when she came back from a set down against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
Kuznetsova said her youth in Russia shaped her character and helped her become a Grand Slam champion.
“I believe it’s just tough mentally and a hard situation we went through after we grew up in Russia, because we didn’t have possibilities to play,” she said. “No sponsors, nothing.”
WORK HARDER
She sometimes practiced in sub-zero weather or had to share a bedroom with other players while on the road.
“These things make you work harder,” she said.
The two women have known each other since they were 12 years old and competed together in Russia. “She was a funny girl,” Safina told reporters earlier this week. “I remember her coming to the match with a two-litre Pepsi. It was like, ‘No way she can be one day like winning Grand Slam.’”
Things improved when Kuznetsova and her family, with some help from Safina’s mother, a tennis coach, moved to Spain.
“She changed completely,” Safina said.
Svetlana Kuznetsova upset top seed Dinara Safina in the final of the French Open to claim her second major tennis championship here on Saturday. Almost five years after winning the US Open in New York, the seventh-seeded Kuznetsova defeated Safina 6-4, 6-2 in an all-Russian final at Roland Garros.
This is the Russian’s second career Grand Slam after her US Open triumph.
Watched by six-time French Open winner Steffi Graf, Kuznetsova crossed herself and ran off the court to embrace family and friends after she won.
“She’s better than me at the moment, but I was better than her today,” Kuznetsova said after the match. “She was tired.”
Saturday’s defeat at a cloudy Roland Garros left Safina empty-handed in a Grand Slam final for the third time as she tried to join her brother, former US and Australian Open champion Marat Safin, as a winner of major titles.
The 23-year-old Russian took over the top spot of the WTA Tour’s singles rankings from reigning US Open and Australian Open winner Serena Williams on April 20. She also lost the past two major finals she played. Ana Ivanovic of Serbia beat her last year at Roland Garros, while Williams won in the Australian Open final this season. Kuznetsova won her first major as a 19-year-old in 2004 and finished runner-up to Justine Henin at the 2006 French Open and 2007 US Open.
Kuznetsova is the only player to beat Safina on clay this season, having now done it twice. She beat the top-ranked player in straight sets in the final of a claycourt tournament in Stuttgart, a warmup event for the French Open. Safina beat Kuznetsova in the Rome final the week after that.
TIGHT MATCHES
After beating Samantha Stosur of Australia in the semifinals, Kuznetsova told reporters that to succeed against Safina, “I have to move her around definitely,” she added.
In the past two weeks in Paris, Kuznetsova said, she had learned to enjoy playing tight matches. When asked what the main thing was she would be doing during Saturday’s final, Kuznetsova said: “Just go out there and enjoy it.”
Kuznetsova prevented Williams from winning her third consecutive Grand Slam title by beating the secondranked American in the quarterfinals in three sets.
Safina lost only five games in the first four rounds. Her only three-set match was in the quarterfinals, when she came back from a set down against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
Kuznetsova said her youth in Russia shaped her character and helped her become a Grand Slam champion.
“I believe it’s just tough mentally and a hard situation we went through after we grew up in Russia, because we didn’t have possibilities to play,” she said. “No sponsors, nothing.”
WORK HARDER
She sometimes practiced in sub-zero weather or had to share a bedroom with other players while on the road.
“These things make you work harder,” she said.
The two women have known each other since they were 12 years old and competed together in Russia. “She was a funny girl,” Safina told reporters earlier this week. “I remember her coming to the match with a two-litre Pepsi. It was like, ‘No way she can be one day like winning Grand Slam.’”
Things improved when Kuznetsova and her family, with some help from Safina’s mother, a tennis coach, moved to Spain.
“She changed completely,” Safina said.
Day - 12
SODERLING SURVIVES GONZALEZ GIMMICKS
Robin Soderling’s upset win over Rafael Nadal cleared a path to the French Open final. The player who took advantage: Soderling. The surprising Swede continued his improbable Roland Garros run by beating Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 in a seesaw semifinal here on Friday.
Soderling let a big lead slip away when he lost his serve in the final game of the third and fourth sets. He fell behind three-love and 4-1 in the final set, but down the stretch came up with the kind of shotmaking that has carried him through the tournament, and he swept the last five games.
“I have very far to go,’’ Soderling said. Federer is trying to complete a career Grand Slam and win his 14th major title, which would tie Pete Sampras’ record. Federer has been beaten at the French Open each of the past four years by Nadal, the four-time defending champion who lost to Soderling in the fourth round on Sunday. Soderling never advanced beyond the third round in his previous 21 major tournaments, and he has never won a claycourt title. The victory over Gonzalez was only Soderling’s fourth in a five-set match.
Before his current streak, Soderling hadn’t won more than two matches at a top-tier tournament since his third career title at Lyon in October 2008. Soderling finally put a run together before the French Open by winning three times in the World Team Cup in Germany. He now has compiled a career-best ninematch win streak.
SAFINA DETERMINED
Dinara Safina hopes that a more ecomomical run to this year’s French Open final will crown her drive to win a first Grand Slam title and silence her critics.
The 23-year-old Russian top seed goes up against compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in the championship match at Roland Garros on Saturday having lost just one set along the way.
Last year, she arrived in the final against Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic in a depleted physical state having survived punishing three setters in the fourth round and quarterfinals.
The result was a disappointing 6-4, 6-3 loss that left her frustrated and determined to earn a second bite at the cherry this year. “I wouldn’t say I was too nervous last year,” she said after defeating Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals. “It was just that I was tired overall because I had such a tough draw and so many matches I had to pull out,” she said. “This year I’ve spent much less time on the court so I’m much fresher.” Also different for Safina this year will be her familiarity with her opponent. She had played Ivanovic before their final in 2008 but the Serb was still something of an unknown quantity at that level.
Robin Soderling’s upset win over Rafael Nadal cleared a path to the French Open final. The player who took advantage: Soderling. The surprising Swede continued his improbable Roland Garros run by beating Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 in a seesaw semifinal here on Friday.
Soderling let a big lead slip away when he lost his serve in the final game of the third and fourth sets. He fell behind three-love and 4-1 in the final set, but down the stretch came up with the kind of shotmaking that has carried him through the tournament, and he swept the last five games.
“I have very far to go,’’ Soderling said. Federer is trying to complete a career Grand Slam and win his 14th major title, which would tie Pete Sampras’ record. Federer has been beaten at the French Open each of the past four years by Nadal, the four-time defending champion who lost to Soderling in the fourth round on Sunday. Soderling never advanced beyond the third round in his previous 21 major tournaments, and he has never won a claycourt title. The victory over Gonzalez was only Soderling’s fourth in a five-set match.
Before his current streak, Soderling hadn’t won more than two matches at a top-tier tournament since his third career title at Lyon in October 2008. Soderling finally put a run together before the French Open by winning three times in the World Team Cup in Germany. He now has compiled a career-best ninematch win streak.
SAFINA DETERMINED
Dinara Safina hopes that a more ecomomical run to this year’s French Open final will crown her drive to win a first Grand Slam title and silence her critics.
The 23-year-old Russian top seed goes up against compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in the championship match at Roland Garros on Saturday having lost just one set along the way.
Last year, she arrived in the final against Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic in a depleted physical state having survived punishing three setters in the fourth round and quarterfinals.
The result was a disappointing 6-4, 6-3 loss that left her frustrated and determined to earn a second bite at the cherry this year. “I wouldn’t say I was too nervous last year,” she said after defeating Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals. “It was just that I was tired overall because I had such a tough draw and so many matches I had to pull out,” she said. “This year I’ve spent much less time on the court so I’m much fresher.” Also different for Safina this year will be her familiarity with her opponent. She had played Ivanovic before their final in 2008 but the Serb was still something of an unknown quantity at that level.
Day - 11
Despite being the World No 1, Dinara Safina has not won a Grand Slam thus far. The Russian, who finished runner-up to Anna Ivanovic at Roland Garros last year, will look to go one better this time.
Her shanked shots, endured a flurry of double-faults, screamed profanities at herself and still advanced to the French Open final. The combustible Russian beat Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals on Thursday and needs one more win for her first Grand Slam title.
It was a mistake-filled match, with the top-ranked Safina winning despite seven double-faults and 24 unforced errors.
Safina was runner-up to Ana Ivanovic last year at Roland Garros, and lost this year’s Australian Open final to Serena Williams.
Safina improved to 20-1 since she became No. 1 for the first time since April 20. Her brother, Marat Safin, is a former No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion. The family’s notorious temper was evident on occasion in the semifinal. At least twice, Safina screamed a vulgarity at herself in English that TV microphones picked up, and an announcer apologised to the European audience. Her language was cleaner when she shanked a backhand into the dirt at her feet.
“That was a great shot,’’ she said. Later in the same game, Safina misfired so badly on a first serve that she drove the ball into the clay in front of the net. She held anyway for a 4-2 lead in the second set.
Safina kissed the corner with a forehand winner to reach match point and closed out the victory when Cibulkova put a backhand in the net. The match was played from behind the baseline, and it was into the seventh game before either played attempted a volley. Cibulkova found herself at a disadvantage in rallies because she often had to hit the ball above eye level, while high-kicking shots were right in the 1.82-meter (5-foot-11.5) Safina’s hitting zone.
On a sunny, cool afternoon, Safina started slowly. She fell behind 2-love, then began to find the range and won five consecutive games.
She struggled to close out the set, sailing returns long on three successive set points, but converted on the fourth try with a booming forehand.
A lob winner over the 1.60-meter (5-foot-3) Cibulkova helped Safina earn the first break of the second set for a 3-2 lead, and she closed out the win despite some fitful moments. Now she will face her close friend Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final in all-Russian final at the French Open on Saturday.
Kuznetsova, who lost the 2006 final here to Justine Henin, but who does have a Grand Slam title to her name at the 2004 US Open, looked set fair for a comfortable passage into the final after going up a set and a break.
Everyone’s talking about Federer!
Roger Federer admits he’s feeling the weight of history as a lifetime dream of finally lifting the French Open, and completing a career Grand Slam, inches tantalisingly closer.
The Swiss superstar will play his 20th successive Grand Slam semifinal against Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro on Friday. Victory there, and then a triumph in Sunday’s final against either Robin Soderling or Fernando Gonzalez, would give the World No. 2 a first Roland Garros trophy to add to his five Wimbledon, five US Open and three Australian Open triumphs.
It would take him level on 14 Grand Slam titles with American Pete Sampras.
The 27-year-old Federer has been here before, of course, having been defeated in the last three finals by Rafael Nadal. But the Spanish claycourt king was a shock last 16 casualty, while fellow rivals Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have also departed Paris.
Everybody here, including even the drivers and motorcyclists who pull up at red lights to grab a photo or an autograph, are confident that 2009 is Federer’s year.
“We’re all nervous. I felt it again in the warm-up (for Wednesday’s quarterfinal win over Gael Monfils). I was tired, I was nervous, and I didn’t feel really good,’’ said Federer. “I was nervous going into that match because of the whole story of Nadal losing, Murray losing, Djokovic losing, maybe opening up the draw a little bit.’’
Federer said he won’t underestimate 20-year-old Del Potro, one of the in-form players having captured five titles. “With a lot of confidence, a good game plan, good physique and a good mentality, you can go very far in tennis,’’ said Federer. “But it takes a lot of hard work, and that’s what he has done. I have a lot of respect for him.’’
Del Potro admitted that should he lose on Friday, he’ll be backing the Swiss in Sunday’s final.
Federer has been beaten at Roland Garros by Rafael Nadal the past four years, including the past three finals. Robin Soderling did Federer and the rest of the field a favor by upsetting the King of Clay in the fourth round Sunday. No. 3-seeded Andy Murray and No. 4 Novak Djokovic have also been eliminated. Federer is a combined 26-1 against the other three semifinalists, del Potro, Soderling (9-0) and Fernando Gonzalez (12-1). Against the trio, Federer has won 63 of 69 sets. In Friday’s other match, the No. 23-seeded Soderling will try to continue his improbable run against No. 12 Gonzalez. Soderling finds himself beyond the third round at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, while Gonzalez is the first Chilean since 1960 to reach the Roland Garros semifinals.
NORMAN-MOODIE IN FINAL
Belgium’s Dick Norman belied his 38 years on Thursday as he and South Africa’s Wesley Moodie reached the French Open men’s doubles final with a thrilling victory over America’s Bryan twins, Mike and Bob.
Norman and Moodie stunned the second seeds, and six-time Grand Slam title winners, 0-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in their semi-final.
| Player 1 | Player 2 | Winner's Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Robin Soderling | Fernando Gonzalez | Robin Soderling |
| Juan Martin Del Potro | Roger Federer | Juan Martin Del Potro |
Day - 10
Federer silences Monfils to book last four spot
World number two Roger Federer eased past local favourite Gael Monfils 7-6(6) 6-2 6-4 to book his place in the French Open semi-finals yesterday. The Swiss will play his fifth consecutive semi-final at Roland Garros against Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro.
World number two Roger Federer eased past local favourite Gael Monfils 7-6(6) 6-2 6-4 to book his place in the French Open semi-finals yesterday. The Swiss will play his fifth consecutive semi-final at Roland Garros against Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro.
Federer, the hot favourite after four-times champion Rafael Nadal was knocked out in the fourth round, saved a set point in the first-set tiebreak before clinching it 8-6. He hung on a double break to take the second and put Monfils out of his misery on his first match point with a backhand winner, keeping alive his dream of winning the only grand slam title to have eluded him.
Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro overcame a bout of jitters to stroll into his first grand slam semi-final with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over Spaniard Tommy Robredo at the French Open on Wednesday.
However, there is little chance Del Potro’s nerves are likely to settle down over the next two days since his reward for overcoming the 16th seed is a last four clash with Roger Federer.
“I was very nervous all along the match and I never managed to really get in the match because my legs were really tense,” the 20-year-old, the youngest man left in the draw, told reporters.
“Maybe you couldn’t see that from the outside but I was pretty tense. Tommy played really well. Three sets, that is not a good indication of what the match was, because he really played well.”
Despite the nerves, Del Potro was barely troubled by Robredo and relied on his big serve and punishing forehand to unsettle the only Spaniard left in the draw following the fourth-round exit of four-times champion Rafael Nadal.
No matter whose names emblazon the French Open trophies this weekend, this year's event belongs to the underdog.
SERENA SENT PACKING
Svetlana Kuznetsova squandered a big lead on Wednesday but still ended Serena Williams’ 18-match Grand Slam winning streak by winning 7-6 (3), 5-7, 7-5 in the French Open quarterfinals here.
Williams, seeded second, was seeking her third successive major title and the 11th of her career.
The seventh-seeded Kuznetsova faced a set point serving at 5-6 in the first set but erased it with a slam and won that set. Williams rallied three points from defeat to even the match, then took a 3-1 lead in the third.
Kuznetsova mounted the final comeback and broke serve in the last game when Williams
pushed a backhand wide. The seesaw struggle was this close: Midway through the third set, each player had won 100 points.
Kuznetsova, the 2004 U.S. Open champion, is seeking her second major title.
STOSUR IN SEMIS
Kuznetsova's opponent on Thursday will be Samantha Stosur of Australia, who reached her first major semifinal by beating Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-1, 6-3. Stosur, 25, has never won a tour title.
The 30th seed, a Grand Slam quarter-final debutante like her opponent, dominated from the start and was gifted her first break in the second game when Cirstea double-faulted and she then cruised through the rest of the first set.
The 19-year-old Romanian seemed more daunted by the occasion than Stosur and failed to find a breakthrough despite finding herself 0-40 on Stosur’s serve in the second game of the second set.
Her chance missed, the world number 41 dropped her serve the following game and Stosur held her nerve to set up a last-four date either with world number two Serena Williams or Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Day - 9
The final score of Maria Sharapova’s stunning loss in the French Open quarterfinals Tuesday did not look quite as embarrassing as it nearly did: Her opponent led 6-0, 5-0.
That Sharapova saved a match point in the 12th game and wound up delaying her defeat for 15 minutes was of no consolation, of course. All that mattered was that her bid to complete a career Grand Slam this year ended when she was beaten 6-0, 6-2 by 20th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova.
“I don’t really care about numbers. It’s either a ‘W’ or an ‘L,”’ Sharapova said, “and I prefer ‘W.”’
Now the 5-foot-3 Cibulkova—11 inches shorter than Sharapova—faces the current No. 1, Dinara Safina, who overcame a shaky start to defeat No. 9 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
The 23rd-seeded Soderling stretched his career-best winning streak to eight matches by easily handling two-time French Open semifinalist Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 6-3, 6-1. Never before a Grand Slam semifinalist—or quarterfinalist or even fourth-round participant—Soderling will be a French Open finalist if he can beat No. 12 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile.
“I always knew that I could play really, really good tennis,” Soderling said.
Gonzalez, the 2007 Australian Open runner-up, reached his first semifinal at Roland Garros with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 victory over No. 3 Andy Murray.
Was Gonzalez surprised to have taken a set 6-0 from Murray?
“Playing Andy? I would have never dreamed it,” Gonzalez said, “even playing table tennis.”
Men's Singles Quarterfinals Matches
Here are the matches that are going to take place in the quarterfinals of the men's singles competition.
Wednesday, June 3rd:
Juan Martin Del Potro ARG (5) vs. Tommy Robredo ESP (16)
Gael Monfils FRA (11) vs. Roger Federer SUI (2)
Women's Singles Quarterfinals Preview
Here are the matches from the quarterfinals in the women's singles competition:
On Wednesday, June 3rd:
Sorana Cirstea ROU vs. Samantha Stosur AUS (30)
Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (7) vs. Serena Williams USA (2)
Day 9 - Women's Singles 4th Round Results
Court Philippe Chatrier
Virginie Razzano FRA - Samantha Stosur AUS (30): 1-6, 2-6
Court Philippe Chatrier
Aleksandra Wozniak CAN (24) - Serena Williams USA (2): 1-6, 2-6
Court Suzanne Lenglen
Jelena Jankovic SRB (5) - Sorana Cirstea ROU: 6-3, 0-6, 7-9
Court Suzanne Lenglen
Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (7) - Agnieszka Radwanska POL (12): 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
Day 9 - Men's Singles 4th Round Results
Court Philippe Chatrier
Juan Martin Del Potro ARG (5) - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga FRA (9): 6-1, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4
Court Philippe Chatrier
Tommy Haas GER - Roger Federer SUI (2): 7-6, 7-5, 4-6, 0-6, 2-6
Court Suzanne Lenglen
Tommy Robredo ESP (16) - Philipp Kohlschreiber GER (29): 6-4, 5-7, 7-6, 6-2
Court Suzanne Lenglen
Andy Roddick USA (6) - Gael Monfils FRA (11): 4-6, 2-6, 3-6
Day - 8
COMEBACK KING
Roger Federer rallied from a two-set deficit on Monday to keep his French Open bid alive. The Swiss star almost followed the Nadal route but the win was the fifth one coming back from a two-set deficit. Less than 24 hours after nemesis Rafael Nadal was eliminated, Federer outlasted German Tommy Haas 6-7 (4), 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 in the pre-quarters.
The French Open is the only major event Federer has yet to win, and he has been beaten by Nadal at Roland Garros four years in a row, the past three times in the final. But with the path to the title cleared of the No 1-ranked Nadal, No 2 Federer struggled to take advantage.
The erratic form that has plagued Federer was again a problem for portions of the first three sets. But with the centre court crowd firmly behind the Swiss, he mounted a comeback that had his fans roaring.
Federer won nine consecutive games to even the match and swept the final five games. He hit a service winner on match point, then leaped and screamed in jubilation.
The victory was the fifth of his career after trailing by two sets. The five-set match was his first at Roland Garros since 2001, and he improved to 14-12 in five-set matches.
For the fourth year in a row, Federer is trying to become only the sixth man to win all four major championships. His total of 13 Grand Slam titles is one shy of Pete Sampras’ record. As was the case because of Nadal’s loss on Sunday, other results became a footnote.
Serena Williams dispensed with any drama, extending her Grand Slam winning streak to 18 matches by beating Aleksandra Wozniak 6-1, 6-2. It was a straightforward, 53-minute victory, in contrast to Williams’ previous match, when she accused her opponent of cheating and had a coughing fit during a changeover.
Somehow, Federer managed to lose the opening set despite winning every service point - 24 in a row - until the tiebreaker. The first break of the match put him ahead 2-1 in the second set, but he gave it back, then hit several nervous points serving at 5-6 to lose that game and dig a deep hole.
Haas led 4-3 in the pivotal third set and was a point from serving for the match, but Federer hit a forehand winner and went on to hold. In the next game, Haas had a 40-15 lead but then made four consecutive unforced errors, including a double-fault, to drop serve for the second time. The 31-year-old German lost to Federer for the eighth time in a row.
On the women’s side, Williams will next play No 7-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Russian, winner of the 2004 US Open, advanced by beating No 12 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.
"I feel like I have nothing to lose," Williams said. "This is when everything counts, you know. I have to pick up my level and play again a really good, strong match, especially playing somebody like Svetlana who is a great claycourt player". In another men’s match Spain’s Tommy Robredo, the 16th seed, reached the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-2 win over German 29th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Federer now tries to reach the semifinals at a 20th Grand Slam event in a row, which would extend his own record, when he meets 11th-seeded Gael Monfils of France, a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 winner over No. 6 Andy Roddick, the last American man in the tournament.
Federer is 4-0 against Monfils, including a victory in the French Open semifinals a year ago. Monfils dominated Roddick, even out-acing him 17-4, and Roddick began complaining in the second set that it was too dark to see.
“Don’t tell me what’s OK and what’s not,” the 2003 U.S. Open champion snapped at chair umpire Enric Molina. “You’re not the one playing.”
It was the day’s last match on Court Suzanne Lenglen, and the start was delayed by No. 5 Jelena Jankovic’s loss to the 41st-ranked Sorana Cirstea of Romania 3-6, 6-0, 9-7, which lasted 2 hours, 44 minutes.
“It wasn’t easy at the end,” said Cirstea, two points from defeat when Jankovic served for the match at 5-4, 30-love in the third set. “I saw she was tired, also. So I knew it was also a little bit mental: Who is going to stay stronger?”
Elsewhere, 2002 champion Serena Williams beat No. 24 Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada 6-1, 6-2; No. 7 Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated No. 12 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-4, 1-6, 6-1; and No. 30 Samantha Stosur beat Virginie Razzano of France 6-1, 6-2.
“This,” Williams said, “is when everything counts.”
No one knows that better than Federer, whose 13 major championships are one shy of Pete Sampras’ record. With Nadal, Roddick and No. 4 Novak Djokovic all gone, Federer is the only man left with a Grand Slam title.
“For a lot of players,” Federer said, “I think it must be quite a big opportunity, and their heads must be spinning right now.”
The other matchup on his half of the draw is No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina against No. 16 Tommy Robredo of Spain—two men who are a combined 0-6 in Grand Slam quarterfinals. Del Potro beat No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4, and Robredo eliminated No. 29 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
“Expectations? Everyone has expectations, even myself,” Robredo said.
There are two ways to look at what Nadal’s loss means for Federer. A potential obstacle is out of the way. And now Federer is expected to win the title, which could be a burden.
Dating to 2005, Federer is 0-4 against Nadal at the French Open, 27-0 against everyone else.
“It kicks the door open for Roger, but suddenly: ‘Yeah, step up.’ Now the pressure’s really on,” three-time French Open champion Mats Wilander said. “The pressure before was to just give Nadal a good match. Now, it’s like, ‘Hey, listen, if you can’t win it now, then you’re definitely not considered the greatest player of all time—until you do.”’
Asked about Nadal, Federer joked: “Um, he didn’t retire, right?”
“My dream scenario is to beat Rafa here in the finals,” Federer continued, “but I’ve got to concentrate on my part of the draw and make sure I come through like today.”
Good as he was at the start against Haas—Federer won the first 24 points on his serve—there were moments when his signature forehand let him down. Federer missed two in a row to fall behind in the opening tiebreaker.
When Haas took the second set, too, the prospect of the No. 2-seeded Federer following No. 1 Nadal on the way out was a distinct possibility. Then came the third-set point both Federer and Haas considered pivotal: With Federer serving at 3-4, 30-40—five points from losing—he ran around his backhand side for an inside-out forehand winner that landed right near a line.
“We both knew there was a chance for me to finish him off,” Haas said. “Just got to tip your hat and say, ‘That’s why he’s Roger Federer.”’
Day - 7
My fav Rafael Nadal, the four-time defending champion at Roland Garros - I was sure that he will win and created this blog - has lost to Robin Soderling of Sweden in four sets on Sunday, 31 May, 2009 in the fourth round of French Open Tournament. With this loss, Nadal's unbeaten run at the French Open is over.
Rafa lost to Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 7-6 (2) Sunday in the fourth round, ending his record 31-match winning streak at Roland Garros.
It seemed as if Nadal's left arm had shortened overnight as the Spaniard often failed to retrieve his opponent's groundstrokes in a one-sided first set.
Robin Soderling, seeded 23rd at this year’s tournament, ran Nadal ragged on center court with his hard serve and booming forehand.
Soderling broke in the third game when Nadal scooped the ball long and did it again in the eighth to seal the set after moving the Spaniard from left to right.
Nadal broke for 2-1 in the second set, firing a backhand from behind the baseline that Soderling failed to control.
Soderling broke back for 5-5 with a diving volley winner, forcing Nadal to a tiebreak which the Spaniard easily took 7-2.
The top seed was not out of trouble, though, as it was not enough to break the Swede's resilience.
Soderling broke in the seventh game of the third set when Nadal's attempted lob went long.
He then held serve confidently and took the set when Nadal netted a forehand. The Spaniard closed his eyes as if he refused to believe what was happening.
Following an early exchange of breaks, both players held serve to take it to another tiebreak. A string of Nadal unforced errors earned Soderling a 6-1 lead.
The Spaniard saved the first match point with a forehand winner down the line but he volleyed wide on the second.
Nadal has dominated the French Open since his first match on the red clay at Roland Garros. In his 31 previous matches, he had lost only seven sets - the last one coming against Roger Federer in the 2007 final.
Defending women’s champion Ana Ivanovic also lost, while top-seeded Dinara Safina advanced to the quarterfinals with another easy win.
Also on the men’s side, No. 3 Andy Murray of Britain and No. 12 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile made the quarterfinals.
Nadal had won three of the last four major titles, missing out only on the U.S. Open. Because he won the Australian Open, he had been the only man with a chance to complete a Grand Slam.
He had also been trying to become the first man to win five straight French Open titles.
Instead, the draw has completely opened up for three-time finalist Roger Federer. The former No. 1 needs only to win the French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, and his road got clearer Saturday when potential semifinal opponent Novak Djokovic was eliminated.
The eighth-seeded Ivanovic did little right on Court Suzanne Lenglen, converting only two of five break points and making 20 unforced errors in her 6-2, 6-3 loss to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
The top seed was not out of trouble, though, as it was not enough to break the Swede's resilience.
Soderling broke in the seventh game of the third set when Nadal's attempted lob went long.
He then held serve confidently and took the set when Nadal netted a forehand. The Spaniard closed his eyes as if he refused to believe what was happening.
Following an early exchange of breaks, both players held serve to take it to another tiebreak. A string of Nadal unforced errors earned Soderling a 6-1 lead.
The Spaniard saved the first match point with a forehand winner down the line but he volleyed wide on the second.
Nadal has dominated the French Open since his first match on the red clay at Roland Garros. In his 31 previous matches, he had lost only seven sets - the last one coming against Roger Federer in the 2007 final.
Defending women’s champion Ana Ivanovic also lost, while top-seeded Dinara Safina advanced to the quarterfinals with another easy win.
Also on the men’s side, No. 3 Andy Murray of Britain and No. 12 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile made the quarterfinals.
Nadal had won three of the last four major titles, missing out only on the U.S. Open. Because he won the Australian Open, he had been the only man with a chance to complete a Grand Slam.
He had also been trying to become the first man to win five straight French Open titles.
Instead, the draw has completely opened up for three-time finalist Roger Federer. The former No. 1 needs only to win the French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, and his road got clearer Saturday when potential semifinal opponent Novak Djokovic was eliminated.
The eighth-seeded Ivanovic did little right on Court Suzanne Lenglen, converting only two of five break points and making 20 unforced errors in her 6-2, 6-3 loss to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
Day - 6
Rapidfire Rafa ousts Hewitt
Nadal breezed past Lleyton Hewitt for the third time in four years at Roland Garros on Friday as the four-time champion took another confident step closer to a record fifth French Open title.
Nadal won 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 to clinch a 31st consecutive win at the tournament. Fernando Verdasco edged closer to another showdown with Nadal after taking the hard road to see off Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (10/8) in their third round clash.
Serbian Novak Djokovic reached the third round with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 win over Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky. Djokovic will face German 29th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber who put out Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2003 champion, for a place in the last 16.
Ivanovic, Safina cruise Defending champion Ana Ivanovic and top seed Dinara Safina moved a step closer to a quarterfinal showdown as both brushed aside third round opponents. The Serb trumped Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-0, 6-2 while the Russian blasted beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with a near identical score of 6-2, 6-0.
There was heartache for another favourite as Venus Williams lost 6-0, 6-4 to Agnes Szavay of Hungary.
At 16, the youngest player left in the women's draw, Larcher de Brito lost 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to France's Aravane Rezai in a bad-tempered clash.
Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a backhand during his Men's Singles Third Round match against Lleyton Hewitt of Australia on day six of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2009 in Paris, France.
Nadal breezed past Lleyton Hewitt for the third time in four years at Roland Garros on Friday as the four-time champion took another confident step closer to a record fifth French Open title.
Nadal won 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 to clinch a 31st consecutive win at the tournament. Fernando Verdasco edged closer to another showdown with Nadal after taking the hard road to see off Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (10/8) in their third round clash.
Serbian Novak Djokovic reached the third round with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 win over Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky. Djokovic will face German 29th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber who put out Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2003 champion, for a place in the last 16.
Ivanovic, Safina cruise Defending champion Ana Ivanovic and top seed Dinara Safina moved a step closer to a quarterfinal showdown as both brushed aside third round opponents. The Serb trumped Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-0, 6-2 while the Russian blasted beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with a near identical score of 6-2, 6-0.
There was heartache for another favourite as Venus Williams lost 6-0, 6-4 to Agnes Szavay of Hungary.
At 16, the youngest player left in the women's draw, Larcher de Brito lost 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to France's Aravane Rezai in a bad-tempered clash.
Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a backhand during his Men's Singles Third Round match against Lleyton Hewitt of Australia on day six of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2009 in Paris, France.
Day - 5
Venus Williams knocked out of French Open
Third seed Venus Williams was eliminated in the third round of the French Open, beaten 6-0 6-4 by Hungary's Agnes Szavay on Friday.
The American did not recover from a miserable start as Szavay, seeded 29th, advanced to meet Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova after 81 minutes.
Rafa will play third Round match against Lleyton Hewitt of Australia on Day - 6.
The above picture of Rafa is from Vague advertisement. His angry young man looks made this picture a rare collection.
Third seed Venus Williams was eliminated in the third round of the French Open, beaten 6-0 6-4 by Hungary's Agnes Szavay on Friday.
The American did not recover from a miserable start as Szavay, seeded 29th, advanced to meet Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova after 81 minutes.
Rafa will play third Round match against Lleyton Hewitt of Australia on Day - 6.
The above picture of Rafa is from Vague advertisement. His angry young man looks made this picture a rare collection.
Day - 4
Nadal powers on
Title-holder Rafael Nadal blasted his way intothe last 32 on Wednesday with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia. He will next go up against former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt, a player he has beaten twice already at Roland Garros in 2006 and 2007.
Rafa hits a forehand during his Men's Singles Second Round match against Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia on day four of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2009 in Paris, France.
Nadal acknowledges the crowd after claiming victory in his Men's Singles Second Round match against Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia on day four of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2009 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal of Spain acknowledges the crowd after claiming victory in his Men's Singles Second Round match against Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia on day four of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2009 in Paris, France.
Great escapes for Federer, Venus
Roger Federer was lucky to keep alive his dream of winning a maiden Roland Garros crown and Venus Williams used a good night’s sleep to spare herself from a French Open nightmare in the second round on Thursday.
Federer appeared to be heading for his earliest grand slam defeat since 2003 when he struggled to find his touch for three sets on a damp day in Paris but found his range in the nick of time to subdue Argentina’s Jose Acasuso 7-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-2. “I was not afraid to die, so everything was okay. It was sort of a fun match to be part of with so many ups and downs. I could have won the first three sets. Could have lost them also. (So) I’m thrilled to be through,” Federer said.
It was a sentiment shared by Williams. The third seed’s second-round tussle was suspended on Wednesday due to bad light after she had lost the first set. She returned to save a match point before crawling over the finishing line with a 6-7, 6-2, 7-5 win over Czech Lucie Safarova.
Her sister, Serena, enjoyed an easier outing with a 6-2, 6-0 destruction of Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual. Jelena Jankovic snuffed out the challenge of Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova 6-1, 6-2 and Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova was at her ruthless best in a 49-minute 6-0, 6-2 demolition of Kazakhstan’s Galina Voskoboeva.
Day - 3
MURRAY, SAFINA ADVANCE
Brit Relies On Brains For Win; Russian Banks On Brawn
Andy Murray relied on brains and Dinara Safina banked on brawn to reach the third round of the French Open on Wednesday.
World No.1 Safina followed up her 6-0 6-0 walloping of Britain’s Anne Keothavong in the first round with a 6-1 6-1 demolition of luckless fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko.
Murray overcame a midmatch wobble by changing tactics to eventually tame Italian Potito Starace 6-3 2-6 7-5 6-4. After losing the second set, Murray ran around aimlessly chasing shadows and looked in danger of going two-sets-to-one down as Starace streaked 5-1 ahead. Guile and deft shot-making allowed the Briton to save two set points as he dug himself out of a hole.
Sharapova, Ivanovic through
Maria Sharapova battled into the French Open last 32 as Roland Garros glimpsed the future of women’s tennis in the shape of high-volume, big-hitting, 16-year-old Michelle Larcher de Brito.
Triple Grand Slam title winner Sharapova, playing only her second tournament following a 10-month lay-off to recover from shoulder surgery, shook off the cobwebs with a bruising 6-2 1-6 8-6 win over Russian compatriot Nadia Petrova. Reigning champion Ana Ivanovic eased past Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-1 6-2.
Portuguese teenager De Brito only turned 16 in January and, like Sharapova, is a graduate of the Nick Bolletieri academy. Making her Grand Slam debut, de Brito came through qualifying and on Wednesday made sure of a place in the last 32 with a 6-4 6-3 win over Zheng Jie.
Santoro signs off after 20 Opens
Fabrice Santoro walked off the court at the French Open for the last time Wednesday, ending his record-tying run of 20 straight appearances at Roland Garros. The 36-yearold Frenchman played only eight minutes Wednesday before completing a first-round loss to Christophe Rochus of Belgium 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
The match had been suspended Tuesday. “When I started my career on court No. 10 in 1989, I did not imagine at all that I would hold the microphone in my hands 20 years later in front of you,’’ Santoro said to the crowd at Court Suzanne Lenglen. “Those were extraordinary and fantastic years that I will never forget.’’
Santoro has played in a record 67 Grand Slam tournaments, making the fourth round three times - at the French Open in 1991 and 2001 and at the Australian Open in 1999. “Twenty years. That counts for something in a lifetime,’’ Santoro said. “It has been a long road, a fantastic career. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot.’’ Santoro and Rochus started their match Tuesday, but it was suspended by darkness with the Belgian leading 5-3 in the fourth set.
The pair came back out onto the court after Dinara Safina’s easy win and finished the match quickly. “I’m saying to myself that the story is over, that a page is being turned,’’ Santoro said. “I will no longer be on court next year. But I think that it is time to go.’’ Santoro plans to play other tournaments before retiring at the end of the year. Besides tying Francois Jauffret’s record for appearances at the French Open, Santoro also holds the record for the longest match at the Paris tournament in the Open era.
“That was in 2004. A match lasting 6 hours, 33 minutes on this same court,’’ said Santoro, who beat Arnaud Clement in the first round that year 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 3-6, 16-14.
World number one Rafael Nadal will play against Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia tomorrow.
Hope he will advance one more step towards title with easy win.
Brit Relies On Brains For Win; Russian Banks On Brawn
Andy Murray relied on brains and Dinara Safina banked on brawn to reach the third round of the French Open on Wednesday.
World No.1 Safina followed up her 6-0 6-0 walloping of Britain’s Anne Keothavong in the first round with a 6-1 6-1 demolition of luckless fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko.
Murray overcame a midmatch wobble by changing tactics to eventually tame Italian Potito Starace 6-3 2-6 7-5 6-4. After losing the second set, Murray ran around aimlessly chasing shadows and looked in danger of going two-sets-to-one down as Starace streaked 5-1 ahead. Guile and deft shot-making allowed the Briton to save two set points as he dug himself out of a hole.
Sharapova, Ivanovic through
Maria Sharapova battled into the French Open last 32 as Roland Garros glimpsed the future of women’s tennis in the shape of high-volume, big-hitting, 16-year-old Michelle Larcher de Brito.
Triple Grand Slam title winner Sharapova, playing only her second tournament following a 10-month lay-off to recover from shoulder surgery, shook off the cobwebs with a bruising 6-2 1-6 8-6 win over Russian compatriot Nadia Petrova. Reigning champion Ana Ivanovic eased past Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-1 6-2.
Portuguese teenager De Brito only turned 16 in January and, like Sharapova, is a graduate of the Nick Bolletieri academy. Making her Grand Slam debut, de Brito came through qualifying and on Wednesday made sure of a place in the last 32 with a 6-4 6-3 win over Zheng Jie.
Santoro signs off after 20 Opens
Fabrice Santoro walked off the court at the French Open for the last time Wednesday, ending his record-tying run of 20 straight appearances at Roland Garros. The 36-yearold Frenchman played only eight minutes Wednesday before completing a first-round loss to Christophe Rochus of Belgium 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
The match had been suspended Tuesday. “When I started my career on court No. 10 in 1989, I did not imagine at all that I would hold the microphone in my hands 20 years later in front of you,’’ Santoro said to the crowd at Court Suzanne Lenglen. “Those were extraordinary and fantastic years that I will never forget.’’
Santoro has played in a record 67 Grand Slam tournaments, making the fourth round three times - at the French Open in 1991 and 2001 and at the Australian Open in 1999. “Twenty years. That counts for something in a lifetime,’’ Santoro said. “It has been a long road, a fantastic career. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot.’’ Santoro and Rochus started their match Tuesday, but it was suspended by darkness with the Belgian leading 5-3 in the fourth set.
The pair came back out onto the court after Dinara Safina’s easy win and finished the match quickly. “I’m saying to myself that the story is over, that a page is being turned,’’ Santoro said. “I will no longer be on court next year. But I think that it is time to go.’’ Santoro plans to play other tournaments before retiring at the end of the year. Besides tying Francois Jauffret’s record for appearances at the French Open, Santoro also holds the record for the longest match at the Paris tournament in the Open era.
“That was in 2004. A match lasting 6 hours, 33 minutes on this same court,’’ said Santoro, who beat Arnaud Clement in the first round that year 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 3-6, 16-14.
World number one Rafael Nadal will play against Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia tomorrow.
Hope he will advance one more step towards title with easy win.
Day - 2
World number one Rafael Nadal will set a record for the number of successive matches won at the French Open if he beats Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili in the second round on Wednesday.
By winning a 30th consecutive match, the Spaniard would eclipse Chris Evert's mark of 29 which the American set between 1974-81. She did not compete at Roland Garros in 1976-78.
Nadal, seeking a record fifth successive crown at the clay-court Grand Slam, is scheduled to play last on Suzanne Lenglen Court while women's number one Dinara Safina opens up the billing on that same showcourt.
Safina, hoping to go one better than last year's runner-up spot in her bid for a first Grand Slam title, meets fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko feeling fairly fresh after her 6-0, 6-0 first-round demolition of Briton Anne Keothavong.
Her brother Marat, who plays Frenchman Josselin Ouanna later in the day, was confident his younger sister could go all the way this year after coming to Paris on the back of wins on clay in Madrid and Rome.
"I think she has a chance here this year. Especially, she's coming with great confidence, final and two times winner in a row. She's playing really well," Safin said.
The day's other highlights include third seed Andy Murray opening proceedings on the main Philippe Chatrier Court against Italian Potito Starace with the Briton hoping for a repeat of Sunday's first-round showing when he dropped just five games.
"If I played that well in all my matches, I've got a good chance of winning comfortably," he said after knocking out Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela.
Women's third seed Venus Williams takes on Czech Lucie Safarova, while last year's champion Ana Ivanovic faces Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn.
(I've small doubt here. Why is that Marat "Safin" and Dinara "Safina" called so, even though they are siblings?? )
By winning a 30th consecutive match, the Spaniard would eclipse Chris Evert's mark of 29 which the American set between 1974-81. She did not compete at Roland Garros in 1976-78.
Nadal, seeking a record fifth successive crown at the clay-court Grand Slam, is scheduled to play last on Suzanne Lenglen Court while women's number one Dinara Safina opens up the billing on that same showcourt.
Safina, hoping to go one better than last year's runner-up spot in her bid for a first Grand Slam title, meets fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko feeling fairly fresh after her 6-0, 6-0 first-round demolition of Briton Anne Keothavong.
Her brother Marat, who plays Frenchman Josselin Ouanna later in the day, was confident his younger sister could go all the way this year after coming to Paris on the back of wins on clay in Madrid and Rome.
"I think she has a chance here this year. Especially, she's coming with great confidence, final and two times winner in a row. She's playing really well," Safin said.
The day's other highlights include third seed Andy Murray opening proceedings on the main Philippe Chatrier Court against Italian Potito Starace with the Briton hoping for a repeat of Sunday's first-round showing when he dropped just five games.
"If I played that well in all my matches, I've got a good chance of winning comfortably," he said after knocking out Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela.
Women's third seed Venus Williams takes on Czech Lucie Safarova, while last year's champion Ana Ivanovic faces Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn.
(I've small doubt here. Why is that Marat "Safin" and Dinara "Safina" called so, even though they are siblings?? )
Day - 1
The modern day King of Clay Rafael Nadal eclipsed another mark on Monday, this time breaking the French Open men’s record for consecutive wins.
Rafael Nadal, sporting a bright pink shirt, began his campaign for a historic fifth successive French Open title on Monday. He will now face either Igor Kunitsyn or Teimuraz Gabashvili, both Russians, for a place in the last 32.
The Spanish star, who came into the French Open having lost his 33-match clay court winning streak to Roger Federer in Madrid, was forced to battle against the 30-year-old Daniel, especially in the first two sets.
Top-seeded Rafael Nadal looked his usual dominant self in the first round, beating Marcos Daniel of Brazil 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 for his 29th straight in on the red clay at Roland Garros.
The win bettered the mark held by Bjorn Borg, who won 28 straight from 1978-81. Nadal also equaled the overall tournament record, matching the 29 straight that Chris Evert won between 1974-75 and 1979-81. Evert did not play at the French Open from 1976-78.
Nadal was broken three times by Daniel, but the top-seeded Spaniard remained perfect on the French Open’s red clay as he tries to become the first player to win five straight titles at Roland Garros.
Dinara Safina, the top-seeded player in the women’s draw, and No 3 Venus Williams also advanced. Safina routed Anne Keothavong of Britain 6-0, 6-0 by spraying shots to all parts of the court. On the men’s side, 10th-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, No 12 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, No 23 Robin Soderling of Sweden and No 30 Victor Hanescu of Romania advanced. Keothavong had a couple of chances against Safina on centre court, but she wasted two break points in the third game of the first set, and led 40-0 in the fourth game of the second but couldn’t hold on.
Victoria Azarenka and Ana Ivanovic won 6-0, 6-0 at the French Open last year, and Serena Williams did it in 2003.
Safina took over as the top-ranked women’s player in April, but she has yet to win a Grand Slam title. She lost in last year’s French Open final, and also came within a match of winning the Australian Open this season. Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, survived a sudden second-set slump to beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. She won the match’s first five games, while Mattek asked for a medical time-out during the first set so a trainer could look at her right wrist.
No 15 Zheng Jie of China, No 22 Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain and No 29 Agnes Szavay of Hungary also advanced to the second round of the women’s tournament, but No 23 Alisa Kleybanova of Russia was upset by Polona Hercoq of Slovenia 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.
Murray advances
Briton Andy Murray looked every inch a seasoned claycourt campaigner during a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 first-round demolition of Argentine dangerman Juan Ignacio Chela. Unfortunately for 2004 men’s champion Gaston Gaudio, there was very little to get excited about. Handed a wildcard into the Paris draw since his ranking has plummeted to 359th, he was bounced out 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 by Czech 18th seed Radek Stepanek.
France’s Mathilde Johansson was looking for a place to hide after she blew eight match points in a 2-6, 6-2, 10-8 defeat by Vitalia Diatchenko. Spanish eighth seed Fernando Verdasco compounded a miserable day for the home nation by humbling Florent Serra 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 before French number one Gilles Simon produced a stirring comeback to beat American Wayne Odesnik 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Amelie Mauresmo’s French Open dreams turned to dust in the first round on Sunday when she was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by Germany’s Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
French Open results:
Men:
Rafael Nadal (Spain) beat Marcos Daniel (Brazil) 7-5, 6-4, 6-3;
Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) beat Stefan Koubek (Austria) 6-2, 6-1, 6-4;
Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) beat Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) 7-6 (2), 6-1, 6-4;
Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat Nicolas Devilder (France) 6-3, 5-7, 2-6, 6-4,
Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) beat Jiri Vanek (Czh R) 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
Women:
Aravane Rezai (France) beat Ai Sugiyama (Japan) 6-3, 6-2;
Dinara Safina (Russia) beat Anne Keothavong (Britain) 6-0, 6-0;
Venus Williams (United States) beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands (US) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.
Who is the Big Threat??
Four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal believes his Madrid Masters final defeat to old rival Roger Federer demonstrated that the Swiss superstar remains a serious Roland Garros threat.
Nadal, who has never lost here and is bidding for an historic fifth successive Paris title, said Friday he never doubted the strength of Federer's character even when he reduced his great rival to tears in the Australian Open final earlier this year.
Many in the sport interpreted that emotional collapse to be conclusive evidence that Nadal, having already taken his Wimbledon title, was now the sports's only real superpower.
"He was always there. He didn't have a bad loss this year. He lost to me in Australia, Murray in Doha and Indian Wells, Djokovic in Miami and in Rome," said Nadal, whose 33-match winning streak on clay was halted by Federer in Spain.
"He's doing well. It's always difficult to be perfect for five years, six years. I think everyone would like to have his problems with 13 Grand Slams."
Nadal also shrugged off his experiences in Madrid where he reached the final only after a four-hour semi-final win over Novak Djokovic where he had to save three match points.
He was physically and mentally shattered by the time he played Federer the next day.
For the world number one, the events of Madrid's Magic Box will have no bearing whatsoever on the French Open when it gets underway on Sunday.
Not only has Nadal won all 28 matches he has played here, he has also defeated Federer in the last three finals.
"I am very happy with my claycourt season. I won in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and made the final in Madrid. It's almost a perfect claycourt season," he said.
"Madrid was a difficult tournament. The court was fast, the balls were flying a lot. It was very difficult to control the ball and I didn't play that well in the competition.
"I played OK for a set and a half against Djokovic. The rest I didn't play well. Here you can feel the ball. You have more control."
World number three Andy Murray, who is seeded to face Nadal in the semi-finals, also believes the events in Spain could help Federer.
"The altitude in Madrid does make a difference," said the Scotsman. "But anytime you beat Nadal on clay is going to be big for your confidence. "I would expect Rafa to make the final here. I think Roger will probably have some tough matches if he is to make the final."
Rafael Nadal, sporting a bright pink shirt, began his campaign for a historic fifth successive French Open title on Monday. He will now face either Igor Kunitsyn or Teimuraz Gabashvili, both Russians, for a place in the last 32.
The Spanish star, who came into the French Open having lost his 33-match clay court winning streak to Roger Federer in Madrid, was forced to battle against the 30-year-old Daniel, especially in the first two sets.
Top-seeded Rafael Nadal looked his usual dominant self in the first round, beating Marcos Daniel of Brazil 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 for his 29th straight in on the red clay at Roland Garros.
The win bettered the mark held by Bjorn Borg, who won 28 straight from 1978-81. Nadal also equaled the overall tournament record, matching the 29 straight that Chris Evert won between 1974-75 and 1979-81. Evert did not play at the French Open from 1976-78.
Nadal was broken three times by Daniel, but the top-seeded Spaniard remained perfect on the French Open’s red clay as he tries to become the first player to win five straight titles at Roland Garros.
Dinara Safina, the top-seeded player in the women’s draw, and No 3 Venus Williams also advanced. Safina routed Anne Keothavong of Britain 6-0, 6-0 by spraying shots to all parts of the court. On the men’s side, 10th-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, No 12 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, No 23 Robin Soderling of Sweden and No 30 Victor Hanescu of Romania advanced. Keothavong had a couple of chances against Safina on centre court, but she wasted two break points in the third game of the first set, and led 40-0 in the fourth game of the second but couldn’t hold on.
Victoria Azarenka and Ana Ivanovic won 6-0, 6-0 at the French Open last year, and Serena Williams did it in 2003.
Safina took over as the top-ranked women’s player in April, but she has yet to win a Grand Slam title. She lost in last year’s French Open final, and also came within a match of winning the Australian Open this season. Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, survived a sudden second-set slump to beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. She won the match’s first five games, while Mattek asked for a medical time-out during the first set so a trainer could look at her right wrist.
No 15 Zheng Jie of China, No 22 Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain and No 29 Agnes Szavay of Hungary also advanced to the second round of the women’s tournament, but No 23 Alisa Kleybanova of Russia was upset by Polona Hercoq of Slovenia 6-2, 4-6, 6-1.
Murray advances
Briton Andy Murray looked every inch a seasoned claycourt campaigner during a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 first-round demolition of Argentine dangerman Juan Ignacio Chela. Unfortunately for 2004 men’s champion Gaston Gaudio, there was very little to get excited about. Handed a wildcard into the Paris draw since his ranking has plummeted to 359th, he was bounced out 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 by Czech 18th seed Radek Stepanek.
France’s Mathilde Johansson was looking for a place to hide after she blew eight match points in a 2-6, 6-2, 10-8 defeat by Vitalia Diatchenko. Spanish eighth seed Fernando Verdasco compounded a miserable day for the home nation by humbling Florent Serra 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 before French number one Gilles Simon produced a stirring comeback to beat American Wayne Odesnik 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Amelie Mauresmo’s French Open dreams turned to dust in the first round on Sunday when she was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by Germany’s Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
French Open results:
Men:
Rafael Nadal (Spain) beat Marcos Daniel (Brazil) 7-5, 6-4, 6-3;
Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) beat Stefan Koubek (Austria) 6-2, 6-1, 6-4;
Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) beat Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) 7-6 (2), 6-1, 6-4;
Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat Nicolas Devilder (France) 6-3, 5-7, 2-6, 6-4,
Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) beat Jiri Vanek (Czh R) 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
Women:
Aravane Rezai (France) beat Ai Sugiyama (Japan) 6-3, 6-2;
Dinara Safina (Russia) beat Anne Keothavong (Britain) 6-0, 6-0;
Venus Williams (United States) beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands (US) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.
Who is the Big Threat??
Four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal believes his Madrid Masters final defeat to old rival Roger Federer demonstrated that the Swiss superstar remains a serious Roland Garros threat.
Nadal, who has never lost here and is bidding for an historic fifth successive Paris title, said Friday he never doubted the strength of Federer's character even when he reduced his great rival to tears in the Australian Open final earlier this year.
Many in the sport interpreted that emotional collapse to be conclusive evidence that Nadal, having already taken his Wimbledon title, was now the sports's only real superpower.
"He was always there. He didn't have a bad loss this year. He lost to me in Australia, Murray in Doha and Indian Wells, Djokovic in Miami and in Rome," said Nadal, whose 33-match winning streak on clay was halted by Federer in Spain.
"He's doing well. It's always difficult to be perfect for five years, six years. I think everyone would like to have his problems with 13 Grand Slams."
Nadal also shrugged off his experiences in Madrid where he reached the final only after a four-hour semi-final win over Novak Djokovic where he had to save three match points.
He was physically and mentally shattered by the time he played Federer the next day.
For the world number one, the events of Madrid's Magic Box will have no bearing whatsoever on the French Open when it gets underway on Sunday.
Not only has Nadal won all 28 matches he has played here, he has also defeated Federer in the last three finals.
"I am very happy with my claycourt season. I won in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and made the final in Madrid. It's almost a perfect claycourt season," he said.
"Madrid was a difficult tournament. The court was fast, the balls were flying a lot. It was very difficult to control the ball and I didn't play that well in the competition.
"I played OK for a set and a half against Djokovic. The rest I didn't play well. Here you can feel the ball. You have more control."
World number three Andy Murray, who is seeded to face Nadal in the semi-finals, also believes the events in Spain could help Federer.
"The altitude in Madrid does make a difference," said the Scotsman. "But anytime you beat Nadal on clay is going to be big for your confidence. "I would expect Rafa to make the final here. I think Roger will probably have some tough matches if he is to make the final."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
