Into Week Two

Well the women's side of the draw seems to be falling apart with the top three seeds all out before the quarter finals, Wozniaki beaten by Hantuchova, Clijsters by Rus, and Zvonerava by Pavluchenkova.  Wozniaki, as always made the mistake of playing too much by playing a tournament in Belgium the week before the French Open started.  Although she could push through any physical tiredness, the mental fatigue seemed clear, to me at least, as she never looked convincing or determined at Roland Garros.  It's great she wants to play but doing anything week in week out would make you jaded, if she wants to jeopardise her chances of winning a grand slam by playing too many other tournies that's one thing, but she seems to be jeopardising her love for the game she has another ten years to play (all going well). 



Clijsters, similarly, never looked convincing here (although I did leave the house thinking she was going to trounce Rus of France only for her to come back and win it in three sets when I was at work (crafty French).  She hurt her ankle at a wedding and has been out of game for a few months but it was her casual attitude to the matches she played- an attitude I've noticed and despised since her return from retirement.  Since she already had a career, then retired, the wins she has now are fun, a bonus, and a bit of a game, with none of the determination and focus a pro athlete ought to have. 

Azarenka

Pavluchenkova

I feel bad for Zvonerava- she had a big year last year getting to two grand slam finals and is struggling this year to have the same impact.  Pavluchenkova on the other hand is the up-and-comer of the women's game.  Sam stosur, last year's runner up, who was playing well, has also gone out.    But Sharapova, Schiavone, Azarenka, Li Na, Pavluchenkova, Kuznetzova, Bartoli are through to the quarter finals, with Kirilenko and Petkovic fighting it out for the last quarter final spot. 

In the mens game nothing that interesting has happened really- Soderling will play Nadal in the quarters (the only man to have beaten Rafa here), Monfils plays Federer, and Djokovic is already through to the semis after Fognini pulled out of their quarter final match.  And Chela awaits either Troiki or Murray who are playing currently- with Murray down 2-1 sets, and down 2 rackets after throwing a couple of tantrums.   Alas Jamie Murray and partner Chric Guccione lost in their second round match against top pair Bob and Mike Bryan, but is in the quarters of the mixed with Nadia Patrova (mixed only has 5 rounds).  Unfortunately I don't think mixed doubles counts towards ranking points.

And how was your week?

The First Hurdle for the King

Nearly had a major upset to report- I mentioned in my last post that Rafael Nadal was in a tough 5 setter against John Isner, and boy was he- honestly at one point I thought Isner would definately win it.  But Nadal pushed through.  Rafa won the first set 6-4 but Isner has shown his mettle before (by winning that crazy long Wimbledon match against Mahut 70-68) and managed to stay with Nadal in the second and third sets.  They went to tie breaks and Isner walked them with his giant serve making Rafa look rather ordinary.  Into the fourth set it seemed that Isner had the momentum and all he would need would be to hang in there and get to another tie break.  The only other time Nadal had been 2-1 down at the French Open was when he lost to Soderling two years ago, and he had never played a 5 setter here before.   But Nadal came back hard in the fourth set and raced through to win it 6-2, and he broke Isner early in the fifth- but Isner had broken Nadal back before in the match to level the score and never gave up fighting.  It wasn't over until Nadal won the very last point 6-4 7-6 7-6 6-2 6-4. 

No other major upsets or almost upsets to report yet but Djokovic up to 41 winning streak plays del Potro in the next round, Murray is up against Bolelli but should win it, Tipsaravic against Federer might be interesting as Tipsy can play super well sometimes, Jankovic plays Mattek-Sands who became the highest ranked American with her recent win, Shuai Peng plays Schiavone, Vania King who has a nice singing voice plays Elena Baltacha, and Heather Watson who is now in the top 100 plays Kaia Kanepi. And Jamie Murray won his first round Mens Doubles match with Chris Guccione against Clement and Chardy.  So we'll see what happens...

French Latest

Heather Watson

It may be day three but we're still in round one at Le Frenche Opene.  Nothing super interesting to report- Cilic is out, Keothothong is out, Murray is through as are Federer and Djokovic (Nadal currently in super tough 5 setter with Isner), Ivanovic is out, Heather Watson is through, Jankovic, Sharapova, and Stosur are through.  The outfits this year have been delightfully multi-coloured and I thought I'd share some. :)

Jelena Jankovic in pink.

Caroline Wozniaki in dark blue

Zheng Jie in light blue

Students from Ecole de Military or something.

Nadal in light blue and muscles

Ana Ivanovic in pink and green

Anne Keothothong rocking orange

Rezai in black and pink

Monfils who is kinda like the Ian Poulter of Tennis imo

Sam Stosur

Regarding my previous post on the WTA's Strong is Beautiful campaign (I had a few criticisms not least that the women are so glammed up they don't look anything like themselves, or athletes), I thought I'd compare a picture of last years French Open finalist Sam Stosur campaign photo and a photo from today's play the this year's French Open.

 

She seems to be wearing a pre-sweated red dress with long flowing locks, and make-up. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sam Stosur in the Strong is Beautiful campaign

She seems to be playing tennis...


Well I know which one looks more strong and beautiful to me, although I also know I don't care whether she's beautiful if she plays a good game. 
She won her match today in straight sets.

French Open Prep

Everyones getting very excited- the French Open starts on Sunday.  I don't know why we're all giddy about it, it's the most boring one of the lot. It's on clay so it's dirty, the weather's been rubbish for the past few years, the crowd never shows up (long french lunches), and Nadal's gonna win.  Well that last ones not looking quite as certain as it was since Nadal has been beaten in four final this year by Djokovic who hasn't lost a match yet.  But he has yet to beat Nadal in 5 sets on clay at Roland Garros (in fact only Soderling has). 

The women's side has some interest too as Maria Sharapova comes into form (the French Open is the one grand slam she hasn't won), Kim Clijsters is back after hurting her foot at a wedding (I don't know, I wasn't there), the Willam's sisters are out so we are at least spared Venus's new take on lingerie sports wear, and Sam Stosur (last year's finalist) was playing well last week before being beaten by Sharapova. 

From a British perspective Andy Murray remains the only man in the singles draw- and has said recently that he can win the French Open, despite never doing that well here (clay is like British Kryptonite).  He was supposed to play in some group exhibition tennis this week but pulled out with a groin strain (I don't know, I wasn't there), but thank heavens he is fit to play.  Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothothong are in the main draw and Heather Watson has won her first two qualifying matches.  She plays the third later today, fingers crossed.

Juan Martin Del Potro is also fit, after pulling out of a tournament a few weeks ago with a hip thing, but Ferrer and Roddick not so lucky and both pulled out injured.   The draw for the tournament comes out today, and the commentators of the exhibition match I was watching (Tsonga v Mahut, remember him?) suggested players were getting edgy waiting for the draw.  Someone needs to remind them, it aint Wimbledon, kay?