2013/05/23

Thursday’s Notes and Quotes from Rome

 

 

Venus Williams

On the windy conditions:

 

…a bit strange but I like that challenge and when the wind does in the middle of the point and I said “Whoa – who is in control here.”

 

On her comeback:

 

I wasn’t ready but I needed to get points for the Olympics I probably would have come out before Wimbledon or after…… but I didn’t have choice.

 

I do know how to play tennis but everything else. Everything else is like a wildcard – I am a wildcard now. (Laughter)

 

Q: You and your sister are loved by the Rome public. So do you

feel this tournament in any particular way.

Venus Williams: Really – is that so.. I like that and indeed I need some love and I need some help for these matches and so if I get some love here then good.

 

Q: So was that you throwing in your hat to Serena for the doubles at the French.

Venus Williams: I wasn’t thinking of it. I feel that I can probably do it if I can get the feel right. I mean., I have been holding her back on her destiny for her doubles title. I feel like I can probably do it. I can try but I want to be smart and qualify for the Olympics …. Yeah, I just have to win a match. Thank you.

 

Serena Williams

Q: How do you feel 10 days before the Roland Garros?

WILLIAMS: Is it only 10 days? I’m getting nervous. I feel good and I have had a lot of practice on clay and today I was running so much and I was ready to play and feeling good. I wasn’t tired at all. I feel good.

 

Q: What so you think about your music on internet and the buzz(?).

Do you think this will be your future?

WILLIAMS: I love tennis and will always love that.

Q: How do you feel about playing at the French Open with Venus

WILLIAMS: Hey – is that who I have to play with. …. Laughter…..

 

Rafael Nadal

 

On being Nadal’s favorite time of the season:

Rafael Nadal: I started clay well in Monte Carlo and Barcelona without losing a set and it’s great to win two tournaments – without losing a set and you have to be playing well to do that and then I played bad in Madrid and so I am here on clay and I am solid and well and I played a good match yesterday and today. I always say I go week by week and I always say I arrive to Roland Garros at my best and don’t take this tournament to prepare me for the rest … I take this tournaments like a very important tournament each one and I try my best in every match to have the best I can. Roland Garros is in two weeks and I am now here in Rome and that is the most important thing for me and last week I was in Madrid where the conditions didn’t help.

 

Q: Novak will go to the French Open and will have the chance to have four Grand Slam titles. You had this chance at the Australian Open last year. Did you feel the pressure – with everyone talking?

Rafael Nadal: I don’t feel that. I arrived at the beginning of the season playing fantastic but I got sick in Doha and I recover but then I got injury in the quarterfinals in the 3rd game of the match but I don’t feel pressure –normal game to play your best and that is not pressure. That is enough pressure.

 

Richard Gasquet

Q: Can you tell us if you speak Italian now after being with Piatti.

Gasquet: I don’t speak Italian – but I am with 1 year with him. I can’t but Piatti- he has lived in Monte Carlo for 20 years and he doesn’t speak French.

 

Q: And the match?

Gasquet: It was a big match and I was a little disappointed for losing the first set- one hour 20 minutes tiring for me and very tough but then I started to play well and I broke him in the first game of the second set and I started to feel comfortable with my serve. Then I won the second set and it was another match and I won two sets.

 

Andy Murray

 

Similar to the other night. Long match and sore back towards the end but I was expecting that coming to the tournament and I didn’t take a break but training and playing a lot but the muscles are more tired and fatigued.

 

About the back injury:

I don’t want to go into detail here about it and the treatment but been there for a while, since December and so …. You wait for the right moment and then there is the French Open and then Wimbledon and then the US Open coming up and there is not much time for rest – anything goes – whatever and not is the best time to do it and now or never and so when the French Open comes up I will be in peak condition.

 

To be honest when you lose matches your confidence drops and when you win your confidence grows and that is the only possibility … it is good some extra days break and I was planning on going to Paris straight away and start to practice as the Grand Slam start in 9 days and so I was to make sure I get practicing and getting into the gym and the first days there you are not doing too much, just getting into shape and understanding the conditions.

 

Sometimes things get better when you play on them or you have an extended break but when you identify the problem when you identify the problems then experience helps you. I have had 3 long matches and one was 2 hrs 40 and today’s was a good test and I did relatively well.

 

 

Petra Kvitova

Q: Can you tell us something about the Fed Cup final against Serbia. I think you have an negative score against Ivanovic 3 or 4 year ago?

Kvitova: I remember that (Jankovic) is a former number one and wants to beback in the top 10. and Both players are players are playing well right now but we are playing at home and so I think we will have the crowds with us and we will have more support and especially for the final. It will be nice to win and yes, it will be tough but we’ll see.

Q: Can you tell us something about the conditions out there and if it is good preparation for the French Open?

Kvitova: I think that on Monday it was bad but today and yesterday it wasn’t too bad . sometimes the wind comes and sometimes it doesn’t but its not too bad. I think on court it is the same for both players.

I think that this tournament and also the other games in Strasburg and Brussels will be good preparation for the Roland Garros.

 

Novak Djokovic

 

It was a very strange match it was difficult to play with that wind. But the conditions were the same for both us, he just handled it better at the start. I was playing far too defensively and passively and he was controlling everything. He was the better player for a set and a half.

On receiving a warning form the chair umpire for banging his racquet on the court:

It’s not the first time and I don’t think it will be the last time, I’m a player with a lot of emotion. I hope kids didn’t see it. But then it changed the match, … the momentum swung to my side.

 

 

Mentality is what is needed and especially when you are playing against a player who prefer this surface and has already won two tournaments on this surface this year already and he plays with confidence and so when I stepped into the court today he took his chances and then I go into the rhythm and I starter to play better than the beginning of the game.

 

It’s frustrating the conditions like this but you just try to keep focused and yes, my emotions are important all through the math and so I have been like that for many years but I just keep positive in my head and pull the momentum to my side and that I show I got on the winning board.

 

I am not worried — I think I played well and the 2 matches that I played in the tournament in different conditions – at night and day and I found my way to win against a good opponent who plays well on this surface and this is encouraging for the next challenge.

 

Q: Nadal and Federer in the past years have been sort of drivers. What about yourself and popularity outside the tennis court. They are important for the work of other people who know nothing about tennis. Will it take time – is it a goal?

 

First of all I respect them as tennis rivals and good examples of champions and they have done a lot for many generations of new generations. They have done a lot to raise awareness and I joined this a couple of years ago with Murray also and we are experiencing a good time now but I am not thinking about popularity and I am here to enjoy what I do and win as many matches as I can and if I can be an example to kids and up and coming talent – especially with my Foundation to let kids realize their dreams .. I was in their position and it’s nice to see that.

 

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Gasquet Stuns Murray in Rome

Andy Murray

By Enrico Maria Riva

ROME – Matches usually tell two different stories: Andy Murray versus Richard Gasquet was no exception on Thursday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. While the Frenchman managed a great victory 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-2, helping him to gear up for the French Open, the Scot showed that he is still struggling on clay. Without coach Ivan Lendl anywhere in sight, Murray played a very confusing match, failing to hold his serve easily most of the time, and spending huge amount of energy battling Gasquet from the baseline.

 

Murray has an excuse, as his back seemed to bother him throughout the match an issue which he admits he has been dealing with since December, but most of all he has to blame himself for the attitude towards the whole match. He reportedly shouted “I hate this game, I hate it!” on one of the too many occasions where he had to deal with repeatedly having to save break points. Murray never found his inner peace during the match, failed to close the first set while up a break at 5-3. Somehow he won the tiebreak but didn’t manage to bring the momentum to his side and let Gasquet dictate the game.

 

Gasquet has been playing very well lately, reaching the final in Estoril and now this Murray victory confirms his progress. The fact that coach Riccardo Piatti is now traveling with him 100%, after Ivan Ljubicic’s retirement, it has given Gasquet more confidence and more stability. Friday he will have to play at his best considering that David Ferrer is in great shape. The early start at Noon doesn’t help either as Gasquet didn’t fail to mention his anger about the scheduling during his news conference”.

 

Big emotions in Rome with Italy’s Andreas Seppi who managed to win another epic match, this time against Stanislas Wawrinka, saving six match points and closing  the match 6-7(1), 7-6(6), 7-6(6) after three hours and 20 minutes. The Italian will now face Roger Federer who took out Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

 

Another surprise was avoided on Thursday when Novak Djokovic managed to come back from a set down against Juan Monaco 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. The Argentinian showed that he has fully recovered from the Monte Carlo injury and he will be a serious threat in the Roland Garros. Rafael Nadal had no problem whatsoever in dismissing Marcel Granollers with a double 6-1 and David Ferrer prevented Gilles Simon from winning his first set ever on clay against him when he secured the second set tiebreak (6-0, 7-6). Tomas Berdych beat Nicolas Almagro 7-6, 6-3. There was an incident during a match at the Australian Open where the Spaniard involuntarily hit the Czech while volleying at the net. Yet the funniest episode involved the man who watered the court at the end of the set and an unlucky linesman who was soaked during the process.

In the night session Juan Martin Del Potro didn’t put much effort in the match he lost 6-4, 6-1 to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after having been up a break in the first set. Del Potro appeared to be dealing with knee pain.  The Argentinian didn’t appreciate the humidity and the match went quickly. Roger Federer struggled a bit to get rid of Juan Carlos Ferrrero but eventually won 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

 

In the women’s draw Petra Kvitova needed three sets to beat Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 although she looked relaxed during the vastly deserted news conference. Venus Williams made a giant leap towards the Olympics with her win against Stosur 6-4, 6-3 and Serena Williams secured a big match against Flavia Pennetta disposing of Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 6-1. The Italian is the last local woman remaining thanks to her stunning performance against Petra Cetkovska 6-0, 6-1. Roland Garros champion Na Li won against Chanelle Scheepers 7-6, 6-2 and will face Dominika Cibulkova who received a walkover on Wednesday  when Victoria Azarenka withdrew from the tournament with a  shoulder injury. A solid win for Maria Sharapova who trailed early during the match against Ana Ivanovic, saving set points yet still managed to prevail 7-6, 6-3.

 

Enrico Maria Riva is in Rome covering the Internazionali BNL D’Italia for Tennis Panorama News. Follow his twitter updates on @TennisNewsTPN and his personal twitter @EnricoMariaRiva.

Enrico Maria Riva is the tennis columnist for the Italian online newspaper Il Post and also writes for the Matchpoint magazine and for the websites Spaziotennis.com and Thetennisspace.com.

Share
Filed Under: Contributors, Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Federer Makes Quick Work of Gasquet, Djokovic Beats Wawrinka at Madrid Open

Roger Federer bounced back from tough match against Milos Raonic on Wednesday evening, by taking out Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-2 in less than an hour at the Madrid Open on Thursday.

“I thought I did well today,” Federer said. “I played clean tennis even though I went for my shots. A few too many unforced errors but that’s still due to the ball flying here and tough to control. Maybe just wanting it a bit too much at times. Overall I think I played a smart match and served well when I had to and played well on the big points again which I am very happy about.”

 

Federer was also asked about Rafael Nadal’s upset loss to Fernando Verdasco earlier in the day,”Well surprising. Verdasco is obviously a great player, a quality player. For years maybe he should have beaten Rafa in the past on a few occasions so this one came as a bit of a surprise. I think especially being down 5-2 in the third, maybe double break, I’m not even sure. So from then on you don’t expect a guy to come back particularly on clay but he did well. I didn’t see much of the match but I’m sure that Verdasco played some good tennis to come back into the match and that’s what you’ve got to do against Rafa. It’s a bit of a surprise. The tournament goes on, unfortunately without Rafa, but maybe gives an opportunity to some of the players around in the draw.”

 

Federer will take on David Ferrer for a spot in the semis. Federer spoke about playing his quarterfinal opponent: “I’ve had a good head to head against him but I don’t think that means much against a quality player like him especially here in Spain on clay. I’ve played him here in the past in a tough three setter and I played him once in Hamburg; I think we had a tough three setter they are as well. The two times we have played against each other on clay and for that reason this is a tough task ahead of me but I feel like I’m playing pretty good the moment and I expect myself to play better each match so we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”

 

Novak Djokovic also recovered from a challenging Wednesday match when he outlasted Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6, 6-2 on Thursday evening in Madrid.

Djokovic was 0 for 7 on break points in the first set against the Swiss and was forced into a tiebreak. The World No. 1 built a 5-2 lead in the second set by breaking Wawrinka twice. Djokovic could not serve out the match at 5-2 but regrouped in his next service game to clinch the match.

 

Djokovic will take on countryman Janko Tipsarevic in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , ,

Gasquet Rallies Past Bellucci in Madrid

by Lucia Hoffman

MADRID – There was just one person to blame on Thomaz Bellucci loss on Tuesday at the Madrid Open and that was Richard Gasquet. Gasquet defeated Bellucci 4-6, 6-4 7-6(5).

 

Gasquet is match tough, having just arrived from Portugal, where he lost in the finals of the Estoril Open to Juan Martin del Potro. In the first set, Belucci was aggressive and was able to control the points and put away balls for winners. But in the second set Gasquet played more aggressively, finding a way to force the third and decisive set.

 

Gasquet was serving for the match at 5-3, but Bellucci fought very hard to stay in the match and got the break to go 4-5. Then Bellucci, held at love to get back to 5-5. The crowd could feel there was a momentum change. From that point on, both players where giving all they had. Dealing with slippery courts conditions on Court 3, both players where trying to move each other around and take advantage of short shots to attack. Bellucci was very aggressive with his forehand and serve, but Gasquet kept giving Bellucci one more ball back to hit. That caused the Brazilian to make unforced errors. Gasquet also showed a strong mental fortitude and confidence at the end of the match, never giving up.

 

One of the most amazing points of the match was when Bellucci, facing match point at end of the third set, hit a drop shot that had everyone on the stands holding their breath. Bellucci won the point, but Gasquet still found a way at the end to play a solid tie breaker, ending the match with his trademark backhand as though Bellucci had forgotten how lethal that backhand could be. It was a long day at the office for the Frenchman, who also played a doubles match earlier in the day with Nicolas Almagro from Spain.

 

In the past, perhaps Gasquet would have lost a match like that, due to his poor fitness and mental strength. However, the last two years he has been more fit and playing solid tennis. As for Bellucci, not being able to train hard last few weeks, due to an injury during the tournament in Monte carlo, might have cost him the match. Bellucci also loses important ATP points, because he made the semifinals last year losing in three sets to Novak Djokovic. That puts Bellucci  in danger of not qualifying for the Olympics in July, because of his lower ranking. That’s more pressure for the No. 1 Brazilian player who will have to do well in Rome and Roland Garros to keep his chances alive to play for his country at the London Olympics.

Lucia Hoffman is covering the Madrid Open for Tennis Panorama News.

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , ,

Del Potro Defends Estoril Title

 

Top seed Juan Martin Del Potro defended his Estoril Open title by dispatching Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2 in the final on Sunday.

“I felt I played really well today,” the Argentine said. “I felt it was my best match of the week, so I am very glad for that to get another title in Estoril. I played really aggressive all the time and I felt really confident on my forehand. I grew in confidence every game. It is important for me. I played my best to beat Gasquet.”

“He played very well,” Gasquet said of his opponent. “He’s very powerful, has a great service, a great forehand and backhand. He deserved this win. He played better than me. He’s very tall and has a good second serve and was hitting the ball very well. He was the better player today.”

Gasquet spoke about his runner up finish – “It’s good for me to reach a final. It was a good tournament to prepare for the clay season. I get confidence from this tournament.”

Del Potro feels he’s back to his level of play: “I am getting closer and closer to my best form. I have worked really hard at home and now I have another important tournament next week to improve further. If I play as well as I did today over the coming days, I will be happy.”

Estoril gives Del Potro his 11th career title on the ATP World Tour.

RESULTS – SUNDAY, 6 MAY, 2012

Singles – Final
[1] J Del Potro (ARG) d [2] R Gasquet (FRA) 64 62

Doubles – Final
[1] A Qureshi (PAK) / J Rojer (NED) d [4] J Knowle (AUT) / D Marrero (ESP) 75 75

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Davis Cup: Looking Back at US vs France in 2008 in Winston-Salem

Tennis Panorama News will be covering the Davis Cup quarterfinal tie this weekend between the United States and France being held at the Monte Carlo Country Club. We’re taking a look back at  past ties between the two countries.

By Guillaume Willecoq

2008 Davis Cup quarterfinals in Winston-Salem (April, 11-13) : USA d. France 4/1.

 

It’s the 15th match between USA and France in the Davis Cup history. The last tie between the two teams was in 2002, when France beat the USA on the clay of Roland-Garros. This time, the match takes place in the United States, at Winston-Salem. It’s the third time the US team makes the choice to play at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, after India in 2001 (4/1) and Spain in 2007 (4/1).

 

The players:

USA: For the 10th consecutive tie, the team is made up of Andy Roddick (6th) and James Blake (8th) in singles, and Bob and Mike Bryan, world N°1 in doubles. Mardy Fish (42th) acts as the sparring. With this competitive group, the USA won the Davis Cup a few months before, beating Russia in final (4/1). Against France, Patrick McEnroe and his boys received on a very fast indoor at Winston-Salem.

 

France: Richard Gasquet (10th) is the team France leader. But the new star in this group is Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (13th), who recently reached the Australian Open final. They both should play in singles, whereas Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clément, current champions of Wimbledon, will face the Bryan brothers. But nothing goes as predicted: first, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is walk-over due to a knee injury and the captain picks Paul-Henri Mathieu and Michaël Llodra for the first rubbers. Then, Richard Gasquet doesn’t feel like playing Andy Roddick and refuses to go on the court on the Sunday. Drained by his match against Blake, Paul-Henri Mathieu loses in straight sets the decisive rubber.

 

The tie :

Roddick d. Llodra 6/4 7/6 7/6

Blake d. Mathieu 7/6 6/7 6/3 3/6 7/5

Clément / Llodra d. Bryan / Bryan 6/7 7/5 6/3 6/4

Roddick d. Mathieu 6/2 6/3 6/2

Blake d. Gasquet 6/7 6/4 6/4

 

The quotes :

Andy Roddick: “It’s nice to get rewarded for all the rough losses that we had, and I’ve been a part of a lot of big losses for us in Davis Cup. You’ve got to try to keep an even keel when things are going your way, but obviously it’s been fun having won the last six….”

 

Paul-Henri Mathieu: “I think I deserved to win the match against James. In the end, it could have gone either way. I played the right way till the end, but James came up with big shots to take the match, credit to him… And against Andy, I probably faced the best player in the world on the surface… I’m tired and disappointed because I gave it all during this week-end. I tried my best. As far as I am concerned, I can look at myself in the mirror. And be proud.”

 

James Blake: “Against Paul-Henri, I never want to feel like I’m out of it. He had been serving really well, but funny things can happen when you’re serving for a match, especially in Davis Cup. And so I did my best to put the pressure back on him and make sure he knew he wasn’t going to get a free game out of it.”

 

Michaël Llodra: “We knew we had to make a great match against Bob and Mike. It’s maybe the reason why we had a great record against them. Today, another time, we could raise our level. Arnaud and me are close friends inside and outside the court, it helps us a lot. We had a lot of fun. It’s for those kind of matches, in front of 15 000 people, that we play. And with your best buddy, it’s fabulous.”

 

Guy Forget: “I’m not there to analyse Richard’s problems. I spoke with him. Richard is going through a difficult time. He had some nagging injuries and didn’t win a lot of matches. I support the players, and what we said to each other stays between us. Richard is different, you have to deal with it. This week-end his mind was on other things.”

 

After that :

Concerning the French team, for the first time it’s obvious that Guy Forget is struggling with his young players. Since then, Richard Gasquet has been a second choice in the French team, behind Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gaël Monfils, only playing twice in singles. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, missing the group in Winston-Salem, is a big factor on the winning chances for the team : step by step, he has become the boss. Since he plays in Davis Cup, his single loss came to Rafael Nadal on clay, in 2011! He wasn’t there against Serbia for the 2010 final, and left the team with fewer options to win the title.

 

For the US team, the defense of the title lasted until the semifinals, when Spain stopped them on clay, in Madrid. Since then, the USA has travelled for far away ties, all of them on clay. This week at Monaco, it will be their 6th tie on clay in the last 8… They learned how to beat the Swiss on clay, against all odds, can they repeat the feature against France ?

 

Tennis Panorama News is covering the Davis Cup between the United States and France this week taking place at the Monte Carlo Country Club from April 6-8.  Look out for updates here and on twitter @TennisNewsTPN.

Share
Filed Under: Davis Cup/Fed Cup, Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

French Open Day Eight- Djokovic Win Streaks at 41 and 43, Another Record for Federer

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns hte ball to Richard Gasquet of France during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris May 29, 2011. REUTERS/Charles Platiau (FRANCE – Tags: SPORT TENNIS)

Novak Djokovic defeated Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday at the French Open to advance to the quarterfinals. The win marks his 41st consecutive win to begin the 2011 year and his 43rd straight win overall dating back to the 2010 Davis Cup final. “I’m definitely playing the best tennis of my life… I’m trying to stay focused on each game and we’ll see how far I can go,” Djokovic told media. Djokovic is one win away from equaling John McEnroe’s 1984 record of 42-0 to begin a season. Djokovic is third on the consecutive match win streak behind Guillermo Vilas‘ record of 46 in 1977 and Ivan Lendl’s 44. Djokovic hopes to continue his winning ways when he faces Italy’s Fabio Fognini in the quarterfinals.

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after winning his match against his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris May 29, 2011. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau (FRANCE – Tags: SPORT TENNIS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after winning his match against his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris May 29, 2011. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau (FRANCE – Tags: SPORT TENNIS)

Roger Federer now holds the record for consecutive quarterfinals made at a major at 28. Roger Federer stopped Olympic gold medal doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka with a straight forward 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory

“Twenty-eight quarterfinals in a row, that’s great. But that’s another opportunity for me to go one step further.”

The last man to prevent Roger Federer from making the quarterfinals of a major was Gustavo Kuerten at the 2004 French Open who stopped Federer in the third round. In his quarterfinal, Federer will face the winner of the Gael Monfils – Fabio Fognini match which was suspended by darkness with Monfils leading 6-2, 2-6, 7-5, 0-2.

 

 

Fabio Fognini of Italy reacts during his match against Albert Montanes of Spain at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris May 29, 2011. REUTERS/Thierry Roge (FRANCE – Tags: SPORT TENNIS IMAGE OF THE DAY TOP PICTURE)
“I should have lost this match,“ stated Italy’s Fabio Fognini after a 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 victory over Spaniard Alberto Montanes at Roland Garros on Sunday. Fognini fought off five match points, committed 103 unforced errors and nine footfaults in the 4 hour 22 minute match. On top of all of the statistics being against him, Fognini two points from losing at 6-7 in the fifth set yelped in pain and called for the trainer for a left leg injury, thought to be cramps. He survived the game and the match but opened up controversy as to whether the chair umpire should have allowed him to take a medical time out. Fognini advances to his first major tournament quarterfinal where he’ll face Novak Djokovic.

 

Vera Zvonareva of Russia serves to her compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris May 29, 2011. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau (FRANCE – Tags: SPORT TENNIS HEADSHOT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova upset No. 3 Vera Zvonareva 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals. With the top three women’s seeds knocked out of the French Open, it marks the third time in the open era that none of the top three seeded women have reached the quarterfinals of a major.

 

“I don’t really want to comment on this, because, well, it’s not of my business,” Pavlyuchenkova told the media.  “I’m just trying to do my thing, focusing on me.… the rest, I don’t really care.”

 

“She (Zvonareva) was up with a break, so I think maybe in the past or last year I wouldn’t believe I can win this match against that top player…this time I think that was the main key (to victory).”

The win advances Pavlyuchenkova to her first first major tournament quarterfinal.

 

Francesca Schiavone of Italy reacts after winning her match against Jelena Jankovic of Serbia during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris May 29, 2011. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier (FRANCE – Tags: SPORT TENNIS IMAGE OF THE DAY TOP PICTURE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defending Roland Garros Women’s champion Francesca Schiavone is back to kissing the clay. Schiavone edged out a tight fourth round match over Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to advance the quarterfinals.

 

French woman Marion Bartoli advanced to her first French Open quarterfinal when Gisela Dulko retired witha leg injury with Bartoli leading 7-5, 1-0.

 

Day Nine French Open Schedule of Play

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Net Notes for May 12, 2011

In the News:

Serena Williams has officially withdrawn for the French Open which begins on May 22nd. Her statement :

“While I am making good progress, unfortunately I won’t be able to compete in Roland Garros as I am continuing to rehab my foot and recover from the pulmonary embolism. I am grateful for every moment I have and the fact that I have returned to the court. I am hopeful that I will be back competing this summer. Thank you all for your continued prayers.”

 

 

Dinara Safina has also withdrawn form the French Open. In additon the Russian is taking an indefinite hiatus from tennis. She has been struggling with back problems.

 

 

Novak Djokovic has extended his winning streak in 2011 to 34, 36 in a row dating back to the 2010 Davis Cup final. The Serb stopped Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 6-1 in Rome on Thursday.

 

 

Upset of the Day – Richard Gasquet defeated Roger Federer 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4)

Federer reflects on the loss.

 

Richard Gasquet talks about the win.

 

WTA launched its “Strong is Beautiful” Global Advertising Campaign

 

Lleyton Hewitt will play Eastbourne – a warm-up tournament for Wimbledon




Mary Carillo will join the Tennis Channel’s broadcast team for the French and US Opens.

 

Former Cincinnati Bengals executive Vince Cicero has been named the new Tournament Director for the Western & Southern Open.


Former top 10 player  Emilio Sanchez is planning to open tennis academy in Singapore.

 

WTA released a statement on the upcoming tournaments in Tokyo and Osaka:

“In response to a misleading media report, the WTA today confirmed that the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo will take place as scheduled from September 25 – October 1, 2011 and that the HP Japan Women’s Open will take place in Osaka from October 10 – October 16, 2011.   This statement is being issued as a result of a misleading Kyodo News report which could be read as stating that a WTA event in Japan had been cancelled.”

 

French Open Wildcards – French players -  Men – Arnaud Clement, Vincent Millot, Benoit Paire, Edouard Roger-Vasselin, Guillaume Rufin and Maxime Teixeira.

Women – Iryna Bremond, Stephanie Foretz-Gacon, Kristina Mladenovic, Pauline Parmentier and Caroline Garcia.

Others receiving wildcards through reciprocal federation agreements- US -Irina Falconi and Tim Smyczek. Australia -  Casey Dellacqua and Bernard Tomic.

 

Internazionali BNL d’Italia Rome -Results and Order of Play

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, Net Notes, tennis news, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

2009 US Open Men’s Semis to be Revisited at the BNP Paribas Open

It’s the Men’s semis of the 2009 US Open all over again at the BNP Paribas Open. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer advanced to complete the remaining semifinal spots.

Novak Djokovic, despite having his service broken early in both sets knocked out Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-4. Djokovic rallied from 0-2 in the first set and 0-3 in the second set. The Serb continues his winning streak which is up to 16 consecutive ATP tour singles matches, 18 in a row counting Davis Cup. Djokovic has dropped a mere 12 games during the tournament.

Djokovic on his recent play: “Confidence plays a very important role in the life of a tennis player. So if you can roll on that run and try to use that confidence you can have a lot of success and you can really play well,” he said.

“I do feel really comfortable on the court and am trying to use that confidence because I know that it can easily change. It’s a very mental game.”

Djokovic will face Roger Federer in one semifinal. Not only will this be a battle to advance to the final, but for No. 2 in the world. Federer and Djokovic are currently ranked second and third respectively.

Federer disposed of his fellow Swiss and 2008 Olympic gold medal doubles partner Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 6-4. Federer is 18-2 on the season with both losses coming at the hands of Djokovic –  who drubbed the Swiss in the semis of the Australian Open and the final of Dubai.

Federer:“I didn’t know it was the case coming into the tournament, and I feel like if you are playing a fellow top-five guy, it doesn’t matter what’s on the line,” “You just want to beat him, and it doesn’t matter if it’s the finals, semis, rankings involved.”  “I have a great record against fellow top-10 players, and that’s what kind of gets you going.”

Speaking of doubles partners, Warinka and Federer advanced to the doubles final of the BNP Paribas Open with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez. It was Federer’s first doubles win over Nadal, he is now 1-2 in doubles, 8-13 in singles.

Rounding out the semifinal singles match-ups, Rafael Nadal will play Juan Martin Del Potro in the first match on Saturday. It’s history repeating – Nadal versus Del Potro and Djokovic versus Federer were the exact 2009 US Open semifinal match-ups. Del Potro captured the US Open title defeating Federer in the final in 2009.

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

BNP Paribas Open Day 8: Bakery Items and Battles

Novak Djokovic is simply “el fuego.” Djokovic served bakery items again on Wednesday at the BNP Paribas Open, this time to his fellow Serb and doubles partner for the tournament, Viktor Troicki 6-0, 6-1.

Djokovic on his play:”I don’t think I’m playing, you know, incredible tennis. I think I’m playing really, really solid and getting a lot of balls back into the court and making my opponent play an extra shot. Obviously I had two very big hitters yesterday and today, and big serves, but I was managing to return a lot of balls in and making them, you know, put a lot of unforced errors. That’s what happened today. I think he had a very bad match in general. But I was very solid, and I keep on playing well. So this is what makes me happy.”

 

Photo courtesy of Paula Vergara

Rafael Nadal was up against his third consecutive qualifier, this time in India’s Somdev Devvarman. No bakery items today for Nadal, Devvarman stayed shoulder to shoulder with the Spaniard and pushed him throughout. Nadal played the big points better for a 7-5, 6-4 win.

Nadal on the match: Well, I played really bad, I think. That’s the beginning. I played really bad, especially in the beginning. I think he didn’t play well in the beginning. First he was winning 3-1 — no, 2-0, and he didn’t play well, but I played terrible in the beginning.
So after that I improved a little bit, but the first set in general, for me, was really bad, because I wasn’t able to play aggressive with my forehand. I didn’t see no one time the opportunity to go inside and to play the winner.
So in general, the level was very low in the first set, in my opinion. The second set improves a little bit. I think I had the win before. Had Love-30 two times, had 15-30 another time, and big chances to win 6-2, 6-3 in the second, no?
Because I was playing much better in the second set. For sure not perfect, but, you know, you have to come back after a terrible first set and the mental situation is difficult to change a lot. If you played really bad the first set, in the second set, even if you play not bad, your vision is difficult to appreciate if you are playing better or not, because your confidence is low after about the first set, no?
I think the second set was correct; wasn’t bad second set. That’s the most positive thing, so I played much better in the end of the match than in the beginning.

 

Nadal will face Ivo Karlovic in the quarters. Karlovic bounced out Alberto Montanes.

It was no piece of cake for Roger Federer against young American Ryan Harrison.  After being broken in his first service game, Harrison began to play without fear and Federer played as though he did not know how to hit a forehand. Federer failed to close out the first set on own his serve up 5-4 and 6-5 but held on in the tiebreaker 7-4. Federer found his forehand in the second set and held on for dear life to win the match 7-6, 6-3.

 

There were moments in the Richard Gasquet – Andy Roddick match when you were just waiting for the Frenchman to break down. Gasquet‘s gorgeous backhand was working Roddick over and he was reading the American’s serve as though it were a Dr. Seuss book. Gasquet moved to a set and a break lead at 4-3 played a sloppy game to get broken – you knew a momentum shift was about to take place. Gasquet steadied himself saved three set points took the tibreak and the match 6-3, 7-6. Gasquet will play the fiery hot Djokovic next in the quarters.

 

Juan Matin Del Potro is on the road back. The Argentine took out another seeded player at the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday – Germany’s Philipp Kohlshreiber 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7). Del Potro had to rally from 1-6 in the second set tiebreak.

“I’m playing better match by match, and I don’t know if I can play better than today,” Del Potro said. “I just want to work hard. I need time to do it. I’m very patient.”

“I am playing better than two months ago. I know it’s a long road, but I’m still improving my serve, my forehand.”

“It’s very tough to play every day against these kind of players, and I need time to feel 100 percent again.”

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
«Older Posts
Newer Posts»