Reuters
Getty
Lost a bit in all the singles drama, Serena and Venus Williams captured the Roland Garros doubles title for their fourth straight Slam victory and 12th overall.
They became only the third women's doubles pair to win four major titles in a row. Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver did it in 1983-84, and Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva did it in 1992-93.
Serena called it the Williams' Slam.
All of sport may never see such accomplished siblings again.
Francesca Schiavone ITA (17) vs. Samantha Stosur AUS (7)
BY MADPROFESSAH
I previously made predictions of the four women's quarterfinals and four men's quarterfinals and got 4 of 8 results correct at this year's French Open. The 2010 Roland Garros men's semifinals are now set.
Roger Federer SUI (1) Robin Soderling SWE (5) vs. Tomas Berdych CZE (15). Soderling loves Court Phillippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros. Last year he beat defending champion Rafael Nadal in the fourth round before losing to Roger Federer in the final. This year he beat defending champion Roger Federer in the quarterfinal and seems destined to reach his second consecutive Roland Garros final on the biggest clay court in the world. But there's someone who is even taller and serves bigger in the way of Soderling's dream: Tomas Berdych. Berdych has cut through the men's draw like the 6'5", 200 pound Czech scythe that he is, eliminating Andy Murray and John Isner along the way without dropping a set. Berdych recently had a career milestone when he finally beat Roger Federer for the first time in 9 matches(second time overall) in Miami in March. Soderling beat Federer for the first time of his career on Tuesday. The two have played 8 times overall, with Soderling holding a slim 5-3 lead in their career head-to-head match up. They have split the two matches they played this year, and they have split the two matches they have played on clay. In my mind, either Berdych will continue his rout of the field and win easily in straight sets (a low probability event) or he will start off hot and not be able to sustain his high level against someone like the powerful Swede who can match him toe-to-toe. Also, although this is Berdych's very first major semifinal, it is only Soderling's second, but this is also where Soderling outlasted Fernando Gonzalez in a very thrilling semifinal last year. I believe he will make it to the final for the second year in a row.
BY MADPROFESSAH
I previously made predictions of the four women's quarterfinals and four men's quarterfinals and got 4 of 8 results correct at this year's French Open.
Serena Williams USA (1) Samantha Stosur AUS (7) vs. Jelena Jankovic SRB (4). Samantha Stosur has the most clay court wins of anyone on tour this year. She showed that she can take out players who are expected to beat her with two exceptional, consecutive 3-set wins over 4-time French Open champ Justine Henin and 12-time major champion Serena Williams. She may possess the best serve in women's tennis right now. It was this difference which was most glaring in her defeat of Serena in the quarters. Stosur had quieter (but more effective) service stats (6 aces to one double fault) than Serena (13 aces, 9 double faults). Her second serve has a wicked kick which will push almost any opponent deep behind the baseline. Her next opponent is Jelena Jankovic who has lived up to her seeding (the only member of the Top 4 to do so) and is appearing in her sixth career major semifinal. Stosur is appearing in her second. Jankovic also sports a 3-1 career head-to-head edge over the Australian, but then again so did Serena Williams, with all their previous encounters occurring on hard courts. I actually like and appreciate both players' games so I will not be upset which ever player wins. In this case, I think Stosur will have the larger momentum and greater boost of her confidence having already beaten two great champions to reach this point. I think she will not stop until Stosur becomes a grand slam champion herself.
MadProfessah's pick: Stosur in 3 sets.Caroline Wozniacki DEN (3) Francesca Schiavone ITA (17) vs. Elena Dementieva RUS (5).
This was supposed to be where Venus Williams was supposed to take advantage of the top heavy draw and finally make her way to another French Open final. Sadly, that dream was deferred by the excellent play of Nadia Petrova who then could not sustain a lead against her friend and doubles partner Elena Dementieva, an ended up choking on 3rd-set bagel. Francesca Schiavone is a big match player. A few weeks before her 30th birthday she is in her first major semifinal, the first woman from Italy to be in a major final in over a generation. Although I love her game (that one handed backhand! the shotmaking!), I predicted that the World's 3rd ranked player would take her out easily but Schiavone flipped the script aruond and dismissed Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 6-3 in a match that was not as close as the score indicates. This match is the hardest one for me to predict. The two have played 10 tour matches, with only one on clay (won by Dementieva) and with the Russian holding a slight 6-4 edge. Just as Schiavone has indicated her mental toughness in big matches, Dementieva has shown the opposite. I think that either Dementieva will be so nervous that Schiavone will blow her off the court in straight sets, or if Dementieva is able to win a set, she will be able to gut out an ugly 3-set win for her 3rd major final, her first in over six years. MadProfessah's pick: Schiavone in 2 sets or Dementieva in 3 sets.
Getty
Yesterday, Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian woman in the Open Era to advance to a Grand Slam singles semifinal at the ripe old age of 29.
Schedule for Day 11: Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Court Philippe Chatrier 14:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
Serena Williams (USA)[1] v. Samantha Stosur (AUS)[7]
2. Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
Nicolas Almagro (ESP)[19] v. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]
3. Mixed Doubles - Fourth Round
Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)[6] v. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)/Oliver Marach (AUT)[3]
Court Suzanne Lenglen 14:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[4] v. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)
2. Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
Jurgen Melzer (AUT)[22] v. Novak Djokovic (SRB)[3]
3. Mixed Doubles - Fourth Round
Vania King (USA)/Christopher Kas (GER) v. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)/Julian Knowle (AUT)
Court 1 11:00 Start Time
1. Legends Over 45 Doubles - First Round
Andres Gomez (ECU)/John Mcenroe (USA) v. Pat Cash (AUS)/Mikael Pernfors (SWE)
2. Legends Over 45 Doubles - First Round
Mansour Bahrami (IRI)/Henri Leconte (FRA) v. Guy Forget (FRA)/Thierry Tulasne (FRA)
3. Women's Doubles - Semifinals
Kveta Peschke (CZE)/Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)[12] v. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)/Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP)[2]
4. Women's Doubles - Semifinals
Serena Williams (USA)Venus Williams (USA)[1] v. Liezel Huber (USA)/A. Medina Garrigues (ESP)[3]
Not Before 17:00
5. Women's Legends - First Round
Martina Navratilova (USA)/Jana Novotna (CZE) v. Mary Joe Fernandez (USA)/Conchita Martinez (ESP)
6. Legends Under 45 Doubles - First Round
Goran Ivanisevic (CRO)/Michael Stich (GER) v. Thomas Muster (AUT)/Mark Woodforde (AUS)
Reuters
When the power merchant doesn't miss on the big moments, doesn't become overwhelmed by whatever situation he faces, he wins.
On any surface. Even in thick-as-pea-soup conditions.
The proof is in the result.
Roger Federer played well, but Robin Söderling did to this year's defending champion exactly what he did to last year's:
He hit him off the court with such relentless power and precision, Raja had no idea what hit him.
The only difference? The crowd wasn't at all rooting for the underdog to dethrone the champion.
Make of that what you will.
I, for one, will enjoy the top-half semifinal thoroughly, what with Tomas Berdych following up his dismantling of Andy Murray with a crushing victory over Mikhail Youzhny.
May the hardest hitter win.
Getty
Spain's Nicolas Almagro eyes the ball after hitting a forehand to Spain's Fernando Verdasco during their men's fourth round match in the French Open tennis championship at the Roland Garros stadium, on May 31, 2010, in Paris.
::
We have arrived at the final eight. MadProfessah has posted his predictions and we'll talk about them here as the action unfolds.
Conventional wisdom states that Elena Dementieva is the best active player on the WTA never to have won a slam. I reject that. That honor goes to Miss Nadia Petrova. No, she's never been to a Slam final, never won an Olympic Gold, but she has the most talent and most complete game of the non-Slam winners in the women's field. And she can serve. We know what her deadliest weakness is and I, for one, am hoping she can smother it this week and make her first Slam final.
I'm also rooting for Francesca Schiavone, one of the most imaginative players on the tour who fights to the bigger end. She'll have her work cut out for her against the backboard that his Caroline Wozniacki, but if the veteran can frustrate the youngster enough, she'll advance to her first Slam semifinal in the latter days of her career. What a story that would be.
As for the men, it probably goes without saying but I'll say it anyway: I wanna see Robin Söderling play Tomas Berdych in the semifinals. Let it be, let it be.
Schedule for Day 10: Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Court Philippe Chatrier 14:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
Francesca Schiavone (ITA)[17] v. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[3]
2. Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
Roger Federer (SUI)[1] v. Robin Soderling (SWE)[5]
3. Men's Doubles - Fourth Round
Marc Lopez (ESP)/Pere Riba (ESP) v. Wesley Moodie (RSA)/Dick Norman (BEL)[4]
Court Suzanne Lenglen 14:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
Elena Dementieva (RUS)[5] v. Nadia Petrova (RUS)[19]
2. Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
Tomas Berdych (CZE)[15] v. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)[11]
3. Men's Doubles - Fourth Round
Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Oliver Marach (AUT)[6] v. Daniel Nestor (CAN)/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)[2]
Court 1 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - Fourth Round
Lukas Dlouhy (CZE)/Leander Paes (IND)[3] v. Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL)/Marcin Matkowski (POL)[8]
2. Women's Doubles - Fourth Round
Monica Niculescu (ROU)/Shahar Peer (ISR) v. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)/Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP)[2]
3. Mixed Doubles - Third Round
Vania King (USA)/Christopher Kas (GER) v. Tathiana Garbin (ITA)/Marcin Matkowski (POL)
4. Women's Doubles - Fourth Round
Kveta Peschke (CZE)/Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)[12] v. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)/Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR)
Court 2 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - Fourth Round
Marcelo Melo (BRA)/Bruno Soares (BRA) v. Julian Knowle (AUT)/Andy Ram (ISR)[10]
2. Girls' Singles - Second Round
Nastja Kolar (SLO)[4] v. Charlene Seateun (FRA)
3. Mixed Doubles - Third Round
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)/Julian Knowle (AUT) v. Cara Black (ZIM)/Leander Paes (IND)[2]
By MadProfessah
Here are my predictions for the women's quarterfinals at Roland Garros this year.
Serena Williams USA (1) vs. Samantha Stosur AUS (7) Justine Henin BEL (22). For the second year in a row, the winner of the tournament will be decided in the quarterfinal in which Serena Williams competes. Last year, Serena lost a nervy, tension-filled (frankly, ugly) quarterfinal match to eventual champion, Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova. This year instead of playing the 4-time Roland Garros champion Henin (who had a 24-match winning streak since Tathiana Garbin beat the 2003 defending champion in the second round at this tournament in 2004) Serena will face last year's semifinalist Samantha Stosur. The Serena-Justine showdown had been the most anticipated match on either side of the draw, even in a section of the draw called the "quarter of death" by Brad Gilbert. However, thanks to the hard-hitting, brilliant-serving Sam Stosur, that storyline is now dismissed from the tournament. Serena and Sam have only played four times (all on hard courts) with Stosur winning once, in Stanford last year. Serena is a woman on a mission, and will not be denied her chance to reach another Roland Garros final. PREDICTION: Serena in 3 sets.
Yaroslava Shvedova KAZ vs. Jelena Jankovic SRB (4). Surely Jelena Jankovic is too strong a defensive player to go through her entire career without winning a major? She made it to the 2008 U.S. Open final (losing to Serena in two close sets) but I believe that it is clay where her particular skills should be rewarded the most. Following that first major final Jankovic fell into a major downward spiral (although not as precipitous a decline as her Serbian countrywoman Ana Ivanovic, who although she possesses the 2008 French Open title still does not own a reliable second (or first) serve.) Jankovic has played well on clay this year, having beaten both Williams sisters on her way to the Rome final (which she lost). She should seize on the good fortune of not being in the "quarter of death" and sneak into her second major final. PREDICTION: Jankovic in 2 sets.
Francesca Schiavone ITA (17) vs. Caroline Wozniacki DEN (3). Wozniacki can regain the World #2 ranking by getting to the final, although I suspect her current Italian opponent and future Russian opponent will do their best to help maintain Venus Williams' hold on that position. This is the veteran Schiavone's 4th career quarterfinal, her second in Paris since reaching that lofty height in her debut at the tournament in 2001. The young Dane had never been past the 4th round of a major despite being on the tour for 3 years until her major breakthrough in New York (over Svetlana Kuznetsova in one of the very best matches of 2009) last year, where she lost the final to Kim Clijsters. In these clashes between wily veteran and talented youngster it is often the older player who comes out the loser because they more viscerally understand the significance (and rarity) of the moment and I expect this case to be no different. Youth will be served, again. PREDICTION:Wozniacki in 2 sets.
Elena Dementieva RUS (5) vs. Nadia Petrova RUS (19) Venus Williams USA (2). Oh, Venus! After getting past her 3rd Round Roland Garros jinx easily she meekly went out to the hard-hitting, mentally fragile Petrova on a cold wet day in straight sets, losing to someone she had never lost to on any surface. Sigh. Soon to turn 30 years-old, and for once blessed with a draw that had all the deadliest players in the other half for once, Venus couldn't keep it together long enough to make another deep run at the clay major, despite having amassed a very good record on clay this year. Petrova has always done well in Paris, first breaking through here at age 17 into the semifinals in 2003. Her opponent, Elena Dementieva, has quietly snuck through the draw, losing only one set in a tiebreak to Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada, with almost no one discussing her chances despite being a finalist here in 2004 and having played the best women's match on tour last year. Matches between the Russians are very often hideous, tight affairs with one player losing worse than the other instead of one player winning decisively. That's what I expect to see in this match. Head-to-head there's not much between these two, they are tied 7-7 in career matches, 2-2 in clay court matches and 1-1 in grand slam matches. Petrova has won exactly 2 major quarterfinal matches before, here in Paris, while the 6-month-older Dementieva has won 8 major quarterfinals, although only one in Paris. PREDICTION: Dementieva in 3 sets.
BY MadProfessah
Here are my predictions for the men's quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2010.
Roger Federer SUI (1) vs. Robin Soderling SWE (5). This quarterfinal is a repeat of last year's final, which Federer won relatively easily in straight sets. Although Soderling has not beaten Federer in an official ATP Tour match in 12 tries, he did beat the World #1 at an exhibition earlier this year in Abu Dhabi and having beaten Rafael Nadal in what some people call the greatest upset ever, the tall, powerful Swede knows he has the game to end Federer's jawdropping streak of 23 consecutive major semifinals. In fact, this match is very important to Federer, not only due to the semifinals streak, but also because he needs to win it in order to be certain that he will break Pete Sampras' record of 286 weeks at #1 before Wimbledon. Federer has yet to drop a set in Paris this year, but I am sure that he will take the challenge posed by Soderling seriously, even though the 6'4", 195-pound ballcrusher has only ever won two tie-break sets against him. After all, it is very possible to never lose your serve and still lose the match! Some say that Federer is losing his edge now that he is a husband, father and broken the major singles title record. I disagree, even though the fact is that Federer has already lost 6 matches this year (to Nadal, Tomas Berdych, Ernests Gulbis, Marcos Baghdatis, Albert Montanes, and Nikolay Davydenko). Regardless, I think that there is an inexorable march towards another Nadal-Federer final. PREDICTION: Federer in 4 sets.
Tomas Berdych CZE (15) vs. Mikhail Youzhny RUS (11). Berdych has been playing really well this year, and made a huge mental breakthrough by finally ending his losing streak against Roger Federer earlier this year in Miami. He has been demolishing his way through the draw, not dropping a set despite playing good clay court players like John Isner and Andy Murray. Youzhny got lucky in the previous round since an injured Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was forced to retire after losing the first set. Although head-to-head Youzhny leads Berdych 6-4 in career ATP matches, I believe the in-form Czech will take out the (un)lucky Russian. PREDICTION: Berdych in 4 sets.
Jurgen Melzer AUT (22) Teimuraz Gabashvili RUS vs. Novak Djokovic SRB (3). Gabashvili blew Andy Roddick off the court in the 3rd round in straight sets, blasting forehands into the corners of the court and defly handing the American's deflated serve easily. However, he was unable to repeat this performance on the clay against the wily lefty veteran Melzer, who like Samantha Stosur on the women's side, had previously experienced success and fame on the doubles court and used that to build confidence on the singles court. Melzer was one of the few Top 30 players never to reach the fourth round of a major, and now he finds himself in a quarter playing Djokovic. The World #3 has had mental lapses in the second set in three of the four matches he has played at Roland Garros this year. If that happens again, perhaps Melzer can find a way to win the resulting best-of-3 match. All the pressure will be on the higher ranked player to reach a 3rd semifinal against Nadal, who took out the Serb in that round in 2007 and 2008. Roland Garros 2010 is looking like a replay of those years, with another Nadal-Federer final. PREDICTION:Djokovic in 4 sets.
Nicolas Almagro ESP (19) Fernando Verdasco ESP (7) vs. Rafael Nadal ESP (2). The Verdasco and Nadal played one of the best matches of the year (probably of the decade) in the semifinals of the 2009 Australian Open, a five-hour, thrilling slugfest that both competitors were ennobled simply by their participation, although of course there was only one winner (Nadal). Almagro dashed hopes for a reprise of that thrilling Melbourne showdown by taking out Verdasco in four sets. Although Almagro has never beaten Nadal on any surface in 6 attempts, he did start off the match very strong when they played the Madrid Masters semifinal. It i beyond belief that Almagro could maintain that level of play over 5 sets in Paris when he could not do it for 2 sets in Madrid. PREDICTION: Nadal in 4 sets.
Reuters
Jurgen Melzer follows up his upset-of-the-tournament victory over David Ferrer and has just become a Grand Slam quarterfinalist for the first time in his career at the ripe old age of 29. Raise your hand if you saw this coming.
AP
The little backhand that couldn't. It was a long time coming, but Justine Henin finally loses her first match at Roland Garros in six years. Samantha Stosur got over herself and sent the diminutive one packing.
Schedule for Day 9: Monday, 31 May 2010
Court Philippe Chatrier 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Fourth Round
Robby Ginepri (USA) v. Novak Djokovic (SRB)[3]
2. Women's Singles - Fourth Round
Serena Williams (USA)[1] v. Shahar Peer (ISR)[18]
3. Men's Singles - Fourth Round
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)[24] v. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]
4. Women's Singles - Fourth Round
Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[4] v. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)[23]
Court Suzanne Lenglen 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Fourth Round
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) v. Jurgen Melzer (AUT)[22]
Not Before 13:00
2. Women's Singles - Fourth Round
Justine Henin (BEL)[22] v. Samantha Stosur (AUS)[7]
3. Men's Singles - Fourth Round
Fernando Verdasco (ESP)[7] v. Nicolas Almagro (ESP)[19]
4. Women's Singles - Fourth Round
Jarmila Groth (AUS) v. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)
Court 1 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - Third Round
Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Oliver Marach (AUT)[6] v. Stephen Huss (AUS)/Andre Sa (BRA)
2. Men's Doubles - Third Round
Julien Benneteau (FRA)/Michael Llodra (FRA)[15] v. Wesley Moodie (RSA)/Dick Norman (BEL)[4]
3. Women's Doubles - Fourth Round
Liezel Huber (USA)/A. Medina Garrigues (ESP)[3] v. Gisela Dulko (ARG)/Flavia Pennetta (ITA)[5]
4. Women's Doubles - Third Round
Monica Niculescu (ROU)/Shahar Peer (ISR) v. Yung-Jan Chan (TPE)/Jie Zheng (CHN)[10]
5. Women's Doubles - Fourth Round
Serena Williams (USA)/Venus Williams (USA)[1] v. Maria Kirilenko (RUS)/Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)[11]
Court 2 11:00 Start Time
1. Girls' Singles - First Round
Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP) v. Leolia Jeanjean (FRA)
Not Before 13:00
2. Men's Doubles - Third Round
Thierry Ascione (FRA)/Laurent Recouderc (FRA) v. Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL)/Marcin Matkowski (POL)[8]
3. Mixed Doubles - Third Round
Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)/Oliver Marach (AUT)[3] v. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)/Max Mirnyi (BLR)[5]
4. Women's Doubles - Third Round
Alona Bondarenko (UKR)/Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) v. Nadia Petrova (RUS)[4]/Samantha Stosur (AUS)[4]
Court 3 11:00 Start Time
1. Boys' Singles - First Round
Taro Daniel (JPN) v. Lucas Pouille (FRA)
2. Girls' Singles - Second Round
Ester Goldfeld (USA) v. Amandine Hesse (FRA)
Not Before 13:00
3. Mixed Doubles - Second Round
Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)/Bruno Soares (BRA) v. Cara Black (ZIM)/Leander Paes (IND)[2] To Finish 5-7 2-0
4. Boys' Singles - Second Round
Gianni Mina (FRA)[3] v. Alessandro Colella (ITA)
5. Mixed Doubles - Second Round
Vania King (USA)/Christopher Kas (GER) v. Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB)/Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK)
Getty
Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic celebrates match point during the men's singles fourth round match against Andy Murray of Great Britain at the French Open on day eight of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 30, 2010 in Paris, France.
::
Men's Singles - Fourth Round
[1] R Federer (SUI) d [20] S Wawrinka (SUI) 63 76(5) 62
[15] T Berdych (CZE) d [4] A Murray (GBR) 64 75 63
[5] R Soderling (SWE) d [10] M Cilic (CRO) 64 64 62
[11] M Youzhny (RUS) d [8] J Tsonga (FRA) 62 ret. (back)
Women's Singles - Fourth Round
(19) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (2) Venus Williams (USA) 64 63
(3) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (14) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 76(5) 67(4) 62
(5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (Q) Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 61 63
(17) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. (30) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 64 64
Women's Singles - Third Round
(22) Justine Henin (BEL) d. (12) Maria Sharapova (RUS) 62 36 63
Men's Doubles - Third Round
[2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d G Rufin (FRA) / A Sidorenko (FRA) 67(2) 64 63
[3] L Dlouhy (CZE) / L Paes (IND) d S Gonzalez (MEX) / T Rettenmaier (USA) 63 64
M Lopez (ESP) / P Riba (ESP) d [9] F Cermak (CZE) / M Mertinak (SVK) 75 64
[10] J Knowle (AUT) / A Ram (ISR) d N Almagro (ESP) / S Ventura (ESP) 76(4) 62
M Melo (BRA) / B Soares (BRA) d D Bracciali (ITA) / P Starace (ITA) 76(2) 76(7)
Men's Doubles - Second Round
[4] W Moodie (RSA) / D Norman (BEL) d C Fleming (GBR) / K Skupski (GBR) 76(5) 46 76(4)
[6] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) d L Mayer (ARG) / H Zeballos (ARG) 64 67(8) 63
[8] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) d A Dolgopolov Jr (UKR) / D Istomin (UZB) 61 64
[15] J Benneteau (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA) d R Bopanna (IND) / A Qureshi (PAK) 75 63
Women's Doubles - Third Round
(1) Williams/Williams (USA/USA) d. (16) Hlavackova/Hradecka (CZE/CZE) 61 62
(2) Llagostera Vives/Martínez Sánchez (ESP/ESP) d. (15) Govortsova/Kudryavtseva (BLR/RUS) 60 64
(3) Huber/Medina Garrigues (USA/ESP) d. (13) Benesova/Zahlavova Strycova (CZE/CZE) 75 26 64
(5) Dulko/Pennetta (ARG/ITA) d. (9) Mattek-Sands/Yan (USA/CHN) 76(7) 60
(12) Peschke/Srebotnik (CZE/SLO) d. (6) Black/Vesnina (ZIM/RUS) 76(5) 61
(11) Kirilenko/Radwanska (RUS/POL) d. (7) Raymond/Stubbs (USA/AUS) 76(6) 64
Women's Doubles - Second Round
Niculescu/Peer (ROU/ISR) d. (8) Kleybanova/Schiavone (RUS/ITA) 62 76(5)
Mixed Doubles - Second Round
Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)/Max Mirnyi (BLR)[5] d. Julie Coin (FRA)/Nicolas Mahut (FRA) 62 63
Aurelie Vedy (FRA)/Michael Llodra (FRA) d. Yung-Jan Chan (TPE)/Eric Butorac (USA) 76(7) 57 10-8
Tathiana Garbin (ITA)/Marcin Matkowski (POL) d. Andrea Hlavackova (CZE)/Michal Mertinak (SVK) 63 62
Cara Black (ZIM)/Leander Paes (IND)[2] lead Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)/Bruno Soares (BRA) 75 20 - Suspended due to darkness
AP
Austria's Jurgen Melzer reacts after defeating Spain's David Ferrer during their third round match for the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Saturday May 29, 2010. Straight. Sets. With a middle-set bagel. Upset of the event so far.
::
Just returned from my Harvard 20th anniversary reunion. Tennis comes on ESPN at noon in my market today, so I'm sure they're air matches that have already been decided and since I haven't watched a lick of tennis today, I'm posting this thread as though play has only just begun.
Humor me.
Right not, I'm barely watching this pushy pushy dogfight between Caroline Wozniacki and Flavia Pennetta on Tennis Channel. Ugly day in Paris.
I won't be commenting because I don't want to read any spoilers.
Schedule for Day 8: Sunday, 30 May 2010
Court Philippe Chatrier 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Fourth Round
Elena Dementieva (RUS)[5] v. Chanelle Scheepers (RSA)
Not Before 12:00
2. Women's Singles - Third Round
Maria Sharapova (RUS)[12] v. Justine Henin (BEL)[22] To Finish 2-6 6-3
3. Women's Singles - Fourth Round
Nadia Petrova (RUS)[19] v. Venus Williams (USA)[2]
4. Men's Singles - Fourth Round
Roger Federer (SUI)[1] v. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)[20]
5. Men's Singles - Fourth Round
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)[11] v. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)[8]
Court Suzanne Lenglen 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Fourth Round
Maria Kirilenko (RUS)[30] v. Francesca Schiavone (ITA)[17]
2. Women's Singles - Fourth Round
Flavia Pennetta (ITA)[14] v. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[3]
3. Men's Singles - Fourth Round
Marin Cilic (CRO)[10] v. Robin Soderling (SWE)[5]
4. Men's Singles - Fourth Round
Andy Murray (GBR)[4] v. Tomas Berdych (CZE)[15]
Court 1 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Doubles - Third Round
Olga Govortsova (BLR)/Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS)[15] v. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)/Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP)[2]
2. Men's Doubles - Second Round
Julien Benneteau (FRA)/Michael Llodra (FRA)[15] v. Rohan Bopanna (IND)/Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK)
3. Men's Doubles - Third Round
Julian Knowle (AUT)/Andy Ram (ISR)[10] v. Nicolas Almagro (ESP)/Santiago Ventura (ESP)
4. Women's Doubles - Third Round
Serena Williams (USA)/Venus Williams (USA)[1] v. Andrea Hlavackova (CZE)/Lucie Hradecka (CZE)[16]
Court 2 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - Second Round
Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Oliver Marach (AUT)[6] v. Leonardo Mayer (ARG)/Horacio Zeballos (ARG)
Not Before 13:00
2. Men's Doubles - Third Round
Guillaume Rufin (FRA)/Alexandre Sidorenko (FRA) v. Daniel Nestor (CAN)/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)[2]
3. Men's Doubles - Third Round
Lukas Dlouhy (CZE)Leander Paes (IND)[3] v. Santiago Gonzalez (MEX)/Travis Rettenmaier (USA)
4. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Vania King (USA)/Michaella Krajicek (NED) v. Nadia Petrova (RUS)/Samantha Stosur (AUS)[4]
5. Mixed Doubles - Second Round
Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)/Bruno Soares (BRA) v. Cara Black (ZIM)/Leander Paes (IND)[2]
Court 3 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Doubles - Third Round
Liezel Huber (USA)/A. Medina Garrigues (ESP)[3] v. Iveta Benesova (CZE)/Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)[13]
2. Men's Doubles - Second Round
Alexandr Dolgopolov Jr (UKR)/Denis Istomin (UZB) v. Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL)/Marcin Matkowski (POL)[8]
3. Women's Doubles - Third Round
Maria Kirilenko (RUS)/Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)[11] v. Lisa Raymond (USA)/Rennae Stubbs (AUS)[7]
4. Mixed Doubles - Second Round
Yung-Jan Chan (TPE)/Eric Butorac (USA) v. Aurelie Vedy (FRA)/Michael Llodra (FRA)
Court 4 11:00 Start Time
1. Girls' Singles - First Round
Danka Kovinic (MNE) v. Kristyna Pliskova (CZE)[8]
2. Boys' Singles - First Round
Jozef Kovalik (SVK) v. Agustin Velotti (ARG)
3. Boys' Singles - First Round
Lucas Szewczyk (FRA) v. Dane Webb (USA)
4. Boys' Singles - First Round
Micke Kontinen (FIN) v. John Morrissey (IRL)
5. Girls' Singles - First Round
Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER) v. Katarena Paliivets (CAN)
Court 5 11:00 Start Time
1. Girls' Singles - First Round
Morgane Pons (FRA) v. Karolina Pliskova (CZE)[2]
2. Boys' Singles - First Round
Sam Barry (IRL) v. Mitchell Frank (USA)[13]
3. Boys' Singles - First Round
Sebastian Lavie (NZL) v. Tiago Fernandes (BRA)[5]
4. Girls' Singles - First Round
Elina Svitolina (UKR) v. Jana Cepelova (SVK)
5. Boys' Singles - First Round
Filip Horansky (SVK) v. Darian King (BAR)
Court 6 11:00 Start Time
1. Boys' Singles - First Round
Gianni Mina (FRA)[3] v. Ricardo Rodriguez (VEN)
2. Girls' Singles - First Round
Monica Puig (PUR)[1] v. Clothilde De Bernardi (FRA)
3. Boys' Singles - First Round
Daniel Berta (SWE)[1] v. Junior A. Ore (USA)
4. Girls' Singles - First Round
Charlene Seateun (FRA) v. Jovana Jaksic (SRB)
Court 7 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - Second Round
Colin Fleming (GBR)/Ken Skupski (GBR) v. Wesley Moodie (RSA)/Dick Norman (BEL)[4]
2. Men's Doubles - Third Round
Marcelo Melo (BRA)/Bruno Soares (BRA) v. Daniele Bracciali (ITA)/Potito Starace (ITA)
3. Men's Doubles - Third Round
Marc Lopez (ESP)/Pere Riba (ESP) v. Frantisek Cermak (CZE)/Michal Mertinak (SVK)[9]
4. Women's Doubles - Third Round
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)/Zi Yan (CHN)[9] v. Gisela Dulko (ARG)/Flavia Pennetta (ITA)[5]
5. Mixed Doubles - Second Round
Julie Coin (FRA)/Nicolas Mahut (FRA) v. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)/Max Mirnyi (BLR)[5]
Court 8 11:00 Start Time
1. Girls' Singles - First Round
Grace Sari Ysidora (INA) v. Ulrikke Eikeri (NOR)
2. Boys' Singles - First Round
Alessandro Colella (ITA) v. Hugo Dellien (BOL)
3. Girls' Singles - First Round
Nour Abbes (TUN) v. Daria Gavrilova (RUS)[7]
4. Boys' Singles - First Round
Mikhail Biryukov (RUS)[14] v. Juan Sebastian Gomez (COL)
5. Girls' Singles - First Round
Timea Babos (HUN)[5] v. Ilona Kremen (BLR)
Court 9 11:00 Start Time
1. Boys' Singles - First Round
Dominic Thiem (AUT)[8] v. Ashley Hewitt (GBR)
2. Girls' Singles - First Round
Adriana Perez (VEN) v. Garbine Muguruza Blanco (ESP)
3. Girls' Singles - First Round
Paula Kania (POL) v. Silvia Njiric (CRO)
4. Boys' Singles - First Round
Andrea Collarini (USA) v. Jiri Vesely (CZE)[4]
5. Girls' Singles - First Round
Emi Mutaguchi (JPN) v. Doroteja Eric (SRB)
Court 10 11:00 Start Time
1. Girls' Singles - First Round
Ons Jabeur (TUN) v. Sophia Kovalets (UKR)
2. Boys' Singles - First Round
Carlos Boluda-Purkiss (ESP) v. Jannick Lupescu (NED)
3. Girls' Singles - First Round
Tamara Curovic (SRB)[12] v. Ester Goldfeld (USA)
4. Boys' Singles - First Round
Andrew Whittington (AUS) v. Tobias Blomgren (SWE)
5. Girls' Singles - First Round
Zarah Razafimahatratra (MAD) v. Lauren Davis (USA)[10]
Court 11 11:00 Start Time
1. Boys' Singles - First Round
Guilherme Clezar (BRA) v. Raymond Sarmiento (USA)
2. Girls' Singles - First Round
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) v. Grace Min (USA)
3. Boys' Singles - First Round
Facundo Arguello (ARG) v. Kevin Krawietz (GER)[7]
4. Boys' Singles - First Round
Denis Kudla (USA)[6] v. Justin Eleveld (NED)
5. Girls' Singles - First Round
Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN)[6] v. Chantal Skamlova (SVK)
Court 14 11:00 Start Time
1. Boys' Singles - First Round
Romain Arneodo (FRA) v. Renzo Olivo (ARG)[11]
2. Girls' Singles - First Round
Risa Ozaki (JPN) v. Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR)[13]
3. Boys' Singles - First Round
Mick Lescure (FRA) v. Oliver Golding (GBR)
4. Girls' Singles - First Round
Akiko Omae (JPN) v. Nanuli Pipiya (RUS)[16]
5. Boys' Singles - First Round
Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN)[16] v. Karue Sell (BRA)
Court 16 11:00 Start Time
1. Boys' Singles - First Round
Tristan Lamasine (FRA) v. Peter Heller (GER)
2. Girls' Singles - First Round
Jade Suvrijn (FRA) v. Richel Hogenkamp (NED)
3. Girls' Singles - First Round
Amandine Hesse (FRA) v. Luksika Kumkhum (THA)
4. Boys' Singles - First Round
Thomas Szewczyk (FRA) v. Federico Gaio (ITA)
5. Girls' Singles - First Round
Natalija Kostic (SRB) v. Estelle Cascino (FRA)
Court 17 11:00 Start Time
1. Girls' Singles - First Round
Caroline Garcia (FRA)[15] v. Mai Grage (DEN)
Not Before 13:00
2. Women's Doubles - Third Round
Cara Black (ZIM)/Elena Vesnina (RUS)[6] v. Kveta Peschke (CZE)/Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)[12]
3. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)/Francesca Schiavone (ITA)[8] v. Monica Niculescu (ROU)/Shahar Peer (ISR)
4. Boys' Singles - First Round
Mate Pavic (CRO) v. Mathias Bourgue (FRA)
17:00 Start Time
1. Mixed Doubles - Second Round
Andrea Hlavackova (CZE)/Michal Mertinak (SVK) v. Tathiana Garbin (ITA)/Marcin Matkowski (POL)
2. Mixed Doubles - Second Round
Vania King (USA)/Christopher Kas (GER) v. Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB)/Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK)
Reuters
Robby Ginepri of the United States reacts after winning his match against Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris May 29, 2010.
::
Last American man standing. Defeating a former champion in a his resurgent year. Nice work.
Getty
The fingernails of Serena Williams of the U.S. is pictured during her match against Julia Goerges of Germany during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris May 28, 2010.
::
A buffet of tennis today. What's your delight?
Schedule for Day 6: Friday, 28 May 2010
Court Philippe Chatrier 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Second Round
Horacio Zeballos (ARG) v. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]
Not Before 12:00
2. Women's Singles - Second Round
Justine Henin (CZE) v. Klara Zakopalova (BEL)[22] - To Finish 6-3 3-2
3. Women's Singles - Third Round
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)[26] v. Venus Williams (USA)[2]
4. Men's Singles - Third Round
Thiemo De Bakker (NED) v. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)[8]
5. Women's Singles - Third Round
Aravane Rezai (FRA)[15] v. Nadia Petrova (RUS)[19]
Court Suzanne Lenglen 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Serena Williams (USA)[1] v. Julia Goerges (GER)
Not Before 12:00
2. Women's Singles - Second Round
Olivia Sanchez (FRA) v. Marion Bartoli (FRA)[13]
3. Men's Singles - Third Round To Finish 5-4
Roger Federer (SUI)[1] v. Julian Reister (GER)
4. Men's Singles - Third Round
Andy Murray (GBR)[4] v. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)[25]
5. Women's Singles - Third Round
Elena Dementieva (RUS)[5] v. Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN)
Court 1 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Second Round
Kei Nishikori (JPN) v. Novak Djokovic (SRB)[3]
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Fernando Verdasco (ESP)[7] v. Florent Serra (FRA)
3. Women's Singles - Third Round
Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU)[31] v. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[3]
4. Women's Singles - Third Round
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)[6] v. Maria Kirilenko (RUS)[30]
Court 2 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Second Round
Jurgen Melzer (AUT)[22] v. Nicolas Mahut (FRA)
Not Before 12:00
2. Women's Singles - Second Round
Maria Sharapova (RUS)[12] v. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) - To Finish 6-3 2-2
3. Women's Singles - Second Round
Rossana De Los Rios (PAR) v. Samantha Stosur (AUS)[7]
4. Men's Singles - Third Round
Albert Montanes (ESP)[29] v. Robin Soderling (SWE)[5]
5. Men's Doubles - First Round
James Cerretani (USA)/Adil Shamasdin (CAN) v. Gael Monfils (FRA)/Josselin Ouanna (FRA)
Court 3 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Jie Zheng (CHN)[25] v. Anastasia Pivovarova (RUS)
Not Before 12:00
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Pablo Andujar (ESP) v. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)[24] - To Finish 6-1 3-6
3. Men's Singles - Third Round
Marin Cilic (CRO)[10] v. Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
4. Men's Singles - Third Round
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)[11] v. Viktor Troicki (SRB)
Court 4 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Cara Black (ZIM)/Elena Vesnina (RUS)[6] v. Dinara Safina (RUS)/Agnes Szavay (HUN)
2. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Liezel Huber (USA)/A. Medina Garrigues (ESP)[3] v. Victoria Azarenka (BLR)/Vera Zvonareva (RUS)
3. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Elena Vesnina (RUS)/Andy Ram (ISR) v. Mathilde Johansson (FRA)/Sebastien De Chaunac (FRA)
4. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Andrea Hlavackova (CZE)/Michal Mertinak (SVK) v. Monica Niculescu (ROU)/Michael Kohlmann (GER)
Court 5 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Doubles - First Round
Sara Errani (ITA)/Roberta Vinci (ITA) v. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)/Selima Sfar (TUN)
2. Women's Singles - Second Round
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)[23] v. Olga Govortsova (BLR)
3. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Vera Dushevina (RUS)/Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)[14] v. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)/Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR)
4. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Olga Govortsova (BLR)/Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS)[15] v. Maria Kondratieva (RUS)/Vladimira Uhlirova (CZE)
Court 6 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Second Round
Xavier Malisse (BEL) v. David Ferrer (ESP)[9]
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)[16] v. Pere Riba (ESP)
3. Men's Singles - Third Round
John Isner (USA)[17] v. Tomas Berdych (CZE)[15]]
Court 7 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Second Round
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)[28] v. Denis Istomin (UZB)
Not Before 12:00
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)[14] v. Mardy Fish (USA) To Finish 6-2 6-7(8)
3. Women's Singles - Third Round
Flavia Pennetta (ITA)[14] v. Polona Hercog (SLO)
4. Women's Singles - Third Round
Francesca Schiavone (ITA)[17] v. Na Li (CHN)[11]
Court 8 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Second Round
Victor Hanescu (ROU)[31] v. Yuri Schukin (KAZ)
2. Men's Doubles - First Round
Ross Hutchins (GBR)/Jordan Kerr (AUS) v. Daniel Nestor (CAN)/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)[2]
3. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Edina Gallovits (ROU)/Melanie Oudin (USA) v. Kveta Peschke (CZE)/Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)[12]
4. Men's Doubles - First Round
Mardy Fish (USA)/Mark Knowles (BAH)[13] v. Carsten Ball (AUS)/Chris Guccione (AUS)
5. Mixed Doubles - First Round
A. Medina Garrigues (ESP)/Marc Lopez (ESP) v. Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)[6]
Court 9 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Doubles - First Round
Mathilde Johansson (FRA)/Camille Pin (FRA) v. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)/Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP)[2]
2. Men's Doubles - First Round
Marc Gicquel (FRA)/Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) v. Simon Aspelin (SWE)/Paul Hanley (AUS)[7]
3. Men's Doubles - First Round
Stephen Huss (AUS)/Andre Sa (BRA) v. Marcel Granollers (ESP)/Tommy Robredo (ESP)[11]
4. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Pauline Parmentier (FRA)/Marc Gicquel (FRA) v. Cara Black (ZIM)/Leander Paes (IND)[2]
5. Men's Doubles - First Round
Philipp Marx (GER)/Igor Zelenay (SVK) v. Yves Allegro (SUI)/Andreas Beck (GER)
Court 10 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - First Round
Andrey Golubev (KAZ)/Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) v. Alejandro Falla (COL)/Santiago Giraldo (COL) To Finish 6-2 3-4
2. Men's Doubles - First Round
Thiago Alves (BRA)/Marcio Torres (BRA) v. Guillaume Rufin (FRA)/Alexandre Sidorenko (FRA)
3. Men's Doubles - First Round
Colin Fleming (GBR)/Ken Skupski (GBR) v. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)/Christopher Kas (GER)
4. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)/Alexandre Sidorenko (FRA) v. Aurelie Vedy (FRA)/Michael Llodra (FRA)
5. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)/Frantisek Cermak (CZE) v. Patty Schnyder (SUI)/Daniel Nestor (CAN)
Court 11 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - First Round
Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL)/Marcin Matkowski (POL)[8] v. Tomasz Bednarek (POL)/Mateusz Kowalczyk (POL) To Finish 7-6(4) 2-1
2. Women's Doubles - First Round
Darija Jurak (CRO)/Petra Martic (CRO) v. Claire Feuerstein (FRA)/Stephanie Foretz (FRA) - To Finish 6-7(6) 6-2
3. Men's Doubles - First Round
Marcelo Melo (BRA)/Bruno Soares (BRA) v. Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)/Eduardo Schwank (ARG)
4. Men's Doubles - First Round
Nicolas Almagro (ESP)/Santiago Ventura (ESP) v. Xavier Malisse (BEL/ Olivier Rochus (BEL)
5. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Gisela Dulko (ARG)/Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) v. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)/Max Mirnyi (BLR)[5]
Court 14 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Jill Craybas (USA) v. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)[29]
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Andreas Seppi (ITA) v. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)[30]
3. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Zi Yan (CHN)/Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL)[8] v. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)/Julian Knowle (AUT)
4. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)/Oliver Marach (AUT)[3] v. Virginie Razzano (FRA)/Dick Norman (BEL)
5. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Stephanie Cohen-Aloro (FRA)/Thierry Ascione (FRA) v. Iveta Benesova (CZE)/Lukas Dlouhy (CZE)
Court 16 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Second Round
Nicolas Almagro (ESP)[19] v. Steve Darcis (BEL)
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Potito Starace (ITA) v. Robby Ginepri (USA)
3. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Regina Kulikova (RUS)/Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) v. Yung-Jan Chan (TPE)/Jie Zheng (CHN)[10]
4. Men's Doubles - Second Round
Daniele Bracciali (ITA)/Potito Starace (ITA) v. Benjamin Becker (GER)/Scott Lipsky (USA)
Court 17 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Second Round
Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr (UKR) v. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)[12]
2. Women's Singles - Second Round
Sybille Bammer (AUT) v. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL)[16]
3. Men's Singles - Third Round
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)[20] v. Fabio Fognini (ITA)
4. Women's Singles - Third Round
Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) v. Chanelle Scheepers (RSA)
Getty
Fabio Fognini shut down Gael Monfils 9-7 in the fifth and the French crowd actually applauded the Italian's effort. That was perhaps the biggest highlight of the day, given the drama that unfolded in the dark last night.
Andy Roddick lost his serve seven times and still won his match. That might not seem like a big deal, but I've never seen Roddick remain composed on any surface, much less his least favorite, when his opponent is returning his first serves with interest and breaking almost at will. If the American has ever been more patient, suffice it to say I've never noticed.
As for Blaz Kavcic. What a fighter. I overlooked all his gamesmanship today (imagine that) and just focused on his game. His return of serve is top notch. Yes, the conditions were slow and Roddick wasn't able to penetrate the court, but Kavcic got his racquet on more serves than I would have imagined and actually placed them well. If he ever developed a serve he might be a complete player.
To develop that complete game, he's got to get off the clay every once in a while. This is the time of year Americans are berated for their inability to "construct points" and slide on the slippery stuff, claims I just don't buy, especially since the evidence of things seen betrays such nonsense, but clay court specialists, exactly what the Kavcic is, can benefit from playing on faster surfaces so they're forced to at least consider developing a serve. Starting the point with a weak serve on clay is fine, but the Slovenian's serve would be eaten for lunch on hard courts or the lawns.
I wasn't able to watch much else today and with all the rain there wasn't much else to watch. If anyone saw any of the other matches, please give us an update in the comments.
Till tomorrow....
Getty
After nearly a five-hour rain delay, live tennis is underway. American Andy Roddick is playing clay court tennis against Blaz Kavcic, a Slovenian clay court challenger who dismissed Argentinean clay court player Edwardo Schwank in the first round and became the first Slovenian male to ever win a Slam match. As per John McEnroe.
Because of the delay, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, both scheduled last on their respective courts, have already been sent home.
Later the Gael Monfils, Fabio Fognini debacle from last night's darkness will commence after Jelena Jankovic cleans the dirt with her opponent. One would think, after all the wait, they would have put them first up. But that would have been too much like right.
Here's hoping the feisty one can send the clownish one home.
Schedule for Day 5: Thursday, 27 May 2010
Court Philippe Chatrier 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[4] v. Kaia Kanepi (EST)
Not Before 12:30
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Fabio Fognini (ITA) v. Gael Monfils (FRA)[13] To Finish 2-6 4-6 7-5 6-4 5-5
3. Women's Singles - Second Round
Klara Zakopalova (CZE) v. Justine Henin (BEL)[22]
4. Men's Singles - Second Round
Fernando Verdasco (ESP)[7] v. Florent Serra (FRA)
5. Men's Singles - Second Round
Horacio Zeballos (ARG) v. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]
Court Suzanne Lenglen 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Second Round
Andy Roddick (USA)[6] v. Blaz Kavcic (SLO)
2. Women's Singles - Second Round
Olivia Sanchez (FRA) v. Marion Bartoli (FRA)[13]
3. Men's Singles - Second Round
Kei Nishikori (JPN) v. Novak Djokovic (SRB)[3]
4. Women's Singles - Second Round
Serena Williams (USA)[1] v. Julia Goerges (GER)
Court 1 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)[28] v. Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
Not Before 12:30
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Andy Murray (GBR)[4] v. Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) To Finish 6-2 3-3
3. Men's Singles - Second Round
Jurgen Melzer (AUT)[22] v. Nicolas Mahut (FRA)
4. Women's Singles - Second Round
Maria Sharapova (RUS)[12] v. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL)
5. Men's Singles - Second Round
Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr (UKR) v. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)[12]
Court 2 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Elena Dementieva (RUS)[5] v. A. Medina Garrigues (ESP)
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)[16] v. Pere Riba (ESP)
3. Women's Singles - Second Round
Rossana De Los Rios (PAR) v. Samantha Stosur (AUS)[7]
4. Men's Singles - Second Round
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)[28] v. Denis Istomin (UZB)
Court 3 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Francesca Schiavone (ITA)[17] v. Sophie Ferguson (AUS)
Not Before 12:30
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Marcos Baghdatis (ESP) v. Marcel Granollers (CYP)[25] To Finish 4-6 6-1 7-5
3. Men's Singles - Second Round
Pablo Andujar (ESP) v. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)[24]
4. Women's Singles - Second Round
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)[23] v. Olga Govortsova (BLR)
5. Men's Singles - Second Round
Nicolas Almagro (ESP)[19] v. Steve Darcis (BEL)
Court 4 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) v. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)[8]
2. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Alize Cornet (FRA)/Aravane Rezai (FRA) v. Lisa Raymond (USA)/Rennae Stubbs (AUS)[7]
3. Women's Doubles - First Round
Sara Errani (ITA)/Roberta Vinci (ITA) v. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)/Selima Sfar (TUN)
4. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Maria Kirilenko (RUS)/Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)[11] v. Petra Kvitova (CZE)/Stefanie Voegele (SUI)
5. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)/Alexandre Sidorenko (FRA) v. Aurelie Vedy (FRA)/Michael Llodra (FRA)
Court 5 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) v. Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR)[32]
2. Women's Singles - Second Round
Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) v. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)[27]
3. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Lucie Safarova (CZE)/Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) v. Iveta Benesova (CZE)/Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)[13]
4. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Vera Dushevina (RUS)/Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)[14] v. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)/Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR)
Court 6 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) v. Jarmila Groth (AUS)
Not Before 12:30
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Marco Chiudinelli (USA)[17] v. John Isner (SUI) To Finish 7-6(3) 5-5
3. Men's Singles - Second Round
Potito Starace (ITA) v. Robby Ginepri (USA)
4. Men's Doubles - First Round
Richard Gasquet (FRA)/Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) v. Gael Monfils (FRA)/Josselin Ouanna (FRA)
5. Women's Singles - Second Round
Jie Zheng (CHN)[25] v. Anastasia Pivovarova (RUS)
Court 7 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Stephanie Cohen-Aloro (FRA) v. Na Li (CHN)[11]
2. Men's Singles - Second Round
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)[14] v. Mardy Fish (USA)
3. Men's Singles - Second Round
Xavier Malisse (BEL) v. David Ferrer (ESP)[9]
4. Women's Singles - Second Round
Sybille Bammer (AUT) v. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL)[16]
Court 8 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - First Round
Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR)/Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v. David Marrero (ESP)/Stephane Robert (FRA)
2. Men's Doubles - First Round
Marc Gicquel (FRA)/Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) v. Simon Aspelin (SWE)/Paul Hanley (AUS)[7]
3. Men's Doubles - First Round
Ross Hutchins (GBR)/Jordan Kerr (AUS) v. Daniel Nestor (CAN)/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)[2]
4. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Anastasia Rodionova (AUS)/Paul Hanley (AUS) v. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS)/Simon Aspelin (SWE)
5. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)/Frantisek Cermak (CZE) v. Patty Schnyder (SUI)/Daniel Nestor (CAN)
Court 9 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - First Round
Lukas Dlouhy (CZE)/Leander Paes (IND)[3] v. Johan Brunstrom (SWE)/Jean-Julien Rojer (AHO)
2. Men's Doubles - First Round
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP)/Albert Montanes (ESP) v. Wesley Moodie (RSA)/Dick Norman (BEL)[4]
3. Men's Doubles - First Round
Stephen Huss (AUS)/Andre Sa (BRA) v. Marcel Granollers (ESP)/Tommy Robredo (ESP)[11]
4. Men's Doubles - First Round
Mardy Fish (USA)/Mark Knowles (BAH)[13] v. Carsten Ball (AUS)/Chris Guccione (AUS)
Court 10 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - First Round
Andrey Golubev (KAZ)/Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) v. Alejandro Falla (COL)/Santiago Giraldo (COL)
2. Men's Doubles - First Round
Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Oliver Marach (AUT)[6] v. Thiemo De Bakker (NED)/Rogier Wassen (NED)
3. Men's Doubles - First Round
Marcelo Melo (BRA)/Bruno Soares (BRA) v. Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)/Eduardo Schwank (ARG)
4. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Andrea Hlavackova (CZE)/Michal Mertinak (SVK) v. Monica Niculescu (ROU)/Michael Kohlmann (GER)
5. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Rennae Stubbs (AUS)/Robert Lindstedt (SWE) v. Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)/Bruno Soares (BRA)
Court 11 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - First Round
Tomasz Bednarek (POL)/Mateusz Kowalczyk (POL) v. Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL)/Marcin Matkowski (POL)[8]
Not Before 12:30
2. Women's Doubles - First Round
Darija Jurak (CRO)/Petra Martic (CRO) v. Claire Feuerstein (FRA)/Stephanie Foretz (FRA) To Finish 6-7(6) 6-2
3. Men's Doubles - First Round
Karol Beck (SVK)/Jaroslav Levinsky (CZE) v. Guillaume Rufin (FRA)/Alexandre Sidorenko (FRA)
4. Men's Doubles - First Round
Rohan Bopanna (IND)/Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) v. Fabio Fognini (ITA)/Michael Russell (USA)
5. Mixed Doubles - First Round
Pauline Parmentier (FRA)/Marc Gicquel (FRA) v. Cara Black (ZIM)/Leander Paes (IND)[2]
Court 14 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Doubles - First Round
Jamie Delgado (GBR)/Evgeny Korolev (KAZ) v. Thierry Ascione (FRA)/Laurent Recouderc (FRA)
2. Men's Doubles - First Round
Julien Benneteau (FRA)/Michael Llodra (FRA)[15] v. Leos Friedl (CZE)/David Skoch (CZE)
3. Men's Doubles - First Round
Colin Fleming (GBR)/Ken Skupski (GBR) v. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)/Christopher Kas (GER)
4. Women's Doubles - First Round
Mathilde Johansson (FRA)/Camille Pin (FRA) v. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)/Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP)[2]
5. Women's Doubles - Second Round
Edina Gallovits (ROU)/Melanie Oudin (USA) v. Kveta Peschke (CZE)/Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)[12]
Court 16 11:00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Second Round
Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) v. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)[21]
2. Men's Doubles - First Round
Bob Bryan (USA)/Mike Bryan (USA)[1] v. Jan Hajek (CZE)/Lukas Lacko (SVK)
3. Men's Singles - Second Round
Victor Hanescu (ROU)[31] v. Yuri Schukin (KAZ)
4. Men's Doubles - First Round
Philipp Marx (GER)/Igor Zelenay (SVK) v. Nicolas Devilder (FRA)/Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)
Court 17 11:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Second Round
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) v. Grega Zemlja (SLO)
2. Women's Singles - Second Round
Shahar Peer (ISR)[18] v. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)
3. Men's Singles - Second Round
Andreas Seppi (ITA) v. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)[30]
4. Women's Singles - Second Round
Jill Craybas (USA) v. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)[29]
