Martina Hingis/Lindsay Davenport Roland Garros Doubles Legends

 http://kawai-hingis.skyrock.com

Arnold38  hingis.org

Women’s Legends Doubles:


Lindsay Davenport of the U.S. and Martina Hingis of Switzerland were dominant at Roland Garros, taking down defending champions Martina Navratilova of the U.S. and Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the final round.

10sballs.com

Yep, she's still got it!.  Already looking forward to pics from Wimbledon Legends later this month:).

If anyone knows where I can find video of any of the French Open doubles matches with Hingis please let me know in the comments. 

Martina Hingis Roland Garros doubles with Lindsay Davenport

All pics belong to Francois from hingis.org

Roger Federer breaks Djokovic to secure a place in French Open final!

Roger Federer, the last man to beat Novak Djokovic, six months ago in London, did it again in Paris to stop the Serb's remarkable unbeaten run at 43 but, more significantly, he confounded pre-tournament predictions to reach Sunday's final of the French Open against Rafael Nadal.

Not many at Roland Garros, except dreamers and charlatans, would have predicted such a scenario two weeks ago – the Swiss was 18-1 then, Djokovic close to even money in most markets – nor the dramatic climax to the second semi-final.

Federer, the world No 3, will start a slight underdog against Nadal, who needs one more championship to match the six garnered by Bjorn Borg, and has lost only once here in 44 matches – but after such a stirring performance all things seem possible again. Nadal was back in his hotel, celebrating his 25th birthday and recovering from the exertions of an edgy, wind-marred three-sets victory over Andy Murray when Federer completed a 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 upset against his 24-year-old opponent in near darkness on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Djokovic was gracious in defeat but, visibly spent, announced he was withdrawing from Queen's next week to prepare for Wimbledon. His has been a whirlwind adventure and could well resume in London in three weeks' time.

The ancien régime, meanwhile, is restored. The two players who have held the summit of men's tennis since February 2004 have, for the time being at least, held off the Serbian charge. They will give Paris a match to cherish, no doubt, as they have in most of their 24 encounters.

"I would think it is the best match I played this year," Federer said. "I did really well, a top start when I was able to break. But I know he has always got something in his racket to break me as well. There was a lot of pressure on Novak but he handled it great. It was a pleasure playing against him. He can still achieve so much more this year."

Djokovic, who had the benefit of four days' rest after a walkover against the injured Italian Fabio Fognini, was the favourite to go through but struggled to contain Federer's serve and all-round court intelligence.
"After the first set I was going down a little bit," Djokovic said. "He was taking control of the match but I managed to come back, definitely not easy against Roger. I tried to moderate myself. I think I played well. He played really well in important moments. I congratulate him. We were part of a very good match but it feels bad losing.

"I was serving for the fourth set but he played a couple of good points and he deserved it. During the tournament you feel the energy. You need the daily routine. These were the best months of my life, an incredible period. It had to end some time. Unfortunately it came in a bad moment. What happened happened. I can't affect it any more. A couple of points decided it. This is sport. There is nothing to be sorry about. I have pulled out of Queens and will take a rest before Wimbledon."

As the light died over Roland Garros, the Swiss moved with the precision of his country's clocks. Djokovic, hitherto irresistible, was fighting off the nerves that often arrested his development in the past. The tumult that consumed the court was exhilarating as Federer saved two break points to go 6-5 up in the fourth, forcing Djokovic to serve to stay in the championship. The crowd were with Federer, who won here two years ago, the nerves were with Djokovic, old turmoil replacing recent certainties, as he stayed deep.

With a tie-break in prospect, Djokovic dinked the most delicious drop shot, confounding Federer, who was rooted to the baseline. The Serb hit a forehand wide for deuce and anxieties rose on both sides of the net. The strut returned and Djokovic killed the point with his deadly two-fisted backhand from centre court. Federer, subdued behind base line, hit deep and it was 6-6.

The assemblage could not ask for better theatre, what they could see of it in the gloaming. The narrative was thus reduced to a final handful of strokes: a drop shot put Federer 1-0 up; a belting forehand from deep made it 2-0 but he was helpless to reach Djokovic's forehand for 2-1. 

The Serb made a miracle save and Federer hit just long for 2-2. Federer held his second serve for 3-2 but netted a backhand for 3-3. Djokovic, nerves rattling, netted – 4-3 Federer. The Swiss hit his 17th ace for 5-3, with another big serve giving him three match points at 6-3. Djokovic clipped the net, 6-4 (and they booed the net). Djokovic served his sixth ace for 6-5 – and Federer hit his 18th to win the match.

Now that is a finish. It was the match of the championship, perhaps the best of the year, and one that ended a great run while reigniting the career of a true great of the game.

guardian.co.uk


Now this is what I call a semi-final!.  Full of superb shots, tension and one-upmanship.  I was on the edge of my seat for the entire 3 and a half hours.

By far one of the best matches this year, not just for Federer but in general.  Speaking of Federer could he have played better?.

The serve was on, the backhand was on, everything was clicking for him.  It was like watching the Federer of old the one that fought with all his might in the 2008 Wimbledon final against Nadal, and the 2009 final against Roddick.

In this match I was once again reminded why I became a fan of his in the first place.  It was artistry pure and simple.

Sunday will undoubtedly be his toughest test yet, but regardless of the result, today he once again proved he still has the heart of a champion (and he can still hang with the best of them).

That should shut the press up for a while, now they'll just continue to sing his praises.  Which will be a nice change from the constant criticizing. 

I'm ready, bring on Fedal!.

ITWA responds to fan outcry....sort of

Dear tennis fans

We have received a great many letters from unhappy tennis fans who were upset when told by the official French Open website that it would no longer be posting the post-match interview transcripts on the website. Fans who questioned this new policy were informed that the International Tennis Writers’ Association had requested player transcripts not be posted on the website.

We have noted your disappointment at no longer being able to read the transcripts and can understand why fans would want that availability. Taking that into account, we felt we should offer you all an explanation as to why it is important to the international media that the transcripts are not posted, or at least delayed until a day later.

Firstly, our newspapers and media outlets are, like many other companies, feeling heavy financial burdens these days. Quite a number of organizations have already stopped sending their reporters to major sporting events around the world, a decision we are hoping others won’t follow. Nevertheless, we have great concern that the dwindling numbers of journalists sent on-site will continue.

Those media outlets that are still sending their journalists to events spend a great deal of money to do so. The reason they continue to send reporters is that their writers are guaranteed better access and information from reporting, interviewing, and writing on-site. In truth, the media interview room is the journalists’ workplace and, like at many organizations, no matter what the business, the workplace is not open to the general public.

We are trained professionals with the responsibility of asking the important and probing questions that elicit the interesting answers that tennis fans want answered. When our exclusivity is removed by posting transcripts it makes the expense of sending journalists to cover events appear questionable to those holding the purse strings.

We have already watched as many of our colleagues have been taken off what at one time were assignments that would never be questioned. One example: in the United States the South Florida community is a hotbed for tennis fans and tennis players. Two of their three major market papers stopped covering the Grand Slams about five years ago.

The third paper is planning on not staffing any Grand Slams this year and into the future. This is the type of unfortunate scenario we are seeing happen regularly to our colleagues around the world.

If fewer journalists show up at events, tournaments are likely to decide it is not worth spending money on the expensive transcription services done by court reporter companies.

Of even more concern, journalists could eventually stop covering tournaments if there is no filter on the release of information we as professional journalists are gathering. It would quickly become cost-ineffective to show up.

The bottom line: If journalists don’t go to tournaments, the issue of access to transcripts will become a non-issue. There will be no one asking the questions.

To those not on the inside of journalism today this might seem a far-fetched picture to present, but we can assure you that it is not. It could happen and sooner than anyone might think possible.

Hopefully, this letter will enable you to understand more clearly our position on the subject of posting player interview transcripts.

Kind regards,
The International Tennis Writers’ Association

The lovely LJology emailed back and got this response from Marco Keller, president of the ITWA:

I agree with you, the 24 hour embargo would be the best solution for all involved parties and all tournaments. And that’s what we are basically aiming for and were in this case as well.

I can’t really predict how the whole matter is going to end but be assured that we have the fans in mind too!.

That's all fine and dandy however I tend to agree pretty much 100% with  the author from allineedisapicketfence blog. 

And as for the 24-hour thing?. 

I second that as well, and I'll believe that when I see it!.

Martina Hingis & hubby enjoying a match at Roland Garros

Well, well look who finally showed up :).  I've been wondering when we would see her in the crowd.

Thank goodness for the Internet with the crappy tennis coverage we've been getting here in Canada I wouldn't even have known she was there. 

Looking forward to her Legends match event on June 1st & 2nd.  More pics will undoubtedly follow :).

All pics from hingis.org

 Martina Hingis & Thibault Hutin  during Djokovic/Gasquet match last week

Roger Federer sets up semi-final clash with Djokovic at Roland Garros

PARIS — Roger Federer set up a mouth-watering French Open semi-final showdown with high-flying Novak Djokovic after an untidy straight sets victory over Gael Monfils on Tuesday.

Federer, the 2009 champion, is still to drop a set at this year's tournament, but in Djokovic he faces an opponent who is just one win short of John McEnroe's 1984 record of 42 matches unbeaten at the start of a season.

Second-seeded Djokovic will also take over from defending champion Rafael Nadal as world number one if he prevails against Federer on Friday, having beaten the great Swiss in their last three encounters.

"I'm very happy to be in the semi-finals," said Federer, after beating ninth seed Monfils 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) in a scrappy, wind-affected match that featured an astonishing 95 unforced errors from both players.

"Playing a semi-final here at Roland Garros is a great moment and playing such a great player is what we train for."

Federer, the third seed, made an uncertain start amid windy, overcast conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier and was broken to love in his second service game.

The Swiss broke back immediately, however, thanks to a perfectly judged backhand drop shot that bit and died in the dust, before obliging Monfils to fight off three break points in the eighth game.

Seeded outside the top two at a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon in 2003, Federer brought up two set points on Monfils' serve shortly afterwards and then clinched the first set when the world number nine put a forehand wide.

Following an exchange of breaks in the second set, Federer broke for a 4-2 lead when Monfils double-faulted, prompting the Frenchman to fling his racquet to the ground in disgust.

Both men were culpable of some dismal shot-making, but it did not prevent Federer from closing out the set when a stretching Monfils sent a backhand long.

Monfils saved three break points at 4-4 in the third set and two at 5-5, but swiftly fell 6-1 down in the ensuing tie-break and was finally beaten when Federer thrashed a forehand winner down the line.

AFP

Decent win, not perfect (but I'll chuck it up to the windy conditions).  He got the job done.  Now comes the hard part.

It's nail biting time!.  

Roger Federer wins battle of the Swiss moves to Roland Garros quarters

Roger Federer reached a record 28th successive grand slam quarter-final yesterday when he defeated Swiss compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 at the French Open.

Second seed Novak Djokovic later took his place in the last eight with a straight-sets win over Richard Gasquet.

Third seed Federer, the 2009 champion and four-times finalist, will face either Spanish seventh seed David Ferrer or French ninth seed Gael Monfils for a place in the semi-finals.

 

Federer has reached the quarter-finals without dropping a set as he continues to thrive at a Roland Garros tournament where the world's top two, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, are expected to reach the final.

"I am super-happy because I knew after he beat (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga, when he really dominated in the last two sets, what the danger was," said Federer.

"He showed all his qualities in the third set and was a bit unlucky but all the better for me I guess."

With victory yesterday, in a repeat of the match-up at the same stage of Roland Garros last year, Federer took his career record to 9-1 against Wawrinka, his Beijing Olympics doubles gold medal-winning partner.

He cruised to a two-set lead courtesy of a break in the fourth game of the opener and two breaks in the third and fifth games of the second set against Wawrinka, who needed five sets to beat Tsonga in the last round.

Wawrinka, with Federer's former coach Peter Lundgren in his corner, rallied to lead 3-0 with a break in the third set.

But 16-time grand slam winner Federer came roaring back in the seventh and 11th games before securing victory with his eighth ace.

Sadly once again I have yet to see this match, hoping there's some coverage of it this evening.

Judging by the score line looks like it was another superb display by Mr. Fed.

His next opponent Gael Monfils could be very tricky.  But definitely doable.

It's the semi-finals and another potential match-up with Djokovic that has me on edge.

But, let's see how things go tomorrow first.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/federer-djokovic-enter-quarterfinals-20110530-1fb8y.html#ixzz1Nrqjo9nb

Fashion tips with Roger Federer

Sweat?.  What sweat.  The man hardly ever perspires :D. 

And he does rock all his suits.  Yes his fashion style has come a long, long way.  Thank you Mrs. Federer ;).

Roger Federer rolls on to 4th round at Roland Garros

PARIS (AP) — Finally faced with a break point midway through the second set Friday at the French Open, Roger Federer smacked an ace that bounced up and conked a line judge in the head.

Moments later, Federer closed that game with two more aces near lines, and he was well on his way to beating 29th-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. That put Federer in the fourth round at Roland Garros for the seventh consecutive year.

When Federer's serve is clicking, he's awfully tough to beat; it's one of several skills that propelled him to his record 16 Grand Slam titles, including the 2009 French Open. He does it with guile and placement, rather than overwhelming speed, never coming close to the 140 or 150 mph that big hitters such as Andy Roddick or Ivo Karlovic can produce.

"I don't know (if) anyone ever hit more lines from first serves than he did today. And I'm not saying that it has anything to do with luck. It was just big, good, precise serves," Tipsarevic said.

"I have problems if somebody is serving like Roger, really close to the lines. I don't think he served more than five serves over (120 mph)," Tipsarevic continued, "but every serve was, like, 5 centimeters from the line or on the line."

Federer's fastest serve Friday was clocked at 130 mph, and he averaged 115 mph on first serves.

But it seemed as though he put nearly every ball right where he wanted to. (Including when there was a loose ball bouncing near the baseline between points, and Federer swung his racket behind his back and through his legs, and hit the ball right into the waiting hands of a ball boy at midcourt).

"Variation has always been a key to my serve, because I'm never going to be able to serve, you know, what Roddick and all those guys can serve at," Federer said. "So I have to move it around better, hide it with the toss and so forth. I think right now it's going well."

That's probably an understatement.

During three straight-set matches this week, his opponents have accumulated a total of only two break points, converting one. Federer has 29 aces and two double-faults.

Starting from late in the second set's sixth game Friday — when Tipsarevic held his lone break point — Federer won 27 of the last 34 points on his serve.

"Completely different player if he's leading or if he's losing," said Tipsarevic, who is 0-4 against Federer but pushed him to 10-8 in the fifth set at the 2008 Australian Open. "If he starts leading, or starts feeling confident on his service games, it's really tough to play him, because you never know what he's going to do."

When Federer plays poorly, he'll often point to his serve as being problematic.

"Sometimes you go through days where it's easier and sometimes where it's a bit harder, and also depends on who you play," said Federer, who next faces Swiss Davis Cup teammate Stanislas Wawrinka, a five-set winner over No. 17 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France on Friday. "So far in this tournament, I've been doing a good job, but it's really only at the end of the tournament where I would think it really matters how I did."

Federer reached four finals in a row in Paris from 2005-09, losing the first three to Rafael Nadal.

A year ago, though, Federer was eliminated by Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals, ending a run of 23 Grand Slam semifinals in a row.

He lost in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, too, then at the semifinals at the U.S. Open and Australian Open, making this his longest stretch without a major title since he earned his first at the All England Club in 2003. It's also the first Grand Slam tournament since then that Federer isn't seeded No. 1 or No. 2.

Instead, he's seeded No. 3, behind Nadal and Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic.

Which, Federer says, is OK. He also says he's in a better place than he was 12 months ago.

"I'm at peace with my game right now. I'm physically fine. I think I had a good preparation, so there's no reason to get nervous," he said. "I'm still in the tournament. It's always nice to advance in the draw so well, so quickly."

Associated Press

And once again the TSN/ESPN coverage of the French Open absolutely sucked (the match was not shown at all). 

I'm starting to think they have something against Roger Federer.  Instead we got 4 hours of Wawrinka/Tsonga.  

Maybe now that Stan will be playing his countryman in the next round I'll actually finally get to see Roger play.

Figures when all his matches are coming along swimmingly, and he's in really good form I don't get to watch.  

And when he's struggling and losing they have 24 hour coverage.  If Federer continues in the same vain and serves as well as he has been he should not have any trouble getting past Wawrinka.

ETA:  Will wonders never cease TSN actually broadcast the Federer/Tipserovic match this evening.  Finally, the first Federer match I've watched all week!.

Roland Garros implements no interview transcripts rule :(

“We are very sorry, we have been asked by the International Tennis Writers Association not to release the transcripts of post-match interviews this year so as not to disadvantage the reporters here at the French Open. You can find many of the relevant quotes in the articles posted on our website.” - Roland-Garros team

The blogger at anygivensurface.wordpress.com eloquently summarizes the issue and lists all the reasons why this is a disastrous idea far better then I could.  

So head on over there for the entire story.

I certainly hope this doesn't become true for all grand slams.  That would quite honestly suck.  

Aside from all the reasons mentioned I would think a lot of international fans who may not understand/hear an interviewers question, or a players answer in a t.v. interview certainly rely on these as well (I know I do!).

Kim Clijsters ousted out of Roland Garros in 2nd round!

Kim Clijsters made a huge effort just to play Roland Garros after an ankle injury, but on a cold, windy morning she lost her rhythm and confidence and was stunned by Dutch 20-year-old Arantxa Rus 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, in the second round.

Clijsters held a 5-2 lead in the second set, but her left-handed opponent dropped the gloves and began to nail the corners with searing ground strokes. And all of a sudden, Clijsters could not keep the ball within the court. Her serve lacked pace and direction, her forehand disappeared completely and she no longer had depth on her backhand.

Loss of control

While Rus flew with the wind, Clijsters looked like she had been flattened by a tornado. "I felt kind of in control, I felt like I was she was missing quite a lot in the beginning of the rallies, and I felt that I was moving her around well from side to side," said the Belgian who committed 65 unforced errors. "Then I started doubting a little bit. I think on clay is something that for me is definitely the wrong attitude to have. She obviously started building up more confidence, started playing a lot better and was really kind of putting me on my back foot all the time. I couldn't really play my aggressive tennis anymore in that third set."

Remarkably, the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion lost 11 of the next 12 games in a performance reminiscent of her blowout loss at the hands Nadia Petrova at the 2010 Australian Open. Clijsters said her injured ankle held up fine, but she is clearly rusty having played only two matches since last March. Despite bowing out early, she had no regrets about her decision to play in Paris.

"I'm happy that I gave myself the opportunity," said Clijsters, who let go of two match points. "It's better to try than not to try. That's kind of the attitude of a real loser. I gave it the best that I had and with my abilities that I had. So I definitely don't regret it."

For her part, the No.114-ranked Rus put her stamp on the tour for the first time. A former junior no.1, the young Dutchwoman showed agility and power off the ground and calm nerves in closing out the match. "This is for sure my biggest win," said Rus. "She's a real hero. Played fantastic tennis. I always liked to see her playing and to watch her matches, and, yeah, it was really, really nice that I played against her."


RolandGarros.com


Well, that was a very short lived victory wasn't it?.  Too bad I was really hoping Kim would make it at least into the second week.  

But to say I'm shocked would be a lie.  With not having proper preparation this was a distinct possibility.  But with Kim like the Williams sisters you believe she can do it anyway.  


Oh well, onward to Wimbledon.  I'm thinking the ladies winner will either be Sharapova, or last year's defending champ Francesca Schiavone.  


Good thing all my favourite guys are still battling through.  Biting my nails in anticipation of Federers match tomorrow.  

Roger Federer on course and into 3rd round at Roland Garros

The third-seeded Federer made short work of Frenchman Maxime Teixeira with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 rout in 1 hour, 24 minutes. 

He completely dominated the 22- minute second set, winning 25 of the 33 total points played, and finished the match with seven service breaks while popping seven aces. 

"He fought hard, and afterwards he was trying to get the best score," Federer said of Teixeira. "The score was balanced for 1 1/2 sets, but even then he fought hard." 

The 22-year-old Teixeira entered the draw as a wild card this week. 

"I gave it all. I did what I could," Teixeira said. "To play against Roger is an incredible experience. I'll never forget it and it will be great memories." 

Federer titled here in 2009 to complete the career Grand Slam and was the runner-up to his great rival Rafael Nadal from 2006-08. 

Next up for the 16-time major champion Federer will be Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic, who was on the court for two fewer minutes than Federer in a 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 demolition of Spain's Pere Riba on Day 4.

TSN.ca

So judging by the score-line Roger is doing very well thus fur.  Sadly I have yet to see one of his matches due to poor coverage by TSN/ESPN.

I missed his first round match with Feliciano Lopez (where last time they played in Madrid it took Fed 3 tie-breakers to win) because I forgot to tape it.

And today they skipped coverage of his match altogether.  WTF?!.

The funny thing about the Lopez match was that there seemed to be a lot more attention focused on the post-match interview where Federer complained about the changed tennis balls.

Apparently they were changed again this year (and they're different from the ones used in all the other clay courts tournaments).

I can't say I disagree with Federer on the issue.  Seems to make more sense to use the same balls throughout.

But I also understand why they do it, simply to make it more challenging for the players.  It wouldn't be the French Open if things weren't done their way.

Not much to say about Fed's second round victory pretty straight forward (after a tough first round it was good to see).  His next match on Thursday could get very tricky.

Hopefully they will actually show it.

Kim Clijsters eases past 1st round at Roland Garros

 

All pics from womenstennisforum

Second seed Kim Clijsters reached the French Open second round with a 6-2 6-3 win over Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus on Tuesday.

Clijsters will face Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands for a place in the last 32.

Clijsters, playing at Roland Garros for the first time since 2006, will next face Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands.

Reigning US and Australian Open champion Clijsters, has been Paris runner-up twice, in 2001 and 2003, but had not played in the event since losing in the 2006 semi-finals to compatriot Justine Henin.

"I was excited to be back out there," said Clijsters, whose participation in Paris was under threat because of an ankle injury.

"I moved well and was aggressive. There's a few things that will have to be better. I didn't always hit the lines like I wanted to."

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8253187

A nice solid performance from Clijsters.  

A bit of nerves closing out the sets (took 4 match points) Some errors and double faults (5 of them)  

Which is actually less then her usual. All that's to be expected after not having played for a while.

A few more matches under her belt will undoubtedly help with match toughness, and hopefully help get rid of a lot of jittery nerves as well.  Her ankle, and shoulder seem to be fine for the moment.  

She moved quite well on the court, and hit some spectacular cross-court forehands.  All in all a fairly straight forward win.  

Taking it one match at a time, we'll see where it leads.  

About the only thing I wasn't sure of was Clijsters outfit.

I've liked most of what Fila has put her in, but this one goes in the fugly column.  The semi-florescent pink does nothing for her.

But I do love the shoes :).

Martina Hingis picks her WTA winner for Roland Garros 2011

Maria Sharapova’s greatest strength has always been her mental toughness – she gives opponents nothing – and she will believe in herself even more after winning her first title for a year with victory at Rome’s Foro Italico last weekend.

Sharapova is undoubtedly a great competitor, so strong in the mind, and that is often key in Paris, as it is the most mentally draining of the grand slam tournaments. When Sharapova is playing well, she just never lets go. I suppose that could be seen as being mean on the court, but I have always viewed it as professionalism.

From the very first time I saw Sharapova play, which would have been when she was 14 or 15 and she was still in the juniors, I have always thought how professional she is. You always know what you were going to get with her. She is pretty straightforward. It has not always been good enough, but she has always given everything.

It is fantastic for Sharapova, and for women’s tennis, that she is winning again. With the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, both missing the French Open, the women’s game needs some big names and faces.

Sharapova exploded on to the scene when she won the 2004 Wimbledontitle at 17, and she went on to win the 2006 US Open and the 2008 Australian Open.

Completing the career grand slam would show everyone just what she is capable of. No one can ever say after you have done the career slam that you cannot play on one particular surface. I came close to completing the career grand slam, as I won three Australian Open titles and Wimbledon and the US Open once each, and for me it is a great pity that I threw away the second of my French Open finals, when I played Steffi Graf in 1999.

It would mean a lot to Sharapova to have won all four grand slams, though at this stage of her tennis life, after coming back from a serious shoulder injury that could have ended her career, I would imagine she is motivated simply by the possibility of winning any sort of tournaments and titles again.

Winning matches and titles tends to be even more satisfying after returning from an injury, than it was before, as you have had to deal with so many obstacles to get back to where you were.

The clay courts at Roland Garros almost play like hard courts, as the sand on them is very fine. The surface in Paris is much faster and has a much truer bounce than at the other clay-court tournaments around Europe, and that is to Sharapova’s advantage, as her game is better suited to quick conditions.

Much could depend on the weather, though. If it stays hot and dry in Paris, that will help her. But if it is cold and rainy, and the balls and the clay both become heavy and wet, that could harm her chances.

There is no real reason, though, why Sharapova, whose victory in the Italian Open in Rome came against last year’s French Open runner-up Sam Stosur, cannot also win this year’s title at Roland Garros.

The key with Sharapova has always been whether she stays healthy or not. She is still young, just 24, so she has many more years left in her if she can avoid injury, and her shoulder is OK.

I was also very pleased to hear that Kim Clijsters will be in the draw in Paris. She has missed the entire clay-court season so far after damaging her ankle while dancing at a cousin’s wedding, but she can come from nowhere to win the title.

The courts suit her game. When she plays, it is usually all about her. She does not wait for her opponent to come to her as she is the one going for her shots. I imagine that a lot could depend on whether she serves well.

One advantage she does have is that she will be completely fresh. I remember when I was preparing for the French Open, and playing a number of tournaments, that you had to try to ensure that you were not tired when you arrived in Paris. That will not be a problem for Clijsters.

It has been unfortunate for women’s tennis that Serena Williams has not played for almost a year because of two foot operations and then emergency treatment for a blood clot on her lung, and her sister, Venus, has not competed much either because of injuries – her last tournament was January’s Australian Open.

This is the first time for eight years that a grand slam tournament is missing both the sisters. It would be premature to say with any certainty that the Williams era is over and they will never win any more slams, but of course it all depends on whether they can regain their health and fitness and start playing again. If they are fit and well, of course they can win more slams, because they are great champions.

It is a great story, how the sisters started from nothing to achieve so much in tennis, and if they can return to the court – they have always been stronger on the Wimbledon grass than on the Paris clay – they could add to their collections. The sisters are so strong mentally, especially Serena, that they can win tournaments when they are not quite at their best physically.

But really I would love to see Caroline Wozniacki win in Paris, especially as some would argue that until the world No1 wins a grand slam event she will struggle to have the respect of everyone in tennis. Until she does, some people will think she does not deserve or live up to that number.

She has already achieved so much and has done a lot for the sport but until she wins a slam, there will always be a lot of discussions that Wozniacki has somehow not established herself as the No 1. It would be helpful for the sport, as well as for her, if the No 1 was also a grand slam champion.

I hope that Wozniacki, a tough cookie, can make an impression this coming fortnight. Perhaps Francesca Schiavone, last year’s surprise champion here, can win again, though we have not heard so much from her recently.

Every girl finds one tournament where she immediately feels comfortable and I am sure Schiavone will be at home again in Paris when she walks on court to start the defence of her title. However I think this just might be Sharapova’s year.

By Martina Hingis (nice first attempt at journalism:).

telegraph.co.uk

Kim Clijsters set for French Open

BRUSSELS: Belgium's Kim Clijsters has confirmed that she will take part in the French Open which gets underway at Roland Garros on Sunday, despite being out of action for six weeks.

"I am very happy to be able to take part (in the French Open)," she said on her official website.

The 27-year-old former world number one has not played since her quarterfinal loss in Miami to Victoria Azarenka on March 31, when she complained of wrist and shoulder pain.

She then picked up a serious ankle injury at her cousin's wedding in April.

Clijsters resumed training at the start of May with the intention of playing in the French Open for the first time since 2006, but has been unable to play in any tournament.

"It feels great to be back playing again - I really missed it," she said.

"We will leave for Paris on Wednesday because I want to get in some useful practice on the claycourts.

"Everything is going well. I am hitting the ball well. I still feel a little bit of pain in the ankle, but I have a tight bandage on it and that helps me."

The Belgium has won the last two Grand Slam tournaments - last year's US Open and the Australian Open in January and she will be seeded second in Paris. She has never won the French Open having lost twice in the final. 

timesofindia.com

Well, there you go it's official.  Hope all goes well, I'm ready for another Grand Slam.  Bring it on!.

Kim Clijsters French Open shot back on track

BRUSSELS (AP)—Kim Clijsters is recovering well from shoulder, wrist and ankle injuries and is on schedule to play in the French Open, which starts May 22.

“There are no signs anything is going bad,” her spokesman, Gert Van Goolen said Friday.

Clijsters is a two-time runner-up at the French Open and slow clay is generally considered her weakest surface. Up to last week, she had been considered doubtful to compete in Paris.

She had been sidelined since early last month and resumed on-court training only last week. The Belgian hopes to make a definitive decision early next week.

“After this weekend she has to be sure whether to focus all on Paris and leave (to go) there, or decide whether to stay home,” Van Goolen said by phone.

Clijsters, the reigning U.S. and Australian Open champion, is ranked No. 2 behind Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.

During a busy early spring schedule, she overexerted her right shoulder and wrist and withdrew from the tour last month. Then she compounded her problems when she also injured her right ankle while wearing high heels at her cousin’s wedding.

She pulled out of the ongoing Italian Open in Rome and has no plans for a warmup tournament before the French Open. However, after a tentative first training outing last week, she has felt stronger during subsequent sessions.

If she skips the French Open, Clijsters would immediately start preparing for grass courts and play at the Unicef Open in the Netherlands, which begins June 12.

yahoo sports

And here we go again, are you as confused as me?. LOL 

Seriously this has become a game of Russian roulette, for now it looks like she might be in.  I guess we'll know for sure in another week or so.

Kim Clijsters French Open participation stays alive

It's been forever since my last update:D.  But I come bearing good news :).


BRUSSELS: Kim Clijsters is on track to be fit in time for the French Open following the ankle injury she sustained while at a cousin’s wedding, her physiotherapist told the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper.

“Kim is able to walk about without crutches, She needs some four to six weeks to complete her recovery. We are perfectly on track,” said Sam Verslegers.

“If Kim can get back into training in four weeks, she would have two weeks in which to get ready for Roland Garros. But we are not there yet.”

Verslegers said that Clijsters was also recovering well from injuries to her shoulder and wrist.

The Belgium world number two has won the last two Grand Slam tournaments – last year’s US Open and the Australian Open in January. She has never won the French Open having lost twice in the final.

 dawn.com

Granted it's still not a definite, but there's hope.

Staying positive.

Kim Clijsters may miss French Open again!

Kim Clijsters, who won the last two Grand Slam singles tennis championships, may miss next month’s French Open after injuring her ankle at a cousin’s wedding. 

Clijsters, a two-time French Open runner-up from Belgium, was already facing four weeks on the sideline because of shoulder and wrist injuries. The ankle will need at least 4-6 weeks of recovery time, according to a statement posted yesterday on Clijsters’s website. 

“Since the French Open starts in literally six weeks, Kim’s presence in Paris is very uncertain,” the statement said. “In the meantime Kim has to continue working on her recovery of a shoulder and wrist injury.” 

The statement didn’t provide any details on how Clijsters injured her ankle. It said she tore and strained ligaments, and that “the consequences are rather dire.” 

Clijsters, 27, won the U.S. Open in September and captured her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January. She’s No. 2 in the women’s tennis rankings.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-11/kim-clijsters-may-miss-french-open-after-injuring-ankle-at-wedding-party.html

Well crap, I think I totally jinxed it.  It's going to be one boring WTA French Open that's for sure.

French Open staying at Roland Garros

PARIS (AP)—The French Tennis Federation voted to keep the French Open at its traditional Roland Garros venue and renovate the existing site by making it considerably larger, more attractive and modern, rather than moving it elsewhere.

Three other venues were bidding to host the clay-court Grand Slam tournament by 2016.

The proposed new sites at Versailles, close to the hugely popular Versailles palace, and in the suburbs at Gonesse and Marne-La-Vallee were much more expensive because they would have required building from scratch.

The FFT said Sunday that it had chosen the option of renovating Roland Garros, located in western Paris for more than 80 years, by making it 60 percent bigger while preserving its “unique history.”

“The Federation decided to stay on its original site at Porte d’Auteuil,” the FFT said Sunday. “It chose an ambitious, prestigious project resolutely looking to the future.”

The new-look Roland Garros will feature 35 outside courts, a new press center and a center court with a retractable roof so that matches could go ahead when it’s raining, and where night sessions could be played.

“Our ambition was to offer a project with a real future and of a very high quality,” FFT president Jean Gachassin said. “To improve the reception and the comfort of the players and spectators.”

Kim Clijsters, who will become the No. 1 player in the world on Monday, welcomed the news.
“I would have thought that it was sad to see it go away from the place where I know (the French Open) should be. … It has a lot of great memories for me even as a junior,” Clijsters said.

But former top-ranked player Amelie Mauresmo, now director of the Open Gaz de France tournament, thinks it should have moved.

“I hope they (the French Federation of Tennis) won’t get in trouble by taking this decision,” Mauresmo said. “I don’t know if the tennis aspect prevailed in that decision. I have some doubts. I clearly said that I was more in favor of a development, of an ambition, that is, to move.”

Cost issues also appear to have played a crucial part in the decision making.

The FFT said that renovation costs at Roland Garros are expected to be $370 million, compared to an estimated price tag of between $630 million and $1 billion for the three other potential venues.

Gonesse was eliminated in the first round of voting and Versailles in the second. In the final round, Roland Garros received 70.13 percent of the votes to eliminate Marne-La-Vallee.

“I would like to congratulate all the participants … most particularly (Paris) Mayor Bertrand Delanoe,” Gachassin said. “(Delanoe) has done an absolutely remarkable job to present a project in keeping with the international dimension of Roland Garros.”

Roland Garros is the smallest of the four Grand Slam venues that also include the Australian Open at Melbourne, the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows in New York, and London’s traditional grass-court event at Wimbledon.

Fans and players have regularly complained about the congestion at Roland Garros because of its narrow walkways and the stiflingly limited size of the complex.

Plans call for an extension of the current site from 21.3 acres to about 33.8 acres.

Among the renovation options are a new adjacent stadium with a capacity of 8,000, and the use of other local infrastructure, such as the land at Stade Jean Bouin, where Stade Francais rugby club played its home games until the stadium was knocked down two years ago.

Local residents, wildlife enthusiasts and municipal authorities in Paris’ leafy western hub have all previously voiced their anger at the plans to refurbish Roland Garros.

Mauresmo has reservations that the pledge to mix modernity with tradition can work.

“If you can keep the history of the tournament in a place that is big enough to have the crowd happy, the players happy, night matches perhaps, matches when it’s raining, then that’s the perfect situation,” she said. “If you can keep tradition in these conditions, then it’s great. I’m not sure that’s the case with Roland Garros.”

Trung Latieule in Paris contributed to this report.

Yahoo Canada Sports

I blogged about this in March of last year at the time it looked like it was going to be cheaper to move it to a new venue. 

Interestingly it turned out to be the opposite.

Looks like unsurprisingly a lot of players are split on this decision.  The only thing I care about is whether they'll be able to implement all the changes and actually help improve it.

Although having only one retractable roof will make match scheduling a nightmare during rain delays.  But the 35 outside courts will be a great addition.

Hopefully more details will be released once they actually get closer to finalizing everything. 

Personally I'm still pulling for big screens outside the center court (ala Aussie Open/Wimbledon).