Showing posts with label French Open 2015. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French Open 2015. Show all posts
Friday, June 12, 2015
Jimmy Fallon's Roland Garros grunting montage
LOL!. Bound the be a classic. Thanks Jimmy :). I still laugh at Schiavone's grunt, it just sounds like a sneeze :D.
Sunday, June 07, 2015
Stan Wawrinka denies Novak Djokovic becomes 1st time French Open Champion!
The Swiss was warmly congratulated at the handshake by Djokovic before climbing into the stands to celebrate with his coach, Magnus Norman – the runner-up at Roland Garros in 2000 – and his family. He then returned to the court to embrace Djokovic once more.
Three-time Roland Garros champion Gustavo Kuerten, who beat Norman in the 2000 final, presented La Coupe des Mousquetaires to Wawrinka. There was a special and prolonged ovation for three-time runner-up Djokovic, who was moved to tears by the reception he received on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Wawrinka was rewarded for playing lights-out tennis for much of the three-hour, 12-minute contest. He struck 59 winners, almost twice as many as Djokovic, and never let his head drop as the Serb relentlessly fended off break points. After rallying from 0/40 down in the eighth game of the fourth set – having already been a break down – Wawrinka red-lined a backhand winner to break Djokovic and served out the contest, saving break point before finishing with another lethal backhand.
Wawrinka will return to the Top 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday after joining Roger Federer (2009) as the only Swiss champions at the clay-court Grand Slam. The Lausanne native added to the Australian Open crown he won in January 2014 (d. Nadal), making him just the sixth active player to win multiple major titles.
The 30-year-old Wawrinka, who won the boys’ singles title in Paris in 2003 (d. Baker), is the first former junior champion to lift the men’s singles trophy since Mats Wilander in 1988.
Wawrinka had beaten 17-time major champion and good friend Federer in the quarter-finals before denying home favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals. At 30 years and 71 days, he is the third oldest first-time Roland Garros champion in the Open Era.
World No. 1 Djokovic was bidding to become the eighth man in history to complete the career Grand Slam. It is the third time that the Belgrade native has finished runner-up in Paris, having fallen to Rafael Nadal in the 2012 and 2014 finals.
The Serb had stunned nine-time Roland Garros champion Nadal in straight sets in the quarter-finals before edging Andy Murray in a five-set semi-final that spanned two days.
Djokovic was looking to win his ninth Grand Slam championship, having opened the 2015 season by triumphing at the Australian Open (d. Murray). The right-hander suffered just his third defeat of the season and saw his 28-match winning streak come to an end; his last defeat had come against Federer in the Dubai final.
Stan is the man once more!. Who would have thunk it?!. Don't think many people saw this coming.
Everyone thought Djokovic was an automatic shoe in after beating Nadal, I gotta admit I felt so sad for him this time.
He fought so hard to finally dominate Nadal & get past Murray only to lose in the last hurdle.
Granted Stan played outstanding & completely deserved it, but still you gotta feel for Novak.
I think everyone also thought that Stan would be a one Slam wonder for a while, but he's proven otherwise.
Since Federer couldn't win it this year, having Stan win as the Swiss #2 makes for a nice consolation prize as a Swiss tennis fan. It also kind of justified Federer's loss to him in the quarters.
Congrats Mr. Wawrinka on your 2nd Grand Slam title. Once more you've proven to be one tough customer. Well done!.
Congrats Mr. Wawrinka on your 2nd Grand Slam title. Once more you've proven to be one tough customer. Well done!.
Saturday, June 06, 2015
Roger Federer talks tennis idols
What is it like to step on the court with your tennis idol? For 23-year-old Damir Dzumhur,Roger Federer’s third-round opponent on Friday in Paris, it was out of this world.
“I was warming up, and I was still not believing that I'm playing Roger Federer,” he said. “Really, it was a strange feeling, like I'm dreaming. But then suddenly I switched when I started to play.”
Federer, too, vividly remembers what it was like to compete against Pete Sampras in their fourth-round Wimbledon epic in 2001. The Swiss was just 19 years old.
“I never got a chance to play [Boris] Becker and [Stefan] Edberg, but Pete clearly was huge, plus it was on Centre Court at Wimbledon.” Federer said. “It was just already very exciting playing against the guys you knew from TV, doesn't matter who it is.
“You just wonder: Does your game actually match up with those kind of guys? Because it's so surreal that you don't think it does, and then you realize it's so easy to win games. I thought it was the most exciting time almost in my playing career, rubbing shoulders with those guys, seeing them prepare, joke around, being one of you, and all of a sudden, you become friends with them. I think it's very cool.”
Federer would topple Dzumhur 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the Round of 16 at Roland Garros for an 11th straight year. As engaged as both players and fans were in their third-round battle, there were two spectators who may have been a bit distracted: Federer’s 5-year-old twin girls sat in the stands engrossed in a comic book and a smart phone.
“They are happy when I'm back from the matches,” Federer said with a laugh. “They are happy when I come back from practice because they like spending time with me rather than me being gone. I'm happy it's that way and not the other way, that they can't wait for me to go play tennis.
“Clearly they like looking at their books and all that stuff. I don't blame them. It's sweet that they are out with their friends, together as a family. Today they are old enough to not make any more noise and stuff, so it's nice to see them out there.”
Federer will no doubt fit in some family time as he mentally prepares for a challenging fourth-round match against the winner of Gael Monfils and Pablo Cuevas.
“I was warming up, and I was still not believing that I'm playing Roger Federer,” he said. “Really, it was a strange feeling, like I'm dreaming. But then suddenly I switched when I started to play.”
Federer, too, vividly remembers what it was like to compete against Pete Sampras in their fourth-round Wimbledon epic in 2001. The Swiss was just 19 years old.
“I never got a chance to play [Boris] Becker and [Stefan] Edberg, but Pete clearly was huge, plus it was on Centre Court at Wimbledon.” Federer said. “It was just already very exciting playing against the guys you knew from TV, doesn't matter who it is.
“You just wonder: Does your game actually match up with those kind of guys? Because it's so surreal that you don't think it does, and then you realize it's so easy to win games. I thought it was the most exciting time almost in my playing career, rubbing shoulders with those guys, seeing them prepare, joke around, being one of you, and all of a sudden, you become friends with them. I think it's very cool.”
Federer would topple Dzumhur 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the Round of 16 at Roland Garros for an 11th straight year. As engaged as both players and fans were in their third-round battle, there were two spectators who may have been a bit distracted: Federer’s 5-year-old twin girls sat in the stands engrossed in a comic book and a smart phone.
“They are happy when I'm back from the matches,” Federer said with a laugh. “They are happy when I come back from practice because they like spending time with me rather than me being gone. I'm happy it's that way and not the other way, that they can't wait for me to go play tennis.
“Clearly they like looking at their books and all that stuff. I don't blame them. It's sweet that they are out with their friends, together as a family. Today they are old enough to not make any more noise and stuff, so it's nice to see them out there.”
Federer will no doubt fit in some family time as he mentally prepares for a challenging fourth-round match against the winner of Gael Monfils and Pablo Cuevas.
Stan Wawrinka becomes the 3rd Swiss player to reach Roland Garros Final
One year after a first-round exit in Paris, Stan Wawrinka has reached a second major final with his 6-3, 6-7(1), 7-6(3), 6-4 defeat of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on a steamy Friday at Roland Garros.
The 2014 Australian Open champion is the first No. 8 seed in the Open Era to reach the championship match at the French Open. He will face off against either World No. 1 Novak Djokovic or World No. 3 Andy Murray next.
Wawrinka, who won the boys’ singles title here in 2003 (d. Brian Baker), captured a routine first set thanks to an early break. He looked to be in control in the second despite a 31 per cent first serve percentage, earning five break points on Tsonga’s service game at 5-5. Amid chants of “ALLEZ, TSON-GA”, the hometown hero would maintain his composure, holding serve and dominating in the ensuing tie-break.
The 72-minute third set featured no service breaks, forcing Wawrinka to take a two-set lead in yet another tie-break. An early break in the fourth set would give the Swiss the leeway he needed to seal victory.
At the conclusion of the nearly four-hour match, Wawrinka had served 15 aces and saved 16 of the 17 break points he faced.
"He got off to a good start," said Tsonga of his opponent. "He played well from the very beginning of the match. He prevented me from being aggressive. I couldn't control the balls very well... He was more clinical, I would say."
Of the 39 players aged 30 and over who started in the French Open draw, Tsonga and Wawrinka, both 30, were the two remaining. The duo had split their previous six meetings, including two five-set matches at Roland Garrosin 2011 and ’12.
Wawrinka has now won nine of his past 10 matches against French opposition at the Grand Slams.
The 2014 Australian Open champion is the first No. 8 seed in the Open Era to reach the championship match at the French Open. He will face off against either World No. 1 Novak Djokovic or World No. 3 Andy Murray next.
Wawrinka, who won the boys’ singles title here in 2003 (d. Brian Baker), captured a routine first set thanks to an early break. He looked to be in control in the second despite a 31 per cent first serve percentage, earning five break points on Tsonga’s service game at 5-5. Amid chants of “ALLEZ, TSON-GA”, the hometown hero would maintain his composure, holding serve and dominating in the ensuing tie-break.
The 72-minute third set featured no service breaks, forcing Wawrinka to take a two-set lead in yet another tie-break. An early break in the fourth set would give the Swiss the leeway he needed to seal victory.
At the conclusion of the nearly four-hour match, Wawrinka had served 15 aces and saved 16 of the 17 break points he faced.
"He got off to a good start," said Tsonga of his opponent. "He played well from the very beginning of the match. He prevented me from being aggressive. I couldn't control the balls very well... He was more clinical, I would say."
Of the 39 players aged 30 and over who started in the French Open draw, Tsonga and Wawrinka, both 30, were the two remaining. The duo had split their previous six meetings, including two five-set matches at Roland Garrosin 2011 and ’12.
Wawrinka has now won nine of his past 10 matches against French opposition at the Grand Slams.
atpworldtour.com
With this win Stan 'the man' Wawrinka became the 3rd Swiss to reach this final behind Roger Federer & Martina Hingis. Nicely done!.
Looks like Djokovic is having a tougher time with the match suspended till tomorrow due to weather concerns no rest in between.
With this win Stan 'the man' Wawrinka became the 3rd Swiss to reach this final behind Roger Federer & Martina Hingis. Nicely done!.
Looks like Djokovic is having a tougher time with the match suspended till tomorrow due to weather concerns no rest in between.
Friday, June 05, 2015
Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza out of French Open in the quarters
Indian ace Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis crashed out of the French Open after being upstaged in straight sets by Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova in their women’s doubles quarterfinal match on Wednesday.
Top seeds and hot favourites, Sania and Martina went down to the seventh seeded American-Czech pair 5-7 2-6 in the Clay Court Grand Slam.
With this defeat, India’s campaign in the main draw of the French Open is over.
It was a below par performance by Sania and Martina, managing to win just a total of 61 points as compared to 70 by their lower-ranked rivals.
Sania and Martina simply failed to live up to their reputation as they struggled throughout the match.
Although they fought hard in the opening set, the Indo-Swiss duo could not step up the momentum when needed and lost 5-7.
In the second set, Sania and Martina turned out to be no match to their opponents. They lost their serve in the beginning of the set itself to fall behind 0-2.
Leading 2-0, Mattek-Sands and Safarova tightened the noose and the top seeds were left to play only the catching up game, which they eventually lost to bow out of the tournament.
indianexpress.com
Too bad, but Lucie Safarova is having a great tournament so it's no surprise Martina & Sania lost.
Top seeds and hot favourites, Sania and Martina went down to the seventh seeded American-Czech pair 5-7 2-6 in the Clay Court Grand Slam.
With this defeat, India’s campaign in the main draw of the French Open is over.
It was a below par performance by Sania and Martina, managing to win just a total of 61 points as compared to 70 by their lower-ranked rivals.
Sania and Martina simply failed to live up to their reputation as they struggled throughout the match.
Although they fought hard in the opening set, the Indo-Swiss duo could not step up the momentum when needed and lost 5-7.
In the second set, Sania and Martina turned out to be no match to their opponents. They lost their serve in the beginning of the set itself to fall behind 0-2.
Leading 2-0, Mattek-Sands and Safarova tightened the noose and the top seeds were left to play only the catching up game, which they eventually lost to bow out of the tournament.
indianexpress.com
Too bad, but Lucie Safarova is having a great tournament so it's no surprise Martina & Sania lost.
Disappointing, but not unexpected.
Hopefully they can do better on the grass at Wimbledon in 3 weeks.
Thursday, June 04, 2015
Novak Djokovic becomes the 2nd man to end 'kind of clay' Rafeal Nadal's run at Roland Gorros
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic kept alive his dream of completing the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros on Wednesday. He defeated nine-time champion Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 - ending the Spaniard’s 39-match winning run in Paris on his 29th birthday - to reach the semi-finals.
It was Djokovic’s first victory over Nadal at a Grand Slam championship since their epic 2012 Australian Open final contest and earned the Serb a semi-final clash with either Andy Murray or David Ferrer on Friday.
Read How The Match Was Won
The 28-year-old Djokovic is bidding to become the eighth man in history to complete the career Grand Slam. The Belgrade native had been thwarted by Nadal at Roland Garros the past three years, losing to the Spaniard in the final in 2012 and 2014 and in the semi-finals in 2013.
But the Serb had too much for Nadal in their 44th meeting on Court Philippe Chatrier. He limited Nadal to just three forehand winners as he raced to victory in two hours and 26 minutes. Victory saw him close the gap to 21-23 on Nadal in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.
Djokovic extended his winning streak to 27 matches. The right-hander has not been beaten since losing to Roger Federer in the Dubai final in February, going on to lift the trophies at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells (d. Federer), Miami (d. Murray), Monte-Carlo (d. Berdych) and Rome (d. Federer).
Djokovic is attempting to win his ninth Grand Slam championship and also keep alive his chance of claiming the calendar Grand Slam. The Serb was victorious at the Australian Open in January, beating Murray in the final.
The 29-year-old Nadal was looking to become the first player in the Open Era to win 10 titles at a Grand Slam championship. The Spaniard has a staggering 70-2 record on the terre battue of Roland Garros, with his only other defeat coming against Robin Soderling in the 2009 fourth round.
With the defeat, Nadal is set to fall to No. 10 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday; his lowest position since April 2005. Should Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Stan Wawrinka and reach the final, Nadal would fall to No. 11.
It was Djokovic’s first victory over Nadal at a Grand Slam championship since their epic 2012 Australian Open final contest and earned the Serb a semi-final clash with either Andy Murray or David Ferrer on Friday.
Read How The Match Was Won
The 28-year-old Djokovic is bidding to become the eighth man in history to complete the career Grand Slam. The Belgrade native had been thwarted by Nadal at Roland Garros the past three years, losing to the Spaniard in the final in 2012 and 2014 and in the semi-finals in 2013.
But the Serb had too much for Nadal in their 44th meeting on Court Philippe Chatrier. He limited Nadal to just three forehand winners as he raced to victory in two hours and 26 minutes. Victory saw him close the gap to 21-23 on Nadal in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.
Djokovic extended his winning streak to 27 matches. The right-hander has not been beaten since losing to Roger Federer in the Dubai final in February, going on to lift the trophies at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells (d. Federer), Miami (d. Murray), Monte-Carlo (d. Berdych) and Rome (d. Federer).
Djokovic is attempting to win his ninth Grand Slam championship and also keep alive his chance of claiming the calendar Grand Slam. The Serb was victorious at the Australian Open in January, beating Murray in the final.
The 29-year-old Nadal was looking to become the first player in the Open Era to win 10 titles at a Grand Slam championship. The Spaniard has a staggering 70-2 record on the terre battue of Roland Garros, with his only other defeat coming against Robin Soderling in the 2009 fourth round.
With the defeat, Nadal is set to fall to No. 10 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday; his lowest position since April 2005. Should Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Stan Wawrinka and reach the final, Nadal would fall to No. 11.
I haven't always been a fan of Novak in the past, but there's no denying that he is one hell of a tennis player. And I've found myself really enjoying watching his matches in the last few years.
This was an outstanding performance, highly competitive & highly entertaining. Not to mention extremely impressive.
Only one other man has been able to beat Nadal in Paris & he had to do it in 4 grueling sets.
Novak Djokovic has now done something not even Roger Federer is capable of, and as a life long Roger fan that's a form of the highest compliment.
So well done Novak. You've definitely proven above and beyond why you belong at #1.
Andy Murray is next. That will definitely be another tough test for Novak, should be equally fun to watch.
Wednesday, June 03, 2015
French Open provides another chance to savour Martina Hingis
I suspect like many others, my tennis fandom is best described as "casual" except for those intermittent stretches when it swells into a feverish bout of devotion. In other words, my tennis fandom notably increases during the Grand Slam tournaments.
In some ways tennis is reminiscent of how I consume cricket ODIs. There are so many tennis tournaments, basically every week somewhere in the world, dotting the calendar that it’s hard to be enthused by all the matches, especially those with little significance.
Just as ODI cricket’s popularity boons at big events such as the World Cup, tennis is thrust into the spotlight during the Grand Slams with the focus primarily on the singles format and the superstars who double up as some of the most celebrated athletes in the world.
As tennis’ peak season is set to start at the French Open, with Wimbledon closely following, it’s a timely chance to monitor Martina Hingis’ latest renaissance on the grand stage.
Hingis, ranked two in the world in women’s doubles, has formed a devastating partnership with Sania Mirza – who recently became the number one ranked women’s doubles player and the first Indian to achieve that lofty status.
Since pairing earlier this year, Mirza-Hingis have compiled an outstanding 18-3 record winning in Indian Wells, Miami and Charleston. Last week, they reached the final of the Rome Masters clay court event in preparation of the French Open.
The pair will be a strong contender at Roland Garros, which presents an ideal opportunity for Mirza to win her first women’s doubles Grand Slam. For Hingis, it is another opportunity to add to her burgeoning trophy cabinet – she has won 16 career Grand Slams, including nine in women’s doubles.
For tennis fans, even those who dismiss the doubles format, it is an opportune chance to marvel at Hingis, who is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant strategists ever to have played the game. At a modest 5'7" (170cm) and lithe, Hingis represents a throwback to a bygone era when smaller statured players were still capable of dominating tennis.
Due to the utter domination of the Williams sisters, women’s tennis this millennium has increasingly gravitated towards the big-hitting power game. The prototype player now is tall, strong and can relentlessly slug from the baseline. Hingis is the antithesis of those ideal characteristics. She’s a quaint figure trading on high intelligence and versatility as the backbone to her game.
Hingis’ crafty arsenal includes a gorgeous deft drop shot, savvy volleying, cunning slices and pinpoint placement. Not lightning quick around the court, Hingis dictates through her strategic brilliance.
Reminiscent of a snooker champion, Hingis has the foresight of knowing where the ball is travelling a few shots in advance. Her tremendous variety coupled with innate smarts has always made Hingis compelling and such a treat to watch.
In a sport renowned for producing prodigies, Hingis – who was named after 18-time singles champion Martina Navratilova - was perhaps the ultimate wunderkind. She won five Grand Slam singles titles before turning 19 and spent 209 weeks as world number one.
Her absolute peak was in 1997 when the then 16-year-old Hingis went 27-1 in majors with her only loss coming to Iva Majoli in the French Open final. It was one of the most remarkable calendar years in tennis history and suggested Hingis would have a prolonged reign as the best women’s tennis player.
But big hitters like Lindsay Davenport started challenging Hingis’ supremacy before the Williams sisters emerged as irresistible forces. While it was refreshing watching Hingis at her pomp, inevitably her domination at the top was fleeting.
After persistent ankle injuries, Hingis retired in early 2003 at the tender age of 22. She hadn’t won a singles Grand Slam title for four years, which left some cynics believing Hingis was consigned to the realisation she couldn’t compete with the powerful elite anymore.
Despite boasting the congenial moniker the "Swiss Miss", due to being brought up in Switzerland, Hingis had a dubious perception because of her occasional temperamental and petulant behaviour, which most infamously reared during her 1999 French Open final meltdown to Steffi Graf when she served underhand much to the derision of the crowd. It was easy to forget Hingis was still only a teenager, and that her immaturity was probably fuelled by the intense scrutiny.
Once poised to dominate throughout the 2000s, Hingis’ retirement abruptly halted one of tennis’ most promising careers. But Hingis re-emerged to the WTA circuit in 2006, where she became a crowd favourite during her Grand Slam comeback at the Australian Open. It appeared many had forgiven her earlier indiscretions, and most notably, had longed for diversity in a women’s game that had become stilted stylistically.
Although she was a regular top 10 player, Hingis was unable to legitimately contend at Grand Slams, as it appeared the speed and power of the women's game had passed her by. Her career seemingly ingloriously ended when she tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon in 2007.
She received a two-year ban from the International Tennis Federation, although Hingis has always maintained her innocence despite not contesting the charges.
It appeared Hingis’ professional career was over and her destiny lay at the lucrative exhibition circuit for former champions.
Michael Jordan-esque, Hingis surprisingly made a second comeback in 2013, albeit solely in doubles.
For all her success in singles, Hingis' prowess was best utilised in doubles. She famously spearheaded a highly successful partnership with the maligned Anna Kournikova, much to the delight of gawking admirers. Hingis can better leverage her genius in doubles, and her weakness in strength can be covered by a partner powerful on the baseline.
Hingis paired with the indefatigable Leander Paes to win this year’s Australian Open mixed doubles; similar chemistry was hoped with Mirza. So far, the Hingis-Mirza combination has been an irresistible pairing. They complement each other perfectly; Hingis is adept with the backhand juxtaposing nicely with Mirza’s lethal forehand. With her forceful backcourt abilities, Mirza sets up points allowing Hingis – highly skilled at the net – to finish off.
Hingis has hinted at playing until next year’s Rio Olympics but, as she approaches 35, she may be one injury away from permanent retirement. Undoubtedly, it is an opportunity to saviour Hingis.
Watching Hingis tap into her magical bag of tricks, it’s hard not to think what her legacy could have been without the injuries or if she had played a generation earlier. During her latest reincarnation, Hingis appears to be far happier and content on the court; perhaps her comeback is more about catharsis than silverware.
It’s pleasing one of tennis’ most intriguing players and personalities has the chance to re-write the final chapter of her beguiling career, after two misfires previously.
In some ways tennis is reminiscent of how I consume cricket ODIs. There are so many tennis tournaments, basically every week somewhere in the world, dotting the calendar that it’s hard to be enthused by all the matches, especially those with little significance.
Just as ODI cricket’s popularity boons at big events such as the World Cup, tennis is thrust into the spotlight during the Grand Slams with the focus primarily on the singles format and the superstars who double up as some of the most celebrated athletes in the world.
As tennis’ peak season is set to start at the French Open, with Wimbledon closely following, it’s a timely chance to monitor Martina Hingis’ latest renaissance on the grand stage.
Hingis, ranked two in the world in women’s doubles, has formed a devastating partnership with Sania Mirza – who recently became the number one ranked women’s doubles player and the first Indian to achieve that lofty status.
Since pairing earlier this year, Mirza-Hingis have compiled an outstanding 18-3 record winning in Indian Wells, Miami and Charleston. Last week, they reached the final of the Rome Masters clay court event in preparation of the French Open.
The pair will be a strong contender at Roland Garros, which presents an ideal opportunity for Mirza to win her first women’s doubles Grand Slam. For Hingis, it is another opportunity to add to her burgeoning trophy cabinet – she has won 16 career Grand Slams, including nine in women’s doubles.
For tennis fans, even those who dismiss the doubles format, it is an opportune chance to marvel at Hingis, who is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant strategists ever to have played the game. At a modest 5'7" (170cm) and lithe, Hingis represents a throwback to a bygone era when smaller statured players were still capable of dominating tennis.
Due to the utter domination of the Williams sisters, women’s tennis this millennium has increasingly gravitated towards the big-hitting power game. The prototype player now is tall, strong and can relentlessly slug from the baseline. Hingis is the antithesis of those ideal characteristics. She’s a quaint figure trading on high intelligence and versatility as the backbone to her game.
Hingis’ crafty arsenal includes a gorgeous deft drop shot, savvy volleying, cunning slices and pinpoint placement. Not lightning quick around the court, Hingis dictates through her strategic brilliance.
Reminiscent of a snooker champion, Hingis has the foresight of knowing where the ball is travelling a few shots in advance. Her tremendous variety coupled with innate smarts has always made Hingis compelling and such a treat to watch.
In a sport renowned for producing prodigies, Hingis – who was named after 18-time singles champion Martina Navratilova - was perhaps the ultimate wunderkind. She won five Grand Slam singles titles before turning 19 and spent 209 weeks as world number one.
Her absolute peak was in 1997 when the then 16-year-old Hingis went 27-1 in majors with her only loss coming to Iva Majoli in the French Open final. It was one of the most remarkable calendar years in tennis history and suggested Hingis would have a prolonged reign as the best women’s tennis player.
But big hitters like Lindsay Davenport started challenging Hingis’ supremacy before the Williams sisters emerged as irresistible forces. While it was refreshing watching Hingis at her pomp, inevitably her domination at the top was fleeting.
After persistent ankle injuries, Hingis retired in early 2003 at the tender age of 22. She hadn’t won a singles Grand Slam title for four years, which left some cynics believing Hingis was consigned to the realisation she couldn’t compete with the powerful elite anymore.
Despite boasting the congenial moniker the "Swiss Miss", due to being brought up in Switzerland, Hingis had a dubious perception because of her occasional temperamental and petulant behaviour, which most infamously reared during her 1999 French Open final meltdown to Steffi Graf when she served underhand much to the derision of the crowd. It was easy to forget Hingis was still only a teenager, and that her immaturity was probably fuelled by the intense scrutiny.
Once poised to dominate throughout the 2000s, Hingis’ retirement abruptly halted one of tennis’ most promising careers. But Hingis re-emerged to the WTA circuit in 2006, where she became a crowd favourite during her Grand Slam comeback at the Australian Open. It appeared many had forgiven her earlier indiscretions, and most notably, had longed for diversity in a women’s game that had become stilted stylistically.
Although she was a regular top 10 player, Hingis was unable to legitimately contend at Grand Slams, as it appeared the speed and power of the women's game had passed her by. Her career seemingly ingloriously ended when she tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon in 2007.
She received a two-year ban from the International Tennis Federation, although Hingis has always maintained her innocence despite not contesting the charges.
It appeared Hingis’ professional career was over and her destiny lay at the lucrative exhibition circuit for former champions.
Michael Jordan-esque, Hingis surprisingly made a second comeback in 2013, albeit solely in doubles.
For all her success in singles, Hingis' prowess was best utilised in doubles. She famously spearheaded a highly successful partnership with the maligned Anna Kournikova, much to the delight of gawking admirers. Hingis can better leverage her genius in doubles, and her weakness in strength can be covered by a partner powerful on the baseline.
Hingis paired with the indefatigable Leander Paes to win this year’s Australian Open mixed doubles; similar chemistry was hoped with Mirza. So far, the Hingis-Mirza combination has been an irresistible pairing. They complement each other perfectly; Hingis is adept with the backhand juxtaposing nicely with Mirza’s lethal forehand. With her forceful backcourt abilities, Mirza sets up points allowing Hingis – highly skilled at the net – to finish off.
Hingis has hinted at playing until next year’s Rio Olympics but, as she approaches 35, she may be one injury away from permanent retirement. Undoubtedly, it is an opportunity to saviour Hingis.
Watching Hingis tap into her magical bag of tricks, it’s hard not to think what her legacy could have been without the injuries or if she had played a generation earlier. During her latest reincarnation, Hingis appears to be far happier and content on the court; perhaps her comeback is more about catharsis than silverware.
It’s pleasing one of tennis’ most intriguing players and personalities has the chance to re-write the final chapter of her beguiling career, after two misfires previously.
Tuesday, June 02, 2015
Stan Wawrinka wins the battle of the Swiss for the 1st time in a Grand Slam ousts Roger Federer
Roger Federer Tumblr tag
Stan Wawrinka advanced to the Roland Garros semi-finals for the first time Tuesday as he upset countryman Roger Federer 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(4) in blustery conditions in Paris.
Wawrinka beat Federer at a Grand Slam championship for the first time (Federer was previously 4-0 at majors). The Lausanne native is through to his fourth major semi-final; he went on to win his first Grand Slam title at the 2014 Australian Open (d. Nadal).
The 30-year-old Wawrinka goes on to face either home favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals.
Wawrinka went into Tuesday’s clash with a 2-16 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against Federer and won just six games when the pair met three weeks ago in the Rome semi-finals. But the right-hander got off to a lightening start, breaking to love in the third game before going on to take the opener, saving a break point in the 10th game.
From 2-3 down in the second set, Wawrinka raised his level again to reel off four straight games and snatch the second set. It left Federer facing the challenge of coming back from two sets down for 10th time in his career, and he was afforded no opportunity.
The Basel native could not find a way to break Wawrinka’s serve and it was Wawrinka who pounced in the ensuing tie-break to seal victory in two hours and nine minutes. Despite the challenging weather, Wawrinka hit 43 winners to just 28 unforced errors.
Wawrinka will contest his second major semi-final of the season after reaching the last four at the Australian Open, where his title defence was ended by Novak Djokovic in five sets. His Melbourne run came between titles in Chennai (d. Bedene) and Rotterdam (d. Berdych).
Federer was bidding to reach his 37th Grand Slam semi-final and his eighth at Roland Garros, where he completed the career Grand Slam with victory in 2009 (d. Soderling). The Swiss has won 17 Grand Slam championships, with his last title coming at Wimbledon three years ago (d. Murray).
Not much to say Roger played his game, Stan was relentless & didn't give Roger any chances.
And to think everyone was so worried about Gael Monfils when we should have been more worried about Stan the man.
This was the first time in a Grand Slam that Roger was not able to break a player's serve since 2002!.
A well deserved win for Stan, and yet another disappointing (but not shocking) loss for Federer
:(.
Onward to the grass!.
And to think everyone was so worried about Gael Monfils when we should have been more worried about Stan the man.
This was the first time in a Grand Slam that Roger was not able to break a player's serve since 2002!.
A well deserved win for Stan, and yet another disappointing (but not shocking) loss for Federer
:(.
Onward to the grass!.
Of course tomorrow is the epic with Nadal and Djokovic. Pulling for Novak, this might be his time to finally dethrone the 'king of clay'.
Monday, June 01, 2015
Roger Federer gets the better of Monfils to set up all-Swiss quarterfinal at Roland Garros
Second seed Federer, the 2009 champion, knocked out No. 13 seed Monfils 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 carried over from Sunday for a place in his 11th quarter-final at the clay-court major. The match lasted two hours and 17 minutes.
"I wanted to get off to a good start, because you never know how he will be playing," said Federer. "So I felt good. I was calm yesterday. I was calm this morning. So we (Stefan Edberg and I) adopted the right game plan and the right tactical approach. I'm very happy."
Federer has a 16-2 FedEx ATP Head2Head lead against his next opponent, fellow Swiss and eighth seed Stan Wawrinka.
"It [will be] a special match," said Federer. "It is not a traditional match. There aren't too many Swiss players in the draw... It's always special to play each other. There will be a Swiss guy in the semi-final. That's positive. I hope I will reach the semifinal of a tournament. I will pull out all the stops to advance to the next round. If I will not make it, I will be very happy for Stan."
Resuming at one-set all, Federer needed 63 minutes to wrap up the third and fourth sets.
He quickly broke clear of Monfils and came close to taking a 4-1 lead in the third set. Monfils fought back, forcing Federer to save one break point at 4-3. Federer broke in the first game of the fourth set and, at one point, won 10 straight points to take the match away from Monfils.
Federer is now 29-5 on the season, which includes three ATP World Tour titles.
Afterwards, Monfils said, "It was tough because I'm sick. I have not much energy. Yesterday, I thought that maybe we might not play and it would help me a little bit, and finally we did play. I was battling to get a set and actually for me one-set all was perfect.
"I didn't have a great night last night, so it was maybe a mistake. Roger played solid. I think not very decent, but just a solid match. I couldn't challenge him because I was too tired... When you're 100 per cent is it's never easy to beat Roger, so when you're not 100 per cent it is definitely impossible."
#1 doubles team Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza sail into quaterfinals at French Open!
Martina Hingis Official Facebook
PARIS, France - Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza needed exactly an hour to power past Karin Knapp and Roberta Vinci and into the quarterfinals of the doubles event at the French Open on Sunday.
The No.1-seeded Hingis and Mirza blew through the first set in just 19 minutes and held off the No.14-seeded Italians in a much tighter second set to win their round of 16 clash in straights, 6-1, 6-4.
Hingis and Mirza are now 21-3 since they started together at the beginning of March, and they've barely been dropping games this tournament - they've dropped a total of 15 through three matches.
Hingis is no stranger to Grand Slam doubles titles, winning nine of them in her career - including two here, with Jana Novotna in 1998 and Mary Pierce in 2000. Mirza is looking for her first Grand Slam doubles title, though her only Grand Slam doubles final did come here in 2011 with Elena Vesnina.
Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, the No.9 seeds, were also among the winners, winning a tight first set then cruising in the second to beat Chan Hao-Ching and Anabel Medina Garrigues, 7-6(5), 6-2.
Hlavackova and Hradecka were the doubles champions together here back in 2011.
There were some upsets though, including a big one - No.8 seeds Caroline Garcia and Katarina Srebotnik were on the receiving end of a 6-1, 6-1 defeat to No.12 seeds and recent Mutua Madrid Openchampions Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova, and No.11 seeds Chan Yung-Jan and Zheng Jie were just edged by SÃlvia Soler-Espinosa and MarÃa-Teresa Torró-Flor, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(6).
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Roger Federer 4th round suspended due to darkness will continue tomorrow at one set apiece
Sunday play at Roland Garros has been suspended due to darkness with the Round of 16 clash between Roger Federer and Gael Monfils knotted at a set apiece. They will resume on Court Philippe Chatrier on Monday, not before 12:30pm local time.
Federer secured a break of serve in the second game and raced to a 3-0 lead before claiming the opening set 6-3 in 30 minutes. Looking to improve to 9-4 in his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with Monfils, the Swiss was bidding to reach the quarter-finals in Paris for the 10th time in 11 years. But the Frenchman had other plans, claiming a 3-0 lead of his own in the second set. He would be broken serving for the set at 5-3, but rebounded to secure the decisive break back a game later to draw level 6-4.
Monfils is eyeing a fifth quarter-final berth at his home Grand Slam (also 2008, '09, '11 & '14). With countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advancing earlier on Sunday, a Monfils victory would give the French contingent two home hopes in the quarters for just the third time in the Open Era. Most recently,Thierry Champion and Henri Leconte reached the last eight in 1990.
atpworldtour.com
Federer secured a break of serve in the second game and raced to a 3-0 lead before claiming the opening set 6-3 in 30 minutes. Looking to improve to 9-4 in his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with Monfils, the Swiss was bidding to reach the quarter-finals in Paris for the 10th time in 11 years. But the Frenchman had other plans, claiming a 3-0 lead of his own in the second set. He would be broken serving for the set at 5-3, but rebounded to secure the decisive break back a game later to draw level 6-4.
Monfils is eyeing a fifth quarter-final berth at his home Grand Slam (also 2008, '09, '11 & '14). With countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advancing earlier on Sunday, a Monfils victory would give the French contingent two home hopes in the quarters for just the third time in the Open Era. Most recently,Thierry Champion and Henri Leconte reached the last eight in 1990.
atpworldtour.com
One thing is certain Roger needs to win this in 4. Allez Federer!.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Martina Hingis & partner Leander Paes advance to 2nd round at French Open mixed doubles
Indian tennis player Leander Paes, partnering Swiss Martina Hingis, entered the second round, while his compatriot Rohan Bopanna, with Kazakh partner Yaroslava Shvedova, crashed out from the first round of mixed doubles at the French Open.
The eighth seeded Paes-Hingis pair totally outclassed Russian Alla Kudryavtseva and her Colombian partner Juan Sebastian Cabal 6-2, 6-3 to enter the second round of the clay court Major on Thursday. The Indo-Swiss pair next face the Slovenian-Romanian pair of Katarina Srebotnik and Horia Tecau at Stade Roland Garros.
It was an easy win for Paes and Hingis as they had full control of the match right from the start, winning 88 percent of first serve points and 62 percent of second serve points. They broke their opponents thrice out of seven opportunities and won 53 of the 89 points played.
Earlier, the Bopanna-Shvedova pair fought hard but their efforts went in vain as they were beaten 6-7(5), 6-0, 3-10 by the Czech-Polish combine of Lucie Hradecka and Marcin Matkowski.
The first set was a tight contest that had to be settled by a tie-breaker, which went in favour of Hradecka and Matkowski. However, the Indo-Kazakh pair came back strongly to win all six games of the second set and push the match in to the decider. But they failed to make an impact in the super tie-break, losing easily by a score of 3-10.
hindustantimes.com
The eighth seeded Paes-Hingis pair totally outclassed Russian Alla Kudryavtseva and her Colombian partner Juan Sebastian Cabal 6-2, 6-3 to enter the second round of the clay court Major on Thursday. The Indo-Swiss pair next face the Slovenian-Romanian pair of Katarina Srebotnik and Horia Tecau at Stade Roland Garros.
It was an easy win for Paes and Hingis as they had full control of the match right from the start, winning 88 percent of first serve points and 62 percent of second serve points. They broke their opponents thrice out of seven opportunities and won 53 of the 89 points played.
Earlier, the Bopanna-Shvedova pair fought hard but their efforts went in vain as they were beaten 6-7(5), 6-0, 3-10 by the Czech-Polish combine of Lucie Hradecka and Marcin Matkowski.
The first set was a tight contest that had to be settled by a tie-breaker, which went in favour of Hradecka and Matkowski. However, the Indo-Kazakh pair came back strongly to win all six games of the second set and push the match in to the decider. But they failed to make an impact in the super tie-break, losing easily by a score of 3-10.
hindustantimes.com
Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza through to round 3 of French Open doubles
The 10th seeded Indo-Canadian pair made short work of Begemann-Knowle winning in straight sets 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
Top seeds Sania and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis defeated local pair of Stepahnie Foretz and Amandine Hesse 6-3 6-4 in only 65 minutes.
In the match featuring Paes, the first set saw both pairs trade a break each, it went to the tie-breaker where the fancied pair of Paes-Nestor brought on all their experience into play winning it at 3.
The second set was a virtual cakewalk as the winners got a double break straightaway in the second and fourth games to lead 4-0 as the German-Austrian pair couldn't comeback despite winning a couple of service. The highlight of Paes-Nestor pair's performance was the successsful conversion of 82 percent of their first serve.
They finally won the match on the eighth game to progress to the next round along with Bryan brothers.
For Sania and Hingis, it wasn't a tough battle as they broke the French pair in the eighth game and followed it up by holding their serve to take the first set 6-3.
The Indo-Swiss pair started the second set well as they took a 1-0 lead breaking the opposition serve. However Foretz-Hesse duo broke even to make it 3-3.
But the decisive break happened in the ninth game which they won and served for the match without much difficulty.
Top seeds Sania and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis defeated local pair of Stepahnie Foretz and Amandine Hesse 6-3 6-4 in only 65 minutes.
In the match featuring Paes, the first set saw both pairs trade a break each, it went to the tie-breaker where the fancied pair of Paes-Nestor brought on all their experience into play winning it at 3.
The second set was a virtual cakewalk as the winners got a double break straightaway in the second and fourth games to lead 4-0 as the German-Austrian pair couldn't comeback despite winning a couple of service. The highlight of Paes-Nestor pair's performance was the successsful conversion of 82 percent of their first serve.
They finally won the match on the eighth game to progress to the next round along with Bryan brothers.
For Sania and Hingis, it wasn't a tough battle as they broke the French pair in the eighth game and followed it up by holding their serve to take the first set 6-3.
The Indo-Swiss pair started the second set well as they took a 1-0 lead breaking the opposition serve. However Foretz-Hesse duo broke even to make it 3-3.
But the decisive break happened in the ninth game which they won and served for the match without much difficulty.
Friday, May 29, 2015
Roger Federer through into the 4th round at Roland Garros
The Swiss was tested at times by the 23-year-old Dzumhur, but came through unscathed to set a clash with either Gael Monfils or Pablo Cuevas.
Federer hit 38 winners to 22 unforced errors and lost serve just once, when serving for the second set at 5-2. He quickly regained the advantage with another break in the ninth game before racing through the third set to seal victory in 88 minutes.
The 33-year-old Federer is through to the fourth round at Roland Garros for the 11th straight year. He completed the career Grand Slam when he lifted the trophy in 2009, beating Robin Soderling in the final.
Federer came into Roland Garros after mixed success during the European clay-court swing, tempering victory in Istanbul and a runner-up showing in Rome with early exits in Monte-Carlo and Madrid. The Basel native has a 27-5 record on the season.
World No. 88 Dzumhur was contesting the third round of a Grand Slam for the second time, having also reached the last 32 at the 2014 Australian Open as a qualifier. He is the only man from Bosnia/Herzegovina ever to play at a Grand Slam championship.
"I guess it was entertaining," said Dzumhur. "I really was excited before the match. I didn't feel that much pressure like I felt with Berdych last year, or with Ferrer. So I came a bit more relaxed on the court and started good. That was okay. So I feel that everything was okay. My game was good. I just can say that Roger played really too good today. He was playing so aggressive with all kind of shots. Big congratulations to him. Of course I was always saying that he's the best tennis player for me, and today he show why.
atpworldtour.com
It's gonna be another battle between Federer & the Frenchman Monfils in the 4th round.
Damn, I was so hoping Cuevas would get rid of that little complication and make things a little easier for Rog so that he could save his energy for the last 3 matches *sigh*.
But alas sometimes tennis gods just don't listen.
Hopefully Federer can revenge his loss to Gael at Monte Carlo earlier this month. Allez Roger!.
It's gonna be another battle between Federer & the Frenchman Monfils in the 4th round.
Damn, I was so hoping Cuevas would get rid of that little complication and make things a little easier for Rog so that he could save his energy for the last 3 matches *sigh*.
But alas sometimes tennis gods just don't listen.
Hopefully Federer can revenge his loss to Gael at Monte Carlo earlier this month. Allez Roger!.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Martina Hingis wins French Open doubles match after 15 year absence
PARIS -- After a 15-year absence, Martina Hingis once again played -- and won -- a women's doubles match at the French Open.
Hingis and Sania Mirza, the first woman from India to rank No. 1 in singles or doubles, are the top-seeded pairing at Roland Garros and made a successful Grand Slam debut as a partnership, beating Julia Goerges and Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-0 on Wednesday.
"I had enough of a break, so I'm fresh again," said Hingis, who is 34 and in the midst of a third career on tour after two stints in temporary retirement.
"It feels like, not that I'm 25 again, but it's a new comeback," Hingis said. "I'm definitely mentally refreshed and this is where you have to be when you do sports or play tennis. I'm hungry and I'm fresh and I feel like I still have (game), and that's why I tried to come back. And now, with Sania, it's clicked."
Hingis last entered the doubles in Paris in 2000, when she and Mary Pierce won the title. Pierce and most of the women they beat that year are long gone from the game, including players such as Jennifer Capriati and Conchita Martinez.
Hingis also won the French Open doubles trophy two years earlier, when she won all four major titles, teaming with Mirjana Lucic-Baroni at the Australian Open and Jana Novotna at the others.
Lucic-Baroni, who's now 33, knocked off 2014 runner-up Simona Halep in singles Wednesday.
"Yeah," she said, "we have been out there for quite some time."
All the way back at the 1997 Australian Open, when she was 16 and nicknamed "Swiss Miss," Hingis became the youngest major champion of the 20th century, collecting the first of her five career Grand Slam singles titles. She also won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open that year, coming within a loss in the French Open final of claiming a calendar-year Grand Slam, and was the youngest woman to reach No. 1 in the WTA rankings.
She quit tennis in 2002 because of foot and leg injuries, then rejoined the circuit full-time in 2006, reaching two major singles quarterfinals and returning to the top 10.
Hingis announced her retirement again in 2007, when she was given a two-year suspension for testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon. At the time, she denied taking the drug but did not appeal the ruling.
She worked in recent years as a coach.
"It's not a secret that Martina is supposed to be one of the smartest players ever that we've had," the 28-year-old Mirza said, drawing chuckles from Hingis. "For me, it's an honor to play with her. ... I mean, really, she's been a great player in the past, of course, but she's back to being very good again."
Their first tournament together was at Indian Wells, California, in March. They won the title there and at their next two appearances.
"I don't mean to make her sound old," Mirza said, eliciting peals of laughter from both women, "because she's only a few years older than me, but I did watch her as a kid. But she was also a kid when she was winning."
espn.go.com
Hingis and Sania Mirza, the first woman from India to rank No. 1 in singles or doubles, are the top-seeded pairing at Roland Garros and made a successful Grand Slam debut as a partnership, beating Julia Goerges and Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-0 on Wednesday.
"I had enough of a break, so I'm fresh again," said Hingis, who is 34 and in the midst of a third career on tour after two stints in temporary retirement.
"It feels like, not that I'm 25 again, but it's a new comeback," Hingis said. "I'm definitely mentally refreshed and this is where you have to be when you do sports or play tennis. I'm hungry and I'm fresh and I feel like I still have (game), and that's why I tried to come back. And now, with Sania, it's clicked."
Hingis last entered the doubles in Paris in 2000, when she and Mary Pierce won the title. Pierce and most of the women they beat that year are long gone from the game, including players such as Jennifer Capriati and Conchita Martinez.
Hingis also won the French Open doubles trophy two years earlier, when she won all four major titles, teaming with Mirjana Lucic-Baroni at the Australian Open and Jana Novotna at the others.
Lucic-Baroni, who's now 33, knocked off 2014 runner-up Simona Halep in singles Wednesday.
"Yeah," she said, "we have been out there for quite some time."
All the way back at the 1997 Australian Open, when she was 16 and nicknamed "Swiss Miss," Hingis became the youngest major champion of the 20th century, collecting the first of her five career Grand Slam singles titles. She also won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open that year, coming within a loss in the French Open final of claiming a calendar-year Grand Slam, and was the youngest woman to reach No. 1 in the WTA rankings.
She quit tennis in 2002 because of foot and leg injuries, then rejoined the circuit full-time in 2006, reaching two major singles quarterfinals and returning to the top 10.
Hingis announced her retirement again in 2007, when she was given a two-year suspension for testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon. At the time, she denied taking the drug but did not appeal the ruling.
She worked in recent years as a coach.
"It's not a secret that Martina is supposed to be one of the smartest players ever that we've had," the 28-year-old Mirza said, drawing chuckles from Hingis. "For me, it's an honor to play with her. ... I mean, really, she's been a great player in the past, of course, but she's back to being very good again."
Their first tournament together was at Indian Wells, California, in March. They won the title there and at their next two appearances.
"I don't mean to make her sound old," Mirza said, eliciting peals of laughter from both women, "because she's only a few years older than me, but I did watch her as a kid. But she was also a kid when she was winning."
espn.go.com
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Roger Federer fights back to reach Roland Garros 3rd round
The second seed and 2009 champion battled back from 2-4 and 0-2 deficits in the second and third sets of a 6-2, 7-6(1), 6-3 victory over Marcel Granollers.
"I think I was actually playing very well," said Federer. "I wasn't nervous really. I think things went well for me for the first couple of sets. I think I was in control. Even though I was down a break in the second set, I still felt the match was in my racquet. And when you feel that way, obviously you're always going to feel more confident, more comfortable, not nervous.
"But the thing you don't want to do is you want to start off badly sets, and that's what happened in the beginning of the third. I played a horrible game. It was just very disappointing and frustrating. But after that, I must say, it was probably my best spell of the match right after that... I was offensive. I was successful at net. So overall, I was very, very pleased."
Federer will next face Damir Dzumhur as he continues his quest for an 18th Grand Slam championship. A three-time ATP World Tour titlist in 2015, the Swiss has a 27-5 match record.
Federer broke Granollers twice in the opener of their fourth meeting, but came close to falling 2-5 down in the second set. He regrouped and went on to lose just two more of his service points in the 50-minute set.
Granollers jumped out to a 2-0 start in the third set, but Federer fought back, clinching his third break point opportunity in a 12-point seventh game. Overall, Federer hit 38 winners, including three aces.
Granollers, who won just 17 of 77 points on return of serve, has a 1-12 record against opponents in the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings.
Dzumhur knocked out Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 mid-afternoon.
"I don't know him very well," said Federer. "I might even go so far to say I have actually almost never seen him play maybe before. [It will be an] interesting match-up clearly, and [a] different approach to the match I played today."
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Roger Federer not happy with French Open security after fan rushes court for selfie
Roger Federer raised a racket on Sunday, slamming French Open security after a fan stormed the court seeking a selfie with the Swiss tennis great.
Federer had just won a routine first-round match when the teen took to Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros and wanted to snap a picture of himself with the 17-time Grand Slam champion.
The tennis superstar appeared startled at first and was about to comply with the photo request when security finally came on the scene and hauled the offender away.
“I’m not happy about it. Obviously not one second I’m happy about it. It happened yesterday in the practice, too,” Federer said.
“It’s just a kid, but then three more kids came. And today on center court where you would think this is a place where nobody can come on, he just wanders on and nothing happens.”
It was an eerie repetition of the 2009 final when another fan lept from the stands on the same court to plant a hat on the head of the Swiss star. Four years later, the men’s final between another of the sport’s A-listers, Rafael Nadal, the nine-time champion, and David Ferrer was suspended as flare-carrying protestors were chased away.
And the huge security lapse comes two decades after the on-court stabbing of tennis star Monica Seles in Hamburg by a deranged fan.
”He (Federer) was pissed off with what happened,” admitted tournament director Gilbert Ysern.
“To some extent it’s not the end of the world, but it’s embarrassing, of course, for Roland Garros.
“It shows that we collectively as an organization made a mistake and we will have to correct that and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Federer referenced his 2009 encounter with a fan during the French Open final.
“It happened during the finals in ’09 as well for me. So I definitely think this is something that something needs to happen quickly. Basically yesterday already,” he said.
“Normally I only speak on behalf of myself, but in this situation I think I can speak on behalf of all the players, that that’s where you do your job, that’s where you want to feel safe. And so clearly I’m not happy about it.”
He added: “But nothing happened, so I’m relieved. But clearly it wasn’t a nice situation to be in.”
nypost.com
Federer had just won a routine first-round match when the teen took to Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros and wanted to snap a picture of himself with the 17-time Grand Slam champion.
The tennis superstar appeared startled at first and was about to comply with the photo request when security finally came on the scene and hauled the offender away.
“I’m not happy about it. Obviously not one second I’m happy about it. It happened yesterday in the practice, too,” Federer said.
“It’s just a kid, but then three more kids came. And today on center court where you would think this is a place where nobody can come on, he just wanders on and nothing happens.”
It was an eerie repetition of the 2009 final when another fan lept from the stands on the same court to plant a hat on the head of the Swiss star. Four years later, the men’s final between another of the sport’s A-listers, Rafael Nadal, the nine-time champion, and David Ferrer was suspended as flare-carrying protestors were chased away.
And the huge security lapse comes two decades after the on-court stabbing of tennis star Monica Seles in Hamburg by a deranged fan.
”He (Federer) was pissed off with what happened,” admitted tournament director Gilbert Ysern.
“To some extent it’s not the end of the world, but it’s embarrassing, of course, for Roland Garros.
“It shows that we collectively as an organization made a mistake and we will have to correct that and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Federer referenced his 2009 encounter with a fan during the French Open final.
“It happened during the finals in ’09 as well for me. So I definitely think this is something that something needs to happen quickly. Basically yesterday already,” he said.
“Normally I only speak on behalf of myself, but in this situation I think I can speak on behalf of all the players, that that’s where you do your job, that’s where you want to feel safe. And so clearly I’m not happy about it.”
He added: “But nothing happened, so I’m relieved. But clearly it wasn’t a nice situation to be in.”
nypost.com
Only in France *shakes head*.
Monday, May 25, 2015
Roger Federer's top 5 matches at Roland Garros
#2 The way he drops to the ground after finally winning this one still brings tears to my eyes.
#1 Who could forget the finger wag as he broke Djokovic's 40+ winning streak. Perfection.
Here's to some great moments this year :).
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Roger Federer into 2nd round with straight sets win at Roland Garros
Do not like the colour of the pants. Just no. Should have matched the headband.
tumblr Federer tag
Roger Federer got his quest underway Sunday for a second Roland Garros title and 18th Grand Slam crown.
Second seed Federer improved to 8-0 lifetime against lucky loser Alejandro Falla with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 at the start of his 62nd straight Grand Slam championship.
Federer hit 42 winners, including eight aces, converting three of his 15 break point opportunities for victory in one hour and 49 minutes. He is now 62-15 at the clay-court major in Paris, where he lifted the trophy in 2009 (d. Soderling), and he will next challenge Marcel Granollers in the second round.
Granollers, a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(7) winner over qualifier Matthias Bachinger, equaled his best result at the tournament last year in reaching the Round of 16 (l. to Raonic). Federer leads the FedEx ATP Head2Head series 3-0.
"I'm not sure that the first round is any different," Federer said. "I think that as we go through the tournament, then we probably feel that we are more and more satisfied. But the first round is a bit like I want to win the first round, to be in the tournament and not to go back home immediately, to be one of the first ten players to go back home. So that's the whole idea about it. That is, you want to play a good match and then focus on the future. That's when I will start enjoying this moment."
Federer has a 26-5 match record on the season, which includes three titles at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp (d. Raonic), the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (d. Djokovic) and the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open (d. Cuevas).
Elsewhere, Roberto Bautista Agut, the No. 19 seed, hit 35 winners in a 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Florian Mayer and is now one victory away from equalling his best performance. Last year, he lost in the third round to Tomas Berdych. The Spaniard goes on to face Lukas Rosol, who was a 6-2, 7-6(7), 6-3 winner over Elias Ymer.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Roger Federer receives a favorable draw at French Open
Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic were drawn in the same quarter of the Roland Garros draw on Friday.
Nadal, who is 66-1 at the clay-court major championship, could potentially meet Djokovic in a blockbuster quarter-final. It is a result of Nadal dropping to No. 7 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Djokovic is bidding to capture his first Roland Garros trophy that would complete a career Grand Slam.
Sixth seed Nadal will start his quest for a 15th major title against Quentin Halys and could meet No. 10 seed Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round, while Djokovic will face Jarkko Nieminen.
View: Singles Draw | Tournament Profile
Nadal has a 23-20 FedEx ATP Head2Head lead against Djokovic, with victories over the Serbian in the 2012 final, 2013 semi-finals and 2014 final. Djokovic, a winner of eight Grand Slam crowns, won their most recent meeting in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters semi-finals and is riding a 22-match winning streak.
Third seed Andy Murray, who is in the same half of the draw as Djokovic and Nadal, plays a qualifier in the first round. The 2011 and 2014 semi-finalist has a 10-0 record on clay courts this year, including two ATP World Tour titles. He is in the same quarter of the draw as seventh seed and 2013 runner-up David Ferrer, who challenges Lukas Lacko, and ninth seed Marin Cilic.
Second seed Roger Federer, the 2009 champion (d. Soderling) who will be making his 62nd Grand Slam championship appearance, will play a qualifier in the first round. He could potentially meet Gael Monfils, the No. 13 seed, in the fourth round. The pair has met three times at Roland Garros (2008-09, '11), but Monfils has won their past two clashes. Eighth seed Stan Wawrinka, who takes on Marsel Ilhan, could be a quarter-final opponent.
Fourth seed Tomas Berdych, who has reached the quarter-finals or better at every tournament he has contested in 2015, may need to beat No. 28 seed Fabio Fognini and No. 14 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga prior to a quarter-final against fifth seed Kei Nishikori. Berdych faces a qualifier in his first match, while Nishikori will meet Paul-Henri-Mathieu. Feliciano Lopez, the No. 11 seed, may be a fourth round opponent for Nishikori.
Nadal, who is 66-1 at the clay-court major championship, could potentially meet Djokovic in a blockbuster quarter-final. It is a result of Nadal dropping to No. 7 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Djokovic is bidding to capture his first Roland Garros trophy that would complete a career Grand Slam.
Sixth seed Nadal will start his quest for a 15th major title against Quentin Halys and could meet No. 10 seed Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round, while Djokovic will face Jarkko Nieminen.
View: Singles Draw | Tournament Profile
Nadal has a 23-20 FedEx ATP Head2Head lead against Djokovic, with victories over the Serbian in the 2012 final, 2013 semi-finals and 2014 final. Djokovic, a winner of eight Grand Slam crowns, won their most recent meeting in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters semi-finals and is riding a 22-match winning streak.
Third seed Andy Murray, who is in the same half of the draw as Djokovic and Nadal, plays a qualifier in the first round. The 2011 and 2014 semi-finalist has a 10-0 record on clay courts this year, including two ATP World Tour titles. He is in the same quarter of the draw as seventh seed and 2013 runner-up David Ferrer, who challenges Lukas Lacko, and ninth seed Marin Cilic.
Second seed Roger Federer, the 2009 champion (d. Soderling) who will be making his 62nd Grand Slam championship appearance, will play a qualifier in the first round. He could potentially meet Gael Monfils, the No. 13 seed, in the fourth round. The pair has met three times at Roland Garros (2008-09, '11), but Monfils has won their past two clashes. Eighth seed Stan Wawrinka, who takes on Marsel Ilhan, could be a quarter-final opponent.
Fourth seed Tomas Berdych, who has reached the quarter-finals or better at every tournament he has contested in 2015, may need to beat No. 28 seed Fabio Fognini and No. 14 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga prior to a quarter-final against fifth seed Kei Nishikori. Berdych faces a qualifier in his first match, while Nishikori will meet Paul-Henri-Mathieu. Feliciano Lopez, the No. 11 seed, may be a fourth round opponent for Nishikori.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)