Roland Garros 2011

[GirlySports]

Thought I'd make a separate thread for the French Open as it will get more attention than regular tennis. There are 2 Canadian men and 2 Canadian women in the main draw.

Qualifying

Frank Dancevic [CAN] def. Victor Crivoi ROU 6-1, 6-3

Aleksandra Wozniak [CAN] def. (9) Jaime Hampton [USA] 7-5, 6-3.

Nuria Llagostera Vives ESP (4) def. Stephanie Dubois 1-6, 7-6, 6-1
Dubois was up a break in the 2nd set but blew it

Dancevic and Wozniak won three matches without losing a set.

Men's Main Draw

Last 8

(1)Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs (5)Robin Soderling (SWE)
(4)Andy Murray OR (15)Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)

-----------------------------------------

(9)Gael Monfils (FRA) vs (3)Roger Federer (SUI)
(2)Novak Djokovic (SRB)

Women's Main Draw

Last 8

(13) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)vs (11) Marion Bartoli (FRA)
(14) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) vs (5) Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

------------------------------

(6) Na Li (CHN) vs (4) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
(7) Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs (15) Andrea Petkovic (GER)

[Mango]

I can't wait. Thank you for starting the thread. I'm interested to see how Clijster's injury impacts her.

Predictions?
Men:Djokovic
Women: Azarenka...just picking someone different for a change, even though I love Kim.

[GirlySports]

Djokovic has a tough draw.. if seeds hold he's gotta beat

Del Potro, Gasquet, Berdych, Federer and Nadal each over 5 sets in 10 days.

[Mango]

Djokovic has a tough draw.. if seeds hold he's gotta beat

Del Potro, Gasquet, Berdych, Federer and Nadal each over 5 sets in 10 days.

Agreed. I just think because he's on such a roll, that he'll get it done. Del Potro is a bit of a dark horse. He's been up and down since coming back from his injury, but when he's been on...he's looked great.

[nemanja2306]

Gasquet and Berdych MIGHT take a set of him, Del Potro is a dark horse but I don't he's recovered enough to beat Djokovic in a best of 5. I think that will be the toughest match for him if Del Potro comes in at 100%. Against Federer, straight sets for Djoker I think. Fed is declining...and fast. Djokovic - Nadal a final. Safest bet.

[Matty81]

Apparently Danko is one of those two qualifiers in Murray and Raonic's section. He gets another qualifier in round 1 and then Murray in round 2 if he makes it - tough draw for both the canadians if Murray plays anywhere near the way he did at the Aussie.

On the plus side, it is his worst surface and if Murray goes down at any point the rest of the quarter is probably the worst one in the tournament and it will be wide open.

Murray has played well in 3 tournaments this season and stunk in 4, will be interesting to watch that bracket.

EDIT - Apparently Murray pulled out of an exhibition match in Paris yesterday due to pain in his wrist, but he is saying he is good to go for the French and it was just precautionary.

[GirlySports]

Apparently Danko is one of those two qualifiers in Murray and Raonic's section. He gets another qualifier in round 1 and then Murray in round 2 if he makes it - tough draw for both the canadians if Murray plays anywhere near the way he did at the Aussie.

On the plus side, it is his worst surface and if Murray goes down at any point the rest of the quarter is probably the worst one in the tournament and it will be wide open.

Murray has played well in 3 tournaments this season and stunk in 4, will be interesting to watch that bracket.

EDIT - Apparently Murray pulled out of an exhibition match in Paris yesterday due to pain in his wrist, but he is saying he is good to go for the French and it was just precautionary.

I've added the qualifiers and lucky losers into the draw.

Wozniak was the first name out of the hat for the qualifiers draw so she goes into Section 1. She could face Wozniacki in the 2nd round.

[nemanja2306]

http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/05/22/1226060/606289-novak-djokovic.jpg

Here is Djokovic with Bob Sinclair at Kids day yesterday, nice way to relax. :D

[GirlySports]

Roland Garros is underway! And good news right off the bat.

Rebecca Marino def. Kateryna Bondarenko(UKR) 6-3, 6-3 :)

and even better news the seed she's supposed to meet next Peer of ISR lost!

-----

First upset on the men's side. [19] Marin Cilic is out.
Cilic falls down the rankings to 25. Raonic would pass him with a win in the 1st round.

Edit: Dodig out too... not a good day for Mango.

[GirlySports]

The three other Canadians all up tomorrow! (Monday)

Junri Namigata(JPN) vs. Aleksandra Wozniak(CAN) 4th on Court 6

Simone Bolelli(ITA) vs. Frank Dancevic(CAN) 3rd on Court 14

Michael Berrer(GER) vs. Milos Raonic(CAN)[26] 4th on Court 16

tough to estimate but Dancevic will be around 7am with Wozniak and Raonic on around 10am. TSN and TSN2 have coverage all day starting at 3am but they have ESPNs feed so don't expect to see too many of the Canadians in action.

[GirlySports]

The 6th seed Berdych is out! Lost 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 9-7 to some french journeyman.

Dancevic getting crushed out on court 14... down 2 sets :(

[GirlySports]

Dancevic down in 4...

Wozniak won easily 6-1, 6-1. Should get (1) Wozniacki next!

Raonic has been moved to Court 10.. should start in an hour or so.

[GirlySports]

Raonic off to a slow start, was down a set and a break but has come roaring back to take the 2nd set. Since it's on the outer courts, I'm just following the scoreboard :)

[kobasew19]

Can we watch this anywhere? Raonic down 4-1 in the 3rd set right now.

[GirlySports]

Can't find a feed anywhere. They're playing on a non-tv court probably.

Raonic now 2 sets 1 down.....and still only 4 aces!! what is he doing serving under-hand?

[GirlySports]

Raonic out in 4 sets. Sounds like one of his worst performances to date. Could not get anything going against a nobody.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Aww, that's too bad. He was on such a roll earlier this year. Clay can be a tough surface to adjust to though.

[NBC]

Most of these euro-meatball dirt rats live for the French. So many of them are rubbish on everything other than the dirt. It really is a different game on that stuff. Much easier on the knees, but slow, slow and slow. Plus the sliding thing takes time to figure out. First time I played on clay I came close to a muscle (groin) tear.

Milos will pick it up for Wimbledon. Now that's a proper tournament.

[GirlySports]

UPSET ALERT: ISNER up 2 sets to 1 on NADAL. ISNER!

Nadal has never played a 5-set match at the French Open. The only time he was down 2-1 in a match he lost to Soderling in 2009. Isner serving out of his mind. Let's see how Nadal gets out of this. 2000 points on the line!

[NBC]

Nice work girly. You totally jinxed Isner.

Boo-urns!

[GirlySports]

Nice work girly. You totally jinxed Isner.

Boo-urns!

I always do that, it's a gift. :whaa:

/everytime I said "Tranmere have the lead" they lost!

[Mango]

Interesting to see Nadal pushed to the limit. He looked gased at times during the match today.

[SuperMatt18]

I always do that, it's a gift. :whaa:

/everytime I said "Tranmere have the lead" they lost!

Everytime Vancouver has a lead for the rest of the playoffs you need to come on here and say "Vancouver have the lead".

Then we just sit back and hope for the best.

[GirlySports]

Everytime Vancouver has a lead for the rest of the playoffs you need to come on here and say "Vancouver have the lead".

Then we just sit back and hope for the best.

It worked "Vancouver have the lead!"

[GirlySports]

From this morning.

(1) Caroline Wozniacki [DEN] def. Aleksandra Wozniak [CAN] 6-3, 7-6(6)
Wozniak was up 6-3 in the 2nd set tiebreak :(

Rebecca Marino [CAN] def. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez ESP 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
Kuznetsova is next

[Resolute 14]

Hell of a battle in the second set by Wozniak though. If you are watching the replay right now, take a shot every time the announcer refers to her as "the Canadian". You'll be drop-dead drunk before the tiebreak.

[Mango]

If you are watching the replay right now, take a shot every time the announcer refers to her as "the Canadian". You'll be drop-dead drunk before the tiebreak.

Phew. I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed this.

[GirlySports]

Ha

C WOZ
A WOZ

:D

[Mango]

My girl Kim Clijsters struggled today...she wasted a couple of match points. Usually, she gets away with letting down in a match but combined with her injury struggles and a resilient opponent, she couldn't get it done.

[bigtmac19]

Entertaining match for Nadal today, in a tie-break for the 3rd set.

[GirlySports]

I've updated the draws on the first page to the Last 32 on each side.

On the men's side it's amazing that 5 qualifiers have made it into the 3rd round. There's an entire eighth of the draw without a seed meaning an unseeded player will make the quarterfinals.

On the women's side, not too many surprises other than Clijsters falling. Interestingly the girl who Dubois had the lead on in qualifying it still alive! Oh what could have been.

The Marino-Kuznetsova match is 2nd on Court 1 after Ferrer-Stakhovsky so I'm estimating around 6:30am. Hope it gets some tv time!

[GirlySports]

Ferrer won very quickly so Marino is on court NOW!

[GirlySports]

aww she lost 6-0, 6-4 :(

[GirlySports]

#1 Wozniacki is out. She played poorly and survived against Wozniak. She played much worse today and got crushed by Hantuchova 6-1, 6-3.

[Chump]

There is a good match between Djokovic and Del Potro on TSN right now.
Djokovic took the first set but Del Potro is up a break in the second.

[GirlySports]

I just took a peak. Del Potro took the 2nd set?
Looks like it's now suspended by darkness?

[Chump]

I just took a peak. Del Potro took the 2nd set?
Looks like it's now suspended by darkness?

Yeah, he took the second set 6-3 and then they suspended for darkness. Del Potro is looking really good, I think this one will go to 5 sets.

[GirlySports]

Del Potro-Djokovic are back on court and tv now. Djokovic took the 3rd set 6-3.

[GirlySports]

Here are the Last 16 on each side

Last 16

(1)Rafael Nadal (ESP) Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
(18)Giles Simon (FRA) vs (5)Robin Soderling (SWE)

(4)Andy Murray vs (15)Viktor Troicki (SRB)
(q)Alejandro Falla (COL) vs Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)

-----------------------------------------

(7)David Ferrer (ESP) vs (9)Gael Monfils (FRA)
(14)Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs (3)Roger Federer (SUI)

Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs Albert Montanes (ESP)
(13)Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs (2)Novak Djokovic (SRB)

Women's Main Draw

Last 16

(28) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) vs (13) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
(11) Marion Bartoli (FRA) vs Gisela Dulko (ARG)

(3) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) vs (14) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
(10) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs (5) Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

------------------------------

(6) Na Li (CHN) vs (9) Petra Kvitova (CZE)
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) vs (4) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)

(7) Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs (12) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
(15) Andrea Petkovic (GER) vs (25) Maria Kirilenko (RUS)

[GirlySports]

What happens when two unseeded player meet in the 4th round in Paris?
Hilarity

Fabio Fognini (ITA) def. Albert Montanes (ESP) 4-6 6-4 3-6 6-3 11-9 in 5 hours!

Fognini couldn't walk after he pulled his calf muscle. He called a medical timeout down 5-6 15-30 in the 5th. The french crowd whistled of course. He had 12 foot faults in the match, 5 in one GAME which he still held serve. Montanes kept hitting it straight to a guy who couldn't run. It's was pretty ridiculous.

Fognini gets Djokovic on Tuesday, I think he'll just go home now.

[Resolute 14]

Speaking of, Gasquet just saved three match points against Djokovic. Admirable effort, but akin to a man in the ocean fighting not to drown for one minute longer...

Djokovic finally won, on the fifth attempt. His streak is up to 43.

[GirlySports]

Monfils up 5-3 40-15 in the 5th against Ferrer just choked it away. back on serve now. This one could go for awhile.

EDIT: Monfils finally broke Ferrer down and won 8-6.

[GirlySports]

Men's Main Draw

Last 8

(1)Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs (5)Robin Soderling (SWE)
(4)Andy Murray OR (15)Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)

-----------------------------------------

(9)Gael Monfils (FRA) vs (3)Roger Federer (SUI)
(2)Novak Djokovic (SRB)

Murray/Troicki are tied 2-2 and will play 5th set on Tuesday. Djokovic is into the semifinals as Fognini withdrew from the tournament.

Women's Main Draw

Last 8

(13) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)vs (11) Marion Bartoli (FRA)
(14) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) vs (5) Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

------------------------------

(6) Na Li (CHN) vs (4) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
(7) Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs (15) Andrea Petkovic (GER)

[bigtmac19]

Going to be a great day for 1/4's today. A lot of good matches.

[GirlySports]

Going to be a great day for 1/4's today. A lot of good matches.

Yup, the 2 women's quarterfinals are compete with Na Li and Maria Sharapova winning.

Semis tomorrow are

(11) Marion Bartoli (FRA) vs (5) Francesca Schiavone (ITA)
(6) Na Li (CHN) vs (7) Maria Sharapova (RUS)

For the men there's the Federer-Djokovic semifinal tomorrow, if Djokovic wins, he's #1. Right now Nadal is up a set on Soderling and Murray is even in the 1st set against Chela.

[Mango]

Great to see Sharapova regaining her form. She's looked great so far. Good job Sasha ;)

[GirlySports]

Nadal and Murray have won so as expected, the top 4 men advance.


(1)Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs (4)Andy Murray
(3)Roger Federer (SUI) vs (2)Novak Djokovic (SRB)

[nemanja2306]

Man, is the WTA a joke... I remember 3-4 years ago when the Williams sisters, Henin were playing, Jankovic, Ivanovic and Sharapova were in form, some great definately... Now, it hit rock bottom. I mean the #1 seed crashes out in the 3rd round, and not just this tournament. It's like that ranking means jack squat. It used to be that when a player holds #1 ranking that they are the best player, now it means nothing. I mean, has Wozniacki won a slam? Jankovic 2 years ago held #1, and at that time not only has she not won a Slam, she wasn't even in the finals.

On the ATP, you know Djokovic, Nadal and Federer are the best players, they are always making semis/finals....

[Mango]

Congrats to Li Na! Good match, but she definitely had that extra step against Sharapova.

[GirlySports]

Nadal crushing Murray in the 1st semifinal.

Murray had a couple of break points early in the 2nd set that might have made the match more competitive but once Nadal swatted those away, it's was over.

[oilyfan]

Nadal is looking good. He has a great chance of winning it all.

[Mango]

Roger looks great so far!

[GirlySports]

Not so fast Mr. Djokovic.

Federer takes the 1st set 7-6. We're in for a classic.

[GirlySports]

:eek:

Roger can't miss a shot!

[albertGQ]

What's the score now?
I'm at work and would love updates

[Hustle]

What's the score now?
I'm at work and would love updates

Federer up 2 sets to 0. Djokovic has an early break in the third set though.

[GirlySports]

Djokovic now serving at 5-6 in the 4th to force a tiebreaker.
It's getting dark, if there's a 5th set, it'll have to continue tomorrow.

[GirlySports]

It's over!

Federer def. Djokovic 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6. The 41 match winning streak is snapped!

Nadal can retain #1 if he wins on Sunday, a Nadal loss and Djokovic is #1.

[Regorium]

Oh my god. What a ridiculous match.

[SuperMatt18]

Hopefully Federer can win against Nadal on Sunday.

He has played a great tournament and deserves a title with the way everybody wrote him off and called him finished.

[Mango]

I'm pretty proud of Federer. What an impressive display today...he had an answer for just about everything Djokovic threw at him.

[GirlySports]

Congrats to Li Na! Good match, but she definitely had that extra step against Sharapova.

Madame Li Na wins it all! She nearly choked it away in the 2nd set but hung on and took the 2nd set tiebreak 7-0!

[Mango]

I love historic days like this in tennis :)

[oilyfan]

That was good. Li Na deserved to win. She has been consistent over the years.

[Resolute 14]

Meanwhile in the men's doubles final, Nestor's serve is not doing him any favours at all. He and his partner are up a set, but down a break in the second.

[Bertuzzied]

Is doubles tennis really considered a sport? How can tennis go from so good in singles to so bad in doubles.

I guess it's like if they put 20 guys on the ice at the same time for hockey.

[Resolute 14]

It's a different game entirely. It's actually fun to watch live too. Speaking of, I hope they bring a Davis Cup tie back to Calgary soon...

And while Nestor's serving sucked, his return game was ridiculous. Another major title for the Canadian! :D

[bigtmac19]

Woo Hoo, I'm excited for this match today.

Go Roger!

[GirlySports]

Federer leads 5-2, Nadal wins 5 games in a row to take the first set.

[transplant99]

Nadal is just so good on clay....he has an answer for everything it seems.

[bigtmac19]

Holy cow Roger has totally lost his game right now.

[albertGQ]

Roger is collapsing big time. Brutal!
I want him to win this tourney but doubt if he even wins a set

[GirlySports]

Roger is collapsing big time. Brutal!
I want him to win this tourney but doubt if he even wins a set

He's slowly finding his way back. The next 15 minutes are HUGE!

[albertGQ]

He just broke Nadal, but watch Nadal break him right back

[GirlySports]

the french disorganized? no way! fans are trying to get back in after the rain delay.

[Mango]

Nadal is just so good on clay....he has an answer for everything it seems.

He really does. It's like watching a magician.

[Machiavelli]

Federer seems resigned to the inevitable.

[GirlySports]

Federer seems resigned to the inevitable.

He's still going.. keep this set even as long as possible and see what happens.
This is the best I've seen Federer play on clay and it's still not good enough.

[GirlySports]

I liked that line by Mary Carillo

"The greatest player of all time can't beat the greatest player in his own time".

[bigtmac19]

Those first five games Federer's backhand was the best I've ever seen it.

[GirlySports]

Those first five games Federer's backhand was the best I've ever seen it.

That backhand is coming back.

Federer about to serve for the 3rd set.

[Machiavelli]

Looks like I spoke too soon (as usual).

[bigtmac19]

Sweet!

[Bertuzzied]

What awesome tennis!

[GirlySports]

Well that ended with a whimper.

Federer played a great match in patches. but Nadal was a defensive beast for longer. Some unreal returning by Nadal. Federer pushed him close, closer than he ever has. Federer should be proud of his effort but on clay, Nadal is too tough. Federer needed to serve bigger longer but he just couldn't maintain the consistency.

[spiteface]

Vamos NADAL!!!!!
WOOOOOOHOO 10 Grand Slams at 25 years of age!!!