2013 Tennis Thread

[Smallville22]

Haas marches on in Duesseldorf, Tipsarevic out

Veteran German Tommy Haas continued his recent rich vein of form by coming back to defeat Croatia’s Ivan Dodig in the ATP Duesseldorf Cup.
Second seed Haas, who won the recent BMW Open in Munich before reaching the third round in Rome, dropped the opening set 6-3 before edging two more tight sets to advance.
But top seed Janko Tipsarevic was dumped out by Guido Pella. It was the biggest career win for the 101st-ranked Argentine qualifier who reached an ATP quarter-final for the first time.
In Nice, half the quarter-final line-up will be comprised of home players after wins for second seed Gilles Simon, Paul-Henri Mathieu, wild card Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Gael Monfils who beat sixth seed Fabio Fognini 6-2 7-6 in the late match.
American Sam Querrey reached the last eight but compatriot and fourth seed John Isner was dumped out by Robin Haase.

ATP Duesseldorf Cup results

Round 2

Guido Pella (Argentina) beat 1-Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) 7-6(1) 6-1

2-Tommy Haas (Germany) beat Ivan Dodig (Croatia) 3-6 6-4 7-5

3-Juan Monaco (Argentina) beat Andre Ghem (Brazil) 6-4 6-4

Igor Sijsling (Netherlands) beat 4-Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) 3-6 6-3 6-4

6-Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) beat Roberto Bautista (Spain) 6-4 5-7 6-3

7-Viktor Troicki (Serbia) beat Grega Zemlja (Slovenia) 6-3 7-6(3)

Jan Hajek (Czech Republic) beat Daniel Brands (Germany) 6-1 6-0

Tobias Kamke (Germany) beat Aljaz Bedene (Slovenia) 6-1 6-4

ATP Nice Open results

Round 2

2-Gilles Simon (France) beat Guillaume Rufin (France) 6-4 6-3

3-Sam Querrey (U.S.) beat Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukraine) 7-5 6-3

Robin Haase (Netherlands) beat 4-John Isner (U.S.) 6-4 1-6 7-5

Gael Monfils (France) beat 6-Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-2 7-6(5)

Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) beat Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) 7-5 3-6 6-3

Pablo Andujar (Spain) beat Lu Yen-Hsun (Taiwan) 6-2 6-0

Albert Montanes (Spain) beat Victor Hanescu (Romania) 7-5 7-6(2)

Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) beat Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania) 2-6 6-4 6-2

 

[Smallville22]

Rip-roaring Janowicz ready to take Paris by storm

Whether ripping shirts or forehand winners, or thumping down serves with frightening velocity, Jerzy Janowicz is making a big impression at the top of men's tennis and is ready to take Paris by storm again.
The 22-year-old Pole, whose fiery on-court demeanour revives memories of a young Marat Safin, livened up proceedings in Rome last week with victories over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet before losing a tight tussle with Roger Federer.
Lodz-based Janowicz, who came from nowhere to reach the Paris Masters final indoors last year, has not endeared himself to everyone with his antics on court and was accused by some television commentators of gamesmanship during his defeat of Gasquet.
Yet, with a career-high ranking of 23 and a "no-prisoners" attitude on court, Janowicz is already being tipped as a player who can eventually threaten the top order and is clearly not scared of ruffling feathers.
But for some poor shot selection at crucial moments against Federer in their quarter-final clash in Rome, Janowicz could have added another major scalp to his collection.
Nevertheless Federer liked what he saw and believes Janowicz can be a threat at the French Open where he will be playing in the main draw for the first time after losing in the final qualifying round last year.
"It is refreshing playing someone like Janowicz because he keeps coming through strong and keeps you guessing," Federer said in Rome. "He has a big serve and he usually gets the first (attacking) stroke in so that makes it tough to play him.
"He obviously has a big game, unconventional shot selection at times, but (is) really fun to watch."
A year ago Janowicz was playing on the second-tier Challenger circuit and did not make his debut in a Grand Slam tournament's main draw until last year's Wimbledon where he reached the third round.
After his stunning run in Bercy late last year when he beat three top-20 players as well as Andy Murray en route to a final defeat by David Ferrer, Janowicz suffered a dip in form in the first few months of this season as he went down with various ailments.
However he exploded back to life against Tsonga in Rome, celebrating a straight-sets win by ripping his shirt to pieces.
"This my whole life, my passion for 15 years, and this is my love in the world," Janowicz, who shed tears during his run at the Paris Masters last year when he became the first Pole to reach the final since Wojciech Fibak won the 1982 tournament, said.
There was plenty of passion on show at this year's Australian Open as well, when he railed against a line judge after a call went against him during a match against Somdev Devvarman.
In Rome, he courted controversy against Gasquet when he appeared to point to the wrong ball mark after asking the chair umpire to inspect where the Frenchman's volley had landed.
He then ranted at the umpire when Gasquet got away with a double bounce while chasing down one of Janowicz's many drop shots and from then on the 2.03-metre right-hander greeted each winning point with bellowing roars and wild gesticulations.
While still a little rough around the edges, there is no doubt he has the weapons to cause damage at the French Open and the looming grasscourt season could also offer opportunities for him to further his reputation.
"He is talented and a great mover and probably best on the clay courts," Federer said.
"You underestimate how tall he is and he moves well for a tall guy and (is) so talented."

 

[Smallville22]

Raonic sees a gain from training in Spain

Milos Raonic would probably not feature on most people's list of potential French Open champions but the two-metre Canadian with the booming serve has been working hard on his clay game in Spain and has the potential to cause an upset.
The Montenegro-born 22-year-old, who will make his third appearance at Roland Garros next week, joined up with Spanish coach Galo Blanco at his 4Slam Tennis academy in Barcelona in November 2010 and believes Blanco's influence has helped him to improve on the red dust.
Currently ranked 16 after rising as high as 13, Raonic said that under Blanco's guidance he had progressed in all aspects of his tennis as he aimed to become the first Canadian to secure a place in the top 10.
"My clay game has improved tremendously and now I play these clay events, including the French Open, with much more confidence and much more expectation of myself," Raonic told Reuters at this month's Madrid Open.
"I'm feeling a lot more confident on clay, so from that sense I enjoy it," he added.
"I understand quite well that if I improve more and more on clay it will help with the rest of my game on other surfaces and that's important to me. I feel I have the confidence to expect more results."
Raonic, who turned professional in 2008 and says Wimbledon is his favourite grand slam, made his Roland Garros debut in 2011 and lost in the first round to Germany's Michael Berrer.
He reached the third round last year before falling to Argentine Juan Monaco.
"2012 was much better," he said. "I came in as a more complete player with a better understanding of what I had to do, with more grand slams as experience but also with more matches as experience on clay courts."
Blanco, 36, was a top-40 player himself and reached the French Open quarter-finals in 1997, where he was beaten by Australian Pat Rafter, and Raonic said he hoped to match or better his coach's feat one day.
"We've joked about it a few times," he said. "It's hard really to put a date stamp on that but hopefully one day, yes."
Asked whether he had chosen to work with Blanco because he specifically wanted to improve on clay, he added: "It was part of it but I think it was more that I wanted to improve in everything, him being a former player, him being able to provide a lot of experience and teach me another type of work ethic.
"Obviously the help he can provide on clay was a side benefit but I also think that he can help me as much as he did on clay on hard courts."
Raonic's clay credentials were given the ultimate test last month when he ran up against Spaniard Rafa Nadal in the last four of the Barcelona Open.
After a fine start against the seven-times French Open champion, when he took a surprise 2-0 lead, his challenge faded badly and he lost 6-4 6-0.
"I have thought about it quite a bit," Raonic told Reuters. "I think I got a break up early and then started playing a bit too much on his terms and you can't really do too well against him in those conditions.
"I would have hoped to play better but I think it's still a tough task to overcome Nadal no matter how well you are playing but you have to keep fighting for that.
"A lot of things (need improving) in my game after that match. I think it just gave me more insight...to ***** myself to go for it more and play big like I did at the beginning rather than hold back as I did towards the end."
Raonic's clay season took a disappointing turn after Barcelona, as he fell to Fernando Verdasco in the second round in Madrid and was knocked out by Philipp Kohlschreiber in the opening round in Rome.
Nadal, meanwhile, is the overwhelming favourite to secure an eighth French Open title in nine years at the tournament starting on Sunday and Raonic said the Mallorcan was close to his best after coming back from a seven-month injury layoff.
Nadal has won clay titles in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome in recent weeks and was beaten in the final at Monte Carlo by world number one Novak Djokovic.
"I don't think he (Nadal) is too far off," Raonic said. "Some days it's there and some days it's not but that's the same with pretty much everybody.
"I think he's as dominant as he's ever been on clay and I don't think there's really any doubt that he's the player to beat on clay.
"The big favourite for the French Open is Rafa Nadal."

 

[Smallville22]

French Grand Slam drought set to drag on at Roland Garros

After 30 years without a male Grand Slam winner, France's tennis establishment is beginning to question whether the absence of success is purely down to a lack of natural-born winners.
Since Yannick Noah's triumph at the French Open in 1983, France has endured a barren spell at the majors with a shallow talent pool and a lack of mettle in their top players cited as possible reasons.
Quantity has prevailed over genuine quality as French tennis has seen numerous players rise into the top 10 over the years, without being able to take the next step.
Among the current crop, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet are both in the sport's top 10 while three more make the top 30.
"It's been 30 years since a Frenchman won a grand slam but we have not had a top-three player, capable of winning big titles, for 30 years," national technical director Patrice Hagelauer told Reuters.
France used to be a dominant power in the sport with the "Musketeers" Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet and Rene Lacoste collecting 18 grand-slam titles between them in the 1920s and 30s.
Yet since Noah defeated Mats Wilander to give France their first grand-slam silverware in 37 years, Henri Leconte, Arnaud Clement and Cedric Pioline have all lost major finals.
World number eight Tsonga was the last to come within touching distance in the 2008 Australian Open final, but was beaten by Novak Djokovic.
Since then, no Frenchman has seemed capable of joining Noah in the record books and the game's 'big four' of Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have shared all but one of the major titles since 2005.
While the lack of natural-born talent has had a huge part to play, some in the game say French players have only just started to do what is required.
"The players have finally come to understand that you need to commit yourself to a dedicated structure," former player and future national director Arnaud Di Pasquale told Reuters.
"It's critical to have a real organisation around you if you aim to win the biggest titles. Players have to commit themselves to the project. Yannick was that kind of player."
Hagelauer, who was Noah's coach in 1983 and has been in his current job since 2009, agreed: "All those who win - apart from Federer - have their own structure. You need a team with a coach, a physio and all. Only Jo has it."

BORN CHAMPIONS

While French players have enjoyed excellent training facilities from an early age within the national federation's programmes, they often struggle to free themselves from the system's structures.
As professionals, they frequently continue to work with coaches contracted to the federation.
Although the system has delivered 70 top-100 players in the last 40 years, some have suggested that French youngsters would benefit from trying something different, as Murray did when he moved from Britain to train in Barcelona as a teenager.
"The French tennis education system is very good. But obviously, we need to find inspiration in what is done abroad," said world number 17 Gilles Simon, who recently parted company with his coach of eight years, Thierry Tulasne, in order to work under German Jan De Witt.
French Open director Gilbert Ysern said the system had its weaknesses but could not be the only thing to blame as champions were born, not made.
"We have no influence in what makes a champion because they have it inside of them or they don't," he said.
"They lack the little extra technical skills or physical power. And when you listen to them, the problem is mental," he added.
"A champion may be the one who does not have that humility, who can say, even when he loses in straight sets: 'I'm stronger than him'."
Apart from the outspoken Tsonga, the current French generation clearly lack that mentality.
"We have not been lucky to be in this generation," Simon said. "Four players like those (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray)...when you have one or two, there's always a surprise and room to get to a final. Now, you know that you have to beat three of them."
The challenge is probably greater on clay, a physically demanding surface where seven-times French Open champion Nadal has been almost invincible.
"There are more chances to see a Frenchman win another grand slam rather than Roland Garros because we've lived in extraordinary times with Nadal's dominance," Di Pasquale said.
Once known as the "Little Prince", the gifted Gasquet was expected to excel, but the world number nine has become a symbol of French failure, having been eliminated in the last 16 of the last five grand slams.
He fears that the French drought, whatever the reasons behind it, will continue if none of the current crop manages to succeed Noah.
"We have a great generation. So I think if we don't win a grand slam in the next couple of years, we'll wait 10 more years at least," he said.

 

[Smallville22]

Dominant Serena fearful of enemy within

Based on form, Serena Williams is a stand-out favourite to win a second French Open title but her record at Roland Garros means she approaches the tournament with a touch of apprehension and fearful of the "lady in the mirror".
Williams is world number one, unbeaten in 24 matches and has won four consecutive tournaments, yet she remains diffident after last year's debacle when she exited in the first round.
It is 11 years since she tamed the Parisian dust for the first and only time in 2002 but such is her current dominance, coupled with recent claycourt successes, that it is hard to see beyond the powerhouse American.
Last year's queen of the clay Maria Sharapova has already lost two 2013 finals to Williams while her hopes of laying down a marker in the last warm-up event in Rome were hit by illness.
World number three Victoria Azarenka got one over Williams in Doha but was so comprehensively demolished by the American in the Rome final that she is likely to be nursing psychological scars that have little time to heal.
Last year's semi-finalist Sam Stosur, with a high-kick serve and heavy top-spin ground strokes, has not been past the quarter-finals in any event this year, while 2011 champion Li Na has struggled in both the Madrid and Rome warm-ups.
There is, however, one opponent who Williams fears could cause an upset - the enemy within.
"Whoever I play is my opponent and also the lady in the mirror is the ultimate opponent for me and so (I have to be) cautious and go for every point," she said after swatting aside Azarenka 6-1 6-3 in Italy.
"Last year I was feeling excellent but didn't do great and this year I am cautious and I want to work hard and stay focused.
"I don't feel any pressure but in the past I have and, as I have always said, I have won every grand slam."
Since creaking under the strain at last year's event, she has re-established her grip on the game that has delivered 15 grand-slam singles titles and more than $44 million in prize money.
She won Wimbledon for the fifth time a month after capitulating in Paris and followed that with a fourth U.S. Open title.

IMPOSING ATHLETICISM

Her fearsome frame, ideally suited for punching holes through opponents on quicker surfaces, has often been considered a hindrance on the slippery clay which can demand a more graceful gait.
In both Madrid and Rome, however, her imposing athleticism was unencumbered and her movement dynamic.
Movement, and specifically the issue of keeping her lengthy limbs in check, was traditionally Maria Sharopova's problem at Roland Garros until last year.
The leggy Russian once described herself as a 'cow on ice' on clay but there was nothing bovine about the way she went about claiming last year's title, dropping just one set on her way to lifting the Suzanne Lenglen Cup.
Then it seemed she was on the verge of becoming the game's dominant ***** but that is now a distant memory after she failed to get beyond the semi-finals in the last three majors.
A viral illness scuppered her chances of success in Rome where she was ****** to pull out at the quarter-final stage before a repeat of last year's Roland Garros final against Sara Errani.
Sharapova does not, however, expect it to have any bearing on her French Open condition.
"It is one of those things and the body is not ready and with a bigger goal around the corner it's important to make the right and smart decisions," she said.
"I have (had) a lot of clay matches, so this is not lacking before the French Open."
Australian Open champion Azarenka is the last person to defeat Williams back in February in Doha, if you discount the American's walkover defeat to Marion Bartoli in Dubai when she pulled out injured.
The Belarussian, however, has never been past the quarter-final in Paris, a tournament that frequently forgets the seedings and allows specialist claycourters to flourish.
Last year it was Errani who, though diminutive in stature, produced a series of canny tactical displays to battle her way to the final.
This year the surprise will be if Williams once more loses the battle with herself.

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal back in old routine and looking invincible

Watching Rafa Nadal churn his way through the claycourt season over the past few weeks, it seems nothing much has changed since his French Open triumph a year ago despite a lengthy injury layoff.
Titles in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, where he dropped only three sets in the process, mean the 26-year-old is overwhelming favourite to lift the trophy for an eighth time at Roland Garros when play gets underway in Paris on Sunday.
Only world number one Novak Djokovic, who interrupted Nadal's claycourt sweep by beating him in Monte Carlo, looks capable of preventing the Spaniard sinking his teeth into the Coupe des Mousquetaires again, but the Serbian's confidence has taken a knock with early defeats in Madrid and Rome.
Roger Federer can be relied upon to add his elegant brush strokes on the Parisian dust and Nadal's compatriot David Ferrer will strain every last sinew to reach the latter stages while young guns such as Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov and Poland's Jerzy Janowicz will be expected to make an impression.
All eyes though will be on the ***** of nature that is Nadal as he returns to a venue that is as familiar to him as his own backyard and where he rightly appears invincible.
Yet, just a few weeks ago in Vina del Mar, next to the Pacific Ocean in Chile, Nadal's long-awaited comeback from a knee injury that sidelined him for more than six months ended in a final defeat by lowly-ranked Argentine Horacio Zeballos.
With his knee still hurting him and his shots lacking their usual bite, some wondered whether Nadal was damaged goods, whether the aura he enjoyed on the red dust would ever return.
How ridiculous that notion now sounds.
Federer, who was given a claycourt lesson by Nadal in the Rome Masters final last Sunday, is not surprised at the Spaniard's level since returning to competitive action.
"He's not going to come back 20 percent fit, he's only coming back when he's 100 percent healthy," Federer said.
"I am happy for him. He is super consistent and he is winning so many matches and he is improving."
With only one defeat at Roland Garros to blot his copybook it would be only human if Nadal allowed himself the luxury of coasting through his early rounds.
Complacency does not appear to be in Nadal's dictionary, however, with the Spaniard relentless in his pursuit of claycourt perfection and records.
"When I go on court I am always thinking that what is happening to me in the past eight or nine years is not forever, nobody stays here forever and nobody wins forever," said Nadal, who was struck down by tendinitis in his left knee shortly after his march to the title last year.
"I don't know when this will finish and so I try to take care in every moment to make sure that this happens as late as possible. I respect everyone and this is why I have a lot of success every year and win a lot of matches on this surface.
"Some days I don't play my best and I have to fight and run and be humble."
Australian Open champion Djokovic has enjoyed a few more rest days than he might have expected in the run-up to the French Open, after chastening defeats by Dimitrov and Czech Tomas Berdych in Madrid and Rome.
Last year's runner-up will arrive in typically confident mood, however, as he chases the only grand slam not on his CV.
"I believe I can go all the way," he said in Rome. "It's a long two weeks and I don't want to make predictions. I need to get ready and hopefully I'll make it."
Providing Nadal and Djokovic are placed in opposite halves of the draw, a repeat of last year's final looks the most likely scenario yet there will be dangerous obstacles along the way.
With world number two Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro both ruled out with injury, Berdych looks the best of the rest, especially if the usual damp conditions afflict the French capital as they did last year when the courts played heavy and slow.
Destructive off the serve, punishing on the forehand and moving better than ever, Berdych has shown growing belief that he can muscle his way into the world's top four.
"He has been up there for a few years and is in the mix to win a grand-slam title, he is able to play big matches and has proved this in the past," Djokovic said of Berdych after losing to him for only the second time in his career in Rome.

 

[Smallville22]

Monaco through in Duesseldorf, Haas retires

Juan Monaco beat Tobias Kamke 6-3 6-4 to move into the semi-final of the ATP Duesseldorf Cup.
Monaco won his opening match comfortably against Brazilian qualifier Andre Ghem 6-4 6-4 and moves into his second ATP World Tour semi-final of the year - where he will face Guido Pella, who beat top-seeded Janko Tipsarevic in the second round.
Kamke stunned Juan Martin Del Potro Miami back in March and, despite having the backing of the home crowd, struggled throughout as he was beaten in 71 minutes.
"It wasn't easy to play, as it was very cold," said Monaco. "I am happy to have reached the semi-finals and I will have a difficult match against a baseliner tomorrow."
Elsewhere, second seed Tommy Haas, who won the recent ATP Munich before reaching the third round in Rome, retired before his match against Jarkko Nieminen.

ATP Dusseldorf results

Quarter-final matches

6-Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) beat 2-Tommy Haas (Germany) (Haas retired)

Igor Sijsling (Netherlands) beat Jan Hajek (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-1

Guido Pella (Argentina) beat 7-Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 7-6(5) 7-5

3-Juan Monaco (Argentina) beat Tobias Kamke (Germany) 6-3 6-4

ATP Nice results

Quarter-final matches

Gael Monfils (France) beat Robin Haase (Netherlands) 6-2 6-3

Pablo Andujar (Spain) beat 2-Gilles Simon (France) 6-4 7-5

Albert Montanes (Spain) beat Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) 6-4 6-1

Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) beat 3-Sam Querrey (U.S.) 3-6 7-6(2) 6-1

 

[Smallville22]

Stephens ousted in Brussels, Cornet through in Strasbourg

Sloane Stephens fell to a surprise defeat at the hands of Peng Shuai going down 6-2 6-3 at the Brussels Open.
Stephens has struggled for form since reaching her first ever Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open in January, and her injury-prone Chinese counter-part made it two wins from two against the young American.
"It was cold out there but I had a good start, probably because I played so much yesterday," said Peng, who played twice on Wednesday at the rain-hit clay court event.
Alize Cornet beat Chanelle Scheepers 6-3 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Strasbourg International.
Runner-up last year, Cornet was on the cusp of victory against the South African when rain halted the play with Cornet 5-1 in the second, but, when play resumed, she fired a backhand pass to clinch the victory.
She will be joined there by Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard who beat Anna Tatishvili of Georgia 6-3 6-2 – the youngster breaking her opponent twice in each set to move into the semi-final of a tournament for the first time.

WTA Strasbourg results

Quarter-final results

3-Alize Cornet (France) beat 7-Chanelle Scheepers (South Africa) 6-3 6-1

Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) beat Anna Tatishvili (Georgia) 6-3 6-2

WTA Brussels

Quarter-final

Romina Oprandi (Switzerland) beat Zheng Jie (China) 6-3 3-6 6-0

8-Peng Shuai (China) beat 4-Sloane Stephens (U.S.) 6-2 6-3

Round two

2-Roberta Vinci (Italy) beat Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) 6-3 5-7 6-2

Jamie Hampton (U.S.) beat 5-Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) 6-4 3-6 7-5

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal and Djokovic in same half of draw

World number one Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal could meet in the 2013 French Open semi-finals.
The two contested last year's final at the clay court Grand Slam, with Nadal capturing his record seventh title at Roland Garros, but there can be no repeat of that final this year.
Djokovic faces a tough opening game at Roland Garros: he comes up against up-and-coming Belgian star David Goffin, who made it to the fourth round on the Parisian clay last year.
Assuming the world number one makes it through he is also lined up for a possible third-round match against talented Bulgarian youngster Grigor Dimitrov.
Nadal plays Daniel Brands of Germany in the first round, but was not too worried about the likely semi against the world number one.
"But is not in the first round, no?," Nadal joked when asked how he felt about his potential meeting with Djokovic in a news conference.
Nadal has won five titles on clay this season after missing more than seven months of tennis and sitting out the US and Australian Opens.
"If you can ask me if I win one grand slam during the whole year or win six tournaments like I already did, I will choose win six tournaments," he said.
Nadal could face home hope Richard Gasquet in a potential quarter-final clash as the French men look to end a 30-year grand slam title drought.
One man who will have a tough time trying to end the drought is the hugely talented but injury-ravaged Gael Monfils, who has a nightmare first round draw against Tomas Berdych having dropped down to 109 in the rankings. That match is the pick of the opening men's ties in Paris.
Roger Federer and David Ferrer are the high seeds in the other half of the draw with Brit Andy Murray withdrawing due to an injury. Juan Martin Del Potro will also miss the event.
Federer will play a yet-to-be-determined qualifier in the opening round and has a smooth-looking path until a potential quarter-final against French sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Ferrer, meanwhile, plays Austria's Marinko Matosevic in round one, and looks set for the smoothest of rides until a likely quarter-final against Berdych.

 

[Smallville22]

Robson draws Wozniacki, Sharapova on course to meet Stosur

Britain's Laura Robson was paired with world number 10 Caroline Wozniacki in an intriguing highlight of the women's singles French Open first round draw.
The British number one will go into the contest against Wozniacki as the underdog on paper, but with the Dane in poor form Robson will be confident of handing her a fifth straight clay defeat in what is the standout tie of the opening round.
Whoever makes it through could then come face-to-face with world number one Serena Williams in the quarter-finals. Williams opens her campaign against Anna Tatishvili of Georgia and is ultimately expected to meet Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, the fourth seed, in the semi-finals.
Asked if she felt as good as in her golden years, Williams told a news conference: "I think so. Just looking back at a few of my matches years ago and looking now, I definitely feel like I'm getting into that zone that I have always wanted to be in, and I feel a lot better about it."
Defending champion Maria Sharapova faces Taiwan's Su-Wei Hseih in the first round but the main threat to her making the final again could come from Australian ninth seed Samantha Stosur, the 2010 runner-up, in a possible quarter-final.
"I have been practising for almost five or six days now, which has been nice," Sharapova told a news conference, explaining that she was over a bug which ****** her out of the Italian Open.
"I haven't been back since my victory (at the French Open), so it has been nice to be able to practise on the courts when it's quiet and be back on centre court."
British number two Heather Watson will begin her tournament against Swiss 23-year-old Stefanie Voegele.

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic adopts head in sand approach for French Open

Despite the popularity of social media and the widespread presence of traditional media, Novak Djokovic appeared to believe he could be spared the unbearable truth of discovering who his second-round opponent at the French Open might be.
Just before his pre-tournament conference at Roland Garros on Friday, the moderator announced: "Novak has requested he would like to answer only questions about his first-round opponent, nothing else to do with the draw at all, top half, bottom half, and he's asked his team not to mention anything about the draw, either.
"If you could respect that request. Thank you very much."
If Djokovic cannot face the fact that he will meet unheralded journeymen Croatian Ivan Dodig or Argentine Guido Pella in the second round, one can only guess how shocked the world number one will be when he discovers he will probably have to face seven-times Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals.
Djokovic repeatedly stressed on Friday that the French Open was "the number one priority of my year, of my season". With the stakes set high, the Serbian felt confident going into his first-round match against baby-faced Belgian David Goffin as he had beaten Nadal in last month's Monte Carlo Masters final.
"I won Monte Carlo tournament. I mean, that was important for my confidence level," Djokovic told reporters.
"Prior to Roland Garros, that is the most important tournament on clay, and I won against the best player on this surface, Nadal, who we all know how good he is on clay.
"So that win against him can give me that necessary mental belief, self belief prior to this tournament."
Djokovic narrowly missed out on joining a select band of players, which includes rivals Nadal and Roger Federer, who have won all four slams when he was beaten in the final last year and he desperately wants to complete his collection over the next fortnight.
"This is where I want to win, and I'm going to go for it. I think my game is there, and I'm very, very motivated," he said.
"I know that if I win this tournament it's going to be part of the history, so I would be very honoured to be part of that small, small group of players that manage to win all four grand slams."

 

[Smallville22]

Damp Paris a danger for claycourt ace Nadal

Making his comeback after missing the last two grand slams, Rafa Nadal probably expects a warm reception next week when he returns to Roland Garros - an event which is supposed to be one of the summer highlights of the French sporting calendar.
Yet the Spaniard, in pursuit of a record-extending eighth title, is likely to be greeted by cold, grey and damp weather and few would blame him if he turned up at the French Open with thermals covering his bulging muscles.
After being out of action for seven months with a knee injury following a shock second-round exit at Wimbledon last year, Nadal has enjoyed a spectacular run of form which his great rival Roger Federer summed up as: "Eight out of eight finals of eight tournaments. It's amazing."
That run had included six titles, including Masters success in Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome.
In Paris, however, the devastating effect of his top spin will be less felt with rain showers forecast and temperatures expected to be between 5-10 degrees below usual.
"Just to be here is a very positive news for me and I'm really happy. Only negative thing is this cold," Nadal told a news conference on Friday after he was drawn in the same half as world number one Novak Djokovic.
Nadal's troublesome knees not only ****** him to miss the Olympics, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open in January but it also led to speculation about his future in the sport.
Nadal has proved that his knees can still withstand the rigours of the sport and showed that he had not returned to merely make up the numbers.
His six titles this season is more than what the three players ranked above him - Djokovic, Andy Murray and Federer - have won between them and once again Nadal is the overwhelming favourite to lift the trophy in Paris.
"Playing at Roland Garros is always a special feeling and I feel very emotional every time that I am back here," Nadal, seeded third due to the absence of Murray, said.
"Last year was important for me, to win the seventh, one more than (any other man) on this surface. That means a lot to me. Roland Garros is going to mean a lot to me forever. It's my favourite," added Nadal, whose astonishing Roland Garros win-loss record stands at 52-1, with a 7-0 record in the finals.
With 11 grand slam titles in his possession and being one of only seven men to have won all four majors, few would have been surprised if the injury-ravaged Nadal made winning the big titles a priority at this stage of his career.
However, the 26-year-old said every title meant the world to him.
"If you ask me (whether I would prefer to) win one grand slam during the whole year or win six tournaments like I already did, I will choose win six tournaments," he said.
"Because when you win a grand slam you are happy for one or two weeks. When you are winning tournaments (all year) you are having the chance to be happy (more often) and you feel that you are doing the right things during the rest of the season.
"So grand slams are important... but they are not the only ones."

 

[Smallville22]

Nieminen sets up Monaco final in Dusseldorf

Jarkko Nieminen will face Juan Monaco in the final of the Dusseldorf Cup.
Finn Niemenen came through a tight three-set encounter against Igor Sijsling of The Netherlands whilst Monaco beat Argentine compatriot Guido Pella 6-4 7-6.
Niemenen holds a 2-1 head-to-head advantage over Monaco in their previous meetings but crucially Monaco came out on top in their most recent encounter which was also on clay in the 2010 Monte Carlo Masters.

ATP Dusseldorf results

Semi final matches

6-Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) beat Igor Sijsling (Netherlands) 7-5 4-6 6-3

3-Juan Monaco (Argentina) beat Guido Pella (Argentina) 6-4 7-6(8)

Quarter-final matches

6-Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) beat 2-Tommy Haas (Germany) (Haas retired)

Igor Sijsling (Netherlands) beat Jan Hajek (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-1

Guido Pella (Argentina) beat 7-Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 7-6(5) 7-5

3-Juan Monaco (Argentina) beat Tobias Kamke (Germany) 6-3 6-4

 

[Smallville22]

Monfils to face Montanes in Nice final

Gael Monfils will face Albert Montanes in the final of the Nice Open.
Monfils, who has been handed a wildcard into the men’s draw of the French Open after an injury plagued season, backed up his comfortable quarter-final win over Robin Haase with another straight sets victory against Spain’s Pablo Andujar.
The mercurial Frenchman will now face another Spaniard in the form of Albert Montanes, who spoiled the home crowd’s ***** of an all French final after beating Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) 6-4 4-6 6-0.
Ominously for Monfils, Montanes has won three of their four meetings and all those wins have come on clay.

ATP Nice results

Semi-final matches

Gael Monfils (France) beat Pablo Andujar (Spain) 7-5 6-4

Albert Montanes (Spain) beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) 6-4 4-6 6-0

Quarter-final matches

Gael Monfils (France) beat Robin Haase (Netherlands) 6-2 6-3

Pablo Andujar (Spain) beat 2-Gilles Simon (France) 6-4 7-5

Albert Montanes (Spain) beat Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) 6-4 6-1

Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) beat 3-Sam Querrey (U.S.) 3-6 7-6(2) 6-1

 

[Smallville22]

Three Americans through to main Paris draw

The third round of qualifying for the French Open was a good day for the American men, Denis Kudla joining compatriots Steve Johnson and Jack Sock in the main draw.
Kudla followed up his marathon 15-13 win over Canada’s Peter Polansky in the second round by beating Belgium’s Arthur De Greef 7-6 6-7 6-2. Sock had it somewhat easier in beating Facundo Arguello 6-2 6-3 and Johnson was also an easy 6-3 6-4 winner.
Two Germans also made it through to join Tommy Haas, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Florian Mayer with Julian Reister beating Farrukh Dustov 6-1, 6-4 and Andreas Beck getting the better of Antonio Veic 6-1, 7-6.
But only one Frenchman of the three remaining made it through, Maxime Teixeira beating Pavol Cervenak 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 but Vincent Millot and Stéphane Robert lost out to Pablo Carreno Busta (6-0, 6-4) and Jiri Vesely (6-2, 6-2) respectively.
And Steve Darcis continued his impressive run of not not having missed out on the main draw since 2007 with a 7-5 7-3 defeat of Simon Greul.
On the ladies side, it was a day for the youngsters to remember. 20-year-old Argentinean Paula Ormaechea booked her place at the expense of her more experienced Spanish opponent Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-3, 6-2. She is joined by 21-year-old Dinah Pfizenmaier who beat Russia’s Vera Dushevina 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.
The French Open starts on Sunday.

Men’s round 3 results

Denis Kudla (11) United States, def. Arthur De Greef, Belgium, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-2.

Jiri Vesely (17), Czech Republic, def. Stephane Robert, France, 6-2, 6-2.

Julian Reister, Germany, def. Farrukh Dustov, Uzbekistan, 6-1, 6-4.

Steve Johnson (20), United States, def. Adrian Ungur (5), Romania, 6-3, 6-4.

James Duckworth, Australia, def. Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, 6-1, 6-4.

Pere Riba, Spain, def. Andreas Haider-Maurer (4), Austria, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

Andreas Beck, Germany, def. Antonio Veic, Croatia, 6-1, 7-6 (3).

Somdev Devvarman, India, def. Wayne Odesnik (8), United States, 6-3, 6-4.

Steve Darcis (3), Belgium, def. Simon Greul (26), Germany, 7-5, 6-3.

Pablo Carreno-Busta, Spain, def. Vincent Millot, France, 6-0, 6-4.

Jack Sock (13), United States, def. Facundo Arguello, Argentina, 6-2, 6-3.

Michal Przysiezny (22), Poland, def. Rhyne Williams (15), United States, 6-4, 6-4.

Daniel Munoz-de la Nava (29), Spain, def. Illya Marchenko (14), Ukraine, 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Jan-Lennard Struff (12), Germany, def. Teymuraz Gabashvili (28), Russia, 6-3, 7-6 (7).

Vasek Pospisil (2), Canada, def. Frank Dancevic, Canada, 6-2, 6-0.

Maxime Teixeira, France, def. Pavol Cervenak, Slovakia, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Women’s round 3 results

Dinah Pfizenmaier (13), Germany, def. Vera Dushevina, Russia, 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-4.

Sandra Zahlavova, Czech Republic, def. Daria Gavrilova, Russia, 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Paula Ormaechea (5), Argentina, def. Arantxa Parra Santonja, Spain, 6-3, 6-2.

Zuzana Kucova, Slovakia, def. Irina Falconi (21), United States, 6-3, 6-4.

Mariana Duque-Marino, Colombia, def. Paula Kania, Poland, 6-1, 6-2.

Yuliya Beygelzimer, Ukraine, def. Teliana Pereira (16), Brazil, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.

Galina Voskoboeva (10), Kazakhstan, def. Zhou Yi-Miao, China, 6-4, 6-3.

Julia Glushko, Israel, def. Anastasia Rodionova (20), Australia, 6-3, 4-6, 8-6.

Vania King (14), United States, def. Yvonne Meusburger (3), Austria, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Slovakia, def. Alla Kudryavtseva, Russia, 7-5, 6-2.

Grace Min, United States, def. Eva Birnerova, Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-4.

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (24), Czech Republic, def. Stephanie Vogt, Liechtenstein, 6-4, 6-4.

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic and cold weather threaten Nadal's Paris bid

Old foe Novak Djokovic and damp weather conditions are the most likely obstacles to claycourt machine Rafael Nadal's bid for a record-extending eighth French Open title over the next two weeks.
Nadal, who last year beat Bjorn Borg's record of six Roland Garros crowns, has lost only one match on the Paris clay and has already won five titles on the slow surface this year.
However, Serbia's Djokovic ended the Spaniard's eight-year reign at the Monte Carlo Masters to show he is beatable on the red dust after all.
Cold and wet weather could also threaten Nadal, whose devastating top spin works best on dry courts.
Temperatures are set to barely reach 15 degrees Celsius in the first week of the French Open, with rain showers forecast every day from Tuesday onwards, conditions reminiscent of 2009 when the Spaniard lost to Robin Soderling in the fourth round.
"The only negative thing is this cold," Nadal, who came back this year from a seven-month knee injury layoff, told a news conference on Friday.
Nadal, with 11 grand slam titles on all surfaces to his name, is just happy to be back playing and winning at Roland Garros again this year is not the be-all and end-all.
"If you can ask me if I win one grand slam during the whole year or win six tournaments like I already did, I will choose to win six tournaments," said the third seed, who first meets Germany's Daniel Brands.
World number one Djokovic, in contrast, has put a lot of pressure on his shoulders having yet to triumph at the French Open.
He has asked his support team and reporters not to tell him who his potential second or third round opponents are so he can focus on his opener against Belgian David Goffin.
Djokovic, who lost early in Rome and Madrid, could meet Nadal in the semi-finals of a tournament deprived of world number two Andy Murray, who pulled out because of back problems.
SERENA FAVOURITE
"This is the tournament that is the number one priority of my year, of my season. This is where I want to win and I'm going to go for it," Djokovic, who beat Nadal in the Monte Carlo final, told a news conference.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet, seeded sixth and seventh respectively, will be out to end France's 30-year drought for a men's grand slam champion.
The last Frenchman to win a major tournament was Yannick Noah, who beat Swede Mats Wilander in the final at Roland Garros in 1983.
In Tsonga's way stands second seed Roger Federer, who has a smooth-looking draw until a potential quarter-final clash with his sometime nemesis.
World number one Serena Williams is the top favourite in the women's draw although defending champion Maria Sharapova of Russia is also a natural candidate for a second Roland Garros title.
Once a self-described "cow on ice" on clay, Sharapova now feels at home on the slowest surface.
"It never came easy for me to play on the clay and that's why it took many years. But yet I felt like with every year I was getting closer," she told a news conference.
Eleven years after winning her only French Open, Serena is also feeling sharp as she bids for a 16th grand slam singles title.
"Just looking back at a few of my matches years ago and looking now, I definitely feel like I'm getting into that zone that I have always wanted to be in and I feel a lot better about it," the American said.

 

[Smallville22]

Monaco wins inaugural Dusseldorf title

Juan Monaco won his first title of 2013 with a 6-4 6-3 win over Jarkko Nieminen in the final at Dusseldorf.
The Argentine third seed, 29, needed just over an hour and 11 minutes to see off the Finnish world number 42, who will rise back into the top 40 after reaching the final of the first Power ***** Cup in the German city.
Monaco, the world number 19, served well, landing four aces, never double faulting and winning over 70% of his points on both first and second serve.
The Argentine has not dropped a set this week and was broken just the once, in the opening set, and took all four of his own break points, while saving two.
It is Monaco's eighth career title and gives him a 9-9 record in finals.
The unfortunate Nieminen, 31, has now lost nine out of his 11 career ATP finals.

 

[Smallville22]

Montanes downs Monfils to win Nice title

Albert Montanes warmed up for the French Open in perfect fashion with a 6-0 7-6 victory over Gael Monfils in the final of the Nice Open on Saturday as he claimed his sixth career title.
Only a rain break during the fifth game could interrupt the Spaniard's march to the first set with Frenchman Monfils taking until the second game of the second set to hold serve.
Montanes, ranked 82nd in the world, did not have it all his own way as Monfils, a former top-10 player who has slipped out of the top 100 after injury, broke in the seventh game of the second set and then held to level at four games apiece.
The pair then kept pace with each other to take it into a tiebreak where Montanes triumphed 7-3 to wrap the match up in 73 minutes.
It was Montanes' first title in nearly three years after his triumph on the clay of Stuttgart in 2010, when he also beat Monfils in the final.
Montanes now holds a commanding 4-1 head-to-head record over the Frenchman, who suffered a comprehensive defeat in what was his 18th final on the men’s tour in a setback to his French Open preparations.
Monfils, a French Open semi-finalist in 2008 who has been awarded a wildcard this year, faces fifth seed Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic in the first round at Roland Garros next week, while Montanes has been drawn against a qualifier.

 

[Smallville22]

France's Cornet wins title in Strasbourg

Alize Cornet became the second Frenchwoman to win WTA Strasbourg after sealing a 7-6 6-0 victory over Lucie Hradecka in the final on Saturday.
Cornet emulated compatriot Aravane Rezai in 2009 in winning the title in Strasbourg as she edged out her Czech opponent in the first set before sweeping through the second with a bagel.
Hradecka, who has not won a WTA tournament in her career so far, had been looking to become the third Czech after Jana Novotna in 1989 and Nicole Vaidisova in 2006 to win the tournament, but Cornet was too strong.
After not reaching a final for all of 2009, 2010 and 2011, Cornet was runner-up in Strasbourg last year, and now she has gone one better after a comprehensive victory.

 

[Smallville22]

Kanepi beats Peng to win WTA Brussels title

Kaia Kanepi triumphed in her first final of the year at WTA Brussels with a 6-2 7-5 victory over Shuai Peng on Saturday.
The Estonian, 27, lost just two games in the opening set before securing a crucial break from 5-5 in the second to lift the title in Belgium.
Both Kanepi and her opponent Peng had prevailed in their semi-final encounters earlier in the day on the red clay.
Kanepi beat Jamie Hampton 7-6(6) 6-4, while the Chinese eighth seed beat Switzerland's Romina Oprandi 6-4 2-6 6-4 in a two hour and 24 minutes epic on centre court.