Roger Federer talks to the Tennis Channel at the French Open. It’s interesting to hear Roger’s response as he weighs in which is more important. 16 slams, 23 consecutive semi-finals, or the weeks at number one record.
The story of yesterdays French Open has to be the great performance by Kimiko Date Krumm. The 39 year old Krumm as 1-4 down in the final set with a leg injury and somehow came back to beat Dinara Safina. She became the second-oldest woman to win a match at Roland Garros in the Open Era after Virginia Wade in 1985. Awesome.
She knew, as we all did watching, that her Russian foe was feeling the moment:
“I didn’t want to stop,” Date Krumm said. “My condition was very bad, but she was getting a little nervous, and she started making mistakes. So I tried many things, like drop shots and hitting wider, slower… and she kept making mistakes. I tried everything.”
Dinara is having a lot of problems with her game at the moment, and since her split with coach Zeljko Krajan her game can only get better. Im pretty sure it cant get any worse!
Lukas Lacko
American qualifier Michael Yani’s French Open debut lasted one match. It felt like about two or three.
Yani lost to Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 12-10 in a marathon that began Sunday and finished Monday, covering 4 hours, 56 minutes of playing time. The 71 games equal the most in a singles match at the tournament since tiebreakers were instituted in 1973.
“Ridiculous,” Yani said, cracking open a can of caffeine-rich soda. “I’ve never gotten to a fifth set before, so, I mean, that was pretty cool, I’m not going to lie—to go that deep into a fifth.”
He sighed, before adding: “I wish I could have closed it out.”
The 29-year-old player based in Durham, N.C., fell to 0-7 in tour-level matches for his career. He had his chances this time, with three match points in the fifth set: two Sunday at 6-5, then one Monday at 10-9. Lacko also wasted his own opportunities along the way, with four match points way back in the fourth set.
“I knew I would have (more) chances,” Lacko said. “It was a question of time.”
Well, quite a long time.
Three other men’s singles matches at Roland Garros also lasted 71 games. The overall record is the 83 games played in a match in 1957.
When a contest lasts that long, Yani explained, “You don’t really know what’s going on out there. You’re just sort of going through the motions, and let instinct take over.”
Play was suspended Sunday night because of darkness, with the score 8-8 in the fifth set.
“I thought it was going to be difficult, and I thought I was going to be a little nervous, have a hard time going to sleep and waking up,” Yani said. “But I was so tired last night, I just passed out. I hit the bed, and—boom!— gone. And I woke up, and I was so tired and so sore.”
When they resumed Monday afternoon, the score progressed to 10-10, when Lacko (pronounced LECH-ko) broke Yani’s serve for the only time the entire match.
Yani actually had managed to break Lacko’s serve in the very first game— and then never again. Lacko saved the last 13 break points he faced.
“I definitely thought about that along the way,” Yani said. “I kept looking at the scoreboard … and I’m sitting there, going, ‘How are we both not getting broken at all?’ He served unbelievably well on the break points. I felt like every time I had one, he popped in a good first serve. So, credit to him.”
Neither the 151st-ranked Yani nor the 81st-ranked Lacko had played in the French Open’s main draw. Lacko’s reward for working the tennis equivalent of overtime? He will play 11th-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in the second round.
“I will be ready, for sure,” Lacko said, between bites of a chocolate bar.
The Tennis Channel will be offering free live and on-demand broadband streams, with over 125 matches and 200 hours of play during the first 10 days for the French Open.
Visitors to the network’s site, www.tennischannel.com, will be able to view any one of five courts for the first eight days of the event, followed by a single court on days nine and ten.
ESPN3.com – will deliver more than 270 hours live from the three primary courts at Roland Garros on the days ESPN2 is televising — Sunday, May 23, plus Tuesday, May 25 – Friday, May 28 and Monday, May 31 – Thursday, June 3.
Don’t count defending champion Roger Federer and four-time winner Justine Henin among fans of a proposal to hold the French Open outside Paris beginning in 2016.
Gilbert Ysern, general director of the French tennis federation, told a news conference Saturday relocating the clay-court Grand Slam from Roland Garros is being considered because it needs more space to remain competitive with the three other major tournaments.
Three options are being examined, including one next to Versailles castle. Another possible site is near Disneyland Paris.
The French Open has been at Roland Garros since 1928 and the federation has a contract there till 2015. The French federation assembly is expected to make its decision in February.
“I think by the time I finish my career, the tournament will still be at Roland Garros,” Federer said. “I don’t know if the French Open will one day move to Disney, I doubt it. There is more space outside the city, I understand, but come on …”
Henin accepted that space is an issue at Roland Garros, but said its tradition is one of the French Open’s main assets.
“I hope they find a solution to keep the tournament here,” she said. “The tradition is here. This is my favourite tournament. Maybe (a move outside Paris) will happen.
“You need to be realistic. Compared to other Grand Slam tournaments, which are always getting bigger, it has become difficult in terms of space. Everyone knows that.”
Among the Grand Slam tournaments, only the French Open and Wimbledon have never been moved. While Wimbledon has been updated, facilities at Roland Garros have become outdated. The lack of space for 450,000 annual spectators, players, journalists and sponsors is a problem, while the absence of covered courts leaves the tournament vulnerable to the weather.
“We have to create the Roland Garros of 2040,” French federation vice-president Bernard Giudicelli said. “We will do everything to make sure that Roland Garros 2016 will be played in a bigger and modernized stadium.”
The French Open’s facilities are spread over 21 acres (8.5 hectares), while Melbourne Park — the site of the Australian Open — and Wimbledon each have 49 acres (20 hectares). Flushing Meadows, site of the U.S. Open, has 34.5 acres (14 hectares).
“Some players told us they cannot imagine leaving Paris,” Ysern said. “But if we stay, we have to modernize the facilities to aim for excellency. We need more space and a retractable roof over the centre court.”
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga said there is only one Roland Garros.
“I would prefer to stay here and make the tournament bigger here because this site is wonderful,” Tsonga said.
If the tournament stays in Paris, three adjoining areas will be added to Roland Garros at a cost of about US$251 million. Building a new stadium outside Paris would cost an estimated $754 million.
Versailles castle is 20 kilometres from downtown Paris. Disneyland Paris in Marne-La-Vallee is 48 kilometres from the French capital.
Should the tournament be relocated, preliminary designs envision a 74-acre (30 hectares) site with 55 tennis courts — two with a retractable roof — that would be able to receive up to 60,000 people a day.
via Associated Press
Here are some photos of Maria Sharapova’s 2010 French Open outfit from Nike. Im not really too sure if Maria will get many matches in this dress, as Im not really expecting her to do very well!
Ernests Gulbis was a player everyone was talking about at this years French Open. The young latvian was an outsider to do really well, but in a first day shock he has been elimintated. Gulbis was 2 sets to love down and retired injured. Ernests hurt his right leg in the match against Julien Benneteau of France. Cheer up Ernests there is always next year and Im sure you will have a lot more chances to compete at the Roland Garros.
This has to be one of the best photoshoots Rafael Nadal has ever done. This shoot took place at the Molitor, which is an abandoned swimming pool near Roland Garros.
Im a big fan of the graffiti on the walls, very cool!
More shots over at the Roland Garros site.
CNN has done a great interview with Rafael Nadal and tennis in general in Spain, so we thought we would share it around.
Big Ivo Karlovic has withdrawn from the French Open starting next week. Karlovic has an Achilles tendon injury that just hasnt healed.
Missing most of the clay-court season this year, Karlovic told the Croatian press earlier today that he remains adamant on participating in the upcoming Wimbledon Championships, and his countries’ Davis Cup tie against Serbia in July.
2010 French Open TV Schedule:
Here is the French Open TV Schedule for the USA.
For a complete list of international broadcasters, please scroll down.
*All time EST
Sunday, May 23 (EST)
5:00 AM French Open : 1st Round Day 1 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
12:00 PM French Open : 1st Round Day 1 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – ESPN2, ESPN2HD
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Monday, May 24 (EST)
5:00 AM French Open : 1st Round Day 2 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
3:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Tuesday, May 25 (EST)
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010- broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
12:00 PM French Open : 1st Round Day 3 (LIVE)- broadcast in HD – ESPN2, ESPN2 HD
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM French Open : 1st Round Day 3 (LIVE) – ESPN Deportes
5:00 AM French Open : 1st Round Day 3 (LIVE)- broadcast in HD – ESPN3.com
5:00 AM French Open : 1st Round Day 3 (LIVE)- broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010- broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010- broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Wednesday, May 26 (EST)
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
5:00 AM French Open : 2nd Round Day 4 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
12:00 PM French Open : 2nd Round Day 4 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – ESPN2, ESPN2 HD
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM French Open : 2nd Round Day 4 (LIVE) – ESPN Deportes
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Thursday, May 27 (EST)
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
5:00 AM French Open : 2nd Round Day 5 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
12:00 PM French Open : 2nd Round Day 5 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – ESPN2, ESPN2 HD
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM French Open : 2nd Round Day 5 (LIVE) – ESPN Deportes
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Friday, May 28 (EST)
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
5:00 AM French Open : 3rd Round Day 6 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
12:00 PM French Open : 3rd Round Day 6 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – ESPN2, ESPN2 HD
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM French Open : 3rd Round Day 6 (LIVE) – ESPN Deportes
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Saturday, May 29 (EST)
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
5:00 AM French Open : 3rd Round Day 7 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM French Open : 3rd Round Day 7 – broadcast in HD – NBC (*Please check your local listings- Potentially tape delayed)
3:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Sunday, May 30 (EST)
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
5:00 AM French Open : Round of 16 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM French Open : Round of 16 – broadcast in HD – NBC (*Please check your local listings- Potentially tape delayed)
3:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Monday, May 31 (EST)
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
5:00 AM French Open : Round of 16 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
12:00 PM French Open : Round of 16 (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – ESPN2, ESPN2 HD
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM French Open : Round of 16 (LIVE) – ESPN Deportes
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Tuesday, June 1 (EST)
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
5:00 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
8:00 AM French Open : M/W Quarterfinals (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
12:00 PM French Open : M/W Quarterfinals (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – ESPN2, ESPN2 HD
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM – French Open : M/W Quarterfinals (LIVE) – ESPN Deportes
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Wednesday, June 2 (EST)
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
5:00 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
8:00 AM French Open : M/W Quarterfinals (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
8:00 AM French Open : M/W Quarterfinals (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – ESPN2, ESPN2 HD
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM – French Open : M/W Quarterfinals (LIVE) – ESPN Deportes
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Thursday, June 3 (EST)
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
5:00 AM French Open : Men’s Doubles Semifinals (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
8:00 AM French Open : Men’s Doubles Semifinals (LIVE) – broadcast in HD – ESPN2, ESPN2 HD
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – French Open : M/W Quarterfinals (LIVE) – ESPN Deportes
1:00 PM French Open : Women’s Semifinals – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
6:30 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 PM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Friday, June 4 (EST)
1:30 AM French Open Tonight 2010 – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
5:00 AM French Open : Women’s Semifinals – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM French Open : Men’s Semifinals – broadcast in HD – NBC (*Please check your local listings- Potentially tape delayed)
5:00 PM French Open : Men’s Semifinals – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Saturday, June 5 (EST)
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM French Open : Women’s finals – broadcast in HD – NBC – (LIVE)
12:00 AM French Open : Men’s Semifinals – broadcast in HD – Tennis Channel
Sunday, June 6 (EST)
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM French Open : Men’s finals – broadcast in HD – NBC – (LIVE)
via ESPN, Tennis Channel, and NBC
Complete list of television broadcasters for the 2010 French Open around the world.
Kim Clijsters have now officially withdrawn from the French Open. Clijsters withdrew because of a foot injury she suffered during Fed Cup last month.
A CT scan today revealed the injury was healing, but fluid is still building up around her ankle and she has opted to miss the second grand slam of the year and end her clay-court season.
“It’s really a shame to give up on Roland Garros. Paris is so close I always feel a little at home. And that’s where I played my first grand slam final. But the foot pain forces me to throw in the towel.”
Clijsters has been replaced by Stephanie Dubois in the main draw.
Tournament officials at Roland Garros also announced on Friday that Sania Mirza, Urszula Radwanska, Anna-Lena Groenefeld, and Sabine Lisicki have also withdrawn.
They will be replaced by Katie O’Brien, Anne Keothavong, Ekateryna Bychkova, and Johanna Larsson.
Wildcards for the 2010 French Open have been announced and here is who got in.
The men’s wildcards were given to the following players:
Josselin Ouanna (No. 126), Edouard Roger-Vasselin (No. 130), David Guez (No. 137), Nicolas Mahut (No. 157), Laurent Recouderc (No. 161), Gianni Mina (No. 654—Orange Bowl champion), Ryan Sweeting (No. 124—US reciprocal wildcard), and Carsten Ball (No. 119—Australian reciprocal wildcard).
In exchange for Sweeting’s and Ball’s place in the French Open draw, the French Tennis Federation will be allowed a homegrown player at both the Australian and US Opens.
The women’s wildcards were given to the following players:
Stephanie Cohen-Aloro, Claire Feuerstein, Stephanie Foretz, Jarmila Groth, Mathilde Johansson, Christina McHale, Kristina Mladenovic, and Olivia Sanchez.
The French Open Championships are set to kick off on May 23rd.
Kim Clijsters may miss the French Open due to a foot injury. Clijsters beat Maret Ani 6-4, 6-2 Saturday despite discomfort in the foot. The bruising got more painful overnight, forcing her to pull out of Sunday’s second match. Tests at a hospital showed the muscle tear in her foot.
She will use crutches for a few days to give her foot a chance to heal. It was unclear when she could resume full training. The French Open at Roland Garros starts in four weeks, on May 23, and Clijsters is hoping that intensive treatment will shorten the six-week rehabilitation period.
Svetlana Kuznetsova is planning on giving away most of the prizemoney from her French Open title to her church!
“I am planning to buy an accommodation in Moscow, I am still renting an apartment. Also, I have promised to myself to buy a good expensive watch. The majority of the money I am going to donate to my church. There the director of orthodox temple is my spiritual father. I try to to be there as often as possible, to think about something personal, something eternal. But I have a very busy schedule. Occasionally, the father himself visits me. … No matter how strange it sounds, I am a very religious person and try to attend church even in other countries.”
Is it just me or does this simply sound crazy. Maybe it is time I started the next religion and then got people to give their money to me.
Mens Singles: Roger Federer (2) def. Robin Soderling (23) = 6-1 7-6 6-4
Womens Singles: Svetlana Kuznetsova (7) def. Dinara Safina (1) = 6-4 6-2
Mens Doubles: Lukas Dlouhy / Leander Paes (3) def. Weslie Moodie / Dick Norman = 3-6 6-3 6-2
Womens Doubles: A Medina Garrigues / Virgina Ruano Pascual (3) def. Victoria Azarenka / Elena Vesnina (12) = 6-1 6-1
Mixed Doubles: Liezel Huber / Bob Bryan (1) def. Vania King / Marcelo Melo = 5-7 7-6 1-0 (10-7)
Three time Roland Garros finalist Roger Federer has captured his first French Open title. Roger defeated Robin Soderling 6-1 7-6 6-4 in todays final. Federer has now equaled Pete Sampras with the most Grand Slam titles. Federer has won his 14th Grand Slam title in his 40th career Slam tournament. Pete Sampras, at 31, captured his record 14th Slam title in his 52nd career tournament.
Federer has become the sixth man to win all four Grand Slam titles in his career, the first since Andre Agassi in 1999. Here are the members of the Grand Slam Club (with year of tournament) — Fred Perry (1935 Roland Garros), Don Budge (1938 Roland Garros), Rod Laver (1962 US Open), Roy Emerson (1964 Wimbledon) and Agassi (1999 Roland Garros). Budge won a calendar Grand Slam in 1938 and Laver in 1962 and ’69.
Toni Nadal who is the coach of the 4 time French Open champion Rafael Nadal said some quite rude remarks about the French crowd on Spanish radion Station Cadena Ser.
Toni was none too pleased to hear how little the Parisian crowd was supporting the 4-time defending champion:
In an interview with the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, Toni Nadal said there was some truth to the phrase: “There is only one set of supporters that is worse than the French and that is the Parisians.”
“They say it themselves and it’s true, the Parisian crowd is pretty stupid. I think the French don’t like it when a Spaniard wins,” he added. “Wanting someone to lose is a slightly conceited way of amusing yourself. They show the stupidity of people who think themselves superior.R”
Rafael had made mention of the crowd’s waning support in his post-match presser after the loss saying,
Maybe at one stage they supported Soderling more than me, and that was a bit sad. But I wish when I’m back they can support me a bit more in key moments.
I know it is great to see the underdog do well, but we are still talking about 4-time defending champion who was little put back by the lack of support. Although I can see why the French crowd might have supported Soderling, because it was a turn point in French Open history and its great to see something like this happen.
Well a few days ago we previewed the quarterfinals and then tipped a player in each match. I thought I would just quickly run through and see how we went.
Robin Soderling (23) vs Nikolay Davydenko (10) = We tipped Davydenko to come back from two sets to love down to win. Well we were right about one thing, Davydenko would lose the first two sets, but he never recovered. Wrong
Andy Murray (3) vs Fernando Gonzalez (12) = I thought an upset would happen here and I was right. Gonzalez pushed aside Murray in four sets. Right
Juan Martin Del Potro (5) vs Tommy Robredo (16) = I thought Robredo would really put all of his experience into this match, but he never got into the match at all, Del Potro winner. Wrong
Gael Monfils (11) vs Roger Federer (2) = Roger was always the favourite for this match and he didn’t disappoint. It was a great performance by Roger and its good to see him in the semi’s again. Right
Dinara Safina (1) vs Victoria Azarenka (9) = Safina is in great form at the moment and we tipped he to win this match as well, and she didnt disappoint. Safina wins in three sets, but after losing the first in which we knew Azarenka had to win to even be in the match. Right
Dominika Cibulkova (20) vs Maria Sharapova = I really thought Maria had a shot of winning this match in three sets on paper, but in real life tennis matches are a lot different. Maria got punished and tought how to play clay court tennis from Dominika. Wrong
Sorana Cirstea vs Samantha Stosur (30) = I thought that Stosur had a game that was too strong for Cirstea and I was right, plus I knew she would win in straight sets. Right
Svetlana Kuznetsova (7) vs Serena Williams (2) = Serena played some of the worst tennis I have seen her play in a very long time. It was like she had a brain cramp today on court. Kuznetsova played a very solid match but didn’t really control the match at all. Wrong
Well after all that we only got 50% right. The French Open is the main tournament all year in which upsets happen, and it is great to see that this year has live up to that expectation.
Who will be in the final for both singles? Well I think the Men’s final will be between Roger Federer and Robin Soderling. Women’s final will be between Dinara Safina and Samantha Stosur.
A few days ago we wrote about Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez who was court on camera cheating in her match with Serena Williams. Unfortunately now that video has been taken off YouTube by the French Tennis Federation. I find this an interesting move from the French Tennis Federation and I wonder if the player in question had any influence in this matter. It would be great if someone from the French Tennis Federation could explain their actions, but we tried to contact them and received obviously no response!
