The French Love Clay

Hiland — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:23:11 +0000

The French and the famed Terre Battue of Roland Garros have something going on in Paris. Especially the French men! Seven, count that, seven Frenchmen have moved to Round Three. To the delight of the excited home crowds and tournament organizers, French superstars Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the ninth seed, and Gael Monfils, the 11 seed, led a pack of seven Frenchmen past round two into muddier waters. Five of the clay experts are in the lower portion of the draw while Josselin Ouanna, a five set (7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 3-6, 10-8) upset winner over 20th seeded Marat Safin and 7th seeded Gilles Simon, a straight set (7-5, 6-0, 6-1) winner over American Robert Kendrick battle up top. In fact, the upper bracket foes may end up playing each other in Round four. The ninth seeded Tsonga committed 46 unforced errors but belted out an emotional win (7-5, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8)) over Argentina’s Juan Monaco to move out in the tough upper bracket of the lower draw. There is nothing subtle about Tsonga’s game. It is all or nothing with the husky Frenchmen. Jo-Wilfried takes it all onto the court and plays well to the excitable French fans. Tsonga is not known as the typical, patient clay-court specialist. His all-or-nothing style was out in force on Day Five. Tsonga finds himself in the most difficult quarter bracket with other hard-hitting heavyweights, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (4) and Argentina’s Juan-Martin Del Porto (5). The three heavyweights comprise an imposing draw with Del Porto and Tsonga likely 4th round opponents with the winner meeting Djokovic in the quarters. A year ago, the testy Del Porto was the 67th ranked player in the world. His meteoric rise is well justified. The bookmakers continue to like his chances. The 11th seeded Gael Monfils prevailed over a lackluster performance by Romania’s Victor Crivoi (6-4, 6-3, 6-3). Monfils appears on track for a 4th round match up with American Andy Roddick who is through the second round for the first time since 2001. Roddick will first have to get past French clay court expert Marc Gicquel. The sixth seeded American will have to be at his best against Gicquel and his throng of supporters. Roger Federer found himself at 7-6 (8), 5-7, 1-5 in the third set against lightly regarded Jose Acasuso before the Argentinean rolled his ankle. Unable to put the set away, Acasuso became tentative as Roger seized the momentum. Federer closed out the third set 7-6 (2) and then 6-2 in the fourth. On Day Six, the top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal will be on court along with Scotsman and newly focused Andy Murray. Nadal will be battling it out with former world number one and a spirited competitor himself, Lleyton Hewitt. Murray should have an easier time with Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic. Things are heating up in Paris as the weather prediction calls for a clear and warmer front.

Fernando Moves On!

Hiland — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:25:03 +0000

With a few players yet to be heard from, the game’s biggest names continue to move along in Paris. Rafa, Roger, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick advanced with ease. Number 7, Gilles Simon, rode just enough local support to survive a five set war against the USA’s Wayne Odesnik and the crowds at Roland Garros are pouring through the turnstiles at a record pace.

Day three will see 4th seeded Serb Novak Djokovic and Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Porto take to the red clay as well as France’s Gael Monfils and American James Blake.

On the Women’s side, Serena Williams (2), Svetlana Kuznetsova (7), Jelena Jankovic (5) and Elena Dementieva (4) will all be in action. At the top of the draw, the big names easily moved though round one. Maria Sharapova won in three sets to pave the way for an intriguing match up with 11th seeded country-mate Nadia Petrova.

Round one for both draws will be complete by the day’s end.

The possible quarterfinal battle between Spaniards Nadal (1) and 8th seeded Fernando Verdasco is on track after Fernando’s convincingly sharp 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, triumph over France’s Fiorent Serra. Verdasco’s serve was sharp and his groundstrokes penetrating as he won 75% of his first serves and recorded 15 aces. Verdasco stayed on the baseline as he took the net just three times during the quick, one hour 15 minute match.

Verdasco’s resurgence has thrown the tennis world into a state of turmoil. The feisty Spaniard stands on the precipice of greatness, one big win from center stage and one big loss from being bounced out of the top 10.

Always recognized as a talent who enjoyed the good life, Fernando’s reputation came under more scrutiny when he began to date tennis hot babe Ana Ivanovic. The couple makes for a photographer’s dream but their games were headed down a treacherous path.

Over the winter season, Verdasco decided to do something about his floundering career. Fernando went back to his mentor of 20 years ago, tennis fitness guru Gil Reyes of Las Vegas. Reyes put Verdasco on a demanding training routine that had a heavy emphasis on endurance and specifically on his leg strength.

In Melbourne, Verdasco’s game and career took a change in direction. Trailing the pre-tourney favorite and third-seeded, Andy Murray, by two sets, Fernando rallied to upset the Scotsman.

Next, Fernando blasted past the 2008 Australian Open runner-up, Jo-Wilfied Tsonga. The upsets landed Fernando in the semi-finals against country-mate and fierce rival Rafael Nadal. The five set match was filled with spectacular points. Many tennis fans have called the match the greatest of the new generation. For close to five hours the two exchanged momentum, crushing shots and powerful serves.

In the end, Nadal won the match, but Verdasco won the hearts. He usually does. Roland Garros is filled with hope of a quarterfinal repeat. The Paris fans will have a difficult time choosing a favorite in the anticipated battle of Spaniards.

French Open Tennis » Gilles Simon

The French Love Clay

Fernando Moves On!