 | « Back to article | Print this article |
French Open: Federer, Djokovic drop set; Tomljanovic stuns Radwanska
Roger Federer survived a second-set hiccup to beat Dimitry Tursunov of Russia 7-5, 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-4 on Friday and reach the French Open fourth round.
The Swiss fourth seed will meet Ernests Gulbis of Latvia in the last 16.
After breaking the 31st seed in the 12th game to take the first set, Federer wasted four set points in the second before Tursunov took the tiebreak 9-7.
The third set was far easier for the crowd favourite at Roland Garros but he continued to waste opportunities to break Tursunov’s serve, including seven in the fifth game of the final set.
But the Swiss broke for 4-3 and won the three-hour match on his first match point with a forehand winner.
- Please click NEXT for more...
Djokovic drops set but advances into fourth round
World No.2 Novak Djokovic overcame a minor scare to beat Croatian 25th seed Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-4 to also advance to the fourth round.
Djokovic, chasing the only Grand Slam title to elude him, was in complete control until the end of the third set, when the big-serving Cilic forced him to a tiebreak, which the six-times Grand Slam champion lost 7-2.
Normal service resumed afterwards and Djokovic, although not playing his best tennis, finished it off on Cilic's serve when the Croatian double faulted.
He will next face either Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 13th seed, or Polish 22nd seed Jerzy Janowicz.
- Please click NEXT for more...
Sharapova inflicts double bagel on Ormaechea
Maria Sharapova inflicted the first “double bagel” of the French Open when she beat unseeded Argentine Paula Ormaechea 6-0, 6-0 in the third round.
The first game of the match was interrupted for about 30 minutes by rain and Sharapova, the seventh seed from Russia, was forced to save three break-points.
But from then on it was one-way traffic with Sharapova devouring the Argentine’s serve and despatching winners with ruthless aplomb. She won the match on her first match point when the Argentine hit long.
Sharapova will play Samantha Stosur of Australia, the 19th seed, in the last 16.
- Please click NEXT for more...
Second mother Evert helps young Croatian into last 16
With Chris Evert as her second mother, it is no surprise that Ajla Tomljanovic kept her cool to reach the last 16.
The unseeded Croatian did not have to be at her best to beat Agnieszka Radwanska, the top seed left in the women's draw, but she maintained the pressure from the back of the court as the Polish third seed had an off day on Philippe Chatrier.
Tomljanovic looked much less at ease in the post-match news conference - "I have never had lights in front of me" - as she explained how she got to know Evert, the 'Ice Maiden of women's tennis' in the 1970s and 1980s.
"I actually have family that lives in the States. When I was little, I would always go and spend my summers there," she said.
"When I was 13, I moved to Florida to live, to train at the Evert Academy, Chrissie and John's place. It always kind of came natural, the English and the accent," said the 21-year-old who lost in qualifying for the last four years at Roland Garros.
- Please click NEXT for more...
'I'm very fortunate to have Evert in my corner'
"I felt very at home there, I started getting along with Chrissie and John very well. They welcomed me.
"It was all a little better for me to train there and live there if I was going to pursue my tennis career. So when I decided to move, that seemed like the perfect place.
"I'm very fortunate to have her (Evert) in my corner," Tomljanovic said of the American baseliner who won 18 Grand Slam singles titles.
"Not only she helps me on the court but we actually have a great relationship off the court. We get together when I'm in Boca (Raton). And, you know, she calls, I call her, she calls me.
"It's really great for me to have her as a friend and mentor. She definitely has a ton of knowledge."
- Please click NEXT for more...
Stosur eases past Cibulkova
The top three seeds have now been sent packing following the first-round exit of Chinese Li Na and the second-round elimination of defending champion and world No.1 Serena Williams of the United States.
Tomljanovic was joined in the fourth round by former finalist Samantha Stosur of Australia, who beat Slovakian ninth seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 6-4.
"I'm very happy with my tennis, today was definitely the toughest match. I am very happy to get through in straight sets," said the 2011 U.S. Open champion who now has a 5-0 record against Cibulkova.