Thursday, 31 May 2018
Open Interview: Frances Tiafoe
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Five Things Munar Learned In Paris
Jaume Munar's time at Roland Garros might be over, but he leaves Paris having learned some invaluable lessons. The #NextGenATP Spaniard earned his first victory at a Grand Slam by defeating David Ferrer 3-6, 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 7-5 in the first round before losing to Novak Djokovic 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-4 in the next round. Both matches served as proving grounds for the 21-year-old and helped raise his self-confidence.
Munar broke down five things he learned during his time at Roland Garros.
1. A Step Forward
From my first qualifying match here (d. Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3) through Wednesday, I've made strides and I'm happy with my progress. I know I wasn't at my best against Novak but I also didn't play poorly. I was competitive from start to finish, which is what matters. Nole showed why he's a player of the highest level in the first set tie-break; he took it up a notch and that proved the difference. I need to convince myself I can do the same. The most positive thing I can take away from the loss is that even when I'm not at my best, I can still compete and that's progress.
2. Room For Improvement
I'm not trying to sound boastful, I'm just being realistic here; I didn't play my best (against Djokovic). That's just constructive criticism. I'm aware that there are areas in my game I need to improve. If I'm going to win a set, I'm going to have to break my opponent's serve while holding my own. That requires consistency and today I wasn't consistent. That's the difference between Nole and me, and why he's so much better than me.
There are about a million things I need to work on to get to the next level, and despite that, I'm still able to compete against some of the best players on tour. I played really well throughout the three rounds of qualifying and I defeated David [Ferrer] in the first round -- someone I revere. And holding my own against Djokovic, who has won everything there is to win in tennis, this gives me confidence that I'm doing the right things so far. I'm going to improve a lot of aspects of my game and come back with high expectations for myself.
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3. Advice From Nadal
Rafa told me above everything, stay calm and worry about the things I can control. I'm taking that advice from now on. I knew it was going to be next to impossible to beat Novak because he's Novak, and I'm Jaume. We're on different levels at the moment. Rafa told me to look at my own game and at things I can do better, not analyse things from Nole's side of the court because I can't control what he's going to do or what plan he's coming with once he steps on the court. I guess I'm guilty of not following that advice but it's advice I'm taking with me going forward.
4. Reasons To Be Proud
Maybe I lucked out a few times here; I nearly lost in the last round of qualifying (d. Lee 6-7[3], 6-0, 7-6[1]) and I had to come back from two sets down against David. I was almost out in that match as well. That was some mountain to climb, more mentally than anything else. David dominated the first two sets and I had to shake that off. Now I know I can overcome my nerves when I'm faced with adversity.
5. Back To ATP World Tour Challenger Events
I'll be playing ATP World Tour Challenger events with a different outlook from now on. Tennis is my life now and everything revolves around me being a player. I'm going to train for a few days and then play some upcoming Challenger events with the intent to win. I'm hopeful about improving my game; I want to continue growing as a player and keep achieving positive results.
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Murray/Soares Begin Campaign; Kontinen/Peers Win
Fourth seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares defeated Dusan Lajovic and Florian Mayer 6-1, 7-5 in the Roland Garros first round on Thursday. The British-Brazilian team now play South Americans Maximo Gonzalez and Nicolas Jarry.
Third seeds Henri Kontinen and John Peers needed just 42 minutes to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Mirza Basic and Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-2 for a place in the third round. Kontinen and Peers, who have a 10-1 record in tour-level finals, including the 2017 Australian Open (d. Bryan-Bryan) and 2016-17 Nitto ATP Finals, lost just six of their service points. They will next play Italians Daniele Bracciali and Andreas Seppi, who ousted British brothers Ken Skupski and Neal Skupski 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Wesley Koolhof and Artem Sitak, finalists at three ATP World Tour tournaments this year — the New York Open, the Brasil Open and the Millennium Estoril Open — knocked out ninth seeds Ivan Dodig and Rajeev Ram 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 in two hours and 12 minutes. The duo awaits the second-round winners of fifth-seeded Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, and Argentines Guido Pella and Diego Schwartzman.
Tenth seeds Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus were solid on first serve in overcoming French pair Jonathan Eysseric and Hugo Nys 7-6(2), 6-3 in one hour and 31 minutes. Klaasen is now on 198 doubles match wins. They will next challenge Nikoloz Basilashvili and John Millman, or Nikola Mektic and Alexander Peya in the third round.
Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez, the 2016 champions and No. 12 seeds, improved to 8-1 as a team at Roland Garros with a 6-3, 6-4 second-round victory over Marcelo Demoliner and Santiago Gonzalez in 67 minutes. The Spaniards now meet Evgeny Donskoy and Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela, or Leonardo Mayer and Joao Sousa.
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Déjà Vu For Delpo: No. 5 Seed Ousts Benneteau
It was like dêjà vu for Juan Martin del Potro at Roland Garros on Thursday. For the second time in three days, he was competing in front of an energetic Parisian crowd that was cheering on a home favourite. There was something else that remained the same: Del Potro came out on top.
The No. 5 seed moved past Julien Benneteau to advance to the third round on the terre battue for the second consecutive year. Previously, the Argentine had not competed at the French Grand Slam since 2012.
The victory gives Del Potro his 25th match triumph of the season (25-6), and his win-rate of 80.6 per cent in 2018 is third-best on the ATP World Tour behind just Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer according to the FedEx ATP Performanze Zone. The 29-year-old’s first-round win against Nicolas Mahut made him just the third Argentine to earn 80 Grand Slam match wins (Guillermo Vilas (139) and David Nalbandian (86)).
Del Potro returned to the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings on 15 January for the first time since August 2014 after reaching the Auckland final, and his season has only gotten better. The 'Tower of Tandil' captured his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown at the BNP Paribas Open, ending Federer's 17-0 start to the season. And now, he is looking to make his best run yet at the clay-court Slam — Del Potro reached the semi-finals in 2009.
After beating Benneteau in the Frenchman's final Roland Garros, Del Potro moves on to face 2017 Monte-Carlo finalist Alberto Ramos-Vinolas, who ousted #NextGenATP Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. The Spaniard arrived in Paris with a 15-15 record on the season, and with just one Round of 16 showing at the three clay-court Masters 1000 events.
Did You Know?
Del Potro is now 9-0 against opponents competing at their home Grand Slam. He is 6-0 against Frenchmen at Roland Garros (2-0 this year) and 3-0 against Americans at the US Open.
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Maria Sharapova predicts Karolina Pliskova tactics for French Open showdown
MARIA SHARAPOVA is expecting a high-octane clash with Karolina Pliskova when the pair face off on Saturday in the third round of the French Open.
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French Open: No. 1 Rafael Nadal takes down Guido Pella 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in second round (ESPN)
Nadal Brings Tsunami To Advance At Roland Garros
Once it starts, it comes quickly, that Rafael Nadal tsunami of momentum and forehands. For 57 minutes, Argentine Guido Pella fought off the 10-time champion's efforts to race through the opening set at Roland Garros. Pella saved six break points in the opener.
But Nadal, on his fifth set point, broke through and the games flowed from there as the Spaniard coasted to a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 win on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
The Spaniard had been 26-3 against left-handers at Grand Slams, a small but possible opening for the lefty Pella, considering Nadal's current Roland Garros record of 81-2. But Nadal had no trouble striking his forehand often against the Argentine, and he's again through to the Round of 32 in Paris, where the No. 1 player in the ATP Rankings will meet a familiar foe in France's Richard Gasquet.
The Frenchman denied Malek Jaziri's attempt at Tunisian history 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0. The 2016 quarter-finalist won almost 60 per cent of his second-serve points (16/28) to make the third round for the eighth consecutive year. Jaziri was attempting to become the first Tunisian man to reach the Roland Garros third round in 55 years.
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“It was a long match with some strong moments, weak moments. I knew I had to pick up at the beginning of the third set. I knew that it was important at that moment. Otherwise it would have been very difficult,” Gasquet said.
“There were a lot of difficult rallies... I was glad to get 6-3, 6-0, because at the end of the second set I wasn't sure I was going to win like that.”
Nadal and Gasquet were rivals during junior tennis. On the tour-level, they've played 15 times, but Nadal has won all of them in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, including a third-round match at Roland Garros in 2005.
They last played at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati last year (6-3, 6-4). Gasquet last won a set against Nadal at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Canada, 10 years and 11 FedEx ATP Head2Head matchups ago.
“I'll try to do my best, because unless there is a disaster, as you said, he has a good chance of winning... He's extraordinary. We all know he is,” Gasquet said. “I'm just going to get on the court and try to play a good match... I want to go there and to do my best. It's a great draw for me. It will be on the centre court. There will be [a lot of] people. I intend to have a good match.”
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French Open: No. 1 Simona Halep, Maria Sharapova, Garbine Muguruza among women reaching 3rd round (ESPN)
French Open 2018: Cameron Norrie opens up on CONTROVERSIAL decision in Lucas Pouille loss
CAMERON NORRIE fell foul of a little-used rule at a crucial point in his French Open second-round clash with Lucas Pouille - but refused to blame the decision for the overall result.
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Rafael Nadal is French Open favourite - but I can challenge for Grand Slam title too!
RAFAEL NADAL remains favourite for the French Open in Marin Cilic’s eyes, but the Croatian reckons he is still a serious threat to the Spaniard.
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French Open: Kyle Edmund through to third round but Heather Watson and Cameron Norrie crash out
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Rafael Nadal vs Guido Pella: LIVE French Open score updates from Roland Garros
RAFAEL NADAL vs Guido Pella - follow LIVE French Open score updates from Roland Garros right here.
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Marterer Fights Back To Beat Shapovalov; Thiem Advances
Germany’s Maximilian Marterer caused an upset at Roland Garros on Thursday in an all-lefty match against #NextGenATP Canadian star Denis Shapovalov, the 2017 ATP Most Improved Player of the Year.
Shapovalov led by a set and 3-0, but Marterer fought back to triumph 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-5, 6-4 for a place in the third round of a Grand Slam championship for the second time (also 2018 Australian Open).
Shapovalov, the No. 24 seed, who like Marterer had been making his Roland Garros debut this year, struck 14 winners and lost just one of his first service points in the 45-minute opener. Although he won the first three games, the 19-year-old he was forced to save three break points. He ended his 31st match of the year (18-13 record) with 82 unforced errors.
World No. 70 Marterer, who reached this month’s BMW Open by FWU semi-finals (l. to Kohlschreiber), tightened up his serve and waited for the error — breaking twice in the second set, then in the final games of the third and fourth sets — for the second Top 30 win of his career.
Marterer will next challenge Estornian lucky loser Jurgen Zopp, who recovered from two sets down to beat Ruben Bemelmans of Belgium 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in three hours and 35 minutes.
Shapovalov reached his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final at the Mutua Madrid Open (l. to A. Zverev), after winning the first tour-level clay-court match of his career earlier in the week.
Just more than a month ago, No. 7 seed Dominic Thiem lost to #NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in 80 minutes at Barcelona. At the time, it was the Austrian’s third loss of the season on clay in which he won five games or less, a shocker for one of the best clay-court players in the world.
But the two-time Roland Garros semi-finalist got his revenge against Tsitsipas on Thursday. Despite the match getting suspended Wednesday evening after taking a two-sets-to-one lead, Thiem finished off the Greek 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the third round for the seventh consecutive Grand Slam.
Thiem will next face Italian Matteo Berrettini, who has won his first two Grand Slam main draw matches this year on the Parisian terre battue. The World No. 96 has played just one match against a Top 10 opponent, a loss earlier this month against Alexander Zverev. This will be his first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting against Thiem.
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Cilic Raises His Game At Roland Garros
Marin Cilic played with greater confidence on Thursday at Roland Garros, but experienced a tough route into the third round after he failed to convert one match point chance in the third set.
The third-seeded Croatian recorded his 20th match win of the season (20-8) by beating past 21-year-old Polish qualifier Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-2, 6-7(3), 7-5 in two hours and 50 minutes.
Having lost just five of his first-service points through the first two sets, Cilic committed 38 of his 48 unforced errors in the next one hour and 45 minutes. He will next look to raise his game against American Steve Johnson, who moved past Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-2.
[ALSO LIKE]Cilic saved the first break point of the match against No. 188-ranked Hurkacz in the fifth game, prior to break for a 4-2 lead, then, on his third set point at 5-2. Having hit nine winners in the opener, Cilic broke twice in the 32-minute second set and lost just six of his service points.
Hurkacz served better in the third set, which led to a service break for a 3-2 lead, but Cilic immediately bounced back. The Croatian star could not convert one match point opportunity when leading 6-5, with Hurkacz serving at 30/40, and paid the price in the tie-break. Almost 50 minutes later, Cilic raised his game to convert his eighth break point of the fourth set for a 6-5 advantage.
The lowest-ranked player that Cilic has lost to at a Grand Slam championships is France’s Thierry Ascione, who was No. 168 in the ATP Rankings, at Roland Garros in 2007.
Elsewhere, Italian No. 18 seed Fabio Fognini hit 27 winners to earn his 24th match victory of the season (9-5 on clay) after he defeated Elias Ymer of Sweden 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in just under two hours. He will next challenge British No. 16 seed Kyle Edmund or last week’s Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open titlist, Marton Fucsovics of Hungary.
Did You Know?
Marin Cilic has won two of his 17 tour-level titles on clay courts at the 2012 Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag (d. Granollers) and the 2017 TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open (d. Raonic).
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Heather Watson crashes out of French Open with defeat to Elise Mertens
HEATHER WATSON’S French Open ended with a disappointing 6-3, 6-4 defeat to sixteenth seed Elise Mertens.
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Alexander Zverev stumped by Yorkshire accent at French Open – WATCH hilarious video
ALEXANDER ZVEREV was stumped by a reporter’s Yorkshire accent during his French Open press conference yesterday.
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Highlights: Goffin Wins 15 Straight Games In Paris
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Highlights: Djokovic Overcomes Gutsy Munar At Roland Garros
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Highlights: Nishikori Survives Paire Scare In Paris
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Video : Highlights: Djokovic Overcomes Gutsy Munar At Roland Garros
Watch highlights as 2016 champion and No. 20 seed Novak Djokovic finds a way past qualifier Jaume Munar on Wednesday at Roland Garros. Video courtesy of Roland Garros. Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP World Tour.
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Video : Highlights: Nishikori Survives Paire Scare In Paris
Watch highlights as No. 19 seed Kei Nishikori battles past Benoit Paire at Roland Garros on Wednesday. Video courtesy of Roland Garros. Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Video : Highlights: Goffin Wins 15 Straight Games In Paris
Watch highlights of how eighth seed David Goffin won 15 straight games en route to victory over wild card Corentin Moutet at Roland Garros on Wednesday. Video courtesy of Roland Garros. Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images
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Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Thiem Locked In A Battle With #NextGenATP Tsitsipas
Dominic Thiem will take a two sets to one lead to sleep on Wednesday night as his second-round match at Roland Garros with #NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas was suspended because of darkness 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
Thiem is trying to reach his third consecutive semi-final at Roland Garros and is a favourite to challenge 10-time champion Rafael Nadal in Paris. The Austrian, though, has been pushed by the 19-year-old Tsitsipas, who beat Thiem last month in straight sets at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
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Thiem raced through the opening set but Tsitsipas rebounded well, breaking three times to even the match. Thiem, however, powered his way past the Greek to take the third set.
The winner of Thiem-Tsitsipas will next meet Italian Matteo Berrettini, who beat 2014 semi-finalist Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
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Alexander Zverev credits Roger Federer for French Open win against Dusan Lajovic
ALEXANDER ZVEREV has credited Roger Federer for playing a part in his French Open win against Dusan Lajovic.
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French Open 2018: Rafael Nadal and David Goffin both criticise Roland Garros
RAFAEL NADAL and David Goffin have both appeared to suggest that the courts at the French Open this year are more slippery than usual.
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Dimitrov Escapes Past Cramping Donaldson
Grigor Dimitrov might not have had the clay-court season he had envisioned before Roland Garros – the Bulgarian reached just one semi-final, at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. But the fourth seed has fought his way through the early rounds in Paris.
Dimitrov withstood an aggressive effort from American Jared Donaldson on Wednesday, coming back from two sets to one down to beat the 21-year-old 6-7(2), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 in four hours and 20 minutes. The Bulgarian served from behind in the fifth set, but kept his focus as Donaldson struggled with cramps and took his chances while returning.
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Dimitrov reaches the Round of 32 for the third time in Paris, matching his best showing (2013, l. Djokovic; 2017, l. Carreno Busta). Dimitrov also celebrates Grand Slam match win No. 50. He'll go for his first fourth round in Paris against Fernando Verdasco.
The Spaniard spent four hours and 22 minutes on the court during his first-round match, beating Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-5. But on Wednesday, the 34-year-old Verdasco took the quick route to the Round of 32, sweeping Guido Andreozzi of Argentina 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours. Verdasco will try to reach the Round of 16 for the second consecutive year and the seventh time overall (2007-10, '14, '17).
Donaldson, a 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier, had never won a match at Roland Garros before this fortnight, having lost on his debut last year (Herbert). He had been 0-3 against Top 5 opponents as well.
But aggressive returning and attacking tennis had given him a two-sets-to-one lead as he rifled returns at Dimitrov's feet. Donaldson won 73 per cent of Dimitrov's second-serve points in the third set.
But Dimitrov earned the early break in the fourth – the only break point of the set – when Donaldson hit a forehand long, and the Bulgarian sailed the rest of the way to force a decider.
Dimitrov had played four times as many five-setters as Donaldson (12 to 3). But Donaldson had won his first five-set match on Sunday against Brasil Open finalist Nicolas Jarry, and the American didn't fade.
Read More: Donaldson, A Future Investment Banker?
He was two points from the match – leading 6-5, 30/0 against Dimitrov's serve – but the Bulgarian won four straight points to tie it up again. Cramping soon hampered Donaldson.
At 6-6, 40/30, the American, reminiscent of countryman Michael Chang against Ivan Lendl in the 1989 Roland Garros fourth round, underarmed his serve to Dimitrov. It worked – Dimitrov sailed the return long – and Donaldson, struggling to push off his left leg, saw the trainer.
He had spurts of good play, but he couldn't sustain them during the final stretch. Dimitrov served for the match at 8-7, and Donaldson broke back. But Dimitrov then won the final two games, clinching the second-round match with a hold to love.
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Nishikori Survives Paire Scare
Kei Nishikori once again proved his quality in deciding sets, coming from two sets to one down to beat France’s Benoit Paire 6-3, 2-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 at Roland Garros on Wednesday.
Ranked No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Performance Zone for his all-time leading deciding set win percentage (75.9), Nishikori battled past the Frenchman in just under three hours on Court Philippe Chatrier. With his second win over French opposition in as many rounds, the World No. 21 improves to 5-2 against home players at the clay-court Grand Slam championship. Nishikori defeated wild card Maxime Janvier in three sets in his opening match.
Nishikori withstood 49 winners, including 14 aces, to defeat Paire for the third time in the Parisian capital (3-0). The Japanese No. 1 also moves 4-2 ahead in his overall FedEx ATP Head2Head series with the talented Frenchman.
The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters will, once again, meet French opposition in his next encounter, with Gilles Simon securing a 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1 victory over Sam Querrey. Simon converted five of seven break point chances to reach the Round of 32 for the seventh time in his past eight visits.
Did You Know?
Kei Nishikori has now reached the third round at Roland Garros for the fourth consecutive year. Nishikori owns an overall 17-7 record at the event.
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French Open 2018: Jared Donaldson serves UNDERARM to Grigor Dimitrov - and wins!
JARED DONALDSON found himself resorting to childish tactics at the French Open earlier today - but they worked at least briefly against Grigor Dimitrov.
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Family Affair: Pros Combine Play With Paternal Duties
What would have been an uncommon sight just a few years ago has become somewhat the norm: children of professional players are regularly part of the "action" in the players' tournament lounges.
As the average length of player’s career is stretched, the rate of players combining their professional careers with parenthood rises with it. The list of examples is headed by World No. 2 Roger Federer, father of twin girls Myla and Charlene (born 23 July 2009) and twin boys Leo and Lenny (born 6 May 2014). Another Top 10 player, John Isner, is expecting his first child with wife Madison.
For a few years now, Novak Djokovic has proven he can be both a doting father and a force to be reckoned with on the ATP World Tour. The Serbian has two children: Stefan, age 4, and eight-month-old Tara. Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray welcomed first daughter Sophia Olivia into his life two years ago and his second daughter, Edie, in November. Stan Wawrinka, also a three-time Grand Slam champion, is raising eight-year-old Alexia.
Roland Garros is no stranger to the tour's "baby boom" and children accompanying their professional fathers in the players' lounge. David Ferrer, who lost in the first round in Paris, is one of the latest players to become a dad after his wife, Marta, gave birth to their first son, Leo, on 4 May.
"Everything has changed since I became a father," Ferrer told ATPWorldTour.com. "It's a totally different life now; you experience something new and special every day. It's a great feeling. Of course, not everything is perfect and it makes me laugh when parents only talk about the bright stuff. Being a player and a father takes a lot of sacrifice, especially at the level in which we compete on the tour."
Pablo Cuevas, who advanced to the second round at Roland Garros by defeating Aljaz Bedene 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday, shares Ferrer's sentiments, but also has a bit of advice on how to balance paternity with tour play.
"Of course it's hard [being a father and a pro player]," said Cuevas, a father of two. "I'm more experienced in that department than David. I saw him here [at Roland Garros] before his first match and he told me he was having a hard time getting some sleep. I told him it's all about adapting to this new life and that he'll get to it with time."
Cuevas knows a little about adjusting to life as a father. The Uruguayan had to shift his entire living space in order to get a good night of rest after his second child was born.
"I live in a two-story apartment and I sleep on the second floor," Cuevas explained. "The first floor is for the children. My younger child wakes up in the middle of the night, just like my daughter would do when she was very young. My wife knows the routine, and she also knows how important it is that I get enough rest. Being a father can be tiring, but it also can be energising in a weird way."
In a few days, Horacio Zeballos will be a father for the second time. The Argentine, who plays ninth seed John Isner in the second round, has noticed the trend of players balancing their careers with fatherhood and links the two with longevity.
"These days, a player's career can last well into his mid- to late 30s," the 33-year-old explained.
Zeballos never thought twice about traveling to events with his two-year-old daughter Emma and wife Sofia.
"If you get the opportunity to travel with your wife and children, you should go for it," Zeballos said. "There are ways to make it an enjoyable experience. Last year, out of the seven months I was on the road, I spent five of those months with my family.
“It's comforting to me and I feel I play better when my family accompanies me to matches. There are more important things in life than just a tennis career. My wife is expecting our second child and even though I'm a little nervous, I'm also excited that soon we'll be able to travel as a family again."
That's just a small sample of players who balance their day-to-day lives on the tour with paternal duties. Top players like Fabio Fognini, Gilles Muller, Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Pablo Andujar, David Marrero, Carlos Berlocq, Federico Delbonis and Leonardo Mayer are other names that make up the player/father list. Mayer's one-year-old son, Valentino, is a prime example of a child that might be seen roaming the players' lounge under his father's watchful eye.
"He just started walking, and that's opened a whole new world to him," Mayer said. "He sees a racquet and he walks over to grab and swing it. He's a pretty strong toddler; he'll hurl the racquets sometimes. You won't see me throwing my racquet, I avoid that kind of behavior, but Valentino is a different story."
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Roger Federer explains how Rafael Nadal shows his muscles in intriguing fashion interview
ROGER FEDERER has lifted the lid on his fashion style while explaining how Rafael Nadal makes himself look “more muscular”.
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Alexander Zverev snaps racket on leg during French Open clash with Dusan Lajovic
ALEXANDER ZVEREV could not contain his frustration as he lost his serve for the third time in the match during his French Open win over Dusan Lajovic.
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Relief For Zverev, Survives A Scare In Paris
Alexander Zverev, one of the best performers on clay courts this year, survived a scare on Wednesday at Roland Garros.
In a match of momentum shifts, the second-seeded German did not play his best tennis in the second round, but recovered from a set and 1-3 deficit to work his way past Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 2-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in three hours and 24 minutes.
Zverev struck 42 winners, but committed 53 unforced errors and was broken five times to equal his best performance in the French capital (2014). He has now won 18 of his past 20 matches and is one victory away from 150 career wins (149-78).
The 21-year-old will next prepare to face Bosnia and Herzegovina’s No. 26 seed Damir Dzumhur on Friday. Dzumhur fought back from a 2-4 deficit in the fifth set to beat Radu Albot of Moldova 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 1-6, 7-5 in three hours and 47 minutes.
Lajovic barely put a foot wrong in the opener, hitting seven winners and clinching all four of his net points. He bounced back from 0/40 at 5-2, then broke Zverev en route to a 3-1 lead in the second set.
But Zverev began to find his rhythm, particularly on his double-handed backhand, and capitalised on mental fatigue from Lajovic. Zverev let out a celebratory scream upon securing the set – courtesy of a Lajovic groundstroke error.
Lajovic regrouped impressively, and, after an early exchange of breaks, won four out of five games from 2-3 to seize control. Incredibly, Zverev triggered back into life and from 1-1 in the fourth set, the German won the next nine games for a 4-0 lead in the decider.
Zverev has a 32-8 match record on the year, including two successive titles – the BMW Open by FWU (d. Kohlschreiber) and his third ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown at the Mutua Madrid Open (d. Thiem). He also finished as runner-up during the European clay-court swing at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia (l. to Nadal).
His best showing in 11 previous Grand Slam championship appearances is a fourth-round exit at Wimbledon in 2017.
Lajovic, who beat Jiri Vesely in the first round, recently advanced to his first Masters 1000 quarter-final at the Mutua Madrid Open, which included victories over Richard Gasquet and Juan Martin del Potro.
Did You Know?
Alexander Zverev made his Grand Slam championship debut at Wimbledon in 2015. With a 16-11 overall match record at the majors, his best performance came last year at S.W.19 when he fell to Milos Raonic in the fourth round.
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Novak Djokovic highlights key improvement area to challenge Rafael Nadal at French Open
NOVAK DJOKOVIC has explained that he is still working on improving his serve as he hopes to challenge Rafael Nadal for the French Open title.
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Alexander Zverev reveals how Roger Federer’s French Open absence has helped him
ALEXANDER ZVEREV has found his path through the French Open draw smoothed by Roger Federer’s absence - because it means he has been given the No 2 seed slot.
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Novak Djokovic declares LOVE for Serena Williams after French Open win against Jaume Manur
NOVAK DJOKOVIC has declared his love for Serena Williams at the French Open.
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French Open: Serena and Venus Williams defeat Shuko Aoyama and Miyu Kato 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in doubles first round (ESPN)
Rafael Nadal opponent Guido Pella curses Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro luck
GUIDO PELLA has cursed his luck at the French Open as he continues to be handed the most difficult ties.
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Novak Djokovic opens up on Rafael Nadal influence during Jaume Munar French Open win
NOVAK DJOKOVIC has opened up about his victory against Jaume Munar at the French Open.
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Video : Tennis - Best Point of Each Year (2000-2018) The Tennis News
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Djokovic Overcomes Gutsy Munar At Roland Garros
Novak Djokovic, the No. 20 seed, didn’t have things all his own way on Wednesday at Roland Garros, when the 2016 champion fought his way past Spanish qualifier Jaume Munar.
The Serbian star, who continues to work his way back to peak form, often drew upon the support of the crowd to defeat Munar 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 18 minutes for a place in the third round. He maintains his record of never having lost to a qualifier (17-0) at a Grand Slam championship.
Djokovic, who improves to a 61-12 record at the clay-court Grand Slam championship, will next face another Spaniard in No. 13 seed Roberto Bautista Agut, who knocked out Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in two hours and seven minutes.
Djokovic was not always comfortable in the first set, but when it mattered he played decisively and was precise with his returns. After being broken in the first game, Djokovic clinched four straight games and at 5-3, a lapse in concentration handed Munar a route back. In the tie-break, it was all Djokovic as he won the first six points.
Munar, who beat fellow Spaniard and 2013 finalist David Ferrer in the first round, continued to impress in the second set, immediately breaking back after losing his serve at 1-1. His groundstroke power kept Djokovic behind the baseline, but in spite of a number of flashy winners from Munar, the former World No. 1 did enough on serve and his forehand, particularly. He sealed the set with a backhand winner.
Pressure from Djokovic began to tell and the Serbian broke for a 4-3 lead, and finished the 198th clay-court match win of his career (198-51) with a backhand winner — his 39th of the match.
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Carreno Busta Edges Delbonis In Paris
Pablo Carreno Busta booked his place in the third round at Roland Garros on Wednesday, overcoming Argentina's Federico Delbonis 7-6(0), 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4.
The 2017 quarter-finalist hit 41 winners and won 75 per cent of first-serve points to advance after three hours and 17 minutes. Carreno Busta improves to 10-4 on European clay this season, building on his recent run to the last eight at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.
After defeating Delbonis for the second time at Roland Garros (2016), Carreno Busta narrows his FedEx ATP Head2Head series deficit to against the Argentine to 2-4.
The No. 10 seed will meet Gazprom Hungarian Open champion Marco Cecchinato for a spot in the Round of 16. The Italian won 54 per cent of return points to beat lucky loser Marco Trungelliti 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-1.
Did You Know?
Pablo Carreno Busta has reached the third round in each of his past six Grand Slam appearances. The Spaniard's most recent exit before the Round of 32 at a major came at The Championships in 2016. Carreno Busta fell in the first round to eventual finalist Milos Raonic.
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French Open: Novak Djokovic advances to third round with 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-4 win over Jaume Munar (ESPN)
Roger Federer hands massive new snub to French Open as Rafa Nadal goes for glory
ROGER FEDERER has handed a new snub to the French Open.
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Uncovered: Borna Back On Track
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Video : Uncovered: Borna Back On Track
ATP World Tour Uncovered presented by Peugeot goes behind the scenes with Borna Coric, who is back on track after a string of successful results early in 2018.
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French Open: Top-ranked SImona Halep advances to second round with 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Alison Riske (ESPN)
Novak Djokovic vs Jaume Munar: LIVE French Open updates from Roland Garros
NOVAK DJOKOVIC vs Jaume Munar - Express Sport is on hand to bring you LIVE French Open updates of today’s match.
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Video : Highlights: Nadal Forced To Fight At Roland Garros
Watch highlights as 10-time champion Rafael Nadal works his way past Simone Bolelli in a two-day clash at Roland Garros. Video courtesy of Roland Garros. Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP World Tour.
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Video : Highlights: Del Potro Overcomes Mahut, French Faithful
Watch highlights as Juan Martin del Potro overcomes a slow start to beat Nicolas Mahut on Tuesday for a place in the Roland Garros second round. Video courtesy of Roland Garros. Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP World Tour.
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Highlights: Del Potro Overcomes Mahut, French Faithful
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Highlights: Nadal Forced To Fight At Roland Garros
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French Open 2018: WATCH Jack Sock in SHOCKING rant at umpire – 'You're atrocious'
FRENCH OPEN tennis player Jack Sock was furious with the chair umpire during his defeat against Jurgen Zopp yesterday.
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Novak Djokovic vs Jaume Munar LIVE stream: How to watch French Open 2018 clash online
NOVAK DJOKOVIC continues his French Open campaign against ATP Next Generation star Jaume Munar in the second round today.
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Tuesday, 29 May 2018
Del Potro Overcomes Mahut, French Faithful
For a half hour on Tuesday at Roland Garros, 36-year-old Nicolas Mahut turned back time. The French wild card was dominating fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro, drop shotting the 6'6” Argentine and serving and volleying as if he was on the The Queen's Club grass.
Twenty-five minutes into their first-round match, Mahut led 6-1 and had the French crowd on Court Suzanne-Lenglen eager for more. But the party soon ended.
Del Potro, perhaps nervous about testing his injured groin, eventually settled his game and started to solve Mahut's serve-and-volley style. The Argentine sprinted through the second set in 31 minutes, and repeated the act two more times to advance 1-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
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Del Potro broke twice in the third and once more in the fourth, smacking a forehand behind Mahut for a 4-2 advantage. Del Potro's status for Roland Garros was unclear after he retired from his third-round match against David Goffin because of a groin injury at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome on 17 May.
Read More: Six Who Could Challenge Rafa
He left Rome, saying he'd undergo health exams. But the 2009 semi-finalist didn't seem bothered by it against Mahut, who tested it often with his crafty touch. Del Potro will next meet Frenchman Julien Benneteau or countryman Leonardo Mayer.
Swede Elias Ymer earned his first Grand Slam victory on his sixth try, beating Israeli Dudi Sela 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-1. Ymer, who is coached by two-time Roland Garros finalist Robin Soderling, won exactly half of his return points (54/108), and will next face 18th seed Fabio Fognini. Italy's No. 1 beat Marrakech champion Pablo Andujar of Spain 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 in less than two hours.
Watch: Ymer Visits His Ethiopian Roots
In Rome, Fognini was a set away from becoming the fourth man to beat Nadal at least three times on clay (Novak Djokovic, 7; Dominic Thiem, 3; Gaston Gaudio, 3).
Did You Know?
Del Potro has never lost to a player at his home Grand Slam. He is 5-0 against Frenchmen at Roland Garros and 3-0 against Americans at the US Open. He has never played against an Australian at the Australian Open or a Brit at Wimbledon.
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Serena Williams reveals real reason she wore THAT cat suit at French Open
SERENA WILLIAMS says she feels like “a super hero” when she wears the striking cat suit that she donned for her first Grand Slam match in nearly 500 days earlier today.
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Rafael Nadal: Guido Pella explains plan to beat world No 1 at French Open
GUIDO PELLA says he is planning to completely shake-up his playing style when he faces Rafael Nadal at the French Open.
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Coach Moya's Takeaways From Nadal’s Win
Carlos Moya, coach of world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, will be breaking down Rafa's performances for ATPWorldTour.com. Nadal hopes to lift the trophy for the 11th time.
On Tuesday, the defending champion defeated Simone Bolelli 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(9) to advance to the second round, where he'll face Guido Pella for a place in the Round of 32. Moya lists five key takeaways from Nadal’s opening-round match.
A Victory -- With Its Ups And Downs
Today's match wasn't the prettiest, but he still managed to win. Getting through the early rounds at a Grand Slam is an ordeal. Yes, he came through in three sets, but the match was a lot tougher than the score suggests [Nadal trailed 6/3 in the third set tie-break and saved four set points]. Rafa had several ups and down, but in the end he came through and that's what matters. This win will give him confidence going to the later rounds.
Just Roll With The Punches
Rafa has maintained a positive outlook, despite the weather conditions and the rain delay. He understands not everything will go his way and he has taken this in stride. Some elements of his game have been on point while others will come as he gets more matches in. That's why I'm not too concerned that he wasn't at his best today.
Let's Think Positive Thoughts
At one point during the match [against Bolelli], Rafa seemed to be taking his game to the next level. He earned that break point at 3-3 in the second set and I thought Rafa would sprint to the finish. That wasn't the case, obviously, and maybe some doubts set in when things didn't go that way. Still, we're staying positive and hoping to make some corrections ahead of the next match.
We'll Get There When We Get There
Last year's results here at Roland Garros can't be repeated. [Nadal didn't drop a set en route to his 10th Roland Garros title in 2017]. Just because he didn't get off to the ideal start doesn't mean we're panicking. Looking back, Rafa's start to the US Open last year was difficult as well, and he wound up winning the tournament. We just need to get through the early rounds, find our rhythm and everything else will fall into place.
Bolelli Was Taking His Chances
Bolelli did what he had to do. Some points were like a coin toss; he just went for it. That was the Italian's best option against Rafa, and Rafa knew his best option was to try and neutralise that sort of playing style. So Rafa did his all to eliminate the element of luck by limiting Bolelli's shot selection. Like I said, we still have areas in which we need to improve and make opponents feel even less settled. It was difficult to achieve that against Bolelli in the first round.
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Rafael Nadal predicts ‘difficult’ French Open clash against Guido Pella
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Rafael Nadal raises concerns about French Open fitness after Simone Bolelli win
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French Open: Serena Williams beats Kristyna Pliskova 7-6 (4), 6-4 to advance to second round (ESPN)
Rafael Nadal reveals secret to French Open success and clay-court dominance
RAFAEL NADAL believes he has proven that he is not the complacent type and that is why he has been able to dominate the clay-court scene for so long.
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