Federer Rained Out, Venus Wins, Roddick Photoshopped

Posted on May 29, 2007

Rain Halts Federer; Davydenko Advances at French Open

One of the few opponents that can stop world No. 1 Roger Federer, the rain, halted the Swiss' progress in another rainy display Monday at the French Open.

The Swiss led American journeyman Mike Russell 6-4, 4-1 when rain halted the match for the day. Only one match was completed Monday, with No. 4 seed Nikolay Davydenko advancing into the second round after an easy 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Stefano Galvani.

"I need to break, break, break or play faster because coming rain," said Davydenko on his thoughts during the match of the rain. "I don't want to stop waiting for one game more, and this was starting rain and my serve, I was finish faster, faster."


In other incomplete matches No. 7 seed Ivan Ljubicic led Arnaud Clement 6-1, 4-4; No. 9 Tommy Robredo led Sergio Roitman 6-3, 6-4, 2-1; Amer Delic led No. 17 Juan Carlos Ferrero 4-3; No. 29 Filippo Volandri led Paul Capdeville 6-3, 2-2; Chris Guccione led Konstantinos Economidis 7-6(6); Werner Sidorenko led Alexandre Sidorenko 6-3, 3-4; and Martin Vassallo Arguello led Alejandro Falla 6-3, 4-2.

Highlights Tuesday on the backed-up Roland Garros schedule are (1) Federer vs. Russell (to finish), (16) Marcos Baghdatis vs. Sebastien Grosjean, (2) Rafael Nadal vs. Juan Martin Del Potro, (7) Ljubicic vs. Clement (to finish), (11) Richard Gasquet vs. Nicolas Mahut in an all-French, (3) Andy Roddick vs. Igor Andreev, (6) Novak Djokovic vs. Santiago Giraldo, (18) Juan Ignacio Chela vs. Fabrice "The Magician" Santoro, (14) Lleyton Hewitt vs. Max "The Beast" Mirnyi, (8) James Blake vs. "Dr." Ivo Karlovic, Delic vs. (17) Ferrero (to finish), (5) Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez vs. Radek Stepanek, Guillermo "G-Lo" Garcia-Lopez vs. (10) Tomas Berdych, and Frenchman Marc Gicquel vs. headcase Gaston Gaudio.

Eighty-two total singles matches are scheduled for Tuesday, when the French weatherman says rain will not play a part.

Venus Beats Rain, Cornet at French Open

No. 26 seed Venus Williams was the highest-profile winner on a rainy day where only six women's matches were completed Tuesday at the French Open.

Williams struggled with her forehand during a 6-4, 6-3 win over Frenchwoman Alize Cornet.

"Well, it's just important to stay positive, because things happen," Williams said. "Tennis is a game where if you let a few points go, it can become even. So I just felt like for sure I had the advantage still and I really wanted to close it out. And especially with the weather, I didn't know -- I was already fortunate to be first on and fortunate that it hadn't rained already, so just trying to stay focused."

Other winners on the day were (16) Na Li (d. Kloesel, bagel in the second), (19) Tathiana Garbin (d. Morigami), (27) Sam Stosur (d. Jackson), Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek (d. (31) Bremond) and American Ashley Harkleroad (d. Wozniak).

Highlights of Tuesday play at the French Open are (18) Marion Bartoli vs. Aravane Rezai in an all-French encounter, and (4) Jelena Jankovic vs. France's Stephanie Foretz.

TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Justine Henin on being back in tennis after her divorce: "I have needed people's arms around me because of what happened. Not a lot of people, but good people. [Coach] Carlos [Rodriguez] was there every hour, every day when I needed him. There are still times when I sit back and think, 'What am I doing on the Tour?' It's not to be part of history and win so many tournaments or titles. It's to be sharing the special emotional moments with people that work with me and care for me. I can offer these people a part in these moments that are unique. It is this which now drives me to win."...China's Na Li on playing the French Open: "I don't like clay, but I like Paris, you know, because I love the shopping. So for me, if I lose the match, I just go shopping."...Venus William's first-round victim Alize Cornet is also playing the junior tournament...American Jamea Jackson's return to tennis after December hip surgery was not a success as Jackson felt hip pain during a quick loss this week...From the inimitable SI.com's Jon Wertheim's tennis mailbag: "My dad constantly reminds me that the old-timers used to hold two balls when they served. He remembers Steffi Graf used to do it. So the question he wants to know is, who was the last professional player to hold two balls when serving? -- Chris Miller, Chesterfield, Va. JW: Nadal does something similar before he serves...Never mind. Honestly, I don't see this much anymore."...Andy Roddick on the super-Photoshopped cover shot of himself in Men's Fitness: "If you can manage to stop laughing at the cover long enough, check out the article inside."...Why exactly is the Andy Roddick website charging fans to join "Club Roddick" to read his blog? Not exactly fan-friendly for young kids light in the pocketbook...Matt Cronin writing for FOX Sports: "Roddick volleys nowhere near as well as those three, but he's volleying a whole lot better now than he was two years ago. He must shorten points, because even though he's in good shape (see the souped-up Men's Fitness cover this month), his horizontal movement is lacking and long crosscourt rallies are a trademark of the surface." -- C'mon Matt, do you believe Andy's neck is suddenly as wide as his head?!?...Darren Cahill speaking to ESPN on taking on a another coaching gig, namely Roger Federer: "I don't think he (Federer) would have enough money to pay me."...The Sun reports that Anna Kournikova has broken up with Enrique Iglesias: "We've split," Iglesias said. "I'm single now and it's OK. I don't mind being single...I'm not ready for children. I don't feel like taking on such a responsibility yet. But in the future I'd like two children."