Federer Whines, Gasquet and Safin Melt at French Open

Posted on May 31, 2007

Ginepri Secures American Exit Record at French Open

Robby Ginepri secured an American record Wednesday at the French Open -- as the last U.S. player to exit, Ginepri marked the first time in Open Era history that ever American man lost in the first round.

Ginepri's rain-delayed loss to Diego Hartfield in five sets followed losses by Andy Roddick, James Blake and eight other U.S. entries a day earlier.

"It's no secret we haven't done that great on clay this year," Blake said following his loss. "Andy got a terrible draw. Andreev is probably the toughest non-seed here. I got a tough draw on Karlovic."


Seeds progressing Wednesday were (1) Roger Federer (d. Ascione), (4) Nikolay Davydenko (d. Eschauer), (6) Novak Djokovic (d. Giraldo), (9) Tommy Robredo (d. Economidis), (12) David Ferrer (d. Bracciali), (13) Mikhail Youzhny (d. N.Lapentti), (15) David Nalbandian (d. Navarro Pastor), (17) Juan Carlos Ferrero (d. Koubek), (19) Guillermo Canas (d. Bolelli), (23) Carlos Moya (d. Seppi 6-0 in the fifth), and (29) Filippo Volandri (d. Vassallo Arguello).

Upsets on the day were orchestrated by Guillermo "G-Lo" Garcia-Lopez (d. (10) Berdych), Kristof Vliegen (d. (11) Gasquet), Gael "Force" Monfils (d. (18) Chela in four), Janko Tipsarevic (d. (22) Safin), Juan Monaco (d. (27) Melzer), and Michael Llodra (d. (32) Almagro in five).

No. 7 seed Ivan Ljubicic's match with Stanislas Wawrinka was postponed.

Unseeded winners Wednesday were Potito Starace (d. Berlocq), Edouard Roger-Vasselin (d. Stepanek in five), Oscar Hernandez (d. Guzman), and Flavio Cipolla (d. Gabashvili who retired with injury).

Highlights of Thursday play include (14) Lleyton Hewitt vs. former French champ Gaston Gaudio, Paul-Henri Mathieu vs. Gilles Simon in an all-French, (2) Rafael Nadal vs. Flavio Cipolla, and (21) Dmitry Tursunov vs. Fernando Verdasco (upset alert).
 
Sharapova Wins, Plays Again at French Open

Women's tennis trudged on in typical Grand Slam "wake me when it's the quarterfinals" fashion on Wednesday at the French Open when with every player in action, there was one seeded upset when Ioana Ralucca Olaru beat No. 30 Julia Vakulenko 6-4, 6-1.

Seeded winners Wednesday were (1) Justine Henin (d. Paszek), (2) Maria Sharapova (d. Loit), (3) Svetlana Kuznetsova (d. Bychkova, bagel in the first), (4) Jelena Jankovic (d. Castano), (5) Amelie Mauresmo (d. Granville, bagel in the first), (6) Nicole Vaidisova (d. Amanmuradova), (7) Ana Ivanovic (d. Arvidsson, bagel in the second), (9) Anna Chakvetadze (d. Molik), (10) Dinara Safina (d. Obziler 1-and-0), (12) Daniela Hantuchova (d. Kostanic Tosic), (13) Elena Dementieva (d. M.Johansson), (14) Patty Schnyder (d. Sucha in three), (15) Shahar Peer (d. Kanepi), (16) Na Li (d. Parmentier in three), (17) Katarina Srebotnik (d. Rodionova in three), (18) Marion Bartoli (d. Petkovic after losing bagel in the first), (19) Tathiana Garbin (d. Llagostera Vives), (20) Sybille Bammer (d. Savchuk, bagel in the first), (21) Ai Sugiyama (d. Bimerova), (22) Alona Bondarenko (d. Benesova, bagel in the first), (23) Francesca Schiavone (d. Bacsinszky), (24) Anabel Medina Garrigues (d. Lepchenko in three), (25) Lucie Safarova (d. Beygelzimer), (26) Venus Williams (d. Harkleroad), (27) Samantha Stosur (d. Kirilenko in three), (28) Mara Santangelo (d. Tanasugarn), (29) Gisela Dulko (d. Hsieh), and (32) Martina Muller (d. DeLos Rios).

No. 8 seed Serena Williams' match with Milagros Sequera was postponed due to darkness.

Highlights of Thursday play at Roland Garros is (8) Serena Williams vs. Milagros Sequera, (5) Amelie Mauresmo vs. Nathalie Dechy in an all-French, (2) Maria Sharapova vs. Jill Craybas, title threat (3) Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Meghann Shaughnessy, and (7) Ana Ivanovic vs. Sania Mirza in an all pin-up.
 
TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Anastasia Myskina won nine points in her loss Wednesday to Meghann Shaughnessy at the French Open. "I had surgery on Jan. 15. It still bothers me, but I've been practicing for a month now and was just thinking about coming here and seeing what I could do. But my foot isn't that good. I have to be a realist; I knew that I wasn't going to win, I just wanted to see how my foot was going to feel during matches. I have to play some matches anyway, so my coach and I decided to come here. And the doctor said I should try playing again. I have to be careful every time but if you're too careful sooner or later you are not going to play at all, because you're going to be scared. In my mind I'm still scared to run at 100 percent; but I'll have to cross this line."...It has been 34 years since no U.S. men advanced out of the first round of a Slam...Rafael Nadal in his French Open blog: "I had a plate of white pasta with fish. To tell you the truth, I must say that you don't eat very well in the players? restaurant at this tournament, but you don't have to complain about it either. There are worse things in the world and I don't like to complain nor criticize. This is only a comment."...Frenchman Richard Gasquet on his choke against Kristof Vliegen: "I'm in a state of shock. I melted down little by little. When I lost the first set [in a tiebreak], it completely threw me off. I wanted to play well at all costs to make everyone happy, and I couldn't even make myself happy. I've never felt as alone on the court as I did today. It was horrible."...Roger Federer on being put on court so late in the day on Wednesday: "When we shook hands, I told him I couldn't see him anymore it was so dark. The conditions were shocking. I know they want to get the matches over and done with but what I don't like is that they know I'm the favorite and they think I should win in straight sets. 'Let's get Roger's match over and done with, then he's happy, he has a day off.' But what if it doesn't turn out this way. I would be very upset. I already wasn't happy playing so late. I hate playing into dawn. I can hardly see the ball. You start stressing out. I can't believe other players were still playing after me because it was so dark. I wanted to stop that match, but there was pressure from the crowd, from television, from my opponent and if you don't agree with your opponent you're stupid."...Janko Tipsarevic after beating Marat Safin at the French Open: "For him, tennis is like a toy. When it's interesting for him, no one in the world can beat him. But then when it's not interesting, he just doesn't show his talent." Safin for his part lamented in his post-match conference that he may not be much longer for the sport...The Australian Open is trading Rebound ace for Plexicushion...From intrepid tennis reporter Matt Cronin: "In case you didn't know it, [Anastasia Myskina is] no longer dating Jurgen Melzer, who is said to be dating Nicole Vaidisova. Speaking of dating, I have now seen the same young blonde twice in Andy Roddick's box. Not sure who she is, but we'll try to find out."...Enrique Iglesias reportedly told Hello magazine that he was joking when he told reporters that he and Anna Kournikova had split...Fed up with the policies of the George Bush Administration, Martina Navratilova is seeking Czech citizenship again after 26 years. According to Contactmusic.com, Navratilova says that she is "ashamed" of the U.S. and the policies being pursued by the empire, er, regime.