Ivanovic v Safina Today, Federer v Nadal Tomorrow at French Open
Slam-title neophytes Ana Ivanovic and Dinara Safina face off today in the final of the French Open, where one will take home their first Grand Slam title. The question is, who will have the hardest time prying their hands from their throat?
ADHEREL
In last year’s French Open final, Ivanovic played scared against world No. 1 Justine Henin in a straight-set slaughter than was difficult to watch.
“I feel like a different player coming into this French Open,” Ivanovic said. “I gained experience from the two finals so I really hope I can step up this time and make one more step.”
Ivanovic leads the head-to-head 2-1, but Safina won their only meeting on clay back in 2005 when both were very different players, both ranked outside the Top 30. Ivanovic is 0-2 in Slam finals, also losing at this year’s Aussie Open to Maria Shreek-apova.
“All the pressure is on her,” Safina said. “I’ll be trying to do what I need to do on the court. I’m going to give everything I have. If I’ve got to die on court, I will. There is absolutely no reason to save any of my energy in the final. I’ll be using all of the energy I have.”
In Friday’s men’s semifinals at the French Open, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal set a date for a third consecutive meeting in the final at Roland Garros.
The world No. 1 Swiss held off French upstart Gael “Force” Nadal in four sets, while the world No. 2 Nadal was dominant in straight-sets, showing that the No. 3-ranked Novak Djokovic is no immediate threat to his No. 2 standing.
For more see:
Good Luck Watching Nadal v. Djokovic in the U.S.; No Live TV Coverage!
http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2008-06-06/490.php
TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
The WTA Tour announced appointed Scott MacLeod Senior VP Business Development. MacLeod is the founder of Force10 Marketing, and is a former senior vice president at Octagon…So who do the WTA communications/promotions staff want to win the French — one of the Russians who doesn’t look like a model, or Ana Ivanovic, who even journalists and writing love letters about? Talk about crossed fingers and toes…GOT MONEY? Tennis Canada announced a multi-year partnership with Dairy Farmers of Canada, including a national public service campaign entitled ‘Everyday Champions.’…Bob Bryan teamed with Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka to beat top-seeded Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia 6-2, 7-6(4) for the French Open mixed title…No. 10 seeds Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain won the women’s doubles championship at the French Open, beating Casey Dellacqua of Australia and Francesca Schiavone of Italy 2-6, 7-5, 6-4…Hey NBC, thanks for keeping tennis on the always-tape-delayed down-low in the U.S., and you in on some conspiracy to kill tennis?
You Might Like:
New No. 1 Ivanovic Also a French Open Champ
French Open Dish: Ivanovic Dismisses Crying Jankovic
Sveta Big Underdog Again? vs Safina in French Final
Safina Folds, Ivanovic, IW Winner Zvonareva All Exit Miami
Williams Sisters, Loaded Field at WTA Rome