FED IN FOURTH ROUND

 

Ginepri, the last American man or woman playing singles in this year's tournament, beat Florent Serra of France 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Saturday.

Roger Federer, meanwhile, is gaining momentum in his bid to win that elusive French Open title.

The top-ranked Swiss beat Mario Ancic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 Saturday to reach the fourth round at Roland Garros for the sixth time. It's the only Grand Slam tournament he has yet to win.

Federer struggled at times in the first two rounds, but quickly seized control against Ancic. Federer won all but 15 of the 71 points on his serve and was broken only once. He totaled 22 winners and had only 15 unforced errors.

Ancic is the last player to beat Federer at Wimbledon — in 2002 — but has lost their past five meetings.

Federer will next play unseeded Frenchman Julien Benneteau, who beat Robin Soderling 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-0, 6-1, then threw his shirt and shoes to the jubilant crowd.

No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko blew a big lead and lost to No. 28 Ivan Ljubicic 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. No. 5 David Ferrer won a seesaw marathon against No. 25 Lleyton Hewitt, 6-2, 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. No. 21 Radek Stepanek beat No. 12 Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.

Ginepri will next play No. 24 Fernando Gonzalez, who outlasted No. 9 Stanislas Wawrinka 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

BLAKE STUNNED

James Blake's French Open is over.

The No. 7-seeded Blake, the top U.S. man in the tournament, lost in the second round at Roland Garros on Thursday, defeated by Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

"I wasn't going for the shots the way I normally do," Blake said.

Gulbis is a 19-year-old who is 80th in the rankings and entered the French Open with a 7-10 record this season. He hadn't won a tiebreaker this year, going 0-6, until taking the first set against Blake.

NALBANDIAN OUT

Sixth seed and former semi-finalist David Nalbandian suffered a humiliating second-round defeat by world number 145 Jeremy Chardy at the French Open.

The sixth seed was in total control at two sets up but could not withstand a fightback from Chardy that gave the Frenchman a 3-6 4-6 6-2 6-1 6-2 win.

Nalbandian even broke first in the decider but was unable to capitalise.

DOUG'S FRENCH OPEN PIX

Doug Coombs, a Mayfair Lakeshore member, sends this snap from Roland Garros.

DO YOU REMEMBER -- ROSCOE TANNER

Former tennis star Roscoe Tanner has been arraigned on felony theft charges in Knox County.

According to information from the Knox County General Sessions Court, Tanner is accused of writing a $72,263.43 check to a Knoxville Toyota dealership for two Toyota Highlanders and refusing to return the vehicles when the check bounced.

Tanner appeared in court Wednesday for the arraignment but did not enter a plea. A court hearing is set for July 8.

Tanner was convicted of grand theft in Florida in 2000 after bouncing a $35,595 check used to buy a 32-foot boat.

A Chattanooga native, Tanner won the 1977 Australian Open.

ENCORE!

IL PLEUT A ROLAND GARROS

FED FED

Top-seeded Roger Federer launched his assault on the Parisian title in convincing fashion here on Monday with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 triumph over American Sam Querrey. The 26-year-old Swiss stylist outran, outstroked and outblasted his 20-year-old foe in a mere one hour and 35 minutes.

“The first round of a Slam is always hard to get through. There’s always a lot of pressure. I’m glad I got this one out of the way,” Federer said. “It was a bit nerve racking in the first set. I played better after that. I was able to create more opportunities.”

The first set was indeed slightly shaky, but after that the world No1 fired on all cylinders, connecting with 66% of his first serves and thumping down five aces.

The 12-time Grand Slam title winner has been far from his best this season, suffering from glandular fever before the Australian Open and taking weeks to get his game back on track.

This is Federer’s tenth attempt to solve the intricate mysteries of the Roland Garros clay, the only Grand Slam that has eluded him so far.

His idol and all-time Grand Slam record holder Pete Sampras tried 13 times to win the French Open without success.

GUGA GOES

Gustavo Kuerten bid farewell to tennis Sunday in the first round of the French Open, losing 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to Paul-Henri Mathieu at the site of his biggest triumphs.

The former top-ranked Brazilian won three French Open titles.

"Here, it is my life, my passion and my love," Kuerten said in French. "It's great to have my family here, my coach. But more important was the love you gave me."

The 31-year-old Kuerten has been bothered by a hip injury since 2001. Since having surgery in 2004, he has played in only 19 tournaments and won five matches. This year's French Open was his first appearance in a Grand Slam tournament since the 2005 U.S. Open - and he said beforehand it would be his last event at any level.

"It's incredible how fast it all went," said Kuerten, who won 20 titles during a pro career that began in 1995. In 2000, he became the first South American to finish the year at the top of the ATP rankings.

Kuerten plans to play in the doubles tournament in Paris.

AMBIENCE OF COURT CENTRALE

ROLAND GARROS - TOUT CA COMMENCE

The French Open begins Sunday and ends June 8.

Top seed and world No. 1 Roger Federer, chasing the only Grand Slam title to have eluded him, faces a first-round test against American Sam Querrey, who had a surprising run to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters last month.

A possible fourth-round encounter with Argentina's Juan Monaco, the world's 14th-ranked player, could be in the cards.

One of the highlights for Federer could be a quarterfinal-round match against compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka, seeded ninth.

Wawrinka grabbed the limelight this season by reaching the Barcelona Open semifinals and the Rome Masters final, where he lost in three sets to Djokovic.

Then a semifinal battle with Spain's David Ferrer looms for Federer.

Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten, who won the tournament in 1997, 2000 and 2001 and will retire once his last French Open appearance is over, faces Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round.

Three-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal faces a tough task in his bid to win a fourth consecutive title following Friday's draw for the tournament.

The second seed, who has never been beaten at Roland Garros since his debut in 2005, is in the same half of the draw as Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Argentina's David Nalbandian.

Following a first-round match against a qualifier, the Spaniard could meet Jarkko Nieminen and Mikhail Youzhny before a possible quarterfinal against Nalbandian and a rematch of last year's semifinal against Djokovic.

FRENCH SEEDS

NESTOR TAKES HAMBURG DOUBLES

Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic have claimed the doubles title of the Hamburg Masters Series 2008 presented by E.ON Hanse. They triumphed over title defenders and world No.1 doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan 6:4, 5:7, 10:8. With this win, the No.5 ranked Canadian/Serbian team avenged last week's loss in the Rome final.

For Daniel Nestor, this victory means his third crown at Rothenbaum. Together with former partner Mark Knowles, he had already captured the title two times before, in 1996 and 2003. At the award ceremony, tournament director Charly Steeb praised the development of the doubles competition: "It has changed a lot in the recent years. Now it's mainly specialists dominating the scene, the champions tiebreak shortens the matches immensely but at the same time makes them more exciting. Today we witnessed great tennis."

RAFA FRIES FED IN HAMBURG

Again it was Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal. Again it was a three-set thriller. But unlike in 2007, the winner was not Roger Federer. This time, Rafael Nadal from Spain took home the title.He defeated the Swiss world number one 7:5, 6:7(3), 6:3.

At first it did not look as though Nadal would stand a chance in this final. Federer had a quick start and soon led 5:1. It seemed as if Nadal was still tired from yesterday's three hours long marathon match against Novak Djokovic. However, Federer was unable to close the set and Nadal came back with force to win this first set.

Quite unusual for Federer: he was very emotional, hitting balls up the stands, talking to himself. In the second set, the whole scenario seemed to repeat itself. At 5:5, Federer was down 0-40, the match as good as over. But then he scored five points in a row and and won the following tiebreak. At that point, the crowd seemed on the Swiss' side beause they were happy to get a third set.

In set three, it was Nadal who broke Federer early and held on to this break until the end. The Spaniard took the last set 6:3 and crowned himself king of Rothenbaum.

HERE COME THE FRENCH - ON TSN

NESTOR IN HAMBURG FINALS

In the doubles final of the Hamburg Masters Series 2008 presented by E.ON Hanse, title defenders and world No.1 doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan face Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic. The No.5 ranked Canadian/Serbian team won their semifinal match against Leander Paes (IND) and Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6:3, 3:6, 10:2.

Yesterday, the Bryan brothers defeated fellow Americans James Blake and Mardy Fish 6:2, 4:6, 10:7, impoving their match record in Hamburg to 16-6.

NADAL-FED IN HAMURG FINALS

Rafael Nadal fought off a challenge from Novak Djokovic 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 Saturday to set up another final against defending champion Roger Federer at the Hamburg Masters.

The top-ranked Federer overwhelmed Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-1 in the other semifinal. He won his fourth Hamburg title last year by beating Nadal in the final.

Nadal's No. 2 ranking was at stake against Djokovic but the Spaniard prevailed in an often spectacular match that had both players clenching fists and thumping chests after amazing winners.

Djokovic was seeking back-to-back titles after winning last week's Rome Masters, where Nadal lost in an early round after suffering from a painful blister in his foot.

POINTS RACE

Singles - Quarterfinal: (1) R Federer def.
F Verdasco 6-3 6-3 This was the day's first match, and from the
beginning, Roger Federer seemed to be intent on showing that, yes, he
wants to stay #1. The win did not absolutely block Novak Djokovic from
taking the #1 ranking at Roland Garros, but it meant that Djokovic had
to win the French Open and reach at least the Hamburg final -- and
that's if Federer loses his next match. If Federer wins it, then
Djokovic has to win everything, and hope Federer loses very early in
Paris.


Singles - Quarterfinal: (2) R Nadal def. (11) C Moya 6-1 6-3 Talk about
a horrid situation for two friends to be in: Both guys needed this for
Roland Garros. If Carlos Moya won, he would be a Top 16 seed; if he
lost, the #17 ranking was his fate. For Rafael Nadal, a win didn't
actually guarantee anything, but a loss would drop him to #3. By the
looks of things, the pressure induced Nadal's best play.


Singles - Quarterfinal: (3) N Djokovic def. A Montanes 6-2 6-3 And so
it comes: Nadal versus Djokovic, with the #2 ranking on the line. And
Djokovic will go into it with an eight match winning streak. If that's
an advantage; he's admitted to being a little tired.


Even if Djokovic loses on Saturday, he will still have a pretty good
chance for #2 at Roland Garros. After all, Nadal has 550 more points to
defend there than Djokovic.

NADAL, FEDERER, JOKER INTO SEMIS

Defending champion Roger Federer cruised into the semifinals of the
Hamburg Masters by beating Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3 on Friday.

Novak Djokovic also made the last four, beating Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-3.

Rafael
Nadal needs to defeat mentor and friend Carlos Moya later Friday to
protect his No. 2 world ranking. If Nadal loses, Djokovic would leap
over him when the new rankings come out Monday. Nadal has been ranked
second for a record 147 consecutive weeks.

The top-ranked Federer, seeking his fifth title in Hamburg, broke Verdasco's serve once in the first set.

Verdasco,
who lost in the first round to Federer in Hamburg three years ago in
their only previous encounter, had his right foot taped after taking a
3-2 lead in the second set and didn't win another game.

He lost his sixth match of 2008 in the Rome Masters quarterfinals
last week, to Radek Stepanek, but has eased through his first three
matches in Hamburg without dropping a set.

The tournament is a major warmup for the French Open later this month, the only Grand Slam title that Federer has yet to win.

GUGA GIVEN FRENCH WILD-CARD

Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten was given a wild-card entry into this year's tournament by the French tennis federation on Thursday.

The 31-year-old Brazilian will be playing his final tournament at
Roland Garros, where he won his only majors in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

The clay-court tournament begins May 25, with the main draw two days before.

Once ranked No. 1 in the world, Kuerten announced earlier this year he
would retire after the French Open because of a chronic hip injury that
required surgery in 2002 and 2004.