Ok so now I'm onto my fifth post (well technically maybe six or seven not sure, as I split one or two of the parts) about the French Open, which is now approaching the business end of the tournament, as the rest of the 4th round matches were completed today to set up the quarter finals.
So starting with the ladies, we had yet another massive upset today as Li Na, the defending champion took on the Kazak player, Yaroslava Shvedova (they all have really funky names don't they???). Naturally you would expect Li Na to able to close out the match with fair ease, however she was really put to the test, after winning the first set, Li Na soon lost control of the match, as the Kazak dominated the defending champion, breaking twice in the 2nd set, and steamrolling her way to victory in the 3rd, handing Li Na a final set bagel to knock her out of the French Open, in 3-6, 6-2, 6-0. This really was another shock exit for another top seed, and Roland Garros hasn't been short on drama this year, especially in the ladies, and that is now six out of the Top 10 seeds now out of the French Open. Ouch.
Onto other ladies matches, Maria Sharapova took on Klara Zakopalova, and had the toughest match of her campaign yet, as she battled not only her opponent, but also herself and the windy conditions on court. Throughout the match, Sharapova struggled badly on serve, and despite being a break up to serve for the match in the 2nd set, Klara broke back to level, and in the tiebreak Sharapova lost the set to take it into the decider. But in the 3rd, Sharapova finally found her serve and broke Klara twice to finally close out a very drawn out match (which saw some of the Parisian crowd sleeping!) in 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 after 3 hours and 10 minutes. This match certainly saw Sharapova be less than convincing today and she struggled really badly on serve as she has the tendancy to do, but this could be just a mid tournament wobble, hopefully she will be over it by her next match who will face Kaia Kanepi next who has won her 4th round match against Anratx Rus, and she will need to given Kanepi's form. But Sharapova is the ultimate competitor and warrior in the ladies game and I'm sure she will come through. But for me Sam Stosur is also looking very good in this tournament and she has been a bit of a dark horse, slipping under the radar, like she did in the US Open last year, so its possible she could win here as well.
So onto the men, which saw a couple of the men's matches that had to be complete come to a close, starting with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Stan Wawrinka. Tsonga was one of the last standing Frenchmen in the draw, and the two players were tied at 2 sets all, well into the 5th set at 4-2 for Tsonga. But when play resumed today, Tsonga dropped his serve, letting Stan break back, but at 4-5 on Stan's serve, Tsonga managed to get the key break and with it he secured his place in his first Roland Garros quarter final, winning an epic match in 6-4, 7-6, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4. This really was a great match with a few lulls here and there, and I was really pleased to see Tsonga get through, as last year he went out to the very same man he beat today in Stan Wawrinka. And its also important for the French crowd to have one of their own players get through to the business end of the tournament, and for me the best one made it. I did feel sorry for Stan at the end though as he was clearly emotional as he hugged Tsonga at the net, and walked off the court shedding a few tears, as it was clearly such an exhaustive effort for him to try and win the match. And quickly Juan Martin Del Potro managed to overcome Tomas Berdych in 4 sets to make it through to his second quarter final in RG with a 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win.
OK so now onto the main match of the day for the mens, which was Andy Murray who was up against the home favourite, Richard Gasquet. Gasquet naturally had a warmer reception than Andy did, as the Muzza got some light applause and some booing, which Andy smiled off. The match itself was a bit mixed but had some great moments, and in the first set Andy played very badly, dropping serve and returning poorly, which he lost 1-6. In the 2nd set however, Andy picked up his levelled and he turned the match around at 5-4, getting a break point on Gasquet's serve, as he played a superb cross court winner, and Gasquet double faulted to hand the 2nd set over to Andy. And from thereon in, the Muzza took total control of the proceedings and went from playing some piss poor tennis in the 1st set to some of his most scintillating tennis in the 3rd and 4th sets. By the end of the match, Gasquet looked helpless and despite playing one or two really gutsy enthralling games, he had nowhere enough to keep up with Andy, who came through to his 3rd Roland Garros quater final in 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.
This really was always going to be a bit of a controversial match, especially as Andy played a home favourite so obviously the crowd were against him from the start. However Andy managed to hang tough and he displayed a great mental attitude as he hardly bitched or moaned, although he did get a bit of a booing when clutched his back once or twice after losing one or two points. But it was the way in which Andy turned the match around that was very impressive as he really put on a dazzling display in the last two sets, and thoroughly outclassed Gasquet. In fact I did feel a bit sorry for Gasquet as the match went on, as he really started to cut a forlorn figure as Andy closed in on him.
And Gasquet afterwards did feel a bit aggrieved at Andy occassionally clutching at his back, when he clearly was able to move around the court without any trouble, which is a fair point, if Andy was feigning it, then he shouldn't have done it. And it has been a bone of contention for sure for Andy at Roland Garros, was he feigning injury? Probably not, because if he felt a twinge of discomfort then why wouldn't he feel his back once or twice, but again its a bit unfair on him as well, as everything he does is scrutinised in the press, and they will forever be on his back about something (no pun intended!).
But Andy did make a couple of comments that sounded a bit ignorant to me though about Jarkko and Gasquet, that it was basically both their own faults that they didn't get back into the match, when he started playing better. I just think he shouldn't say things like that as it doesn't really do him any favours, and in that respect, Andy is akin to Federer, as they both can make ignorant comments now and then, not unless the press are just twisting their words. I mean its not like they haven't done that before! But it does show a lack of respect towards their opponents, and that is at least something that Rafa and Djokovic always tend to avoid, but I guess you just have to accept players attitudes at times, foibles and all.
However the main thing is that is Andy through to the quarter finals, but he has a much much tougher proposition awaiting him in David Ferrer, who breezed through his match today against Marcel Granlloers in 6-3, 6-2, 6-0. Ferrer has also yet to drop a set at RG and has also beaten Andy in all three of their previous clay meetings, so he has to be the favourite out of the two of them, especially considering his formidable form. But Andy given his form in this tournament, while he has played one or two loose sets, he has also played some brilliant tennis as well, and he will look to defeat Ferrer on clay for the first time, but it will be mighty tough as Ferrer will run him ragged and it will be a much tougher contest than it was with Gasquet. And for me it has to be 50/50 with this one as there is no outright winner, and Ferrer could edge it as his form on clay has been so consistent this year. But if Andy does make it, I will be very very impressed, and as he looked to be on the verge of quitting the tournament last Thursday, he is now in the quarter finals, looking very good, and he's also the only non-Spanish player left in the bottom half of the draw. Its a great turnaround from what has been a really mediocre clay court season coming into the French Open, and it has also seen him play some of the best tennis he has played all year.
But.... if Andy beats Ferrer in the quarter finals, he will have a mountainous task ahead of him in trying to beat Rafa, who was in unbelievable form today against Juan Monaco, who he crushed today in 6-2, 6-0, 6-0. This shows Rafa in a frighteningly good form, and I would be stunned and amazed if he didn't win the title this year, as he is playing probably the best I have ever seen him play at Roland Garros, so God help everyone else that is left, particularly Nicholas Almgaro who is up next for the mighty king of clay.
Rrrrrrrright so that's it for now, more to follow tomorrow as there are some cracking matches to follow, particularly the mens as Novak Djokovic will play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, which should be the match of the day. And the other isn't too shabby either which will see Roger Federer play Del Potro, and the ladies side we have Sam Stosur take on the in form Dominika Cibulkova, and Angelique Kerber up against Sara Errani, so its all good!
Ok that's it for now!
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