French Open--what they said

Do you want to play?

Francesca Schiavone, to a spectator who spoke to her during the match

I should be satisfied; the whole tournament, I wasn't playing my best tennis....

Vera Zvonareva

I think I never had the results my game deserved because, most of the time, in the Round of 16 or quarterfinals, I had to face the Williams sisters. I never doubted my tennis, or I would have stopped playing.

Daniela Hantuchova

I wanted to win so badly, so I think of everything to do.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

If I did not want Aravane be free, I would give her a scarf and religious books.

Arsalan Rezai

Great talent, with lefty--was not easy for me to play against her.

Francesca Schiavone, on Patty Schnyder

I don't really want to comment on this because it's none of my business.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, on the state of women's tennis

Schiavone advances to French Open quarterfinals

On the one hand, it was a great match to watch--filled with tension, swinging momentum and wonderful shot-making. On the other, it was a tough one for me to watch because I couldn't bear to see either Jelena Jankovic or defending champion Francesca Schiavone lose. One of them had to, however, and 10th seed Jankovic lost more than the match: She will now go out of the top 10 for the first time in over four years.

Schiavone, seeded 5th, defeated Jankovic 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. There was a time when you could all but guarantee that Jankovic would win any match that went to three sets; these days, the opposite seems to be the case. The stylish Italian struggled with some things during the match, but she kept her serve strong, and she brought the emotional energy that she's kept bottled up for a long time. The match lasted two hours and 38 minutes, and it would have made a great final. Schiavone and Jankovic going at each other is somewhat different than the drama of Schiavone and Kuznetsova going at each other (and we may get to see that again), but quite entertaining, nonetheless.

Some of us thought Jankovic would one day win the French Open, but--well, that's a discussion for another day.

Kuznetsova, a former French Open champion, also advanced to the quarterfinals. She defeated Daniela Hantuchova 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, and will play Marion Bartoli in the quarterfinals. Bartoli's opponent, Gisela Dulko, retired shortly after the second set began. Dulko took a medical timeout at 3-4 in the first set, had her thigh worked on and wrapped, and returned to holdthen and break for 5-all. Bartoli broke and won the set 7-5, and after only one game was played in the second set, she had to stop. Almost any player benefits from a retirement at this point in a big tournament, but Bartoli--who has a history of physical fragility--may be especially fortunate.

In the other round of 16 match played today, 14th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reached her first major quarterfinal by upsetting 3rd seed and countrywoman Vera Zvonareva. Zvonareva just hasn't looked too comfortable in Paris, so her upset isn't altogether a surprise. Pavlyuchenkova defeated her 7-6, 2-6, 6-2. The young Russian will play Schiavone in the next round.

Two-time French Open doubles champion Anabel Medina Garrigues and her partner, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, seeded 11th, were defeated today in the third round by 7th seeds Elena Vesnina and Sania Mirza.

French Open--what they said

I learned my lesson in Miami, when I lost to her in two sets.

Daniela Hantuchova, referring to Caroline Wozniacki

She can have an off day, and still win comfortably in straight sets.

Martina Navratilova, referring to Petra Kvitova

The only thing you can do is smile....Tennis is a game and you can have fun.

Jelena Jankovic

Patience is one of the main keys.

Victoria Azarenka, on clay court play

Middle of the match--I think I retired once, ever.

Martina Navratilova

In the thid set, I was happy that I composed myself and waited for my chances to come, and they eventually came and I took them....

Andrea Petkovic

It's been more about the mental scene, which I think I'm improving a lot.

Daniela Hantuchova

I really like to play drums, play guitar. I would love to be a rock star, but I can't sing.

Victoria Azarenka

French Open 3rd round play completed in Paris today

It was a "quieter" day today at the French Open, in that all but one of the higher-seeded won their matches, and won them without any high drama. If fact, only one seeded play, Andrea Petkovic (who declared she would no longer dance upon victory,  but instead, changed from doing the Petko boogie to moon-walking), needed three sets to win. 15th seed Petkovic defeated 24th seed Jarmila Gajdosova 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. The one upset was of 16th seed Kaia Kenepi, who was defeated by Ekaterina Makarova.

Arantxa Rus, who took Kim Clijsters out of the Open, won only two games against Maria Kirilenko, who is seeded 25th. 

Despite talk that the Russian players no longer dominate, there are six of them in the round of 16. At least one will fall in that round, however, because 3rd seed Vera Zvonareva will play 14th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. That match will take place tomorrow on Court Philippe Chatrier. 11th seed Marion Bartoli, the last Frenchwoman standing, will also play on Philippe Chatrier tomorrow. Her opponent will be Gisela Dulko, who upset Sam Stosur in the third round.

10th seed Jelena Jankovic will play defending champion (and 5th seed) Francesca Schaivone on Court Suzanne Lenglen, and--at least on paper--that match has the potential to be quite exciting (and if you're like me, you can't stand the thought of either of these players losing). Finally, also on Suzanne Lenglen, 28th seed Daniela Hantukova will compete against 13th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. Kuznetsova, of course, is the 2009 French Open champion, and Hantuchova is the player who upset Caroline Wozniacki.

It's worth noting that the top doubles seeds also advanced today: Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta defeated 15th seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-2.

French Open--what they said

It's definitely not the surface I like the most, but you know, I was still hoping that it was going to be better than this....

Caroline Wozniacki

Physically, I feel really good. I feel fit, I'm ready, and I'm fitter than ever.

Marion Bartoli

She seemed to...be the one dictating the points, which, for me, I'm Usually the one able to do that, but pretty much right from the first game, she kind of set that tone and it was difficult for me  to turn it around.

Sam Stosur, referring to Gisela Dulko

A single glance at any point in this match would have been enough to tell you who the superior shot-maker and pure tennis player is: Hantuchova. Her shots penetrated more easily, and with less obvious effort, than her much-higher-ranked opponent’s. As we unfortunately know, there’s a lot more to tennis than ball-striking....

Steve Tignor

I have to say today was probably one of my best matches.

Daniela Hantuchova

I've been totally in tune with the crowd. When I play there are times I struggle, but then I can turn the match around--I think the people love that. They see I'll never give up.

Marion Bartoli

The only one I feel pressure from is myself....

Caroline Wozniacki

Doubles update

There was another doubles upset today at the French Open. Julia Goerges and Andrea Petkovic defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy 6-1, 1-6, 7-6.

On Saturday, Flavia Pennetta will play her Fed Cup team members as the top-seeded team of Gisela Dulko and Pennetta take on the Italian team of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. Errani and Vinci are the 15th seeds.

In mixed doubles, tops seeds Katarina Srebotnik and Nenad Zimonjic advanced to the second round with a win over Kaia Kanepi and Robert Linstedt.

Speaking of mixed doubles--Amelie Mauresmo had planned to compete with Michael Llodra this year, but the French Tennis Federation forbade her to play because she is no longer part of the anti-doping system. 

Hantuchova sends Wozniacki out of Paris

There are a couple of things that have given Daniela Hantuchova trouble throughout her career--playing on clay, and keeping her head together when she's winning. Lately, her clay performance has improved so much that I believed she would be competitive in Paris. The other part, however, I wasn't too sure about. But when keeping her head together meant a whole lot today, she carried off the task beautifully, and--in doing so--dismissed top seed Caroline Wozniacki from the French Open.

It wasn't a difficult match for Hantuchova; she allowed the world number 1 to win only four games. Hantuchova had first and second serve percentages of 76 and 61, she won at the net in seven of nine approaches, and she hit more than three times as many winners as Wozniacki. In an hour and 13 minutes, it was over, and Hantuchova--the very essence of sangfroid--had won, 6-1, 6-3.

Hantuchova performed at this level on clay (albeit green clay) last year when she took Jelena Jankovic out of the quarterfinals in Charleston. When she hits her groundstrokes consistently, she hits up and down both lines, and she's hard to beat, especially given her skills at the net. Hantuchova can hit hard and soft, and we saw both today, as she prevented Wozniacki from developing any kind of consistent rhythm.

Wozniacki does require a consistent rhythm, and when she doesn't get it, she can lose her way. Expectations that she would win the French Open were held by some; yet if Wozniacki lacked aggression in Paris, what will she do at Wimbledon, playing on faster courts? She insists there is "no pressure," but the fact of the matter is that she does not perform at the same level in majors as she does in some other events. In some form or other, that has to be a partly mental phenomenon.

Wozniacki, we heard a few weeks ago, is supposed to start working a bit with Martina Navratilova. Not that anyone has asked for my advice--but I think the player who could most benefit from working with Navratilova is Sam Stosur. Stosur has a lot going for her, but needs to overcome her discomfort with moving forward. (Piotr Wozniacki, by the way, made a point of saying that he and Caroline would have to pay for Navratilova's consultation "out of our own pockets" and that Navratilova's services were not inexpensive--sorry, I'm just not feeling the indignation.)

There were some notable "firsts" today. Hantuchova beat a number 1 player for the first time in her career (that is so hard to believe), and for the first time in the Open Era, the two top seeds (Kim Clijsters went out yesterday) made an exit from a major before the round of 16.

We're down to 24, and there are still a half dozen Russians in the draw, by the way. The chances are fairly good that--after tomorrow--there will still be a half dozen Russians in the draw. The way this tournament is going, however, nothing seems too certain. On the other hand, observers shouldn't really be surprised to see Wozniacki and Clijsters upset on clay,

Still hanging around, I should mention, is 6th seed Li Na, who has never before done especially well on clay courts. And 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, who is always unpredictable, is also still going strong in Paris.

Stosur upset by Dulko in 3rd round of French Open

Before the French Open began, I mentioned that three dangerous floaters--Lucie Safarova, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Gisela Dulko--were all placed in the same quarter of the draw. Safarova and Martinez Sanchez are now out, but Dulko--playing the game she "should be" capable of playing all the time (but she lacks consistency, especially with her serve) proved today to be as dangerous as they come. Dulko upset 8th seed and 2010 runner-up Sam Stosur 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

Stosur saved seven set points in the first set. In the second, she advanced to a quick 3-0 lead, and proceeded to serve her way to a set victory in just 31 minutes. In the third set, Dulko wisely attacked Stosur's backhand over and over. Dulko broke at 2-all, got her own service game on track, and then controlled the rest of the match, holding at love for a 5-2 lead, then winning on her last service game.

Dulko will play 11th seed Marion Bartoli in the round of 16. Bartoli defeated Julia Goerges in three sets. The Frenchwoman's physical stamina is always in question, but so far, she has come through, and she says she feels great.

Also winning today were 10th seed Jelena Jankovic (def. Bethanie Mattek-Sands), 14th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkov (who had to go three sets against Nuria Llagostera Vives), 13th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova (def. Rebecca Marino), 3rd seed Vera Zvonareva (def. Anastasia Rodionova), and defending champion and 5th seed Francesca Schiavone, who won when her opponent, Peng Shuai, retired because of illness. Schiavone was up 6-3, 1-2  at the time.

French Open--what they said

We've seen some great talent, haven't we? And we've seen some major head cases.

Mary Carillo

I think I was way too concerned about the conditions, and moving my feet...I just felt flat-footed.

Maria Sharapova

...It's tough because opponent, I never saw her before; also, I ask many players about information, and was come back zero.

Li Na, speaking of Silvia Soler-Espinosa

I felt that I was moving her around well from side to side, then I started doubting a litle bit....

Kim Clijsters

That stomping noise you hear is the sound of a champion marching her way back into a match.

Drew Lilley (or perhaps Charlotte James?), when Sharapova turned the match around

Sometimes you have to be friends with the wind....

Li Na

Sharapova thwarts upset-minded Garcia

During the first set and half of the second, 17-year-old Caroline Garcia gave the crowd what they wanted today in Paris in the second round of the French Open. The little-known French player stepped onto the court a picture of confidence, and took it to Maria Sharapova. Garcia hit laser-like forehands and backhands, and ran the 7th seed all over the court; she was in charge of the proceedings--until she held a set point in the first set. That was when we saw the first drop in confidence, though the French player pulled herself together rather easily and won the first set 6-4.

Garcia started the second set the same way she started the first, and I couldn't help but wonder: When is the choke coming? Sharapova was surely wondering this, too, and at 4-1--that perennially deceitful scoreline--it happened. On some level, Garcia realized she was about to defeat Maria Sharapova at the French Open, and that was pretty much the end of her. As soon as the crack opened, Sharapova was ready. She cleaned up her game and reeled off eleven straight games, leaving Garcia in the red dust. The Russian, like Vera Zvonareva before her, survived to play another round.

Garcia, at age 17, wasn't able to do what Sharapova did when she was 17, but she was nevertheless very impressive, and her set and a half will be remembered as an interesting highlight of this tournament.

Aside from Kim Clijsters, the only seed who lost today was Alexandra Dulgheru, who was defeated by countrywoman Sorana Cirstea. Jarmila Gajdosova won a close (7-6, 6-4) match against Anabel Medina Garrigues, and Victoria Azarenka, Li Na and Petra Kvitova advanced in straight sets.

Dulgheru, though she lost in singles, was part of an upset in doubles. She and partner Magdalena Rybarikova defeated 10th seeds Peng Shuai and Zheng Jie.

Clijsters out of French Open

One of the reasons I like the French Open so much is that red clay tends to be a neutralizer. There are a lot of service breaks, and there are upsets. And when it gets cold and windy, odd things can happen. There was a big upset today: Arantxa Rus took out number 2 seed Kim Clijsters in the second round. Clijsters, who is returning after suffering multiple injuries, was leading, 6-3, 5-2 and held a match point. She held another match point at 5-4, but did not convert that one, either. Then Rus just took over. Clijsters wound up making 65 unforced errors, and Rus walked away with a huge 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory.

Clijsters has been a finalist at the French Open on two occasions, but has never won it. She was considered a favorite to win it this year. Rus, a former star on the junior tour, will play Maria Kirilenko in the third round.

Zvonareva survives in Paris

I watched the 2nd round French Open match between 3rd seed Vera Zvonareva and Sabine Lisicki with a growing sense of dread because it seemed as though nothing too good could come of it. Zvonareva looked flustered and too defensive against Lisicki, but I was feeling something more than frustration over the 3rd seed's performance. Because I knew that Lisicki might choke away her opportunities, and I was right. It wasn't that I wanted an upset--it was just that watching one player under-perform and the other one lose her nerve was like watching some type of accident from which I wanted to turn away my sight.

Lisicki was two points away from winning the match in the second set, but she was simply not mentally up to the task. At that point, it was easy to believe that the German would just get discouraged and Zvonareva would take charge. But I still had that sinking feeling, which proved to be reliable. Lisicki led 5-2 in the third, and had a match point on Zvonareva's serve, but she didn't convert it. When Lisicki served for the match at 5-3, she was broken.

By this time, it was apparent that Lisicki wasn't feeling too good. She wound up seeing both a trainer and a doctor and getting ice packs and a lot of water; she was cramping. She was easily broken at 5-6, but then two of Zvonareva's match points faded away--one because of a massive, "last gasp" forehand from Lisicki, and one because Zvonareva made an error. Zvonareva finally won, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, and Lisicki managed to do the handshake, then collapsed into a heap of pain and was hauled away on a stretcher.

That was a lot of drama. The drama earlier in the day was more fun, however. 11th seed Marion Bartoli, fully pumped up and carried by the crowd, won a three-hour match against Olga Govortsova, who hit 46 winners. Bartoli defeated Govortsova 6-4, 6-7, 6-2. Bartoli outlasted her opponent, but one wonders what effect the length and intensity of the match will have on the ever-fragile Frenchwoman.

Meanwhile, the world number 1 advanced, as did the defending champion and the 2009 runner-up. Julia Goerges got the tough match from Lucie Safarova I expected her to get, and came from behind to win, 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez went out, defeated by Rebecca Marino (I didn't see that coming), and Bethanie Mattek-Sands defeated countrywoman Varvara Lepchenko.

There was a significant upset in doubles. The Czech team of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka defeated the Czech team (and 8th seeds) of Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. Benesova, by the way, is playing mixed doubles with Leander Paes (the injured Cara Black is his regular partner).

In other mixed doubles news, 2nd seeds Vania King and Daniel Nestor were defeated by Chan Yung-Jan and Eric Butorac.

French Open--what they said

I fought like mad as usual, but this wasn't enough today....

Alize Cornet

I don't think I'm a player who can win here. I haven't reached past the third round here. I don't count myself.

Julia Goerges

I stopped being superstitious after the French Open in 2009. Before then, I always wanted to wear the same thing after I won. It meant I had to wash my clothes every day, because I didn't want to put on new ones. Then I got tired of it.

Sam Stosur

The rally at the beginning of the third set was so tough that she suffered physically....She couldn't stand three sets.

Marion Bartoli, referring to Olga Govortsova

Do you have concerns for the rest of your career? Do you reckon you can be back to the level you had when you were in the top 20?
Concerns? I'm 20. If I declare myself dead at the age of 20, that would be bad.

Alize Cornet

Passing shots in Paris

From WTA Backspin, we learn that the country with the second-highest number of players who made it to the top 64 (Russia had the most) is Romania. Join Todd Spiker and a commentator extraordinaire from the "past"--none other than Soren Kierkegaard--for a day-to-day existential deconstruction of events in Paris.

2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina is on her way to Paris to help coach 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova. Because it takes a village.

Here is a Eurosport interview with Kuznetsova.

Sam Stosur told Benjamin Adler of the French Open website that either Julia Roberts or Drew Barrymore would be her choices to play her in a movie.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who has made it to the third round of the French Open, will probably be the number 2-ranked player from the USA in two weeks.

King upsets Cibulkova at French Open

Though tennis commentators often seem to forget it, Dominika Cibulkova was a French Open semifinalist in 2009. She is a really fine clay court (and hard court) competitor who was seeded 22nd at this year's Open. She lost today in the first round, however, to Vania King. Cibulkova made twice as many unforced errors at King, who defeated her 6-7(10), 6-3, 6-2. The first set lasted an hour and 18 minutes.

Also going out in the first round was 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic, who has been suffering from wrist tendonitis. Ivanovic, the 20th seed, was defeated 7-6, 0-6, 6-2 by Johanna Larsson. Both ESPN commentators said they had never before seen Larsson play.

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova dragged 8th seed Li Na to three sets, but it was Li who advanced to the second round. Andrea Petkovic won a very competitive match (6-4, 7-6) against Bojana Jovanovski, and Charleston runner-up Elena Vesnina lost in three sets to Silvia Soler-Espinosa. Vesnina hit 53 winners to Soler-Espinosa's 35, but the Spaniard made only seven unforced errors in the match.

French Open--what they said

I feel like I can play longer rallies. I believe I can go point to point; it gives me confidence.

Maria Sharapova, commenting on clay court play

It feels steady and good.

Kim Clijsters, referring to her injured ankle

I grabbed all my courage. I don't have much. I'm very fragile. I feel lonely, and even though there are many people around me supporting me, but I still have the strength in me that keeps me standing up and moving on step by step. I'm mourning right now, and it's difficult.

Virginie Razzano, whose fiance recently died

...I felt like I was running out of power in the end and couldn't really adjust, you know, small steps, and dominate with my forehand and couldn't really put that extra zip on the ball.

Ana Ivanovic, discussing her wrist tendonitis

First match--easy or tough--nothing in between.

Li Na

Defending champion and world number 1 advance to 2nd round of French Open

Defending champion Francesca Schiavone easily advanced to the second round of the French Open today with a 6-2, 6-0 defeat of Melanie Oudin. Schiavone is seeded 5th at the tournament.

Top seed Caroline Wozniacki also had an easy win, against Kimiko Date-Krumm. Wozniacki defeated Date-Krumm 6-0, 6-2.

11th seed Marion Bartoli had a bit of a scare when Anna Tatishvili took the first set from her at 6-1. But Bartoli was able to prevail, and allowed Tatishvili to win only three more games in the match.

Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai, who has had all kinds of problems lately, lost her first-round match, as did 26th seed Nadia Petrova, who was defeated by Anastasia Rodionova. Chan Jung-Jan defeated 31st seed Klara Zakopalova, and lucky loser Anastasia Pivovarova lost to Nuria Llagostera Vives.

Tomorrow, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, Li Na, and Victoria Azarenka will play their first round matches. Also playing tomorrow are Andrea Petkovic, Yanina Wickmayer and 2009 semifinalist Dominika Cibulkova.

French Open--what they said

Are you having as much fun out there as you seem to be. You seem so relaxed.
Relaxed? No.

Francesca Schiavone

As long as you're on the court and able to play, you can always play better.

Vera Zvonareva

I, for sure, know I could have played much better, but I just did what I needed to do today....

Daniel Hantuchova

Does it feel different this year, coming in as the defending champion...?
Yeah, it's different, because everybody want to beat me.

Francesca Schiavone

The beginning was appalling. Even in my worst nightmares, I wouldn't have thought of such a bad start.

Marion Bartoli

She knew I was retiring, and that threat was gone, so she came back.

Corina Morariu, wryly commenting on Kimiko Date-Krumm's absence

the whole time Morariu was on the tour

It looks a little scary sometimes.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands, on her eye smudge

You know when you go home and your mom do everything for you, and you feel comfortable, yeah, I felt like this.

Francesca Schiavone, on returning to Court Phillipe Chaterier

"...at the beginning, she wouldn't miss many points, she was not making unforced errors, she was hitting the lines, she was successful with some important shots, and I was doing anything silly I could.

Marion Bartoli

2011 French Open--first impressions

I've looked forward to today for a while, and--with the exception of watching Flavia Pennetta lose her way in her first match--I enjoyed the action I saw. I didn't think Shahar Peer would get past Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, so that upset wasn't a surprise.

Sam Stosur looked very relaxed and confident, Julia Goerges--not so much. But it's possible that Goerges had some anxiety to work through, and we are likely to see more consistent play from her in the next round.

I really like Svetlana Kuznetsova's "old school" Fila outfit, and I also like the pink version of JJ's dress. (Note to both Drew Lilley and Martina Navratilova: If you can't see colors well, or if you don't "get" colors, perhaps it's better to stay away from fashion critiques.)

The ESPN powers, as always, did what they could to avoid showing us live tennis.

The wind was really swirling during some of today's play. If that keeps up, especially in warm conditions, the ball is really going to fly on the courts (good news, maybe, for Vera the Wind Tamer).

There is no French Open widget on the blog because the tournament website did not make one available this year. So far, there are no interview transcriptions, either--I certainly hope that situation changes. Also, the site is promoting its iPhone app in a few places on the front page, but--if you have an Android phone--there is one for you, too; the webmasters just didn't bother to mention it. Click on Multimedia and Mobile, and you'll see it.

I enjoyed seeing Aravane Rezai and Richard Gasquet take a quiz.

And it's hard not to like this photo of Sloane Stephens.

I was happy to have a lot of match choices today. In addition to Tennis Channel and ESPN2, I could watch on ESPN3 and Tennis Channel online.

French Open--what they said

It's weird, it's very weird, playing on Sunday.

Svetlana Kuznetsova

Today, I certainly felt I could have had won that match against [someone] in the top 50.

Casey Dellacqua

If I can get to the semifinals, I can push myself those last two steps.

Jelena Jankovic

Flavia Pennetta is the bane of my life--she can never finish on time. After a 1 a.m. job in Rome, it's 3-3, deuce in the final set here....

Drew Lilley