Quote of the day

While Robson isn't exactly John Mayer, she has carried the torch of misogyny long toted on the WTA tour.

David Rosenberg

Llagostera Vives & Martinez Sanchez upset in French Open

Though it would be logical to believe that Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez would regain their winning ways at the French Open, those ways took them only as far as the semifinals. The 2nd-seeded Spaniards were defeated today, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, by the tournament's 12th seeds--Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik. Peschke and Srebotnik will have their work cut out for them in the final: They will compete against top seeds Serena and Venus Williams. The Williams sisters defeated 3rd seeds Liezel Huber and Anabel Medina Garrigues 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals.

Llagostera Vives' fortunes didn't go any better in mixed doubles, in which Srebotnik was again part of an upset, along with partner Nenad Zimonjic. The 6th seeds defeated 3rd seeds Llagostera Vives and Oliver Marach 4-6, 6-3, 11-9. In the final, they will play Yaroslava Shvedova and Julian Knowle. Shvedova and Knowle defeated Vania King and Christopher Kas 6-4, 6-4.

Stosur and Jankovic advance to French Open semifinals

Thrill Ride may be out of the picture right now, but--after today--Sam Stosur will do as a substitute, thank you very much. Stosur and top seed Serena Williams--attempting yet again to get beyond the quarterfinals of the French Open--provided plenty of thrills for viewers in Paris today. Stosur, who defeated four-time French Open champion Justine Henin in the round of 16, served up a storm and dominated Williams in the first set, taking it 6-2. Williams had problems with her second serve, and even more problems with Stosur's backhand slice.

Stosur, up 5-3 in the second set and serving for the match, then faced what so many players have faced over the years--a combination of her own nerves, and the sight of Serena Williams on the other side of the net. It felt almost inevitable that Williams would not allow Stosur to beat her in straight sets, and--indeed--she broke her. The set went to a tiebreak, and by this time, Williams was playing at full steam and easily won the tiebreak, 7-2.

The momentum had indeed shifted. Williams, now in full control of her serve, suddenly had an even easier time of it because Stosur, for some reason, stopped using her backhand slice. For most of the set, Williams dominated, and Stosur played catch-up. Several times, the 7th seed was on her way to getting broken, and she would pull out a couple of huge serves and save herself. Serving at 4-5, she faced a match point, but Williams' forehand went long, and play continued.

At 5-6, it was as though a switch were turned on in Stosur--the same switch that usually gets turned on in Williams. Her service game became dominant again, the backhand slice returned, and the momentum shifted one more time. At 6-all, Stosur hit a couple of crosscourt winners to break Williams, and then--not surprisingly--she hit three brilliant service winners to win the third set 8-6.

The whole affair lasted 2 hours and 24 minutes. Williams hit 39 winners, including 13 aces, but she also made 46 unforced errors. The top seed is a go-for-broke player, but this time, she just made too many errors--forced and unforced--against an opponent who, out of nowhere, has learned how to dominate on clay. With her big first serve and high-kick second serve, her heavy topspin, and her reliable backhand slice, Stosur has defended her 2009 French Open semifinal points.

There was another quarterfinal match today, and one I quite enjoyed, though it wasn't easy, trying to keep up with both of them. 4th seed Jelena Jankovic defeated Yaroslava Shvedova 7-5, 6-4 with her signature defense and her ability to win big points. It was Shvedova's first time to play in a major quarterfinal, and I thought she handled herself well under the circumstances. Unfortunately, most of the post-match talk will probably be about the break point smash she whiffed. Shvedova has a much better than average serve, and she hit 30 winners, including 8 aces.

Jankovic will play Stosur in the semifinals, and Stosur has already announced that she will have to be more patient against the 4th seed.

Black & Huber talk about their split

Doublas Robson interviewed both Cara Black and Liezel Huber about the dissolution of their partnership. It's an interesting read--a story of frustration, disappointment and bitterness.

The article, by the way, speculates that Huber may play doubles with Lindsay Davenport later in the season. That partnership has since been confirmed: They will play together in Stanford and San Diego.

French Open--what they said

I grew up a little bit late. Better late than never.

Francesca Schiavone

She's definitely a difficult player to play against because she plays with a lot of spin. She plays differently. She mix up the balls a lot. Yeah, she didn't play typical women's tennis.

Caroline Wozniacki, referring to Francesca Schiavone

Am I wrong if I say that you are in semifinal without playing your best tennis?
Well, it's not about, you know, showing your best tennis. It's about winning matches. Once again, in this kind of weather conditions, you really have to, you know, push yourself very hard and, you know, stay positive, try to win no matter what. I think I had some good tennis here and there, but it was difficult.

Elena Dementieva

Obviously it's a great moment for you reaching a semifinal for the first time, but also for Italian women's tennis. What does it mean for you and for Italy?
I think is something that maybe in this moment I can't say many words. Because I am 29 years old. I do this job for life. Maybe I don't understand really what is now. But many people already told me that is something different, big, and special. So maybe in some years I will tell you how I could feel today.

Francesca Schiavone

Did you think about leaving the match?
Yeah, I had this kind of a thought as well in the third set, but it's just so difficult to quit and walk away because you just want to give it all.

Nadia Petrova, speaking of her injury

I really waited for this Grand Slam during the year, and really waiting to come to Paris and play this tournament. I think it's probably the most interesting Grand Slam to watch because it's the second in the year. And it's not like Australia. You don't know what to expect because everyone is coming from the offseason, and sometimes it's just too emotional. But here, it's all about, you know, your good preparation, you know, how fit you are and how mentally tough you can stay during the two weeks to be able to win such a difficult challenge. So I think it's the most exciting one.

Elena Dementieva

So it's not easy for her to win the points against me, because I run, I run, I run, and I push her.

Francesca Schiavone

When Elena went off to have some treatment, I think when she broke back to 3 2, first set, you were kind of just standing around in the rain there for a while. That couldn't have helped your leg, as well, I wouldn't have thought.Well, I had no choice. I asked the chair umpire if it's possible for me to just go away because I don't want to be under the rain and it is cold, but, you know, she kept me on the court.

Nadia Petrova

Your moment of triumph of was so special. Your face was filled with joy. I know it's difficult, but can you try and talk about emotion, the role of emotion and your play, your feeling at that moment?
Heart attack.
Francesca Schiavone


(Stupid question of the week: Having Maxim, being a professional athlete, does that help you be professional athlete somehow?)

Spaniards advance to semifinals at French Open

2nd seeds Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez have advanced to the semifinals of the French Open. They defeated Monica Niculescu and Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-4 today. In the other quarterfinal match played today, 12th seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik defeated Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

In mixed doubles, the number 2 seeds, Cara Black and Leander Paes, were upset 6-3, 6-7 10-7 in the quarterfinals by Yaroslava Shvedova and Julian Knowle. Also advancing were Vania King and Christopher Kas, who defeated Tathiana Garbin and Marcin Matkowski 6-4, 3-6, 10-7.

Schiavone and Dementieva advance to French Open semifinals

Today, Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian woman in the Open Era to reach the semifinals of a major, as she defeated 3rd seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the French Open. 17th seed Schiavone, whose specialty is clay court tennis, utilized the same tactic that Sam Stosur used against Justine Henin: She repeatedly hit high balls with heavy topspin to Wozniacki's backhand, then rushed to the net to finish the point.

Schiavone also held her serve better, and played so aggressively, she controlled most of the rallies. She hit 25 winners, and broke Wozniacki six times. The rain and cold weather did not appear to bother Schiavone, who put on a clay court clinic while Wozniacki struggled to find a way into the match.

In the other quarterfinal, two injured Russian veterans who have known each other for years fought the cold conditions as their thighs ached and the rain fell. Both players had their thighs taped. By the third set, Petrova was limping, and it was clear that she was playing for the sake of not quitting. Dementieva defeated her 2-6, 6-2, 6-0. Despite her pain, the 5th seed played very well in the last two sets.