It was a jammed pack day of action today at the French Open after the cancelled matches and the suspended matches from yesterday due to rain. Rafael Nadal again dropped the opening set in his match against M. Kilzan before recovering his form and going on to win in four sets, 4 – 6, 6 – 3, 6 – 3, 6 – 3. Roger Federer looks to be in fine form and I hope it continues. To go along with his shorter hair, Roger is playing some truly “Federer like” tennis. He faced J. Benneteau who has given him problems in the past, but Fed cruised to a straight set victory, 6 – 3, 6 -4, 7 – 5. Benneteau may have been a bit compromised with a leg injury but Federer looks really strong in this first week of action. D. Ferrer advanced over F. Lopez, 6 -1, 7 – 5, 6 -4 and if things go according to plan, could meet Fed in the semifinals. Federer will likely have to get by J. Tsonga in the quarters if things stay on course as Tsonga advanced today over Chardy, 6 -1, 6- 2, 7- 5. Fellow Frenchman, G. Monfils was not so fortunate, falling to T. Robredo in five sets, 6 – 2, 7 – 6, 2 – 6, 6 – 7, 2 – 6. I hate to see Monfils go out, was hoping he could continue with his comeback. Thirty five year old Tommy Haas, the oldest guy in the tournament, advanced over J. Sock, 7 – 6, 6 – 2, 7 – 5. John Isner won over fellow American Ryan Harrison in five tough sets but unfortunately Sam Querrey (another American) fell to G. Simon in five sets, 2 – 6, 6 – 3, 2 – 6, 7 – 6, 6 – 2. Querrey is in Fed’s part of the draw. Also, the other Swiss guy, Stan Wawrinka completed his victory over Zeballos (delayed from yesterday’s rain), 6 – 2, 7 – 6, 6 – 4. Disappointing loss to me was M. Raonic to K. Anderson. Raonic is such a classy young player but he fell in three sets to the hard serving K. Anderson from South Africa, 7 – 5, 7 – 6, 6- 3. Take nothing away from Raonic, he has one heck of a serve as well, just not his day.
On the women’s side, Serena Williams continued to cruise, ousting S. Cirstea, 6 – 0, 6 – 2. She really looks unbeatable at this point, but anything can happen on the red clay. Sharapova finished her match from yesterday, advancing over E. Bouchard of Canada, 6 – 2, 6 – 4. A. Radwanska moved on with a 6 – 3, 6 – 4 win over D. Pfizenmaier, 6 – 3, 6 -4. Also advancing today were A. Kerber, M. Kirilenko and M. Bartoli. So tomorrow action continues, Tennis Channel early and then NBC in the early afternoon EST time.
