Tennis Frontier

Category: WTA Tour

Tennis Frontier News from the WTA Tour

Sharapova Wins French Open

In one of the best and most competitive women’s finals in recent Roland Garros history, Maria Sharapova defeated Simona Halep of Romania in Paris, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4. It was Sharapova’s second victory at the French, her fifth Major title, but only the first one where she has repeated. (She won here three years ago.)

For the 22-year-old Halep, it was her first Major final in a year where she has won seven titles and risen from No. 57 to No. 4 in the rankings. At the start of the match, it was the younger woman who seemed more calm and poised, where the veteran Sharapova showed signs of nerves. Simona broke Maria in the first game of the match, though the Russian broke back to level at 2-2. For all the excellent shot-making in the match and thrilling rallies, the serving was not especially fine, and the women traded five breaks of serve in the first set, six in the second, and the opening two games of the third.

The young Romanian demonstrated a great deal of bravery and guile playing her opponent, but Sharapova is a fierce competitor. When the defending champion, Serena Williams, went out of the tournament in the second round, Sharapova became the favorite, and she is not one to let an opportunity pass her by. Less than a year ago, Maria had shoulder surgery, so the comeback from injury makes the victory even sweeter.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

June 7, 2014
Roland Garros French Open Day 15: Men’s Final

Day 15 of the French Open, at Roland Garros, features the Men’s Singles Final, and the Women’s Doubles Final.

The day begins with the doubles final. The top two-seeded teams will face off on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Next up, eight-time champion and World No. 1 Rafael Nadal plays World No. 2 Novak Djokovic in their second Roland Garros final. History will be made no matter who wins: For Nadal, the chance to become the only man in the Open Era to win a Major nine times; for Djokovic, the chance to complete the Career Grand Slam.

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Court Philippe Chatrier – 12:00 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Final
Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) (1) / Shuai Peng (CHN) (1) d. Sara Errani (ITA) (2) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) (2) — 6-4, 6-1

Not Before: 3:00 P.M.

Men’s Singles – Final
Rafael Nadal (ESP) (1) vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB) (2)

June 7, 2014
Roland Garros French Open Day 14: Women’s Final

Day 14 of the French Open, at Roland Garros, features the Women’s Singles Final, and the Men’s Doubles Final.

First up on Court Philippe Chatrier is the women’s final. The finalists are four-time Major winner Maria Sharapova (7), who won here in 2012 and was last year’s finalist, and Simona Halep (4), the rising star from Romania, in her first Major final.

The men’s doubles final will pair off a French team against a Spanish team. Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, of France, will play Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez, of Spain.

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Court Philippe Chatrier – 3:00 P.M.

Women’s Singles – Final
Maria Sharapova (RUS) (7) d. Simona Halep (ROU) (4) — 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4

Men’s Doubles – Final
Julien Benneteau (FRA) (11) / Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) (11) d. Marcel Granollers (ESP) (12) / Marc Lopez (ESP) (12) — 6-3, 7-6(1)

June 6, 2014
Roland Garros French Open Day 13: Men’s Semifinals

Day 13 of the French Open, at Roland Garros, presents the men’s singles semifinals, and the women’s doubles semifinals.

On Court Philippe Chatrier, world No. 2 Novak Djokovic faces the big-hitting Latvian Ernests Gulbis (18), playing in his first Major semifinal. Following them will be eight-time champion and world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who plays the 2013 Wimbledon champion Andy Murray (7).

The women’s doubles semifinals will be played on Court Suzanne Lenglen. First up is the No. 1 seeded team of Su-Wei Hsieh and Shuai Peng, playing the Spanish team of Garbine Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro. The second semifinal features the No. 2 team, the Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, against the unseeded team of Lucie Hradecka and Michaella Krajicek.

The full schedule for Day 13 is listed below (Results to follow)…

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Court Philippe Chatrier – 1:00 P.M.

Men’s Singles – Semifinals
Novak Djokovic (SRB) (2) d. Ernests Gulbis (LAT) (18) — 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

Men’s Singles – Semifinals
Rafael Nadal (ESP) (1) d. Andy Murray (GBR) (7) — 6-3, 6-2, 6-1

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Court Suzanne Lenglen – Not Before: 1:00 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Semifinals
Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) (1) / Shuai Peng (CHN) (1) d. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) / Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) — 6-2, 5-7, 6-2

Women’s Doubles – Semifinals
Sara Errani (ITA) (2) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) (2) d. Lucie Hradecka (CZE) / Michaella Krajicek (NED) — 6-2, 6-1

June 5, 2014
Roland Garros French Open Day 12: Women’s Semifinals

Day 12 of the French Open, at Roland Garros, presents the women’s singles semifinals, the mixed doubles final, and the men’s doubles semifinals.

On Court Philippe Chatrier, the mixed doubles final opens the day’s action. The eighth-seeded team of Julia Goerges and Nenad Zimonjic faces the unseeded team of Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Jean-Julien Rojer.

The first women’s semifinal features Maria Sharapova (7), the 2012 champion and last year’s finalist, and the young Canadian Eugenie Bouchard (18), playing in her first Roland Garros semifinal, and second-ever Major semifinal. Following them will be Simona Halep (4), of Romania, and the German Andrea Petkovic (28), both playing in a Major semifinal for the first time.

On Court Suzanne Lenglen, the men’s doubles semifinals will be played, beginning not before 2:00 P.M. local time.

The full schedule for Day 12 is listed below (Results to follow)…

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Court Philippe Chatrier – 12:00 P.M.

Mixed Doubles – Final
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) d. Julia Goerges (GER) (8) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (8) — 4-6, 6-2 [10-7]

Not Before: 3:00 P.M.

Women’s Singles – Semifinals
Maria Sharapova (RUS) (7) d. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) (18) — 4-6, 7-5, 6-2

Women’s Singles – Semifinals
Simona Halep (ROU) (4) d. Andrea Petkovic (GER) (28) — 6-2, 7-6(4)

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Court Suzanne Lenglen – Not Before: 2:00 P.M.

Men’s Doubles – Semifinals
Marcel Granollers (ESP) (12) / Marc Lopez (ESP) (12) d. Marin Draganja (CRO) / Florin Mergea (ROU) — 6-3, 1-6, 6-3

Men’s Doubles – Semifinals
Julien Benneteau (FRA) (11) / Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) (11) d. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) / Samuel Groth (AUS) — 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

June 4, 2014
Roland Garros French Open Day 11: Quarterfinals

Day 11 of the French Open features the remaining men’s and women’s quarterfinals. First up on Court Philippe Chatrier is the Italian Sara Errani (10), the 2012 Roland Garros finalist, and Andrea Petkovic (28), from Germany. Two-time Major winner Andy Murray (7) will then face off against local favorite Gael Monfils (23).

On Court Suzanne Lenglen, 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova (27) will play the rising Romanian star Simona Halep (4). Eight-time champion and World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and his Spanish compatriot David Ferrer (5) will conclude the day’s action.

The full schedule for Day 11 is listed below (Results to follow)…

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Court Philippe Chatrier – 2:00 P.M.

Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Andrea Petkovic (GER) (28) d. Sara Errani (ITA) (10) — 6-2, 6-2

Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Andy Murray (GBR) (7) d. Gael Monfils (FRA) (23) — 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 1-6, 6-0

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Court Suzanne Lenglen – 2:00 P.M.

Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Simona Halep (ROU) (4) d. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) (27) — 6-2, 6-2

Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Rafael Nadal (ESP) (1) d. David Ferrer (ESP) (5) — 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-1

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Court 1 – Not Before: 2:30 P.M.

Mixed Doubles – Semifinals
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) d. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) (3) / Bruno Soares (BRA) (3) — 3-6, 7-6(4) [10-5]

Not Before: 5:00 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Garbine Muguruza (ESP) / Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Kveta Peschke (CZE) (4) / Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (4) — 6-4, 6-4

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Court 2 – Not Before: 2:30 P.M.

Mixed Doubles – Semifinals
Julia Goerges (GER) (8) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (8) d. Timea Babos (HUN) / Eric Butorac (USA) — 6-2, 6-2

Not Before: 5:00 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) / Michaella Krajicek (NED) d. Marina Erakovic (NZL) (16) / Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) (16) — 7-5, 6-3

June 3, 2014
Roland Garros French Open Day 10: Quarterfinals

Day 10 of the French Open, at Roland Garros, presents the first of the quarterfinals. Action kicks off on Court Philippe Chatrier with Maria Sharapova (7), the 2012 champion, facing the unseeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, who knocked out Serena Williams in the second round. Next up is World No. 2 Novak Djokovic, who will play the 23-year-old Canadian Milos Raonic (8).

On Court Suzanne Lenglen, another upcoming Canadian, Eugenie Bouchard (18), plays the Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro (14). The day’s action concludes with Tomas Berdych (6) and Ernests Gulbis (18), the big-hitting Latvian who beat Roger Federer in the Round of 16.

The full schedule for Day 10 is listed below (Results to follow)…

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Court Philippe Chatrier – 2:00 P.M.

Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Maria Sharapova (RUS) (7) d. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) — 1-6, 7-5, 6-1

Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic (SRB) (2) d. Milos Raonic (CAN) (8) — 7-5, 7-6(5), 6-4

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Court Suzanne Lenglen – 2:00 P.M.

Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) (18) d. Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) (14) — 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-5

Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) (18) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) (6) — 6-3, 6-2, 6-4

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Court 1 – 11:00 A.M.

Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) / Samuel Groth (AUS) d. Lukasz Kubot (POL) (9) / Robert Lindstedt (SWE) (9) — 6-3, 6-3

Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) (1) / Shuai Peng (CHN) (1) d. Cara Black (ZIM) (5) / Sania Mirza (IND) (5) — 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

Not Before: 2:00 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Sara Errani (ITA) (2) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) (2) d. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) (7) / Casey Dellacqua (AUS) (7) — 6-0, 6-1

Not Before: 5:00 P.M.

Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Julien Benneteau (FRA) (11) / Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) (11) d. Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) / Juan Monaco (ARG) — 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5)

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Court 2 – Not Before: 2:30 P.M.

Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinals
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) d. Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) / Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) — 6-2, 6-4

Not Before: 5:00 P.M.

Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinals
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) (3) / Bruno Soares (BRA) (3) d. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) (5) / Daniel Nestor (CAN) (5) — 6-3, 1-6 [10-3]

June 2, 2014
Roland Garros French Open Day 9

Day 9 of the French Open, at Roland Garros, features the remaining men’s and women’s Round of 16 matches. On Court Philippe Chatrier, eight-time champion and World No. 1 Rafael Nadal plays the 23-year-old Serbian Dusan Lajovic. Sloane Stephens, the sole remaining US player, faces the No. 4 seed Simona Halep (ROU). The entertaining Frenchman Gael Monfils (23) and the unseeded Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez finish off the day’s proceedings on Chatrier.

On Court Suzanne Lenglen, last year’s finalist David Ferrer (5), of Spain, will play the tall South African Kevin Anderson (19). The 2012 finalist Sara Errani (10) meets the No. 6 seed Jelena Jankovic (SRB), followed by Andy Murray (7), the 2013 Wimbledon champion, vs. the Spaniard Fernando Verdasco (24). The final match on Lenglen pits Lucie Safarova, of the Czech Republic, against the 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova (27).

The full schedule for Day 9 is listed below (Results to follow)…

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Court Philippe Chatrier – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 4
Andrea Petkovic (GER) (28) d. Kiki Bertens (NED) — 1-6, 6-2, 7-5

Men’s Singles – Round 4
Rafael Nadal (ESP) (1) d. Dusan Lajovic (SRB) — 6-1, 6-2, 6-1

Women’s Singles – Round 4
Simona Halep (ROU) (4) d. Sloane Stephens (USA) (15) — 6-4, 6-3

Men’s Singles – Round 4
Gael Monfils (FRA) (23) d. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) — 6-0, 6-2, 7-5

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Court Suzanne Lenglen – 11:00 A.M.

Men’s Singles – Round 4
David Ferrer (ESP) (5) d. Kevin Anderson (RSA) (19) — 6-3, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1

Women’s Singles – Round 4
Sara Errani (ITA) (10) d. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) (6) — 7-6(5), 6-2

Men’s Singles – Round 4
Andy Murray (GBR) (7) d. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) (24) — 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3)

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Court 1 – 11:00 A.M.

Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinals
Timea Babos (HUN) / Eric Butorac (USA) d. Alize Cornet (FRA) / Jonathan Eysseric (FRA) — 6-4, 6-3

Women’s Doubles – Round 3
Ashleigh Barty (AUS) (7) / Casey Dellacqua (AUS) (7) d. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) (12) / Flavia Pennetta (ITA) (12) — 4-6, 6-2, 6-1

Women’s Doubles – Round 3
Marina Erakovic (NZL) (16) / Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) (16) d. Julie Coin (FRA) / Pauline Parmentier (FRA) — 6-2, 6-3

Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Marcel Granollers (ESP) (12) / Marc Lopez (ESP) (12) d. Bob Bryan (USA) (1) / Mike Bryan (USA) (1) — 6-4, 6-2

Women’s Singles – Round 4
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) (27) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) (23) — 6-3, 6-4

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Court 2 – Not Before: 1:00 P.M.

Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Marin Draganja (CRO) / Florin Mergea (ROU) d. Daniel Nestor (CAN) (3) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (3) — 6-7(2), 6-3, 7-6(5)

Women’s Doubles – Round 3
Garbine Muguruza (ESP) / Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) / Karin Knapp (ITA) — 6-4, 7-6(4)

Women’s Doubles – Round 3
Kveta Peschke (CZE) (4) / Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (4) d. Kaia Kanepi (EST) / Alexandra Panova (RUS) — 6-3, 6-1

June 1, 2014
Roland Garros French Open Day 8

The Round of 16 matches commence on Day 8 of the French Open, at Roland Garros. On Court Philippe Chatrier, first up is the promising young Canadian Eugenie Bouchard (18), who will face the German Angelique Kerber (8). Next up is Roger Federer (4) vs. Ernests Gulbis (18), followed by World No. 2 Novak Djokovic (SRB), playing local favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (13).

The first match on Court Suzanne Lenglen features John Isner (10), the only remaining US man, playing the Czech Tomas Berdych (6). Milos Raonic (8), another Canadian rising star, will play Marcel Granollers, of Spain. The final match on Lenglen casts Maria Sharapova (7) against the Australian veteran Samantha Stosur (19).

The full schedule for Day 8 is listed below (Results to follow)…

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Court Philippe Chatrier – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 4
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) (18) d. Angelique Kerber (GER) (8) — 6-1, 6-2

Men’s Singles – Round 3
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) (24) d. Richard Gasquet (FRA) (12) — 6-3, 6-2, 6-3

Men’s Singles – Round 4
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) (18) d. Roger Federer (SUI) (4) — 6-7(5), 7-6(3), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3

Men’s Singles – Round 4
Novak Djokovic (SRB) (2) d. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) (13) — 6-1, 6-4, 6-1

Women’s Singles – Round 4
Garbine Muguruza (ESP) d. Pauline Parmentier (FRA) — 6-4, 6-2

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Court Suzanne Lenglen – 11:00 A.M.

Men’s Singles – Round 4
Tomas Berdych (CZE) (6) d. John Isner (USA) (10) — 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

Men’s Singles – Round 3
Andy Murray (GBR) (7) d. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) (28) — 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 12-10

Women’s Singles – Round 4
Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) (14) d. Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) — 6-3, 6-3

Men’s Singles – Round 4
Milos Raonic (CAN) (8) d. Marcel Granollers (ESP) — 6-3, 6-3, 6-3

Women’s Singles – Round 4
Maria Sharapova (RUS) (7) d. Samantha Stosur (AUS) (19) — 3-6, 6-4, 6-0

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Court 1 – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Doubles – Round 3
Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) (1) / Shuai Peng (CHN) (1) d. Liezel Huber (USA) (15) / Lisa Raymond (USA) (15) — 6-0, 6-2

Women’s Doubles – Round 3
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) / Michaella Krajicek (NED) d. Madison Keys (USA) / Alison Riske (USA) — 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-1

Men’s Doubles – Round 3
Julien Benneteau (FRA) (11) / Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) (11) d. Michael Llodra (FRA) (5) / Nicolas Mahut (FRA) (5) — 2-1 Ret.

Mixed Doubles – Round 2
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) (3) / Bruno Soares (BRA) (3) d. Alize Lim (FRA) / Jeremy Chardy (FRA) — 6-3, 6-4

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Court 2 – Not Before: 12:30 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Round 3
Cara Black (ZIM) (5) / Sania Mirza (IND) (5) d. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) / Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) — 6-3, 6-3

Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinals
Julia Goerges (GER) (8) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (8) d. Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (2) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) (2) — 2-6, 6-4 [10-5]

Mixed Doubles – Round 2
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) (5) / Daniel Nestor (CAN) (5) d. Raquel Kops-Jones (USA) / Raven Klaasen (RSA) — 6-3, 6-2

Mixed Doubles – Round 2
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) d. Lucie Hradecka (CZE) (6) / Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL) (6) — 6-7(8), 6-2 [10-5]

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Court 3 – Not Before: 12:30 P.M.

Men’s Doubles – Round 3
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) / Samuel Groth (AUS) d. Jack Sock (USA) / Joao Sousa (POR) — 6-4, 6-3

Women’s Doubles – Round 3
Sara Errani (ITA) (2) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) (2) d. Andrea Petkovic (GER) / Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) — 7-5, 3-6, 6-3

Men’s Doubles – Round 3
Marin Draganja (CRO) / Florin Mergea (ROU) d. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) / Jurgen Melzer (AUT) — 7-5, 6-3

May 31, 2014
Muguruza Revealed; Del Potro Practices; Mayer on Nadal

The latest from Spanish-language press [divider]

What you didn’t know about Garbiñe Muguruza

Muguruza is getting a lot of attention after her second-round upset over Serena Williams, so it’s a good time to dig a little deeper. Born in Caracas to a Venezuelan mother and Spanish Basque father, she moved to Spain at age six. Garbiñe, which means “Inmaculada” in the Basque language, became the Spanish Junior Champion at twelve. “I’ve spent my whole life training on clay, but my best results have been on faster surfaces because of my style of play. My height [1,82/6’0] helps me be aggressive,” Muguruza said in 2013. “I’ve studied Serena Williams, who has always been my idol.”

This was prescient, as it was clear that Garbiñe had a game plan against Williams. She also mentioned that she admires Maria Sharapova’s “attitude, on and off the court.” “Immaculate” she surely was against Williams, and consolidated with a win today over Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia. She’ll face another surprise winner, the French qualifier, Pauline Parmentier, in the next round. [divider]

Del Potro Back on the Practice Courts

After surgery on his left wrist last March, Juan Martin Del Potro is back on the practice court. He says he’s mostly practicing drives and volleys, because he’s still wearing a splint on the left wrist. Here’s a video of his practice session:

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Leonardo Mayer Hopes that Nadal is “Human” Tomorrow

Mayer spoke to the Argentine press about his chances against eight-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal tomorrow in the third round of the French Open. “I have the technique, but I’m not going to say it because [Nadal] might find out,” he said, laughing. (Mayer is 0-2 in their head-t0-head, and has yet to take as set off Nadal.) “I think it’s going to be difficult, but it can be done. And he’s human, at times.” [divider]

Cover Photo: Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

May 31, 2014