(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Not with ease
Second seed, Roger Federer nearly avoided his earliest loss from grand slam event since 2003. Ironically that loss came in the first round of Roland Garros, to the journeymen workhorse Luis Horna. This time around R-Fed’s opponent came in the form of another career journeymen, Jose Acasuso.
The Argentine, was in total control of the tempo early on, splitting the opening two sets, and being up 5-1 in set three. Ah-KAH-SOO-SO is the proper way his name is pronounced (sounds samurai like, when said properly), for all of you proper pronouncing tennis people out there, could not do any wrong for the better part three sets, serving exceedingly well, and striking countless winners of both wings. Federer was nowhere near sea level.
But then something happened; the same thing that occurred to Potito Starace yesterday against Andy Murray (Starace was up 5-1 in set three after being tied at a one set all). The pressure that routinely eats away at lower ranked players took over.
Call it what you will– focus, determination, guts, ability, confidence, (a better shoe contract)– what Andy Murray and R-Fed posses, is simply (but not easily acquired) a greater ability to fight through their own emotions through the most adverse circumstances, and prevail when the chips are stacked against them.
There were murmurs going around the stadium, mid way through set three that Federer maybe sick; or that Roger maybe not be motivated anymore; but the truth of the matter was that Jose was just playing out of his mind, and when the moment got to him, and that’s all she wrote.
After Roger clawed his way back in set three, took the tie-break (7-2), the rest of the match became a mere formality, with dreams of French Open title still vividly alive, with a 7-6(8) 5-7 7-6(2) 6-2 victory.
Federer had this to say in the presser after his win. “I was a bit lucky to come back in the third set. He was a double break up, there were not many shots he was missing and he was serving well,”
“Once I won the third set, I had my grip on the match, I was stronger, physically and mentally.”
With the win, Federer’s continued quest for a record tying 14th-grand slam championship will take the Swiss into a third round encounter with home-country hopeful, 32nd seed, Paul-Henri Mathieu who was a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 winner over Pablo Andujar of Spain.
Federer and Mathieu have played three times on the ATP World Tour and Grand Slams combined, with R-Fed holding a commanding 3-0 lead. For good measure, Roger has defeated Mathieu on clay, grass, and hardcourt.
Federer will have to step up his level in round three.
Argentine Aggression
Youngster, Juan Martin del Potro chalked up another fine victory today, on arguably his worst surface, defeating Viktor Troicki of Serbia 6-3, 7-5, 6-0. The two hour and three minute encounter, displayed the rock solid cross court array of forehands and backhands that del Potro has made himself famous for.
Juan Martin is quickly becoming my second fave pick for being one of the mentally toughest players on tour (behind Rafa Nadal of course). The Tandil native does not give his opponents any glimmer of hope when he is up, and if anything, he puts his game into over drive to finish them off with a flourish.
Today was no different, with del Potro winning a competitive second set, and then squashing Troicki in set three, serving him up a bagel.
Del Potro’s numbers for this contest were stellar, with the big man winning 78& of his first serve points, striking seven aces, and breaking the Serbs serve eight times.
My concerns for the Argentine going forward, will be A) the lack of variety that he possess (when he is on, and dialed in, he is deadly) but when he plays a better mover, someone who is the top four for instance, he can certainly be exposed. B) Although I eluded to his new found mental toughness–when put of against higher ranked players (there are only four), he seems to get down on himself when he falls behind.
Now in saying that, del Potro did comeback to defeat Nadal in Miami (after being down 0-3, two breaks in set three), and against Murray in Madrid (being down 5-2 in set one, and coming back to win in straights).
Although it is important to not get carried away run away with confidence here, del Potro clearly still has the recollection of 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Roger Federer during this years Aussie Open. A match that left del Potro fully exposed.
Nevertheless, Delpo is onto round three where he will meet Russian, Igor Andreev who won his second consecutive fifth set match, this time against household name, Martin Vassllo Arguello of Argentina 1-6, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Tired legs and a big heart with assist the mechanical Moscow native against the fifth seed.
Del Potro and Andreev have played four times on the ATP World Tour, with the Argentine owing a 4-0 head to head lead. Three of those wins came on clay, with the pairs last meeting taking place just last week in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Could be a slug fest if Andreev is fit enough to go the distance. It is important for del Potro’s sake that he takes care of Andreev in convincing fashion in order to stay fresh for the remainder of the competition.
French contingent
With the Parisian fans wanting nothing more than their first men’s champion since 1983, when flamboyant Frenchmen, Yannick Noah dazzled his home country with a superb win over Mats Wilander; the distance memory of Yannick’s hands in the air, in disbelief still resonates over Chartier court, filling the air with a moment of success, a smell that is as fresh today as the outstanding bordeaux that is served court side.
Let’s take a look at how the French boys did today.
As mentioned Paul-Henri Mathieu will now take on Roger Federer in round three; Jeremy Chardy defeated Simone Bolelli 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1 and will next take on Tommy Haas who was a five set winner of his own over Leonardo Mayer 6-3, 7-6(2), 3-6, 4-6, 6-3. Mayer defeated James Blake in round one. Tenth seed, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came up with gritty win over tough Argentine, Juan Monaco 7-5, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6).
Monaco had all sorts of chances in this one, with Jo-Willy coming up with his monster serve and forehand when required. Tsonga will take on Christophe Rochus who was a 6-1, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 over Arnaud Clement. Eleventh seed, Gael Monfils routinely dispatched Victor Crivoi 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Monfils will now take on 24th seed, Jurgen Melzer who defeated French youngster, Guillaume Rufin 6-2, 7-5, 6-4.
Finally Marc Gicquel defeated Andreas Beck 6-4, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5. Gicquel will now take on 6th seed, Andy Roddick who was a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 winner of Ivo Minor. Roddick advances to best ever appearance at Roland Garros, tying his 2001 mark when he made the round of 32, in his debut no less. But I mean Roddick could be considered French right, he is after all sponsored by the two of the biggest sporting companies that France has?
All in all, the Frenchies go 5-2 on the day in wins and losses, which leaves the home-country hopefuls with a total of seven guys out the nineteen started, still remaining in the competition. The other two men are Josselin Ouanna and 7th seed, Gilles Simon.
Elsewhere, other action that concluded on day four action saw: 10th seed, Nikolay Davydenko defeating Diego Junqueira 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2; 16th seed Tommy Robredo over countrymen Diego Gimeno-Traver 6-4, 6-4, 6-3; and Maximo Gonzalez taking out Andreas Seppi 7-6, 6-3, 6-3. Maximo made it three Gonzalez’s in the third round, with the slightly more famous Verdasco and Fernando joining the new-c0mer.
Matches that are currently in progress have 4th seed, Novak Djokovic against Sergiy Stakhovsky and 29th seed, Philipp Kohlschreiber against 2003 champ, Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain.
Fridays action in Paris will bring forth top seed Rafael Nadal as he attempts to win his third round match against former world number one, Lleyton Hewitt. Nadal and Hewitt are locked at four wins a piece in their head to head, with Rafa winning the last three meetings.
Third seed, Andy Murray will battle Janko Tipsarevic; 7th seed Gilles Simon will take on 30th seed, Victor Hanescu and 8th seed, Fernando Verdasco will take on fellow Spaniard, 31st seed, Nicolas Almagro.
Notes from France
Federer made to work today; nearly had a lot of grass court practice time on his plate. Tsonga and Monfils provided Paris with their showmanship. Roddick is the only American man left in the event, a big night of Twitter awaits.
Del Potro bumble bees himself into his third round, takes on Robocops version of a tennis player, Igor Andreev next. Finally, what are the bets that Novak is not a happy camper at the moment, since he will have to come back on Friday to finish off Stakhovsky (due to darkness, and not fan interaction of course)?
Week one is almost done tennis fan’s, great tournament thus far.
With the grand season in full swing, TennisConnected.com is ready to provide our readers and listeners with the most comprehensive coverage of the 2009 French Open Championships. Please check out our live scores section, daily wrap-ups, video interviews and photo gallery from Roland Garros.
Please also stay tuned to our Radio show which will expand on our picks and players to watch for as the tournament progresses. With Nadal going for five this year in Paris, the tennis world will be glued to all 15 days of coverage from France, in anticipation of the mighty Mallorcan’s ability to defend his crown. A long, but enjoyable journey awaits.
You can catch Nima Naderi daily at Tennis Connected
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