Теннис

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May 25, 2005

Roland Garros: Day 4 Preview

With the exception of Jelena Jankovic, Ai Sugiyama, Paola Suarez and Marion Bartoli, all seeds on the bottom half of the draw will be in action on Thursday, as the second round comes to completion in Paris at the 2005 French Open.

Jankovic was the highest seed to go, as nine-time Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titlist Anna Smashnova of Israel routed the No.15 seed 60 63 in the first round. In addition, some lower seeds were sent packing, as recent Rabat champion Nuria Llagostera Vives ousted No.23 seed Sugiyama 63 46 64, Russia's Anna Chakvetadze beat last year's semifinalist and No.26 seed Suarez by a score of 75 16 60, and another Israeli, Shahar Peer, upset No.28 seed Bartoli 64 63.

Despite the departure of the four seeds, the bottom half is still going to provide some exciting match-ups on Day 4.

(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. (WC) Aravane Rezai (FRA) - First Meeting

Reigning Wimbledon champion Sharapova has had impressive results on clay in 2005, reaching the quarterfinals in Berlin, as well as her career-first clay court semifinal in Rome. The powerful Russian survived a stern challenge in the first round from 41st-ranked compatriot Evgenia Linetskaya, taking the match 67(3) 62 64 after almost two and a half hours. She will next take on 244th-ranked Aravane Rezai, who defeated fellow French wild card Camille Pin 26 62 62 on Tuesday. The two will be playing each other for the first time.

(3) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) vs. (WC) Alize Cornet (FRA) - First Meeting

2003 and 2004 quarterfinalist Mauresmo comes to Roland Garros seeking her first Grand Slam title, hot off the heels of her second straight Italian Open title just over a week ago. On Tuesday, the French favourite dominated 111th-ranked Evie Dominikovic 62 61, and will face 645th-ranked Alize Cornet in the second round. The 15-year-old wild card defeated 71st-ranked Alina Jidkova in the first round by a score of 76(4) 63. The two have never played each other before.

(6) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. (Q) Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) - First Meeting

Kuznetsova has had a solid year on clay, highlighted by a runner-up finish at Warsaw. The reigning US Open champion made it all the way to the fourth round here last year, bowing out to eventual winner Anastasia Myskina after holding match point in the final set. In the first round this year, she defeated French wild card Mathilde Johansson 61 61, and will next take on 176th-ranked qualifier Sofia Arvidsson, who took out No.87 Eleni Daniilidou 61 76(1). It will be their first meeting.

(7) Nadia Petrova (RUS) vs. Severine Beltrame (FRA) - First Meeting

2003 semifinalist Petrova has had excellent results on clay this year, reaching the final at Berlin as well as the semifinals at Amelia Island. She defeated 64th-ranked American Mashona Washington 64 62 on Tuesday, and will next face the world No.132 Beltrame, who defeated 68th-ranked Abigail Spears 63 61. The two will meet for the first time.

(10) Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) vs. Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) - Henin-Hardenne leads 2-0

The 2003 champion and former No.1 has dominated the 2005 clay court season, winning three straight titles at Charleston, Warsaw and Berlin. She defeated 45th-ranked Spanish veteran Conchita Martinez 60 46 64 in the first round to win her 18th straight match, a Tour record this year. She will face a familiar opponent on Thursday in 66th-ranked Ruano Pascual, who defeated qualifier Anastasiya Yakimova 64 76(7) on Tuesday. The two have played twice previously, most recently in the 2003 Australian Open quarterfinals, where the Belgian won 62 62.

(13) Nathalie Dechy (FRA) vs. Samantha Stosur (AUS) - Dechy leads 1-0

Recent Australian Open semifinalist Dechy is coming off a strong showing at the clay court event in Strasbourg, where she reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Anabel Medina Garrigues. The French No.2 defeated 107th-ranked Michaela Pastikova 61 64 on Tuesday, and on Thursday will play Stosur in hopes of reaching her sixth career third round at Roland Garros. The 53rd-ranked Australian had a stellar beginning to 2005, finishing runner-up at both Gold Coast and Sydney. In the first round here, she upended 117th-ranked Silvia Talaja 61 62. Dechy won their only prior meeting, a 64 67(9) 76(4) marathon in the third round at Indian Wells earlier this year.

(22) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) vs. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) - First Meeting

In what could potentially be the most exciting match of the day, the Italian veteran will battle the rising Czech star in what will be their first encounter. Schiavone has had good memories at Roland Garros, making it all the way to the quarterfinals in her 2001 debut as well as the round of 16 last year. She recently reached her second straight quarterfinal in Rome, notching her career-second Top 5 win over No.4 Serena Williams en route. In the first round here, she outlasted 57th-ranked Jie Zheng 63 36 64, and will next take on Vaidisova, who defeated 106th-ranked Estoril winner Lucie Safarova 46 60 64. 16-year-old Vaidisova is one the most rapidly-rising stars on Tour, already owning two titles from last year and reaching her first clay court final last week at Istanbul. She will try to reach a Grand Slam third round for the second time after going that far in Melbourne this year.

(29) Ana Ivanovic (SCG) vs. Iveta Benesova (CZE) - Ivanovic leads 1-0

Another rising young star, Ivanovic has had a stellar start to 2005. She comes into the second round with a 26-8 match record, which includes winning her first title at Canberra, an impressive run to the quarterfinals at Miami, and reaching the semifinals recently at Warsaw. It also includes her 63 63 first round win here over 103rd-ranked Frenchwoman Stephanie Foretz. In the second round, she will face 55th-ranked Benesova, who defeated French wild card Pauline Parmentier 75 64 on Tuesday. The two have played once previously, with Ivanovic coming away with a tight 36 76(4) 61 win in the first round of the Australian Open this year.

[Vardan]

25 мая 2005, 18:29

Южный с партнером вышли во второй круг в парном разряде

В первом круге парного мужского разряда российско-немецкая пара Михаил Южный/Райнер Шуттлер обыграли испанскую пару Лопес/Вердаско и вышли во второй круг. Вторая пара с российским участием – в составе Игоря Андреева и Николая Давыденко - вступит в игру в четверг.

Открытый чемпионат Франции. Париж (Франция). Призовой фонд – 13 459 125 евро

Мужчины

Парный разряд

Первый круг

Михаил Южный / Райнер Шуттлер (Россия / Германия) – Фелисиано Лопес / Фернандо Вердаско (Испания) – 6:3, 3:6, 6:4

Юлиан Ноул / Юрген Мельцер (Австрия) – Уэйн Блэк / Кевин Ульетт (Зимбабве, 5) – 7:5, 3:6, 6:2

Одиночный разряд

Второй круг

Себастьян Грожан (Франция, 21) – Давид Сангинетти (Италия) – 6:0, 6:3, 6:2

Луис Хорна (Перу) – Тим Хэнмен (Великбритания, 7) – 7:5, 6:7 (2:7) – 6:3, 6:4

Радек Степанек (Чехия, 16) – Флорен Серра (Франция) – 6:3, 6:4, 6:1

Феликс Мантилья (Испания) – Иржи Новак (Чехия, 26) – 6:2, 0:6, 3:6, 7:5, 6:3

Давид Налбандян (Аргентина, 10) – Томас Бердых (Чехия) – 6:3, 6:2, 6:1

Виктор Ханеску (Румыния) – Хуан- Игнасио Чела (Аргентина, 31) – 7:5, 6:1, 3:6, 7:5

Ришар Гаске (Франция, 30) – Петер Весселс (Голландия) – 6:3, 7:6 (7:1), 6:1

[Vardan]

25 мая 2005, 17:21

Звонарева пробилась в третий круг «Ролан Гарроса»

Посеянная под 9-м номером россиянка Вера Звонарева не без трудавыиграла матч второго круга против чешки Евы Бирнеровой и теперь в третьем круге встретится с француженкой Мари Пьерс (21-я ракетка турнира), которая обыграла хорватку Елену Костанич.

Открытый чемпионат Франции. Париж (Франция). Призовой фонд – 13 459 125 евро

Женщины

Одиночный разряд

Второй круг

Вера Звонарева (Россия, 9) – Ева Бирнерова (Чехия) – 4:6, 6:3, 6:0

Мари Пьерс (Франция, 21) – Елена Костанич (Хорватия) – 6:1, 6:0

Эмили Луа (Франция) – Эми Фрэзер (США, 27) – 6:4, 6:4

Винус Уильямс (США, 11) – Фабиола Сулуага (Колумбия) – 6:3, 3:6, 6:3

Сесил Каратанчева (Болгария) – Шинобу Асагоэ (Япония, 19) – 7:5, 6:2

Парный разряд

Первый круг

Вера Душевина / Барбора Стрыкова (Россия / Чехия) Мейлин Андрийе/Паулин Парментье (Франция) – 6:2, 6:4

Анна Чакветадзе / Саниа Мирза (Россия / Индия) – Кристина Бранди/Нана Мияги (Пуэрто-Рико / Япония) – 6:2, 6:3

Вирхиния Руано-Паскуаль / Паола Суарес (Испания / Аргентина, 1) – Дженнифер Хопкинс / Машона Вашингтон (США) – 6:4, 6:3

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©Sony Ericsson WTA Tour

Paris, France: Fan favorite Kim Clijsters signed autographs for dozens of her supporters on Tuesday afternoon.

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©Sony Ericsson WTA Tour

Paris, France: Venus Williams joked with the press during her post-match interview Wednesday after reaching the third round

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©Sony Ericsson WTA Tour

Paris, France: Bulgarian teenager Sesil Karatantcheva talked to a reporter from her country by phone after winning her second round match

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©Sony Ericsson WTA Tour

Paris, France: French favorite Nathalie Dechy signed autographs for dozens of kids on Wednesday while event organizer and ex-player, Anne-Gaelle Sidot, looked on.

[Vardan]

25 мая 2005, 16:03

Дмитрий Турсунов покидает «Ролан Гаррос» из-за травмы

В среду российский теннисист Дмитрий Турсунов вынужден был завершить выступления на «Ролан Гаррос» из-за травмы левого колена. Незадолго до начала встречи с аргентинцем Гастоном Гаудио врачи обнаружили у российского теннисиста раздробление хряща.

ТЕННИС

Открытый чемпионат Франции. Париж (Франция)

Мужчины

Второй круг

Дмитрий Турсунов – Гастон Гаудио (Аргентина, 5) - отказ

[Vardan]

25 мая 2005, 20:41

Лиховцева проследовала за Дементьевой и Звонаревой в третий круг

В последнем матче одиночного разряда в среду на «Ролан Гарросе», в котором принимала участие российская теннисистка, посеянная под 16-м номером Елена Лиховцева в двух сетах обыграла аргентинку Мариану Диас-Оливу. В третьем круге ее ждет встреча с итальянкой Сильвией Фариной-Элией (18-я сеянная).

А вот Алина Жидкова в среду вылетела и из парного разряда, проиграв вместе с украинкой Татьяной Перебийнис чешской паре Навратилова/Пастикова.

Открытый чемпионат Франции. Париж (Франция). Призовой фонд – 13 459 125 евро

Женщины

Одиночный разряд

Второй круг

Елена Лиховцева (Россия, 16) - Мариана Диас-Олива (Аргентина)

Линдсей Дэвенпорт (США, 1) – Шуай Пенг (Китай) – 3:6, 7:6 (7:4), 6:0

Ким Клийстерс (Бельгия, 14) – Людмила Черванова (Словакия) – 6:2, 6:1

Сильвия Фарина-Элия (Италия, 18) – Аранта Парра-Сантонья (Испания) – 7:5, 6:2

Даниэла Хантухова (Словакия, 20) – Каталина Костано (Колумбия) – 6:4, 6:3

Парный разряд

Первый круг

Габриэла Навратилова/Микаэла Пастикова (Чехия) – Алина Жидкова/Татьяна Перебийнис (Россия/Украина) – 6:7(9:11), 6:3, 6:4

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[Vardan]

Super Showdown Set

Eighteen-year-old Spaniard Rafael Nadal got past Xavier Malisse on Wednesday to set up a third round Roland Garros showdown against 18-year-old Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who defeated Peter Wessels.

Defending champion Gaston Gaudio advanced without lifing a raquet while fellow Argentine David Nalbandian also won, as did Peru's Luis Horna who upset No. 7 Tim Henman. France's Sebastien Grosjean also advanced to the third round.

Wednesday was the first day for doubles, and the top seeded team of Knowles/Nestor advanced, but Australian Open champs Black/Ullyett were early upset victims.

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Federer, Rafa Roll On

Rafael Nadal advanced to the Round of 16 with a straight sets win over Frenchman Richard Gasquet on Friday at Roland Garros. The fourth seeded 18-year-old will next meet Sebastien Grosjean.

Meanwhile Nadal’s mentor, former Roland Garros champion Carlos Moya, needed eight match points to get past close friend Fernando Vicente 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-7(3), 0-6, 6-4. Moya, who had treatment on his shoulder during the match, sees top seed Roger Federer in the fourth round.

Earlier, Federer overcame stiff resistance from Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, advancing with a 7-6(9), 7-5, 6-2 win. The Swiss has yet to drop a set in the tournament.

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Venus, Vera Out; Davenport In Three Again

Day 5 at Roland Garros saw the elimination of 2002 runner-up Venus Williams and No.9 seed Vera Zvonareva, a quarterfinalist in Paris two years ago. Williams, champion in Istanbul last week, fell to 15-year-old Bulgarian Sesil Karatantcheva, 63 16 61. Mary Pierce, the 2000 champion, thrilled the French crowd with a 76(2) 75 win over Zvonareva.

World No.1 Lindsay Davenport (left) beat Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano, 75 46 64, her third three-set match of the tournament. Davenport now meets two-time runner-up Kim Clijsters, a 64 62 winner over Daniela Hantuchova.

Edited May 27, 2005 by Vardan

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[Vardan]

May 27, 2005

Roland Garros: Day 6 Preview

PARIS - The bottom half of the draw takes to the court on Saturday, as third round action comes to completion on the red clay of the 2005 French Open. Maria Sharapova and Amelie Mauresmo lead the way, with Svetlana Kuznetsova and Justine Henin-Hardenne also in action. The following is a preview for Saturday's third round matches:

(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) - First Meeting

The hard-hitting Russian has become more comfortable on clay in recent weeks, reaching the quarterfinals at Berlin and her career-first clay court semifinal the next week in Rome. She has won seven of nine matches on the dirt so far in 2005, including a tough 67(3) 62 64 first round victory against 41st-ranked Evgenia Linetskaya and a 63 62 win over French wild card Aravane Rezai. Next she will face 56th-ranked compatriot Anna Chakvetadze, who is coming off a quarterfinal showing last week in Istanbul. Playing in Paris for the first time, Chakvetadze began her tournament with a 75 16 60 upset of No.26 seed Paola Suarez, followed by a 64 63 second round win over 42nd-ranked Klara Koukalova. The two 18-year-olds will be playing each other for the first time.

(3) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) vs. (29) Ana Ivanovic (SCG) - Mauresmo leads 3-0

After winning her second straight Italian Open title earlier this month, Mauresmo is one of the firm favourites to go all the way in Paris. She will have a tough task on Saturday, however, as she faces the powerful Ivanovic. The Serbian teenager has been in excellent form as of late, her best result on the clay being a semifinal finish at Warsaw. She has cruised through her first two rounds, defeating 103rd-ranked Stephanie Foretz 63 63 first, then advancing to the third round with a 63 61 win over 55th-ranked Iveta Benesova. Mauresmo has also had a smooth path thus far, dropping a total of only five games in wins over 111th-ranked Evie Dominikovic and French wild card Alize Cornet. Mauresmo has defeated Ivanovic all three times they have met, most recently a 61 64 quarterfinal victory at Miami.

(6) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. Marissa Irvin (USA) - First Meeting

The reigning US Open champion (pictured) has had a solid clay court season, highlighted by snapping the 17-match win streak of Kim Clijsters en route to a runner-up finish at Warsaw. She began her campaign for the Roland Garros title with a 61 61 victory over French wild card Mathilde Johansson, followed up by a tougher 63 64 win over qualifier Sofia Arvidsson. She will next play 85th-ranked American Marissa Irvin, who is making her third straight third round appearance in Paris. Irvin began her week with a marathon 57 64 86 win over 108th-ranked Nicole Pratt, then had her best win since last July with a 64 75 upset of No.30 seed Gisela Dulko. Kuznetsova and Irvin will be playing for the first time.

(7) Nadia Petrova (RUS) vs. Shahar Peer (ISR) - First Meeting

2003 semifinalist Petrova reached her third and biggest career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour final recently at Berlin, upsetting Mauresmo en route. In addition, her 12-3 clay court record this season includes a semifinal finish at Amelia Island, and routine early round wins here over 64th-ranked Mashona Washington and 132nd-ranked Severine Beltrame. She will face a rising star in the 84th-ranked Peer, a recent Istanbul quarterfinalist who followed up a 64 63 first round win here over No.28 seed Marion Bartoli with a 61 16 64 victory over 59th-ranked Kveta Peschke. Petrova will be facing Peer for the first time.

(10) Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) vs. Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) - Henin-Hardenne leads 2-0

The 2003 champion has been in immaculate form this year on clay. After making her season debut in Miami, where she reached the quarterfinals before losing in three sets to Sharapova, she has won 19 straight matches, including title runs at Charleston, Warsaw and Berlin. She began her campaign for a second Roland Garros title with a 60 46 64 win over 45th-ranked veteran Conchita Martinez, and advanced to the third round with a 61 64 win over 66th-ranked Virginia Ruano Pascual. She will next face her third straight Spaniard in 34th-ranked Anabel Medina Garrigues, who comes into the third round on her own streak, winning her last seven matches, including a title run last week in Strasbourg and routine early round wins here over qualifier Petra Mandula and No.24 seed Magdalena Maleeva. Henin-Hardenne has won their two previous meetings, most recently a tough 76(3) 46 64 victory in the opening round of Estoril back in 2001.

(12) Elena Bovina (RUS) vs. (17) Tatiana Golovin (FRA) - Tied 1-1

Bovina comes into Paris after quarterfinal finishes at Warsaw, Berlin and Rome. She has made it through to her second straight third round here after a 60 63 first round win over 54th-ranked Maria Vento-Kabchi and a 61 16 64 second round win over 65th-ranked Tathiana Garbin. On Saturday she will face Tatiana Golovin, who recently reached her first Tier I semifinal at the clay court event in Charleston. The rising French star has had the field's easiest path through to the third round, dropping a combined total of three games in defeating 99th-ranked Lilia Osterloh and 86th-ranked Antonella Serra Zanetti. Bovina and Golovin have split two previous meetings. Bovina prevailed 64 61 in the first round here in 2003, while Golovin won 63 76(4) earlier this season at Miami.

(13) Nathalie Dechy (FRA) vs. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) - Dechy leads 2-0

France's No.2 Dechy is appearing in the third round at Roland Garros for the sixth time, after straight sets early round wins over 107th-ranked Michaela Pastikova and 53rd-ranked Samantha Stosur. She will next face Llagostera Vives, who is having the best season of her career, recently winning her first Tour title at Rabat and making her Top 50 debut. She is making her career-second trip to the third round here after a 63 46 64 first round upset of No.23 seed Ai Sugiyama and a 76(2) 60 win over 80th-ranked Kristina Brandi. Dechy has defeated the Spaniard in three sets in their two previous encounters, most recently a 61 36 60 victory here in the first round in 2002.

(22) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) vs. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) - First Meeting

2001 quarterfinalist Schiavone recently appeared in her second straight Italian Open quarterfinal, defeating seven-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams en route. She began this week with a tough 63 36 64 win over 57th-ranked Zheng Jie, following that up with an impressive 62 76(5) win over 35th-ranked Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova, who was coming off a runner-up finish at Istanbul. She will next face Groenefeld, who reached her first Tour final earlier this year at Pattaya City. The 44th-ranked German teenager has advanced with a 75 16 64 first round win over recent Estoril winner Lucie Safarova followed by a 61 60 drubbing of 60th-ranked Anna Smashnova, a nine-time Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title winner. Schiavone and Groenefeld have not played prior to this event.

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May 26, 2005

Top Seeds Perform as Expected on Thursday

PARIS - Two distinguishable favorites to win Roland Garros advanced to the third round on Thursday, both losing only five games a piece.

Maria Sharapova worked efficiently on Court Chatrier, dismissing French wildcard Aravane Rezai 63 62 in the second round. Sharapova felt hampered a bit in the first set after turning her ankle, but the jolt didn't weaken the Wimbledon champion too much.

"Early on, in the third game, I sort of twisted my ankle," Sharapova admitted. "In my next game I felt it a little bit so I was a little distracted from it. But it got better after that game. I just tried to find a way."

Sharapova did find a way and will next face fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze, a 64 63 winner over Klara Koukalova. Chakvetadze is no stranger to meeting nor defeating higher-ranked Russians in Grand Slams, as she took out Anastasia Myskina at the US Open last year en route to the third round. She now makes her second third round Grand Slam in just three such appearances.

Another favorite at this year's Roland Garros, Justine Henin-Hardenne, defeated Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual 61 64. Henin-Hardenne improves her consecutive winning streak to 19 matches.

A recent three-time singles winner (Charleston, Warsaw and Berlin), Henin-Hardenne will meet another recent Tour champion, Anabel Medina Garrigues, who captured the Strasbourg title just before landing in Paris early this week. Medina Garrigues increases her own winning streak to seven, beating No.24 seed Magdalena Maleeva 63 64.

Quietly sneaking through the draw is No.7 seed Nadia Petrova, who advances to the third round with a 61 63 victory over France's Severine Beltrame. Petrova has not dropped a set in the first two rounds and will face Israel's Shahar Peer (pictured). Peer has made noise on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour this season, reaching three quarterfinal rounds thus far. And now, making her Grand Slam debut, Peer advances to the third round.

No.6 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova inches closer to her record-best performance at Roland Garros, a fourth round showing last year. Kuznetsova is only making her third appearance in the event and won her second round, 63 64, over qualifier Sofia Arvidsson.

Kuznetsova will meet American Marissa Irvin, who defeated No.30 seed Gisela Dulko 64 75. Irvin will be making her third consecutive appearance in round three, the most success she's attained at any of the Grand Slam events. If Irvin is successful, she will advance to her career first fourth round at a Grand Slam.

[Vardan]