TAG | Peter Luczak
In the first few days of the 2010 French Open, several dramatic matches have already taken place. So far, the men’s side has definitely been more interesting than the women’s draw.
By taking out Peter Luczak in three sets, defending champion and number one seed Roger Federer cruised through his opening match. Second seed Rafael Nadal, on his quest to a fifth Roland Garros title, also advanced in straight sets. Federer and Nadal are expected to keep on cruising, as their next opponents Falla and Zeballos don’t pose any threats.
So far, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick have played the most dramatic tennis. Murray defeated crowd favorite Richard Gasquet in a match that lasted over four hours, after losing the first two sets. In the middle of the third set, it seemed that Murray was on his way to a straight set loss. However, Murray ultimately won the match due to better fitness and Gasquet was visibly tired towards the end of the third set.
Against the Fin Jarkko Nieminen, Andy Roddick also had some trouble in his first round match. Roddick lost the next two sets, after easily winning the first set. In the fourth set, Roddick was a few points away from elimination. However, Andy comfortably won the fifth set 6-3 and managed to pull out the fourth set in a tiebreak.
The only major upset was the elimination of last year’s finalist Dinara Safina by 39 year old Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan, on the women’s side. For an ugly three set loss to one of the oldest players in WTA history, Safina’s injured back, new coach, and the usual mental fragility was a formula. The Williams sisters and Justine Henin advanced through their first round matches comfortably in straight sets.
