TAG | Roland Garros
Every tennis fan has geared up to watch the French Open 2011, which commenced on May 22 to June 5. Enthusiasts, for their favorite players, are rooting religiously. The 110th edition of the Grand Slam is currently taking place at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France and it is played on clay courts. Aficionados are eager to see if Rafael Nadal, five-time French Open champion will clinch the title again. Last year, in the women’s category an Italian player, Francesca Schiavone emerged victorious.
In 2011, Novak Djokovic took his unbeaten record to 38 wins. In the first round, he enjoyed a 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 dismissal of hapless Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker. To break John McEnroe’s Open era record of 42 for the best-unbeaten start, Djokovic needs five more wins and a sixth victory will make him the first man to win the Australian and French Opens back-to-back since Jim Courier in 1992.
At this year’s French Open, Roger Federer was all about the serve in the opening match and his strategy served him well. Without facing a single break point in beating Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3), the 16-time Grand Slam champion advanced to the second round.
Federer said that from his side, the important thing was to be solid in his own serve. He added that he thought he played a good match.
For the women, defending champion Francesca Schiavone and top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki made it through.
lines have received a ton of action these last few weeks for 2011 French Open. The odds are Roger Federer (1/100), Maxime Teixeira (22), Novak Djokovic (1/100), Victor Hanescu (22), Caroline Wozniacki (1/25) and Aleksandra Wozniak (11).
With competition starting Monday, June 21, the countdown to the 2010 Wimbledon tournament has begun.
The women’s final at Roland Garros featured two surprise finalists, Samantha Stosur and Francesca Schiavone, only a few weeks ago. However, the grass courts of Wimbledon are a whole different story. Just like it has been for the past decade, the 2010 Wimbledon is all about the Williams sisters.
The ladies final at Wimbledon was an all Williams affair, last year, with Serena prevailing over her older sister Venus in straight sets. It was Venus, who defeated Serena in the final in straight sets, in 2008. The Williams sisters have shown their dominance at this Grand Slam, and it seems that Centre Court has become their own little venue for determining who is better between them. Serena and Venus, interestingly, have both chosen to skip the grass court warm up events. A lack of match practice may hurt them when they arrive in London to compete in the year’s third Grand Slam.
Maria Sharapova, 2004 Wimbledon champion is another contender for this year’s title. In the final, at the warm up event, Sharapova lost to Li Na, in Birmingham, England. Nevertheless, this will give her plenty of confidence heading into Wimbledon.
Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, the Belgians, are the two other big names making headlines at this year’s Wimbledon. This is the only Grand Slam that Henin has not yet won. If she can win the championship, she’ll be one of few female players to win all four grand slam titles in her career. Clijsters isn’t expected to go deep into the draw, even though she may win a few rounds.
Maria Sharapova · Roland Garros · Samantha Stosur · Wimbledon champion
