French Open. What goes on.
May 30
Three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal and Australian Open titlist Novak Djokovic were easy winners Wednesday at the 2008 French Open, where much nicer weather was the order of the day following two days of rain in Paris.
The world No. 2 Nadal improved to 22-0 lifetime at Roland Garros by erasing Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 in opening-round play on his beloved red clay. Nadal has since advanced to the 4th round taking down Devilder (FRA) in the 2nd round and Nieminen in the 3rd. Gulbis has also been selected for the 4th round.
James Blake was hopeful this would be the year he put it all together at the French Open. But Thursday, the seventh-seeded American saw his hopes dissipate in the dirt. Big-hitting Latvian Ernests Gulbis wore down Blake, 7-6(2), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 to secure a spot in the third round of Roland Garros for the first time. It was Gulbis’ first victory over a top 10 player this season. Gulbis will play Nicolas Lapentti, who ended another American’s Roland Garros run in registering a 7-5, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 win over Bobby Reynolds.
Blake has played the French Open six times and has failed to surpass the second round in five of those six appearances. His best Roland Garros result came two years ago when he reached the third round before losing to Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas made a shock exit while Leander Peas partnering Czech Lukas Dlouhy won in the first round of the French Open at Roland Garros on Thursday.
The fourth seeded Bhupathi-Knowles combine went down 4-6, 4-6 to the unseeded pair of Australian Stephen Huss and British Ross Hutchins in a match that lasted a little over an hour. Meanwhile, ninth-seeded Paes-Dlouhy pair brushed past the challenge of Thai pair Sanchai Ratiwatana and Sonchat Ratiwatana, beating them 6-2, 6-4 to move into the second round.
To get all information regarding who is progressing into the rounds, Live scores, check out the IBM Slamtracker. A flash based interface that gives you a clean picture of what is happening.
Stumble it!