French Open: Serena sets up Kuznetsova showdown

World number one destroys Vinci in straight sets to cruise into quarter-final.

PARIS:

Serena Williams bludgeoned her way to another lopsided win at the French Open yesterday as she continued her quest for a second French Open title, 11 years after her first.

The top-seeded American disposed the world’s top doubles player, Roberta Vinci of Italy, 6-1, 6-3 and in four matches at Roland Garros this year, she has dropped just 10 games.

The win puts her into a quarter-final matchup against unseeded Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia who won the title in Paris in 2009 after defeating Serena in a quarter-final thriller.

Kuznetsova, who outlasted eighth-seed Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, said she would relish going up again against Serena, even given her current form.



“I mean, she’s the best in the world so far,” she said. “She’s been playing unbelievable tennis.

“But I believe that I have the game and my good days as well. Let’s cross fingers I will have a good day on that one. She’s just a fighter. She’s unbelievable, you know.”

Serena said that she expected a tough match every time she comes up against Kuznetsova.

“I mean, the last time we played here she won, so that will probably get her pumped up and she’s on a comeback,” said Serena. “She has nothing to lose but everything to gain. She also wants to do well, and she’s won this tournament before.

“I have had some pretty tough matches this claycourt season, and I think for sure that will be another one.”

The win takes Serena career-best winning streak to 28, the third longest since 2000 behind sister Venus (35) and Justine Henin (32).

Djokovic mourns death of former coach

World number one Novak Dkjokovic cancelled his post-match press conference at the French Open on Saturday in tribute to his first coach, Jelena Gencic, who has died aged 77.



The top seed completed an impressive 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over rising Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov before tournament organisers announced that he would be unavailable for the customary post-match interview as a sign of respect for his fellow Serb.

Gencic noticed Djokovic’s talent when he was six years old and with the agreement of his parents trained him for five years before he left for further coaching in Germany.

Djokovic will go up against Phillip Kohlschreiber for a place in the quarter-finals today.

Ferrer strolls into last-eight

David Ferrer reached the quarter-finals for the fourth time as he breezed past South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.



The 31-year-old has made the last-eight without dropping a set and goes on to an all-Spanish quarter-final against either Tommy Robredo against who he boasts a head-to-head lead of 6-2.

“I have faced other Spanish players many times,” he said. “They are always difficult to play against.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2013.