Djokovic extends perfect start at French Open
Five-time champion Nadal, Sharapova ease into last-16.
PARIS:
World number two Novak Djokovic made it 40 straight wins of the year by finishing off giant Argentine Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a third-round tie held over from late Friday when the two men had parted at one-set all.
Djokovic once again showed all the composure and killer instinct that has been a feature of his stunning unbeaten run and he comfortably dealt with some typically beefy hitting from the 2009 US Open champion.
The Serb will next play back-to-form Frenchman Richard Gasquet for a place in the quarter-finals.
“Richard is playing some of the best tennis of his life,” said Djokovic. “He has a lot of confidence and self-belief and he’ll have the crowd behind him.”
Djokovic will match John McEnroe’s 42-match winning streak set from the start of 1984 should he reach the semi-final.
Nadal registers straight-set victory
Top-seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal coasted into the last-16 with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 win over Croatian qualifier Antonio Veic in a centre-court mismatch.
Nadal wasted no time in getting on top of Veic, the world number 227, who scored a five-set win over Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko to reach the third round in what was just his second Grand Slam event.
Meanwhile, Murray survived an injury scare to reach the last-16 with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win over Michael Berrer of Germany.
Sharapova, Azarenka reach last-16
Seventh-seed Maria Sharapova comfortably reached the last-16 slot with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Taiwan qualifier Chan Yung-Jan in her third round encounter. The Russian will now face Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, the 12th-seed, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Victoria Azarenka and Li Na also joined Sharapova in the last-16 of the tournament. Azarenka claimed a 6-3, 6-2 win over Italian Roberta Vinci while Li enjoyed a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over her Romanian opponent Sorana Cirstea.
Aisam advances
Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq and his mixed doubles Czech partner Kveta Peschke defeated David Marrero of Spain and Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru 7-6, 6-2.
Earlier yesterday, Aisam and his Indian doubles partner Rohan Bopanna had advanced to the third round after defeating Argentine Maxima Gonzalez and Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2011.
World number two Novak Djokovic made it 40 straight wins of the year by finishing off giant Argentine Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a third-round tie held over from late Friday when the two men had parted at one-set all.
Djokovic once again showed all the composure and killer instinct that has been a feature of his stunning unbeaten run and he comfortably dealt with some typically beefy hitting from the 2009 US Open champion.
The Serb will next play back-to-form Frenchman Richard Gasquet for a place in the quarter-finals.
“Richard is playing some of the best tennis of his life,” said Djokovic. “He has a lot of confidence and self-belief and he’ll have the crowd behind him.”
Djokovic will match John McEnroe’s 42-match winning streak set from the start of 1984 should he reach the semi-final.
Nadal registers straight-set victory
Top-seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal coasted into the last-16 with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 win over Croatian qualifier Antonio Veic in a centre-court mismatch.
Nadal wasted no time in getting on top of Veic, the world number 227, who scored a five-set win over Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko to reach the third round in what was just his second Grand Slam event.
Meanwhile, Murray survived an injury scare to reach the last-16 with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win over Michael Berrer of Germany.
Sharapova, Azarenka reach last-16
Seventh-seed Maria Sharapova comfortably reached the last-16 slot with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Taiwan qualifier Chan Yung-Jan in her third round encounter. The Russian will now face Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, the 12th-seed, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Victoria Azarenka and Li Na also joined Sharapova in the last-16 of the tournament. Azarenka claimed a 6-3, 6-2 win over Italian Roberta Vinci while Li enjoyed a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over her Romanian opponent Sorana Cirstea.
Aisam advances
Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq and his mixed doubles Czech partner Kveta Peschke defeated David Marrero of Spain and Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru 7-6, 6-2.
Earlier yesterday, Aisam and his Indian doubles partner Rohan Bopanna had advanced to the third round after defeating Argentine Maxima Gonzalez and Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2011.