TennisToday

Marion Bartoli Reaches Semifinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Quarterfinal

11 Marion Bartoli d 13 Svetlana Kuznetsova - 63 76(3)

Until this year Marion had a W/L record at RG of a whopping 8-10.

This is her second Sf run at a Slam: 1-0.

Remember she beat Henin at Wimbledon in '07 to reach the final.

007: Fran better hope that James Bond doesn't show up. Certain doom.

Oh and - when is the last time a French player played a Qf on Lenglen?

Someone is holding a grudge in Paris.

Photo: Reuters

Roger Federer Sets Up Novak Djokovic Semifinal Clash at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Quarterfinal

3 Roger Federer d 9 Gael Monfils - 64 63 76(3)

Gael made a little push toward the end but this was a blowout.

Well, once Roger woke up after a rough start.

He's under the radar sure - but he's the only man yet to drop a set.

The Slam numbers on Roger are just getting sick...

This is his 6th RG Sf: 4-1 and his 28th at a Slam: 22-5.

He will take on recent nemesis Novak Djokovic - H2H: 13-9/RF.

Remember, Novak has won all 3 matches this year.

Is Roger the streak stopper?

Roger: I know [Djokovic] has a lot on the line.

I’m looking forward to that match.

I think we usually play pretty well against each other.

Photo: Reuters

Andrea Petkovic Rocks a Little '99 Luftballons'

Just when I thought I couldn't love her any more she busts out the Nena.

Did Yves Allegro Tweet Dmitry Turnsunov's Retirement?

Journeyman Yves Allegro posted this pic of Dmitry followed by these tweets:

1. Announcement: Dmitry Tursunov is quitting tennis! Very sad to hear that!

2. Dmitry's last tournament is the Nottingham Challenger he said:

I have so good memories here!

3. Says he is happy he can commit himself to full time tweeting!!

***

Can this be true? Or just more of that old Twitter hi-jinx?

I call bullsh!t.

Chef Janko Tipsarevic Grilling some Burgers

Grillin' like a villian.

Janko took to his Facebook to post this pic & compliment his friend:

Even tho he lost today, Viktor will be top 10 latest after US Open.

You heard it hear first...

Viktor suffered a tough loss to Andy Murray today 7-5 in the 5th.

Janko could be onto something...

Vik only has 275 points to defend from now thru the US Open.

Two Serbs in the top 10 - who'da thunk it?

Serena Williams Visits Sean Kingston in Hospital

Serena visited Sean Kingston in a Jackson, FL hospital yesterday.

The recording artist was in a terrible jet ski accident the other day.

He is currently listed in stable condition.

Serena tweeted: I am thankful that I have today.

Tomorrow is not promised to any of us.

I'm gonna make every day the best I can. #loveuSeankingston

Photo: Getty Images via TMZ

Francesca Schiavone Wins Thriller to Advance to Semifinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Quarterfinal

5 Francesca Schiavone d 15 Anastasia Pavyluchenkova - 16 75 75

Boy talk about digging deep - Fran was 16 1-4 down before waking up.

The defending champ is back in the Sf's - she's now won 12 in-a-row at RG.

Remember, it was at this stage last year when nobody gave her a shot.

Dementieva & Stosur were both supposed to destroy her - didn't happen.

Can she make it back to the final and lift the trophy again?

Without the top 3 players out she's in with a shot.

Photo: Corinne Dubreuil

Andy Murray Advances to Quarterfinals with a 5 Setter at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Fourth Round

4 Andy Murray d 15 Viktor Troicki - 46 46 63 62 75

This is the 5th time Andy has come back from 2 sets down to win.

He also showed tons of heart coming back from 2-5 in the 5th.

Andy earns his 2nd RG Qf: 0-1 and 8th in a Slam: 5-2.

And all this with an admitted tendon tear in his ankle.

That can't be good with Wimbledon fast approaching.

Andy: [It hurts but] I have more pills in me than Ozzy Osbourne.

Photo: Reuters

Enjoy Your Memorial Day

Busy day - I have no time to devote to tennis today.

Back to full force tomorrow.

Enjoy your day.

Fabio Fognini into Quarters at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Fourth Round

Fabio Fognini d Alberto Montanes - 46 64 36 63 11-9

Fabio survived 2-5 down in the 5th, 5 MP's, cramos and a ton of foot faults.

But more than that he survived a highly controvercial injury timeout.

He is the first Italian to make the RG Qf's since 1995.

This is his 1st Slam Qf - he's never been past the 3rd round before.

The bad news: Fabio gets to be Novak's next victim.

Photo: Reuters

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova into Quarterfinal at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Fourth Round

14 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova d 3 Vera Zvonareva - 76(4) 26 62

The talented teenager moves into her first Slam quarterfinal.

Many have looked to her as one of the best of the coming years.

She's proving it in Paris.

She will next face the winner of the Schiavone/Jankovic match.

Win.Ab.Bull.

***

This is the first time in the Open Era the top 3 seeds have to make the Qf's.

Photo: Sindy Thomas

Roger Federer Meets Bradley Cooper after Moving into Quarterfinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Fourth Round

3 Roger Federer d 14 Stanislas Wawrinka - 63 62 75

Awe, Roger gave Bradley his hat just after he gave it to Stan.

Brad is obvs in Paris to promote The Hangover 2.

This is the third time this year Fed has whipped his friend & dubs partner.

He moves in his 28 consecutive Slam Qf - breaking the tie with Connors.

Silent but deadly: Nobody is talking about Fed but he has yet to drop a set...

OMG stat: Roger now has at least 50 match wins at all 4 Slams.

He will next face the winner of Ferrer/Monfils - either will be fun.

Oh and... who knew Bradley Cooper was so tall?

Photo: ATP Twitter page

Andy Murray Survives Injured Ankle to Advance at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Third Round

4 Andy Murray d Michael Berrer - 62 63 62

Andy went over on his ankle early in the 2nd set.

He had it taped and was able to finish the match (un)comfortably.

But how it reacts in before his next match on Monday is still unknown.

Andy: I don't know if I will be 100 per cent fit.

I don't know if I will be playing the next match. Maybe I will be.

And with his beloved Wimbledon just weeks away... Well, you get the idea.

Tough luck: Just as Andy seemed poised for a Sf run.

Photo: Getty Images

Maria Sharapova into 4th Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Third Round

7 Maria Sharapova d Q Yung-Jan Chan - 62 63

Maria is suddenly 4 matches away from a career Slam.

Remember: she won W in '04, US in '06, AO in '08.

AND, she has a dream draw to try and get that career Slam thing done too.

Next up she plays Radwanska and then Petkovic/Kirilenko in the Qf's.

And if she can get to the final 4 - anything can happen. Just ask Fran.

Photo: Getty Images

Rafael Nadal Eases into 4th Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Third Round

1 Rafael Nadal d Q Antonio Veic - 61 63 60

There he is: Rafa finally gave his fans a breather.

RN: I had not forgotten to play tennis for a week, but I played better today.

I try and find solutions day after day when I practise,

And then I try and implement that during the matches.

But, as I said, it's not just a problem of tennis practice or technique.

I also had problems with my mental concentration.

I made a great step forward.

I have more confidence, and that's a major step forward for me.

Qf bound: Rafa has Ivan Ljubicic next - H2H: 6-2/RN. 3 and done.

In the year of Novak can Rafa lift the trophy a 6th time?

Photo: Getty Images

Viktor/Victoria Move into 4th Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros

Men: 15 Viktor Troicki d 21 Alexsandr Dolgopolov - 64 36 63 64

Serbia's second banana is putting together a very sweet run.

4th rounder: This is now the farthest he's ever gone in a Slam.

And he may just get thru the next one too against Andy Murray.

Andy went over on his ankle in his match today... It's a wait and see.

***

Women: 4 Victoria Azarenka d 30 Roberta Vinci - 63 62

As many hours as I watch I have yet to see Vika strike a single ball on TV.

Future champ: Brad Gilbert has tipped her to take the title next Saturday.

That is if she doesn't retire another match this year.

Photos: Reuters

Novak Djokovic Advances to 4th Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Third Round

2 Novak Djokovic d 25 Juan Martin Del Potro - 63 36 63 62

40-0 for 2011.

And that was just the 10th set Novak had lost this season.

This is getting ever closer to historic folks. Can anyone stop him?

It's now been over 6 months since Nole was on the losing side of a match.

His last loss was in the Sf's to Federer in Nov. at the World Tour Finals.

Novak: I knew he was going to be a difficult opponent to beat.

I went into the match a bit more nervous than usual.

Novak will return tomorrow to face Richard Gasquet - H2H: 4-1/ND.

Oops: Gasquet has taken only 8 games off Novak in their last 2 matches.

I have a feeling we'll be talking about #41 tomorrow...

Photo: Reuters

Caroline Wozniacki Serves Up a Stinker at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Third Round

28 Daniela Hantuchova d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 61 63

Now please - do yourself a favor and take a damn week off.

I can't even write about this. I just can't. Except to caption the photo:

She who smelt it dealt it.

Photo: Getty Images

Janko Tipsarevic: Road to Roland Garros Q&A...

Very cute Tipsy. Very cute...

David Ferrer Moves into 4th Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Third Round

7 David Ferrer d 31 Sergiy Stakhovsky - 61 61 63

David's tongue should have its own publicist. Kinda not kidding.

That scoreline shows that he's been the 3rd best clay courter this year.

He's moving toward a possible Qf against Roger Federer...

0-fer: But he will first need to get thru (9) Gael Monfils - H2H: 2-0/GM.

Both of those wins came in France - 1 at RG & the other in Davis Cup play.

This time tho Gael will need to bring something extra special to win.

Either way, that should be a wildly entertaining match.