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Lundi Net Post	06/02/2008 - 9:00 AM

By TW Contributing Editor, Ed McGrogan

Last Week's & This Week's Tournament

Roland Garros (ATP & WTA - Clay - Paris, France)

- Men's Singles
- Women's Singles
- Men's Doubles
- Women's Doubles
- Mixed Doubles
- Boys' Singles
- Girls' Singles
- Boys' Doubles
- Girls' Doubles

(Television Schedule)

By the Letter (Roland Garros Edition)

T...ournament summary? Read the second paragraph from Kamakshi Tandon's latest blog post - spot on and wonderfully written. With a few notable exceptions, most of the top men's and women's seeds have advanced without difficulty. But that hasn't been the only theme in Paris this week - a number of players off the radar have produced other compelling storylines. I've written about some of them already, but here are ten more names that have made their mark during the opening week of play.
E...stonian Kaia Kanepi has had success at Roland Garros before, winning the Girls' Singles title in 2001. But she's struggled as a pro, winning just one match in her first two appearances. She's already tripled that win total this year, which included an upset of No. 6 seed Anna Chakvetadze.
N...ext up for Kanepi is Petra Kvitova. The 18-year old from the Czech Republic is one of only four unseeded players to reach the fourth round, and did so at her first career Grand Slam tournament. Her biggest win came in the third round against No. 12 seed Agnes Szavay.
N...otwithstanding the beating from Ana Ivanovic in her final match (0-6, 0-6), Petra Cetkovska had an excellent showing in Paris this week. She turned pro back in 2000, but last year's U.S. Open was her first main draw appearance at a Slam. Her fourth round finish this week is by far her best performance on the sport's loftiest stage.
I...van Ljubicic was last in the Top 10 exactly one year ago, but has steadily fallen since then. Seeing the [28] next to his name is a shock for anyone who's followed tennis over the last few years. But coming back from two sets down against Nikolay Davydenko rekindles memories of more prosperous times.
S...imilar struggles have befallen Fernando Gonzalez, who is now ranked No. 25 after failing to defend significant points earlier this year at the Australian Open and Rome. Gonzo seemed to be on his way out of Paris early as well, until he came back from two sets down to thwart Stanislas Wawrinka.
W...ith Davydenko out of his way and assured of not seeing Roger Federer until the semis, Gael Monfils has a real shot to make this year's French Open the defining tournament of his young career. He's been strong so far, getting by a number of early threats in Arnaud Clement, Luis Horna, and Jurgen Melzer. Things get harder quickly, with Ljubicic next and Ferrer likely to follow. But nobody said it would be easy.
O...ut of the tournament, Katarina Srebotnik still deserves mention for her third round upset of Serena Williams. Few players relish the opportunity to play Williams, but Srebotnik's game attitude paid off in a 6-4, 6-4 victory.
R...obby Ginepri's first round win against Donald Young had to be a relief for the Georgian. Ginepri had a relatively strong showing in Poertschach a week earlier, but losing to someone seven years his junior - himself still only 25 - would not have done much to further fuel his confidence. Now, three rounds later, Ginepri is the last American standing in either bracket.
L...ast year, Julien Benneteau didn't survive the first round of Roland Garros. It was a disappointing result on the surface, especially because he was a quarterfinals in 2006. To quarter again, he'll have to get by Federer today.
D...inara Safina's high seeding (No. 13) differentiates her from others on this list, but her play has been no less impressive. Safina last played in Berlin, where she defeated both Justine Henin and Serena Williams on her way to the title. [Who would have guessed then that they'd both be out of the French by now?] She pulled out of Rome the following week with a back injury, but has come back strong in Paris, winning all six sets she's played.

McGrogan's Heroes

ATP - Ernests Gulbis Gulbis

Tennis is a difficult sport to play, both physically and mentally. Add the extra pressure and demands that come with being a pro, it's a wonder that anyone succeeds. It usually takes years of experience to get comfortable in this cutthroat environment. That's what makes Ernests Gulbis' performance at this year's French Open even more astounding to me.

Gulbis, 19, hasn't yet won a title on tour, or even reached a final. But he's already been noticed for his play at Grand Slam tournaments. At last year's U.S. Open, the first of his career, Gulbis celebrated his 19th birthday with a surprise run to the fourth round. The highlight of this week was a 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 thrashing of eighth-seeded Tommy Robredo. Gulbis made believers out of those watching on the Grandstand court that evening by whistling countless balls past the disbelieving Spaniard.

Gulbis eventually succumbed to veteran Carlos Moya in the next round, but he made Latvia quite proud. I attended his post-match press conference, and saw the same attributes he displays on court - composure and confidence. The shot he's most confident with is his forehand, a lethal weapon that he often unleashes to end points. Michael Llodra was the latest person to find that out, in the fourth round.

Ernests has only dropped one set (against James Blake) on his way to the quarterfinals, which matches his best result of the year in any tournament. Admittedly, his draw has been kind, but taking out Blake is always impressive, and beating Llodra in straight sets with the entire crowd pulling for him may have even more difficult. Gulbis faces Novak Djokovic next, and the only way he'll win is by coming out firing. At least we know he has the tools to do it.

WTA - Carla Suarez Navarro Csn

Carla Suarez Navarro's path to the quarterfinals has been very similar to Gulbis'. Both players are 19 years old, both are in the same quarter of their respective draws (along with the No. 3 seed), and both have only dropped one set so far. But there's one big difference about their journeys. While Gulbis was taking his time on practice courts before the tournament started, Navarro was already in must-win mode in qualifying matches.

Navarro's prior results this year were good enough to earn her the No. 13 seed in the 96-player qualifying draw. Her highlights include a semifinal run at Bogota (a clay tournament that she also had to qualify for) and a finals appearance at the Tenerife ITF event a month later. Still, at No. 132 in the world, she was forced with the onerous task of qualifying. After winning three matches in her octet, she reached her first Grand Slam main draw.

After making the final 128, Navarro has not slowed down whatsoever. Navarro opened her tournament by defeating two Frenchwomen - the unheralded Pauline Parmentier, and the former Grand Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo. Her next two matches have continued to raise eyebrows. She defeated Casey Dellacqua, who reached the fourth round of this year's Australian Open, 6-3, 6-3, and then upset clay specialist Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-2.

Like Gulbis, Navarro faces a tall order in her next match. Waiting for Navarro is Jelena Jankovic, whom she has never before played. The favored Serbian has not lost a set so far at Roland Garros, but has looked noticeably shaky at various points. It will be up to Navarro to apply as much pressure as possible to Jankovic, in hopes that those hiccups resurface.

Tennis Theatre

This is the Gulbis/Robredo match I was referring to:

Beyond the Bracket

"You've got to go to the first week of a Slam."

"The best tennis is during the first week of a Slam."

"If you've never been to a Slam, you've got to go in the first week."

I hear this all the time, and I've even said it myself. But why? Aren't blowouts rampant during the first week of a Slam? And more importantly, aren't the matches we're going to be talking about thirty years from now usually played in the second week?

Like all things in life, it depends. If you only follow a particular player, going to the second week of a Slam may be ideal. For one, you can plan your trip accordingly because you'll probably have a better idea of when that player will be playing. Secondly, that player might be on court for more than an hour (women) or 90 minutes (men). Rarely are the top seeds tested in the opening week, but there's always exceptions.

But if you enjoy the sport of tennis more than one tennis player - which I implore all of you do to (you're missing out on so much if you don't) - the opening week of a Grand Slam tournament is heaven on earth.

The key word is choice. The opening week of a Slam provides the greatest number of matches. Not only can you pick what you'd like to see from a wide range (which you can quickly change if it doesn't suit your taste), you can change the type of tennis you're watching. Bored with a bruising men's singles battle? Switch to a more tactical brand of tennis like women's doubles. (I find women's doubles to be more enjoyable to watch than men's.)

As a writer, I'm also thankful for an abundance of matches to choose from. There's more stories to uncover, more things to learn, and thankfully for you all, more than one thing to read about. How many ways can sports journalists dissect what happened at the Super Bowl? I can count it on one hand. How many ways can the first round of a Slam be discussed? Give me an abacus.

I was discussing this the other day with a friend of mine, Clair Maciel of the USPTA. After rehashing some of the day's results at Roland Garros, we got talking about how much the Slams have to offer, as compared to other tournaments. With so many matches going on at once, there is bound to be something noteworthy to catch, whether it's a fantastically competitive match, or a jarring upset.

This includes matches played during the first week. Here's what you could have seen with a grounds pass (no access to Chatrier, Lenglen, or Court 1) at this year's French Open:

- Eduardo Schwank (ARG) def Carlos Moya (ESP)[16] 7-6(4) 6-2 6-7(1) 4-6 6-3
- Michael Llodra (FRA) def Tomas Berdych (CZE)[11] 6-3 4-6 5-7 6-3 6-4
- Bethanie Mattek (USA) def Madison Brengle (USA) 6-3 2-6 6-4
- Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) def Karolina Sprem (CRO) 7-6(3) 3-6 8-6
- Jeremy Chardy (FRA) def David Nalbandian (ARG)[6] 3-6 4-6 6-2 6-1 6-2
- Kaia Kanepi (EST) def Anna Chakvetadze (RUS)[6] 6-4 7-6(2)
- Bob Bryan (USA)[1]/Mike Bryan (USA)[1] def Rohan Bopanna (IND)/Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) 6-1 6-4
- Nicolas Almagro (ESP)[19] def Andy Murray (GBR)[10] 6-3 6-7(3) 6-3 7-5
- Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)[24] def Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)[9] 5-7 2-6 6-4 6-4 6-4
- Kaia Kanepi (EST) def A. Medina Garrigues (ESP)[29] 6-1 6-7(5) 7-5
- Cara Black (ZIM)[1]/Liezel Huber (USA)[1] def Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)/ Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-4 6-7(4) 6-2

As we closed our conversation, we each looked forward to this year's U.S. Open (the next Slam we'll get to cover). If you come join us, I have just one piece of advice for you: come during the first week.

if...

you had to guess, how many sets does Gulbis take from Djokovic? Almagro from Nadal?

36
Comments

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Posted by climbuphigh	06/02/2008 at 09:06 AM
first!

Posted by spacenoxx	06/02/2008 at 09:14 AM
second!

Posted by Master Ace

06/02/2008 at 09:25 AM

Answer to if question:

Novak and Rafael win their matches in straight sets even though they will be tested more than usual. In Rafael case, he will only lose 9 games.

Posted by Matt Zemek

06/02/2008 at 09:43 AM

Wonderful stuff, Ed.

What I love about slam tennis, in addition to the big matches and superstar throwdowns, are these kinds of stories, when struggling, battling players--scrambling from one challenger to another or from one qualifying round to the next--make a quarterfinal slam run and pull in the first big paycheck of their careers, validating all the hard work and sacrifice. Perhaps these checks won't come often in the future, but the simple knowledge that these labors aren't in vain, and that some fruit has been produced--enough to make the insane travel schedule and disproportionate devotion to the sport at the cost of other life priorities--is deeply satisfying to see.

I can't begin to truly imagine how deeply rewarding it must feel for a Gulbis or a Suarez Navarro to get a six-figure quarterfinalist's check after all the gruntwork and intensive labor they've put themselves through.

Chardy, Cetkovska, and others might not have been quarterfinalists, but their $90,000 (roughly, give or take several thousand) payoffs for their runs at Roland Garros are similarly rewarding, if on a slightly smaller scale.

Lives changing for the better. That's another one of the charms of the first week at a slam. Careers full of uncertainty do, for one week, make all the sacrifice worthwhile.

Posted by linex	06/02/2008 at 09:45 AM
I guess each will only take one set from the third and second seed players of this tournament.

Posted by Ruth

06/02/2008 at 09:50 AM

Ed: Thanks for spreading the gospel about the wonderful-ness of first week attendance at Slams. I've been preaching that sermon to anyone who'll listen for years and years. (Pardon the church-y references; but it is the day after Sunday. :))

My teaching duties for the fall semester always start on the second week of the USO; and, many years ago, I may have thought that, once I had reduced my teaching schedule to what it is now (one day per week), I'd consider going up to NYC for Week 2 of the USO instead of Week 1. However, for all of the reasons that you've mentioned and more, I am not the slightest bit interested in making that change. Week 1 is just too great, too much fun!

(Of course, if money -- read hotel costs and higher priced tickets -- were no object, I'd love to do BOTH weeks, but, alas....)

IF...Gulbis takes one set from Djoko, Almagro none from Nadal.

Posted by bobob	06/02/2008 at 09:58 AM
Gulbis loses in straights, Almagro beats Nadal 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-7, 9-7

Posted by ava	06/02/2008 at 10:24 AM
Gulbis takes two sets from Djoko, Almagro none from Nadal.

Posted by	06/02/2008 at 11:00 AM
go go gulbis

Posted by	06/02/2008 at 11:01 AM
gulbis bulbis in 4 against no go djoko

Posted by randomlurker

06/02/2008 at 11:14 AM

If...
Gulbis might put on quite a show, I've got a strange feeling about this guy. However, another possibility is that Djokovic come out firing and rock-solid, beating Gulbis in a typical 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 kind of match. Would not be surprised if he does.
But I'll give Gulbis a set (the first one).

Almagro- none. Barring blisters, Nadal should continue serving those breadsticks. Maybe one 7-5 set, but that's it.

Posted by Sam	06/02/2008 at 11:22 AM
Answer to if question: Gulbis takes 1 set, Almagro none.

Posted by

06/02/2008 at 11:46 AM

'Almagro beats Nadal 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-7, 9-7'

..good to speculate, but if that happens( and if Federer happens to win the FO), Federer should dedicate this win to Almagro. lol

Posted by Ruth_yyz

06/02/2008 at 11:58 AM

SAFINA BEATS SHARAPOVA. DID U SEE THE COMEBACK IN THE SECOND SET. GOOOOO SAFINA!!!!

Now I am royally late in getting to work. Oh well

Posted by Chiconinja

06/02/2008 at 12:07 PM

Nole wins in 4, Rafa in 3.

Both matches will last about 3 hours.

Posted by Staz	06/02/2008 at 12:30 PM
Djokovic beats Gulbis 6-7 7-6 6-3 4-6 6-4 Nadal beats Almagro 7-5 7-6 6-4

Posted by Samantha Elin

06/02/2008 at 12:32 PM

I'm not going to mention any names, but a lot of the ballbashers are losing because they can't change thier games and adapt to the clay. Justine was an all court player who achieved success because she used her brain on the court. The ballbashing needs to stop because it makes it look like tennis is what the critics say, a game where all you have to do is hit the ball back and forth. Tennis isn't baseball. Go Justine, real world's #1!

Posted by Staz	06/02/2008 at 12:32 PM
Djokovic beats Gulbis 6-7 7-6 6-3 4-6 6-4 Nadal beats Almagro 7-5 7-6 6-4

Posted by crazyone

06/02/2008 at 12:47 PM

Almagro already conceded the match to Nadal yesterday in his presser so I'm pretty sure he won't win a set even if Nadal tries to hand him one (which he won't). As for Gulbis, I like his game a lot and think he will eventually get to the point where he can beat an in-form Djokovic but I don't think that day is tomorrow. Straight sets for Djokovic too, with a close first set. It's possible Gulbis wins the first but I don't think Djokovic will be troubled in the end. Gulbis is just lacking in the experience needed to beat Djokovic at this stage of a Slam.

Posted by Ryan	06/02/2008 at 01:09 PM
Djoko in 3, Rafa in 4.

Posted by Ruth

06/02/2008 at 01:35 PM

Sam: Copycat!!! :)

My reason for saying that Almagro won't win any sets against Nadal has nothing to do with what he said about Nadal (and what crazyone cited). I just think that Nadal probably has great respect for Almagro's game and will come prepared to fight him from game #1.

I suppose that ESPN feels obligated to show us the match of the #1 player (so many people have probably harassed them about not doing that sometimes). But, right now, I'd prefer it if they were showing us the exciting LIVE matches of Monfils or Stepanek and saving the repeat of Fed's match for later in the day when the more casual fans (those who didn't see Fed live this morning) will be tuning in to see what happened.

Posted by Tennis Bets

06/02/2008 at 02:32 PM

Djoko talked at the presser about tuesday match against Gulbis:

Q. I believe your next opponent Gulbis also trained at Niki Pilic's academy. I'm wondering if you knew him from back then or how much you know of him, how much contact you've had with him?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: On and off the court. We know each other on and off the court. (laughter.) Crazy experiences off the court as well. For three years we've been practicing in the Pilic Academy. He's a great guy. I know him.

He was very talented back then. I was speaking with Pilic, and he told me all the best things about him. Already then he was very powerful.

So he was about to grow up, and as you can see, he's very tall. He's using his height for the serve, which is one of his biggest weapons. He makes a life really difficult for his opponents when he's serving well. He has a big forehand, very talented guy, but still getting through, you know. He made some good results here and there, but he's not consistent.

So maybe there's my chance, you know, with the experience and the patience that I have.

Q. Would you like to tell us about some of those crazy experiences?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No (laughter.)

Q. Getting back to the crazy experiences, one would think you seem like more the crazy guy than him. He seems very calm and cool. Is that a proper assumption? He was very calm when he was in here.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Ernests?

Q. Yes. You seem sometimes crazier than he is.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Don't be so sure about that. (laughter.) I think I know him better than you.

Q. When you were together with Gulbis, did you play a lot of matches together, or were you just sort of hitting?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: He was destroying me in practices. I couldn't win a match. On practice? No chance.

Q. How recently is that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Sorry?

Q. How recently was that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Two or three years ago. So all the pressure on him, okay? (laughter.)

He's a favorite. Whatever. I play ‑‑ no responsibility, nothing to lose.

Q. If Gulbis was beating you so badly in practice, how do you explain that you've won a major and he's still trying to get to the semifinals?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think that's ‑‑ that's a great example that practice and the official match are two different things.

Posted by Tennis Bets

06/02/2008 at 02:34 PM

Djoko talked at the presser about tuesday match against Gulbis:

Q. I believe your next opponent Gulbis also trained at Niki Pilic's academy. I'm wondering if you knew him from back then or how much you know of him, how much contact you've had with him?

He was very talented back then. I was speaking with Pilic, and he told me all the best things about him. Already then he was very powerful.

So maybe there's my chance, you know, with the experience and the patience that I have.

Q. Would you like to tell us about some of those crazy experiences?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No (laughter.)

Q. Getting back to the crazy experiences, one would think you seem like more the crazy guy than him. He seems very calm and cool. Is that a proper assumption? He was very calm when he was in here.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Ernests?

Q. Yes. You seem sometimes crazier than he is.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Don't be so sure about that. (laughter.) I think I know him better than you.

Q. When you were together with Gulbis, did you play a lot of matches together, or were you just sort of hitting?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: He was destroying me in practices. I couldn't win a match. On practice? No chance.

Q. How recently is that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Sorry?

Q. How recently was that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Two or three years ago. So all the pressure on him, okay? (laughter.)

He's a favorite. Whatever. I play ‑‑ no responsibility, nothing to lose.

Q. If Gulbis was beating you so badly in practice, how do you explain that you've won a major and he's still trying to get to the semifinals?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think that's ‑‑ that's a great example that practice and the official match are two different things.

Posted by spacenoxx

06/02/2008 at 03:41 PM

I hope Gulbis plays to his potential tomorrow. Doesnt matter if he loses or wins. Its about getting confidence in playing big matches. If he can play to the best of his ability and may be take a set he will feel much better and will eventually improve.

This guy has loads of talent and he needs this experience.

Posted by JR	06/02/2008 at 03:45 PM
Ruth--I wish you were a grand slam tennis producer (or administrator).

Posted by daylily	06/02/2008 at 03:55 PM
ruth - congratulations! gael won! yayyyyy!

Posted by Sam

06/02/2008 at 04:29 PM

"Sam: Copycat!!! :)"

Ruth: Damn, you're on to me. ;-) Also, I second JR's 3:45 post.

Posted by Ruth

06/02/2008 at 05:36 PM

daylily: It's bad enough when I'm afraid to watch the match on TV, but, today, I was even afraid to go scoreboarding when the match was on. LOL Go, Gael!

Sam and JR: I don't mind the black socks so much with black sneakers, but, with anything else, I'm with you guys. No, no, no! To this day, my thirty-something sons still laugh out loud when they remember our neighbor with his Bermuda shorts, white sneakers, and black socks.

Posted by Beckham	06/02/2008 at 06:17 PM
Ans to If question, howz about zero...Gulbis isn't there yet and well Almagro already waved the white flag...

Posted by jb

06/02/2008 at 08:26 PM

oh geez Ed - there's so much going on I'm just getting to the monday post! Have to agree with you on the first week of the slam - just way fun to be able to catch so much tennis. You can't but help trip over great matches.

If Gulbis keeps his head - I can see him giving Djokovic trouble, but not quite sure he can beat him yet. I think the fact they know each other so well may help him; lets see if he can 'break through' here. Either way - should be interesting to see if / when he can become a more constistent threat.

Ruth - yes - i NEVER get that the tennis producers will show a taped match rather than a live one. once the live matches are over, go nuts on the taped ones. Also never got the we showed something earlier today, we're in tape delay, lets replay the same match. i mean, why not show something that wasn't shown? sigh.

makes me wonder if ANYONE in charge of scheduling / programming actually watches the sport?

Posted by beth	06/02/2008 at 08:56 PM
jb- my guess would be know Gael won! Has Mrs Santa celebrated yet ? did I miss her excitement ?

Posted by jb

06/02/2008 at 11:19 PM

heehee - i think mrs santa is still passed out under her desk with a bottle of jamesons. i expect her to revive in the middle of the nite and set off all the alarms in the building.

remind me to check the police reports tomorrow.... :)

Posted by Master Ace	06/03/2008 at 07:45 AM
Jb, Check those police reports for Mrs. Santa...:)

Posted by	06/03/2008 at 12:38 PM
Samantha...Justine has retired. Thank you and good-bye.

Posted by Ruth	06/03/2008 at 05:02 PM
Well, Sam, we weren't 100% right about our "If" predictions (although one out of two ain't too bad). And I think that the TB and 7-5 sets show that we were on the right track in gving one set to Gulbis.

Posted by LOIS

06/03/2008 at 09:32 PM

HI EVERYONE,

GULBIS is going to be a top ten player and not all that long from here,I liked his game. Now I don't care if anyone likes DJOKE or not but his behavior was uncalled for,I have never seen NADAL act that way. I think he had beter grow up a little faster,GULBIS did not act that way. You WIN or you LOSE but you act like a man about it,maybe you won't WIN all the time-but that's the way it is. NAVARRO was not experienced but I liked her style,exspecially her ONE-HANDED BACK-HAND,I think we'll be seeing much more of her. NADAL WAS AWESOME,and with even more KILLER INSTINCT than usual-I think DJOKE will have a MONSTER ON HIS HANDS,serves him right! SORRY guys I also seen RODGER'S COACH checking him out,I can't rightly say but I think everyone has a FRANKLINSTIEN on thier hands.

THANKS FOR ALL THE BEST WISHES GUYS,EVERYTHING LOOKS
PROMISING AND A GO SOON FOR THAT LIVER TRANSPLANT. MY
DR. THINKS IT WILL HAPPEN SOON. GOODNITE

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