Serena wins with easy score; Henin ousted by Stosur in three sets on Day 9 in Paris

In what her coach said would need to be "the match of her life" for her to win, Sam Stosur snapped one of the longest French Open winning streaks of all time, beating Justine Henin in a thriller, 26 61 64.

Though seeded No.7, many picked Henin - the No.22 seed - as the favorite in the fourth round clash. And that seemed like a worthy prediction after Henin claimed a routine first set, 6-2; but from there the all-court attacking game that took Stosur all the way to the semifinals last year began hitting its mark.

Stosur stormed through the second set and broke to lead 3-2 in the third; Henin broke back and held to lead 4-3, but Stosur came back at her, breaking for 5-4 then drawing several backhand errors from Henin while serving the match out.

Stosur improves to 18-2 on clay this year, a 90% winning percentage - her only losses came to Henin in the final of Stuttgart and to Venus Williams in the quarterfinals of Madrid. Nobody has won more matches on clay this year.

Henin had won 24 straight matches at the French, third to Chris Evert (29) and Monica Seles (25). Before being pushed to three sets by Maria Sharapova in the third round, she had also equaled the longest set streak with 40 consecutive set wins (tied with Helen Wills Moody). She has won the title four times.

Awaiting Stosur in the quarterfinals will be No.1 seed and 2002 French Open champion Serena Williams. Earlier in the day, Williams faced the player who had won the most overall matches on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour this year - Shahar Peer - and eased past the No.18 seed with little drama, 62 62.

"I felt really consistent today. I felt like I was hitting the right shots and the balls were going where they needed to go," Williams said. "I felt really powerful today and able to dictate. Even when she would put me on the run, I was still on the offensive. I always seem to be able to turn it up during this particular stage."

Williams and Stosur have played four times before, with Williams leading the head-to-head, 3-1. But Stosur had match points in one of Williams' wins, a 63 67(4) 75 victory at Sydney last year, and this will be their first meeting on clay.

"You can never underestimate anyone, and Sam is a wonderful clay court player," Williams said. "She proved that last year, and this year she has only lost twice on clay. She has a good chance to go all the way. She's amazing."

Also booking a quarterfinal berth on Monday was No.4 seed Jelena Jankovic, who snapped a two-match losing streak to Daniela Hantuchova with a 64 62 win over the No.23 seed. Jankovic had lost to Hantuchova at Charleston and in Fed Cup earlier in the clay court season, but after breaking for a 5-4 lead in the first set was in total command, hitting her down-the-lines crisply and serving strong. She will next face Yaroslava Shvedova, who reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal with a 64 63 win over wildcard Jarmila Groth.


Monday, May 31, 2010

Singles - Fourth Round
(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. (18) Shahar Peer (ISR) 62 62
(4) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (23) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 64 62
(7) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. (22) Justine Henin (BEL) 26 61 64
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. (WC) Jarmila Groth (AUS) 64 63

Henin beats Sharapova in three sets in two days; Venus ousted by Petrova on Day 8 in Paris

The sun went down on them Saturday night but former No.1s and multiple Grand Slam champions Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin rose again on Sunday to complete their blockbuster third round match. And the queen of clay was able to squeak through, as Henin clinched it, 62 36 63.

Play was stopped after the two split sets, with Sharapova regrouping after a first set blowout to truly assert herself - and her huge ground game - against the four-time French Open champion. Sharapova winning the second set meant Henin's sets record at the French - 40 straight, including the 6-2 from earlier in the evening - would come to an end, meaning she would equal Helen Wills Moody's record and not break it. With bad light after 9pm, both players agreed to stop.

Sharapova, the No.12 seed, came out stronger upon resumption, winning the first two games and holding break points with Henin serving 0-2; No.22 seed Henin clawed her way through every point as Sharapova pounded big forehands and backhands with pinpoint accuracy, but she managed to claw just enough, winning six of the last seven games to complete the triumph.

"At 3-0 with two breaks, it would have been difficult to come back," Henin said. "She was putting a lot of pressure on me. I knew she was going to come out very aggressively. I was ready for that, but apparently not enough in the beginning. I started coming to the net and that gave me my confidence back."

Henin has now won 24 straight matches at Roland Garros, closing in on the records of Chris Evert (29) and Monica Seles (25). The Belgian is also now a perfect 26-0 lifetime in Grand Slam third round matches.

Next up for Henin is No.7 seed Samantha Stosur, who she has played just once, winning in the final of Stuttgart in April - in three sets.

"We played a tough one in Stuttgart. She's a great player on clay," Henin said. "I'm very happy I'm still in this French Open, and I just want to keep going, keep winning. I'll have to be at a good level if I want to win that one."

Sharapova had her own streak going, winning seven matches in a row - she won her second title of the year in Strasbourg last week and two more matches here.

"I just didn't have enough on this particular day," Sharapova said after the match. "I definitely played some good tennis. And at the end of the day, no matter how good or bad you play, she's the one with the W.

"There's a good lot of work to do. I know the things that hurt me. I just want to go back on the court and work on them. I know it'll help me in the future."

Other seeds who lost were No.2 seed Venus Williams, who fell to Russian No.19 seed Nadia Petrova 64 63; No.14 seed Flavia Pennetta, who lost to No.3 seed Caroline Wozniacki with a score of 76(5) 67(4) 62; and No.30 seed Maria Kirilenko, who ousted the defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the previous round, succumbed to No.17 seed Francesca Schiavone with a score of 64 64. Elena Dementieva advanced though, beating qualifier Chanelle Scheepers with a score of 61 63.


Sunday, May 30, 2010

Singles - Fourth Round
(19) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (2) Venus Williams (USA) 64 63
(3) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (14) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 76(5) 67(4) 62
(5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (Q) Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 61 63
(17) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. (30) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 64 64

Singles - Third Round
(22) Justine Henin (BEL) d. (12) Maria Sharapova (RUS) 62 36 63

Serena wins in three sets to Russian; Sharapova, Henin one set all in suspended match on Day 7 in Paris

No.1 going in, No.1 going out. Serena Williams secured the post-Roland Garros No.1 ranking Saturday with a see-saw three set victory over Russian rising star Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 61 16 62.

Williams, 28 and seeded No.1, and Pavlyuchenkova, 18 and seeded No.29, both showed off some impressive power on Court Philippe Chatrier, with Williams getting the upper hand in the first set thanks to some sharper serving and her superior movement. Williams' level dipped somewhat in the second set and Pavlyuchenkova's surged, but after the American was treated for dizziness she seemed to pick it up again and rolled through the third fairly handily.

"It was definitely a weird match. She's obviously a good player," Williams said after the match. "I just ran out of energy there. I'm fighting a cold and sickness - but I'm feeling better now. I definitely wasn't at my best today but I'm happy to win, especially against a player that's on the up and up."

"I'm disappointed, because I had a few chances early in the third set. It doesn't mean I still wouldn't lose," Pavlyuchenkova said. "I should take positives from this match though. She's No.1 in the world and I played three sets with her. It was a good experience. She's Serena - she's a fighter, she's really confident.

"After she beat me, she has to win. I really hope she wins the tournament."

It was the first time the pair played, although Pavlyuchenkova did beat Venus Williams in back-to-back weeks in Tokyo and Beijing last fall (just the second player ever to achieve that feat after Lindsay Davenport did it in 2004).

Pavlyuchenkova was playing a No.1-ranked player for the second time in her career, her first time coming in this very round here last year but with a far harsher ending - she lost that to then-No.1 Dinara Safina, 62 60.

Next up for Williams is No.18 seed Shahar Peer, who beat No.13 seed Marion Bartoli later in the afternoon, 76(7) 62. Williams leads the head-to-head with Peer, 4-0, but in their only previous encounter at a Grand Slam, the win came with an 8-6 third set in the 2007 Australian Open quarterfinals.

Elsewhere, No.23 seed Daniela Hantuchova defeated No.16 seed Yanina Wickmayer, 75 63, improving to 4-0 against the Belgian; Yaroslava Shvedova followed up her upset over No.8 seed Agnieszka Radwanska with a 62 46 60 win over No.28 seed Alisa Kleybanova; and wildcard Jarmila Groth made her first Grand Slam second week with a 63 57 62 win over Anastasia Rodionova.

"Every year I try to give my dad a good birthday present. I finally made it. It's his birthday tomorrow, so he's very happy," commented Groth, formerly Jarmila Gajdosova of Slovakia but now playing for Australia after her recent marriage to Sam Groth. "In the end I thought I played well. I held my nerves somehow. I thought I played the big points well. I can't say much more than that."

No.19 seed Nadia Petrova also completed a 67(2) 64 108 win over No.15 seed Aravane Rezai, which had been stopped at 7-all the night before due to darkness. Rezai held three match points leading 5-4 on Friday night.

No.12 seed Maria Sharapova didn't finish her match due to rain against No.22 seed Justine Henin, as they were one set all, Henin taking the first 62, and Sharapova winning the second set 63. The match will be resumed tomorrow.


Saturday, May 29, 2010

Singles - Third Round
(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. (29) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 61 16 62
(4) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (27) Alona Bondarenko (UKR) 64 76(3)
(7) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. (Q) Anastasia Pivovarova (RUS) 63 62
(18) Shahar Peer (ISR) d. (13) Marion Bartoli (FRA) 76(7) 62
(19) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (15) Aravane Rezai (FRA) 67(2) 64 108
(23) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. (16) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 75 63
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. (28) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 62 46 60
(WC) Jarmila Groth (AUS) d. Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 63 57 62

Suspended due to darkness
(12) Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. (22) Justine Henin (BEL) 26 63

Serena, Venus, Sharapova and Henin win on Day 6 in Paris

World No.1 Serena Williams didn't waste any time playing catch-up on Friday, cruising through her rain-postponed second round match against Julia Goerges comprehensively at the French Open, 61 61.

Playing the big-hitting Goerges for the very first time Williams showed she could hit it bigger, taking control of the rallies - and putting together the cleaner numbers at the same time - en route to the 55-minute win. Williams was +9 winners-to-errors (13-4) while Goerges had a -8 differential (12-20).

Afterwards, Williams was asked if she can learn anything from such a quick match: "I can learn a lot. Like what was I doing today? How can I get all my matches to be like that? Those are the questions I can ask myself."

Williams will next play No.29 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who beat Jill Craybas shortly afterwards, 64 61. The pair has never played before but Pavlyuchenkova has had success against a Williams before - she beat Venus in Tokyo and Beijing last fall, one of only two players ever to beat her twice in two weeks (Lindsay Davenport also achieved the feat in the summer of 2004).

Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin and Marion Bartoli had begun their second round matches Thursday but darkness cut them short; they all completed them on a sunny Friday, with No.13 seed Bartoli the first of the trio to wrap things up, going from 4-5 in the first set to beat countrywoman Olivia Sanchez, 75 62.

Henin, the No.22 seed, closed out Klara Zakopalova on her fourth match point, 63 63 (the match had been stopped at 63 32), while Sharapova, the No.12 seed, finished her match with Kirsten Flipkens, 63 63 (stopped at 63 22).

Henin and Sharapova will now meet in a blockbuster third round match-up on Saturday. Henin leads the head-to-head series with Sharapova, 6-3.

"It's going to be very exciting to play her again in my second career," Henin said. "She's a real fighter. Everyone knows what she has done. She remains someone very, very strong. She has the fighting spirit. It's going to be a question of attitude and trying to be aggressive. I want to win the match tomorrow."

"We've had some great matches in the past. I've had some tough losses and great wins," Sharapova said. "She has the ability to come out against all different types of players, no matter how big they hit or how strong they are, take the pace really well, play her own game and make you hit lots of balls.

"It feels like it was just yesterday we last played... I look forward to this one."

In other second rounds, No.7 seed Samantha Stosur beat Rossana de los Ríos, 46 61 60; No.16 seed Yanina Wickmayer beat Sybille Bammer, 76(4) 16 75; No.23 seed Daniela Hantuchova beat Olga Govortsova, 75 63; and qualifier Anastasia Pivovarova reached the third round in only her second Grand Slam main draw with a 64 63 upset of No.25 seed Zheng Jie.


Friday, May 28, 2010

Singles - Third Round
(2) Venus Williams (USA) d. (26) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 63 64
(3) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (31) Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU) 63 64
(5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) 67(2) 63 64
(30) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. (6) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 63 26 64
(17) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. (11) Li Na (CHN) 64 62
(14) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Polona Hercog (SLO) 63 60
(Q) Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) d. Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) 63 63

Suspended due to darkness
(15) Aravane Rezai (FRA) vs. (19) Nadia Petrova (RUS) 76(2) 46 77

Singles - Second Round
(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. Julia Goerges (GER) 61 61
(7) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Rossana de los Ríos (PAR) 46 61 60
(12) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 63 63
(13) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. (WC) Olivia Sanchez (FRA) 75 62
(16) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Sybille Bammer (AUT) 76(4) 16 75
(22) Justine Henin (BEL) d. Klara Zakopalova (CZE) 63 63
(23) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. Olga Govortsova (BLR) 75 63
(Q) Anastasia Pivovarova (RUS) d. (25) Zheng Jie (CHN) 64 63
(29) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Jill Craybas (USA) 64 61