Roland Garros - 2009 French Open

Aaron M

Federer faces Gael Monfils in the quarters who just disposed of Andy Roddick in straight sets.

Sea Devils

Up until 4-4 in that 3rd set Haas hadn't looked troubled on his own serve, then once Federer won the break Haas was completley gone, felt so sorry for him because for 2 2/3rds of a set he made Federer look very ordinary.

Amazing comeback nonetheless, be interesting to see how much was taken out of him for the next round against Gael Monfils

juvenal

After today's fourth round matches, the line-up for the singles quarter finals is complete.

The lone remaining Frenchman, #11 Gael Monfils defeated Andy Roddick in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. He advances to face #2 Roger Federer on Wednesday. Before that, Juan Martin Del Potro eliminated another hometown favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets, 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-4.

Men's quarter-final line-up:

Tuesday

#3 Andy Murray v #12 Fernando Gonzalez
#23 Robin Soderling v #10 Nikolay Davydenko

Wednesday

#5 Juan Martin Del Potro v #16 Tommy Robredo
#11 Gael Monfils v #2 Roger Federer

Women's quarter-final line-up:

Tuesday

#1 Dinara Safina v #9 Victoria Azarenka
#20 Dominika Cibulkova v Maria Sharapova

Wednesday

#30 Samantha Stosur v Sorana Cirstea
#7 Svetlana Kuznetsova v #2 Serena Williams

Marshy

Great comeback from Fed but he was so poor for a large part of the match that makes me wonder if he's playing consistently well enough to go the whole way. Monfils should be another tough one but the real test will come against Del Potro, who looked in superb form against Tsonga, in the potential semi.

Blisterman

Andy Murray must be kicking himself that Federer came back like that.

cfitz

Federer v. Monfils - I don't want either of these guys to lose! Would really love to see Federer win the French Open, but Monfils is definitely one of my favourite players.

juvenal

The conqueror of Rafael Nadal, #23 seed Robin Soderling has just dumped #10 Nikolay Davydenko out in straight sets, 6-1 6-3 6-1 in 1hr 41mins.

He will face the winner of Murray/Gonzalez in his first appearance in a Grand Slam semi-final.

#1 seed Dinara Safina was pushed all the way by teenager #9 Victoria Azarenka, but came through in the end 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Murray v Gonzalez is up next.

juvenal

#20 Dominika Cibulkova has beaten Maria Sharapova in straight sets, 6-0 6-2.

She will meet #1 Dinara Safina in Thursday's semi-final.

Murray and Gonzalez are tied at a set apiece (3-6, 6-3), and the third has just started with the Chilean leading off with a hold of serve.

Aaron M

Gonzalez beats Murray 3 sets to 1. Excellent performance from Gonzalez. Absolutely thunderous ground-strokes (the amount of outright winners he hit was unbelievable) and his movement around a clay court is fantastic.

He'll have to be the favourite to reach the final now even though Soderling has impressed greatly in his last two matches.

juvenal

Aaron M wrote: »

Gonzalez beats Murray 3 sets to 1. Excellent performance from Gonzalez. Absolutely thunderous ground-strokes (the amount of outright winners he hit was unbelievable) and his movement around a clay court is fantastic.

He'll have to be the favourite to reach the final now even though Soderling has impressed greatly in his last two matches.

After seeing most of today's matches and Soderling's v Nadal, that semi-final has the potential to be a great match.

I still think Federer has a huge amount of work to do if he's to win this. Monfils will be a big test, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Frenchman prevails, especially with the home crowd behind him and the way he plays up to them (see the Roddick match).

Even if Fed reaches the semi, he has a tough matchup there, and should he reach the final, he's be up against one of two players who are in really good form.

I feel that if he can go all the way it will be one of the most impressive performances from him in recent years, especially with all the pressure on him now that seeds 1, 3 & 4 are all gone.

walshb

I really want a Fed win and what a comeback yesterday. I think his inconsistency and increasing number of unforced errors will hurt him. Soderling and Del Potro are lethal
at the moment. I think Soderling will go all the way!

juvenal

Federer has taken the opening set against Monfils, 7-6 (8-6), in just over an hour.

He saved a break point in game eleven at 30-40, and saved a set point at 5-6 in the tiebreaker. Two fine serves got him to 7-6, and on Monfils serve he pushed him wide with a forehand before coming into the net and volleying to win the set.

Big win for Federer to neutralise the home crowd.

Monfils serves off the second set, and Federer immediately breaks his serve to 15 to get an early lead in the second.

juvenal

Monfils has a bit of a meltdown in the second set, being broken twice and suddenly Federer is up 4-0. It then goes with serve and Federer serves out the set, winning 6-2. One cause for concern may be that Monfils got to 30-30 in Federer's last three service games, although Federer held his serve every time.

Federer leads 7-6 (8-6), 6-2, with Monfils about to recieve courtside treatment, before he's due to lead off with serve in the third.

juvenal

Earlier today, Australian Samantha Stosur beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-3 to reach her first ever Grand Slam semi-final.

In the other quarter-final, Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Serena Williams 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 7-5.

Women's semi-finals:

#1 Dinara Safina v #20 Dominika Cibulkova
#30 Samantha Stosur #7 Svetlana Kuznetsova

Monifls saves a break point in game three, and so far we're on serve in the third set as Federer holds serve to love and it's 2-2. Monfils does exactly the sme, and it's 2-3 with Federer to serve.

Juan Martin Del Potro has just served out the first set against Tommy Robredo, winning it 6-3.

juvenal

Federer gets the all important break in the ninth game of the third set, and serves out to love to win 7-6 (8-6), 6-2, 6-4. Good performance from Federer, after he won the first set tie-breaker he loosened up and eased through the rest of the match.

Monfils didn't play his best, but his defensive game wasn't as effective as it was against Roddick, it's a different story against someone of Federer's calibre.

Federer is now in his twentieth consecutive Grand Slam semi-final:eek::eek:, and will face the winner of Del Potro and Robredo.

juvenal

Del Potro sweeps Robredo aside in straight sets, 6-3 6-4 6-2, and will meet Federer in the semi-final. Their last Grand Slam meeting was in Melbourne at the quarter-final stage, where Federer thrashed Del Potro 6-3, 6-0, 6-0. I imagine this meeting will be a lot closer.

Men's semi-final line-up (both matches on Friday):

#23 Robin Soderling v #12 Fernando Gonzalez
#5 Juan Martin Del Potro v #2 Roger Federer

cfitz

juvenal wrote: »

Earlier today, Australian Samantha Stosur beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-3 to reach her first ever Grand Slam semi-final.

In the other quarter-final, Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Serena Williams 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 7-5.

Women's semi-finals:

#1 Dinara Safina v #20 Dominika Cibulkova
#30 Samantha Stosur #7 Svetlana Kuznetsova

I didn't see the womens matches today, but that's a big win for Kuznetsova. She's been in good form this year, and to beat Serena in such a close match in Grand Slam quarter-final should have her buzzing. I haven't seen Sam Stosur this tournament, but I'd expect her to get hammered in the semi-final.

Federer v. Monfils was a bit of a disappointment after all. Federer kept on top of him and didn't let him get going, very impressive really, but I was hoping for a bit of a thriller.

juvenal

Svetlana Kuznetsova battles through against Sam Stosur in 2hrs 25mins, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3.

It looked like Kuznetsova was going to do it in two sets, as she had a healthy lead in the second set tie-breaker, but the Australian came back off the ropes and won the tie-breaker.

Earlier this afternoon, #1 Dinara Safina beat #20 Dominika Cibulkova 6-3 6-3 to book her place in Saturday's final. I didn't see any of that, but by all accounts it was a poor, scrappy match.

Tomorrow is men's semi-finals: Soderling v Gonzalez followed by Del Potro v Federer.

juvenal

In the first men's semi-final, Swede Robin Soderling looked to be in control after taking the first two sets, 6-3 7-5.

However, after the third set going on serve, and Gonzalez leading 6-5 with Soderling serving to send it to a tie-breaker, Gonzalez broke serve to win the third set 7-5.

Soderling now leads two sets to one, and Gonzalez has just held serve in the first game of the fourth after saving three break points.

juvenal

From a position of total control, where it looked like he would win in straight sets, Soderling is the one to appear he's now on the back foot as Gonzalez breaks him again at a crucial point for the second consecutive set, to take the fourth 6-4.

We're now tied at two sets apiece, and just like the fourth, Gonzalez has the advantage of serving first.

Aaron M

Soderling is looking very composed out there. He just got a break of serve to lead 5-4 in the deciding set. He's now serving for the match.

Blisterman

Good man Soderling. Wins 3-2.

I'd love to see him beat Nadal and Federer in the same tournament.

juvenal

After being down a break in the fifth, with Gonzalez leading 4-1 and Soderling serving, Soderling won the next five games in a row to take the deciding set 6-4.

Soderling advances to his first Grand Slam final, winning 6-3 7-5 5-7 4-6 6-4.

Federer leads 2-1 in the first set, on serve so far.

juvenal

Del Potro breaks first, surprising given Federer's strong opening service games. Federer saves two break points from 0-40 with accurate serves, but Del Potro is patient and takes his third chance.

Del Potro leads 3-2 with a service game to come.

juvenal

Del Potro takes another 0-40 lead on the Federer serve, but Federer wins the next five points to crucially hold.

Del Potro leads 4-3 with a service game to come. Federer will look to apply pressure to the Del Potro serve here to try and get back on serve.

Aaron M

Federer looks in trouble here early on. He just lost the first set 6-3 to Del Potro. He's not playing well!

juvenal

Del Potro is playing excellent tennis, and breaks Federer for the second time to close out the first set 6-3.

Federer, after a solid start, looks like he's playing too passively to counteract the Argentine at the moment. Will need a big improvement in the second set to get back on course.

Del Potro will also lead off the second set with serve.

juvenal

This set is all about the serve, and the pressure is back on Federer to hold as Del Potro leads 5-4. Federer needs to take this set to get back into the match, Del Potro is playing excellent tennis and making the right decisions at the key times.

And Del Potro gets out to 0-30 on Federer's serve, before a nice forehand and a big serve takes it back to 30-30. Del Potro goes for the line but pushes it wide, and a Federer sliced drop shot saves the game.

5-5

juvenal

Federer comfortably holds to 15, and we're in a tie-breaker.

No break points in the second set at all, and Del Potro looks to be in control of the first point in the tie-breaker, before netting an easy forehand to give Federer the early advantage. Federer sends down an ace and the French crowd give their loudest roar of the match so far. Del Potro nets a backhand and Federer is up 3-0 early in the tie-breaker.

juvenal

Great tie-breaker from Federer and he has five set points as he leads 6-1.

Del Potro aces his first serve to go to 2-6, before he sends a forehand long and Federer takes the second set 7-6 (7-2). That was a crucial tie-breaker for Federer.

One set all.