Nadal stays on course, Djokovic in semifinals
Source: Agencies |
May 31, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
RAFAEL Nadal improved his record at Roland Garros to 42-1, beating Ivan Ljubicic 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 yesterday to reach the quarterfinals of the French Open.
The five-time champion was not troubled on Court Philippe Chatrier, and the win kept him on course to equal Bjorn Borg's record of six titles on the Parisian clay.
"I have improved since the tournament started," said Nadal, who was pushed to five sets in the first round. "I'm able to play better and I'm going to continue on this path."
Novak Djokovic also had a successful day, even though he wasn't scheduled to play. The second-seeded Serb reached the semifinals of the tournament - where he could meet Roger Federer - when quarterfinal opponent Fabio Fognini withdrew because of injury.
"Walkover from Fognini. Bad luck for him, hope he recovers fast. Today i get to enjoy Paris in a different way :-)" Djokovic wrote on Twitter.
Local favorite
Local favorite Gael Monfils also reached the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, 1-6, 8-6 win over Spanish seventh seed David Ferrer.
The match was interrupted due to bad light on Sunday with the ninth-seeded Monfils 0-2 down in the fourth set.
He did not give much of a fight when play resumed, dropping the set in less than half an hour before regrouping.
Monfils opened a 5-2 lead in the decider but wasted two match points at 5-3 as Ferrer broke back.
Monfils, however, ended the contest on his fourth match point by blazing a forehand passing winner on Ferrer's serve.
Another player with injury problems is fourth seed Andy Murray, who was due to play Serbia's Viktor Troicki in the fourth round later having appeared to have shrugged off an ankle injury suffered in his easy win over Michael Berrer on Saturday.
The Briton had a leisurely practice with no visible problems but faces a wait to get on Court Suzanne Lenglen with Juan Ignacio Chela taking almost four hours to beat Alejandro Falla in five sets.
Chela, the unseeded Argentine and the only non-European left in the men's draw, beat Falla of Colombia 4-6, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 yesterday.
The five-time champion was not troubled on Court Philippe Chatrier, and the win kept him on course to equal Bjorn Borg's record of six titles on the Parisian clay.
"I have improved since the tournament started," said Nadal, who was pushed to five sets in the first round. "I'm able to play better and I'm going to continue on this path."
Novak Djokovic also had a successful day, even though he wasn't scheduled to play. The second-seeded Serb reached the semifinals of the tournament - where he could meet Roger Federer - when quarterfinal opponent Fabio Fognini withdrew because of injury.
"Walkover from Fognini. Bad luck for him, hope he recovers fast. Today i get to enjoy Paris in a different way :-)" Djokovic wrote on Twitter.
Local favorite
Local favorite Gael Monfils also reached the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, 1-6, 8-6 win over Spanish seventh seed David Ferrer.
The match was interrupted due to bad light on Sunday with the ninth-seeded Monfils 0-2 down in the fourth set.
He did not give much of a fight when play resumed, dropping the set in less than half an hour before regrouping.
Monfils opened a 5-2 lead in the decider but wasted two match points at 5-3 as Ferrer broke back.
Monfils, however, ended the contest on his fourth match point by blazing a forehand passing winner on Ferrer's serve.
Another player with injury problems is fourth seed Andy Murray, who was due to play Serbia's Viktor Troicki in the fourth round later having appeared to have shrugged off an ankle injury suffered in his easy win over Michael Berrer on Saturday.
The Briton had a leisurely practice with no visible problems but faces a wait to get on Court Suzanne Lenglen with Juan Ignacio Chela taking almost four hours to beat Alejandro Falla in five sets.
Chela, the unseeded Argentine and the only non-European left in the men's draw, beat Falla of Colombia 4-6, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 yesterday.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
