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ROLAND GARROS 2015 - DAY 6 IP: 46.255.183.159 Posted on May 29, 2015 at 10:02:47 PM by David Barnes
ROLAND GARROS 2015
FRIDAY 29 MAY - DAY 6
Maria Sharapova was in fine voice on Philippe Chatrier court this afternoon, playing Sam Stosur, who is now back with her former coach David Taylor and trying to revive her faltering career, in a re-match of last year's fourth round tie, which the Australian lost in three sets. Stosur was runner-up here in 2010, but the title has always been beyond her grasp, and the best she has managed, other than in 2010, is a run to the semi-final in 2009 and 2012. She went out 3-6, 4-6 to the Russian today, looking uncomfortable and uninspired throughout. "Never any momentum, never any rhythm or anything. It was incredibly frustrating", she said afterwards.
Sharapova was the subject of an in-depth interview/article in the FT Weekend Magazine a few days ago, that managed to avoid all mention of the shrieking, which was strange. Indeed the writer went so far as to say; "The one constant in Sharapova's game - and her most powerful weapon on court by some distance - is her mind", which those sitting courtside during one of her matches - and even on adjoining courts - might dispute. In fairness, the article, as usual with the FT, proved an engrossing read, with fascinating insights into the stresses and strains of life on the Tour; "Not being part of the gang has never bothered Sharapova, who has a reputation for being aloof on tour. The loneliness that professional tennis inflicts on its practitioners does not seem to trouble her. Most players spend 10 months on the road, moving from hotel to hotel, arena to arena. The game is an almost uniquely individualistic endeavour". The Bryan Brothers might not entirely agree with the last observation, even if casual observers find it hard to tell them apart (Bob Bryan is the left-handed of the twins, for the record).
The contrast between Sharapova's slimmed-down entourage and the Federer roadshow - wife, parents, four children, nannies, agent, to name but a few of its members - as it journeys from continent to continent with stopovers in Dubai, where the great man maintains a home, could not be greater. Neither could the Russian's shrieking on every point and the Swiss maestro's apparently effortless, usually silent, glissando brilliance, never more in evidence than for most of today's match against the lowly-ranked Damir Dzumhur from Bosnia. Federer received an enormous cheer from the Chatrier crowd as he appeared on its hallowed terre battue for the first time since the unfortunate incident on the opening Sunday; we were reminded by Marc Maury, the announcer, that it was ten years since he first became world number 1, and seventeen since his first participation at Roland Garros. How time flies when you're having fun and giving spectators so much consistent pleasure (and intermittent pain) - no wonder they revere him here.
For the most part today Federer's game was all silky smoothness, his backhand way better than is often the case, and he combined a surprising agility around the court with powerful serving, to devastating effect; although the Bosnian used all the weapons in his fledgling arsenal (he enjoyed considerable success with the dropshot), he made too many unforced errors, failed to convert four of the five break points afforded him on the Swiss serve, and became increasingly unable to cope with Federer's variety and pace, surrendering 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in just under an hour and a half. Federer's smoothness continued in the post-match press conference; asked about his next likely/possible opponent, Gael Monfils, he said with an entirely straight face, "I'm always happy to play Gael. He's in Paris. He's at home. He's very strong. He loves these kinds of matches. So I know the danger. He could have done so much better before. I don't really understand why he did not work his way up into the top 10 faster. I know how much capacity he has. I really would like to see him accomplish more. If we get to play again here well, I hope it will be a good match".
The Swiss superstar was second on Philippe Chatrier today, following the local girl and current French no. 1, Alize Cornet, who won the Junior title here in 2007, but has never progressed beyond the 4th round of a Grand Slam on the 'main' Tour, nor beyond the 3rd round here at Roland Garros. Cornet broke her opponent at 4-4 in the third set, but was then broken herself, after serving at deuce towards the ad court (seriously . . .) and giving Mirjana Lucic-Baroni an easy forehand on the next point. The French girl broke again in the following game, when the Croatian missed perhaps the easiest forehand of the match thus far, slamming it into the bottom of the net - a moment of Illyrian madness, reminiscent of Djokovic's smash into the net against Rafa in last year's final, which effectively denied the great Serb a first title here - and Cornet went on to win her own service game, the Croatian missing another easy forehand that sailed long on match point. 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to the French woman, who collapsed on the dirt, Rafa-like, as if she had won the entire tournament. She'll have to play an awful lot better than she did today to have a chance of being able to repeat such unattractive histrionics in the second week. "C'est un scandale", the French journalist alongside me said in disbelief as he watched his compatriot's antics.
Gilles Simon got the better of fellow-Frenchman and wild card Nicolas Mahut in a tough five-setter lasting a fraction under four hours on Suzanne Lenglen, and will play Stan Wawrinka in the fourth round; it would be satisfying if both the latter and Federer win their next matches, so that they could meet in the quarters. Mirka will be watching Federer, but which female admirer will Wawrinka choose to have in his box, one wonders? John McEnroe, recently taken on by Eurosport to augment its commentary team here, has been saying that the French Open is "too long" and "not that much different than Wimbledon" and that he'd "like to see players play with more variety"; at least by following the current off-court escapades of Wawrinka, you get something a little different from the norm.
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David Barnes/Topspin, 2015
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