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ROLAND GARROS 2014 - TUESDAY 3 JUNE IP: 46.255.183.159 Posted on June 3, 2014 at 11:05:36 PM by David Barnes
ROLAND GARROS 2014
TUESDAY 3 JUNE (DAY 10)
There was a Spaniard on both Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen courts in the women’s quarterfinals today, for the first time in a Grand Slam since 2000 (that was also here in Paris). I eschewed the shrieking and the shouting of la Sharapova, playing the unseeded 2nd round slayer of Serena Williams, Garbine Muguranza, in favour of a match played in relative silence from both players – with the unmarried and boyish 25-year old Carla Suarez Navarro trying to see off the challenge of the similarly ranked but intensely feminine, pony-tailed 20-year old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard (whom the Spaniard beat in the 3rd round at Wimbledon last year).
It is pleasing to report that both these matches were among the best we have seen so far this fortnight from the women; competitive, dramatic, with quality shot-making as well as the odd dire lapse in concentration and accuracy, with the outcome uncertain until the final set, and far into it in the case of Bouchard and Suarez Navarro. Sharapova, wearing muted lilac, came back from another wayward start to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 in just over two hours; Suarez Navarro, in an oddly ruched skirt that resembled a botched cake decoration, lost the first set on a tie-break, won the second 6-2, and was 4-1 up in the third, only to see the Canadian, in a nicely glowing salmon pink dress, claw her way back into the match before sealing it 7-5 after two hours and twenty two minutes. In a tournament where, for the most part, women’s matches have been over in less than an hour and a half, and many in two sets, this was manna from heaven.
It may be deemed sexist to bang on about what the women were wearing, but one is inured to such poor quality tennis for so much of the year on the WTA Tour that sartorial considerations are often to the forefront. One of the highlights of the Sharapova match (there were a number on court too) came in the press conference afterwards, when an enterprising journalist relayed a recent tweet from Judy Murray, naming her in the process. “Sharapova is like a tea bag. Put her into hot water, and you’ll find out how strong she is”. To which the Russian diva, to her eternal credit, responded, “Who is that?” When told that Judy was Andy’s mother she added; “Sorry. I didn’t know who Judy Murray is”. A priceless moment.
In her press conference Muguranza was clear about how the match had turned; “During the first set (6-1) mentally I was so strong. I thought, I’m going to win. Then I was a bit nervous. And then, little by little, when you start losing, it’s a question of nerves. Then she started playing a lot better. We were almost on an equal footing, and then it’s all these details” For example her inability to win the game at 30-0, 5-5 in the 2nd set, or the eleven-minute game in the middle of the third set, that went the same way.
Tomas Berdych, with his support team in matching outfits, plays in his H&M range of clothing (which he co-designed), consisting of a garishly floral patterned (on the front only) blue and white t-shirt (white flowers on a blue background, to be precise), blue shorts which stop short of his white lycra underpants so that the bottom inch or so of the latter, sometimes more, are visible. He just looks faintly absurd. At the launch of the range, back in January last year, Berdych said, “I love fashion, and it’s great to now have H&M to help me develop my tennis and off-court apparel. I’m sure we’ll do great things together”. On the evidence of the clothing on show here at Roland Garros, they perhaps won’t.
The Czech’s tennis wasn’t much better over on Suzanne Lenglen court either; he played poorly against the no. 18 seed Ernests Gulbis, who served with real power and accuracy, and returned with vicious intent. In the second set, for example, the Latvian won an extraordinary 92% of points on his first serve. His backhand was a thing of beauty for almost the entire match, and he found angles on the court usually reserved only for the great Rafa. Gulbis simply obliterated Berdych, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, in a minute under two hours, and will play his first Grand Slam semi-final on Friday. He was asked on court afterwards how he will spend tonight. “I will celebrate”, he replied. Over on Philippe Chatrier, Novak Djokovic just eased past Milos Raonic, 7-5, 7-6, 6-4 in 2h22mins, in the other men’s quarterfinal played today.
Katie Boulter had a ‘bad day at the office’ too this morning, out on Court 17, where she came up against the Romanian Ioana Loredane Rosca, losing 6-0, 6-3 in less than an hour. I wasn’t able to see the match, being with Gilbert Ysern of the FFT to talk about the evolving plans for the extension and modernisation of Roland Garros, but I caught up with Jeremy Bates, one of Boulter’s two coaches (with Nigel Sears) after the match. The exchange went like this; Q: “What was the story of the match”? A: “Who are you? I can’t talk to you now”. Whereupon Mr Bates rushed off to more important conversations.
Quite a contrast with the scene just outside court 10 immediately after the Russian Karen Khachanov, seeded 3, put out Alex Rybakov from the USA, in straight sets in the Boys Singles. I chatted to his coach and father, who were happy to fill me in on Karen’s past successes (they include the scalps of Ivo Karlovic and Janko Tipsarevich at Khachanov’s home tournament in 2013) and his future plans (the ITF Media Guide quotes his ‘ambition in tennis’ as being ‘World Number 1’). A little civility goes a long way, but especially when you’ve just seen your boy win, rather than your girl lose, I suppose.
As for the FFT’s plans for Roland Garros, the long-awaited public enquiry begins on 10 June, once the Championships are over, and will, according to Ysern, give the FFT another – and presumably final - chance to promote what he regards as an excellent solution to the perennial problem of Roland Garros’ lack of space, and of its unroofed Centre Court. If all goes well, building work will start in 2015. It is sad that the plans involve the demolition of the legendary Court One, in favour of some grass and a group of trees, but Ysern insists that this change is essential to give spectators, including those waiting for the proposed night sessions, somewhere to loiter.
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David Barnes/Topspin, 2014
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