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It's FRENCH OPEN TIME!

Roger Federer, who looks to be the first person since Rod Laver to win a Grand Slam, had a tough start to his campaign yesterday when he was faced with a "lucky loser" in Diego Hartfield of Argentina. The 156th ranked opponent managed to gain the upper hand early in the first round and Roger lost the first two of his service games, Diego leading at one time 3-0. Hartfield looked to make it 4-0 but Roger broke his serve back. From there Roger managed to break him again and take the set 7-5.

In the second set there were various exchanges of serve, with Diego giving everything into the game. He survived 3 set points and managed to take the 2nd set into a tiebreak. Unfortunately for the Argentine, Federer's greater experience in tiebreakers meant Roger won the 2nd set 7-6 (7-2).

Diego started cramping in the 3rd set, and Roger steamrolled to a 6-2 victory.

Verdict: Whilst it may suffice for a 1st round win, one hopes Roger is meerly saving up his energy for the tougher later round opponents and possibly a final with Nadal. However, I believe there is little chance of Roger winning the title if he continues at this standard of play.

David Nalbandian and Tommy Robredo also advanced into the second round in straight sets. Tim Henman needed 4 sets but he is also into the 2nd round.

Rafael is blogging his time at Roland Garros. I am about as excited about it as everyone else.

David Nalbandian d Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4
Tommy Robredo d Tomas Zib 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
Tim Henman d Kenneth Carlsen 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Carlos Moya d Juan Antonio Marin 7-5, 6-3, 6-3
Roger Federer d Diego Hartfield 7-5, 7-6(2), 6-2
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Injured!

May 25th 2006 13:30
ANDY RODDICK (US) and LLEYTON HEWITT (AUS) have both pulled out of their respective tournaments with injuries within days of each other.

Andy suffered a foot injury playing at the ARAG World Team Cup in Germany, retiring whilst trailing 2-4 in a set against Nicholas Massu of Chile.

Lleyton apparently twisted his ankle whilst playing in Austria at the Hypo Group Tennis International. The Australian was just starting in the preparation for Roland Garros, having skipped all 3 of the Masters Series and having last played only in Melbourne at the previous Davis Cup ties against Belarus.

Both Lleyton Andy are in doubt for the French Open. Let's hope they make a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, Mario Ancic is writing in the blog this week at the ARAG World Team Cup. Click here to check it out. He seems very attached to his home in the Split.

The Latest Results from Austria are:

Singles – Second Round
[1]N Davydenko (RUS) d [Q]R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 62 64
J Novak (CZE) d [5]J Chela (ARG) 61 36 62
P Starace (ITA) d [6]N Almagro (ESP) 46 64 61
[7]L Horna (PER) d A Seppi (ITA) 61 61
J Melzer (AUT) d R Gasquet (FRA) 60 11 ret.
[Q]J Monaco (ARG) d G Muller (LUX) 62 60

In the Arag Tournament, Chile is playing Croatia whilst Germany plays the Czech Republic for a spot in the finals! Good luck to them.

Results from Austria are a property of ATPtennis.com.
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Newbies in Hamburg!

May 20th 2006 11:40
Mario Ancic, Jose Acasuso, Tommy Robredo and Radek Stepanek are all into the semifinals for their chance to hold their first ATP Series Masters Titles.

It is especially exciting for Mario Ancic and Tommy Robredo who are on their career high ATP Rankings, Mario at No. 13 and Tommy at No. 8.

From ATPtennis.com:

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:

Stepanek: " I just try to play as good as I can. So far it works in every way and I’m able to win all the matches in two sets pretty clear. So, so far, I’m feeling well and I hope I can keep it up for the week-end."

Acasuso: " I just try to play as good as I can. So far it works in every way and I’m able to win all the matches in two sets pretty clear. So, so far, I’m feeling well and I hope I can keep it up for the week-end."

On playing Stepanek: " It’s going to be very difficult because everybody, who is in the semifinal is playing a good game and has a chance. Obviously it’s going to be a very tough match for me like all the others that I’ve had so far this week."

Ancic: " For me a win is a win, it doesn’t matter how it comes. Of course, it would be nice to try and get off court a little bit faster. But these is all top ten guys and you have to expect a very hard match if you want to come out as a winner. That happened today as well. I was really struggling in the beginning, the legs were really heavy from the last two matches when I played 3 sets."

"It's my first semifinal and it’s on clay in Hamburg. It feels great. Of course I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s match. I’m going to try to do everything and try to go even a step further if it’s possible."

Robredo: On the tie-break: "I tried to put the ball inside and not let him finish the set. I just was thinking not in the second set and let him the chance to me and he did it. Untill 6-5 it was good points and he made the double. Then I served 7-6 made a mistake. Then it was 8-8, I made an unbelievable ball and finally could win the first set. Then the second set I get advantage at the beginning. Then he broke me back. Finally I could break him in the last game."

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Hamburg - onto the quarterfinals!

May 19th 2006 05:06
Croatian Mario Ancic has blasted into the quarterfinals with a win over James Blake!

It's his 3rd appearance in a quarterfinal at a Masters Series event this season. He beat the American 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4


[ Click here to read more ]
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Nadal levels with Vilas' record

May 15th 2006 10:03
NADAL WON!!!!!

Rafael Nadal (credit ATPtennis.com)

[ Click here to read more ]
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Rome on Saturday

May 13th 2006 12:59
FedExpress rolls on
Credit ATPtennis.com

Live!
[ Click here to read more ]
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Rome!

May 12th 2006 12:24
From the ATP site:

Men's singles - Third round


[ Click here to read more ]
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Rome Masters, Day 2

May 10th 2006 10:22
Rafael Nadal started his Internationali d'Italia campaign yesterday, beating compatriot and good friend Carlos Moya (ESP) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.

The 19 year old Spaniard is on the way to equalling Guillermo Vilas' record of 53 consecutive wins on clay should he defend his title here in Rome


[ Click here to read more ]
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