Favorites Enjoying Success in Opening Days of French Open

May 28, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Rafael_Nadal_12
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Second seed Roger Federer defeated qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in his opening round matchup at Roland Garros at the 2013 French Open. Federer is bidding to win an 18th Grand Slam championship and second title at Roland Garros, having won in 2009, and was a finalist from 2006-2008 and again in 2011, losing to Rafael Nadal on all occasions. 

Speaking of Nadal, he had never lost the first set of his opening match in eight previous appearances at Roland Garros, but on Monday, his opening round opponent Daniel Brands broke that record. Nadal walked away "tested" as he put it, but unscathed in his 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-3 victory. In 54 French Open matches, Nadal has only been extended to five sets on one occasion, two years ago when he beat John Isner 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-4 in the first round.

Also advancing on the men’s side was Spain’s David Ferrer, a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victor over Marinko Matosevic. Ferrer was broken five times, and trailed by a double break at the start of the second set, but fought hard to record the win. Ferrer has never lost a first-round match in 11 successive appearances at Roland Garros.

On the women’s side of the draw, it was Caroline Wozniacki who got past the first round for the first time in a long time, advancing past Laura Robson 6-3, 6-2. Wozniacki was knocked out of the first round in Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome and Brussels so far this year, and produced one of her best performances of the season.

Maria Sharapova’s bid for a French Open title began Monday as she needed just 54 minutes to defeat Hsieh Su-Wei in her first round match, 6-2, 6-1. Next up for Sharapova is Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard, a 6-1, 7-6(2) winner over Tsvetana Pironkova.

The number 17 seed Sloane Stephens cruised through her first set then showed her fight in a very competitive second set, winning six of seven games from 4-1 down to close Karin Knapp out in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. Last year, Stephens made it all the way to the fourth round in Paris. 

Also moving on was Agnieszka Radwanska who cruised past Shahar Peer in a 57-minute straight-setter, 6-1, 6-1. Awaiting Radwanska in the second round will be young American Mallory Burdette.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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