American Women Making Waves at Roland Garros
All 10 American women vying for the 2012 French Open crown have advanced to the second round, making it the largest amount of U.S. representatives in the tournament’s second round since 2003. Two Americans, Serena Williams and Jamie Hampton, are to play their first round today. Only four American women advanced to the second round at the French Open in five of the past seven years, including 2011. This year has proven to be very different, as Europeans and South Americans tend to know clay courts better.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands, now ranked 167th in the world, upset Germany’s Sabine Lisicki, 6-4, 6-3 in opening round action.
"It really shows that some of the Americans are coming through, playing tough, grinding it out here on clay. I think it’s awesome," said Mattek-Sands. Previously reaching a personal top spot of 30th in the WTA Rankings, Mattek-Sands only played nine main draw singles matches before Monday as a result of lower back and hip injuries.
"It was a great win. Sabine is a great player and obviously she has had some awesome results," said Mattek-Sands. "I’m feeling good. I like the clay, believe it or not. I feel comfortable on this surface. But it’s still only one round—there are a few to go. But I’ll still take the win tonight and enjoy it."
Another Amercan advancing on Day One action was 70th-ranked Sloane Stephens, who defeated world number 38-ranked Russian Ekaterina Makarova, 6-4, 7-6(6). "To everyone that got a win, that’s really exciting," said Stephens. "Everyone always says we’re not good on clay. This will prove ’em wrong."
Mona Barthel of Germany, currently ranked 32nd in the world, was surprised when 18-year-old qualifier Lauren Davis defeated her, 6-1, 6-1, on Monday. Davis went into this week ranked 162nd in the world, after finishing last year at 319 in the WTA Rankings. She only made 11 unforced errors, while Barthel had 44, making it her first win in three career Grand Slam matches.
Vania King, currently ranked 57th in the world, defeated the 49th-ranked Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan on Monday, 6-4, 6-2. King only had four unforced errors in her entire match.
Both King and Mattek-Sands have reached the third round of the French Open before, however, other than the Williams Sisters, no other U.S. woman has made it to the fourth round.
Other American women who advanced to the second round include Varvara Lepchenko and Christina McHale, as Lepchenko defeated Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-4, and Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands lost to McHale, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The American field will dwindle come Tuesday, as scheduled second round matches include a foursome of Americans facing off as McHale will be playing Davis, and Mattek-Sands faces Stephens.
