Federer Falls To Gulbis
Roger Federer was bounced from the French Open on Sunday, falling to Latvian Ernests Gulbis in a long five-set match 6-7(5), 7-6(3), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Gulbis moves into the quarterfinals, the first time he has reached the quarters of a Grand Slam since the 2008 French open.
After winning a tough first set, Federer was poised to take control of the match in the second as he held a 40/15 advantage up 5-3. The Latvian hung tough and reeled off four of the next five games to even the match up at one set a piece.
The two players exchanged sets in the third and fourth which set up a deciding fifth for a spot in the quarterfinals. Gulbis seized control of the match from there as he broke early and put the vice grip on Federer. He was able to serve out the rest of the match, capturing the fifth set 6-3 to move on at Roland Garros.
“It’s the biggest win of my career. Sorry I had to win,” Gulbis said in an on-court interview following the match referring to the crowd rooting for Federer. “I know how everyone likes Roger. It was a tough match but this is sport. I’ve been playing very well in France.”
The Latvian now finds himself just two victories away from playing for the French Open title. He will face Czech Tomas Berdych in the next round after Berdych took out American John Isner on Sunday.
Isner had been playing excellent tennis up to this point at Roland Garros but fell in straight sets to the 6th seeded Czech in straight sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. He was the last of eight Americans left in the men’s draw and his loss means that the struggles of American tennis players continue, as no American man has reached the quarterfinals of any Grand Slam tournament since 2011.
“He was a lot better than me today, and that’s really all it was to that match out there,” said Isner. “He was just the better player.”
In the other quarterfinal match on the bottom half of the draw, eighth-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic will face off with the second-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Both players took out their respective opponents in straight sets on Sunday, as Raonic cruised past Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Djokovic didn’t miss a beat versus France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
On Monday, Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer both moved on to set up a quarterfinal match between the two Spaniards. Nadal beat the 84th player in the world Dustin Lajovic with no problem, winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. He converted nine break points and never allowed the Serbian to get his feet under him, cruising in just over an hour and a half.
Ferrer also won on Monday morning at Roland Garros, defeating South African Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1 to set up the rematch of the 2013 French Open final. It is the 10th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal for Ferrer, setting up an epic bout with his countryman.
“I will try to do my best,” said Ferrer. “I will try to play aggressively with my forehand and try to finish points at the net. But of course, it’s going to be difficult with Rafael on a clay court. Tactically, I will have to be perfect.”
With three of the four quarterfinal matches set, there are still four players battling for a spot in the quarters. Andy Murray will meet Fernando Verdasco and Gael Monfils will face Guillermo Garcia-Lopez later today at Roland Garros as the final eight players in the draw are nearly set.
