Melzer and Stosur Post Upsets in French Open Quarterfinal Action
Djokovic and Serena sent home from Roland Garros
Austrian Jurgen Melzer upset number three seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia in Wednesday action at the 2010 French Open. Melzer defeated Djokovic 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-4, as he rallied back down two sets. Melzer, who is making his first-ever trip to a Grand Slam semifinal, will face number two seed Rafael Nadal, who defeated his fellow countryman in Wednesday action, number 19-ranked Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3), 6-4. Nadal kept his winning streak alive at the 2010 French Open, as he has yet to lose a set all tournament and goes to an undefeated record of 20-0 on clay courts this season.
On the men’s side, semifinal action will feature the aforementioned battle of the lefties as Melzer will face Nadal and the fifth seeded Swede Robin Soderling, hot off his upset of Roger Federer, will face 15th seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.
On the women’s side, number one-seeded Serena Williams was ousted by the number seven seed, Australian Samantha Stosur, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 8-6. Serena’s French Open exit was the second first seeded upset in 24 hours, as just the day before, Robin Soderling eliminated Andy Roddick from contention on the men’s side. Stosur marches into the semifinals and continues her Cinderella run, after previously defeating four-time French Open champion Justine Henin.
Stosur will face number four seed, Serbian Jelena Jankovic, in the semifinals as Jankovic took out Yaroslava Shvedova in straight sets 7-5, 6-4. Both Jankovic and Stosur are former semifinalists at Roland Garros and will attempt to move on to the French Open finals for the first time. The other women’s semifinal match on Thursday will feature number 17-seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone taking on the number five seed, Russian Elena Dementieva.
