Upsets Continue at the 2010 French Open
The 2010 French Open continued to see top seeded tennis players eliminated by lesser ranked opponents. Top seed Serena Williams was knocked out of the tournament by seventh seed Samantha Stosur of Australia, who has been playing her best tennis in her recent matches. Stosur was able to defeat the number one player in three sets, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 8-6. It seemed apparent that Williams was positioned to move into the semi-final round of the French Open holding match point at 5-4. But unfortunately her service point fell one inch long giving Stosur the opening advantage she needed.
Just a day after top seed Roger Federer was eliminated by Robin Soderling in the men’s quarterfinal of the French Open, the tennis community saw another early exit by a top seeded player. Number three Novak Djokovic was ousted by Austrian Jurgen Melzer in five sets, 6-3, 6-2, 2-6, 6-7(3), 4-6. Digging deep from a two set deficit, Melzer was able to rally in the third set, winning and giving him the confidence to challenge Djokovic for a spot in the semi-finals. The epic fourth set lasted an incredible 79 minutes. Melzer played quite well, hitting 68 winners in the set giving the French Open spectators some thrilling tennis.
Rafael Nadal from Spain moves into the semi-finals with a three set win over Nicolas Almagro, 7-6(2) 7-6(3) 6-4. The two Spaniards played a tight match with two sets ending in tie-breaks. Nadal, known by many as the Clay Court King, was able to successfully break Almagro in both tie breaks to give him the two set lead. Nadal was then able to break Almagro in the third set at 5-4 to move into the semi-finals
Other winners in today’s tennis matches were fourth seed Jelena Jankovic over unseeded Yaroslava Shevdova. Jankovic won in two sets, 7-5, 6-4. Sisters Serena and Venus Williams were able to rally from dropping an opening set to defeat Liezel Huber and A. Medina Garrigues in women’s doubles.
The French Open women’s semi-finals will have Stosur taking on Jankovic with Elena Dementieva playing Francesca Schiavone for spots in the women’s final. Men’s semi-finals action will include Nadal playing Melzer and Soderling versus Tomas Berdych, each vying for a coveted spot in the men’s French Open final.
