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From around the world

Wawrinka through as Raonic goes out

  • Posted: May 29, 2016
French Open
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 22 May to 5 June
Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, the BBC Sport website and app.

Defending champion Stan Wawrinka beat Viktor Troicki in four sets to reach the last eight of the French Open.

The Swiss third seed won 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 6-2 and will face Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the quarter-finals after the Spaniard knocked out eighth seed Milos Raonic 6-2 6-4 6-4.

Fourth seed Garbine Muguruza progressed with a 6-3 6-4 win against Russia’s 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The 22-year-old Spaniard will face American Shelby Rogers next.

Rogers, ranked 108th in the world, reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final by beating Romanian 24th seed Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3 6-4.

Rogers is he ninth woman outside of the top 100 to make the last eight in Paris since 1983.

“It’s incredible and I’m really happy that it didn’t start raining,” said Rogers who broke down in tears after the match.

“I always dreamed of this when I was a little girl in Charleston but never really thought I would reach the quarter-finals in Paris.”

Rogers has now beaten three seeds in her run at Roland Garros having seen off 17th seed Karolina Pliskova in the first round and 10th seed Petra Kvitova in the last 32.

Ramos-Vinolas’ win ensures at least one Spaniard will play in the men’s quarter-finals at Roland-Garros for the 20th year running.

The 28-year-old left-hander, who has never been past the second round in 18 appearances in the four majors, broke Raonic five times and only lost serve once.

“I have no words to explain how I feel,” said the world number 55. “It was four years in a row losing in the first round.”

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McEnroe Joins Raonic Team As Consultant

  • Posted: May 29, 2016

McEnroe Joins Raonic Team As Consultant

Former World No. 1 to work with Milos Raonic during grass-court season

Milos Raonic will have two former World No. 1s in his corner after it was announced that John McEnroe will join the 25-year-old in a consulting role during the upcoming grass-court season. Raonic is scheduled to play at the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club, in addition to making a sixth appearance at Wimbledon.

McEnroe is one of many former No. 1 players in the Emirates ATP Rankings to join the coaching ranks in recent years, along with Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Ivan Lendl and Carlos Moya. Moya was brought on by Raonic in a full-time role in January. The World No. 9 is also coached by Riccardo Piatti.

“He’s one of five or six guys that can win Wimbledon.” McEnroe said during an interview on Eurosport on Friday night. “I’m excited to be part of his team. Milos has a great team with Riccardo Piatti and Carlos Moya. I’m going to be a consultant on the grass.”

Known for his deft touch and exceptional volleying skills, McEnroe, who spent 170 weeks atop the Emirates ATP Rankings, joined Raonic for an hour-long practice Saturday at Roland Garros.

The Canadian is looking to build on a strong start to the season that has seen him post a 27-6 record, claiming an eighth ATP World Tour title in Brisbane and reaching the final at the Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells. He is slated to face Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the Roland Garros fourth round on Sunday.

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Djokovic Beats Bedene, Fading Sunlight

  • Posted: May 29, 2016

Djokovic Beats Bedene, Fading Sunlight For Fourth Round Berth

Serb into Roland Garros fourth round for 10th time

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic streaked into the Round of 16 at Roland Garros, racing past Aljaz Bedene 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.

With darkness decending on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the top seed took care of business after just over two hours. He fired 39 winners in total, including five aces, to secure his 10th appearance in the fourth on the terre battue. Djokovic was efficient at the net, claiming 11 of 15 points, while turning aside five of seven break points faced.

“I tried to come up with the right tactics and execution of the tactics, which I did,” Djokovic said. “I played very well. There were a couple of long games where I didn’t use my opportunities. But, I closed out two sets pretty well and started the third great. I had a couple opportunities for a double break and 2-Love.

“Then I dropped my serve and the games were very long… We went deep into night. I think we played to the maximum extent of time we could, with the light. I’m just glad I managed to finish tonight.”

After claiming the first two sets, the Serb broke immediately to open the third and overcame a break back from Bedene in the fourth game, breaking twice more to close out the win over the World No. 66. Djokovic, who notched his 50th match win at the clay-court Grand Slam on Thursday, with victory over Steve Darcis, will look to reach the quarter-finals when he faces Roberto Bautista Agut.

“Obviously it’s not easy to play Novak,” said Bedene, who was appearing in his first Grand Slam third round. “I honestly felt like he wasn’t giving anything. I had to play well to get games. He was returning well, so I was under constant pressure, which wasn’t easy. But I was playing some decent ball. I could maybe get a few more games, but I was fighting well. I’m pleased with the performance.”

Bautista Agut, who is seeking his first win in five FedEx ATP Head2Head clashes against Djokovic, fired past Next Generation star Borna Coric 6-2, 6-3, 6-3. The Spaniard, seeded 14th, needed two hours to emerge victorious, equalling his best Grand Slam result in advancing to the fourth round.

The 28 year old recorded three straight match wins on clay for the first time since his title run at the ATP World Tour 250 event in Stuttgart in 2014. He will be seeking revenge against Djokovic on Monday, after suffering a 6-2, 6-1 defeat at the Masters 1000 event in Madrid earlier this month.

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Goffin Survives In Five, Sets Gulbis 4R Clash

  • Posted: May 29, 2016

Goffin Survives In Five, Sets Gulbis 4R Clash

Belgian, Latvian book fourth round spots in Paris

David Goffin improved to 3-0 in five-setters at Roland Garros, scoring his first victory over Nicolas Almagro 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 on Saturday.

The Belgian, who won a pair of five-set battles en route to his lone previous Round of 16 appearance on the Parisian clay, in 2012, fired 36 winners, including 10 aces, to advance after nearly three hours. Now seeded 12th at the clay-court Grand Slam, Goffin was a lucky loser when he reached the fourth round four years ago (l. to Federer).

After falling behind two-sets-to-one, Almagro looked to swing the momentum in his favour deep in the fourth. He abruptly took a 0/40 lead at 5-4 and forced a decider a point later. But an in-form Goffin would not be denied in the fifth, breaking for 2-1 with a rifled cross-court forehand, which drew an error from his Spanish opponent. He would break once again in the seventh game before securing the victory on his first match point.

Goffin is set to square off against Ernests Gulbis for a spot in the quarter-finals. It will be their third FedEx ATP Head2Head encounter, having split the first two meetings.

Gulbis advanced to the Round of 16 in Paris for the second time in three years when No. 1 Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired with a left adductor injury. The 27-year-old Latvian is enjoying a resurgence on the terre battue this week, winning three matches at a tournament for the first time since Vienna last year. His best Grand Slam result game here at Roland Garros in 2014, reaching the semi-finals (l. to Djokovic).

“It is very strange,” said Gulbis. “I feel very sorry for Jo. Here unfortunately we played just seven games. It’s never nice to win like this, so I feel very sorry for him. There’s not much I can say about the match itself. It was just the beginning. I was just starting to get to feel the atmosphere of the centre court. I haven’t been here for a couple of years.

“But overall, if we take that apart away, then I’m satisfied the way I played and the way I hit the ball in practice and in the first two rounds. The second round was especially good from my game and from my perspective.”

An emotional Tsonga, who left the court in tears, led 5-2 in the first set when he was forced to withdraw after stretching to hit a forehand. It marked just the second time since 2009 that he failed to reach the second week at his home Grand Slam. Ninth seed Richard Gasquet is now the lone remaining player from France in the singles draw.

“The problem is my adductor, the same thing I had before the tournament,” Tsonga lamented. “I just came on court pretty good and feeling really good. The first game of the match I slid and I felt a pain.

“It’s of course a big disappointment. I felt really well on the court. I was in a really good shape today. It’s just really difficult to accept that I’m not in the tournament anymore.”

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Ernests And The Ideal Coach

  • Posted: May 29, 2016

Ernests And The Ideal Coach

Colourful Latvian into second week at Roland Garros

Latvian Ernests Gulbis, one of the ATP World Tour’s deep thinkers, is into the fourth round at Roland Garros after opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired during the first set of their third-round clash on Saturday. It’s been an unexpected fortnight for Gulbis, whose best run at a Grand Slam event, a semi-final finish, came in Paris in 2014.

The Latvian ended his partnership with coach Gunther Bresnik, who also works with Dominic Thiem, on the eve of Roland Garros and was just 4-10 coming into the event. He is now into the second week of a Grand Slam event for the first time in exactly two years.

“I’ve thought about [my coaching situation] a little bit before the tournament,” said Gulbis, who is looking for a coach who can focus on him exclusively. “I’m searching for not so much a tactical coach, but more of a technical coach, because I’m the kind of player who has problems maintaining his game and maintaining his shots clean.”

Gulbis, currently No. 80 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, cracked the Top 10 in June 2014. He has shown an ability to beat nearly anyone on any surface, as evidenced by his 16 career wins against Top-10 players and by his stunning upset of then-No. 1 Roger Federer on the clay of Rome in 2010. In his mind, rediscovering that level of play on a consistent basis requires doing the small things right on a daily basis. An attention to detail is what he looks for, above all, in a prospective coach.

“If I don’t have a racquet in hand for a couple of days, I suddenly start to hit my forehand differently. So I need a coach to see those small changes.

“Tactically, I think my game is pretty uncomfortable for most of the guys, if I serve big and if I hit the ball big. So I think mostly I need to concentrate on my own technique and to make sure my own shots are clean.”

Because of those considerations, Gulbis’ ideal coach may not be a former No. 1 or a Grand Slam champion.

“To be honest, I don’t necessarily think that a former player, no matter how good he is, is necessarily a good coach. I think that a good coach needs to have experience.

“I like that Gunter had a lot of experience, especially in the technical side of the game, because he spent probably one of the most hours on court of all the coaches on tour. He taught kids, he taught right-handed players, left-handed players, serve and volley, baseliners, juniors, and older players. So his understanding of the game is very big. This is what I liked in his experience.

“If you take a former player, they always look at the game from their perspective. They understand what they did, but can’t always give you solutions for fixing your game. I think if one thing doesn’t work, you have to have a backup plan. And not just one or two, but many of them. This is what I’m searching for in a coach.”

In the fourth round, Gulbis will face Belgium’s David Goffin, his occasional off-season training partner.

“In the practices I couldn’t beat [Goffin] because the guy is like a wall. I think he likes playing against guys like me, who are hitting the wall,” Gulbis joked.

“But if I remember right, I beat him once in Acapulco or somewhere. I don’t remember exactly where, but I think I’m capable of beating him.”

If Gulbis can overcome Goffin, he could face Thiem, and his former coach, in the quarter-finals.

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I've found my game, says Briton Bedene

  • Posted: May 29, 2016

British number two Aljaz Bedene says he has “found his game” despite losing to world number one Novak Djokovic in the third round of the French Open.

Bedene fought bravely and twice broke his opponent’s serve, but lost 6-2 6-3 6-3 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

“I think I found my game now, so it’s good to see, especially before Wimbledon. I just have to build it up,” said 26-year-old Bedene.

The tournament at Wimbledon is the next Grand Slam and begins on 27 June.

  • REPORT: Djokovic ends Bedene’s run in France
  • Cancelling Olympics unthinkable – Djokovic

Bedene began brightly but his best groundstrokes were all returned well by Serbian Djokovic, who had to battle for more than two hours for victory.

The Slovenia-born world number 66, who became a British citizen in March 2015, added: “I guess the confidence is back. I’m working hard, but it’s about just working hard and improving the things which were not the best.

“Obviously when you play someone like Novak, you can see where the weaknesses are, so I’m going to work on that.”

Andy Murray is the only Briton left in the competition and faces American John Isner in the fourth round on Sunday at 10:00 BST.

New lights, please

Meanwhile, 29-year-old Djokovic has appealed to event organisers to build floodlights on Roland Garros’ showpiece court.

He had to complete his third-round match at 21:30 local time (19:30 BST) as the light faded.

“It was getting dark,” said Djokovic, who is looking to win the French Open for the first time. “For a Grand Slam, you need to have lights.

“I’m really hoping we can have that very soon for these particular situations, especially considering the fact that the forecast for the weather is not that great in the following days.”

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Cancelling Games unthinkable – Djokovic

  • Posted: May 29, 2016

Cancelling this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio because of concerns over the Zika virus would be “unthinkable”, says Novak Djokovic.

The world number one hopes to compete for Serbia in Brazil.

Djokovic, 29, said: “For the moment I’m planning to play. Nothing is changing. But let’s see what happens.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has played down fears over the spread of the virus, which is linked to severe birth defects.

Senior WHO official Bruce Aylward told the BBC risk assessment plans were in place, and reiterated there was no need to delay the Games, which are scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro from 5-21 August.

More than 100 leading scientists had earlier written to the WHO suggesting new findings about Zika – which is transmitted via mosquitoes – had made it “unethical” for the Games to go ahead as planned.

Djokovic, speaking at the French Open in Paris after he had beaten Britain’s Aljaz Bedene on Saturday, said that he would like more information about the impact of the virus in Brazil.

The three-time Wimbledon champion, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, added: “Somebody has passed me the information that a significant amount of scientists have come up with a statement that it’s not safe.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to think any more. I need to get informed more so I can speak more in detail about it.

“Many athletes and people have already planned in advance and so many people have already planned their trips and accommodation in Rio.

“Of course, we have to have common sense that health is the most important thing for anybody that is there.

“But we should not only think about people coming to Rio. How about those people living there? I think we have to look from different perspectives in order to make a right conclusion.”

Women’s world number one Serena Williams, 34, told BBC Sport: “It’s something that’s been on my mind. I’m really just going to have to go super-protected maybe, and I don’t know.”

What is the Zika threat?

The WHO’s advice is that pregnant women should not travel to areas with Zika virus transmission, including Rio de Janeiro.

It also advises to make all efforts to protect against mosquito bites and to practise safe sex.

Zika infection in pregnant women is thought to be a cause of the birth defect microcephaly and other serious brain abnormalities in babies.

Brazil’s authorities have confirmed more than 1,400 cases of microcephaly, a condition which affects the development of the brain and reduces the size of the head.

The possible Zika impact

A number of potential competitors, across a range of sports, have voiced their concern about the Zika situation in Rio and their possible participation in the Games.

Golfers Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett and Shane Lowry are among them, with Fiji’s Vijay Singh and Australians Adam Scott and Marc Leishman already having pulled out.

McIlroy said there is going to be “a point in the next couple of years” where he and fiancee Erica Stoll may think about starting a family.

“Right now, I’m ready to go but I don’t want anything to affect that,” he said.

Lowry, a possible team-mate of McIlroy, said: “Obviously I really want to go but there is a decision to be made.”

Olympic bronze medallist gymnast Kristian Thomas told BBC Sport: “We were over there in February for a training camp and we followed all the advice from the doctors, the BOA (British Olympic Association) and British Gymnastics and we were all fine.

“I think we’ve just got to make sure we’re on top of this and following the guidelines, make sure we’re protecting ourselves and each other and, as long as we do that, I’m sure we’ll be absolutely fine.”

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Murray set to face big-serving Isner

  • Posted: May 28, 2016
French Open: Murray v Isner
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Date: Sunday, 29 May Time: 14:30 BST approx
Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

Britain’s world number two Andy Murray faces big-serving American John Isner on Sunday for a place in the French Open quarter-finals.

Murray, 29, will be seeking a repeat of the form that saw him overcome Ivo Karlovic in the third round on Friday.

But Isner is a much stronger all-round player than Karlovic and has pushed Murray hard in previous meetings.

The match is scheduled third on Court Suzanne Lenglen but could be delayed because of rain.

  • Sunday’s order of play
  • Roland Garros weather forecast

The American, seeded 15th, accepts Murray would have benefitted from his match against Karlovic.

“He’s definitely got some reps in against a pretty big serve,” he said. “But my serve is a little bit different. I think I can back it up better, as well.

“He’s played the big points better than me, which is one of the reasons why he’s number two in the world. So I’m going to have to step up when I get opportunities – if I get them.

“It’s a match I would love to win, and a match I believe I can win.”

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Ferrer Finishes Strongly To Beat Lopez

  • Posted: May 28, 2016

Ferrer Finishes Strongly To Beat Lopez

Spaniard quick off the mark after rain delay

David Ferrer came out firing after a length rain delay on Saturday in Paris, reeling off four straight games to clinch a 6-4, 7-6(6), 6-1 third-round victory over fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez at Roland Garros.

In their 17th meeting, Ferrer rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the second set to take a two-set lead. The Valencia native had just won a pivotal third game of the third set, converting his fourth break point to take a 2-1 lead, when a heavy and prolonged rain shower suspended play for several hours.

At the resumption, Ferrer was all business, racing through the last four games to improve to a 10-6 FedEx ATP Head2Head record over Lopez.

The 34-year-old Ferrer reached his only Grand Slam final at Roland Garros three years ago, finishing runner-up to Rafael Nadal. The right-hander has a 43-13 record on the Parisian clay, also reaching the semi-finals in 2012 (l. to Nadal) and the quarter-finals on four occasions, including last year (l. to Murray).

Ferrer, who is still searching for his first title of the season, goes on to face either seventh seed Tomas Berdych or No. 25 Pablo Cuevas. 

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Djokovic ends Bedene run in France

  • Posted: May 28, 2016
French Open
Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 22 May to 5 June
Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, the BBC Sport website and app.

Top seed Novak Djokovic won 6-2 6-3 6-3 to end Aljaz Bedene’s hopes of joining fellow Briton Andy Murray in the fourth round of the French Open.

Bedene, 26, who had never won a match at Roland Garros until this year, played well but was outclassed by Serbia’s world number one.

Djokovic, seeking his first French Open title, won just before play would have been suspended because of bad light.

The 29-year-old will face Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut next.

  • Women’s report: Serena and Venus into last 16
  • Results: Saturday’s matches at Roland Garros
  • Report: McEnroe to join Raonic’s coaching team

With the match only starting at 19:25 in France (18:25 in UK) because of rain earlier on, Djokovic faced a race against time to finish the match on Saturday.

The 11-time Grand Slam singles champion won the first set in 37 minutes, and despite dropping his serve, continued to dominate in the second.

British number two Bedene, bidding for his first victory over a top-10 opponent at the eighth attempt, kept plugging away, but in gloomy conditions Djokovic just managed to wrap up victory at 21:30 local time.

Second seed Murray, who beat Ivo Karlovic on Friday, faces American John Isner in the fourth round on Sunday.

His match is scheduled third on Court Suzanne Lenglen after a men’s singles and a women’s singles match, but rain could delay play.

BBC Sport tennis correspondent Russell Fuller:
“Djokovic guaranteed himself a day off by wrapping up victory with the last drop of light.
“It was an achievement to beat the clock in a match in which Bedene made him do plenty of running, and the victory all the sweeter as Sunday’s weather forecast is shocking.
“For a man who admitted his confidence was very fragile at the start of the tournament, the world number 66 has had a very encouraging week.
“He is not the first man to play well against Djokovic but still lose in straight sets, and seemed to thrive on the opportunity to play in front of a 10,000-strong crowd.”

Tsonga injury changes schedule

Djokovic and Bedene’s match was moved to Court Suzanne Lenglen after rain delayed play for more than two hours, but was switched back to Philippe Chatrier after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired hurt while leading 5-2 against Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis.

The Frenchman, who reached the semi-finals last year, was leading 5-2 when a problem with his left leg forced him to quit in tears.

The sixth seed said: “I came on court feeling really good. The first game of the match I did a slide, and I just felt a pain.

“I continued a little bit and it was coming more and more painful. I knew it was over, because no chance I can play all match long like this.”

Gulbis will play 12th seed David Goffin, who came through a five-setter against Nicolas Almagro 6-2 4-6 6-3 4-6 6-2.

Also through is seventh seed Tomas Berdych, who saw off Pablo Cuevas 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5.

Murray and Soares through to third round

Britain’s Jamie Murray and Brazilian partner Bruno Soares are safely through to the third round of the men’s doubles.

The fourth seeds defeated French pair David Guez and Vincent Millot 6-2 7-6 (7-5) having twice recovered from a break down in the second set.

Murray is currently ranked third in the world but has the chance to move back to number one with a good run at Roland Garros.

Since reaching the third round in Paris last year, the Scot has made the final at every Grand Slam, winning his first title with Soares at the Australian Open in January.

Fellow Scot Colin Fleming and Israeli partner Jonathan Erlich lost their third-round match, as did British pair Jocelyn Rae and Anna Smith in the women’s doubles.

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