World number one Sharapova knocked out of Wimbledon

AP photo

Russia's Maria Sharapova was beaten 6-4 6-3 by Germany's Sabine Lisicki in the fourth round of Wimbledon today.

The Russian world number one had been bidding to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2002 to win the French Open-Wimbledon double in the same year but was undone by a stream of unforced errors in the rain-disrupted match on Court One.
(LONDON - Reuters)

Nadal wins record seventh French Open

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning the men's singles final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris June 11, 2012. REUTERS photo

Rafael Nadal clinched a record seventh French Open title on Monday, defeating world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 and shattering the Serb's dream of Grand Slam history.

In a final pushed into a third week for only the second time because of Sunday's rain, the Spanish world number two, playing in his 16th Grand Slam final, also took his Paris record to a staggering 52 wins against just one loss.

Victory allowed him to break the tie for six French Opens he shared with Bjorn Borg.

It was the 26-year-old's 11th Grand Slam title, taking him one behind Roy Emerson, three off Pete Sampras and five away from the record of 16 held by Roger Federer.

For five-time major winner Djokovic, the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion, it was the end of his dream of emulating Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) by holding all the Grand Slams at once. (PARIS - Agence France-Presse)

Sharapova wins 6-0, 6-0 in French Open's 1st round

Maria Sharapova of Russia prepares to serve in her first round match against Alexandra Cadantu of Romania at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Tuesday May 29, 2012. AP photo

Maria Sharapova was nearly perfect in the first round of the French Open, winning all 12 games to produce a "double bagel." The second-seeded Russian easily beat Alexandra Cadantu of Romania 6-0, 6-0 Tuesday, needing just 48 minutes to advance to the second round. She finished the match with 18 winners, while Cadantu had zero, but had to save three break points.

"No matter how good or bad they're playing, you still have to win that match," Sharapova said. "It's always about who takes their chances." Sharapova, who lost in this year's Australian Open final, is looking to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the title at Roland Garros.

Earlier, Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova defeated junior Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty 6-1, 6-2.

After losing the opening game, Kvitova won six straight in the first set against the 16-year-old Australian and again raced through the second set despite being broken once.

"She has a big serve with kicks and good forehand," Kvitova said. "She has very good touch." The left-handed Czech won her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon last year, and then won the WTA Championships. Although she has yet to win a title in 2012, she is seeded fourth at Roland Garros and is expected to make it deep into the tournament.

Barty is the youngest player in the draw at the French Open, one of only eight teenagers entered. The Australian received a wild-card invitation to compete in Paris.

"It was tough out there today," Barty said. "I didn't play my best tennis, but she didn't allow me to. I was out there giving it my all, but unfortunately just didn't come out on top today." The oldest player in the draw, 41-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan, lost to 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-3, 6-1.

Sixth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain and No. 8 Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia advanced in the men's tournament.

Later Tuesday, defending champion Rafael Nadal will begin his quest for a record-breaking seventh title at Roland Garros. On the women's side, 13-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams was scheduled to be in action.

Sharapova has won the other three Grand Slam titles, but she has never reached the final at Roland Garros. Last year, however, she equaled her best result by making the semifinals.

"I feel like with every year I have improved and I enjoy it much more," Sharapova said. "I think I learn a lot more about the game and the point construction. I feel like I'm moving a lot better than I did years previously, which has helped me a lot in the recovery process within the point." She moved well enough against Cadantu, a 22-year-old Romanian who was making her French Open debut.

"For me, to have that big crowd, it was a lot," Cadantu said after playing on Court Suzanne Lenglen, the second biggest stadium at Roland Garros. "I enjoyed it a lot." (PARIS - The Associated Press)

Djokovic fumes after debacle on blue clay

Serbian star Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked men’s tennis player in the world, heavily criticizes the controversial blue clay courts at the Madrid Masters tournament. AFP photo

Novak Djokovic scraped and slid to an opening victory at the Madrid Masters on May 8, then let loose with a blistering appraisal of the event’s controversial blue clay courts.

“That was not tennis, either I need football shoes or some advice on how to play on this court,” said the Serb top seed after beating Spain’s number 137 Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

“I cannot find the words to describe this court. It’s really tough to play like this on a center court. We cannot change anything this year, but my first impressions are not good. I don’t want to be the one complaining, but I say honestly what I feel. We need serious discussion about the future of this blue clay.”

The blue-clay plan was put into action by the tournament’s impresario Ion Tiriac, the man who brought catwalk models onto court as ball-girls in another experiment that has paid public relations dividends for the ATP-WTA Masters 1000.

But Djokovic says the differences with the red clay surface to which players are more accustomed are stark. “This has no similarities with red clay, it’s totally different,” said Djokovic, the 2011 winner over Rafael Nadal. “It’s much more slippery.

“The material of blue clay and red clay are different. When you slide on red clay you can feel when you stop. Here you are always slipping.

“Most players I’ve spoken to share the opinion that the court is slippery.” Djokovic said that even days of training made little difference. “Centre court is different from others I trained on. If it affects me next week in Rome, we will see.

“I don’t know how it will turn out in my next match. But I’m here to win. This is my work and I take things about this situation very seriously.” Djokovic said the players were overlooked in the decision to trial the controversial material.

“Player opinions have to be heard in our tennis world. The decision to change to blue is an example of players not being heard.

“I’ve not found any woman or man who is enthusiastic about this surface. I haven’t heard any one say they like it.” (MADRID - Agence France-Presse)