RG: DAY 3 RECAP

2012 French Open
May 22 - June 10

DAY 3 RECAP:

© FFT

It was yet another stunning and exciting day three at 2012 French Open. Murray and Nadal strolled into the second round in straight sets. Janko Tipsarevic battled back to beat Sam Querrey in four sets after dropping the first set 6-2. The Americans seemed to be unprepared as they kept dropping out one after the other. Mikhail Youzhny defeated James Blake 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 and Bulgaria’s Grigor DiMitrov defeated Donald Young 7-6(7), 6-1, 6-1. On the women’s side Jamie Hampton lost to Arantxa Rux. Maria Sharapova came out strong today and defeated Cadantu 6-0, 6-0 in 48 minutes. We all know that each grand slam is full of surprises, and unexpected twists. The earliest came today as Serena Williams lost her first ever first round match at a grand slam tournament. Ten years ago she won this same tournament. She lost to Virginie Razzano of France 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3. French woman, Aravane Rezai lost to Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania 5-7, 7-5, 2-6. Of the 19 women’s singles matches that were played, only four went into the third set. Kvitova, Wozniacki and last year’s runner-up Francesca Schiavone were also through in straight sets as they faced no trouble whatsoever from their opponents.

Stay tuned for updates on Day 4 at Roland Garros. Of the exciting matches being played tomorrow, Michael Llodra will face Tomas Berdych, Shahar Peer will go up against the No. 13 seed Ana Ivanovic, and USA’s Melanie Oudin will tackle Italy’s Sara Errani. Roger Federer, Venus Williams, Novak Djokovic, Azarenka and Del-Potro will also be out on the courts tomorrow so stay tuned for live updates from our twitter feed if you won’t be watching the matches. It’s too early to pick a favorite on the women’s side but Tennis Speaks will be announcing their picks soon. What say you? Who are your picks for this year’s French open champions?

What’s Next For Caroline Wozniacki?

Caroline Wozniacki © Getty Images

A couple of hours ago, Caroline Wozniacki fell in the Quarterfinals of the Australian Open at the hand of defending champ, Kim Clijsters (6-3, 7-6) and will lose her No. 1 ranking. Since she became world No. 1 in October 2010 (save for the 1 week Kim Clijsters took over the spot), Caroline Wozniacki got to the Semi Finals of Australian Open and US Open in 2011, Fourth round at Wimbledon and Third round at Roland Garros. She was the first player in two years to finish at No. 1 two years in a row without winning a Grandslam title. 

She was often criticized for her inability to win a Grandslam due to various reasons ranging from her game being too safe to her overly packed schedule. There’s an element of truth to each reason, and its high time Caroline picked quality over quantity. It seems like she plays in so many tournaments to hang on to her now lost No.1 ranking. However, there is something to be said about her commitment to playing so many tournaments and remaining consistent. Caroline is used to winning by playing it safe but that game plan never works in slams because most players are aggressive and ready to play the big points. Bottomline is Wozniacki needs to add more variety to her game. I’m talking drop shots, serve and volleys, consistent aces, coming to the net and not staying 12 feet behind the baseline. She has speed and stamina but how about adding more firepower to her arsenal? That seems to have worked for many of the top players.  

Possible successors to No. 1 position are: Maria Sharapova who is on a mission and is plowing through the draw, Petra Kvitova who won Wimbledon last year and is looking good to win this tournament, and not-so-much of an underdog, Victoria Azarenka who is in top form mentally and physically.

Is this the end of the road for Caroline? We should hope not.  Unlike Dinara Safina who was also number one but never lifted a Grandslam singles title, Caroline has a lot of potential to improve. It doesn’t seem like she is retiring anytime soon so time is on her side, after all Kim Clijsters won her first slam at the age of 22. She has always been admired for her fighting spirit and with the pressure of being No. 1 off her shoulders; I see her regrouping and doing better than before.

Stunning Images From Australian Open 2012

Andy Murray © Getty Images

Andy Murray © Getty Images

Andy Murray © Getty Images

Laura Pous-Tio © Getty Images

Gael Monfils © Getty Images

Gael Monfils © Getty Images

Rafael Nadal © Ben Solomon/Tennis Australia

Rafael Nadal © Getty Images

Serena Williams © Getty Images

Caroline Wozniacki © Getty Images

Photo Credit: Getty Images, Ben Solomon/Tennis Australia, AustralianOpen.com

Nole on FIRE!

Novak Djokovic © Getty Images

Novak Djokovic is the talk of the town.  What an amazing start to the season. If you missed the match against Novak and Nicholas Mahut, he dropped just two games against the Frenchman. You probably remember Nicholas Mahut from that marathon match against John Isner, the 2010 Wimbledon tournament that ran for three days. Something tells me that’s not the kind of record Mahut wants his tennis career to be remembered by but Djokovic the Serbian ace steamrolled into the fourth round of the Aussie Open,  flat lining Mahut 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 in just 74 minutes. Mahut seemed to have some problem with his knee; it was heavily taped and the Frenchman looked like he was limping in the second set.

However all credit goes to Novak. Even with his outstanding record in 2011 (70-6, 10 titles), Nole has improved his game. The world number one is serving way better and moves a lot quicker on the court. He currently holds the coveted title of being the best returner in the game and there is no stopping him. He had just one double fault and eight unforced errors. In his first round match, Novak only dropped two games as well. He hasn’t faced any stiff challenge yet but with the way he is playing, you cannot doubt that he may likely repeat his awesomeness of winning three grand slams last year. Even if he does not win three or all four grand slams, I agree with Darren Cahill when he said Novak Djokovic will finish the year retaining the Number One title. His confidence level is at an all time high and his style of play channels the excellence we witnessed in Pete Sampras in the late 90’s and Roger Federer in mid 2000’s.

Although I am a hardcore fan of the Swiss maestro Federer, I think I am going to be rooting for the Serbian ace this year to avoid the heartache Federer caused me last year. Also Novak is in dominant form right now so it’s a safe bet. Which man do you think will win the Australian Open come January 29^th - Novak Djokovic (heavy favorite), Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer or Andy Murray? Comment and cast your votes below.  Click on the video below to watch Novak goof off with the other tennis stars! – P.S I love the Australian accent.

What is Happening to the American Tennis Players?

Serena Williams © Getty Images

Andy Roddick © Getty Images

Serena Williams is the only American left in the 2012 Australian open singles draw and with the ankle injury she sustained last year, very few are confident that she will go far in this tournament. None of the ten males made it into the second week. It begs the question: what is going on with the American Tennis players?

This marks the first time in the Open Era that no American male has made it to the round of 16. They seem to be losing their passion for the sport. Andy Roddick, who used to be a force to reckon with a few years back, has been playing really lethargic tennis the last few months (granted he retired yesterday due to a hamstring injury and he was the last American male to win a grand slam in 2003) and just before the start of the Australian Open, Serena claimed that she did not love tennis or liked any sport. Really! 27 grand slams and you never enjoyed the sport? Well the world of tennis has certainly been kind to you and enjoyed you on the courts. 

Vania King looked promising out there today but the ever graceful Ana Ivanovic was relentless in her comeback attempt beating King in straight sets 6 - 3, 6 - 4. Mardy Fish, after a classy season last year, crashes out to Alejandro Falla like a cranky toddler. The heavy hitter John Isner battled an intense five setter but could not withstand the unwitting strength the Spaniard Feliciano Lopez brought to Hisense Arena.

Donald Young, Christina McHale, Sloane Stevens, Ryan Harrison and other young and upcoming stars still have a lot of work to do to improve their games but there is light at the end of the tunnel. With Wimbledon and the French Open coming up and U.S Open 7 months away, we hope to see more Americans move to the round of 16 and one of them possibly winning the grand slam. Till then we will be watching Serena who
is on a collision course with Maria Sharapova . Sharapova has played phenomenal tennis and is one of the favorites picked to win this tournament but their head-to-head heavily favors Serena.