Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic got their first real workouts at Roland Garros, as they battled past two very inspired opponents. Firstly the 17 time Grand Slam champion was put through the ropes by Russian Dmitry Tursunov, who claimed the 2nd set off Roger in a tie-break. Federer though too classy for his fellow 30 something, coming through in 4 sets. Novak Djokovic had things a little tougher against giant Croat Marin Cilic. Djokovic was easing to victory before Cilic fought back to claim the 3rd, also in a tie-break. Novak however again too strong for his opponent came through the 4th to seal the win. In the Women’s draw, the shocks kept on coming as now the 3rd seed Aga Radwanska followed Serena and Li Na in exiting the French open rather early.
Roland Garros 2014: Day 6 Friday, Men’s Singles
Roger Federer*
The Swiss legend coming into his 3rd round encounter had barely been tested at all by his first two opponents. Tursunov then hoped to give Mr Federer a good workout. He certainly gave him that.
After Federer edged the opening set 7-5, he came unstuck in the 2nd as Tursunov kept him at bay.
Both players kept on plugging away at each other, with neither getting a sizeable lead to run away with the set. They eventually found themselves into a tie-breaker, which was certainly a tight affair.
Dmitry turned on the style to sneak past Roger 9-7 in the tough breaker, and level the match at 1 set all.
Federer though thought of that second set loss as a minor blip, and he immediately rectified that by winning the 3rd easily 6-2. Tursunov tried all he could to get back in the match and force a 5th set, but Roger again just edging him 6-4 in the 4th to seal the victory.
Ever the records man, Roger winning his 3rd round match meant he had now reached the 4th round for an incredible 12th successive year. This beat the previous record of most 4th round appearances at Roland Garros of 11, held by Argentine legend and former FO champion Guillermo Vilas.
Novak Djokovic*
The Serbian Ironman Djokovic was seemingly cruising through his match, after winning the first two sets 6-3, 6-2.
But Cilic had other things on his mind and went about forcing a 4th set. Force it he did as Djokovic found himself in a tie-breaker, which Cilic totally dominated. Marin cruising through the breaker 7-2, to at least get a set off the 6 time Major winner.
But as with Federer against Tursunov, the 1 set lost was only a minor blip. Djokovic after surviving a mini comeback by Cilic, snuck past his opponent to take the 4th 6-4 and set up a 4th rd match-up with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Tsonga a SF last year, came through what could’ve been a testing encounter with Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz in straight sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
French Open: MS Day 6 , 3rd rd results
13-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat 22-Jerzy Janowicz (Poland) 6-4 6-4 6-3
10-John Isner (U.S.) beat 17-Tommy Robredo (Spain) 7-6(13) 7-6(3) 6-7(5) 7-5
6-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat 27-Roberto Bautista (Spain) 6-1 6-2 6-7(4) 6-4
2-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat 25-Marin Cilic (Croatia) 6-3 6-2 6-7(2) 6-4
4-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat 31-Dmitry Tursunov (Russia) 7-5 6-7(7) 6-2 6-4
18-Ernests Gulbis (Latvia) beat Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-2 7-5
Roland Garros 2014: Day 6 Friday, Women’s Singles
Maria Sharapova*
There really isn’t much to say about Maria Sharapova’s match with PaulaOrmaechea other than that she sent her opponent to the cleaners.
Ormaechea had barely set foot on the court, before she was literally blown away back to Argentina 6-0 6-0 in less than an hour.
GAME SET & MATCH SHARAPOVA!
Agnieszka Radwanska*
They say there’s always a first time for everything, and boy oh boy on day 6 history was definitely made for the first time.
Agnieszka Radwanska the highest seed left in the Women’s draw after both Serena and Li Na fell in the first 2 rounds, hoped t at least restore order for the top seeds.
But she didn’t;t bank on rising Croatian talent Ajla Tomljanovic from stunning her in straight sets and send another rippling shock around Roland Garros.
Aga in the 1st set, was literally playing nowhere near like her ranking of World No.3. Tomljanovic was battering her more illustrious opponent all around the court.
Radwanska looked like getting back into the match, when she reduced the Croat’s lead to 4-4. Ajla though won the next two games to just sneak past her Radwanska and take the opener 6-4.
At the start of the second set, it was more of the same from Tomljanovic who broke Aga in the very first game.
Aga never really recovered and it never looked like she would get her foot back into the match, after dropping her serve.
Tomljanovic holding her nerve then a few game later, to edge the Pole 6-4 and reaching the 4th round for the first time in her young career.
What was that history you say? Well for the first time in the Open Era (since 1968), all 3 top seeds in the Women’s draw failed to reach the 4th round. Here’s hoping they all have a much better time at Wimbledon next month. (starting on June 23rd)
French Open: WS Day 6 , 3rd rd results
Ajla Tomljanovic (Croatia) beat 3-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 6-4 6-4
7-Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat Paula Ormaechea (Argentina) 6-0 6-0
19-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat 9-Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 6-4 6-4
14-Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) beat Taylor Townsend (U.S.) 6-2 6-2
18-Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) beat Johanna Larsson (Sweden) 7-5 6-4
Pauline Parmentier (France) beat Mona Barthel (Germany) 1-6 6-1 7-5
Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (Slovakia) 6-2 6-4
All Things Tennis- from Hamza Shakeel 