- CA-SPORTS Summary - May 23 2013 04:06
Dominant Williams fearful of enemy within LONDON (Reuters) - Based on form, Serena Williams is a stand-out favorite to win a second French Open title but her record at Roland Garros means she approaches the tournament with a touch of apprehension and fearful of the "lady in the mirror". Williams is world number one, unbeaten in 24 matches and has won four consecutive tournaments, yet she remains diffident after last year's debacle when she exited in the first round. ... - French slam drought set to drag on at Roland Garros - May 23 2013 03:50
By Gregory Blachier and Chrystel Boulet-Euchin PARIS (Reuters) - After 30 years without a male grand-slam winner, France's tennis establishment is beginning to question whether the absence of success is purely down to a lack of natural-born winners. Since Yannick Noah's triumph at the French Open in 1983, France has endured a barren spell at the majors with a shallow talent pool and a lack of mettle in their top players cited as possible reasons. ... - Tennis-Nadal back in old routine and looking invincible - May 23 2013 03:30
By Martyn Herman LONDON, May 23 (Reuters) - Watching Rafa Nadal churn his way through the claycourt season over the past few weeks, it seems nothing much has changed since his French Open triumph a year ago despite a lengthy injury layoff. Titles in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, where he dropped only three sets in the process, mean the 26-year-old is overwhelming favourite to lift the trophy for an eighth time at Roland Garros when play gets underway in Paris on Sunday. ... - Tennis-Dominant Williams fearful of enemy within - May 23 2013 03:30
By Toby Davis LONDON, May 23 (Reuters) - Based on form, Serena Williams is a stand-out favourite to win a second French Open title but her record at Roland Garros means she approaches the tournament with a touch of apprehension and fearful of the "lady in the mirror". Williams is world number one, unbeaten in 24 matches and has won four consecutive tournaments, yet she remains diffident after last year's debacle when she exited in the first round. ... - Tennis-French slam drought set to drag on at Roland Garros - May 23 2013 03:30
By Gregory Blachier and Chrystel Boulet-Euchin PARIS, May 23 (Reuters) - After 30 years without a male grand-slam winner, France's tennis establishment is beginning to question whether the absence of success is purely down to a lack of natural-born winners. Since Yannick Noah's triumph at the French Open in 1983, France has endured a barren spell at the majors with a shallow talent pool and a lack of mettle in their top players cited as possible reasons. ... - Tennis-Raonic sees a gain from training in Spain - May 23 2013 03:30
By Iain Rogers MADRID, May 23 (Reuters) - Milos Raonic would probably not feature on most people's list of potential French Open champions but the two-metre Canadian with the booming serve has been working hard on his clay game in Spain and has the potential to cause an upset. The Montenegro-born 22-year-old, who will make his third appearance at Roland Garros next week, joined up with Spanish coach Galo Blanco at his 4Slam Tennis academy in Barcelona in November 2010 and believes Blanco's influence has helped him to improve on the red dust. ... - Tennis-Rip-roaring Janowicz ready to take Paris by storm - May 23 2013 03:29
By Martyn Herman May 23 (Reuters) - Whether ripping shirts or forehand winners, or thumping down serves with frightening velocity, Jerzy Janowicz is making a big impression at the top of men's tennis and is ready to take Paris by storm again. The 22-year-old Pole, whose fiery on-court demeanour revives memories of a young Marat Safin, livened up proceedings in Rome last week with victories over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet before losing a tight tussle with Roger Federer. ... - Del Potro pulls out of French Open - May 22 2013 06:37
PARIS (Reuters) - World number seven Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina has pulled out of next week's French Open tennis after failing to recover from a virus, organizers said on Wednesday. Del Potro, who reached the quarter-finals at the claycourt grand-slam event last year, flew home after losing to Frenchman Benoit Paire in the Rome Masters last 16 last week. "He has withdrawn," a French Federation spokesman told Reuters, confirming Argentine media reports. ... - Tennis-Del Potro pulls out of French Open - May 22 2013 06:34
(adds confirmation) PARIS, May 22 (Reuters) - World number seven Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina has pulled out of next week's French Open tennis after failing to recover from a virus, organisers said on Wednesday. Del Potro, who reached the quarter-finals at the claycourt grand-slam event last year, flew home after losing to Frenchman Benoit Paire in the Rome Masters last 16 last week. "He has withdrawn," a French Federation spokesman told Reuters, confirming Argentine media reports. ... - Del Potro pulls out of French Open: reports - May 22 2013 06:26
PARIS (Reuters) - World number seven Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina has pulled out of next week's French Open tennis after failing to recover from a virus, Argentine media reported on Wednesday. Del Potro, who reached the quarter-finals at the claycourt grand-slam event last year, flew home after losing to Frenchman Benoit Paire in the Rome Masters event last 16 last week. "I am sad to miss such an important tournament, one that you always dream of winning," Del Potro was quoted as saying by the daily Ultima Hora's website (www.ultimahora.com). ... - Tennis-Del Potro pulls out of French Open - reports - May 22 2013 05:34
PARIS, May 22 (Reuters) - World number seven Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina has pulled out of next week's French Open tennis after failing to recover from a virus, Argentine media reported on Wednesday. Del Potro, who reached the quarter-finals at the claycourt grand-slam event last year, flew home after losing to Frenchman Benoit Paire in the Rome Masters event last 16 last week. "I am sad to miss such an important tournament, one that you always dream of winning," Del Potro was quoted as saying by the daily Ultima Hora's website (www.ultimahora.com). ... - Tomic will play French Open despite troubles: Woodbridge - May 21 2013 23:46
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Bernard Tomic will play at next week's French Open despite his off-court troubles if only to keep some momentum going for the grasscourt season ahead, Tennis Australia's Todd Woodbridge said on Wednesday. Tomic's father John faced a charge of causing criminal injury in a Madrid court earlier this month after allegedly assaulting his son's hitting partner Thomas Drouet. Tomic senior says he acted in self defense and the court hearing has been suspended until October. ... - Tennis-Tomic will play French Open despite troubles - Woodbridge - May 21 2013 23:39
MELBOURNE, May 22 (Reuters) - Bernard Tomic will play at next week's French Open despite his off-court troubles if only to keep some momentum going for the grasscourt season ahead, Tennis Australia's Todd Woodbridge said on Wednesday. Tomic's father John faced a charge of causing criminal injury in a Madrid court earlier this month after allegedly assaulting his son's hitting partner Thomas Drouet. Tomic senior says he acted in self defence and the court hearing has been suspended until October. ... - Tennis-Murray pulls out of French Open through injury - May 21 2013 15:29
(Updates with Murray statement) LONDON, May 21 (Reuters) - Britain's world number two Andy Murray has pulled out of the French Open after failing to recover from a lower back injury which he aggravated at the Italian Open last week. "It's a really tough decision and I love playing in Paris, but after seeking medical advice, I am not fit to compete," Murray said in a statement released by his management company. "Apologies to the organisers and thanks to everyone for the messages of support. Now my complete focus is on getting back on the court as soon as possible. ... - Nadal beats Federer, Serena wins at Italian Open - May 19 2013 10:56
ROME (AP) — After all these years, Rafael Nadal still knows how to dominate Roger Federer.