French Open 2021: Jamie Murray says Wimbledon should have full house to reward vaccinated people
Britain’s Jamie Murray criticises coronavirus restrictions around Wimbledon, saying people should be “rewarded” for having had vaccines.
Britain’s Jamie Murray criticises coronavirus restrictions around Wimbledon, saying people should be “rewarded” for having had vaccines.
Sixth seed Alexander Zverev overcomes dogged Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin in straight sets in the French Open.
Sixth seed Alexander Zverev dug deep on Wednesday as he defeated Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin to advance to the Roland Garros third round.
Safiullin did not show any signs of being overwhelmed on the big stage, but it was Zverev who emerged the victor, 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-6(1), in what was another intense battle against a player who came through the qualifying stages.
The 24-year-old Zverev, who is now 20-8 on the season, will next play a Serbian: Laslo Djere or Miomir Kecmanovic.
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Zverev, who recovered from two-sets-to-love down against qualifier Oscar Otte on Sunday, was given a stern test in the 60-minute first set. He was broken when serving for the set at 6-5, but got off to a strong start in the tie-break. The German came back from 1-3 down in the second set, and a 1-4 deficit in the third set.
The past three Nitto ATP Finals champions, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev, will headline Day 4 at Roland Garros as they seek their first Grand Slam title in Paris.
The trio anchors the bottom half of the draw, where opportunity abounds after two-time finalist Dominic Thiem, the fourth seed, went out in a first-round shocker. And with 13-time champion Rafael Nadal landing in the same half as World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and 2009 champion Roger Federer for the first time ever at a Grand Slam, that means whomever advances won’t have to play a member of the Big Three en route to the final.
Tsitsipas and Zverev’s victories at ATP Masters 1000 events in Monte-Carlo and Madrid, respectively, have put them among the favourites at this year’s event. But anyone counting out second seed Medvedev might be having second thoughts after seeing the Russian’s victory over Alexander Bublik in the opening round.
Medvedev scored a confidence-boosting 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 win over the dangerous Kazakh to book a place into the second round at Roland Garros for the first time.
“You could see it today in the match, I’m feeling that here, at least this year with this weather, with these balls, I can play like on hard courts,” Medvedev said afterward. “It doesn’t feel different than the Australian Open for me coming into this tournament.
“Now, when I’m coming to these big tournaments feeling like this, I know I’m capable of doing big things. [At the] Australian Open I was in the final. If I lose here in Roland Garros, it’s probably going to be because my opponent will play really good.”
Medvedev will face American Tommy Paul for the first time in the night session on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Unlike his countrymen, Paul, who grew up playing on green clay in North Carolina, enjoys a clay court and he arrives with momentum after reaching the semi-finals in Parma last week.
[TENNIS POINT]Zverev, the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals champion, and Tsitsipas, the 2019 winner, will take centre stage on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Sixth seed Zverev turned heads at the Mutua Madrid Open after taking down Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem and Matteo Berrettini en route to his 15th tour-level title.
High on confidence and flying under the radar, the German was tested in his opening match against qualifier Oscar Otte, but prevailed in a marathon 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0. The victory improved his perfect Roland Garros five-set record to 7-0.
“I feel quite confident, maybe, in my physical stand. From that side, maybe I know I can go the distance,” Zverev reflected after the match. “I don’t always need to. I know that, but when I need to I feel comfortable doing that.”
Zverev will be hoping to avoid another lengthy battle as he takes on another qualifier, 24-year-old Russian Roman Safiullin, for the first time in the second round.
Tsitsipas, the FedEx ATP Race To Turin frontrunner, will close out the action on Lenglen as he takes on 24-year-old Spaniard Pedro Martinez on Wednesday. Martinez made a statement after knocking out newly minted Parma champion Sebastian Korda to reach the second round for the second year in a row.
The Greek player had to look inward during his opening match against Jeremy Chardy, who took him to a tie-break in the opening set. Tsitsipas responded by raising his level, and clinched a 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-1 victory to open his account in Paris.
“I think the first tie-break was a game changer, in a way,” Tsitsipas said afterward. “I did a lot of psychology, a lot of positivity and kind of loosened me up a little bit. Starting the second set a bit more aggressive, starting a bit more free-spirited and those things contributed in breaking and raising my level.”
Another thing that might contribute? Tsitsipas leads the ATP Tour with 18 clay-court matches won, alongside Federico Delbonis and Albert Ramos-Vinolas. He has been one of the most rock-solid players on the terre battue this season after his maiden ATP Masters 1000 win at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and claiming his seventh tour-level title in Lyon. He also held a match point against Nadal in the Barcelona final.
Also on tap, 23rd seed Karen Khachanov will face Kei Nishikori on Court Philippe Chatrier. The unseeded Japanese player has reached three quarter-finals at Roland Garros, including as recently as 2019, and he’s got the clay-court credentials to back it up, winning back-to-back titles in Barcelona in 2014-15. Back to full health after battling injuries, Nishikori took down 2019 quarter-finalist Khachanov last month in Madrid to bring his ATP Head2Head record against the Russian to 3-2.
Casper Ruud, Fabio Fognini and Cristian Garin are also among the seeds continuing their Roland Garros campaigns on Wednesday. Ruud, the 15th seed, will face World No. 126 Kamil Majchrzak as he seeks a spot in the third round for the third time in a row. Fognini, the 27th seed, will take on Marton Fucsovics, looking to extend his 2-1 ATP Head2Head lead over the Hungarian, while 22nd seed Garin will face American Mackenzie McDonald for the first time.
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Carla Suarez Navarro comes within two points of a fairytale win on her return at the French Open, a month after announcing she is cancer free.
Rafael Nadal begins his bid for a record-extending 14th French Open title with a win, while top seed Novak Djokovic is also through in straight sets.
Late in the evening in the City of Lights, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic christened the first ever men’s night session on Court Philippe-Chatrier with a victory over Tennys Sandgren on Tuesday to reach the second round at Roland Garros.
Djokovic improved to 4-0 in his ATP Head2Head against Sandgren after winning 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 in their first clay-court meeting. Sandgren took a set off Djokovic in their 2018 US Open second-round clash, but the American was unable to repeat the feat in Paris as Djokovic saved all six break points he faced en route to victory.
“It was strange, honestly, but I’m also honoured to be the first men’s night session match [in the] history of this tournament, of this court,” Djokovic said, after playing without fans on Chatrier due to the 9 p.m. curfew in Paris. “I had great support [at the ATP 250 event] in Belgrade last week, and I was kind of filled with a good vibe, good energy from those matches that I played in front of a crowd. So I didn’t mind playing in front of an empty stadium tonight.”
The 2016 champion arrived in Paris in red-hot form after lifting his 83rd tour-level trophy at the Belgrade Open on Saturday, backing up his run to the Internazionali BNL d’Italia final (l. Nadal). Djokovic owns a 21-3 record on the season, which includes a record-extending ninth Australian Open title in February, his 18th Grand Slam crown.
“Overall from [the] later stages of the Rome tournament until now, I’m just finding my groove on the court and striking the ball well,” Djokovic said. “Very pleased with the way I am feeling and playing on the court.”
??@TennysSandgren and @DjokerNole showing off the slide skills ?#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/3ZGJ14mjTY
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2021
Djokovic wasted no time in taking the lead against Sandgren on Chatrier, which was outfitted with floodlights for the first time in 2020. The top seed’s backhand was firing as he surged ahead to an early break at 1-0, and didn’t face a break point himself as he closed out the opening set with another at 5-2.
He was in for a battle in the second set as Sandgren, who previously reached the Australian Open quarter-finals in 2018 and 2020, tried to fight his way back after going down another early break at 1-0. Djokovic faced three break points as the American rushed the net, catching his opponent out with a booming passing shot to take a 0/40 lead – but Djokovic held firm to stay in control.
Djokovic kept his cool against an increasingly frustrated Sandgren, reeling off five games in a row to open up a 5-1 lead in the third set. Sandgren saved match point to extend his stay in the contest, but couldn’t hold back the World No. 1 and his backhand down-the-line as Djokovic sealed the victory after an hour and 58 minutes.
“I thought I played really well. Moved really well,” Djokovic said. “I’m going to try to keep that up. Obviously it’s a long shot. It’s a long tournament. But I’ll take it match by match. And physically I’m also fit. I’m [as] motivated as anybody.”
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Into the second round at Roland Garros for the 17th consecutive time, Djokovic will next face Pablo Cuevas. The Uruguayan player advanced after securing a 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 victory against Frenchman Lucas Pouille.
Did You Know?
2016 champion Djokovic is seeking his second Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy this fortnight in Paris. A victory would make him the first man in the Open Era to win every Grand Slam championship twice.
Rafael Nadal led a chorus of ATP stars celebrating the emotional return of Carla Suarez Navarro from her battle with cancer at Roland Garros on Tuesday.
The Spaniard returned to Roland Garros to take on Sloane Stephens. She came within two points of taking the match in straight sets before the American rallied to win 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4. But it was a gutsy fight befitting her courageous return to the court.
Nadal was among myriad players delighted to see the 32-year-old back on tour. “I just want to congratulate you for the attitude and everything that you have transmitted during these complicated months. You are a champion,” Nadal said. “You were already one on court, but now you showed us that you’re also one away from the court, and I just wanted to congratulate you and tell you that I’m very, very happy for your recovery. I send you a big kiss and congratulations.”
Along with 13-time Roland Garros champion Nadal, Top 10 players Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev were among those who sent out messages of encouragement.
“Carla you were always fighting on the court and I think you got the win in your biggest fight, it is really inspiring and I hope you come back even stronger on the tour, win some tournaments. We are all with you, it is amazing,” Medvedev said.
Zverev added: “Carla, welcome back, we all missed you and we are all incredibly proud of you for dealing with what you had. It is amazing how much of a fighter you are. You showed it on the court all the time but now you have shown it in life as well so we are all proud of you and we are extremely happy to have you back and will be cheering for you this week.”
Suarez Navarro announced that she had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, last summer. But she has returned to the sport just five weeks after revealing she had recovered.
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Matteo Berrettini, the World No. 9 was another who shared his thoughts about the good news. “So nice to see you back. We’ve been texting and I actually met you here, so I am really happy that you are here practising and fighting. You have been an inspiration to all of us.”
Diego Schwartzman further echoed this, saying: “I am very, very happy to see you again here. When I saw you a few days ago we shared the smiles because we are friends outside the court, so I am very happy. You are a girl that many people have to follow and have to know how hard you fight to be here again. I hope to see you soon, competing on court at the max level.”
Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Denis Shapovalov also sent their support, with #NextGenATP talent Carlos Alcaraz telling his fellow Spaniard: “I just want to tell you that for me and for all the Spanish people it’s a pride to see you back on the courts. To have overcome everything you have gone through, it is really incredible. We wish you all the best on your comeback.”
Seventh seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares got their Roland Garros campaign underway with a hard-fought victory on Tuesday as they battled past British pair Luke Bambridge and Dominic Inglot 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-3 in two hours and 43 minutes. The British/Brazilian team, who reunited this year, reached the 2017 quarter-finals and will face either Oliver Marach and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi or Marcelo Demoliner and Santiago Gonzalez.
Second-seeded Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, who have reached the semi-finals on three occasions in Paris, overcame British brothers Ken Skupski and Neal Skupski 6-4, 6-4 in 83 minutes. The pair saved all three break points they faced to improve to a 17-8 record on the season.
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Australian Open champions and fifth seeds Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek needed three match points and two hours and 45 minutes to overcome Andres Molteni and Frederik Nielsen 7-5, 6-7(6), 7-6(6). The Croatian-Slovakian tandem hit eight aces, winning 82 per cent of their first-service points. They now play Kazakhstanis Alexander Bublik and Andrey Golubev, who defeated wild cards Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul 7-6(7), 6-1, having saved one set point at 6/7 in the first-set tie-break.
Elsewhere, ninth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau were also made to fight for victory, as they beat Ariel Behar and Gonzalo Escobar 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5) in one hour and 55 minutes. Krawietz has won the past two Roland Garros doubles titles with fellow German Andreas Mies, who is recovering from right knee surgery.
Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares beat Luke Bambridge and Dominic Inglot in the first round of the men’s doubles at the French Open.