Egypt partners with Google to promote 'unmatched diversity' tourism campaign    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Taiwan GDP surges on tech demand    World Bank: Global commodity prices to fall 17% by '26    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    UNFPA Egypt, Bayer sign agreement to promote reproductive health    Egypt to boost marine protection with new tech partnership    France's harmonised inflation eases slightly in April    Eygpt's El-Sherbiny directs new cities to brace for adverse weather    CBE governor meets Beijing delegation to discuss economic, financial cooperation    Egypt's investment authority GAFI hosts forum with China to link business, innovation leaders    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's Gypto Pharma, US Dawa Pharmaceuticals sign strategic alliance    Egypt's Foreign Minister calls new Somali counterpart, reaffirms support    "5,000 Years of Civilizational Dialogue" theme for Korea-Egypt 30th anniversary event    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Angola's Lourenço discuss ties, African security in Cairo talks    Egypt's Al-Mashat urges lower borrowing costs, more debt swaps at UN forum    Two new recycling projects launched in Egypt with EGP 1.7bn investment    Egypt's ambassador to Palestine congratulates Al-Sheikh on new senior state role    Egypt pleads before ICJ over Israel's obligations in occupied Palestine    Sudan conflict, bilateral ties dominate talks between Al-Sisi, Al-Burhan in Cairo    Cairo's Madinaty and Katameya Dunes Golf Courses set to host 2025 Pan Arab Golf Championship from May 7-10    Egypt's Ministry of Health launches trachoma elimination campaign in 7 governorates    EHA explores strategic partnership with Türkiye's Modest Group    Between Women Filmmakers' Caravan opens 5th round of Film Consultancy Programme for Arab filmmakers    Fourth Cairo Photo Week set for May, expanding across 14 Downtown locations    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Ancient military commander's tomb unearthed in Ismailia    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM praises ties with Tanzania    Egypt to host global celebration for Grand Egyptian Museum opening on July 3    Ancient Egyptian royal tomb unearthed in Sohag    Egypt hosts World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay for 3rd consecutive year    Egyptian Minister praises Nile Basin consultations, voices GERD concerns    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Tennis: 'Unbelievable' Serena determined to advance in French Open
Serena Williams suddenly locked in her first difficult match of this year's French Open
Published in Ahram Online on 05 - 06 - 2013

Serena Williams knows, of course, that she's had less success at the French Open than any other Grand Slam tournament.
Of her 15 major titles, only one came at Roland Garros, back in 2002. She lost in the semi-finals a year later then exited in the quarterfinals the next four times she got that far.
Against Jennifer Capriati in 2004. Against Justine Henin in 2007. Against Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2009. Against Sam Stosur in 2010.
So there Williams was Tuesday, suddenly locked in her first difficult match of this year's French Open, having lost the second set and the opening two games of the third. Again, trouble in the quarterfinals in Paris. Again, the opponent was Kuznetsova.
''I thought,'' Williams said, ''you know, 'Can't go out like this again.'''
She did not. Williams won six of the last seven games, rallying for a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory and reaching her first semifinal in a decade at the clay-court major tournament.
''I was so determined to get through that,'' the No. 1-ranked Williams said, ''and I really, really, really, really wanted it more than, I think, anyone.''
Since a first-round exit at Roland Garros a year ago, Williams is 72-3, and she's currently on a 29-match winning streak, the best of her career and longest in a single season since her sister Venus' 35-match run in 2000.
''Unbelievable competitor,'' said Kuznetsova, who revealed after the loss that she strained an abdominal muscle earlier in the tournament. ''She turns on (her) game when she needs it.''
On Thursday, Williams will meet No. 5 Sara Errani, last year's runner-up to Maria Sharapova. Errani reached the semifinals for the third time in the last five major tournaments, beating No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 7-6 (6).
Williams is 5-0 against Errani.
''She forces you to play at a very high level to have any chance of winning. I'll have to hit shots hard and deep and make her move,'' said Errani, who was 0-28 against women ranked in the top five before Tuesday. ''As soon as you hit a short ball, Serena gets right on top of you, and she has enough power to end the point.''
In Wednesday's quarterfinals, the second-seeded Sharapova faces No. 18 Jelena Jankovic, while No. 3 Victoria Azarenka plays No. 12 Maria Kirilenko. The last two men's quarterfinals are seven-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal against No. 9 Stanislas Wawrinka, and No. 1 Novak Djokovic against No. 12 Tommy Haas.
Nadal and Djokovic have combined with Roger Federer to win 30 of the past 32 Grand Slam titles, but Federer will not be around for the conclusion of this tournament. In a remarkably brief and one-sided quarterfinal Tuesday, the 17-time major champion lost to one-time major finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
''I struggled a little bit everywhere. To be honest, personally, I'm pretty sad about the match and the way I played. But that's how it goes. I tried to figure things out, but it was difficult. And Jo does a good job keeping the pressure on,'' Federer said after the 1-hour, 51-minute match.
''He was just ... better in all areas,'' continued Federer, whose lone French Open title, in 2009, allowed him to equal Pete Sampras' then-record of 14 majors. ''He returned better than I did. Served better than I did. I struggled to find my rhythm.''
Facing a set point, Federer shanked a forehand 10 feet beyond the opposite baseline. He dumped overhead smashes into the net. He argued with the chair umpire about a call.
And in a truly rare ungraceful moment, he failed to put a racket to - or get out of the way of - a backhand flip by a sliding Tsonga, instead getting hit on the back.
Federer hadn't lost in straight sets before the semifinals at any Grand Slam tournament since a third-round defeat against Gustavo Kuerten in the 2004 French Open.
Starting a month later, when he won Wimbledon, Federer began a stretch of nearly eight full years in which he was unbeaten in Grand Slam quarterfinals, reaching the semifinals at a record 23 major tournaments in a row. Since that run ended, though, quarterfinal exits are becoming a regular occurrence: He has lost at that stage in five of the past 13 Slams, twice to Tsonga, who was the runner-up at the 2008 Australian Open and is trying to give France its first men's champion at Roland Garros since Yannick Noah 30 years ago.
''Everybody's expecting a lot from me,'' Tsonga said.
Tsonga's first semifinal at Roland Garros will be against No. 4 David Ferrer, who stopped the wild ride of No. 32 Tommy Robredo 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in an all-Spanish matchup. Robredo won each of his previous three matches despite dropping the first two sets, the first man since 1927 to do that a Grand Slam tournament.
''I wasn't 100 percent ready to fight'' on Tuesday after so many lengthy matches, Robredo said, adding: ''And playing with a guy like David, who is a machine, it's very tough to be like that.''
Ferrer reached his sixth major semifinal; he has yet to win one.
Noting that Tsonga so easily beat Federer, Ferrer said: ''I was a bit surprised.''
Federer did, after all, reach 10 straight Grand Slam finals from 2005-07, winning eight titles. He also appeared in eight major finals from 2008-10, winning four. But since that run ended, Federer has played in two of the last 13 Slam title matches, winning one at Wimbledon last year.
Federer had won nine of his previous 12 matches against Tsonga. When they met at the net for a handshake after this one, Tsonga kiddingly thanked Federer for letting him win this time, and both men chuckled.
''Sports, it's beautiful, because you can always do something. Even if you play, you know, the best player in the world ... you have a chance,'' Tsonga said. ''Because the guy in front of you (has) two legs, two arms, one head.''
Federer, now 31, certainly seems more human on a tennis court than he used to. This is the deepest he's gone into a season without winning any tournament since 2000.
Now Tsonga will become the focus of so much attention, supported by thousands in the stands - and millions in their homes around France - hoping for a homegrown champion.
''He's got a big game. He takes time away from you,'' Federer said. ''He can change defense to offense very quickly. Similar traits to what I have, I guess, really.''
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/73231.aspx


Clic here to read the story from its source.