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Rediff.com  » Sports » PHOTOS: Shocking early exits at French Open...

PHOTOS: Shocking early exits at French Open...

Last updated on: June 04, 2015 13:20 IST
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Djokovic ends Nadal's remarkable reign

Rafael Nadal

Spain's Rafael Nadal winks. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Novak Djokovic finally dropped the French Open guillotine on Rafael Nadal -- ending the most remarkable of Roland Garros reigns in ruthless fashion on Wednesday.

It is not the end, says Nadal after French Open defeat

The champion, who was rumoured to have red clay pumping through his veins after ruling the Paris slam for nine of the last 10 years, tamely surrendered his crown.

The manner of Djokovic's 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 execution was impressive enough but unfortunately for the Serb, no one was running out on court to hand him a gleaming trophy for condemning Nadal to only his second defeat at Roland Garros.

Federer gone with the wind

Roger Federer

Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts. Photograph: Dan Istitene/Getty Images

The signs that things were going horribly wrong for Roger Federer were laid bare at Roland Garros on Tuesday when the Swiss's racket flew out of his grasp after he tripped up and fell to his hands and knees on the red clay.

French Open: Wawrinka trumps Federer, to meet Tsonga in semis

It is not the graceful manoeuvre one has come to expect from a 17-time Grand Slam champion who has charmed the world with his wondrous shots rather than clumsy falls.

But that is what Stanislas Wawrinka reduced his compatriot to on Tuesday -- a fallen champion.

The eighth seed played what he called his ‘best match in a Grand Slam’ to trump Federer at a major for the first time with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(4) quarter-final victory.

So demoralising was the loss for Federer, who was tipped to reach the final from the half of the draw that did not feature the other members of the Big Four -- Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray -- that his usually sharp memory also failed him.

Champion Sharapova bounced out by Czech Safarova

Russia's Maria Sharapova

Russia's Maria Sharapova leaves the court after defeat in her women's singles match against Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Maria Sharapova's impressive sequence of French Open results ended when the defending champion was knocked out 7-6 (3), 6-4 by 13th-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova in the fourth round on Monday.

The second-seeded Russian had reached the previous three finals at Roland Garros, winning in 2012 and 2014, but could not handle her opponent's steely forehand.

Kvitova tamed by unheralded Bacsinszky

Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova

Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova packs her bag after defeat in women's singles match against Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Czech fourth seed Petra Kvitova was sent packing from the French Open when she lost 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 to Swiss Timea Bacsinszky in the fourth round.

It was the second victory in as many matches against Kvitova for the 23rd seed, who will face Belgian sensation Alison van Uytvanck for a place in the semi-finals.

Bacsinszky was given the run around by Kvitova in the opening set but once she got into her groove, the 25-year-old, whose career has been hampered by a foot injury, could not be stopped.

Double Wimbledon champion Kvitova, who reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2012, broke back for 3-3 in the decider but Bacsinszky won the next three, sealing victory when the Czech made a forehand error.

Former World No 1 Caroline Wozniacki was knocked out by Julia Goerges

Caroline Wozniacki

Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki serves . Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Caroline Wozniacki joined the exodus of women's seeds at the French Open when the Dane was bundled out 6-4, 7-6(4) in the second round by Germany's Julia Goerges on a blustery Phillipe Chatrier court on Thursday.

French Open Sidelights: A marathon duel to remember!

Third seed Halep knocked out

Simona Halep of Romania

Romania's Simona Halep in action. Photograph: Ian Walton/Getty Images

Last year's runner-up, Simona Halep was knocked out in the second round of the French Open 7-5, 6-1 by Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni on Wednesday.

The third seed Romanian crumbled after losing the first set, managing a mere five winners in the match against the world number 70.

Bouchard's woeful run continues with early exit

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard returns a shot during her women's singles match against Kristina Mladenovic of France. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Eugenie Bouchard's mediocre run continued when the sixth-seeded Canadian was knocked out of the French Open 6-4, 6-4 in the first round by local favourite Kristina Mladenovic on Tuesday.

French Open PHOTOS: Djokovic, Serena advance; Venus exits

What slump? Nadal begins pursuit of No 10, all seems normal

Will lady luck shine on Nadal?

Bouchard, dubbed the next big thing of women's tennis last year, arrived in Paris having lost six of her last seven matches and there was no improvement on court Suzanne Lenglen.

The Wimbledon runner-up, who had reached the last four at Roland Garros last year, resisted in the opening set but was completely overwhelmed in the second.

Mladenovic, ranked 44th in the world, struggled to handle the pressure after opening a 5-0 lead in the second set but a strong first serve on match point ensured a second-round meeting with either Czech Klara Koukalova or Montenegro's Danka Kovinic.

Dimitrov downed by Sock in first round

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov leaves the court after he lost his men's singles first round match against Jack Sock of the United States. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Tenth seed Grigor Dimitrov fell in the first round, beaten in straight sets by American Jack Sock.

It was second first-round Roland Garros loss in a row for the Bulgarian, who went down 7-6((7), 6-2, 6-3 to the 22-year-old Sock who had never beaten a top-20 player in Grand Slam play.

Last year he crashed out to big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic.

Dimitrov, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, is the highest men's seed to exit the tournament so far.

Sock, ranked 37 in the world, won his first career title at Houston -- also on clay -- in April, and reached the third round in Paris last year.

The shock win against 11th ranked Dimitrov tees up a potential last-16 clash for the youngster against Rafael Nadal.

Stephens downs Venus

Venus Williams

Venus Williams in action during her match against Sloane Stephens. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Former World No 1 Venus Williams suffered another early French Open exit when she was beaten 7-6(5), 6-1 by fellow American Sloane Stephens in the first round on Monday.

It was not a major surprise though as Stephens has reached the fourth round of the claycourt Grand Slam in the past three years. She will face Briton Heather Watson next.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams, whose best result in Paris is a runner-up spot in 2002 but had not gone past the second round in the last four years, made the better start, opening a 2-0 lead but Stephens proved more accurate.

Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska

Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska plays a backhand. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Fourteenth-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska's slump also continued as the former World No 2 succumbed 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to Germany's Annika Beck on Monday.

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