Serbia's Jelena Jankovic said she feels ready to take retired Justine Henin's French Open title and her world number one slot after winning the Italian Open for the second consecutive year on Sunday. Jankovic beat France's Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-2 in the final to claim her sixth career title.
'I really look forward to going to Paris, to fight for the Grand Slam, and I am really looking forward to show my great level in a Grand Slam, too.'
French qualifier Jerome Haehnel ousted the veteran American in straight sets.
The second Grand Slam of the year, the French Open has, over the years, managed to pull in celebrities at high-profile matches. This year again, the celebrities have been in attendance as the big names of the game slug it out and get dirty on the clay courts of Roland Garros. Rediff.com gives a quick glimpse of the famous faces that have, so far, been spotted at the French Open.
Up to 60% of usual capacity will be allowed to attend 2020 French Open, say organisers
Stanislas Wawrinka was still struggling to digest the fact that he had won a second grand slam title, and did it by overcoming a player who had until Sunday, been unbeatable on clay in 2015.
'Maria will look at it and see no one dominant. Serena Williams is the only player in the past who has been like a thorn in her side, but she feels mentally superior to most of the other and she feels she can win against them all'
While Jannik Sinner and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz have won the last seven major titles between them, the Italian cautioned against complacency and pointed to the strength of competition in the ATP Tour.
Looking to improve her claycourt skills, she spent a bit of time at 11-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal's academy.
IMAGES from Day 11 of the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Wednesday.
Novak Djokovic kept his bid alive for Grand Slam No. 23 as he entered the semifinals of the French Open.
The cool days of late September, with damp courts expected, will level the playing field and for the first time, other than when Rafael Nadal has been injured, he looks vulnerable on his beloved clay.
IMAGES from Day 8 of the French Open, at Roland Garros, on Sunday.
Former champion Roger Federer withdrew from the French Open on Thursday, citing fitness issues. The 34-year-old world number three missed the recent Madrid Open with back problems and suffered an early defeat at the Italian Open. "I am still not 100% and feel I might be taking an unnecessary risk by playing in this event before I am really ready," the 17-times grand slam champion said on a statement issued on his Facebook account.
India's double Olympic medallist P V Sindhu failed to reach the women's singles summit clash after going down fighting to Japan's Sayaka Takahashi in three games at the French Open badminton tournament Paris on Saturday.
Timea Bacsinszky and Jelena Ostapenko will celebrate birthdays on Thursday, but one will be left crying into her cake as they face off in the French Open semi-finals.
Serbia's Ana Ivanovic claimed her first grand slam title with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Russia's Dinara Safina in the French Open final on Saturday.
Sania Mirza failed to break the second round jinx at the French Open, crashing out of the tournament after a straight sets defeat to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in the women's singles, in Paris, on Thursday. The Indian ace lost 2-6, 4-6 to the 12th-seeded Radwanska in an hour and 16 minutes.
Novak Djokovic's route to a maiden title at Roland Garros and the world number one ranking could be a hazardous one following Friday's draw for the French Open which starts on Sunday.
Rafael Nadal beat unseeded Argentine Mariano Puerta 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 in a rousing French Open final on Sunday.
Thiem knocked out by Andujar in French Open first round
The world number two is worried she will not be fit enough to give her best in next month's French Open championships.
Swiatek's last defeat on clay came in the WTA 1000 event in Madrid against Australian Barty, who elected not to defend her 2019 French Open title last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ramkumar Ramanathan partnered with American Hunter Reese won his first main draw win at a Grand Slam at Rolland Garros on Wednesday
Newly-crowned French Open champion Simon Halep said she was inspired to win her first Grand Slam title by her manager Virginia Ruzici's feats 40 years ago at Roland Garros.
She should win her place thanks to good results, says Radwanska
Defending champion Jannik Sinner defeated Daniel Altmaier to avenge a loss two years ago at the French Open as he marched into the third round of the Shanghai Masters with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over the German.
Jana Novotna took Barbora Krejcikova under her wing in 2014 and while the youngster "never tried to imitate" her, the 2018 French Open and Wimbledon doubles champion drew inspiration from her mentor.
The Pole, who won the crown in 2020 and hasn't lost since February, matched Serena Williams's winning run from 2013 in the process, having now lost only two sets in her last four tournaments.
The world number two is unsure whether she will be fit enough to play at next month's event.\n\n
The Indian duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi rallied from a set down to score a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over the German pair of Tommy Haas and Philipp Petzschner in the first round of the French Open men's doubles competition, in Paris on Thursday.
India's Rohan Bopanna and his Romanian partner Marius Copil bowed out of the French Open after losing in the third round of the men's doubles, in Paris, on Sunday.
Novak Djokovic joined the tennis greats on Sunday when he downed British second seed Andy Murray 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 to claim his maiden French Open title and hold all four grand slams at the same time. The world number one recovered from a nervous start to impose his pace on Court Philippe Chatrier and clinch his 12th grand slam crown after three previous failures in a Roland Garros final. Djokovic is only the third man after Don Budge and Rod Laver to hold the four majors at the same time, and the eighth man to triumph at Wimbledon and the French, U.S. and Australian Opens.
The WTA Tour has criticised French Open organisers for awarding more prize money to the men competitors
Three fancied players did succumb on a cheerless day.
Martina Navratilova said on Thursday she will commentate at this year's French Open while undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer.
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