French Open 2010 – Day One Review

Fans at Roland Garros were treated to a beautiful day of weather and tennis and just enough tension to keep it interesting as a host of French stars and some popular seeds got their feet wet on the famous red clay of Paris. The good weather provided players firm court surfaces that provided fast action and enabled the hard-hitting stars to keep points short. For the most part, seeds held, but there were a few upsets and a couple that could have ramifications in later rounds.

Men’s Draw

Jo Willy Tsonga escapes

France’s own top seed, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, escaped a hard charge from young German star Daniel Brands on The Philippe Chartier court with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 7-5. The eighth seed had the home fans on the edge of their seats, as he was down a break at 2-1 in the fifth set before rallying to pull even and then seal the match in game 12. Prior to this season, Tsonga had never won a five set match. This year, he has racked up three five sets wins.

Brands gained confidence as play went on and especially after his fourth set win. The German, who has never won a Grand Slam match, had a good amount of crowd support and was given a standing ovation at the conclusion of the three hour 43 minute match.

Tsonga will have two days to recoup. The Frenchman said he was not feeling well and will hope to recover during his off days.

Another Frenchman, Julien Benneteau, upset hard playing Latvian Ernests Gulbis, who defeated Roger Federer three weeks ago and took the top seed three sets in Madrid just over a week ago. Benneteau was up 6-4, 6-2, 1-0 when the 21-year old Gulbis was forced to retire. The 28-year old Benneteau, ranked 39th in then world, reached the quarterfinals in 2006 but has not been a factor since.

Tsonga and Benneteau will join heavyweights Marin Cilic, the youngest top ten player and last year’s finalist, Robin Soderling in the second round. Soderling neatly disposed of France’s Laurent Recouderc, 6-0, 6-2, 6-3. Cilic needed four sets to defeat Brazilian Ricardo Mello, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

The Women’s Draw

Venus Williams at Roland Garros

Number 2 seed and seven-time Grand Slam Champion, Venus Williams, wowed the French crowd at Court Suzanne Lenglen with her black and red lacy attire but her 6-3, 6-3 win over Patty Schynder was error-prone and less than impressive. Her uncharacteristically inefficient first serve will need to improve if she hopes to escape her quarter bracket.

Whatever has happened to Australian Open semi-finalist Vicktoria Azarenka needs a remedy. Her disheartening performance against Argentine veteran Gisela Dulko resulted in a crushing 6-1, 6-2 loss. Hopefully, the ten seed will use the next few weeks to heal and get her mental game together. Azarenka has gone to a new coach in efforts to reverse her slide, but whatever she is doing, is not working.

Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has been in a dramatic slump of her own, but the Russian came back from an 0-3 start to finish off Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-1 in just 72 minutes. Kuznetsova appears to have lost confidence and determination and will need all that and more to defend her title.

To the delight of the home crowds, Aravane Rezai continued her streak of dominating wins with an impressive 6-1, 6-1 win over Canadian Heidl El Tabakh. Fresh from her Madrid championship and win over Venus Williams, the 15th seed appears headed for another clash with Williams.

In another first round surprise, 20th seeded Maria Jose Martines Sanchez was upset by Uzbekistan’s Akgul Amanamuradova 6-2, 6-4. Sanchez is regarded as a strong clay court player but seemed to lose focus as the match proceeded.

Many of the top sees take the court today. The weather is expected to be favorable all week.

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