The City of Lights ran into darkness as one of France’s favorite sons, Gael Monfils, will have to return tomorrow to determine the outcome of a stunning five set thriller.

Roger Federer and Serena Williams are the top seeds but Rafa Nadal and Justine Henin are the bookmaker favorites to win this year’s French Open.

Unflappable, poised, experienced and relentless, Andy Roddick went about his work on Sunday.

Roger Federer ran into some unexpected resistance at the hands of Frenchman Florent Serra but the top seed managed to hold on for a 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3) third round victory at the Sony Ericsson Miami Open on Monday.

The defending champion and number three seed, Andy Murray, was rudely ousted by American Mardy Fish on Saturday. Murray now joins number two seed, Novak Djokovic on the sidelines at the prestigious Sony Ericsson Miami Open.

As happens so often in the pivotal third set, he who serves well, wins. The trend happened again twice on Saturday at the BNP Paribas Open as 31-year old Ivan Ljubicic staved off a charge from Rafa Nadal and Andy Roddick sealed the deal against Robin Soderling.

Even when Robin Soderling let Andy Murray up for air, the troubled Scotsman could not pull himself together to stave off the inevitable defeat on Friday at the BNP Paribas Open.

Second seed Novak Djokovic will try to defend his title and 7th seed Mikhail Youzhny will try to become the first Russian to win the $2 million Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship in today’s final. Djokovic had all he could handle against tireless Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, while Youzhny continues as the event’s hottest player against Austrian [...]

At the biggest tournaments in tennis, Michael Llodra is considered a lightweight. At the 2010 Open 13 event in his native country, the left-handed Frenchman lived up to his last name. Mr. Llodra – make that, Monsieur Llodra – was simply a load over the past week at the Palais des Sports in Marseilles, France. [...]

At the Open 13 tennis tournament – which has now completed the quarterfinal round – it’s fair to say that home cooking has been the order of the week. This ATP 250 event held in Marseilles has witnessed three French competitors advance to the final four. Saturday’s semifinals will have a richly Gallic flavor, and [...]