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Home , Dmitry Tursunov, Ernests Gulbis, Jerzy Janowicz

Spurs trounce Thunder, take SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2014 MAY SATURDAY, SportsSports 3-2 series lead 44

PARIS: Serbia’s returns the ball to ’s Marin Cilic during their French Open third round match at the Roland Garros stadium yesterday. (Below) Switzerland’s hits a return to Russia’s during their French tennis Open third round match. — AFP Djokovic, Federer pass tough 4-set tests Federer sees off Tursunov, books last 16

PARIS: Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer interviews were becoming so polite and inof- passed tough four-set tests to reach the French fensive that the fire in the belly of the sport was Open last-16 yesterday where they were joined being doused. Yesterday, Gulbis turned his fire by outspoken Latvian . Second on women in tennis, claiming the sport is no seed Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up, stretched place for female players. “A woman needs to his career streak over Croatia’s 25th seed Marin enjoy life a little bit more. Needs to think about Cilic to 9-0 after a topsy-turvy 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (2/7), family, needs to think about kids. What kids you 6-4 win. Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up, next can think about until age of 27 if you’re playing faces either French 13th seed Jo-Wilfried professional tennis, you know,” he said. Tsonga or ’s , the 22nd Gulbis and Federer last met in Rome in 2010, seed, for a place in the quarter-finals after see- three years before the 25-year-old Latvian ing off Cilic who allowed 22 break points on his unleashed his Paris tirade. Gulbis will be serve and committed 64 unforced errors. appearing in a fourth round for the first time in A pulsating encounter on Suzanne Lenglen 22 majors and insists he already has a game court ended when Cilic, rattled by a shout from plan to tackle the Swiss star. “You don’t need to the crowd, served up his fifth double fault. be scared to do certain things against him, “Marin is a tough player with plenty of because most of the people they go on the strengths,” said Djokovic. court and they lose already before it has start- “He is a great guy with lots of qualities. ed,” said the 18th seed. We’ve been friends for many years.” Federer, “I can tell you that’s not gonna be the case the fourth seeded 2009 champion, needed with me.” Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych, a more than three hours to record his fifth win in semi-finalist in 2010, plays Spain’s Roberto five meetings against Russian Dmitry Tursunov but nice to win the match,” said 32-year-old One bullring, firing 19 aces and 45 winners. Bautista Agut. , the 10th seed and who twice needed treatment on a leg injury. Federer, who is contesting his 58th straight one of three American men left in the draw, His 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 6-2, 6-4 win also gave him a . “It was not a straightforward win. I No place for women tackles veteran Spaniard who fourth round spot for the 12th time beating the knew Dmitry would try different things, take big Twelve months ago, Gulbis caused contro- made the last-eight in 2013. Eighth seed Milos previous record of 11 set by Guillermo Vilas. cuts at the ball but I am pleased to have played versy when he described the sport’s big four of Raonic bids to become the first Canadian in his- Federer, the 17 time major winner, next faces solid.” Gulbis, the 18th seed, won a fractious Federer, , Djokovic and Andy tory to make the fourth round in Paris. He faces Gulbis who reached the last 16 for the first time third round clash against 35-year-old Czech vet- Murray as “boring”. He especially pointed the Frenchman who he beat on clay in since 2008. “It was tough to lose the second set eran Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 in the Court finger at Federer, claiming that post-match Portugal last month. — AFP