Stosur Aims to Go Back to the Future at French Open Points in a Tie-Breaker
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SUNDAY MAY 24 2015 SPORT 63 Nadal still defiant RAFAEL Nadal insists his dec- ade-long experience of playing at the French Open will make him a serious contender for a 10th title at Roland Garros de- Kyrgios one to fear spite being widely written off. The 28-year-old Spaniard, who made his debut in Paris LEO SCHLINK 2015 GRAND SLAM last the entire two weeks. he must first overcome Uzbek- them at the moment, over the back in 2005 sweeping all “I think physically he’s still istan’s Denis Istomin. next couple months.” before him on the way to the NICK Kyrgios has been got a lot of work to go to get McEnroe says Kyrgios, the Kyrgios, 20, is already a first of nine titles in the tagged as a French Open the physicality part of it down, 30th seed, could be superior to dual grand slam quarter-final- French capital, is only seeded wrecking ball ahead of a po- endurance-wise. many grand slam pretenders. ist and his stunning win over sixth this year. But the defend- tential third-round clash with “I think there’s no doubt “A couple of these players Federer in Madrid confirmed ing champion believes the low Andy Murray. that he can get hot and pretty may end up being better than his standing as a rare talent. expectations may count in his ESPN tennis expert and FRENCH OPEN much play with anyone on any (Grigor) Dimitrov, (Milos) Ra- He is one of six Australian favour when the tournament Australian Open semi-finalist STARTS TODAY surface. onic, (Kei) Nishikori that have men in the draw, joining Ber- starts today. After winning a Patrick McEnroe predicts Kyr- “I love his attitude. been knocking on the door. nard Tomic, Thanasi Kokkin- ninth French Open in 2014, gios will decisively shape the WATCH LIVE ON “I love his gumption out “Your next great, great akis, James Duckworth, Sam Nadal was hit by a series of Roland Garros draw – without there. He could absolutely player could be coming from Groth and Marinko Matosevic. injuries, as well as a bout of surviving the tournament. think he’s a big-match player. make some serious noise there, this group of teenagers that It is possible Kokkinakis appendicitis. He has just one “He definitely could make “Obviously, I think he’s got for sure.” we’ll sort of see on full display and Tomic could clash in the title in 2015 and enters Paris some noise,” McEnroe said. the kind of game that can beat If Kyrgios has any hope of for the first time in the majors, second round for the right without a European clay court “I wasn’t surprised that he the big players, even on clay. reaching the round of 32, including Kyrgios. challenge world No.1 Djokovic trophy for the first time in 10 beat (Roger) Federer because I “Now, I don’t think he can where Murray is likely to lurk, “Obviously, he’s ahead of in the third round. years having lost to Andy Murray in the Madrid final, being beaten in the semi-finals in Monte Carlo by Novak Djokovic and losing to Fabio Fognini in Barcelona. He was also defeated by Stan Wawrin- ka in the Rome quarterfinals. Aces up sleeve DOMINIC Thiem hit 11 aces on Friday to upset second- seeded John Isner and set up a final overnight against Leon- ardo Mayer at the Open de Nice. The big-serving Isner also had 11 aces and saved seven of eight break points in the first set but lost the first three games of the second set to slump to a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 loss at the clay-court tournament. The 42nd-ranked Thiem, who is chasing his maiden ATP tour title, said “you don’t play a final every week, so I am really happy. But if I lose tomorrow, I won’t win the tournament. I will do everything I can to win my first title.” Fourth-seeded Mayer beat Borna Coric 6-4 6-3 in the other semi-final. Bellucci battles on THOMAZ Bellucci, of Brazil, advanced to the Geneva Open final on Friday and played Joao Sousa, of Portugal, for the title overnight. Bellucci, twice a champion at Switzer- land’s other clay court event in Gstaad, eased past Santiago Giraldo, of Colombia, 6-3 6-4. The 60th-ranked Bellucci says “this is my favourite place to play. Maybe I feel very relaxed here.” The sixth-seeded Sousa beat Federico Delbonis, of Argentina, 6-3 2-6 6-4 in the other semi-final. Though Sousa again won a third-set decider, it was less dramatic Australian star Samantha Stosur, who qualified for the final of the WTA Tour event in Starsbourg, is hopeful of producing her best at the French Open Picture: IAN WALTON than his quarterfinal win over Spain’s Pablo Andujar when he saved four straight match Stosur aims to go back to the future at French Open points in a tie-breaker. Vinci advances LEO SCHLINK round exit at last week’s Rome guided Alicia Molik to the top fer that to matches, so I asked highly rated young American Masters. 10. Stosur ended the 2015 11- for a wildcard here (in Stras- Sloane Stephens 3-6 6-3 6-0 in ROBERTA Vinci advanced to SAMANTHA Stosur is hoping After missing Australia’s match clay-court winning bourg),” Stosur said. Friday’s semi-finals. the Nuremberg Cup final on a new coach and last-minute Fed Cup tie last month with a streak of German Angelique “Luckily I was able to get Her victory came hours Friday after second-seeded change of heart will culminate calf tear, Stosur had been Kerber in Madrid despite still one because all week I’ve after being thrust into a likely Angelique Kerber, of Ger- in her brightest French Open steadily regaining form and struggling with injury. played well. I’m really pleased. third-round showdown at Ro- many, withdrew because of a build-up since she lost the 2010 confidence following a reunion “Even though I lost in the “It’s always good getting land Garros with defending back injury. Vinci faced sixth- final at Roland Garros. with long-time former coach third round, I still thought I some tough matches and my champion Maria Sharapova. seeded Karin Knapp overnight Stosur will be chasing her David Taylor. had a pretty good tournament timing’s been good, so I’m Despite the tough draw in an all-Italian final. Knapp first title since going back-to- The former US Open cham- in Madrid,” Stosur said. doing all the things you want ahead, Stosur will be full of con- defeated 98th-ranked Lara back in Osaka last October pion and one-time world No.4 But after falling first up in to be doing heading into a fidence arriving at Roland Gar- Arruabarrena 6-0 6-2. when she takes on unseeded had dropped to 27th in the the Italian capital to Anastasia grand slam.” ros feeling the best prepared Kerber’s participation in the Frenchwoman Kristina Mlad- rankings since splitting with Pavlyuchenkova, Stosur was After a fighting three-set she has been since winning 18 French Open, which starts enovic in the final of the Stras- Taylor in September 2013. concerned about losing mo- win over new stablemate Ajla of 20 matches on clay en route today, was left in doubt after bourg International overnight. But her revival began al- mentum ahead of the season’s Tomljanovic, who trained with to the title match five years ago. her injury, though the German But Australia’s top-ranked most immediately after reunit- second grand slam starting Stosur at Taylor’s base in Lich- “No matter what happens said she would do all she could player only accepted a late ing with Taylor, an ex-mentor today. tenstein after Australia’s Fed tomorrow, I’m playing the to make her first round match wildcard entry into the tourna- of world No.1s Martina Hingis “I was hitting the ball well in Cup playoff loss to the Nether- kind of tennis I want to be against Timea Babos. ment after suffering a first- and Ana Ivanovic who also practice but I wanted to trans- lands, the third seed overcame playing,” Stosur said. V1 - NTNE01Z01MA.