- Tennis RSS Feed

Serena struck down by brave Razzano and umpire furore

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The noise in Court Philippe Chatrier sounded like thunder, but it was hard to tell whether it came from the thousands of celebrating French fans or the fall to earth of the greatest woman player of her era. Serena Williams' astonishing 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 defeat by France's Virginie Razzano in the first round of the French Open here last night was arguably the most extraordinary result in the women's game since Martina Hingis, the world No 1, lost to 16-year-old Jelena Dokic in the first round at Wimbledon 13 years ago.

Meat and drink for Murray who squashes Ito

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Andy Murray sometimes makes a meal of his opening matches at the French Open, but the 25-year-old dined at the fast-food counter at Roland Garros yesterday. Murray swept aside Japan's Tatsuma Ito 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 in just an hour and 35 minutes to book a place in the second round against Finland's Jarkko Nieminen. Apart from a blip in the early stages of the second set, it was a good start to what has always been the world No 4's most challenging Grand Slam.

Watson courts attention with yet another win on Paris clay

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

At this rate Heather Watson will be giving visitors guided tours of Roland Garros. The 20-year-old from Guernsey is getting to know her way round the venue for the French Open as well as anybody and yesterday took her record in two visits here to seven wins in nine matches in the qualifying competition and main draw. A 6-2, 6-4 victory over Russia's Elena Vesnina was Watson's best in a Grand Slam tournament and took her for the second year in succession into the second round, in which she will face Germany's Julia Goerges.

Andy Murray wins with ease at Roland Garros

Tue, 29 May 2012 18:13:11 GMT

There were no real alarms for Andy Murray as he eased into the second round of the French Open with a 6-1 7-5 6-0 victory over Tatsuma Ito of Japan this evening.

Anne Keothavong Olympic hopes dealt blow with French Open defeat

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:30:11 GMT

Anne Keothavong's hopes of representing Great Britain at the Olympics were dealt a blow as she was knocked out of the French Open in the first round by Hungary's Melinda Czink.

Maria Sharapova races through French Open first round

Tue, 29 May 2012 12:53:22 GMT

Maria Sharapova served notice of her intent at the French Open with a 'double bagel' victory over Romania's Alexandra Cadantu in the first round at Roland Garros.

Heather Watson through to second round at the French Open

Tue, 29 May 2012 12:52:29 GMT

Heather Watson reached the second round of the French Open for the second successive year with a hugely impressive 6-2 6-4 victory over Russian Elena Vesnina today.

Andy Murray prepared for Tatsuma Ito at the French Open

Tue, 29 May 2012 08:09:07 GMT

Andy Murray will finally begin his French Open campaign later today when he takes on Japan's Tatsuma Ito in the first round at Roland Garros.

Azarenka avoids the curse of world No 1 as Robson falls

Mon, 28 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Victoria Azarenka has enjoyed so much success since the start of this year that she has yet to face the jibes that are often aimed at female world No 1s. It helps, of course, that the 22-year-old from Belarus has won a Grand Slam title, which three of her recent predecessors who topped the rankings – Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina and Caroline Wozniacki – had not.

Federer proud to draw level with Connors' record of match wins

Mon, 28 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Roger Federer appears to break records as easily as some politicians break promises. The 30-year-old Swiss needs only one more victory to beat Jimmy Connors' record of 233 wins in Grand Slam tournaments after beginning his 14th consecutive French Open here yesterday with a 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Germany's Tobias Kamke.

Novak Djokovic begins French Open with straight-forward win

Mon, 28 May 2012 16:29:43 GMT

Novak Djokovic began his campaign for a fourth successive grand slam title with a 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 6-1 victory over Italy's Potito Starace at the French Open this afternoon.

Routine win for Roger Federer at the French Open

Mon, 28 May 2012 13:25:13 GMT

Roger Federer today equalled Jimmy Connors' record of 233 grand slam match victories by easing into the second round of the French Open.

Laura Robson beaten in first round at French Open

Mon, 28 May 2012 10:50:06 GMT

Laura Robson could not make the most of her second chance at the French Open as she was beaten 6-2 6-1 by 29th seed Anabel Medina Garrigues in the first round.

Struggling Roddick falls in first round

Sun, 27 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Andy Roddick can look as uneasy on clay as a tourist with a fear of heights climbing the Eiffel Tower and the 29-year-old American made his traditional early exit from the French Open here yesterday.

Defeat in Paris puts Baltacha's Olympic place in jeopardy

Sun, 27 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The sun was out, the sky was blue, there was not a cloud to spoil the view, but it was surely raining, raining in Elena Baltacha's heart. Playing in the Olympic Games at Wimbledon this summer has long been one of the British No 1's major targets, but her chances of making the field are in the balance after her 6-4, 6-0 defeat by Sam Stosur on the opening day of the French Open here yesterday.

Tsonga and Mahut make French fans happy

Sun, 27 May 2012 19:25:54 GMT

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made the Paris spectators happy when he recovered from a first-set loss to move into the second round of the French Open on Sunday's first day.

Elena Baltacha crashes out of French Open

Sun, 27 May 2012 12:02:11 GMT

Elena Baltacha bowed out of the French Open as the British number one lost in straight sets to US Open champion Samantha Stosur.

Laura Robson qualifies as lucky loser in French Open

Sun, 27 May 2012 12:00:11 GMT

Laura Robson's French Open heartbreak turned to joy today as she earned a place in the main draw as a lucky loser courtesy of Silvia Soler-Espinosa's ankle injury.

Elementary for Watson but Robson misses out

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Twelve months after becoming the first British woman for 28 years to win through the French Open qualifying tournament, Heather Watson did so again yesterday in thoroughly convincing fashion. The 20-year-old from Guernsey won her third qualifying match in succession, beating Italy's Anna Floris 6-0, 6-1.

Murray draws on last year's heroics to find Parisian style

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Andy Murray has not had the best of build-ups to the French Open, but as he prepares for the start of the year's second Grand Slam tournament tomorrow the 25-year-old Scot is taking heart from his performances here 12 months ago. Despite tearing an ankle tendon in a fall during his third-round match – not to mention cracking a tooth on a baguette – Murray went on to reach last year's semi-finals before losing to Rafael Nadal, who went on to win his sixth Roland Garros title.

Andy Murray to play Japan's Tatsuma Ito in opening round of French Open

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:43:29 GMT

Andy Murray will play Japan's world number 69 Tatsuma Ito in the opening round of the French Open at Roland Garros.

Heather Watson reaches main draw for French Open

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:02:06 GMT

Britain's Heather Watson qualified for the main draw at the French Open for the second successive year in emphatic style this morning.

I'm short of match practice for French Open, admits Andy Murray

Thu, 24 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Playing the Latvian Ernests Gulbis in an exhibition tournament might not seem the best preparation for the French Open, but with the year's second Grand Slam tournament starting on Sunday Andy Murray was happy to get a practice match under his belt yesterday.

I'm short of match practice for Paris, admits Murray

Thu, 24 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Novak Djokovic: Patriot's game

Thu, 24 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Novak Djokovic will stand on the brink of history when the French Open begins on Sunday. It is 43 years since one man held all four Grand Slam titles – Rod Laver won a pure Grand Slam in 1969, claiming the four majors in the same year – and Djokovic, the champion of Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open, is now just one win away from that goal.