In a grand slam the 2nd week is usually the business end of the tournament, its here where you have top seeds facing against each other. In the first 2-3 rounds you hardly have much excitement. It’s a slow build up among fans and players alike to not pay much attention to the initial few rounds.
There is hardly any causality, it gets boring at times as the initial rounds are more like warm up matches where top seeds simply pound on the opponents. But this year the French Open first round matches have been exciting, unlike the dull and cold weather. It could be that the competition has increased or the players were taking it too casually. Here is the round up of the French Open with hits misses and casualties on a dull day at Paris
Stanis Wawrinka, the defending Champion escaped 4-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 against the giant killer Czech Lukas Rosol to barely avoid becoming the first reigning men’s champion at the French Open to exit in his opener the next season.
If that was less Andy Murray the 2nd seeded player trailed to another Czech Qualifier Radek Stepanek when the match was stopped due to poor lighting only to come back and take it in a five setter 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5.
While it was a reasonably easy draw for other top seeds in both men’s and women’s half.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic cruised in his first round match win an easy win over Taiwan’s Yen-Hsun Lu in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 to set up second round clash against Steve Darcis.
The King of Clay making a comeback after injury lay off too won in straight sets 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 over Sam Groth as he bids to win the French Open for a record 9th time.
In the women’s draw the ever so dominant Serena Williams won in straight sets without breaking any sweat 6-2, 6-0.
However, there were upsets lined up in the women’s half as the mens managed to survive the scare, Australian Open Champion world no 3 Kerber was beaten by 58th ranked dutch women Kiki Berten 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, former World no 1 and current 5th seeded Victoria Azarenka had to call it off due to injury after trailing a set and 4-0 down in the 3rd against Karin Knapp.
This French Open sure promises to be exciting if the First Round matches are to be taken into consideration.