WOZNIAK TO MEET WOZNIACKI IN ROUND TWO AT ROLAND-GARROS

Written by: Staff on 23rd May 2011

WOZNIAK TO MEET WOZNIACKI IN ROUND TWO AT ROLAND-GARROS

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark serves to Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan during their first round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 23 May 2011. EPA/KERIM OKTEN |

Montreal, May 23, 2011 – It was a busy day for Canadians on Monday in Paris as Frank Dancevic (Niagara Falls, ON), Milos Raonic (Thornhill, ON) and Aleksandra Wozniak (Blainville, QC) all played their first round matches on the clay courts at Roland-Garros.

After winning three qualifying matches, Wozniak added another victory to her impressive French Open resumé making quick work of Japan’s Junri Namigata, ranked no. 118 in the world, 6-1, 6-1 in just 61 minutes. This means that she has reached the second round for the fourth consecutive year. Wozniak had her best French Open result in 2009 when she reached the Round of 16 before falling to Serena Williams. The 23-year-old joins her compatriot Rebecca Marino (Vancouver, BC), marking the first that two Canadian women have passed the first round hurdle at Roland-Garros in 20 years. Patricia Hy-Boulais and Helen Kelesi last accomplished the feat in 1991.

Wozniak vs. Wozniacki

Wozniak will face a stiff test in round two as she is set to take on her arch-nemesis and World No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. The two players know eachother well as they will meet for the eighth time on Wednesday Wozniacki has won six of their seven matches with the last encouter coming in January of 2010 in the first round of the Australian Open.

Raonic stunned by Berrer

With the sun setting on Court 10 in Paris, Milos Raonic (Thornhill, ON), seeded 26th, was upset 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 by world no. 95 Michael Berrer of Germany in the opening round. Raonic, who was playing his first Grand Slam as a seeded player, will have to wait another year to score his first French Open main draw win. His 50 winners in the match were countered by 47 unforced errors. In addition, his seven aces were well below his average for the season. Raonic will now focus his attention on the grass and is scheduled to play his first Wimbledon warm up tournament in Halle, Germany in two weeks.

Dancevic eliminated

After winning the first three matches of his career at Roland-Garros in the qualifying rounds, Dancevic was knocked out by Italy’s Simone Bolelli in the opening round 6-1, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2. Bolelli, who is currently ranked no. 126 in the world, is most comfortable playing on clay. The match lasted just over 2 hours, 30 minutes.