TENNIS NEWS AND UPDATE FROM ROLAND GARROS BY CHERYL JONES REPORTING FROM PARIS

Written by: Staff on 31st May 2015

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

TENNIS NEWS AND UPDATE FROM ROLAND GARROS BY CHERYL JONES REPORTING FROM PARIS

epa04777015 Spectators wait as the fourth round match between Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in action against Ekaterina Makarova of Russia is interrupted due to rain at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 31 May 2015. EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT |

Watching Umbrellas Unfold

By Cheryl Jones

The French have often tried to outdo the British – it’s been going on for centuries. For the past week, Roland Garros had a thing going with Fifty Shades of Grey. The only problem was – it had nothing to do with an erotic novel by E. L. James, but it had everything to do with the color of the skies hanging over Roland Garros. Virtually each day, skies were dappled with clouds of all sizes and shapes. Today, those fifty shades ended up providing a two-hour rain break that afforded a valid reason to postpone matches and close down the venue much earlier than usual.

It was frustrating for players and fans alike. Anticipation made it tolerable, but that has merely been offered as a caveat. Waiting in the rain is never enjoyable unless you are a resident of California or some other drought-ridden area. Suspended play entails anxious competitors who must have doubts about the momentum that’s been achieved before the stoppage; and spectators who have concerns about their ability to last through the deluge and see the anticipated matches that have been bought and paid for. There aren’t many places on the grounds of any tournament for waiting out rain. Umbrellas in crowds are tenuous at best. Overhangs are scarcely deep enough to accommodate even a small percentage of folks trying to remain somewhat dry in a significant downpour. Today, soggy fans had to dampen their enthusiasm a bit, but in the end, play did begin where it left off and tennis was once again on the docket. The drizzle was a glitch that allowed people to appreciate the slight breeze that didn’t blow away the clouds, but it managed to chase away the ones that contained the dreaded raindrops.

Alize Cornet of France in action against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine during their fourth round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 31 May 2015. EPA/CAROLINE BLUMBERG

Alizé Cornet was the remaining French woman in the draw. Eleven of them began the competition last Sunday. This Sunday saw Cornet face Ukrainian, Elina Svitolina who trounced her in the first set, 6-2. Svitolina is ranked ten places ahead of the most highly ranked French woman who was standing at number 29. It was a wish and a hope that Cornet had even a small chance to take the match that was presented center stage in Court Philippe Chatrier. But, as Alexander Pope once wrote, “Hope springs eternal”. Experience often says something else. Cornet did make a valiant effort in the second set when she managed to send it to a Tie Break. In the end, after the rain had stopped, she finally succumbed to the Ukrainian and in six minutes less than two hours was sent the way of her countrywomen, 6-2, 7-6. There are no more French women in singles contention at Roland Garros.

It’s been a while since a woman representing France has done well at Roland Garros. In 2000 Mary Pierce, whose father was American, was a winner. She was also runner-up in 2005. French representative Marion Bartoli made it into the semifinals six years ago, in 2011. Bartoli’s career was often wrapped in gauze that very often dangled from injured body parts. (I always thought Johnson & Johnson was missing out on a great worldwide ambassador by not choosing to be one of her major sponsors.) Bartoli retired in 2013 after winning Wimbledon and it seems that the women tennis players of France will have to rebuild their efforts to even have the remotest chance to win this Grand Slam that is the granddaddy of them all.

Cornet was the Junior Girls Roland Garros winner in 2007. There have been other juniors calling France home who have triumphed prior to their joining the professional ranks. Cornet is currently the most highly ranked French woman. A boost will have to come from somewhere to help the women players move up in the standings. The French men have managed quite well of late; now the FFT should concentrate on finding someone to guide the women.

In 1996, Amelie Mauresmo was the Junior Girls winner here and at Wimbledon. She went on to have an excellent career, but the big prize in Paris proved to be elusive. In 2006, she took away the title in Australia and six months later at Wimbledon. (She was the first French woman to win on the lawns in London since 1925’s winner, Suzanne Lenglen.) She retired from competition in 2009 and now she’s moved on to coaching. She was at the helm when Marion Bartoli won in London. She still guides France’s Fed Cup team.

About a year ago, she crossed the coaching lines and became Britain’s Scottish player, Andy Murray’s coach. Even though there were doubts, Murray says he has faith in Mauresmo and she will continue working with him for the time being. She helped Murray with his first titles on clay, where he won the Madrid Masters with a victory over Rafael Nadal. A win like that might be a more difficult task to accomplish here in Paris, but he is still in contention, having made it through the Round of 16. There’s more than one way to continue a tennis career and it appears that Mauresmo has found the pathway toward a that has opened a whole new world to women.

The curtain has been drawn on today’s play. The only other women’s match was between Ekaterina Makarova of Russia and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia. Since both women were ranked in the top ten, it promised to be an interesting match. However, the rain intruded, but saw seventh ranked Ivanovic defeat ninth ranked Makarova 7-5, 3-6, 6-1.

Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in action against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during their fourth round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 31 May 2015. EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT

It wasn’t a “rain, rain, go away” kind of day. It was edgy and everyone was hoping there aren’t fifty-one shades of grey. There’s been enough. Blue skies must surely be waiting to usher in June.

Topics: Cheryl Jones, French Open, Paris, Roland Garros, Tennis News

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May 31, 2015 at 3:43 pm

#TENNIS NEWS AND UPDATE FROM @rolandgarros BY CHERYL JONES REPORTING FROM #PARIS- http://t.co/Sx4rPLJeD8 #FrenchOpen #RolandGarros #RG15