Roger Federer, bidding for a fifth successive Wimbledon title, eased into the second round on Monday but Swiss compatriot Martina Hingis was given an almighty fright by a player ranked 233 in the world. Federer returned to a much-changed and uncovered Centre Court, which had been drenched in traditional, heavy Wimbledon rain.
Roger Federer will have Björn Borg’s record of five successive Wimbledon titles in his sights when he starts the defence of his All England Club crown in London on Monday. The world number one returns to the grass of centre court where he is the undoubted ruler.
Rafael Nadal destroyed Roger Federer’s historic Grand Slam dream for another year by capturing his third successive French Open on Sunday. The Spaniard’s 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory emulated the great Bjorn Borg’s record of three Roland Garros titles in a row.
Roger Federer closed in on a Grand Slam title sweep when he overcame courageous but nerve-racked Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko 7-5, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (9/7) to reach the French Open final on Friday. The world number one is hoping to win a first Roland Garros title and become just the third man to hold all four Grand Slam crowns at the same time.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s French Open destiny could be sabotaged on Friday by a colourful Serb, who decorates his personal website with videos of himself dancing, and a pasty Russian. Novak Djokovic, rated as a future world number one by double defending champion Nadal, takes on the Spaniard who has won all of his 19 career matches at Roland Garros.
Roger Federer dropped a Grand Slam set for the first time since the 2006 US Open but still powered into the French Open semifinals on Tuesday with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Spain’s Tommy Robredo. The top seed overcame the rare second set lapse to romp to his eighth consecutive win over the Spanish ninth seed.
Lleyton Hewitt set his sights on Wimbledon on Tuesday while insisting that not even Roger Federer can stop Rafael Nadal’s ruthless assault on a third successive French Open title. ”I think he’s going to be tough to beat,” said Hewitt after his demoralising 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) fourth round defeat.
Double defending champion Rafael Nadal crushed the spirited resistance of Lleyton Hewitt on Monday to move into the French Open quarterfinals and a clash with close friend and 1998 champion Carlos Moya. Nadal, bidding to emulate Bjorn Borg by winning three Roland Garros titles in a row, defeated Australian Hewitt 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) in a fourth-round tie.
Roger Federer moved closer to a French Open title on Sunday but then saw the figure of Guillermo Canas, against whom he’s lost twice this year, approaching in his rear-view mirror. Federer enjoyed a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny to reach the quarterfinals.
Never-say-die Lleyton Hewitt staged a dramatic French Open fightback on Thursday to edge closer to a Roland Garros showdown against defending champion Rafael Nadal. Australian Hewitt pulled off his fourth career comeback from two sets down to defeat 2004 champion Gaston Gaudio in a marathon second-round clash.