Sunday, May 31, 2009

Live - French Open

Serena Williams

Live video - Wozniack v S Williams

LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times BST)
606: DEBATE

To get involved text us on 81111 with TENNIS before your message. (Not all contributions can be used; UK mobiles only; network rates apply)

By Piers Newbery

Text in your views on 81111
1043: " When I saw Rafa faltering yesterday, I put a cheeky £10 on Fed at 3/1! Come on son, get the career slam!"
From Alex, Exeter, via text on 81111

1043: "Nevermind doing a soderling, I would take a serena williams. Complete and utter anihilation of the opening set/history paper 1."
From Sam in london via text

1039: Serena wraps up the first set 6-1 against Wozniack in just 23 minutes, finishing it off with a vicious smash.

Andy Murray
1037: Barely a mention of Andy Murray so far, which will please some and infuriate others. He was on great form yesterday, beating Marin Cilic in straight sets, and it's Fernando Gonzalez next up. That will be on the Red Button and website streaming (UK only), obviously. I'll let you know as soon as we have some schedule information later on today.

1033: Serena is on top form today, leading 4-1, and poor old Wozniack is having a miserable time. The winner of this one will pay Kuznetsova or Radwanska next, the Russian leading 4-3 with a break. It's a bumper line-up today but, personally, Del Potro v Tsonga is the one I'm really looking forward to. Both men must feel they can win it now.

Text in your views on 81111
1030: "I've taken a £2 punt on Gael Monfils at 37-1. I really hope Fed does it but them odds were just too tempting."
From Rob, Oldham, via text on 81111

1028: "Made a tidy profit out of rafa yesterday instead of revising oops."
From anon via text

1027: "Re 0950. Indeed, lots of students around the country are hoping to pull off a soderling in exams today."
From Jamie, Oxford, via text


1025: The big names are not messing around this morning, perhaps spooked by losing not only Nadal but women's champion Ana Ivanovic yesterday. Serena is 3-0 up and Kuznetsova 4-2 in front.

1021: Still on Rafagate and it's nice to see he and Soderling are getting along better than at Wimbledon a couple of years ago. Nadal won a third-round match that was played over five days because of terrible weather, and said afterwards: "He's very strange. I say hello to him seven times to his face, he never answers. He hits a lucky shot, he does not wave. I thought it was me, but I asked around the locker room and almost nobody has anything nice to say about him. If I fall down, he says nothing. He touches his backside, grabs his pants, makes fun of me - very unprofessional."

1016: After an inordinately long warm-up we're ready for some action, and Serena serves first against Wozniack. On Court Suzanne Lenglen we have seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova up against 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

1013: If you get the chance, have a listen to Nadal's press conference from yesterday evening. While my peers attempt to find the secret to the defeat, the man himself is pure class. "Defeats never make you grow but you also realise how difficult what I achieved up until now was," he said. "You need a defeat to give value to your victories."

Get involved on 606
1009: "Probably won't even see Federer's match - got revision for my exam this afternoon! Mind you, didn't stop me from watching the third and fourth set of Nadal's match yesterday: amazing!"
From AlexR4444 on 606

1007: So, Rafa.... Firstly, I think we all owe Elena Dementieva an apology. Who among us did not scoff on Saturday when the Russian said: "He actually looks a little bit tired to me. I think it's going to be a tough challenge for him to win this time, actually." Any lottery numbers, Elena?

The sun is out
1004: It's another beautiful day in Paris and Court Philippe Chatrier is surprisingly quite full, bearing in mind the time of the day. First up is second seed Serena, who is still going despite some tough matches, against 24th seed Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada. I would say this looks pretty straightforward for the American... but I won't.

It's good news for a Briton
1000: Andy Murray might be enjoying a day off but there is British interest today as top seed Laura Robson begins her campaign in the girls' singles against Russia's Karina Pimkina in the second match on Court Six - I'll keep you up to date with that one.

BBC Radio 5 Live
0953: We will reflect more on Rafa's demise but this already thrilling tournament has a whole new edge now, and today's line-up is a belter. The provisional schedule for the Red Button and website streaming (UK only) is to stick with Court Philippe Chatrier from 1000 BST for Serena Williams v Aleksandra Wozniak, followed by Roger Federer v Tommy Haas and then Juan Martin del Potro v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, before switching over to Court Suzanne Lenglen for Gael Monfils v Andy Roddick. And we are joined in the second week by live coverage every day from 1000 BST on BBC Radio 5live Sports Extra.

0950: Robin..... Soderling. Not Roger Federer, Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic. Not even a Juan Martin del Potro, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Gael Monfils. From this day forward, when a man (or woman) overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds, dreams the impossible dream, fights the unfightable foe etc, let it be known as 'doing a Soderling'. And in the words of the late, great Brian Moore, "It's up for grabs now!"

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