Djokovic finds Federer in way of history

Updated May 25, 2012 21:28:02

Novak Djokovic's bid to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four grand slam titles at the same time hit its first hurdle on Friday when Roger Federer became a potential French Open semi-final opponent.

World number one Djokovic, three times a semi-finalist in Paris, is the top seed at the French Open with Federer, the 2009 champion, seeded three and Friday's draw pitted them in the same section.

Djokovic starts against Italy's Potito Starace and could face former world number one Lleyton Hewitt in the second round after the two shared a classic battle at the Australian Open.

Hewitt, granted a wildcard to take his spot at Roland Garros, takes on Slovenina Blaz Kavcic in the opening round while fellow Aussie Bernard Tomic faces a qualifier and Matt Ebden plays 24th seed Phillipp Kohlschreiber.

Samantha Stosur faces Scot Elena Baltacha in her opening-round match with a quarter-final clash with world number one Victoria Azarenka in the offing.

Casey Dellacqua plays 21st seed Sara Errani, Anastasia Radionova takes on Frenchwoman Mathilde Johansson, Jarmila Gajdosova faces Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova and wildcard Ashleigh Barty meets fourth seed Petra Kvitova in the first round.

Adding spice to the top half of the men's draw is the presence of dangerous Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 US Open winner, who could face Federer in the fourth round.

Federer starts against Germany's Tobias Kamke with David Nalbandian a possible second-round foe and Czech Tomas Berdych a potential quarter-final opponent.

Rafael Nadal, the second seed bidding for a record seventh French Open, starts against Italy's Simone Bolelli and has dangerous clay-courters Nicolas Almagro and Juan Monaco also in his quarter of the draw.

The Spaniard could face Serbian eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic in the last eight.

Fourth seed Andy Murray, struggling with a back injury, is Nadal's scheduled semi-final opponent. Murray starts against Japan's Tatsuma Ito.

In the women's draw, top seed Azarenka begins against Italian Alberta Brianti while world number two Maria Sharapova was drawn against Alexandra Cadantu of Romania.

Sharapova and 2002 champion Serena Williams are potential quarter-final opponents.

Defending champion Li Na starts against Romania's Sorana Cirstea while Williams begins against France's Virginie Razzano.

ABC/Reuters

Tags: tennis, sport, france, australia

First posted May 25, 2012 21:28:02

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Stosur finds best form since French

Posted May 14, 2011 06:51:00

Australian Samantha Stosur said she played her best tennis since last year's French Open as she crushed home favourite Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-4 to reach the Rome Open semi-finals.

In doing so, the sixth seed gained revenge on the second seed for her defeat in the Roland Garros final 12 months ago.

Stosur enjoyed a dream tournament, beating Serena Williams, Justine Henin and Jelena Jankovic on her way to the final in Paris where Schiavone proved one step too far.

But at least her run in Rome has reminded her of the level she is capable of reaching.

"I think today (Friday) was pretty close to the way I was playing last year at the French Open and I think I played very well there last year," she said.

"Today was probably as close to that as I have felt since then."

While Schaivone had been on fire in Paris last year, she was far from her best at her home tournament and Stosur said that sometimes the pressure of playing in front of your own fans can be a handicap.

"Sometimes playing at home is more difficult because of the expectations, even though the crowd is on your side," she said.

"You want to be playing as best as you can and then sometimes it makes it a little bit more difficult.

"But having said that, I also like to play at home and I think it is good if you are from a country where you have a big tournament like this where you can experience that.

"Sometimes it is a little bit harder and sometimes it can definitely help."

Stosur will next face Chinese fifth seed Li Na, who ousted Hungarian Greta Arn 6-3, 6-1.

"I think anyone who is in the semis has a chance to win so I would like to back myself if it's possible," she said.

"Li Na is having a good week, I haven't watched any of her matches recently but I played her last year in Stuttgart on clay as well.

"I played well there and I won that match and so I guess I'll have to try and remember (what I did) a year ago."

The other semi-final will be between world number one Caroline Wozniacki and Russia's Maria Sharapova.

Dane Wozniacki battled past Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 while Sharapova progressed after her opponent Victoria Azarenka retired with an arm injury at 3-0 down in the second set after taking the first set.

-AFP/Reuters

Tags: sport, tennis, italy

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