Palestinians uncertain as FIFA, UEFA step in to save soccer pitch from Israeli demolition    House panel votes to hold Clintons in contempt in Epstein probe    Trump backs off tariffs threat, says Greenland deal framework reached    Saudi Arabia signs agreement with World Economic Forum to accelerate industrial transformation    Over 78 million faithful visit Two Holy Mosques in a month    Saudi FM meets British, French counterparts in Davos    Northern Saudi cities record coldest temperatures of winter as mercury drops to –3°C    Arab coalition condemns deadly attack on Giants Brigades commander in Yemen    Sha'ban crescent sighted Tuesday    Saudi POS transactions reach 236 million, SR4bn in one week    Al-Khateeb highlights Saudi-UN partnership to shape quality of life in future cities    122 million tourists spend SR300 billion in Saudi Arabia in 2025    Italian fashion legend Valentino dies at 93    Saudi orchestra brings 'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' to AlUla with 107 musicians    Katy Perry makes Saudi debut at Joy Awards, praises Saudi design and hospitality    Hail wins Guinness World Record with largest off-road production cars convoy    SFDA approves registration of 'Anktiva' for treatment of bladder and lung cancer    Saudi Darts Masters 2026 to offer record $200,000 prize for nine-dart finish    Al Taawoun condemn "repeated refereeing injustice" after late penalty defeat    British boxer Anthony Joshua discharged from hospital after Nigeria car crash    The key to happiness    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Djokovic wilts, Federer advances
By Chris Lehourites
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 31 - 05 - 2009

Novak Djokovic became the first big-name player to be eliminated from the men's tournament at the French Open, losing to No. 29 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the third round Saturday.
The fourth-seeded Serb reached the semifinals at Roland Garros in each of the last two years, but could do little against Kohlschreiber while playing for the third time in three days.
“What is disappointing was that I couldn't find the rhythm throughout the whole match,” said Djokovic, who completed a suspended three-set win from the previous round on Friday. “I was trying not to be frustrated with a lot of unforced errors. Tried to be positive and just wait for the chances.”
Djokovic finished the match with 38 unforced errors, 16 more than Kohlschreiber. “He didn't give me a lot of chances. But yet again, I didn't work for those chances,” Djokovic said. “This is the problem. I played too passive, and he played really solid from all the strokes.”
No. 6 Andy Roddick managed to stick around, however, reaching the French Open's fourth round for the first time by beating Marc Gicquel of France 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Second-seeded Roger Federer and No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina also reached the fourth round, as did No. 2 Serena Williams and No. 5 Jelena Jankovic from the women's draw.
Federer, who was again stretched to four sets before beating Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, said the loss of Djokovic wasn't a big deal for him. The two were in the same side of the draw and could have met in the semifinals.
Roddick is only the second American to advance this far at the clay-court major since Andre Agassi in 2003, the same year Roddick won the US Open. Robby Ginepri also made the fourth round in Paris last year.
“It's three matches,” said Roddick, who had seven aces and only 11 unforced errors. “It's a lot better than I've done here before.”
“I like my chances maybe more than the other years,” Roddick said. “I feel like I'm moving a little bit better on this stuff. I'm able to kind of slide into my forehand.”
Del Potro beat Igor Andreev of Russia 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, while No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, No. 11 Gael Monfils of France, No. 16 Tommy Robredo of Spain and Tommy Haas of Germany also gained the fourth round.
On the women's side, fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva lost to No. 30 Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.
Dementieva's exit came a day after No. 3 Venus Williams lost in straight sets. Stosur converted seven of her 15 break points against Dementieva, the 2004 runner-up at Roland Garros.
Stosur has never before reached the fourth round at the French. She made it that far at the 2006 Australian Open, but has never played in the quarterfinals at a major.
Serena Williams rallied to beat Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, while Jankovic defeated 73rd-ranked Jarmila Groth of Australia 6-1, 6-1. No. 7 Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 US Open champion, beat Melinda Czink of Hungary 6-1, 6-3.
Serena was broken once in the first set, but she complained about the final point, which she believed hit her opponent's body. Martinez Sanchez said the ball hit her racket.
“The ball did touch her 100 percent on her arm,” Serena said. “The rules of tennis is when the ball hits your body, then it's out of play. You lose a point automatically. So the ball hit her body, and therefore, she should have lost the point instead of cheating.”
No. 9 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus completed her comeback over No. 22 Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.
Suarez Navarro won the first set Friday and Azarenka took the second before play was suspended because of darkness.
No. 12 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, No. 24 Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada and unseeded Virginie Razzano of France also advanced, while No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark lost to Sorana Cristea of Romania 7-6 (3), 7


Clic here to read the story from its source.