May 25th, 2008
Paris, France
Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the tennis season kicked off today in the city of lights, and two marquee names would be in action, the number 2 seed, Ana Ivanovic and the number 5 seed, Serena Williams. Also in action today would be French youngster, Alize Cornet and hopefulls, Nicole Vaidasova and Ashley Harkleroad.
The main women's match on Court Phillipe-Chatrier featured the young Serbian, Ana Ivanovic taking on a fiesty young Swedish girl, Sofia Arvidsson. The first set wasn't much to watch as Ivanovic showed with her powerful strokes why she is the number 2 player in the world and why she made it to two slam finals in the last year. The second set however, featured Ivanovic down a break early, but eventually recouping to take the match and move onto the 2nd Round, 6-2, 7-5.
Later in the day, Alize Cornet who has had a brilliant clay court season, reaching the finals in Rome last weekend, was playing her opening match on the same court as Ivanovic. Cornet struggled a bit, no doubt because of the pressure put on her by the French, but eventually came through with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Julia Vakulenko.
Nicole Vaidasova who made the Semi-Finals two years ago and the Quarter-Finals last year here lost in her opening round match to Iveta Benesova. The teenager has been struggling as of late, not winning a match in the last 6 tournaments. If she wants to be ready to defend Quarter-Final points at Wimbledon, she will have to get her game together. Vaidasova lost, 7-6(2), 6-1.
The last high profile match of the day came last on Court Suzanne Lenglen, and it featured two Americans, Serena Williams and Ashley Harkleroad. Serena lost her opening service game but went on to win the next seven games, to lead, 6-2, 1-0. Serena was on full cruise control, playing aggressively and showing the crowd that she was ready for Roland Garros. With the darkness looming and with rain drizzling down, Serena's play dropped slightly but she managed to fight through and put down a fiesty Harkleroad, 6-2, 6-1.
Tomorrow's matches will feature some bright stars such as, Venus Williams, Jelena Jankovic, Amelie Mauresmo and Anna Chakvetadze.
Court Phillipe-Chatrier
(2)Ana Ivanovic d. Sofia Arvidsson - 6-2, 7-5
(19)Alize Cornet d. Julia Vakulenko - 7-5, 6-4
Court Suzanne Lenglen
Kara Zakopalova d. (24)Virginie Razzano - 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
(5)Serena Williams d. Ashley Harkleroad - 6-2, 6-1
Court 1
Iveta Benesova d. (15)Nicole Vaidasova - 7-6(2), 6-1
Mathilde Johansson d. Camille Pan - 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Court 2
(30)Caroline Wozniacki d. Yvonne Meusburger - 6-0, 6-2
Nathalie Dechy d. Julie Ditty - 7-5, 7-6(3)
Top 10 Seeds:
1. Maria Sharapova - Round 1
2. Ana Ivanovic - Round 2
3. Jelena Jankovic - Round 1
4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Round 1
5. Serena Williams - Round 2
6. Anna Chakvetadze - Round 1
7. Elena Dementieva - Round 1
8. Venus Williams - Round 1
9. Marion Bartoli - Round 1
10. Patty Schynder - Round 1
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