Flushing Meadows, New York (GenevaLunch) - World number one Roger Federer beat Leyton Hewitt for the 14th time in a row, but dropped a set before he managed to pull away from the Australian 4-6 6-3 7-5 6-4. Another Swiss, Marco Chiudinelli, lost to 8th seed Nikolay Davydenko. Novak Djokovic came through in four sets, beating Jesse Witten 6-7 6-3 7-6 6-4. Andy Roddick, who reached the Wimbledon final was the shock loser in the men’s draw, going out to 55th-ranked John Isner who has played most of his tennis for the University of Georgia.
Cincinnati, USA (GenevaLunch) – Spectators at the ATP tournament in Cincinnati were treated to a marathon feast of tennis as the top four men in the world played their second round matches. Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic all won. Number 5, Andy Roddick, lost to fellow American Sam Querry.
Montreal, Canada (GenevaLunch) - Roger Federer was ambushed by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Quebec at the Rogers Cup, losing 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (3).
In his press conference after the match the disappointed Swiss player said “It’s obviously disappointing but you know, that’s what Jo does. He doesn’t make a return for an hour and then he puts in a few and than all of a sudden he’s back in the match. I should never have allowed it but it happened, so it’s a pity.”
Rafael Nadal’s comeback was stopped when he went down 7-6 6-1 to Argentinian Juan del Potro.
Wimbledon, England (GenevaLunch) - The two women’s semi-finals were totally different but ended with the same result: Williams beats Russia. Serena fought back from a set down, and match-point down, to battle past Elena Dementieva 6-7 7-5 8-6 in the best match of the women’s tournament. Dementieva took the first set in the tie-break with precise ground strokes and an improved service. She then lost her first service game but came back to lead the set before Serena came back to take the set. The third set was hard fought with both players rising to the occasion until Serena finally won the longest ever women’s semi, at two hours 49 minutes.
Paris, France (GenevaLunch) – If this is the best that women’s tennis can offer it might be time to start watching synchronized swimming. After the drama and superb quality of the men’s semi-finals the women’s final was a slap in the face for those who campaigned for equal prize money with the men. At least those watching on television could change channels.
Paris, France (GenevaLunch) - Russian Dinara Safina beat Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova in a scrappy Roland Garros match where the tall and powerful Russian seemed to be struggling mainly with herself. She overpowered her diminutive opponent 6-3 6-3 and is now looking to win the final and end her unusual position as a world number one who has yet to win a Grand Slam.
The other semi was a more entertaining match as Australian Sam Stosur fought back from being down 2-5 in the second set tie break to win the set.
Paris, France (GenevaLunch) – Sweden’s surprise star of this year’s Roland Garros tournament, Robin Soderling, continued his way by demolishing Nikolay Davydenko in straight sets 6-1 6-3 6-1. Andy Murray was overpowered by Fernando Gonzalez 6-3 3-6 6-0 6-4.
On Wednesday 3 June the big match will be Swiss star Roger Federer against Frenchman Gael Monfils. Federer is the only one of the top seeds still in the tournament and has seen three of the players with the best records against him knocked out (Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray).
