Latest news with #Paris
Free Malaysia Today
38 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
‘I love this player', Monfils lauds Draper after French Open loss
France's Gael Monfils in action against Britain's Jack Draper during their second-round clash at Roland Garros. (EPA Images pic) PARIS : Gael Monfils would have liked to stick around longer than the second round at his 18th French Open but said he felt no shame in bowing out to Jack Draper on Thursday, happy just to have 'teased' a player whose game he loves. The 38-year-old Frenchman at one point threatened the sort of comeback that has been his Roland Garros trademark before losing 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to the fifth-seeded Briton in a late night thriller on Court Philippe Chatrier. The players shared a long embrace at the net at the end of the contest and Monfils continued the vibe in his post-match press conference. 'A great night. A great match. Above all, I was happy, because of course he's feeling very confident, but I did manage to tease him a little bit,' Monfils told reporters. 'I love this player. I love the way he plays, because he plays a very fast backhand … when Jack was young, he really had the best backhand. 'Maybe he had fewer points. But he was more solid in the backhand, and he's progressed a lot on his forehand now. 'He's a left-hander who goes very fast along the line. That's not common, and he moves really well on the court.' Monfils said he had seen other improvements in Draper over the last few years. 'Where he's really progressed is that he really returns really well,' he added. 'He's far from the baseline, and the ball's always in at the right speed, the right course, and he's made a tremendous amount of progress in that regard. 'So a Jack who is feeling very self-confident like that is very difficult to manoeuvre.' On a day when compatriot Richard Gasquet was ushered into retirement, Monfils said he would definitely be back next year for a 19th tilt at the title at his home Grand Slam. 'I think it's really hard to stop playing at Roland,' he said. 'It's hard, because generally when you stop, it's because you're not up to the level.'
Free Malaysia Today
39 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Sinner crushes Gasquet to end Frenchman's career
The 23-year-old said they have a good relationship off the court. (AP pic) PARIS : World number one Jannik Sinner sent Frenchman Richard Gasquet into retirement with a 6-3 6-0 6-4 hammering in the battle of generations at the French Open on Thursday to ease into the third round. It was the second time in as many years in Paris that the 23-year-old beat local hero Gasquet, who said he would end his career that started over two decades ago and yielded 16 tour-level singles titles after his home Grand Slam. With his team watching on in matching white T-shirts that read 'Merci Richard' the 38-year-old soaked up his ovation and video messages from peers, including Novak Djokovic and the recently retired Rafa Nadal, on the big screen. 'I'd like to thank Jannik for his kindness and the player that he is and I know he'll have a great career,' Gasquet said. 'I have great memories with all of you. You all supported me in defeat and victory … I began playing in a club in the south and travelled and played across France. So, I remember all the tournaments I played in, not just Roland Garros. 'We always had a welcome here that was extraordinary. I'd like to thank the federation. Tennis finishes for me today.' Gasquet, who made his French Open debut in 2002 when top seed Sinner was still in a crib, drew huge roars from the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd when he unleashed his single-handed backhand on the Italian early in the match. Fans were slightly more subdued when Sinner raced ahead 4-1 and won the opening set, before they were almost silenced when he dished out a bagel in the next set to leave Gasquet with a mountain to climb. Sinner faced more resistance in the first eight games of the next set as Gasquet mounted an unlikely comeback attempt, but he broke for a 5-4 lead and promptly closed out the match, before paying tribute to his opponent. 'We have a good relationship off the court. We're different generations, but it's your moment,' Sinner said. 'Congrats to your family, your team. Without great people around each player, it's impossible to make such an incredible career. You played in such an incredible era of tennis and everyone will recognise you, even after your retirement.' Victory ensured US and Australian Open champion Sinner became the first man born in 1990 or later to record 16 straight wins at Grand Slams. He will next play Czech Jiri Lehecka.
Free Malaysia Today
39 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Djokovic rolls past Moutet to reach French Open last 32
Novak Djokovic celebrates a winning point against France's Corentin Moutet at Roland-Garros. (AP pic) PARIS : Novak Djokovic extended his perfect record against French players at Roland Garros with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) win over Corentin Moutet to reach the third round on Thursday. It was largely plain sailing for the 38-year-old Djokovic although he did have to save a set point to force a tie-break in the third set. That came after the 24-time Grand Slam champion took a medical timeout earlier in the set to receive treatment for a blister on his left foot. 'Things got a little bit complicated with the blister. That was bothering me for a bit,' said Djokovic. 'But I don't think it's going to be an issue for me to recover.' Just when Moutet threatened to prolong the match, Djokovic clicked back into gear – a day after a nighttime cycle around the Arc de Triomphe – to improve to 12-0 against Frenchmen at Roland Garros. 'Obviously atmosphere was electric, especially in that third set. He was close to win it, so the crowd got involved. And it was, yeah, not much fun for me,' said Djokovic. He is through to the last 32 in Paris for the 20th time, more than even 14-time champion Rafael Nadal managed. But Djokovic said he would not repeat his jaunt around the notoriously busy Place Charles de Gaulle, where 12 avenues converge. 'At one point we had cars all over the place. It was quite an adrenaline experience, but I don't think I will repeat that,' he said. 'Probably in all other streets, it's much more safe. But, yeah, we were crazy enough to get into that roundabout. It was fun but at one point but also a bit dangerous.' Djokovic will play 23-year-old Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic for a spot in the last 16. Misolic withstood a comeback from Canadian 27th seed Denis Shapovalov to prevail 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 4-6, 6-3. The three-time French Open champion issued a playful appeal to tournament organisers not to schedule his next match on Saturday night, to avoid a clash with the Champions League final. Paris St-Germain will be bidding for a first European crown against Inter Milan. Kick-off in Munich is roughly 30 minutes after the evening session begins at Roland Garros. 'It's going to be PSG that I will support. I will definitely watch it if I'm not playing night session,' said Djokovic.
Washington Post
41 minutes ago
- Health
- Washington Post
French Open: Novak Djokovic takes a medical timeout for a toe blister in a victory over Moutet
PARIS — Novak Djokovic dealt with a blister on his big left toe that required a medical timeout in the third set, then was one point from being forced to a fourth, before closing out a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1) victory over Corentin Moutet at the French Open on Thursday.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Reigning champions Alcaraz, Swiatek eyeing French Open second week
Carlos Alcaraz bids to book his place in the French Open last 16 on Friday, with defending women's champion Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka also in third-round action at Roland Garros. Second seed Alcaraz eased through his opening two matches in Paris, despite dropping a set against Hungary's Fabian Marozsan. Next up is a third-round meeting in the night session with 69th-ranked Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who has made the last 32 for the first time since 2018 but struggled with a knee injury during his win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz is the title favourite at Roland Garros after securing the Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open trophies in the build-up to the clay-court major. He has reached the second week in 10 of his last 11 Slam appearances. "If I lose the focus in Grand Slams, in matches (that are) the best-of-five, it's much better to refocus your attention," he said. "You have more time, you have more sets just to be back if you lose your focus a bit." The 22-year-old Spaniard would secure a match against either American 13th seed Ben Shelton or Italian surprise package Matteo Gigante with a victory. World number 167 Gigante, playing in the main draw of a major for the second time, downed former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round. Eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti arrived in Paris as one of the form players in the world after following a runner-up finish in Monte Carlo with semi-final runs in Madrid and Rome. The Italian has not dropped a set yet and has Argentina's world number 97 Mariano Navone next in his sights. "After the final in Monte Carlo there was I think a boost of confidence, of something inside that I needed to have," said Musetti. Danish 10th seed Holger Rune, who has never failed to reach the last 16, plays Frenchman Quentin Halys in his third-round match. - Swiatek 'feeling good' - Four-time winner Swiatek has dispelled some of the doubts surrounding her form with two comprehensive wins and takes on unseeded Romanian Jaqueline Cristian on Court Suzanne Lenglen. The Polish star brushed aside former US Open champion Emma Raducanu for the loss of just three games in round two, as she looks to reach a first final since lifting the French Open trophy last year. "I have been feeling good, and that's it," said Swiatek, hoping to become the first woman to win four successive Roland Garros titles since Suzanne Lenglen 102 years ago. "We'll see what's going to happen in the future. But for sure these two matches were pretty solid, so I'm happy with the performance." Swiatek could set up a tie against either former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina or 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. World number one Sabalenka continues her tilt at a maiden Roland Garros title against Serbian left-hander Olga Danilovic in the opening match on Court Philippe Chatrier. The Belarusian has not played Danilovic since a win in Madrid Open qualifying seven years ago. "She's playing great tennis. So am I," said Sabalenka. "It's going to be a fight. I love challenges, and I'm excited to face her." Chinese eighth seed Zheng Qinwen plays Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in an intriguing clash on Court Simonne Mathieu. The Olympic champion is hoping to extend her eight-match winning streak at Roland Garros after taking gold at the Paris Games last summer, but 18-year-old Mboko has already won five times on her run after coming through qualifying. "I'm expecting a big fight. I'm going to bring out a big fight against her," said Mboko. "I think it's going to be a very hard battle for me." Fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, the 2024 losing finalist, continues her campaign against Ukraine's Yuliia Starodubtseva, while Elina Svitolina targets a third straight last-16 appearance against American Bernarda Pera.
