Black Tennis Pros

WOMEN'S SINGLES QUALIFYING

Round 1

Shenay Perry, USA defeated by Yaroslava Shvedova, KAZ
4-6, 4-6

Angela Haynes, USA defeated Zuzana Kucova
5-7, 7⁷-6⁴, 6-2

Round 2

Angela Haynes, USA vs. Yaroslava Shvedova, KAZ


MEN'S SINGLES QUALIFYING

Round 1

Scoville Jenkins, USA defeated Sergei Bubka, UKR
7-6, 4-6, 6-4

Round 2

Scoville Jenkins vs. Daniel Brands, GER

I'm usually a bit let down after my guy is defeated in a tournament. However, "La Monf" has put forth such a galliant effort in this tournament that his loss was not very painful on Friday.

Although Gael was not able to prevail against world no. 1 Roger Federer, he got the job done just the same. Gael injected some much need hype into the second half of Roland Garros this year and gave us some very unexpected excitement.

Federer defeated Gael 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.

It is definitely worth mentioning that the Frenchman had some ocular issues.

"This morning I already had a pain in my eye and I think I broke my contact lens," said Monfils following his defeat.

"I couldn't see well, so I tried to put some eye drops in at the beginning of the match. Then it didn't work, so I asked the doctor to come on the court. That didn't work.

"I think part of my contact lens stayed, remained in my eye. I managed to take the other part out, but there was one part left."

"I am not trying to find any excuses, but it didn't help," said the 59th-ranked Monfils. "Each time I was trying to serve it was annoying me."

It's all good Gael, we're just glad to see you in this very positive finish. Keep it up!

Where is Ricky Martin and "The Cup Of Life" when you need him?

Here we go!
Allez, allez, allez!
Go, go, go!
Allez, allez, allez!

I would never have imagined that by Wednesday of this week my whole focus would have changed this dramatically with Roland Garros, but I am so glad that it has.

Twenty-one year old Frenchman Gael Monfils has stepped up to the plate in a most fabulous way and has injected new life into Roland Garros. I don't know where it's going or how long it's going to last, but I'M HAPPY!

Spaniard David Ferrer was downed by Monfils 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 in a most wonderful effort. It was a pleasure to watch.

Yes, Yes, Yes! I told you all some good things were happening today.

Frenchman Gael Monfils took out Croatian Ivan Ljubicic to the tune of a 7-6(7/1), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win.

Gael now faces the probability of becoming the first Frenchman since Sebastien Grosjean in 2001 to reach the semi-finals of the French Open, the local crowd has been waiting 25 years for Yannick Noah's successor as a champion.

"It is fabulous, incredible, I am deeply moved," Monfils said in a courtside interview.

"What is coming next will also be beautiful."

Round 3 - Men's Singles

Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Jurgen Melzer, AUT
4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2


Round 3 - Women's Singles

Venus Williams USA defeated by Flavia Pennetta, ITA
5-7, 3-6


DOUBLES

Round 1 - Men's

Jeff Coetzee, RSA and Wesley Moodie, RSA
defeated
Jurgen Melzer, AUT and Alexander Peya, AUT
7-5, 6-4


Round 2 - Men's

Jeff Coetzee, RSA and Wesley Moodie, RSA
defeated by
Janko Tipsarevic, SRB and Viktor Troicki, SRB
2-6, 4-6


Round 1 - Women's

Raquel Kops-Jones, USA and Natalie Grandin, RSA
defeated
Iveta Benesova, CZE and Janette Husarova, SVK
1-6, 7-5, 7-5

Stephanie Foretz, FRA and Olga Savchuk, UKR
defeated by
Dinara Safina, RUS and Agnes Szavay, HUN
4-6, 1-6


MIXED DOUBLES

Round 1

Jeff Coetzee, RSA and Elena Vesnina, RUS
defeated by
Nenad Zimonjic, SRB and Katarina Srebotnik, SLO
1-6, 2-6

Gael Monfils, FRA and Dominika Cibulkova, SVK
defeated
Andy Ram, ISR and Natalie Dechy, FRA
6-4, 6-4

Stephanie Foretz, FRA and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, FRA
defeated by
Bethanie Mattek, USA and Kevin Ullyett, ZIM
1-6, 6-4, 0-1(7/10)

I'm shocked too Gael! And very pleased at the same time.

It's a new day and I'm refocused after Friday's debacle. There is some light at the tournament and a lot of shouting factor remains.

Frenchman Gael Monfils and American Robby Ginepri are two of my favorites on the tour. They have hung in there, gotten the job done and I shall begin supporting and celebrating accordingly. Yesterday is gone.

Both gentlemen are into the fourth round and that is definitely something to shout about. So YAAAAAAY!!!

Robby Ginepri defeated Frenchman Florent Serra 6-4, 6-4, 6-4; Gael Monfils defeated Austrian Jurgen Melzer 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.

Work it out guys, work it out!

I have nothing to say.

WHERE YOU AT JUAN, WHERE YOU AT WITH YOURS?

JUST GIVE IT TO ME FULL FORCE, I'M TAKING IT TODAY!!

Well, I saw it this morning, so I KNOW that it did indeed happen. Yet, I am at a loss to accurately describe what happened. Suffice it to say that it appeared that Serena had no game plan, was asleep fifty percent of the time, and couldn't hit the side of a barn with all of the racquets in her bag. Yeah, that's about it.

Our lil' miss fashion plate will either sit in the stands or return to the good old U.S. of A., but she will not be pursuing the French Open title any further. A short while ago Serena Williams handed the fourth round of play to Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik on a silver racquet. Srebotnik's win came in at 6-4, 6-4.

That's not to say that Srebotnik did not play well, she did. However, Serena played so poorly that Srebotnik could have stood there with her racquet held out and won the match.

What does Serena's mom and coach have to say about it? “She was edgy. Her head just wasn't there and I can't explain why."

"She's been like that since she got here. She wasn't confident. She has been in a funk for a couple of weeks.”

Round 1 - Men's Singles

Donald Young, USA defeated by Robby Ginepri, USA
2-6, 6-3, 6-7(4-7), 2-6

Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Arnaud Clement, FRA
7-5, 6-3, 6-1

Scoville Jenkins, USA defeated by Luis Horna, PER
4-6, 7-5, 3-6, 0-6


Round 2 - Men's Singles

Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Luis Horna, PER
7-6(7/5), 6-4, 7-5

James Blake, USA defeated by Ernests Gulbis, LAT
6-7(2/7), 6-3, 5-7, 3-6


Round 1 - Women's Singles

Stephanie Foretz, FRA defeated by Vera Zvonareva
2-6, 1-6


Round 2 Women's Singles

Venus Williams, USA defeated Selima Sfar, TUN
6-3, 4-6, 6-2

Serena Williams, USA defeated Mathilde Johansson, FRA
6-2, 7-5


Round 3 - Women's Singles

Serena Williams, USA defeated by Katarina Srebotnik, SLO
4-6, 4-6

Blake baby, Blake baby, Blake baby, ya' killin' me.

I declare this man is going to put me in an early grave supporting him. And yes, I will continue to support him. He thinks that "he" became frustrated today, what about me?

I don't completely know how to call this one though. Blake has the goods, and was making the effort, but world no. 80 Ernests Gulbis of Latvia also had the goods, made the effort and advanced to the next round to the tune of a 7-6(2), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Blake.

Now, clearly I realize that our American men haven't progressed particularly well over the years on clay, but it's a new year and a lot has happened in between. Yes, I know, I'm being a tad overly optimistic, but I'm not one to wallow in defeat unnecessarily or prematurely.

During his press conference, a very disheartened and visibly disappointed Blake said, "I haven't seen the stats yet, but I think that I was just poorly not within my game. I think I played the way ahhh, too many commentators think I should play." (Who? Patrick McEnroe? Cliff Drysdale? Chris Fowler? Why are you giving these people free real estate in your head when you have a coach that you pay?)

"Saying, you know, I probably didn't make very many errors and I didn't hit that many winners, and that's the way a lot of them think I should play, and I think today was a pretty good indication that's not the way that wins matches for me."

"I lost to a guy ranked 80 in the world that hit a lot more winners. Granted, he didn't play like he was 80 in the world, he played a lot better than that, but there's a lot of guys out there that can dictate play against me if I try to play like that, and that's just real frustrating for me to play a match like that when I know my game, I know what works best for me and I didn't necessarily do it effectively today."

Oh James, I'm going to leave you alone right now, as you really seem to require more support than admonishment. But as soon as I think that you're feeling better? Oh, it's on.

Round 1 - Men's Singles

James Blake, USA defeated Rainer Schuettler, GER
6-4, 6-1, 7-6(4)

Josselin Ouanna, FRA defeated by Juan Martin Del Potro, ARG
3-6, 2-6, 3-6


Injury

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France - Knee


DOUBLES DRAW - MEN'S

Round 1

Gael Monfils, FRA and Josselin Ouanna, FRA
vs.
Dominik Hrbaty, SVK and Hyung-Taik Lee, KOR

Jeff Coetzee, RSA and Wesley Moodie, RSA
and
Jurgen Melzer, AUT and Alexander Pey, AUT


Round 1 - Women's Singles

Venus Williams, USA defeated Tzipora Obziler, ISR
6-3, 4-6, 6-2

Serena Williams, USA defeated Ashley Harkleroad, USA
6-2, 6-1


DOUBLES DRAW - WOMEN'S

Round - 1

Stephanie Foretz, FRA and Olga Savchuk, HUN
vs.
Dinara Safina, RUS and Agnes Szavay, HUN

As usual, the very fashion conscious and fashion forward Williams sisters have arrived in Paris at Roland Garros ready to play tennis - and look good doing it.

Serena displayed her Nike style in a lovely "Doubles Women's Tennis Dress" in "chalk/dark obsidian/dark obsidian" (unless they have a men's tennis dress, why call it a 'women's tennis dress?' we know! *shoulder shrug*).

I'm really liking the fabric on this dress. If you'll notice Serena in action, the dress isn't crawling up or bunching anywhere. Those of you who want to look "cute" yet get your tennis on know that clothes crawling all over you during play is most annoying.

Plus, if your game truly sucks, they'll be so busy admiring your fashion sense, your game won't get beat up on so bad (yeah right).


Nike also offers the "Paris Women's Tennis Dress" in a "dark obsidian chalk/chalk" option for those who wish to be a bit more daring.

*Black Tennis Pro's has no Nike affiliation, just letting you know how to cop this style if you wish.


Venus on the other hand is rockin' part of her very own collection, EleVen, which opened to big fanfare and high praise. I personally love it and own a couple of pieces. Venus' entire collection can only be purchased at Steve and Barry's. There are some very nice coordinates in a variety of styles. It's well worth the look!

I tend to like some structure in athletic attire, the polos in this collection are incredible. If you just must sweat, ehhh "glow" and carry on, you might as well look well put together throughout the process.


*Black Tennis Pro's has no EleVen or Steve and Barry's affiliation. Once again, just letting you know how to cop the style.

Wicked! Wicked! Wicked!

A very clean shaven American James Blake appears to be taking no prisoners in Paris at Roland Garros. Blake is cocked, locked and ready to rock!

Playing German Rainer Schuettler today, Blake was focused and had both rockets, forehand and backhand, firing on all cylinders, it was a thing of beauty. His 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (3) victory over Rainer Schuettler made him the first American man to reach the second round at Roland Garros since 2006.

Blake won the first set on the first break of serve in the match, and then raced out to a 5-0 lead in the second set. In the third, Blake led 5-1 but his German opponent won five straight games to go ahead 6-5. Unfortunately, to no avail. Blake won the next set and then took the tie-break.

Way to go Blake!!

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga held a press conference at 6 pm on Saturday in a hotel in Paris to announce that he was withdrawing from the French Open Tournament. This year's Australian Open finalist will have to have an operation on his right knee and will also miss Wimbledon.

The No.14 seed will be replaced by lucky loser Luis Horna of Peru who will face American qualifier Scoville Jenkins in the first round.

Sounds like this young man is going to need some 24/7 TLC to get back into shape. Mmmkay.