RG Diary Tuesday May 31

 

Originally published on: 31/05/11 20:59

Maybe as one of our tennishead followers commented today on facebook this is one of the best French Opens. We certainly had some great action today and it whizzed by. Considering the showcourt action did not start until 2pm I guess that was not really surprising.

Andy Murray managed to win the match that had been delayed overnight, stopped at 9.30pm last night due to bad light. And today it took him 66 minutes to claim his place in the quarterfinals where he will face Juan Ignacio Chela. Speaking frankly after the match he admitted he had been nervous out there today ‘it’s the first time I think I’ve had to come back and just play one set for a place in the quarterfinals of a slam, you know, with sort of the other things that have been going on in my head with regards to the injury”.  The injury is a partial tear to one of the three tendons in his ankle, so it hasn’t gone away but he managed to play through it today.

Roger Federer destroyed Gael Monfils’ hopes of wining at home, defeating the Frenchman in straight sets 64 63 76(3) so it was left to Marion Bartoli to fly the tricolour flag of France. She becomes the fourth French woman to make the semi finals at Roland Garros in the Open era after Francoise Durr, Brigitte Simon and Mary Pierce. Her win over Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets was impressive, 76 (4) 64 and after her victory she looked elated as did Francesca Schiavone after she came back from a set down to defeat teenager Anatsasia Pavlyuchenkova 16 75 75.

There was plenty of action in the juniors and the doubles Jamie Murray notched up another mixed doubles win with partner Nadia Petrova, so there’s a double reason for celebrating in the Murray household. 

The tennishead award for innovation at Roland Garros today goes to the chef in the media centre restaurant who whipped up the most enormous paella to keep us all well fed while we worked.

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