Thursday, May 31, 2007

Tatiana Golovin out with foot-injury

Fox Sports Golovin, Peng pull out of French Open

On May 30th last year, I titled a post "The eyes of many French would rather have been on . . ." referring to Tatiana. This year was to be no joke: Tatiana won her first title last month at Amelia Island, and factored significantly in France's Fed Cup play at the event in which she was injured. Looking at my post of last year, she was in the exact same situation with the other foot. She said she learned something: Injured Golovin doubtful for French Open

Actually, I was preparing a post about how I expected Tatiana to shoulder significant French hopes this year, but was pressed for time. I saved the photos, safely.

ex-goddess out of the French Open . . . struck by the love bug?

Halfway down this story, there is an indication of goddess-no-more Martina Hinges' hip injury: Courting takes on a new meaning for love-match couples The photo is of her watching from the sidelines at the Open on day 2.

Who will succeed her? That is too easy. But then again maybe . . .. (Don't tell the woman, but a man is engaged in the satisfaction of pondering.)

Photo source: Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

French Open 07: Day 3: Women's singles first round highlights

Even as several second round matches in the top half of the bracket were showing as completed on the draw page, still one first round match was incomplete at this writing: Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia (a qualifier) vs China's Tiantian Sun (not seeded), in the overall scheme of things, an important match (instigat'n.)

But just below that match on the draw page: Anastasia Myskina down to USA'a Meghann Shaughnessy 1-6 0-6. The indemnity! It's not over for Myskina, but whatever she requires to pull it together ought to start falling into place like about now. Also in that section, Sania Mirza 6-1 6-1 over Alberta Brianti of Italy; Eleni Daniilidou of Greece out to Russia's Olga Poutchkova in three; the Daniela Hantuchova on to the second; Russia's Elena Likhovtseva in three pretty tight sets over Yung-Jan Chan of the Republic of China.

In other sections during the first round: fifth seeded Amelie Mauresmo took out USA's Laura Granville 6-0 7-5; USA's Meilen Tu on to the second round (yea, Meilen, you go!); Nathalie Dechy on in three (although she will probably figure more prominently in doubles); Switzerland's Patty Schnyder on in three; Sharapova had to huff and puff over France's Emilie Loit; for that matter Serena was down a set to Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria before winning 12 of their last 13 sets; USA's Shenay Perry on in three; Na Li thanked the rain; Dementieva on; Petrova, Nadia Petrova of last year's championship tourny fame, out in three (oh, the indemnity! the indemnity!); interestingly, USA's Jamea Jackson down to Samantha Stosur of Australia 1-6 2-6 and USA's Vania King out to Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova in three.

I'm running out the door, but two things: firstly, in my cursory examination, two names are missing: Tatiana Golovan and the goddess'. Secondly, keep in mind, this is Justine Henin's element: she is fairly invincible on clay.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

French Open 07: Days 1 and 2, Venus, Serena and few others through rainy start

Below, in order, Serena, Venus and Austria's Tamira Paszek who defeated Japans's Aiko Nakamura on day 1.

Photo sources (in order): Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Laurent Baheux; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Laurent Baheux; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Laurent Baheux