Wrapping up a French Open that was as compelling as it was historic:
French Open stories in the SI Vault
Maria Sharapova survived another tight encounter to book her place in the quarterfinals of the French Open Monday with a straight sets win over Polish 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
Third seed Vera Zvonareva has become the lastest big name to crash out of the French Open at Roland Garros, beaten in three sets by fellow-Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Second seed Kim Clijsters suffered her earliest French Open exit in 11 years as she crashed out in the second round on Thursday.
World number one Rafael Nadal had to battle hard to reach the third round of the French Open after a stiff test against fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar.
I must admit to you that I've followed your articles for a while and I see a bit of skepticism towards Djokovic's game. Second major in a row he is not your man to pick up the Grand Slam trophy. Although I am his compatriot I follow all the main players on Tour and it is undeniable that Nole is clear favorite for taking Roland Garros (and for most of former tennis stars). Why is so hard for tennis writers to accept the fact that he's beaten Roger Federer and Rafa for seven times in a row -- all in big tournaments? --Zeky, Belgrade, Serbia
Second seed Kim Clijsters made a winning return at Roland Garros after a five-year absence sweeping aside Belarusian Anastasia Yakimova in straight sets 6-2 6-3.
Some "second screen" viewing: a Monday French Open Baguette ...
Novak Djokovic wasted little time in breezing through to the second round of the French Open with a straight sets victory over Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker in Paris Monday.
World number one Caroline Wozniacki enjoyed the perfect preparation for the French Open as she beat Chinese star Shuai Peng Saturday to win the WTA tournament in Brussels.
SI.com's Jon Wertheim breaks down the men's and women's seeds at the French Open. Read on for the top first-round matchups, dark horses and predictions.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are on course to meet in the semifinals of the French Open after the draw for the second grand slam of the season was unveiled on Friday.
Andy Murray is expected be fit to play in the French Open despite pulling out of an exhibition match in Paris with a wrist injury.
Juan Martin del Potro looks set to take his place in next week's French Open after making a speedy recovery from a torn hip muscle.
World number 11 Andy Roddick is a major doubt for the French Open after pulling out of the Nice Open with a shoulder injury.
Two-time runner-up Roger Federer must wait another year before he can win his first Rome Masters title after suffering a shock third-round defeat on Thursday.
Juan Martin Del Potro is doubtful for this month's French Open because of the hip injury he sustained in last month's Estoril Open semifinal.
The women's tour may be in a chaotic stage just now, with so many top players either injured or off-form, but the men's draw in this week's Madrid event has the look of a major. It's easy to project a Rafael Nadal-Novak Djokovic final, and that's definitely what everyone wants to see, but consider the other storylines:
The Avenue Gordon Bennett in France's capital is everything you would expect of a leafy lane in a quintessentially Parisian suburb.
A freak injury suffered by world number two Kim Clijsters has cast doubts over the Belgian's participation in the French Open, it was announced on Monday.
updated: Fri Aug 06 2010 19:54:00
Martina Navratilova takes us on a tour of Roland Garros, home of the French Open.
Dutchman Robert Jan-Derksen holds a three-shot lead over a star-studded field after the first round of the French Open on Thursday.
Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam tennis title when she overpowered fellow first-time finalist Samantha Stosur at the French Open on Saturday.
PARIS -- The thing I love most about this city is its indifferent personality, particularly when it comes to hosting out-of-towners. Where other places bend over backwards to be at a visitor's beckon call, Paris hisses "get it yourself."
We had fog and Fognini. Cat fights and chat fights. Discussions about lace (Venus) and discussions about pace (Nadal). Oh, and they played some tennis, too. Through seven days at the French Open -- and Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin deadlocked at a set apiece -- we dispense midterm grades.
A quick baguette for Friday. We'll be back Sunday with Midterm Grades...
Defending women's champion Svetlana Kuznetsova survived four match points before scraping into the third round of the French Open on a rain-interrupted fourth day at Roland Garros.
Last year's finalist Dinara Safina has been knocked out of the French Open in the first round by unseeded 39-year-old Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan.
World number one Roger Federer has expressed concern over plans to move the French Open from Roland Garros to the suburbs of Paris.
The tennis year's most glamorous tournament is underway in the chic setting of Paris as the world's leading players battle to claim the second gland slam title of the season.
Fifth seed Robin Soderling showed that he is one of the favorites for overall victory at Roland Garros, dropping just five games one his way to a comfortable straight sets win on Sunday.
Top seed Serena Williams is through to the second round of the French Open after a straight sets win over Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele on Monday.
Hey everyone. From the full disclosure department, I'm back in New York. But we've gotten lots of mail, links and tidbits, so we'll try and do brief baguettes...
The French Open could be forced into a move away from its traditional home at Roland Garros to an alternative venue in the Paris suburbs if expansion plans cannot be agreed.
updated: Sat May 22 2010 08:42:00
The popularity of the French Open has opened up the potential for the Roland Garros to be moved to another location.
World number four Andy Murray will take on home favorite Richard Gasquet in the first round of the French Open, while women's top seed Serena Williams could face four-time champion Justine Henin in the quarterfinals.
updated: Thu May 20 2010 05:02:00
World tennis number three Rafael Nadal tells CNN about why he felt he lost last years French Open tournament.
Rafael Nadal is determined to put the most "difficult moments" of his tennis career firmly behind him by regaining his French Open title from arch-rival Roger Federer.
David Nalbandian has pulled out of the French Open after the 28-year-old Argentine confirmed on his official Web site he has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.
World No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki hopes to be fit for this year's second grand slam tournament, the French Open, despite suffering an ankle injury in an American event.
Since you wrote, "When Thomaz Bellucci wins the French Open, you heard it here first," there's been a lot of talk here in Brazil about Bellucci being a real contender for this year's RG. Even some Web sites are writing headlines like, "American tennis expert considers Bellucci a favourite to win Roland Garros." Can you tell us your honest opinion on Thomaz' future? --Celso, Curitiba, Brazil
The elite of world tennis base their campaigns around the four grand slams in their battle for supremacy, but in reality their year falls into six distinct phases as they target the big-money tournaments and crucial ranking points.
The winner of the French Open title on Sunday will get a first prize less in U.S. dollars than that of Rafael Nadal's in 2008.
Serena Williams rolled into the second week of the French Open with a crushing victory over Aleksandra Wozniak to reach the quarterfinals on Monday.
Novak Djokovic's hopes of matching Rafael Nadal on clay were dashed by unheralded German Philipp Kohlschreiber at the French Open on Saturday.
Fourth seed Elena Dementieva followed third-ranked Venus Williams in departing the French Open at the third-round stage after being upset by Samantha Stosur on Saturday.
Fourth seed Elena Dementieva avoided an embarrassing early exit when comeback queen Jelena Dokic's French Open hopes were ended by a back injury on Thursday.
Rafael Nadal breezed into the last 32 of the French Open with a straight sets 6-1 6-4 6-2 win over Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia on Wednesday.
Second seed Serena Williams was made to battle all the way before reaching the second round of the French Open at a cold and windy Roland Garros on Tuesday.
updated: Tue May 26 2009 16:58:00
CNN's Pedro Pinto talks to defending French Open champion Ana Ivanovic about her chances in this years competition.
updated: Tue May 26 2009 16:19:00
World Number 2 Roger Federer talks to CNN's Pedro Pinto about his chances at this years French Open tournament.
SI.com's Jon Wertheim breaks down the men's and women's seeds at the French Open. Read on for the top first-round matchups, dark horses to watch and his predicted winners.
Rafael Nadal will begin his bid to win a fifth straight French Open title with a match against a qualifier and a possible semifinal against Britain's Andy Murray.
Follow all the action from the 2009 French Open at Roland Garros with our comprehensive news updates on CNN.com and television coverage on the CNN World Sport television program.
I know how Roger Federer feels. For years, I could not beat Priest Holmes in chess. You might remember Holmes, the star running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, the guy who led the NFL in rushing in 2001, the guy who seemed to score three or four touchdowns every week when you were playing against him in fantasy football. We had a weekly chess match for a while.
Our guest today is widely regarded as the greatest player ever to set foot on the tennis court. He's Roger Federer, I'm Anjali Rao, and this is Talk Asia.
Surprise 2003 French Open finalist Martin Verkerk has announced his retirement from professional tennis with immediate effect.
Holder Venus Williams moved into the Wimbledon semifinals on Tuesday when she beat Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-4 6-3, firing family ambitions of a third title showdown against sister Serena.
Women's world number one Ana Ivanovic has pulled out of the WTA event in Eastbourne next week due to a muscle injury.
Let's start with the fallout from the men's final in Paris. There were a lot of questions about the Nadal-Federer match and its consequences. In the interest of economy, I'll condense to five thoughts.
PARIS -- Ana Ivanovic will be the new No. 1 player on the Sony Ericcson WTA Tour on Monday, and it'll only be a matter of time until she's a household name in the United States. Ivanovic has the rare combination of beauty and skill that translates on and off the court. She has the work ethic and credibility to ward off the inevitable comparisons that will be made with other over-marketed female stars and the legitimate appeal to attract everyone from fans to sponsors alike.
Clay-court champion Rafael Nadal made a smooth switch to grass on Wednesday, crushing Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman in his opening match at the Artois Championships at London's Queen's Club.
Like skid marks at a crash site, tracks in the clay told the story of the 2008 French Open. Want to know why Rafael Nadal won his fourth straight title, humiliating Roger Federer in the final? All you had to do was look at the court. It was streaked and slashed, indicating the lengths Nadal had raced to retrieve balls. Forward, back, at odd angles, into the courtside geranium boxes.
Cleaning out the notebook after a rollicking French Open. Herewith, 50 thoughts and observations from Paris.
Five things we learned from Friday's two semifinals at Roland Garros:
updated: Fri May 30 2008 16:59:00
Rafael Nadal speaks to press in the build up to the 2008 French Open at Roland Garros.
PARIS -- Occasionally I get to write a story on someone I not only respect, but also someone I consider a friend. This is one of those times. I have tremendous admiration for Wayne Odesnik, the 22-year-old native of South Florida, for his dedication and willingness to do whatever it takes to reach his potential.
David Nalbandian and James Blake were shock second round casualties at the French Open on Thursday, but top two seeds Roger Federer and Raphael Nadal both reached the last 32 in Paris.
Roger Federer launched his latest bid to complete a set of grand slam titles with a 6-4 6-4 6-3 victory over Sam Querrey of the United States in the French Open first round.
Gustavo Kuerten, one of the great champions of the last decade and a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer, played his last match Sunday, retiring following his first-round French Open loss to Paul-Henri Mathieu.
He's a three-time former champion and darling of the Roland Garros crowd, but this week Gustavo "Guga" Kuerten took to the clay in Paris for the final time.
From May 25 the world's best tennis players will gather in Paris, each aiming to leave their mark on the red clay of Roland Garros during the French Open.
Top seed Roger Federer has been handed a testing opener as he bids to win the French Open, the only grand slam to elude him.
As I write this, I'm 40,000 miles above ground hitching a ride on a private plane with tennis legend Pete Sampras. We're headed to Boston, where he'll be competing in the Outback Champions Series, and I'll be covering the tournament for television.
Two-time former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain rallied to beat Michael Llodra of France 6-7 6-1 6-1 in the opening round of the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco on Monday.
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Do you like Jelena Jankovic's game and personality? Overrated or underrated? -- K-Rule, Sydney, Australia
Sports Illustrated will announce its choice for Sportsman of the Year on Dec. 3. Here's one of the nominations for that honor by an SI writer. For more essays, click here.
Roger Federer matched the legendary Bjorn Borg by winning his fifth successive Wimbledon title after an epic five-set victory over Spain's Rafael Nadal in Sunday's final.
Roger Federer moaned, and everyone knew: It would end soon. Grunting and screeching are tennis staples, of course, but not for Federer. Usually he embodies the quaint notion of striving quietly. But he had just made his final desperate run at Rafael Nadal and the 2007 French Open title, muffing the last of 16 break points he'd let slip this day. It was 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, in the second game of the fourth set, and after Federer rolled a backhand wide, his first groan echoed across the clay. On the next point Federer shanked another stray backhand and yelled in despair, and the 15,166 fans jammed into Court Philippe Chatrier knew it was done. Nadal had cracked him open for all to hear. Again.
Roger Federer reached a record eighth consecutive grand slam final by overcoming Russia's Nikolay Davydenko 7-5 7-6 7-6 in a thrilling French Open semifinal on Friday.
After the excitement of the opening rounds, the second week saw the competition step up a notch as the big names closed in the 2007 French Open title.
Some stateside observations and random thoughts, wrapping up the French. We'll be back next week with a conventional Mailbag.
Roger Federer reached a record eighth consecutive grand slam final by overcoming Russia's Nikolay Davydenko 7-5 7-6 7-6 in a thrilling French Open semifinal on Friday.
Two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal swept into the French Open semifinals on Wednesday with a 6-4 6-3 6-0 demolition of boyhood mentor Carlos Moya.
On day 10 the quarterfinals began, the big names came out in force and the quality of tennis stepped up a notch.
PARIS -- "Americans Bomb out of French Open." "Nightmare for U.S. Tennis." "Slip-Sliding Away, USA."
This was last September, just after Justine Henin had enraged yet another opponent. She was sitting in the player's lounge at the 2006 U.S. Open, speaking of the time when she had a chance to meet her childhood idol, Steffi Graf. The two women had happened to be on the same flight to somewhere.
They have already proven that they can win at Roland Garros, but who are they and what are their chances this year?
British number one Andy Murray is facing a battle to get fit in time for the grasscourt season after a wrist injury forced him to pull out of next week's French Open.
Your thoughts on Roger Federer's split from his coach? I say good! -- Natasha, Toronto
Roger Federer will play the French Open and Wimbledon without a coach after splitting with Tony Roche, the world number one said on Monday.
Since clay-court season is upon us, I was wondering who you think is the greatest dirt-baller to play the game. Bjorn Borg? Guillermo Vilas? And where would Rafael Nadal fall in that category? -- Andrea, Richmond, Texas
The French Open will award equal prize money to all women and men players across the board in all events, the organizers announced on Friday.
I suppose you are crowing now that Wimbledon has capitulated to the ridiculous claim by women tennis players for equal pay for less work? Where is the backbone of the men in the ATP who agree to play longer hours for the same pay? Where, pray tell, is the equality? Why not just have one championship open to all players regardless of gender? -- Al Ferg, Sherbrooke
Roger Federer has still not reached his peak and is destined to become the greatest player of all time, according to his Australian coach Tony Roche.
Roger Federer and Justine Henin-Hardenne were named on Monday as the International Tennis Federation's world champions for 2006.
China's tennis chiefs are sounding out Chinese-American Michael Chang as a coach for the national team after the 1989 French Open winner expressed an interest in the job, state media said on Thursday.
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