French Open - Women: Sharapova screams back

Eurosport - Tue, 26 May 07:52:00 2009

Russian Maria Sharapova shrilled her way into the second round of the French Open with a 3-6 6-1 6-2 victory over Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus.

Maria Sharapova of Russia plays a shot during her match against Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus at the French Open REUTERS - 0

The former world number one, who dropped to 102nd in the world rankings being out of action for nine months because of a shoulder injury, needed a set to find her range on Court One before cracking winners past the world number 64.

Yakimova called on the tournament's trainer at change of sides at 4-1 in the second set to have her lower back massaged and she never seemed to recover.

Sharapova, who returned to singles play last week at the Warsaw Open where she reached the last eight, will next face 11th-seeded compatriot Nadia Petrova.

Venus Williams kept a cool head in scorching conditions to reach the second round with a 6-1 4-6 6-2 win over fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

The third seed appeared to be in a hurry to get back into the cooler confines of the locker room when she romped through the first set in just 34 minutes.

But Mattek-Sands delayed Williams on court for almost two hours before the 28-year-old sealed victory with a thumping forehand winner.

Williams, who owns seven grand slam trophies but has never triumphed at Roland Garros, will next face Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic, who downed Germany's Sabine Lisicki 6-1 2-6 6-1.

China's Zheng Jie, the 15th seed and Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn kept Asian interest alive with wins over Frenchwomen Stephanie Cohen-Aloro and Camille Pin respectively, but Japanese 33-year-old Ai Sugiyama, playing in her 15th Roland Garros, went out 6-3 6-2 to France's Aravane Rezai.

Spain's 22nd seed Carla Suarez Navarro, a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros last year on her Grand Slam debut, wasted no time to book her place in the second round with a 6-1 6-4 win over Edina Gallovits. She will next play Czech Lucie Hredecka, who progressed with a 6-1 6-2 win over Austrian qualifier Yvonne Meusburger.

Hungary's 29th seed Agnes Szavay cruised past Italian qualifier Corinna Dentoni 6-3 6-4 but Russian 23rd seed Alisa Kleybanova crashed out of the tournament despite a second set fightback, eventually losing 6-2 4-6 6-1 to Slovenian qualifier Polona Hercog.

French 13th seed Marion Bartoli had to come from a set down to beat compatriot Pauline Parmentier, thudding down a huge serve on match point to wrap up a 3-6 6-1 6-3 win.

Poland's number 12 seed Agnieszka Radwanska had an easier time of things as she enjoyed a 6-3 6-1 win over Rossana De Los Rios.

A couple of seeds did drop late in the day though; last year's quarter-finalist and 17th seed Patty Schnyder lost 6-4 6-3 to Kateryna Bondarenko and Russia's 26th seeded Anna Chakvetadze was beaten by 3-6 6-4 6-4 by world number 124 Mariana Duque Marino of Colombia.

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Reuters

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  1. "novak_djokovic" ="rc_alcock"­­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He has plenty and­­ even managed to nick some usernames such as"­­ jexbj",and mine.Be careful guys 'cause­­ "rc_alcock" can nick any username!How?I­­ don't have a clue but he's loving­­ it."novak_djokovic" is his brand new­­ username!Spread the word!

    From hadjeseles, on Tue 26 May 9:24PM

  2. "novak_djokovic" ="rc_alcock"­­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He has plenty and­­ even managed to nick some usernames such as"­­ jexbj",and mine.Be careful guys 'cause­­ "rc_alcock" can nick any username!How?I­­ don't have a clue but he's loving­­ it."novak_djokovic" is his brand new­­ username!Spread the word!

    From hadjeseles, on Tue 26 May 9:24PM

  3. I like Sharpova and look forward to her getting back­ into the game, but she was beating my the Williams­ sisters too. Give praise where it is due. The Williams­ sisters are great and have added another level to the­ game. What others Americans will offer that to the­ game? Americans have lost the edge and as long as the­ Williams sisters stay in the top 10, we will all have­ something to look forward to in the next years of­ womens tennis.

    From DarrellW, on Tue 26 May 6:05PM

  4. For the person who wrote the article about Serena,­ (ajpbolton)how rude...for your information; if it­ wasn't for the Willams sisters American tennis­ would be no more. Those girls bought tennis back for­ Americans.The Russians have taken over tennis and the­ United States has failed to produce anymore great­ players. The comments about her strength and oversized­ bras is just racist. Her strength has send many of­ these women into the weight room...No one has mentioned­ anything about Sharapova; with all of her modeling work­ during tennis season..what's up with that? Just­ because they are finishing college and have other­ interest by no means make them lazy. You show just how­ much you know about tennis and people in general.Think­ if they weren't involved in other activities..they­ would be kicking everyones @#$%. You can take that to­ the bank.

    From DarrellW, on Tue 26 May 6:02PM

  5. Women tennis needs Sharapova's come back!

    From mirjanav2000, on Tue 26 May 4:11PM

  6. womens tennis needs sharapova tha standerd is shocking­ at the moment.

    From John O, on Tue 26 May 12:16PM

  7. are any of you actually interested in the tennis???

    From chrystal_rainbow, on Tue 26 May 10:23AM

  8. Ajpbolton[34]...i read your opinion and now i know why­ they say that opinion is like an "@#$%"­ 'cause everybody got one.

    From Chukwuemeka, on Tue 26 May 9:42AM

  9. 14, you are having a laugh, greatest player of her­ generation, not a chance! all muscle and no brains, she­ isnt consistent because she doesnt want to be, she is­ lazy, only wins because the other women dont want to­ work hard and in turn are lazy too. its all well being­ saying they(venus too) have other commitments away from­ tennis, that is why they will never be considered the­ greatest unlike graf who made tennis her life until she­ retired, the same with navratilova. graf is the best of­ all time and serena wont be considered the best until­ she hangs up her oversized sports bra.

    From ajpbolton, on Tue 26 May 7:54AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    She is so pretty I would like to have many injury time­ outs with Maria!

    From novak_djokovic, on Tue 26 May 12:08AM

  11. Typical chav you are defo a nutter...........funny one­ though.

    From sanchez.santos, on Mon 25 May 11:41PM

  12. sakis543,

    I'm sure there is a perfectly innocent­ explanation. Perhaps she was just doing some DIY and­ screwing a particularly tight hole with her hand­ drill.....oh gawwwwdddd......oh gawwwddddd....

    From Typical Chav, on Mon 25 May 11:28PM

  13. Typical Chav, you must be joking...

    From sakis543, on Mon 25 May 11:21PM

  14. sakis543,

    perhaps she was just practising her grunting­ for the matches?

    From Typical Chav, on Mon 25 May 11:12PM

  15. Spot on Chemical Ali! I suppose the next depraved­ article will have a headline such as "Sharapova­ goes down on Ivanovic after being whipped in a 3 hour­ marathon struggle for domination". I shall­ complain if they use that heading!

    From Typical Chav, on Mon 25 May 11:11PM

  16. Thanks for that one Typical Chav, I'm off for a­ waz. See you in Yahoo's next depraved article!

    From Chemical Ali, on Mon 25 May 10:57PM

  17. Chemical Ali,

    Yes, yes....utter filth!!! Utter­ filth!!!! I am sure the Yahoo headline writers are­ reading that right now and praying for a­ Sharapova-Ivanovic encounter.

    "Sharapova comes­ from behind and rips Ivanovic apart with penetrating­ underarm strokes"

    From Typical Chav, on Mon 25 May 10:51PM

  18. Sharapova Stretches Ivanovic And Draws First Blood

    From Chemical Ali, on Mon 25 May 10:35PM

  19. Chemical Ali,

    I am disgusted with these headline­ writers. They think they have a license to­ clandestinally publish their filthiest desires. I mean,­ what next "Sharapova punishes Ivanovic's­ sloppy opening" (where 'opening' refers to­ the opening few games)....utter puerile filth!

    From Typical Chav, on Mon 25 May 10:24PM

  20. Back on topic, I'd make Sharapova scream even­ louder than when she's stretching for a­ triple-handed backhand!!!

    From Chemical Ali, on Mon 25 May 10:07PM
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