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Tennis: French Open men's singles final head-to-head

Agence France-PresseJune 7, 2013 23:20

Head-to-head record for Sunday's French Open men's final (year, tournament, surface, round, winner, score; x denotes seeded player): Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) v David Ferrer (ESP x4) Nadal leads 19-4 2013 Rome Clay QF Nadal 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 2013 Madrid Clay QF Nadal 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 2013 Acapulco Clay F Nadal 6-0, 6-2 2012 French Open Clay SF Nadal 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 2012 Rome Clay SF Nadal 7-6 (8/6), 6-0 2012 Barcelona Clay F Nadal 7-6 (7/1), 7-5

Tennis: Long wait goes on for French tennis

Agence France-PresseJune 7, 2013 23:20

For long-suffering French tennis fans, the agonising wait for a male champion at the French Open goes on, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga the latest to succumb to the Roland Garros jinx. The 28-year old from the car-race town of Le Mans had motored smoothly into the last four without dropping a set and hopes were sent sky-high that at last Yannick Noah's iconic win in Paris 30 years ago would be matched.

Djokovic fails in bid to douse Nadal fire

Thomson ReutersJune 7, 2013 18:27

By Martyn Herman PARIS (Reuters) - With his hopes of a French Open final fading, Novak Djokovic even requested to have the Chatrier Court surfaced hosed down as he withered in the face of a Rafa Nadal firestorm on Friday. Djokovic complained he was struggling to stand up as Nadal roared back from a fifth-set deficit to win 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7(3) 9-7 on a sun-baked center court but it had nothing to do with the energy-sapping rallies that stretched the elastic-limbed Serb to the limit.

Ferrer ends final wait at 42nd tilt

Thomson ReutersJune 7, 2013 18:27

PARIS (Reuters) - 'If at first you don't succeed try, try, try again' could be David Ferrer's personal motto after the Spaniard reached his maiden grand slam final on Friday at his 42nd tilt at a major. Since tennis turned professional in 1968, the previous longest wait for a player who eventually reached a grand slam final was Kim Warwick's 32 majors after he fought his way into the Australian Open title match in 1980.

Ferrer routs Tsonga to reach French Open final

Agencia EFEJune 7, 2013 18:20

Paris, Jun 7 (EFE).- Spain's David Ferrer achieved a career milestone Friday at the French Open, advancing to his first Grand Slam final with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory Friday over crowd favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Ferrer showed great focus from the outset to completely silence the crowd of roughly 15,000 at Court Philippe Chatrier, winning the first five games of the semifinal match by hitting out aggressively with both forehand and backhand and chasing down every ball.

Tennis: Ferrer to play Nadal in French Open final

Agence France-PresseJune 7, 2013 16:23

David Ferrer defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in the French Open semi-finals on Friday and will play fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal in Sunday's final. Defending champion Nadal earlier defeated top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 9-7 in the first of the semi-finals. ak/dj

Tennis: Ferrer finally reaches Grand Slam final

Agence France-PresseJune 7, 2013 16:23

David Ferrer wrecked French hopes of a first male champion at Roland Garros in 30 years on Friday when he defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in the semi-finals. It was a crippling blow to the sixth seed who was out to match the feat of Yannick Noah, who last won the title for France in 1983. But it was a richly deserved reward for outstanding perseverance on the part of 31-year-old Ferrer, who reached his first Grand Slam final in his 42nd appearance, by far the longest wait in the Open Era.

Tennis: Nadal, Ferrer sets-up all Spanish French Open final

Agence France-PresseJune 7, 2013 16:22

Defending champion Rafael Nadal moved closer to an historic eighth French Open title Friday when he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 9-7 in a titanic semi-final. In Sunday's title match, the third seed will face fourth-seeded compatriot David Ferrer who ended French hopes of a first champion in 30 years by sweeping past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2. Nadal will be aiming to be the first man to win the same major eight times while 31-year-old Ferrer will be appearing in his first Grand Slam final.

Tennis: Angry Djokovic blasts court after Nadal defeat

Agence France-PresseJune 7, 2013 16:22

Novak Djokovic hit out at Roland Garros officials after his epic five-set defeat to Rafael Nadal on Friday, claiming that his demands for the Court Philippe Chatrier surface to be improved were ignored. The world number one twice battled from a set and a break down to lead 4-2 in the fifth set before a succession of rows with chair umpire Pascal Maria and tournament supervisor Stefan Fransson threw his challenge off course.

Nadal tops Djokovic in French Open semifinal classic

Agencia EFEJune 7, 2013 15:21

Paris, Jun 7 (EFE).- Spain's Rafael Nadal needed all of his skill and competitive fire to rally from a break down in the fifth set and secure a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 9-7 victory Friday over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Friday's first French Open men's semifinal. The contest between the seven-time Roland Garros champion and the Serbian was labeled by many as the "real final," considering that Nadal and Djokovic played in last year's championship match and have won a combined 17 Grand Slam singles titles.