The Latest: Ferrer into French Open quarterfinals
Jun 1, 2015, 6:06 AM
Croatia's Marin Cilic returns the ball to Spain's David Ferrer during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Monday, June 1, 2015 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
PARIS (AP) — The Latest from the French Open:
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2:58 p.m.
At 5-foot-9 (1.75 meters), David Ferrer is on the short side for a tennis player, but he stands very tall on clay.
The French Open runner-up in 2013 breezed past U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic (6-foot-6; 1.98 meters) 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
Coming into their fourth-round match, Cilic had been broken just once in 40 service games.
Ferrer ruined that, breaking the Croat five of the 13 times he served.
Ferrer, seeded seventh, next plays either Andy Murray, seeded third, or unseeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. They are on court now, tied at one set apiece.
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2:36 p.m.
“Roger forever,” said a sign held up by Federer fans on the French Open center court.
That’s surely over-optimistic. But the 2009 champion gets to fight another day, into the quarterfinals for the 11th time.
For the fourth time in four matches against Gael Monfils at Roland Garros, Federer triumphed, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion next plays his Davis Cup Swiss teammate, Stan Wawrinka.
Federer and Monfils were tied at one set apiece when the gloom interrupted their fourth-round match Sunday night. Federer handled the disruption far better than the Frenchman did, looking sprightly as they resumed Monday. Monfils appeared to be battling a runny nose.
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2:05 p.m.
Maria Sharapova battled a cold, wiping her runny nose and coughing during matches, through this French Open. But she’s not blaming that for her failure to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.
Instead, the champion in 2014 and 2012 says Lucie Safarova was simply more aggressive than she was and found “a different gear” in her 7-6 (3), 6-4 win.
Safarova, a Wimbledon semifinalist last year, was the first left-handed player Sharapova faced at Roland Garros this time, and the second seed had warned beforehand that “lefties are always tricky.”
She was right.
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1:05 p.m.
For the first time since 2011, the French Open women’s final won’t feature Maria Sharapova.
The champion last year and in 2012, and runner-up to Serena Williams in 2013, lost 7-6 (3), 6-4 in the fourth round to Lucie Safarova, who is into the French quarterfinals for the first time.
Safarova broke Sharapova in the second game of the second set, when the second seed double-faulted on break point.
Sharapova broke back in the fifth game, when Safarova also double-faulted on break point.
They both held serve to the 10th game, where Safarova put Sharapova under pressure with her accurate, powerful shots. Sharapova saved a first match point, when Safarova netted a clear chance. Safarova made no mistake the second time, putting the champion out with a forehand winner.
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12:44 p.m.
Garbine Muguruza is through to the French Open quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.
The 21st seed from Spain beat Flavia Pennetta, seeded 28th, 6-3, 6-4.
Muguruza will face either defending champion Maria Sharapova or Lucie Safarova in the quarters. They are playing now, with Safarova taking the first set.
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12:22 p.m.
Defending champion Maria Sharapova is in trouble at the French Open, losing a first-set tiebreaker in the fourth round against Lucie Safarova.
Sharapova hadn’t dropped a set at this tournament until now.
Safarova is playing solid tennis, with accurate shots that are putting Sharapova on the back foot. The 13th seed raced to a 6-1 lead in the tiebreaker and won it 7-3 when Sharapova hit a forehand wide.
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11:16 a.m.
It feels like a Wimbledon ‘Mad Monday’ at the French Open.
Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal are all crammed into a fourth-round day of play.
Because of a long rain delay Sunday, two women’s matches were rescheduled for today, including Sharapova vs. Lucie Safarova. They have just started on center court. Sharapova, the defending women’s champion, served first.
Federer and 13th-seeded Gael Monfils follow, picking up at one set apiece after fading light halted their match Sunday night.
Top-ranked Djokovic is looking to book a 24th-straight quarterfinal spot at a Grand Slam against Richard Gasquet.
There are 11 singles matches in the main draws, including nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal vs. Jack Sock and Andy Murray vs. Jeremy Chardy.
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