=============
ROLAND GARROS (Paris, France; red clay; Grand Slam)
============= http://www.rolandgarros.com/

Monica's amazing record of being the only player in the Open Era
(since 1968) to win three consecutive French Opens is now under
threat from Justine Henin!

-----------------------------------
Women's Singles: Selesian qualifier
-----------------------------------

HSIEH,SU-WEI [13,S]:
1q + Stéphanie Vongsouthi [WC], 6-3 6-4
2q + Madison Brengle [WC], 3-6 6-2 6-3
3q + Maret Ani, 2-6 6-3 6-4

--------------------------
Men's Singles: First round
--------------------------

- Fabrice Santoro [S] lt. JUAN IGNACIO CHELA [18],
7-6 (7/5) 0-6 3-6 3-6

----------------------------
Women's Singles: First round
----------------------------

+ MARION BARTOLI [18,S] d. Aravane Rezaï, 6-2 6-4
- Akiko Morigami [S] lt. TATHIANA GARBIN [19], 6-7 (2/7) 4-6
- Aiko Nakamura [S] lt. Tamira Paszek, 4-6 0-6

To be played on Wednesday:
* Hsieh,Su-Wei [Q,S] v GISELA DULKO [29,DF]

--------------------------------------
First-round TV-report: Bartoli v Rezaï
--------------------------------------

Photos:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=bartoli
http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/players/wtab631.html

This was one of the "nice winner, nice loser" matches of the first-
round draw, and I can't believe they televised it on BBCi! :-) They
just seemed to be staying on Court Philippe Chatrier today.

Marion is a faithful Selesian, right down to her cross-handed two-
handed forehand, only right-handed. She still looks overweight,
although not as much as a year ago.

Aravane may not have a two-handed forehand, but her backhand is just
like Monica Seles's (only right-handed), and she beat Venus Williams
and Maria Sharapova to reach the Constantinople-final last week. She
also looks a bit like Monica - and very cute at the moment. ;-)

I'm feeling a slight loyalty to Aravane as this match begins. I think
she has a lot of star-quality with the way she hits the ball, her
good (and improved) looks, and her lovely smile.

The match started at 14:05 CEST.


First set
---------
BARTO _*@ @*@* 6
REZAÏ *__@____ 2

Aravane serving 0-0: A bad bounce forced Aravane to earth a forehand.
0/15. Serve + off-forehand winner. 15/15. Marion hit an error-forcing
backhand return down Aravane's backhand-line. 15/30. Marion just
long. 30/30. Ace down the middle. 40/30. Marion hit a stunning
crosscourt backhand winner onto the sideline. 40/40. Double fault.
Ad Marion (BP). She netted a return. Deuce #2. Marion wild backhand
return very long. Ad Aravane. A deep shot from Aravane forced Marion
to net a backhand.

Marion serving 0-1: Aravane forehand return just long. 15/0. A deep
forehand from Marion forced Aravane to hit a forehand wide. 30/0.
Marion netted a backhand. 30/15. Marion netted a forehand. 30/30.
Aravane netted a backhand. 40/30. Aravane hit a crosscourt backhand
winner deep into the corner, making Marion look rather slow. 40/40.
Marion hit a pinpoint crosscourt forehand just inside the sideline,
forcing Aravane to hit a forehand just long. Ad Marion. A fantastic
backhand down the line from Aravane set up an easy crosscourt
forehand winner. Deuce #2. Marion came in behind a crosscourt
backhand, but a low dipping pass to her feet forced her to earth a
backhand volley. Ad Aravane (BP). Aravane opened up the court with a
crosscourt backhand, but netted a down-the-line backhand. Deuce #3.
Aravane forehand return just wide - good serve. Ad Marion. She hit an
off-backhand to set up an easy crosscourt forehand winner off a short
ball.

Aravane serving 1-1: Double fault. 0/15. Aravane netted a backhand.
0/30. Marion stood very far in to receive, hit an aggressive return,
but her forehand on the fourth stroke hit the netcord and fell back
on her own side. 15/30. Marion came to the net, forcing Aravane to
rush a forehand into the net. 15/40 (2 BPs). A deep off-forehand into
the corner forced a short ball, which Marion dispatched with a
crosscourt forehand winner to score the first break.

Sam Smith: "It /is/ Seles-like (that's who her heroine is): hard,
flat, uncompromising. She takes it earlier than Rezaï. Neither player
moves well."

Marion serving 2-1: Marion forehand just long. 0/15. Aravane netted a
backhand. 15/15. A deep forehand onto the baseline from Aravane shot
through on Marion for a virtual winner. 15/30. Marion backhand just
long. 15/40 (2 BPs). Aravane netted a forehand return. 30/40. Aravane
ran down a dropshot and hit a crosscourt forehand winner. Sam
Smith: "Good creativity from Bartoli with the two hands, but Rezaï
quite a powerful mover when she gets going."

Sam Smith [re. Aravane]: "She goes on these patches where she just
doesn't miss - so dangerous."

Aravane serving 2-2: Marion backhand wide. 15/0. Aravane netted a
backhand - "great length from Bartoli" [Sam Smith]. 15/15. Aravane
hit a backhand just a little too hard: just long. 15/30. Double fault
(second serve hit the netcord and fell wide). 15/40 (2 BPs). Good
serve + crosscourt forehand winner off the short return. 30/40.
Aravane backhand on the baseline forced Marion to hit a forehand
wide. 40/40. Marion's depth forced Aravane to net a sliced backhand.
Ad Marion (BP #3). Marion netted a forehand return. Deuce #2. Marion
hit a backhand winner down the line off a defensive lob onto the
baseline from Aravane. Ad Marion (BP #4). Double fault #4. David
Mercer: "And that's perhaps the difference between the two women."

Sam Smith said Aravane tries to hit every shot full-blooded,
regardless of how defensive her position in the rally is.

Sam Smith: "I'm fascinated by Bartoli's little energy-bounce before
she serves: she does a little hop and a jump. This is a new
variation. A new thing she's added in the last year or so."

Marion serving 3-2: Service-winner. 15/0. Aravane forehand very long.
30/0. Aravane hit a forehand long as both girls struggled to control
their length. 40/0. Marion ran down a dropshot and hit a crosscourt
forehand winner right into the corner, on the sideline.

Aravane serving 2-4: Aravane hit a fantastic short-angled crosscourt
forehand winner just inside the sideline. 15/0. A short-angled
crosscourt forehand return forced Aravane into error. 15/15. Aravane
forehand just wide. 15/30. Marion netted a backhand return. 30/30.
Marion stands so far in to receive the second serve! Aravane netted a
backhand after running down a forced dropshot. 30/40 (BP). Marion
netted a forehand - "exploited the lack of reach of the double-
hander" [David Mercer]. 40/40. Aravane ran down a netcord-dropshot
and hit a forehand winner down the line, having been forced way
outside the tramlines earlier in the rally! Ad Aravane. Marion
forehand winner down the line, just inside the baseline. Sam Smith
praised her disguise. Deuce #2. Marion forced Aravane to net a shot.
Ad Marion (BP #2). Aravane's backhand clipped the netcord and dropped
dead for a winner. Deuce #3. Marion went for a backhand winner down
the line, but it was just wide (called by the umpire). Ad Aravane.
Marion forced a short ball, took it on the rise and hit an off-
forehand winner into the corner - "great timing" [Sam Smith].
Deuce #4. Marion off-backhand winner. Ad Marion (BP #3). Marion stood
in far for the second serve, and hit a crosscourt forehand return
down Aravane's forehand-line.

Marion serving 5-2: Double fault. 0/15. Aravane netted a tame
forehand return. 15/15. Aravane opened up the court with a crosscourt
forehand, and hit crosscourt forehand winner behind Marion. 15/30.
Aravane hit a powerful backhand down the line, forcing Marion to
earth a forehand. 15/40 (2 BPs). Aravane netted a forehand. 30/40.
Aravane hit a wild backhand long. 40/40. Service-winner down the
line, close to the centre-line. Ad Marion (SP #1). Aravane blasted a
forehand wide. Marion won the first set 6-2 at 14:47.

The big difference in that set was that Marion only made 3 unforced
errors.

Sam Smith: "You can never relax with Rezaï until you've won the last
point, because if she goes on a /spree/, you're in trouble!"

Sam Smith recalled how she first saw Marion at ITF Deauville when
Marion was about 12, but Marion was hitting the ball so hard that Sam
hoped Marion wasn't anywhere near her in the draw!


Second set
----------
BARTO __@* *@ @* 6
REZAÏ *@__*__@__ 4

Aravane serving 0-0: Marion forehand return long. 15/0. Marion opened
up the court with a crosscourt backhand, and Aravane hit a full-
blooded backhand long. 15/15. Aravane's pace & depth forced Marion to
earth a backhand. 30/15. Service-winner. 40/15. Service-winner.

There's no backswing to Aravane's serve: she just holds the racket
behind her head until she's ready to hit her toss.

Marion serving 0-1: Aravane forehand just long. 15/0. Aravane hit
a "world-class" backhand winner down the line. "Open stance,
fantastic racket-work - so much talent" [Sam Smith]. 15/15. Aravane's
width forced Marion to hit a backhand just wide. 15/30. Marion netted
a forehand. 15/40 (2 BPs). Marion off-backhand winner off a short
ball. Sam Smith: "Much like Seles, she gets her feet inside the
baseline, and just goes for it. Really likes to play for winners from
that part of the court." 30/40. Marion netted a backhand to give
Aravane the first break of the second set.

Aravane serving 2-0: Double fault (second serve just long). 0/15.
Marion pounced on a short ball to open up the court with a crosscourt
backhand, and hit a crosscourt forehand into the gap. 0/30. Marion
played a great spreading rally, but just put a down-the-line forehand
wide after opening up the court beautifully. 15/30. Marion netted a
forehand. 30/30. Marion came in, forced a short ball from Aravane,
and hit a nice off-forehand volley-winner. 40/30. Marion moved
Aravane from side to side, inducing her to hit a forehand wide to
give Marion the break back.

Marion serving 1-2: Aravane's topspin forehand shot off the baseline,
forcing Marion to hit a backhand wide. 0/15. Aravane opened up the
court for a backhand winner down the line - ferocious hitting in that
rally! 0/30. Marion hit a crosscourt backhand winner onto the
sideline. 15/30. A huge backhand return forced a defensive lob from
Marion, but Aravane hit a forehand long. 30/30. Aravane netted a
forehand. 40/30. Aravane forehand just long.

This match is very entertaining from both players. It's a shame one
of them has to lose in the first round.

Aravane serving 2-2: Aravane netted a forehand (forced by the depth
of Marion's return). 0/15. Aravane fired a crosscourt forehand winner
off a deep but slow, high-bouncing ball from Marion. 15/15. Aravane
went for a vicious backhand winner down the line, but it was just
wide. 15/30. Marion backhand return-winner down the line - "so early"
[David Mercer]. 15/40 (2 BPs). Aravane saved it with a beautiful
backhand drop-volley winner - "sheer inspiration" [David Mercer].
30/40. Service-winner. 40/40. Marion dropped the ball rather short,
and Aravane blasted a forehand winner down the line. Sam Smith: "The
shotmaking from both players is pure and unadulterated -
spectacular." Ad Aravane. She netted a forehand. Deuce #2. Aravane
crosscourt forehand winner behind Marion. Ad Aravane. Marion hit a
backhand dropshot just wide - no touch in that at all.

Sam Smith: "They're both loving the pace that they're giving each
other."

Marion serving 2-3: Marion forehand wide. 15/0. Aravane netted a
backhand. 30/0. Serve forced a short ball; Marion forehand winner
down the line. 40/0. Aravane forehand wide.

Aravane serving 3-3: Aravane hit a huge backhand winner down the line
into Marion's unprotected forehand-side - "absolutely unreadable"
[Sam Smith]. 15/0. Double fault #6 (second serve into the net).
15/15. Aravane netted a forehand. 15/30. Marion hit a pinpoint
backhand return-winner down the line, just inside the sideline.
15/40 (2 BPs). A pinpoint backhand down the line forced Aravane to
net a forehand.

Marion serving 4-3: A full-blooded backhand down the line from Marion
forced Aravane to hit a forehand long, and Marion shouted "allez!"
15/0. Service-winner. 30/0. Aravane hit a huge backhand winner down
the line, just inside the baseline. 30/15. Aravane took the
initiative, came forward, and hit an off-forehand drive-volley
winner. 30/30. Marion netted a backhand. 30/40 (BP). Aravane hit a
spectacular off-backhand winner on the fourth stroke to break back!

Aravane serving 4-4: Double fault #7. 0/15. Aravane hit a "world-
class" backhand winner down the line, onto the sideline. Sam
Smith: "There are times when Rezaï is unplayable." 15/15. A fierce
backhand down the line - a sudden injection of pace - forced Marion
to net a forehand. Sam Smith: "It was such a shock." 30/15. Aravane
sprayed a wild backhand wide & very long. 30/30. Double fault #8.
30/40 (BP). Aravane resorted to a couple of moonballs, and Marion
cleaned up with a crosscourt backhand winner to reinstate her break.

Marion serving 5-4: Aravane opened up the court with a crosscourt
forehand, and hit an off-forehand winner down the line, onto the
sideline. 0/15. A huge crosscourt forehand forced Marion to net a
backhand. 0/30. Service-winner. 15/30. Aravane netted a sliced
backhand off a very short, deep ball from Marion. 30/30. Ace down the
middle. 40/30 (MP #1). A hard, deep ball from Aravane forced Marion
to mishit a forehand lob wide after both girls ran each other around.
40/40. Aravane hit a huge backhand winner down the line, just inside
the baseline. Ad Aravane (BP). Aravane hit a crosscourt forehand onto
the sideline, Aravane hit a sliced forehand winner into the open
court, but Marion stopped after the previous stroke, the umpire
checked the mark and it was wide. Deuce #2. Double fault (second
serve wide). Ad Aravane (BP #2). Aravane backhand long - a real
waste. Deuce #3. Marion sprayed a forehand long as the wind came into
play. Ad Aravane (BP #3). Aravane forehand wide. Deuce #4. A long,
meaty rally ended with Marion hitting a backhand onto the baseline,
and Aravane stopped playing! Ad Marion (MP #2). Service-winner
(Aravane forehand return very long). Marion won 6-2 6-4 at 15:40, and
emitted a roar of victory.

Sam Smith: "Rezaï has some talent - that ball-striking ability is
something else - but there's some big holes in the rest of her game,
and I don't know where she goes from here. Whereas Bartoli is a much
more well-rounded player."

----------------------------------
Women's Singles: Second-round draw
----------------------------------

* MARION BARTOLI [18,S] v Andrea Petkovic [Q]

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/selesians.html