After eliminating Serena Williams, the biggest favorite for the title, Virginie Razzano bowed out already in the second round, falling to world No.88 Arantxa Rus 6-3 7-6(3).
It was a heart-attack exciting victory of Razzano over Serena in round one, but it was pretty much expected that Razzano would not be able to last for long, hence her victory, although epic, is overall bad for Roland Garros 2012, as now we have the biggest star Serena out, as well as her conqueror. I checked out Twitter for hashtag Razzano and people’s reactions are “that happens to upsetters”, “not surprised”, “really dislike Giant Killers sometimes”, “typical”. Oh well, that’s sport.
Defending champion Li Na raced into the third round, brushing aside Stephanie Foretz Gacon 6-0 6-2. Last year’s finalist and former champion Francesca Schiavone needed three sets, but got past Tsvetana Pironkova 2-6 6-3 6-1. I read that had Schiavone lost that match, she would have fallen out of Top 25, while now she’s ranked No.12. Petra Kvitova cruised past Urszula Radwanska 6-1 6-3, Caroline Wozniacki beat Jarmila Gajdosova 6-1 6-4, and Angelique Kerber defeated Olga Govortsova 6-3 6-2 (by the way, Caroline’s new temporary fitness trainer Justyna Krzysik looks, well, awesome!).
As for upsets, you guess, Jelena Jankovic is out, 7-6(4) 4-6 6-4. The 19th seed fought for three hours and six minutes, but in the end handed Varvara Lepchenko her first third round of a Grand Slam in fifteen appearances. The other seed to fall on Thursday was seed No.16 Maria Kirilenko, who lost to Klara Zakopalova 6-4 3-6 6-3. (photo: danlamouette)
Well done, Arantxa! I’d love to see what she can do against Görges.. I think Görges will win in straight sets (4 and 3), but I hope Arantxa is able to set a PR in Paris this year 🙂
Jankovic and Kirilenko were a bit disappointing today, what do you all think? Can’t wait to get into the second week 🙂
Oh JJ…new dissapointments 🙁 Ok,Lepchenko is a good player in a form,but really 😛 Congrats to Arantxa 🙂
I actually thought (at the beginning of the year) that it would be a comeback year for JJ and Ana… but guess I was wrong. :S
The first-round ousting of the No. 1 favourite for the title by an underdog is really an exciting chapter in not only the story of Roland Garros 2012, but also in the whole history of the tournament. Yes, it *is* sports – and, moreover, sports at its most exciting. So let the whiners whine, the moaners moan and the mourners mourn; for that’s what they do, for their assorted reasons. And let us not worry too much about the “damage” done to the tournament – it is endlessly larger than its “biggest star”, just as the underdog was on that great day.
No surprise re Jankovic. Terminal decline for two years. I know some people predicted a comeback and many though Stosur would drop out. I don’t think Stosur will win another but so glad her courageous fight back from illness was rewarded with one.Who can beat Azarenka, the squealer?
Do you really think Serena tried to win her match??? Why keep talking about her when the best 4 players in tennis are battling for the trophy?
Did anyone actually watch the match and see how badly Razzano was playing and how Serena had to play so awful to lose?
I saw my friend, Arantxa Rus, play an ITF tournament in Osprey, Florida just a few weeks ago. Battling to stay at the WTA level, she played her game today and kept her cool to beat Razzano. Normally, the match would get no press. Congratulations to Rus.
Also congrats to the best American in the tournament, Christina McHale, who also won today but will not be mentioned in the press.