Wednesday, June 1, 2011

French Open: Semifinals

The semifinals are set in Paris with the top 4 men's seeds surviving.  This is the first time this has happened at a slam since the '08 US Open.  It is the second slam semi of the year for all the men except Nadal.  On the women's experience has proved to better than youth as Azarenka, Petkovic, and Pavlyuchenkova were bounced by the likes of Li, Sharapova, and Schiavone, respectively.  The top 4 are all gone but 3 of the 5-8 seeds are still alive plus the surprising Frenchwoman Bartoli.  Only Li is experiencing her second slam semi of the year, but it is interesting to note all 4 have been to a major final before.
Here are the eight semifinalists, with of course their little tidbits:

Men
1) Rafael Nadal (ESP):  15th slam semifinal (6th at the French), 11-3 record (5-0), last '10 US Open
2) Novak Djokovic (SRB):  11th slam semifinal (3rd at the French), 4-6 record (0-2), last '11 Aussie Open
3) Roger Federer (SUI):  28th slam semifinal (6th at the French), 22-5 record (4-1), last '11 Aussie Open
4) Andy Murray (GBR):  6th slam semifinal (1st at the French), 3-2 record, last '11 Aussie Open

Women
5) Francesca Schiavone (ITA):  2nd slam semifinal (2nd at the French), 1-0 record (1-0), last '10 French Open
6) Na Li (CHN):  3rd slam semifinal (1st at the French), 1-1 record, last '11 Aussie Open
7) Maria Sharapova (RUS):  11th slam semifinal (2nd at the French), 4-6 record (0-2), last '08 Aussie Open
11) Marion Bartoli (FRA):  2nd slam semifinal (1st at the French), 1-0 record, last '07 Wimbledon
Matchups for tomorrow (women) and Friday (men):  Schiavone vs Bartoli, Li vs Sharapova, Nadal vs Murray, Djokovic vs Federer.

Some updates on the live rankings, particularly for the women.  I will try and link to my spreadsheet again at Wimbledon but for now you'll have to take my word for it.  Current top 10:  Wozniacki, Clijsters, Zvonareva (those 3 are safe), Azarenka, Li, Sharapova, Schiavone, Kvitova, Bartoli, Stosur.  There are a few different scenarios that could unfold.  The Schiavone/Bartoli winner becomes #7 while the Sharapova/Li winner becomes #5 and will be #4 in they win the title, moving past Azarenka.  Bartoli can only get to #7 but Schiavone can get to #6 if she beats Sharapova in the final.

Djokovic takes #1 by making the final or if Nadal fails to win the title.  All other rankings are unchanged because of the large gaps.

1 comment:

  1. Rafael Nadal vs Robin Soderling Live Stream - Watch French Open - Quarter Finals Online May 31. World No.1 and defending champion Rafael Nadal takes on a familiar face in Swede Robin Soderling to better his run at the 2011 French Open, season's second Grand Slam event being played here at Roland Garros in Paris, France.

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