Last modification: 22/05/09
 -  Paris - Rafael Nadal - Roger Federer - Roland Garros - tennis
 
2008 French Open
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From May 25 to June 8, the world's tennis elite meets in Paris for the season's most prestigious clay tournament: the French Open at Roland Garros.

Serbia’s 20-year-old Ana Ivanovic claimed her maiden French Open title on Saturday after defeating Russia’s Dinara Safina in straight sets. The women’s new world number one succeeds the three-time Roland Garros champion Justine Henin, who announced her retirement days before the start of this year’s edition.

In the men’s draw, Rafael Nadal produced a flawless display to dispatch world number one Roger Federer in straight sets. Having dropped just four games in Sunday's final, the Spaniard claimed his fourth consecutive Roland Garros title, thereby equalling the record set by Swedish legend Björn Borg.

 

  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN
    Nadal joins Borg in Roland Garros pantheon
    Spain's Rafael Nadal thumped world number one Roger Federer in straight sets (6-1, 6-3, 6-0) to claim his fourth consecutive men's title at Roland Garros, thereby equalling the record set by Swedish legend Björn Borg.
  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN
    Ivanovic thumps Safina to win Roland Garros
    Ana Ivanovic clinched the women's French Open title after rolling over Russia's Dinara Safina in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. A class above her opponent, the 20-year-old Serb unseats Maria Sharapova as the new world number one. (Report: N. Germain)
  • 2008 FRENCH OPEN
    Roland Garros: numbers to remember
    From Björn Borg’s six victories to the 60,000 yellow balls used during one fortnight, and including Yannick Noah's last French victory in 1983. Here is our selection.
  • 2008 FRENCH OPEN
    The latest news from the court
    Withdrawals, breaking news and indiscretions... the latest from Roland Garros.

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  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN
    Nadal bursts into final
    Rafael Nadal confirmed his status as hot favourite by crushing Novak Djokovic in the first semi-final of the French Open. The Spaniard qualified for his 4th consecutive final, where he will meet either Roger Federer or French sensation Gael Monfils.
  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN
    France holds its breath as Monfils takes on Federer
    21-year-old Gaël Monfils, the first French tennis player to qualify for the French Open semi-finals since 2001, will face world number one Roger Federer on Friday.
  • FRENCH OPEN - ROLAND GARROS
    Is Roland Garros big enough for the French Open?
    The French Open is big in popularity, but the tournament's Paris home, Roland Garros, is small. For the French Tennis Federation, expanding the French Open's facilities is urgent. (Report: X.Chemisseur, P.Gabas)
  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN
    Safina storms into final
    Dinara Safina made swift work of fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova as she took the women's first semi-final at Roland Garros in straight sets (6-3, 6-2), thereby booking a place for her first grand slam final on Saturday.
  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN
    Monfils brings French tennis into semi-finals
    Gael Monfils became the first Frenchman to reach the Paris Open semi-final since 2001, as he defeated Spain's fifth seed David Ferrer in four sets. He now faces top seed Roger Federer, who dispatched Fernando Gonzales.
  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN
    First Grand Slam semis for Safina against Kuznetsova
    Dinara Safina saved a match point against Elena Dementieva then qualified for her first Grand Slam semi-final where she will meet Russian compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat Kaia Kanepi in two sets.
  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN
    Nadal, Djokovic set for semi-final faceoff
    Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, two Roland Garros favorites, will meet in the highly anticipated semi-finals. The Spanish player easily defeated Nicolas Almagro, while the Serbian won against Latvian Ernests Gulbis.
  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN
    Safina stuns Sharapova, throwing title chase open
    Monfils and Federer reach the quarter-finals of the French Open while number one Sharapova was defeated by her compatriot Safina.
  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN
    Serb trio runs the show amid French debacle
    Serbia's Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and Novak Djokovic cruised into the quarter-finals on Sunday, while France's contingent at Roland Garros fell to just two players at the end of the first week of play.
  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN 2008
    No sweat for top seeds at French Open
    The seventh day was a good day at Roland Garros for the French men, with five qualifying for the second week of play. However, there won't be any French women in the fourth round.
  • FRENCH OPEN 2008
    Alizé Cornet bows out, Serena Williams follows suit
    French teenage hope Alizé Cornet bowed out of the French Open on Friday, followed by 5th seed Serena Williams, as the home colours fared better in the men's competition.
  • FRENCH OPEN 2008
    French wildcard sends Nalbandian packing
    France's Jeremy Chardy (photo) caused a remarkable upset as he fought back from two sets down to defeat 6th seed David Nalbandian. Elsewhere, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams eased ahead, while Amélie Mauresmo crashed out.
  • 2008 FRENCH OPEN
    Nadal powers through as Sharapova struggles
    Top seed Maria Sharapova stood on the brink of a shock defeat before dispatching her first-round opponent in three sets, while Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic weathered the fierce Roland Garros winds to win in straight sets.
  • 2008 FRENCH OPEN
    Russians cruise on, Mauresmo digs deep
    Russians Nikolay Davydenko and Svetlana Kuznetsova stormed into the second round of the French Open on a day marred by torrential rain, as French veteran Amelie Mauresmo battled hard to beat the Ukraine's Olga Savchuk.
  • 2008 FRENCH OPEN
    Tennis big guns overcome hiccups at French Open
    Only 25 out of 56 first-round matches were completed before the rain stopped. However, Roger Federer, Venus Williams and Jelena Jankovic all ran into trouble on Monday before emerging unscathed to kick-start their French Open campaigns.
  • 2008 FRENCH OPEN
    French hopes narrow as Gasquet pulls out
    Top French tennis player Richard Gasquet, eighth-seeded in the French Open, withdrew Monday from the tournament just hours before his first round game over a knee injury.
  • FRENCH OPEN 2008
    Farewell to "Guga" Kuerten
    In 1997, an unknown Brazilian wearing outrageously colourful outfits took Roland Garros by storm. Eleven years later, the French Open bid farewell to one of its favourite stars, Gustavo "Guga" Kuerten.
  • 2008 FRENCH OPEN
    Kuerten defeated, favourites reach second round
    Gustavo Kuerten, former world number one, was defeated in the French Open's first round by Paul-Henri Mathieu and will now retire from tennis. David Nalbandian and Novak Djokovic move on to the second round.
  • FRENCH OPEN 2008
    Ivanovic makes winning start
    Second seed Ana Ivanovic, who was defeated in last year final, beat Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 7-5 to reach the French open second round. Number 15 seed, Czech Nicole Vaidisova, was a first round casualty losing to compatriot Iveta Benesova.
  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN 2008
    Tsonga pulls out of French Open
    The Australian Open finalist and one of France's best hope for Roland Garros, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will have to undergo surgery on a broken meniscus, and was therefore pulled out of the French Open. He was seeded 14th for this tournament.
  • TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN 2008
    French hopes hang on fearless teenager
    At Roland Garros, French hopes hang on 18-year-old Alizé Cornet. For Georges Goven, the Fed Cup captain, “she has the right amount of confidence and skill and is not afraid of anything at the moment.”
  • 2008 FRENCH OPEN
    Gasquet in all-French clash, Grosjean pulls out
    France's No1 hope Richard Gasquet faces fellow Frenchman Florent Serra in the 1st round of the French Open, but won't be playing Sébastien Grosjean, who pulled out with a shoulder injury.
  • TENNIS - MEN
    Nadal dethrones Federer as Hamburg champion
    Second seed Rafael Nadal beat top seed Roger Federer 7-5 6-7 6-3 in the final of the Hamburg Masters on Sunday.
  • FRENCH OPEN 2008
    Who can stop Rafael Nadal?
    Will Rafael Nadal, the “King of Clay”, reign once again at the French Open in 2008? The Spaniard will of course start as favourite for the climax of the clay court season, but there are others hoping to topple him from his throne.

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