On rapid, rousing and hot first Monday at Roland Garros, 2009 champion Roger Federer once again stepped into the spotlight when he won his 233rd match at a Grand Slam event, matching the achievement of American Jimmy Connors.
A mostly-in form Federer took out German Tobias Kamke 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 and he was joined in the second round by No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who is hoping to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four majors at the same time. History here and now was the talk of Paris town at Roland Garros.
"I'm very happy, because Jimmy Connors was a huge champion and still is," Federer said, “so it's a great pleasure... I think that's a big one, because that was longevity. Jimmy is obviously one of the greats of all time, and was around for 20 years. This is my 13th or 14th French Open as well. It all started back in 1999 against [Pat] Rafter and I have hardly missed any Grand Slams... Obviously I love the big tournaments. I have been so successful for such a long time and to already tie that record, 30 years old is pretty incredible, so I'm very happy."
Federer has to be pleased that Romania's Adrian Ungur upset David Nalbandian 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 as the Argentinean has troubled him in the past. But this is "Mr Second Week" we are talking about – a man who has not been knocked out before the quarterfinals of a Slam since 2004 Roland Garros and is playing his 50th major in a row when so many other veteran players frequently contend with injuries.
"When you look at the tournaments like this and you step back, you realize you have been playing for quite a long time," Federer said. "I remember playing against Rafter – I was playing differently at that time. Now I walk on the court and a lot has changed. I have more confidence, and people come to see me playing. When I started, I loved playing against those famous players I used to see on TV. Now I'm playing against younger players, a new generation. It's also very nice. It’s great I didn't suffer that many injuries over these years. And I always had fun playing tennis."
One of those younger players, Novak Djokovic, did not always play his best in his 7-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Italian Potito Starace, but like Federer he is almost impossible to knock off early at a tournament as he is tireless, steady, fast and offensive. He is very aware that he is hoping to join the legendary Rod Laver and Don Budge as the last two men to win four consecutive majors while also trying to revel in the moment.
"Pressure is always present, and the way I look at it, it’s a privilege and it's a challenge," Djokovic said. "So you need to try to understand and learn how to deal with it, and if you feel pressure, that means that you're doing something that is right. So I'm happy - I'm happy to be where I am at this moment."
Like Sunday, it was a good day for the seeds with Milos Raonic, Viktor Troicki, Tomas Berdych, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Bernard Tomic, John Isner, Kevin Anderson, Marcel Granollers and Andreas Seppi advancing. The only one who exited was No.15 Feliciano Lopez, who retired down 0-5 to Florent Serra with an injury to his oblique muscle.
Young American Ryan Harrison was unable to serve out the second set against French veteran Gilles Simon and went down 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 6-1, later saying that once he learns to keep his foot on the gas pedal he will be able to knock off the world's elite.
The most bizarre match of the day concluded when Alex Bogomolov Jr. retired injured against Arnaud Clement on the last point of the Frenchman's 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory as he was cramping badly in his right thigh and was barely able to stand. He attempted to serve, let the ball drop and then called it quits.
"I could not move my legs. You don't get a medical timeout for cramps," Bogomolov said. "My whole leg was straight. I couldn't bend it. I couldn't walk. I didn't want to risk a potential ligament damage or something. And you can't get a trainer for that."
A mostly-in form Federer took out German Tobias Kamke 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 and he was joined in the second round by No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who is hoping to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four majors at the same time. History here and now was the talk of Paris town at Roland Garros.
"I'm very happy, because Jimmy Connors was a huge champion and still is," Federer said, “so it's a great pleasure... I think that's a big one, because that was longevity. Jimmy is obviously one of the greats of all time, and was around for 20 years. This is my 13th or 14th French Open as well. It all started back in 1999 against [Pat] Rafter and I have hardly missed any Grand Slams... Obviously I love the big tournaments. I have been so successful for such a long time and to already tie that record, 30 years old is pretty incredible, so I'm very happy."
Federer has to be pleased that Romania's Adrian Ungur upset David Nalbandian 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 as the Argentinean has troubled him in the past. But this is "Mr Second Week" we are talking about – a man who has not been knocked out before the quarterfinals of a Slam since 2004 Roland Garros and is playing his 50th major in a row when so many other veteran players frequently contend with injuries.
"When you look at the tournaments like this and you step back, you realize you have been playing for quite a long time," Federer said. "I remember playing against Rafter – I was playing differently at that time. Now I walk on the court and a lot has changed. I have more confidence, and people come to see me playing. When I started, I loved playing against those famous players I used to see on TV. Now I'm playing against younger players, a new generation. It's also very nice. It’s great I didn't suffer that many injuries over these years. And I always had fun playing tennis."
One of those younger players, Novak Djokovic, did not always play his best in his 7-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Italian Potito Starace, but like Federer he is almost impossible to knock off early at a tournament as he is tireless, steady, fast and offensive. He is very aware that he is hoping to join the legendary Rod Laver and Don Budge as the last two men to win four consecutive majors while also trying to revel in the moment.
"Pressure is always present, and the way I look at it, it’s a privilege and it's a challenge," Djokovic said. "So you need to try to understand and learn how to deal with it, and if you feel pressure, that means that you're doing something that is right. So I'm happy - I'm happy to be where I am at this moment."
Like Sunday, it was a good day for the seeds with Milos Raonic, Viktor Troicki, Tomas Berdych, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Bernard Tomic, John Isner, Kevin Anderson, Marcel Granollers and Andreas Seppi advancing. The only one who exited was No.15 Feliciano Lopez, who retired down 0-5 to Florent Serra with an injury to his oblique muscle.
Young American Ryan Harrison was unable to serve out the second set against French veteran Gilles Simon and went down 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 6-1, later saying that once he learns to keep his foot on the gas pedal he will be able to knock off the world's elite.
The most bizarre match of the day concluded when Alex Bogomolov Jr. retired injured against Arnaud Clement on the last point of the Frenchman's 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory as he was cramping badly in his right thigh and was barely able to stand. He attempted to serve, let the ball drop and then called it quits.
"I could not move my legs. You don't get a medical timeout for cramps," Bogomolov said. "My whole leg was straight. I couldn't bend it. I couldn't walk. I didn't want to risk a potential ligament damage or something. And you can't get a trainer for that."
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