Tuesday, July 7, 2009

For Mathieu

In the wake of the glory of Wimbledon, we have a tragedy. French tennis player Mathieu Montcourt died overnight, aged 24.
*
I can't say I know much about Montcourt. He made it to the second round of this year's Roland Garros where he lost to Stepanek, if I recall correctly. He was ranked just outside the top hundred and was looking to make a charge inside. But even if he is not known that well, he will certainly be missed, and it does not lessen this tragedy at all. He will be missed by the French tennis federation and by the international community. RIP Mathieu.
*
There is play going on in three tournaments around the world at the moment - Newport, Bastad and Budapest - but the news is still all Wimbledon, still all Federer, still all history. I think you can tell that by looking at the ATP website and seeing it absolutely covered in Federer - apart from a story about Montcourt and a tiny piece about Grosjean. Andy Roddick is getting some love as well, but it's really all Federer, everywhere.
*
I guess that's what happens when you make history! I don't know if we'll ever be able to understand the enormity of his achievements. I don't feel like there's much more I can say - surely I've heaped every superlative I've thought of on him - but I feel like he deserves more words anyway. Hence this rather dull yay Roger spiel - sorry!
*
*
Today's Results
*
Collector Swedish Open Women (Bastad)
*
Caroline Wozniacki def. Sofia Arvidsson, 6-1 6-3
Dominika Cibukova def. Sandra Roma, 6-3 2-6 6-1
Flavia Pennetta def. Francesca Schiavone, 6-2 7-5
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez def. Kaia Kanepi, 6-1 7-6 (7-1)
Maria Kirilenko def. Irina Buryachok, 6-0 6-4
Petra Kvitova def. Julia Vakulenko, 6-3 4-1 retired
Masa Zed Peskiric def. Michela Johansson, 6-2 6-0
Nuria Llagostera Vives def. Ayumi Morita, 4-6 6-0 6-2
Angelique Kerber def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 7-5 6-4
Ellen Allgurin def. Ksenia Palkina, 6-4 6-4
*
*
GDF Suez Grand Prix (Budapest)
*
Alize Cornet def. Galina Voskoboeva, 6-3 6-1
Sybille Bammer def. Klara Zakopalova, 6-2 6-3
Agnes Szavay def. Katalin Marosi, 6-1 6-1
Alisa Kleybanova def. Monica Niculescu, 6-0 6-3
Tomea Bacsinszky def. Sara Errani, 5-7 6-4 6-0
Petra Martic def. Lucie Safarova, 7-6 (7-5) 6-0
Ioana Raluca Olaru def. Greta Arn, 6-2 6-2
Shahar Peer def. Irina Begu, 6-1 4-6 6-4
Tathiana Garbin def. Sharon Fichman, 6-1 6-4
Patricia Mayr def. Margalita Chakhnashvili, 6-0 7-5
Kateryna Bondarenko def. Lenka Jurikova, 6-3 1-6 6-4
Marya Koryttseva def. Anna Lapushchenkova, 6-4 6-4

No comments: