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(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-25 07:51

Men

Federer triumphs but bounces into ball row

Roger Federer cruised into the French Open second round on Monday and then hit out at the decision by Roland Garros organizers to introduce new balls at the tournament.

Throughout the European claycourt swing, Dunlop balls were used, but the second Grand Slam event of the season has instead opted for Babolat, which generally move faster through the air, as part of a new deal with manufacturers.

"I'm hearing a lot of conversations about the balls. It's just that they're not the same from what we've just played with for the last month," said Federer.

"And that for us is the most frustrating part, that the tournaments all changed to the Roland Garros ball after last year, (but) Roland Garros has changed their balls again.

"Now we're stuck with a different deal for all the different ATP Tour events. That is the frustrating part that we need to adjust."

Britain's Andy Murray said he was unconcerned about the type of ball used but wished it was a consistent choice at the four Grand Slams.

Injury-cursed Haas happy to be back despite loss

Former world No 2 Tommy Haas played his first match in 15 months on Monday and admitted that even having passed his 33rd birthday, he is not ready to quit.

The German, whose career has been plagued by a host of shoulder, hip and ankle injuries, was defeated by Turkey's Marsel Ilhan 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4 in the French Open first round.

"All I try to do is to get it back to a place where I feel really comfortable for a few hours playing a match," said Haas, who recently became an American citizen.

Haas came agonizingly close to defeating Roger Federer here two years ago when he stormed to a two-set lead, and was four points from victory before the Swiss won in five.

A month later, he made the semifinals at Wimbledon.

"I felt like two years ago I still had a pretty good run, and just shortly after that I started having these problems with my hip and with my knee. So if I feel like I'm sort of fit, I can still play the game quite well," said Haas.

"At the end of the day, though, if your body doesn't allow you to, then you have to make a decision. And I'm just kind of right there where I'm not sure where the body will be."

Hip surgery in February last year followed by yet another shoulder operation in March forced Haas into his 15-month lay-off.

Women

Age no obstacle for Wozniacki at French Open

World No 1 Caroline Wozniacki showed no respect for her elders at the French Open on Monday, crushing Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm - a woman twice her age - 6-0, 6-2 in the first round.

Top-seeded Wozniacki, 20, took just 60 minutes to dispose of the 40-year-old Date-Krumm and will now face her near-namesake Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada for a place in the last 32.

"It was a good start to the tournament for me," said Wozniacki.

"The last time I played Kimiko it was a bit of a longer match, at Wimbledon (in 2009, when Wozniacki won 5-7, 6-3, 6-1).

"She plays a different kind of tennis so it was difficult to play as I wanted to. But a win is a win, so I'm happy to be through to the next round. Physically, I'm feeling good and ready to play this tournament."

The Danish star, who won her fourth title of 2011 in Brussels last week, is bidding to go beyond the French Open quarterfinals for the first time, having lost to eventual champion Francesca Schiavone in the last eight last year.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 05/25/2011 page24)