Maria Esther Bueno is keeping an eye on the build up to Roland Garros
An eye on current form…
Maria Esther Bueno is keeping a close eye on the build up to the French Championships in Paris, which starts next Sunday, 22 May.
“Results in Madrid and Rome generally gives us a pretty good idea as to who is coming into form on the clay and it is interesting that the two top players in the world reached both finals – Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray,” she said on Monday. “And each won a title so it couldn’t be closer right now.
Novak Djokovic took the honours at the Mutua Madrid Open but lost to Andy Murray in Rome
“The Madrid final went to three sets and Andy fell short in the third but it was close enough to suggest he could well pull off a win soon.
“And that’s what he managed to do in Rome, winning in straight sets in difficult conditions.
“To be fair to Djokovic, he had a far more tiring week, coming through several three setters to reach the final, the last one of which was against [Kei] Nishikori and finished at 11pm the night before the final.
Andy Murray beat Djokovic for only the second time on clay to win Rome
“Murray didn’t drop a set in Rome, which is quite remarkable as he usually loses a bit of focus at some point, but he is looking more and more comfortable on the clay and is now a real threat in Paris.”
Conditions at the Foro Italico on Sunday were far from ideal, with the final match being played in a light drizzle that at times increased to real rain. It did not stop play, however, but was uncomfortable for players and spectators.
Ratty Djoko tosses his racket that bounced into the crowd and earned him a code violation
“Djokovic was very distracted by it all. He was probably very tired and it made him impatient and irritable, which is rather unusual, but Murray refused to let anything distract him and he won in straight sets, 6-3 6-3.”
Maria Esther was commentating on Rome for SporTV, working the matches live from the TV Globo studios in Rio de Janeiro.
“I very nearly didn’t make the final as was locked in the ladies room at the hotel and couldn’t get out!” she told her website.
“I shouted and pounded on the door but nobody heard me and started to panic a bit but, luckily, I had my mobile [phone] with me so I called my driver and he got me some help. They had to break the door down in the end to get me out!
“My driver was brilliant, though, and he managed to get me to the studio just in time as the match started! The things that happen to me!”
Murray takes over No 2 spot again
Andy Murray returned to the No 2 ranking after his success in Rome, overtaking Roger Federer, who briefly occupied the spot after Madrid.
Roger Federer tested his fitness but lost to Dominic Thiem in Rome
The Swiss has been battling to recover form and fitness ahead of Roland Garros after he lost to rising Austrian Dominic Thiem 7-6(2) 6-4 in the third round of the Italian Open last Thursday.
The former world number one still looks way short of his best after knee and back injuries and struggled to get to grips with the 22-year-old Thiem at the Foro Italico, a week after withdrawing from the Madrid Open.
“This is like, ‘who cares about the results here?’. It matters what comes now in the next couple of months,” Federer told a news conference.
“Now obviously time starts ticking more towards Paris. Clearly the way I’m playing right now is never going to be enough for a good run in Paris… I’m still confident I will be fine somehow.”
Federer, a four-times finalist in Rome, missed the Madrid Open with a back problem but said there had been some encouraging signs last week.
Federer still hopeful to play in Paris
“For the first time maybe I could play a match really playing freely, trying out a few things,” he added.
“Federer is testing his fitness in Paris this week and we really hope he will be well enough to compete next week,” said Maria Esther.
“I think this is probably his last real chance to claim a second French title. He won in 2009 and got to the final on four other occasions, losing to Rafa [Nadal] in all four.
Rafael Nadal is finding the form that made him the King of Clay
“Rafa, of course, is the King of Clay, and is also finding his form and regaining his confidence, which is very good to see.
“He will be seeded fifth behind Stan Wawrinka, who pulled off the biggest upset against Djokovic last year.
“Djokovic has reached the final three times and is desperate to win Paris to complete his list of majors.
“It certainly will be interesting to see how it all shapes up over the coming weeks.”
The four main contenders for the men’s singles title in Paris. Others include Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The Women’s Draw
Serena won her first title of the year in Rome
Prompted to consider the women’s draw, Maria Esther said: “I am always amazed that Serena [Williams] can play so little and remain so dominant.
“She made a winning return to the tour in Rome after missing most of the season due to various injuries and illnesses, and has only played four tournaments this year.
Rome finalists Serena Williams and Madison Keys
“Actually, she was pushed pretty hard several times last week but came through well enough to the final where she won her first title of the year when she defeated Madison Keys, 7-6(5) 6-3.
“It puts her back up there as favourite to defend her title in Paris and the win would give her four French singles majors in her career.
“At the age of 34 that would be quite remarkable!”
Who will challenge her?
“Players are getting closer to beating her, as I said, and really it could be anyone,” Maria Esther said.
“She has the ability to win the crucial points in a match and find her way back. In fact she is probably at her most dangerous when she is down.”
This year Serena has lost to Angelique Kerber in the Australian Open final, Victoria Azarenka at the final of Indian Wells and Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round of her home event in Miami, giving hope to many of the other players on the WTA Tour.
-
- Angelique Kerber,
-
- Victoria Azarenka
-
- and Svetlana Kuznetsova have all scored wins over Serena in 2016
She is not immune from lapses in concentration but when focused, can still crush an opponent with brutal efficiency.
Fellow Americans Christina McHale and Madison Keys both took her to tiebreaks in Rome but it was a mere wobble.
The world No 1 still has to overcome the rest of the field and her biggest opponent at Roland Garros is herself. If she slips up, any woman could take advantage.
With the absence of two-time French Open champion Maria Sharapova, the women’s field in Paris could be more excitingly unpredictable than ever.
Hoping for doubles Gold
Venus and Serena are hoping to defend their Gold medal in doubles at Rio 2016
Serena will probably also be playing doubles in Paris with sister Venus if they are to have any chance of proving their worth on the US Olympic team.
Each country can send two doubles teams but neither Serena nor Venus is among the eight Americans ranked in the top 100 in doubles, although they have been the top ranked doubles team and are the defending Olympic champions.
They also won Olympic Gold in Sydney and Beijing and they are the US’s two highest-ranked singles players and would qualify for the Olympics.
“It would be wonderful to see both Serena and Venus in Rio for the Olympics,” said Maria Esther. “But they have some competition for those doubles spots. A good result in Paris would certainly help them.”
Maria Esther will soon be heading for Europe herself for the conclusion of the clay court swing and the grass court season leading into Wimbledon.
“It’s my favourite time of year!” she says. “and this year it will be even busier with Rio 2016 just around the corner.”
Thoughts on Sharapova
Maria Sharapova’s hearing on her failed drug test is taking place in London this week
The Maria Sharapova doping scandal is likely to rumble on well into Paris as the hearing is thought to be in London this week.
The Russian is the most famous of a raft of athletes to test positive for Meldonium, who was suspended from the tour in March and therefore has not made the entry list for Roland Garros.
Twenty-eight-year-old Sharapova has twice won in France but is facing a disciplinary hearing in front of the ITF after her positive test for the heart medication.
Meldonium was only added to the banned list by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from 1 January, with 201 positive tests announced since then.
Many athletes claimed that they did not know the substance – which is said to boost endurance – was to be outlawed, with Sharapova saying she had not read the updated banned list.
Others have insisted they stopped taking it before January 1, and they were given hope of avoiding penalties when WADA moved to clear up confusion on how long the drug stays in the human body.
It was ruled that if below one microgram of Meldonium was detected and the failed test came before March 1, a negligence or no fault verdict could be reached but the Meldonium concentration in Sharapova’s blood sample exceeds the permissible level.
The two Marias in happier times in Sao Paulo in December 2009
“It is very difficult to comment on Sharapova’s situation because we don’t know all of the facts,” said Maria Esther.
“Because this drug has only now been added to the banned list, I suppose there is room for some doubt but it is very bad for the game if there is any suggestion our best players are taking drugs.
“If it is for a medical condition, then that is different, but to claim she did not know about it is very unprofessional and surprising. Someone has to take responsibility for that.
“She will miss Paris for sure, and probably Wimbledon too. The Russians are keen to get her to the Olympics but that also could send out the wrong signals.
“It is a very difficult situation for lots of different reasons.”
Sharapova could face a ban of up to four years for the doping offence.