WORLD OF TENNIS – Roger Federer 15 years later. Chris Evert celebrates the anniversary of her first title at a Major. The Woodies receive an award. Happy birthday to Melzer, Gabashvili, Fognini and Newcomb. How are the Brits doing in Paris? Joshua Bosco
Federer wins after 15 years
On May 25th 1999 a little known Swiss player, ranked No.111 in the world, played his first career main draw match in a Grand Slam tournament. He lost the match, against Pat Rafter, 5-7 6-3 6-0 6-2 and afterwards the Australian said of him “The boy impressed me very much. If he works hard and has a good attitude, he could become an excellent player.” Yesterday, exactly fifteen years after this match, that same boy – Roger Federer – won his 266th career match in a major tournament beating Lukas Lacko 6-2 6-4 6-2.
Forty years ago former World No.1 Chris Evert won the first of her eighteen Grand Slam titles. At the age of 19 the American won the 1974 French Open defeating Olga Morozova 6-1 6-2.
It wasn’t all bad news for Morozova though as the two then paired up to claim the women’s doubles title beating Gail Chanfreau and Katja Ebbinghaus 6-4 2-6 6-1.
Philippe Chatrier Award 2014
This year the International Tennis Federation’s highest honour, the Philippe Chatrier Award, will be presented to a doubles team for the first time since its introduction in 1996.
Australian legends Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, better known as “The Woodies”, who won 11 Grand Slam titles, will receive the award at the ITF’s world championships dinner held during Roland Garros.
Happy Birthdays!
There were a lot of birthday celebrations last week: Jurgen Melzer turned 33 on Thursday and “celebrated” by losing 6-1 6-1 to Jiri Vesely in Dusseldorf.
On Friday Gabashvili turned 29, Dan Evans celebrated his 24th birthday and Australian legend John Newcombe, who won seven singles and seventeen doubles Grand Slam titles, blew out 70 candles.
On Saturday Fabio Fognini, who will play Andreas Beck in the first round of the French Open, turned 27. Happy Birthday to all of them!
Brit-pack at Roland Garros
A week after winning her second title of the year, British No.2 Heather Watson qualified for the main draw at the French Open defeating Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-1 6-1 in just 48 minutes.
She joins James Ward – who became the first Brit to qualify for Roland Garros in 41 years after defeating Blaz Rola 12-10 in the third set in a match lasting more than three hours – and World No.8 Andy Murray who will face Andrey Golubev in his first round match on Tuesday.
