French Open Highlights day 11

The men

1) Murray prevailed over Gasquet in 4 sets, a good tournament for Gasquet.  Murray has been intimidating with his strength, speed and resolve. 

2) Djokovic dropped the first set but then cruised through Bautista-Agut, who gave it his best shot.  Wawrinka won easily over Ramos-Vinolas, who also had a good showing here. 

3) Ernie Gulbis finally went down to David Goffin.  Even though Gulbis was given one free round when Tsonga retired, he can be proud of how he did in this tournament.  Goffin will be ranked in the world’s top 10 next week.  It’s time to stop thinking of him as a little guy who’s pretty good at tennis.

4) Dominic Thiem dropped a set before steamrolling Marcel Granollers.  Thiem is looking very strong indeed.  Will this tournament be his breakthrough to the very top level of the game?  We may find out in his next match, when he plays Goffin, who has beaten him before in a final.

The women.

1) Kiki Bertens, who’s had a great tournament, excused Madison Keys.  Keys helped her a little with spotty play, but a great tournament for Bertens.

2) Yulia Putintseva, age 21, rank 53, from Kazakhstan, has also had a fabulous run.  She beat Suarez-Navarro today.  She will now face Serena Williams, who downed Elina Svitolina.  Justine Henin, who, much to her credit, hasn’t wasted a lot of time at the hairdresser, watched from Svitolina’s friends’ box as a “consultant”.  We miss you Justine!

3) Two great runs that ended:  Tsvetana Pironkova finally went down to Samantha Stosur.  Before exiting she beat Aggie Radwanska, seeded #2.  Another woman who had a great run was Shelby Rogers of the USA, ranked 108.  She beat three seeds before falling today to Garbine Muguruza.  If Muguruza plays the rest of the year the way she has in this tournament, she will be knocking on the door of #1 in the world.  What a player!

4) Venus Williams lost, as expected, to Timea Bacsinszky.  Not a bad performance for Venus, who is nearing age 36 and who really prefers a different surface.