Tsitsipas, Medvedev in quarters; Federer pulls out
Published: 04:06 PM,Jun 06,2021 | EDITED : 08:06 PM,Jun 06,2021
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PARIS: Roger Federer pulled out of what was possibly his last French Open on Sunday as a precautionary measure to rest up before Wimbledon, unwilling to risk his troublesome knee after an injury-plagued past 18 months.
Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam title winner, who will be 40 in two months’ time, had battled over three and a half hours until 12.45 am on Sunday morning to reach the last 16 in Paris.
“After discussions with my team, I’ve decided I will need to pull out of Roland Garros today,” Federer said.
“After two knee surgeries and over a year of rehabilitation it’s important that I listen to my body and make sure I don’t push myself too quickly on my road to recovery.
“I am thrilled to have gotten three matches under my belt. There is no greater feeling than being back on court.”
The Swiss star was due to play Italy’s Matteo Berrettini on Monday for a place in the quarterfinals, but Federer had cast doubt over whether he would continue following his win over Dominik Koepfer.
Federer was playing only his third tournament since last year’s Australian Open and has always said Wimbledon is his main goal.
He is chasing a ninth title at Wimbledon which starts on June 28. He is also scheduled to play the warm-up grass court tournament in Halle beginning on June 14, the day after the French Open ends.
“The Roland Garros tournament is sorry about the withdrawal of Roger Federer, who put up an incredible fight last night,” said tournament director Guy Forget. “We were all delighted to see Roger back in Paris, where he played three high-level matches. We wish him all the best for the rest of the season,”
If his knife-edge 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 win over 59th-ranked Koepfer was his last match in Paris, it will be remembered as a gripping affair on the court, but soulless off it. Due to a government-imposed Covid-19 curfew, Court Philippe Chatrier was devoid of fans.
Tsitsipas through
Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, fancied to reach his first Grand Slam final sealed his return to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.
Second seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia made the French Open quarterfinals for the first time and will tackle Tsitsipas for a place in the last four. Medvedev, who had never won a match at Roland Garros before this year, defeated Cristian Garin of Chile 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 in his last 16 tie.
Earlier, Tamara Zidansek became the first Slovenian woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final when she defeated Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.
The world number 85 will meet Paula Badosa for a place in the semifinals after the Spaniard beat 2019 Roland Garros runner-up Marketa Vondrousova 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova returned to the Roland Garros quarterfinals for the first time since 2011, defeating former world number one Victoria Azarenka 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. — AFP
French Open results
Men (fourth round)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x5) bt Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP x12) 6-3, 6-2, 7-5; Daniil Medvedev (RUS x2) bt Cristian Garin (CHI x22) 6-2, 6-1, 7-5
Women (Last 16)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x31) bt Victoria Azarenka (BLR x15) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2; Tamara Zidansek (SLO) bt Sorana Cirstea (ROM) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1; Paula Badosa (ESP x33) bt Marketa Vondrousova (CZE x20) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam title winner, who will be 40 in two months’ time, had battled over three and a half hours until 12.45 am on Sunday morning to reach the last 16 in Paris.
“After discussions with my team, I’ve decided I will need to pull out of Roland Garros today,” Federer said.
“After two knee surgeries and over a year of rehabilitation it’s important that I listen to my body and make sure I don’t push myself too quickly on my road to recovery.
“I am thrilled to have gotten three matches under my belt. There is no greater feeling than being back on court.”
The Swiss star was due to play Italy’s Matteo Berrettini on Monday for a place in the quarterfinals, but Federer had cast doubt over whether he would continue following his win over Dominik Koepfer.
Federer was playing only his third tournament since last year’s Australian Open and has always said Wimbledon is his main goal.
He is chasing a ninth title at Wimbledon which starts on June 28. He is also scheduled to play the warm-up grass court tournament in Halle beginning on June 14, the day after the French Open ends.
“The Roland Garros tournament is sorry about the withdrawal of Roger Federer, who put up an incredible fight last night,” said tournament director Guy Forget. “We were all delighted to see Roger back in Paris, where he played three high-level matches. We wish him all the best for the rest of the season,”
If his knife-edge 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 win over 59th-ranked Koepfer was his last match in Paris, it will be remembered as a gripping affair on the court, but soulless off it. Due to a government-imposed Covid-19 curfew, Court Philippe Chatrier was devoid of fans.
Tsitsipas through
Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, fancied to reach his first Grand Slam final sealed his return to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.
Second seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia made the French Open quarterfinals for the first time and will tackle Tsitsipas for a place in the last four. Medvedev, who had never won a match at Roland Garros before this year, defeated Cristian Garin of Chile 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 in his last 16 tie.
Earlier, Tamara Zidansek became the first Slovenian woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final when she defeated Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.
The world number 85 will meet Paula Badosa for a place in the semifinals after the Spaniard beat 2019 Roland Garros runner-up Marketa Vondrousova 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova returned to the Roland Garros quarterfinals for the first time since 2011, defeating former world number one Victoria Azarenka 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. — AFP
French Open results
Men (fourth round)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x5) bt Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP x12) 6-3, 6-2, 7-5; Daniil Medvedev (RUS x2) bt Cristian Garin (CHI x22) 6-2, 6-1, 7-5
Women (Last 16)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x31) bt Victoria Azarenka (BLR x15) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2; Tamara Zidansek (SLO) bt Sorana Cirstea (ROM) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1; Paula Badosa (ESP x33) bt Marketa Vondrousova (CZE x20) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2