Laura Robson battles against tennis sluts in Vogue

Laura Robson battles against the tennis sluts in Vogue. She'll be in the headlines just in time for Wimbledon. If only her tennis were up to the media interest she'll be generating.

French Open Men:

Hewitt's tuned up his preparations for Wimbledon by losing to Nadal as expected. Verdasco cried his way to victory against Kohlschreiber, Fed toasted Wawrinka but threw his racquet in anger, Tsonga is down and out and Murray got some practice in for his explanations in losing Wimbledon. Is head-case Berydch finally the real deal?

Is Soderling back again? Can he do anything against Fed? Love qualifier Gabashvili.

Fed’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Wawrinka, Cilic
Winner: Federer

Murray’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Murray, Tsonga
Winner: Youzhny

Djokovic’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Roddick, Ferrer
Matches to watch: Melzer vs Gabashvili, Djokovic vs Ginepri
Winner: Djokovic

Nadal’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Hewitt, Kohlschreiber
Matches to watch: Bellucci vs Nadal, Almagro vs Verdasco
Winner: Nadal

French Open Women:

Kirilenko somehow managed to lose to Schiavone and the adventure's over - wait till the next Major and she can do it all again. Petrova ended fashion time for Venus but she'd lost the dress by then and her mind was probably already on The Championships. Dementieva swept Scheepers and Wozniacki withstood the scowling Pennetta. Can Peer do anything against the might of (an injured) Serena? probably not, but Serena might make it easy for her. And elephants might fly.

Groth is in the 4th round and so is Shvedova and one of them will make the quarters and get dusted by Jankovic (or does Dani have a chance?). Oh and Sharapova looked over the abyss of Henin and saw the promised land beyond. She had three break points for a double break and blew them all. Good for Justine or something.

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Sharapova, Bartoli
Matches to watch: Peer vs Williams, Henin vs Stosur
Winner: Henin

Jankovic’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Wickmayer, Bondarenko, Rodionova
Matches to watch: Hantuchova vs Jankovic, Groth vs Shvedova
Winner: Jankovic

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Pennetta, Kirilenko
Winner: Wozniacki

Venus’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Venus, Scheepers
Winner: Dementieva

Maria Kirilenko strikes again

It was all to much for Fabio Fognini, Fed cruised, Hewitt struggled and now has to face Rafa. Bye bye Lleyton. Djokovic had more fun in his presser than on court, Verdasco took four, Rafa the usual three and Cilic toiled against Mayer while Montanes got Sodded.

Murray beat Baghdatis, Gonzo's out, Isner showed the remarkable renaissance of American men on clay is still theoretical but Ginepri's still alive.

Fed’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Fognini, Mayer
Winner: Federer

Murray’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Isner, Baghdatis
Matches to watch: Youzhny vs Troicki
Winner: Murray

Djokovic’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Nishikori, Starace, Malisse
Matches to watch: Melzer vs Ferrer, Djokovic vs Hanescu
Winner: Djokovic

Nadal’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Fish, Darcis, Serra
Matches to watch: Hewitt vs Nadal, Almagro vs Dolgopolov
Winner: Nadal

Kirilenko pushed the Kuz out (she was tottering already) and continued a tradition of former champs doing badly. Will Henin continue that against Moody Maria? And how is Kirilenko not in the top ten? Because she can't do this every week...

Rezai and Petrova still going at seven all in the third - toss a coin. Petrova doubled faulted on match point but Rezai also wasted a couple.

New Aussies Groth and Rodionova play each other - will Nastya be nasty? Anyone else noticed this is Pivovarova's first time at the French? She's doing ok...

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Zakapalova, Zheng, Goerges
Matches to watch: Peer vs Bartoli, Sharapova vs Henin
Winner: Henin

Jankovic’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Govortsova
Matches to watch: Hantuchova vs Wickmayer, Jankovic vs Bondarenko, Groth vs Rodionova
Winner: Jankovic

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Kuznetsova, Dulgheru
Winner: Pennetta (but Wozniacki still strong)

Venus’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Cibulkova
Matches to watch: Petrova vs Rezai,
Winner: Dementieva? Can Venus last?

Rain and Ivanovic loses

Gael Monfils got what he deserved and the wonderfully named Fabio Fognini overcame all. Murray may have to play again today after finally finishing his match. Baghdatis and Isner managed wins before the rain returned. We'll be playing catchup for the new few days - or getting more rain.

Fed’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Monfils
Matches to watch: Wawrinka vs Fognini, Cilic vs Mayer
Winner: Federer

Murray’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Chela
Matches to watch: Murray vs Baghdatis, Isner vs Berdych
Winner: Murray

Djokovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Malisse vs Ferrer, Starace vs Ginepri, Djokovic vs Nishikori
Winner: Djokovic

Nadal’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Ljubicic vs Fish, Almagro vs Darcis, Verdasco vs Serra
Winner: Nadal

Ana Ivanovic is headed for more rankings fallout as she was dumped in the second round by Alisa Kleybanova including a bagel. At least Jankovic's happy, even if it shows her character.

Sharapova and Henin still to finish. Bonderenko the Greater bear Rybarikova the (non)Claycourter and Shvedova continued her giant-killing feats.

New Aussies Groth and Rodionova made the third round where they will play each other. Rodionova did well to defeat Bepa while Groth just had to push the ball away from the injured Date Krumm. Rodionova has been a revelation since her Fed Cup exploits.

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Matches to watch: Zakapalova vs Henin, Zheng vs Pivovarova, S Williams vs Goerges
Winner: Henin

Jankovic’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Rybarikova, Ivanovic, Date Krumm, Radwanska
Matches to watch: Hantuchova vs Govortsova
Winner: Jankovic

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Ferguson
Matches to watch: Kuznetsova vs Kirilenko, Dulgheru vs Wozniacki
Winner: Pennetta

Venus’ Quarter
Bye Bye: AMG
Matches to watch: Petrova vs Rezai, V Williams vs Cibulkova
Winner: Dementieva

Steve Tignor in the bullring.

Monfils vs Fognini vs the dark

Monfils and Fognini played on after dark with petulant delays and typical and showmanship and if Gael lost it he would only have himself to blame. They'll try again today. Assuming the rain stops. Murray too.

Fed’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Dent
Matches to watch: Monfils vs Fognini,
Winner: Federer

Murray’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Ball
Matches to watch: Murray vs Chela,
Winner: Murray

Djokovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Malisse vs Ferrer, Starace vs Ginepri
Winner: Djokovic

Nadal’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Ljubicic vs Fish, Almagro vs Darcis
Winner: Nadal

The Kuz was down and nearly out and Petkovic stood on her neck aiming the final blow. Then normality resumed and Kuznetsova mowed her down. Tennis is such an unfair game and the scoring system is so unique - it doesn't matter how far ahead you are or how many match points you have you still have to win it yourself. There's no clock to run down for the win.

Wozniacki wasted Garbin, breathing apparatus and all. Apparently she's not so injured after all - we'll see in a few more rounds. Venus still looking good.

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Matches to watch: Zakapalova vs Henin, Zheng vs Pivovarova
Winner: Henin

Jankovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Rybarikova vs A Bondarenko, Kleybanova vs Ivanovic, Date Krumm vs Groth
Winner: Jankovic

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Petkovic, Vinci
Matches to watch: Schiavone vs Ferguson
Winner: Pennetta

Venus’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Kerber, Szavay
Matches to watch: Dementieva vs AMG
Winner: Dementieva

Safina dumps coach and gets dumped from the French

Verdasco cruised, Querrey tanked, Roddick outlasted Nieminen and looked like a player who didn't play any warmup matches on clay - oh that's right. Roddick to struggle through a few more matches before bravely exiting.

Nadal played poorly so he said - that's bad news for everyone else as he cruised through. Hewitt dished out a bagel and Ferrer and Ferrero joined in the thumpings.

Fed’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Monfils vs Fognini, Dent vs Soderling
Winner: Federer

Murray’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Murray vs Chela, Ball vs Troicki
Winner: Murray

Djokovic’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Nieminen, Querrey, Monaco
Winner: Djokovic

Nadal’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Chardy
Winner: Nadal

So Dinara Safina split from her inspirational coach and got dumped from the French Open. I guess Zeljko Krajan is sitting on a couch somewhere going "yeah baby, that's what you get without me!" or maybe he's already on the phone negotiating a return gig. Always a good move to dump your coach on the eve of a Major. At least his on-court coaching was hilarious.

Henin's back, Cornet was disinterested, King was hopeless, Wickmayer cruised and Sharapova tried a new look.

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Cornet, Pironkova, Olaru
Winner: Henin

Jankovic’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Zahlavova, Safina
Winner: Jankovic

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Schiavone vs Ferguson, Pennetta vs Vinci, Kuznetsova vs Petkovic
Winner: Pennetta

Venus’ Quarter
Matches to watch: Szavay vs Petrova, Rezai vs Kerber
Winner: Dementieva

Andy Murray the Warrior

Murray the Warrior took five sets to overcome Gasquet and now has no chance of reaching the semis. Le Brave tho. Dent and Isner defied the usual American stereotype. Ball had a ball. Tursunov needn't have bothered coming back. Fed cruised. Troicki bounced Robredo while Baghdatis, Gonzo and Monfils put on a show.

Fed’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Tursunov, F Mayer
Winner: Federer

Murray’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Gasquet, Petzschner
Winner: Murray

Djokovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Roddick vs Nieminen, Ginepri vs Querrey
Winner: Djokovic

Nadal’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Verdasco vs Kunitsyn, Hewitt vs Chardy
Winner: Nadal


Women:
Brave Voegele choked it. Ivanovic is on a streak of one, Oudin performed as expected. The Woz defied injurious doubts to carve up poor Kudryavtseva. Dokic's unfit and alone. Benesova's out. Rybarikova managed a rare clay win, Jankovic bagelled Molik and A Bond toughed it out against Dushevina.

Qualifier Sophie Ferguson finally had a decent breakthrough (against Kvitova). Can we dust off all those huge predictions from five years ago?

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Voegele, Halep
Matches to watch: Cornet vs Pavlyuchenkova, Pironkova vs Henin, Pivovarova vs Olaru
Winner: Henin

Jankovic’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Dushevina, Molik
Matches to watch: Wickmayer vs Zahlavova, Rodionova vs Makarova
Winner: Jankovic

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Dokic, Kvitova
Winner: Pennetta

Venus’ Quarter
Bye Bye: Oudin, Martic
Winner: Dementieva

Maria Jose Sanchez Martinez flames out

Tsonga hangs tough, Le Sod cruises, Tipsarevic again fails, Fognini dumps Massu, Cilic looks good and Gulbis has already had enough.

Fed’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Gulbis, Tipsarevic
Matches to watch: Tursunov vs Gimeno-Traver, Monfils vs F Mayer
Winner: Federer

Murray’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Anderson, Schuettler
Matches to watch: Murray vs Gasquet, Petzschner vs Ball
Winner: Murray

Djokovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Nishikori vs Giraldo, Djokovic vs Korolev
Winner: Djokovic

Nadal’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Ljubicic vs Lu, Clement vs Dolgopalov
Winner: Nadal

Women:
Who picked MJMS to win anything? Er.. yes. She and Azarenka took an early shower. At least we expected it from Chaky. Vesnina and Cirstea and rapidly developing into rank journeymen and losses here don't especially surprise.

Venus looked good but played poorly. How will Serena look to top it?

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Matches to watch: Serena vs, Voegele, Stosur vs Halep
Winner: Henin

Jankovic’s Quarter
Matches to watch: Jankovic vs Molik, A Bondarenko vs Dushevina
Winner: Jankovic

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Bye Bye: Vesnina, Sprem
Matches to watch: Kudryavtseva vs Wozniacki, Dokic vs Safarova
Winner: Pennetta

Venus’ Quarter
Bye Bye: MJMS, Azarenka, Chakvetadze, Sevastova
Matches to watch: Oudin vs AMG, Dementieva vs Martic
Winner: Dementieva

French Open 2010 - The Slacker's Guide to who might win

Men:
Nalbandian and Del Potro are out but we really weren't expecing them to do anything were we?
It's all Rafa. Any point tipping anyone else? The defending champion Fed - he'll only win if Rafa loses to someone else again (and yes, Soderling's not in his draw). Murray - not on clay. Djokovic - why not? Too much breathing required. Roddick - see Murray. Davydenko - the anti-slam man. Verdasco - hmm maybe, but only if his planets align and he forgets it's clay.

Fed’s Quarter
Seeds: Lopez, Wawrinka, Cilic, Monfils, Gulbis, Soderling, Montanes
Players to watch: Tipsarevic, Fognini, Tursunov, Dent, O Rochus
Winner: Federer

Murray’s Quarter
Seeds: Baghdatis, Isner, Berdych, Youzhny, Tsonga
Players to watch: Gasquet, Mathieu, Anderson, Ball, Schuettler, Petzschner
Winner: Murray

Djokovic’s Quarter
Seeds: Roddick, Melzer, Monaco, Ferrer, Ferrero, Querrey,
Players to watch: Nieminen, Malisse, Starace, Nishikori, Ram
Winner: Djokovic

Nadal’s Quarter
Seeds: Verdasco, Hewitt, Gonzalez, Ljubicic, Kohlschreiber, Almagro
Players to watch: Seppi, Chardy, Llodra, Fish, Moya, Andreev
Winner: Nadal

Final: Federer vs Nadal
Winner: Rafael Nadal

Women:
Henin ruled this event a few years ago but no doubt she enters here with some trepidation. No Clijsters, which will help her and all the major contenders are out of form or injured. Still can one doubt Henin? Ok yes.

Sharapova's here but presumedly for the sightseeing. Venus and Serena will make some noise then fall in a heap. The Russian onslaught has faltered in recent times and Kuznetsova, Dementieva and Safina look less likely to threaten then normally. The French - oh please. The Serbs - well one of them might. Wozniacki is injured, Azarenka's a ballbasher and Aga Radwanska won't win seven. Stosur and MJMS - why not? They're on an upward trajectory and that's always helpful. But Stosur's a notorious headcase who shows signs of improvement but over seven matches you would back her to run into doubts and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez continues to serve and volley but still she's worth a pick. Any chance Wickmayer?

Serena Williams’ Quarter
Seeds: Pavlyuchenkova, Sharapova, Henin, Bartoli, Stosur, Zheng
Players to watch: King, Voegele, Zakopalova, Cornet, Olaru, Goerges
Winner: Henin

Jankovic’s Quarter
Seeds: Hantuchova, A Bondarenko, Wickmayer, Safina, Zvonareva, A Radwanska, Kleybanova
Players to watch: Molik, Rybarikova, Zahlavova, Groth, Chan, Rodionova, Errani, Ivanovic
Winner: Jankovic

Wozniacki’s Quarter
Seeds: Kuznetsova, Kirilenko, Pennetta, Li, Safarova, Dulgheru,
Players to watch: Vesnina, Petkovic, Kulikova, Dokic, Sprem
Winner: Pennetta

Venus’ Quarter
Seeds: Dementieva, MJMS, K Bondarenko, Rezai, Azarenka, Cibulkova
Players to watch: Martic, Coin, Oudin, Sevastova, Chakvetadze, Kerber, Benesova
Winner: MJMS

Final: Henin vs Martinez Sanchez
Winner: Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez

Maria Sharapova still winning on clay

Maria Sharapova keeps winning on clay in Strasbourg. What's going on here? Is she an actual threat for Paris or is this just symptomatic of the general malaise that strikes most geniune contenders who are either injured or resting before the big tournament. Or that she's only playing journeymen.

Oh and Wozniacki who should be resting,
injured her ankle in Warsaw and is doubtful for thr French. Thanks for coming Caro.

Roland Garros anti-drinking game.

Video: Cornet, Vesnina, Razzano and Baltacha go on a canal tour in Strasbourg.

Verdasco at the Cannes Film Festival

Fernando Verdasco was at the Cannes Film Festival to give some well-meaning advice on the art of drama and check out the babes.

The Queen is coming to Wimbledon - no doubt to get Fed's autograph and pose for a few happy snaps. Let's hope the losing women's finalist doesn't cry on her shoulder. Or Andy Murray.

Why does Wimbledon need a poet?

Magdalena Rybarikova is allergic to clay, luckily she found a player who is actually worse that she is on the dirt and gave Melanie Oudin a nice thrashing. How do you feel Melanie?

Nalbandian, Clijsters, Davydenko, Haas, Del Potro, Andreev and Blake are out of the French Open. Also Mirza and Lisicki.

Video: Bikini models help promote the China Open

The Continuing Jelena Dokic Saga

Jelena Dokic has split with her coach Borna Bikic according to web gossip - which you can take anyway you like - but given that she has played rarely this year and appears to be not in top fitness maybe she doesn't need nor want a full-time coach. But then again Borna was never really a proper coach, more part of her support team along with his brother Tin, Jelena's boyfriend. Apperently Tin is still in the picture.

Dokic did win some matches in Prague against qualifiers before running into Dentoni and has been spotted practising in Warsaw before she heads to Paris hoping for a decent draw. Is it too much to ask for qualifiers and wildcards for the first few rounds? Meanwhile her fans are all concerned about her weight and whether she reads tennis forums to see all their comments about her weight. Good luck Jelena!

Kristina Antoniychuk has been suspended for doping

Ukrainian teen Kristina Antoniychuk has been suspended from tennis for 14 months for doping. Apparently she had an excuse but as she's a 19 year old unknown and not Andre Agassi that's not good enough. Bye bye Antoniychuk.

Dokic finally plays another match!

Yes, Jelena Dokic finally played another tennis match and actually won against Jing-Jing Lu of China in a $50K Prague tournament. Emma Laine up next. There are suggestions that Dokic may actually play more tournaments as well before just sneaking into the French Open main draw.

In other Aussie news Carsten Ball and Jarmila Groth were handed Australia's wildcard entries to the French Open and Olivia Rogowska beat Diatchenko in Saint-Gaudens ($50K). Is Rogowska actually a decent player after all?

Australia have drawn the might of Belgium in the September Davis Cup playoff. Fortunately Belgium has only top female players. Still, no chance of them playing on clay at home this time. It will be hard or grass.

Woz lost

The indefatigable Caroline Wozniacki lost yesterday again. Suspicions that she's injured and only playing to avoid the mandatory points penalty are legion. Can someone please tell her to rest before the French?

Also losing in a general choke fest were Elena the (almost) Great, Aga Rad, the formerly awesome Flavia Pennetta and Zakapalova the mighty giant-slayer. Some guys might have lost too.

The upcoming Major looks as open as ever on the women's side - the men's is less difficult to predict: even if Rafa fails to win there's only one other contender - but anyone could win the women's. nb. by anyone we don't include you Ana.

Last year's champ the Kuz is woeful, previous champs Henin, Serena and Ivanovic lack form and half the field is injured. Is it time for an unknown like MJMS or a streaky run by Jankovic? Presumably ball-bashers like Azarenka or Pavs can't do it for seven matches in a row. Can a head-case like Stosur or Bepa put it together and go the distance?

Australian Davis Cup tie win on clay

Lleyton Hewitt and Carsten Ball smashed Japan in Brisbane on the dirt and Hewitt followed it up in the doubles Saturday to put the Aussies through. Who'd have thought Australia could be dominant on clay. It certainly helped that Japan picked a bunch of journeymen though.

Hewitt was typically solid and boring and did enough but Ball was wonderful - able to thread cracking shots into the corner from nothing or whiff easy shots into the net. It was great to watch either way. And much better then havng to sit through Peter Luczak. The doubles should be and was a gimmee. Now they can can celebrate and play the reverse singles hungover like Pat Rafter memorably did once. After all they're playing on his Arena.

The Rampaging Ana Ivanovic

Sure a win against a probably injured Azarenka is a little exciting but to back it up by beating Dementieva is big time. Welcome back Ana. We didn't doubt you. Well sorta, but you know how it is. Frankly you've been crap below your best for so long now that it's hard to tell if this is a comeback or an aberration. It's nice though. Expecially with Roland Garros just around the corner - the scene of your only greatest triumph. Tell your hot golfer boyfriend we said hi.

Iveta Benesova wins Fez

Iveta Benesova beat Simona Halep to win Fez and her second title. Halep is still on a rocket ride up the rankings and looks bound for the top twenty. Iveta is just glad to be the last one standing for a change.

Flip Philippoussis beat McEnroe in some oldies tourament. No doubt he still believes in a comeback.

Henin put an end to talk about Stosur's upcoming French success. Seriously Stosur is defending Semi points at RG and is more likely to slide down the rankings than win the thing.

Hewitt and the Aussies play no-name Japan on clay in Brisbane in the Davis Cup. Yes clay. Won't Lleyton be surprised when they tell him? Maybe they won't and just let him figure it out for himself. Come On! Has any other high profile tennis match been played on clay in Australia in the last 50 years?

Video: Cornet and Lapentti get a massage