Some Strange Developments at the French Open

 Roland Garros/French Open

Image courtesy of Yann Caradec's Flickr page - Roland Garros 2008: https://www.flickr.com/photos/la_bretagne_a_paris/2548469251/in/photolist-4Tcz82-6tZnxV-87P6sX-ey7ZS4-4Th8wE-eiptGP-6uaRCZ-87vLZp-86G6Ka-ey9ecr-c7XVQu-nCzATg-eBzLQm-nCAVGe-nWRDSg-nT31do-dGmT28-nCzje4-nCzR2q-nT2Xd5-nV4Xqn-nT2ASf-eZKnLF-6urJ2w-nUM8dD-nCzJ2p-nUWDeU-caonqS-nCzGrQ-nUWRpA-nCzE6t-ewJaxS-ekA48R-nWRBFT-nULZA4-nCAKKF-nUWLLs-9T16gt-nT2zmu-nCALjX-ezweD2-9T15Lr-nULZgB-ewEXSc-nUMjfi-ewJ9fS-6qwFaz-ezzoMd-9LRAp8-ewJ9S1

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Arguably the two most decorated individuals for both the men and women in tennis history are out of the French Open, and on the same day, albeit for very different reasons.              

Serena Williams has pursued a 24th career Grand Slam, and some were suggesting that she might be looking good to win glory at the French Open, even though the terre battue at Roland-Garros is traditionally her weakest surface.              

However, the hopes for this particular Grand Slam event ended on Sunday in the fourth round, when she was stunned in straight sets by Elena Rybakina of Kazahstan. Rybakina defeated Williams 6-3, 7-5.              

But at least that was on the figurative field of battle. Nobody is going to criticize Serena Williams for merely losing a match to another talented and fairly highly ranked opponent.              

That is not the case with the usually untouchable Roger Federer, who is hearing an unusual amount of criticism after he withdrew from the French Open tournament following a win in the third round.              

Federer pulled out after claiming that he knew his body, and that the physical play of the terre battue at Roland-Garros had proven to be a bit too much. Federer recently had knee surgery, and was trying to bounce back and continue playing at the elite level that he is used to playing at. But the clay courts have traditionally been Federer’s weakest surface, even though he did win the French Open title back in 2009. However, he that was 12 years ago, so Federer was a lot younger at the time. And the clay court has a reputation for being the most physically demanding surface in tennis. The French Open often is viewed as the most punishing of the four Grand Slam events, and it comes just weeks before the grass court Grand Slam event at Wimbledon, where Federer has actually enjoyed the most success in his career. So, perhaps on some level, it makes sense for him to withdraw from this event, in favor of another event where he might have more of a chance to go far, and perhaps even contend for the title.  

In so doing, however, he has received some criticism for not showing sufficient respect for the French Open tournament itself. Also, he managed to draw the ire of two of the most iconic voices in tennis: the McEnroes. Both Pat and John McEnroe called him out over the decision to withdraw, suggesting that he should have known that the clay court surface would prove to be difficult on his body.  

Have to admit, that after reading their comments, they did make some decent points. Federer probably should have known that this tournament in particular would have been a bit too much for his still recovering body. 

To find out more on the specifics of what they said, the meat of their debate against Federer, please click on the link to the ESPN article below. 

Enjoy!

Roger Federer's withdrawal from French Open shows he's focused on Wimbledon by Simon Cambera, June 6, 2021:  

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/31578252/roger-federer-withdrawal-french-open-shows-focused-wimbledon