Federer Wins; Baghdatis Crashes Out of First Round

The early morning update (for me anyway – darn west coast time!) – Roger Federer ousted the American Sam Querrey in the first round of the French Open. Bummer dude. I liked Querrey but he had one heck of a hard first round draw. Even when Federer is off his game, he’s formidable and not a player you’d like to face in the first round of a Grand Slam. Maybe Q was overwhelmed. Maybe he just wasn’t feeling it. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he was playing the world’s number one, but Federer didn’t have a problem dispatching the youth movement 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

The 17th-ranked Marcos Baghdatis wasn’t so lucky as he lost to Simone Bolleli in straight sets (6-2, 6-4, 6-2). Baghdatis is so streaky. There are times when that man can play lights out, but he hasn’t been able to string any of those bursting moments of amazingness together. In fact, he hasn’t been able to play that way for quite awhile. Baghdatis is the “almost” guy, and that can be much more frustrating than being so very far from winning.

The Americans have already put together a better showing than last year in Paris with James Blake through to the second round yesterday, but also giving hope to the Red, White and Blue was Wayne Odesnik with a surprise victory over Guillermo Canas.

We’ll be back in a bit with updates on the women’s draw…especially the dramatic match between Venus Williams and Tzipora Obziler!

(Image: Newscom)
Marcos Baghdatis shoots a backhand down the line but couldn’t get past the first round at the French Open.