Defending champion's Russia's Anastasia Myskina backhands to Spain''s Maria Sanchez Lorenzo during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Monday, May 23, 2005 in Paris.
Photo: AP
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Myskina Shelves the Slam
The first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam crown, defending champion Anastasia Myskina lost to Spain’s Maria Sanchez Lorenzo during the first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Monday, May 23, 2005. Myskina became the first French Open champion, either a man or a woman, knocked out in the first round.
Myskina made it clear Sunday she arrived in Paris far from the good form, attributing the ill luck that has pursued her recently to the family problems. Myskina said her mother had been seriously ill during the last two months and it was too difficult to endure. Myskina noted that Roland Garros was her favorite tournament and she would do utmost.
And she did it actually, the score of the tournament notwithstanding (6:4, 4:6, 6:0). If Myskina had played the whole match like the second game, she would have shown if not brilliant but good tennis and could have beaten the No. 209 in the world.
But Myskina was not the only loss of Russia in the tournament. Dinara Safina was defeated by Virginie Razzano of France, Vera Dushevina lost to French Mary Pierce.
Last year’s finalist Elena Dementieva played up to expectations, having knocked out Czech Barbora Strycova, while Elena Likhovtseva defeated Ukrainian Yuliana Fedak.
The first day in Roland Garros ended with no big surprise in men’s part of the tournament. Roland Garros favorites - 18-year old debutant Rafael Nadal of Spain and his core competitor Swiss Roger Federer - advanced smoothly to the next round. They may meet at June 3 semi-finals, when Nadal reaches the age of nineteen.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 24, 2005
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