French Open / Roland Garros
We Say French, You Say Garros
24 May to 6 June
Wednesday 26 May
Schuettler and Kiefer lost today to Juan Ignacio Chela and Gaston Gaudio 60 36 36.
As a doubles squad this season, the Argentines have won both Estoril and Vina del Mar. Chela lost in his only meeting against Kiefer while he and Schuettler have not met in singles play. Gaudio, in singles, holds a 2-1 edge over Schuettler and hasn't played Kiefer in singles. This year he was a singles finalist in Barcelona and a quarterfinalist at Vina del Mar.
I believe that Rainer had only faced Gaudio once before in doubles play, back in the 2001 (July) Stuttgart Outdoor International Series Gold. They played on clay and met in the first round, Rainer with Guillermo Canas against Gaudio and Guillermo Coria, with Schuettler/Canas winning 61 64. Kiefer has faced Chela before in doubles, at the 2002 (April) Munich International Series. It was also a first round clay match, Kiefer with Andrei Pavel while Chela paired with Nalbandian. Kiefer/Pavel won, the score read 63 36 10-4. From what I checked, Schuettler and Kiefer have never paired with either Chela or Gaudio.
The big news of the day was Henin-Hardenne losing, with Roddick then ousted later in the day. (Sidenote: check out the score in Youzhny's match vs Pavel!) The good news in Andre and Roddick 'crashing out' is that ESPN can't force their matches and the repeats of their matches three times a day on us on the States. Bring on the good matches, like the Santoro/Clement, any day! My hopes for the rest of the tourney are good showings for Ferrero, Bjorkman, Nalbandian, and Safin and Mauresmo and Davenport on the women's side. I'm not a huge fan of any, but when they are playing well, they are good to watch. A final between Serena and Mauresmo, as long as both were really fired up, could be good to see. I found a couple interesting stories on Andre's loss as well that I will add to the link section either Wed evening or Thurs AM (US time).
There's Something About Rainer... Articles
Tuesday 25 May
Another One and Done
Today in his first round match at the French Open, Rainer Schuettler lost to Xavier Malisse, 46 57 56. It was the second time the Belgian has beaten Schuettler, with both victories coming on clay. Top news of the first couple days: Andre is out, the Clement-Santoro marathon match, Spadea save 9 match points, and Lisa Raymond came back from being down 06 05 to win.
More info is coming on the match (links) and pictures are now up.
DOUBLES: Rainer and Nicolas Kiefer are again pairing up, they play their first round match on Wednesday. They are on Court 14, the 4th match of the day, play begins at 11am. The German duo takes on the Argentina pair of Juan Ignacio Chela and Gaston Gaudio. Live ticker link for all courts is found on event's main page.
Schuettler Shots... Photos
Sunday and Monday, 23 and 24 May
The second Slam of the year is upon us and all eyes turn to Paris and the French Open, or as the rest of the world refers to it, Roland Garros. Be sure to check out the event's website, I think IBM does a fantastic job on all the events they run for tennis. Rainer Schuettler is seeded seventh and faces Xavier Malisse in his first round match. I believe this part of the draw plays on Tuesday. **UPDATE: Match is on Tuesday, Court 1, second of the day. Follows the Bartoli/Sugiyama match which begins at 11am.** This will be their fifth meeting with Schuettler winning the past three matches. Here are the results: 2003 Lyon Carpet Q Schuettler 76(2) 64; 2002 Indianapolis Hard R16 Schuettler 63 62; 2002 Cincinnati TMS Hard R16 Schuettler 64 63; 2001 Atlanta Clay R16 Malisse 16 16. This season, Malisse was a finalist in St. Poelten and a quarterfinalist in Memphis.
"It feels good to have the German people behind you -- it adds pressure but it feels good," said Schuettler in a Reuter's article on Friday. "I have been very happy with my performances and I am feeling very solid. I am winning points that I need to win and that is a very good feeling. I played great in Monte Carlo as well so I feel I am very well prepared for the French Open. That does not mean I cannot play a bad match in Paris, but I try to learn from my mistakes. Sometimes I have not been aggressive enough on decisive points. That has changed now. Physically I am on top form and my attitude and ground strokes are very good also. I am keeping my cool as well so I am physically and mentally fit and prepared."
In 2003, Schuettler advanced to the fourth round, his best-ever showing at Roland Garros, before falling to runner-up Martin Verkerk (Rainer did not play any doubles).
Live ticker can be found on event's site, top left corner.
ESPN page with men's brackets
Here is Rainer's bio page from the event's site.
Schedule just for Day One, Show Courts
Schedule from event's site, should be refreshed daily
ESPN and ESPN2's first week's TV schedule for French Open coverage and the second week's listings. Eurosport had this about their coverage.
There's Something About Rainer... Articles
24 May to 6 June
Wednesday 26 May
Schuettler and Kiefer lost today to Juan Ignacio Chela and Gaston Gaudio 60 36 36.
As a doubles squad this season, the Argentines have won both Estoril and Vina del Mar. Chela lost in his only meeting against Kiefer while he and Schuettler have not met in singles play. Gaudio, in singles, holds a 2-1 edge over Schuettler and hasn't played Kiefer in singles. This year he was a singles finalist in Barcelona and a quarterfinalist at Vina del Mar.
I believe that Rainer had only faced Gaudio once before in doubles play, back in the 2001 (July) Stuttgart Outdoor International Series Gold. They played on clay and met in the first round, Rainer with Guillermo Canas against Gaudio and Guillermo Coria, with Schuettler/Canas winning 61 64. Kiefer has faced Chela before in doubles, at the 2002 (April) Munich International Series. It was also a first round clay match, Kiefer with Andrei Pavel while Chela paired with Nalbandian. Kiefer/Pavel won, the score read 63 36 10-4. From what I checked, Schuettler and Kiefer have never paired with either Chela or Gaudio.
The big news of the day was Henin-Hardenne losing, with Roddick then ousted later in the day. (Sidenote: check out the score in Youzhny's match vs Pavel!) The good news in Andre and Roddick 'crashing out' is that ESPN can't force their matches and the repeats of their matches three times a day on us on the States. Bring on the good matches, like the Santoro/Clement, any day! My hopes for the rest of the tourney are good showings for Ferrero, Bjorkman, Nalbandian, and Safin and Mauresmo and Davenport on the women's side. I'm not a huge fan of any, but when they are playing well, they are good to watch. A final between Serena and Mauresmo, as long as both were really fired up, could be good to see. I found a couple interesting stories on Andre's loss as well that I will add to the link section either Wed evening or Thurs AM (US time).
- Yahoo Deutschland brief
Tuesday 25 May
Another One and Done
Today in his first round match at the French Open, Rainer Schuettler lost to Xavier Malisse, 46 57 56. It was the second time the Belgian has beaten Schuettler, with both victories coming on clay. Top news of the first couple days: Andre is out, the Clement-Santoro marathon match, Spadea save 9 match points, and Lisa Raymond came back from being down 06 05 to win.
More info is coming on the match (links) and pictures are now up.
DOUBLES: Rainer and Nicolas Kiefer are again pairing up, they play their first round match on Wednesday. They are on Court 14, the 4th match of the day, play begins at 11am. The German duo takes on the Argentina pair of Juan Ignacio Chela and Gaston Gaudio. Live ticker link for all courts is found on event's main page.
Sunday and Monday, 23 and 24 May
The second Slam of the year is upon us and all eyes turn to Paris and the French Open, or as the rest of the world refers to it, Roland Garros. Be sure to check out the event's website, I think IBM does a fantastic job on all the events they run for tennis. Rainer Schuettler is seeded seventh and faces Xavier Malisse in his first round match. I believe this part of the draw plays on Tuesday. **UPDATE: Match is on Tuesday, Court 1, second of the day. Follows the Bartoli/Sugiyama match which begins at 11am.** This will be their fifth meeting with Schuettler winning the past three matches. Here are the results: 2003 Lyon Carpet Q Schuettler 76(2) 64; 2002 Indianapolis Hard R16 Schuettler 63 62; 2002 Cincinnati TMS Hard R16 Schuettler 64 63; 2001 Atlanta Clay R16 Malisse 16 16. This season, Malisse was a finalist in St. Poelten and a quarterfinalist in Memphis.
"It feels good to have the German people behind you -- it adds pressure but it feels good," said Schuettler in a Reuter's article on Friday. "I have been very happy with my performances and I am feeling very solid. I am winning points that I need to win and that is a very good feeling. I played great in Monte Carlo as well so I feel I am very well prepared for the French Open. That does not mean I cannot play a bad match in Paris, but I try to learn from my mistakes. Sometimes I have not been aggressive enough on decisive points. That has changed now. Physically I am on top form and my attitude and ground strokes are very good also. I am keeping my cool as well so I am physically and mentally fit and prepared."
In 2003, Schuettler advanced to the fourth round, his best-ever showing at Roland Garros, before falling to runner-up Martin Verkerk (Rainer did not play any doubles).
Live ticker can be found on event's site, top left corner.
ESPN page with men's brackets
Here is Rainer's bio page from the event's site.
Schedule just for Day One, Show Courts
Schedule from event's site, should be refreshed daily
ESPN and ESPN2's first week's TV schedule for French Open coverage and the second week's listings. Eurosport had this about their coverage.
- Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim breaks down the seeds. Has this Rainer mention: "7. Rainer Schuettler (Germany): The Germanator's year has been lousy thus far, but a sauerkraut draw might help him pick up traction."
- Tennis-X preview, has this Rainer mention: "This is the section for the opportunists, with (7)Schuettler or (12)Hewitt in the bottom half of the section, and the host of floaters in the top with an opportunity to bust out into the quarterfinals. Count (4)Ferrero out with the wrist injury that has kept him out of action the last couple weeks, with his coach saying he might pull before his first round match (if he does play -- run, don't walk, to your nearest on-line betting terminal). (7)Schuettler, who prior to 2004 hadn't realized he could play on clay, finds himself in a real nice position with Malisse in the first round (the German has won their last three meetings), then a qualifier, but then a tester against the hot-and-cold former Roland Garros winner (26)Costa, who he is 0-2 against. (19)Berzerk's ranking will drop like the proverbial clay-covered rock with an early-round loss, which could come in the first round against the clay-competent French wildcard Julien Boutter, or (12)Hewitt in the third round. First-round testers in this section are (4)Ferrero vs. Haas and (24)Bjorkman vs. Dent. With the number of unseeded dangerous floaters lurking about, don't be surprised to see a Haas, Canas, or Gaudio pop through to the QF from this lot."
- Reuters article on Schuettler and Germany's hopes for the French
- Sport.ard preview of Germany's players
- Sport1 take on the French and German players
- Sportbild.de article on upcomg French
- ATP's insider's guide to Roland Garros 2004
- ATP preview of the slam when the draw was announced
- ESPN AP report on Ferrero seeing how Monday's practice goes and whether or not he'll play
- BBC preview of event
- Sydney Morning Herald preview of Aussie hopes, Hewitt is in Schuettler's part of the draw
- The Age (Aussie) report on Hewitt's draw
- Reuters report on the momentum that Chile may have going into French from ARAG win
- Reuters preview of the French, click on 2nd page for women's portion
- Canada.com French preview
- Billings Gazette interview with a tennis player who is a German exchange student, mentions Rainer, see... I find the breaking news from all over! Fun read, but here's the Rainer part: Q: Who's more popular still in Germany ... Boris Becker or Steffi Graff?
A: (Laughs). Nobody for me. I would say Boris Becker is probably the more famous one. I don't know. It's a tough decision. Everybody says both. The boys say it's Boris Becker and the girls say it's Steffi Graff. They are names nobody will forget. For me it's the Red Flash from Germany, Rainer Schuettler. Ever hear of him?
Q: No.
A: I love this guy, he's awesome. The Red Flash from Germany.
Q: Do you have a cool nickname like that?
A: Yes, I have a nickname. They call me German. It's funny." - Withdrawals prior to this weekend
- ESPN article on Agassi and preparing for the French
- ESPN piece on Ferrero's defense of title
- The Scotsman piece on Ferrero
- Bud Collins had this preview of the French from MSNBC/NBC Sports
- Tracy Austin's take on the women
- AP report on Andre's loss inthe first round
- Bud's report on Andre's loss
Other Tennis Items:
Tuesday's Additions:
posted by Sprtswrtr @ 2:26 PM
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