PARIS: Spain are experiencing their worst French Open campaign for almost 20 years despite having Rafa Nadal and David Ferrer through to the fourth round.
While nine-times champion Nadal advanced with an uneventful three-set win over Russian Andrey Kuznetsov, seventh seed Ferrer needed five sets to beat Italian Simone Bolelli.
A generation shift could explain Spain’s mediocre year, according to veteran Ferrer.
“Tommy Robredo, Nicolas Almagro…have been injured and the Spaniards had to play against strong opponents,” the 33-year-old Ferrer told a news conference after his 6-3, 1-6, 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 triumph.
“From time to time you have five or six Spanish players. But of course we are getting older and there’s a new generation coming in.”
Five of the top seven Spaniards in the APT rankings are 30-plus while the best hope on the women’s side at Roland Garros is Garbine Muguruza.
Meanwhile, Former champion Ana Ivanovic battled wind, rain and tough Russian opponent Ekaterina Makarova to reach the quarterfinals of the French Open on Sunday, winning a weather-interrupted match 7-5, 3-6, 6-1.
Ivanovic broke in the 12th game with a forehand smack on the line to move a set ahead, but she quickly fell behind in the second against the ninth seed, gifting a break with a double fault.
Another forehand winner sealed victory for Ivanovic, who will play Elina Svitolina in the quarters.
Meanwhile, Alize Cornet fought tooth and nail but the local favourite’s French Open run came to an end when she was knocked out 6-2, 7-6(9) in the fourth round by Ukrainian 19th seed Elina Svitolina on Sunday. The 29th-seeded Cornet, in uncharted territory after reaching the last 16 for the first time, gave herself a mountain to climb when she went 5-0 down as 20-year-old Svitolina peppered the court with winners.
At 5-5 in the second set with a break point against her, Cornet sent a shot long, which was called out after the umpire climbed down off her chair to check the mark.
Cornet, struggling to catch her breath on a windswept centre court, saw off two more match points but on the sixth, she sent a backhand long. (Reuters)
