Top seed Novak Djokovic move a stepforward in his bid for an historic Grand Slam as he beat Italianclaycourt specialist Potito Starace 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-1 in thefirst round of French Open on Monday. But the women's world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka met a big trouble andhad to fight from a set and 4-0 down to defeat Italian veteranAlberta Brianti. Djokovic, bidding to become only the third man to hold all fourmajors at the same time, and the first in 43 years, has theWimbledon, US Open and Australian Open crowns under wraps. A first French Open triumph in two weeks' time would make theSerbian the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete thesweep.
"It's a challenge and something to embrace and to enjoy. It'sreally too early to talk about getting my hands on the trophy, butit's definitely a goal. Anything is possible," said Djokovic, whois scheduled to meet Roger Federer in the semifinals. Federer equaled Jimmy Connors' Open era mark and improved to 233-35at tennis' top four tournaments by beating Tobias Kamke of Germany6-2, 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of the tournament. "You step back, you realize you have been playing for quite a longtime.
... When I started, I loved playing against those famousplayers I used to see on TV. Now I'm playing against youngerplayers, a new generation," he said. "It's great I didn 't sufferthat many injuries over these years.
And I always had fun playingtennis." Connors won eight Grand Slam titles while going 233-49 from1970-92, an .826 winning percentage bettered by Federer's .869. "Jimmy Connors was a huge champion. Still is," Federer said. He improved to 50-12 at Roland Garros, where his 2009 championshipcompleted a career Grand Slam.
Now Federer is the only man with atleast 50 Open era match wins each at all four. Azarenka staged a thrilling recovery to defeat world No. 105Brianti 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-2 and will next face German qualifierDinah Pfizenmaier. But for much of her rollercoaster battle with the 32-year-oldBrianti, who had never won a match in four previous appearances atRoland Garros, the Belarussian struggled.
Brianti was on the verge of a 5-0 lead in the second set when theAustralian Open champion sent down a second serve ace to stay incontention. That proved to be the significant moment as Azarenka, who finishedwith 60 unforced errors, reeled off 12 of the last 14 games. "I started well but my game just collapsed," admitted 22-year- oldAzarenka, twice a quarterfinalist in Paris. "I tried to stay concentrated but I don't know how I got out ofit." Defending champion Li Na of China advanced to the second round witha 6-2, 6-1 win over Romania's Sorana Cirstea, a quarterfinalist in2009.
"I'll just try my best," Li said, when asked to rate her chances ofa successful defense. "It's tough for me to stay at the same levelall the time." Li will face France's Stephanie Foretz Gacon for a place in thelast 32. Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska took just 49 minutes to wrapup a 6-1, 6-0 win over Serbia's Bojana Jovanovksi and will take onVenus Williams for a place in the last 32. French eighth seed Marion Bartoli also went through, beating Czechqualifier Karolina Plizkova 6-3, 6-3. Vera Zvonareva, the 11th seeded Russian, withdrew with a rightshoulder injury while German 12th seed Sabine Lisicki slumped to a6-4, 6-3 defeat to America's Bethanie Mattek-Sands. I am a professional writer from Leather Production Machinery Parts, which contains a great deal of information about transmission oil coolers , ebc clutch kits, welcome to visit!
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