Australian Open – On a sad note bleue – The Équipe.fr

There are four, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils had stopped in the 3rd round respectively against Alexandr Dolgopolov, Tomas Berdych and the one that was still Stanislas – not Stan – Wawrinka. As Alize Cornet, stopped by Kim Clijsters, the future winner. This year, they were still four at this stage of the tournament: the same Alize Cornet (19) and Richard Gasquet (No. 24), but also Gilles Simon (18) and Caroline Garcia. If the first three have – on paper – held their rank, fourth, non-seeded has done better out in the 1st round Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded number 27, and Stefanie Voegele logically before stumbling over Eugenie Bouchard (No. 7). But the numbers do not explain everything.

For the third time in fifteen years (Wimbledon 2000 2011 Australian Open and 2015), there will be no French in the second week of a Grand Slam Alize Cornet acknowledged without blinking: failure (7-5, 6-2) against Dominika Cibulkova (No. 11), the outgoing runner who won a match in two tournaments before the Australian Open, is a disappointment. Especially as the Niçoise procured six balls first set. “J e’m subscribed to the third Grand Slam tours. It bothers me a little, “ she acknowledged. The same goes for Richard Gasquet (No. 24), which earned four set points (two in the first, two in the second) against Kevin Anderson (14) eventually losing in three sets (6-4, 7 -6 [3], 7-6 [6]). As for Gilles Simon, the script for his marathon against David Ferrer (No. 9), which he had subdued in the last US Open, can legitimately leave regrets.

In the absence of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, author of the best French performance in Australia since 2008 (alone or accompanied), French men’s tennis could not rely on either Gael Monfils (2nd round) who said before the tournament will not be ready, Julien Benneteau, wounded (1st round) or Jeremy Chardy (2nd round). But over tip (Lucas Pouille, Laurent Lokoli)

For girls, we must go back to 2009 to find a trace of French. – Or even two – second week. At the time, Marion Bartoli defeated the World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic (6-1, 6-4) to then stop against Vera Znovareva (7) (6-3, 6-0). And Alize Cornet, yet she was inclined a lap earlier (6-2, 2-6, 7-5) to Dinara Safina (3) future finalist, despite two match points. Even though the younger show the teeth (Oceane Dodin but Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic), among active players, no Blue has played quarter-final in a Grand Slam.