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Diabierna 4 Juni 2021

French Open: No. 1 Barty retires, Djokovic & Federer advance

Nadal was set to play during titles before Roland Garros.
the night session on his 35th But she was forced to retire
birthday, with fans having to in the quarterfinals in Rome
leave the grounds by 9 p.m. in May because of an injury
because of coronavirus rules. to her right arm. She said that
The 13-time champion was injury had healed and did not
facing Richard Gasquet, hamper her in Paris.
having a 16-0 career record
against the Frenchman. "It's heartbreaking," Barty
said. "We have had such a
Elsewhere, 18-year-old qual- brilliant clay-court season."
ifier Carlos Alcaraz of Spain The Australian started the
beat No. 28 Nikoloz Basi- match with her left thigh
lashvili 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Alcaraz bandaged and it was imme-
became the youngest man to diately clear she could not
reach the third round at Ro- move properly. Too slow to
land Garros since 1992 and chase her opponent's shots,
youngest to make a Grand she struggled in long rallies
Slam third round since Nad- and with her first serve.
al at Australian Open in 2004.
Nadal also reached the Wim- Barty called for a medical
bledon third round in 2003. timeout at the end of the
opening set, then briefly left
This is only the third time at the court for treatment. She
any Grand Slam tournament stopped after Linette hit an
in the professional era, which ace. Barty then walked to the
began in 1968, that the top net to shake the 45th-ranked
(AP) — Bothered by a "I still think the level was the Grand Slam stage since two women's seeds are gone player's hand.
painful hip, top-ranked high, I tried everything and Jan. 30, 2020, when he lost before the third round. It
Ash Barty retired Thurs- I had some very good mo- to Djokovic in the Australian also happened at the French She decided not to defend
day from her second- ments, notably in the tie- Open semifinals. Open in 2014 (No. 1 Serena her title last year because of
round match at the French break. I finished by serving "I guess I'm just new to the Williams and No. 2 Li Na) the coronavirus pandemic,
Open, leaving the clay- really well. It shows I have new tour," Federer said with a and the U.S. Open in 2018 choosing instead to remain
court Grand Slam tourna- something in reserve, I have laugh in his post-match news (No. 1 Simona Halep and home in Australia.
ment without its top two some energy left and that's conference. No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki).
women's seeds and any of really good for my confi- After ending a four-match
the top three women in dence." He could meet Djokovic In addition to Barty's de- losing streak on clay in the
the rankings. here, since they are in the parture, No. 2 Naomi Osa- previous round, 2020 run-
The eighth-seeded Federer same side of the draw along ka withdrew after the first ner-up Sofia Kenin advanced
The 2019 champion trailed next faces unseeded Dominik with defending champion round, saying she is going to the third round with a 7-5,
6-1, 2-2 when she signaled Koepfer, who beat No. 30 Rafael Nadal — who is level to take a break from com- 6-3 win over Hailey Baptiste.
that she couldn't continue Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, all time on 20 major titles petition for mental health The 2020 Australian Open
against Polish opponent 6-4. Fritz left the court in a with Federer. reasons. The third-ranked champion from the United
Magda Linette on Court wheelchair after appearing to Djokovic made brief work of Halep pulled out before the States underwent an emer-
Philippe Chatrier. hurt his knee. beating clay-court specialist tournament because of a leg gency appendectomy in Mel-
Federer looked sharp, and Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, injury. bourne in February and her
"I was battling the pain, and could even afford to get a saving eight of the nine break record was 7-8 entering the
it just became too severe, little distracted, arguing with points he faced. The 18-time In the buildup to this year's clay-court Grand Slam.
and like I said, was becoming chair umpire Emmanuel Jo- Grand Slam champion next French Open, Barty played
unsafe," Barty said of the in- seph after being given a time plays unseeded Lithuanian 13 matches on clay and won Fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina
jury that had flared up during warning for slow play dur- Ricardas Berankis. 11. She posted a record of beat Ann Li of the United
training before the tourna- ing the second set on Court 27-5 and won three singles States 6-0, 6-4.
ment. Philippe Chatrier.

Defending champion Iga Federer even asked Cilic for
Swiatek breezed through to his opinion.
the third round, beating Re- "Marin, am I playing too
becca Peterson 6-1, 6-1 on slow?" he asked.
Court Simonne-Mathieu. Cilic suggested he was.
The No. 8-seeded Pole next
faces No. 30 Anett Kontaveit. But after winning in the first
round on Monday, Federer
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic spoke about the strange feel-
and Roger Federer, both for- ing of having to handle his
mer champions, advanced to own towel, because of coro-
the men's third round. navirus rules, and how it up-
set his rhythm. He argued
Federer beat Marin Cilic 6-2, the point to Emmanuel, and
2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 for his ninth to Cilic.
win in 10 meetings against
the big-serving Croat and "I understand the rule," Fe-
fifth in majors. derer protested to Cilic.
"(But) I'm going from one
"I think I played a really good corner to the next trying to
match, I surprised myself a get my towel. I'm not doing
bit. I didn't think I could play it on purpose."
at this level for 2 ½ hours Federer, whose 40th birthday
against Marin," Federer said. is Aug. 8, hadn't appeared on