Medibank International Sydney Tennis - Australian Open Series

French flourish in Sydney

Rob O'Gorman Wednesday 14 January 2009 Comments

For proof that tennis is flourishing in France, look no further than the Medibank International Sydney.

Seven of the nine French players that entered the tournament are still alive with only Marion Bartoli, who retired injured in her first round match, and Julien Benneteau, who lost to Lleyton Hewitt in three sets, making an early exit.

Arguably the most famous Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, makes his first appearance on Ken Rosewall Arena today against Italian Simone Bolelli.

Tsonga’s countryman Paul-Henri Mathieu, who is currently world No.29 on the South African Airways ATP rankings, features in the second match on centre court against top seed Novak Djokovic.

With temperatures predicted to rise into the 40s in Sydney today, Tsonga said the tournament would be perfect preparation for his tilt at next week’s Australian Open.

“I think it’s a good thing for me to be on the court at this moment, because, next week maybe it’s going to be hot also,” Tsonga told the media.

“So I have to play with this temperature one time to be ready for next week.”

Michael Llodra faces a stern test against Argentine David Nalbandian while Jeremy Chardy, who led Radek Stepanek 6-4 3-0 when Stepanek retired in their first round match, plays Russian Igor Andreev.

The French are guaranteed to lose a player from the men’s draw today but only because two of their players are drawn against each other.

The always entertaining Gilles Simon takes to the court against the in-form Richard Gasquet in an intriguing afternoon match-up on court one.

Gasquet has triumphed on all three occasions the pair have played with their last meeting occurring in the fourth round at Wimbledon in 2008.

The delightful Alize Cornet leads the women’s charge both in the rankings (she is currently the highest ranked Frenchwoman at world No.16) and in Sydney.

After upsetting Nadia Petrova in the first round and accounting for Alisa Kleybanova in the second round, Cornet will today face Russian Dinara Safina in the quarterfinals.

Safina defeated Cornet at last week’s Hopman Cup event in Perth but Cornet has signaled she is out for revenge in the Sydney heat today.

With so many emerging players, the Medibank International Sydney could well be a sign for French tennis fans that it won’t be long before one of their own is holding aloft a Grand Slam trophy.

Video: Alize Cornet interview

Tags: Alize Cornet, Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Marion Bartoli, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Richard Gasquet

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