Times wires
Friday, May 27, 2011
PARIS — Mob rule continued in the women's draw at the French Open on Friday as Caroline Wozniacki, the world's No. 1 player, was upset in the third round, 6-1, 6-3 by Daniela Hantuchova.
The lopsided defeat will only increase debate about Wozniacki's worthiness for the top spot, and it came a day after Kim Clijsters, her closest pursuer in the rankings, was eliminated by 114th-ranked Arantxa Rus.
"Since we're No. 1 and No. 2, it means we must be doing something right; it's just unfortunate to lose in a Grand Slam," Wozniacki said.
Earlier, eighth seed Samantha Stosur, the part-time Tampa resident who reached the final here last year, also lost, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to 51st-ranked Gisela Dulko.
This is the first time since the Open era began in 1968 that the Nos. 1 and 2 women's seeds have failed to reach the round of 16 at a Grand Slam.
Vera Zvonareva, seeded third, had to save a match point and overcome a 2-5 deficit before defeating Sabine Lisicki. For now, the only member of the top four who has not struggled here is fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka, who has dropped just seven games in her two matches.
Wozniacki had not dropped a set against Hantuchova, seeded 28th, in their previous three matches, but she dropped the first in a hurry.
"She played very, very well today, better than me for sure," Wozniacki said.
She is not alone among reigning No. 1s in recent years to be without a Grand Slam singles title. Others include Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic, who have yet to win one, and Clijsters and Amelie Mauresmo, who eventually did.
"I don't feel the pressure," Wozniacki said. "The only one I feel pressure from is myself to go and give my all for every match. … Right now I cannot do anything about the loss other than just get back on the practice court and improve and be better for next time."
Streak on hold: Two-time Australian Open men's champion Novak Djokovic, who is on a 41-match winning streak, was tied at a set apiece with 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro when play was suspended because of darkness.
The second-seeded Djokovic won the first set 6-3, but No. 25 del Potro took the second by the same score. Right after del Potro held serve to even the match, the chair umpire announced play would stop; there are no artificial lights on the Roland Garros courts.
Earlier, 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer saved the only break point he faced in a 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 victory over No. 29 Janko Tipsarevic.
"I'm at peace with my game right now. I'm physically fine. I think I had a good preparation, so there's no reason to get nervous," said Federer, who hasn't dropped a set heading into his next match, against Stan Wawrinka. "… It's always nice to advance in the draw so well, so quickly."
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.