Sports Thread #1 for 5/30/09: Third Round Stunner

Photo from Jacques Demarthon/AFP/Getty Images

French Open Report:

Novak Djokovic was headed to a possible collision course with Roger Federer in the semifinals. And with the form he showed all throughout the spring, a possible match with Rafael Nadal in the final.

Instead, the world number four collided into Philipp Kohlschreiber today, and crashed out of Roland Garros in stunning fashion.

A 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 laydown by the Serbian at the hands of the solid but far from spectacular German, unless you are talking about today. From the get go, Kohlschreiber was locked in for the upset, serving proficiently and using his terrific one handed backhand to full success. But Djokovic looked sluggish and had the wear and tear of a long clay court season spell his demise. 38 unforced errors from the 2008 Australian Open champion, and he summed up how dejected he was with the shocking result.

"What is disappointing was that I couldn't find the rhythm throughout the whole match. This is what I was always managing to do. You know, that's why I'm in the top of the men's game for a while now.Physically I felt good, but it's just a bad day at the office. What can you do? This is sport. "

Federer's road to the finals is still very difficult. After beating the dangerous Paul Henri-Matthieu in four sets, the 13 time Grand Slam winner faces old nemesis Tommy Hass in the next round, with Gael Monfils looming in the quarterfinals (provided he gets past an impressive looking Andy Roddick in his Round of 16 encounter).

But the Swiss will shed no tears for Djokovic going out. And the road does become a little easier without that supposed "collision course."

Now if that Nadal character could somehow lose before.

On the women's side, Serena Williams was able to come back from a set down and not egress the singles tournament like her sister did yesterday. She defeated Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (say that name five times fast) of Spain 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 despite having an illness and overcoming a controversial moment.

In the first set, Sanchez was giving a point despite the ball hitting off her arm instead of her racket. The chair umpire didn't notice it, and Sanchez didn't admit to it sadly. Nevertheless, Serena advances to the second week and now will play the improving Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak in the 4th round.

Elena Dementieva couldn't pull out her three set match though, as the number four seed fell to veteran Australian Samantha Stosur 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. Also falling by the waste side was Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, losing to a fellow talented youngster Sorana Cristea of Romania. Ironically, both Wozniacki and Cristea are doubles partners, so that match had to be weird indeed for the both of them.

And in other news:

Photo from the PA

Chelsea closed out the soccer season in England and sent off Guus Hiddink in fine fashion, wining the FA Cup 2-1 over Everton.

That's the sports thread for now. Peace.