PARIS (AP) — Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki found a way to while away the time after their quick exits from the French Open: the NBA playoffs.
The WTA’s current No. 1 and former No. 1 went from Paris to Miami and attended Game 6 of the Eastern Conference playoffs, seeing the Heat beat the Indiana Pacers 117-92 to return to the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive year.
After the basketball game Friday night, Wozniacki posted a photo on her Twitter feed showing her and Williams posing with Miami’s Greg Oden.
Here’s a link: https://twitter.com/CaroWozniacki/status/472583447840428032/photo/1
No word yet on whether LeBron James might head to Wimbledon to watch Williams and Wozniacki once his season concludes.
— Howard Fendrich, http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
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LOOKING FOR HELP: The tallest player in ATP history — and, at 35, the oldest man left in the French Open — was hoping for a little divine intervention on court.
Ivo Karlovic, the 6-foot-11 Croatian best known for beating 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt in the first round there in 2003, knew the odds were against him heading into his match against 19th-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa at Roland Garros on Saturday.
Karlovic’s lower back had been acting up on him Friday to the point that, he told The Associated Press, “I didn’t even hit. It was difficult to walk.”
So while he figured beating Anderson was out of the question, Karlovic decided to take “a lot of painkillers” and at least show up for their third-round match.
“I was hoping, maybe by stroke of God, he would get injured,” Karlovic said with a chuckle. “But it didn’t happen.”
Karlovic gave it a go for one set, but after losing that, he quit.
— Howard Fendrich, http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
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LISTEN UP: Fans pay to watch tennis at the French Open. The music is just a bonus.
A four-piece band of roving musicians has been popping up all around the grounds at Roland Garros, belting out tunes while passers-by stop to take some snap shots, record a little video, or just listen to the soothing sounds.
The band consists of an accordion, a bass, a guitar and a bass clarinet. They can be found just about anywhere there are pedestrians, especially in the big pathways loaded with concession stands and souvenir shops.
Not a bad way to pass the time while waiting for your favorite player to get out on court.
— Chris Lehourites
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TWEENER TIME: It’s one of the most spectacular shots in tennis, and it’s becoming a common occurrence at Andreas Seppi’s matches.
It’s called a “tweener” for short — a shot hit between the legs.
Seppi, an Italian seeded 32nd at the French Open, turned the trick Saturday on Court No. 1, the small, oval stadium at Roland Garros that has the feel of a bullring. Serving early in the third set, Seppi chased down a shot from David Ferrer and whacked it between his legs and over the net. Ferrer, however, returned it and eventually won the point, and later the match.
But the shot certainly gained Seppi some credit with the crowd: They started chanting “Seppi! Seppi!”
Last month, Seppi produced another “tweener” at the Monte Carlo Masters against Mikhail Youzhny, but that time it was for a winner — and in a victory.
— Chris Lehourites
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French Open Watch follows tennis’ clay-court Grand Slam tournament in Paris as seen by journalists from The Associated Press. It will be updated throughout the day.
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