Post by Taxigirl on May 28, 2004 11:08:41 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/3755465.stm
Tim Henman bids to reach the second week of the French Open for the first time when he takes on Spain's Galo Blanco on Friday.
Henman, the ninth seed, has made it to the third round at Roland Garros three times, but never got any further.
The Briton has been struggling with a virus for the last three weeks but was impressive in his convincing win over Lars Burgsmuller in the last round.
Henman and Blanco meet in the second match on Court Two at around 1100 BST.
The pair have met twice before, both times on clay, with one win apiece.
The first match, at Monte Carlo in 1998, was a chastening experience for Henman as he was beaten 6-2 6-4 in the first round.
But the 29-year-old Briton gained his revenge at Roland Garros two years ago, winning in straight sets.
Henman says that match in 1998 was crucial in his clay-court education.
"It was a turning point, that's for sure," he said.
"My understanding of the surface was non-existent. I hadn't really played any clay-court tennis at the highest level.
"To see a guy standing pretty close to the tram lines in the ad box hitting these huge kickers I just had no idea.
"As hard as I tried to work out the best way to play it, I seem to remember at the end of the match I basically had my back against the fence and I was just moon-balling to see whether that did any good."
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/3740669.stm
Russian 10th seed Vera Zvonareva takes on teenage compatriot Maria Sharapova in the first match on the Chatrier Court.
Zheng Jie will bid to become the first Chinese player to ever reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam when she takes on Italian Tathiana Garbin, who beat Justine Henin-Hardenne on Wednesday.
Argentine Guillermo Coria, who reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year, plays Mario Ancic of Croatia.
Coria will fancy his chances of triumphing this year following the early exits of the likes of champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick.
Tim Henman bids to reach the second week of the French Open for the first time when he takes on Spain's Galo Blanco on Friday.
Henman, the ninth seed, has made it to the third round at Roland Garros three times, but never got any further.
The Briton has been struggling with a virus for the last three weeks but was impressive in his convincing win over Lars Burgsmuller in the last round.
Henman and Blanco meet in the second match on Court Two at around 1100 BST.
The pair have met twice before, both times on clay, with one win apiece.
The first match, at Monte Carlo in 1998, was a chastening experience for Henman as he was beaten 6-2 6-4 in the first round.
But the 29-year-old Briton gained his revenge at Roland Garros two years ago, winning in straight sets.
Henman says that match in 1998 was crucial in his clay-court education.
"It was a turning point, that's for sure," he said.
"My understanding of the surface was non-existent. I hadn't really played any clay-court tennis at the highest level.
"To see a guy standing pretty close to the tram lines in the ad box hitting these huge kickers I just had no idea.
"As hard as I tried to work out the best way to play it, I seem to remember at the end of the match I basically had my back against the fence and I was just moon-balling to see whether that did any good."
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/3740669.stm
Russian 10th seed Vera Zvonareva takes on teenage compatriot Maria Sharapova in the first match on the Chatrier Court.
Zheng Jie will bid to become the first Chinese player to ever reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam when she takes on Italian Tathiana Garbin, who beat Justine Henin-Hardenne on Wednesday.
Argentine Guillermo Coria, who reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year, plays Mario Ancic of Croatia.
Coria will fancy his chances of triumphing this year following the early exits of the likes of champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick.