Author Archives: Jesse Pentecost

A Monumental Accomplishment

French Open, Final (3) Nadal d. (4) Ferrer, 6/3 6/2 6/3 Rafael Nadal has defeated David Ferrer in straight sets in the French Open final, thus becoming the first man in the history of tennis to win the same Major … Continue reading

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No Feeling Like It

French Open, Semifinal (3) Nadal d. (1) Djokovic 6/4 3/6 6/1 6/7 9/7 The final of this year’s Roland Garros will be contested by Rafael Nadal, who defeated Novak Djokovic in five supple and eventually thrilling sets, and David Ferrer, … Continue reading

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The Sound of Inevitability

French Open, Quarterfinals It was probably naïve to believe that the drama, excitement and quality that so enriched the first four rounds of this year’s Roland Garros would be sustained all the way through to the end. Such things are … Continue reading

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Heraclitus’ Children

French Open, Day Seven Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and David Ferrer both progressed to the Roland Garros quarterfinals today, defeating Viktor Troicki and Kevin Anderson in respective straight sets, but that wasn’t the story of the day. Nor was it Roger Federer’s … Continue reading

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Earnest Intentions

French Open, Days Four and Five Earnest intentions to summarise the French Open’s second round has been undone by the Paris weather, unusually gloomy as the City of Light plunges from a frigid spring into a nominal summer. The tournament’s … Continue reading

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Alert But Not Alarmed

French Open, Days Two and Three The 2013 edition of the French Open is now three days old, and its first round isn’t yet complete. Yesterday’s rain is only partly to blame, since it barely distended a schedule that was … Continue reading

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Subsidiary Interests

French Open, Day One The 2013 French Open is under way, having as usual commenced one day early, on Sunday. This has allowed some lucky players to go home even earlier than usual. I’m patriotically obliged to mention that three … Continue reading

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‘Dreadful, indeed, is the lion’s lair…’

Rome Masters, Final (5) Nadal d. (2) Federer, 6/1 6/3 Rafael Nadal today won his seventh Rome title, in the process claiming his twenty-fourth Masters trophy and establishing a favouritism for Roland Garros so clear that to go on denying … Continue reading

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Fascinating Problems

Rome Masters, Semifinals (5) Nadal d. (6) Berdych, 6/2 6/4 (2) Federer d. Paire, 7/6 6/4 Roger Federer today defeated Benoit Paire in crooked straight sets, simultaneously reaching his first final of the season, and ensuring he achieved the least … Continue reading

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Minor Miracles

Rome Masters, Rounds One – Three Of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments unevenly studding the ATP calendar, Rome’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia is my favourite. For one thing, the location is perfect, and perfectly peculiar. Whatever the Foro Italico’s provenance – … Continue reading

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