Tursunov pushes Federer in French Open loss

Roger Federer beat Dmitry Tursunov in four sets
in the third round of the French Open. 2014 photo
by Paul Bauman

   If Dmitry Tursunov wasn't playing the match of his life, it was close.
   The Russian veteran, based in the Sacramento suburb of Granite Bay, was tied at one set apiece with 17-time Grand Slam singles champion Roger Federer on Court Philippe Chatrier in the third round of the French Open.
   Then, right on cue, the 31st-seeded Tursunov felt a twinge in his left hip. Federer, the fourth seed and 2009 champion, coasted from there in a 7-5, 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-4 victory on Friday in Paris.
   "Overall, the first two sets ... I felt that it was a fairly even battle out there," Tursunov, who has battled injuries throughout his career, told reporters. "It's hard for me to predict, but definitely playing on one leg is not going to make things easier. Tough luck for me, but hopefully I'll get him somewhere else."
   Tursunov, 31, fell to 0-5 against Federer, 32, after their first meeting in a Grand Slam tournament and first on clay. At least Tursunov won a set against the Swiss star for the second time. 
   In the second round of men's doubles, former Stanford All-American Scott Lipsky of Irvine and Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico lost to No. 5 seeds and 2013 runners-up Michael Llodra and Nicolas Mahut of France 7-6 (2), 6-4.
   Here's a link to my in-depth profile of Tursunov in 2011: http://norcaltennisczar.blogspot.com/2011/09/tursunov-no-longer-thinks-father.html