Roger Federer Through as Novak Djokovic Crashes Out

Sunday 31st May 2009 - 11:03:36

Roger Federer is yet to move into another gear at this year’s French Open as he faced another four set fight in his third round match against home favourite Paul-Henri Mathieu.

With the entire Court Phillipe Chatrier crowd on his side Mathieu refused to be over-awed by the occasion and looked like he had the potential to cause a major upset as he took the first set 6-4.

But Federer picked up his game as he convincingly took the second set 6-1 to level things up. But Mathieu refused to go away and continued to fight in the third. But he failed to take advantage of break points that came his way and Federer finally took a two sets to one lead.

But the world number two still had to fight to wrap up the match in the fourth set as Mathieu battled on but Federer prevailed winning  4-6 6-1 6-4 6-4.

He will now face Tommy Haas as tries to win his fourteenth Grand Slam title and his first at Roland Garros.

The big shock of the day came as number four seed Novak Djokovic crashed out of the competition to Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Djokovic has had an impressive clay court season on the run up to the French open and was seen as the main contender to Rafael Nadal’s crown.

The Serb player had reached the final of both the Rome and Monte Carlo Masters as well as the semi final of the Madrid masters in recent weeks. This was in stark contrast to his German opponent who has had a poor run of form over the last few months.

But the German showed no signs of this as he broke an out of sorts Djokovic in the first two sets to win the match in straight sets 6-4 6-4 6-4.

But the home crowd had plenty to cheer about as Gael Monfils reached the last sixteen. He stormed to the first set against Jurgen Melzer. But Melzer fought back to take the second as the match turned into a four set thriller.

But Monfils, who has bin hit with injury during the clay season, showed some great athleticism on court as he went on to win  6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1.

Monfils will now meet big hitting American Andy Roddick who put out Marc Gicquel 6-1 6-4 6-3. Also through are Joe- Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin Del Potro who both won in straight sets.

Elena Dementieva was the big casualty from the women’s draw as she crashed out of the competition as she suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Australian Samantha Stosur.

The Russian was lucky to be in the third round after her previous opponent Dokic had to retire when she was a set and a break up due to injury.

Her serve once again let her down as Stosur took full advantage taking a 4-0 lead in the final and deciding set. She went on to win 6-3 4-6 6-1.

Serena Williams was tested once again as she struggled to see off  Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez as she lost the opening set 4-6. She had to fight to level the match but eventually saw off the Spaniard 4-6 6-3 6-4. But there was no such trouble for Jelena Jankovic as continued her impressive run in the competition seeing off Jarmila Groth 6-1 6-1.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw