Kuznetsova back in the Sanyaku ranks, del Potro one win away from Sekiwake
For a moment it looked as if Roger Federer could go the way of fellow Yokozuna (=Grand Champion) Rafael Nadal and Ozeki (=Champion) Novak Djokovic -- crashing out of Roland Garros before even reaching the quarterfinals, and leaving the men's tournament without a firm favorite. 7-6, 7-5, 4-3 40-30 led his opponent, former Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) Tommy Haas, when Federer suddenly got his game together and turned the match around. Federer now faces former Komusubi (=Junior Champion II) M2W Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals, who gave him all kinds of troubles in last year's RG semifinal. Monfils made quick work of former Ozeki Andy Roddick. With this loss the veteran Roddick drops back from Sekiwake to Komusubi. Still, 2009 was Roddick's best French Open tournament ever.
Komusubi Juan Martin del Potro and ex-Komusubi M5E Tommy Robredo complete the men's quarterfinals. For del Potro this is the third consecutive participation in a grand slam quarterfinal. The Argentine has looked strong thus far; a win over Robredo would earn him a first-time promotion to Sekiwake.
In the ladies' tournament, Yokozuna Serena Williams had little difficulties with the young Canadian M11E Aleksandra Wozniak. In the quarterfinals she meets battle-proven former Ozeki M1E Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won a close match over ex-Komusubi M3E Agnieszka Radwanska. Kuznetsova will re-enter the Sanyaku ranks at least as Komusubi after this tournament.
Less luck had former Sekiwake Jelena Jankovic, who was upset by the powerful unseeded Sorana Cristea. Jankovic, who has been close to an Ozeki promotion a couple of times in her career, therefore drops out of the sanyaku ranks altogether. Next for Cristea is M12E Samantha Stosur of Australia, victor over Ozeki Elena Dementieva in the third round. The winner of this quarterfinal is guaranteed to join the Sanyaku ranks for the first time.
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